Gay Pride and Prejudice by Kate Christie

added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet add the improvement of her mind, by extensive reading.”
    “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any .”
    “Are you so severe upon our sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?” challenged Caroline.
    “I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe united.”
    Mrs. Hurst cried out against the injustice of her implied doubt, and was protesting that she knew many women who answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room.
    “Elizabeth Bennet,” said Mrs. Hurst, when the door was closed on her, “is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.”
    “Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, “there is a meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ.”
    Caroline covered her smile, while her sister, who was not entirely satisfied with this reply, failed to continue the subject.
    Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones being sent for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent physicians. This Elizabeth would not hear of; but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother’s proposal; and it was settled that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters declared that they were miserable. In Caroline’s case, this was closer to the truth. However, to maintain the appearance of indifference, she sang duets after supper with Louisa, while their brother could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.

Chapter Nine
    E LIZABETH PASSED THE CHIEF OF THE NIGHT in her sister’s room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgment of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.
    Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to her daughter’s proposal of being carried home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley’s appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast parlour, where they found Bingley and Mr. Darcy.
    Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.
    “Indeed I have, sir,” was her answer. “She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.”
    “Removed!” cried Bingley. “It must not be thought of. My sisters, I am sure, will not hear of her