"They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother."
For the last few chapters, Jane Bennet has been recuperating in the Bingley household after falling ill on the way there. Her sister Lizzy joined her to help her recover somehow, dashing their mother’s hopes that Jane would grow closer to Charles Bingley during her visit. Now, she’s beginning to pick up, even going as far as leaving her room in the last chapter.
Since she doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life as his tenant, Lizzy sends a letter off home asking Mrs Bennet to bring a carriage around for them. Since she still holds onto the hope that Jane and Bingley will bond, she responds with a message that must have been delivered either on foot or using the very carriage Lizzy wants to take saying that she simply cannot until at least Tuesday, but can delay that if Jane or Bingley want. I can understand why Jane would need the carriage in her state, but considering that Lizzy walked there from her home in the first place, I don’t really see why she can’t do that now Jane is doing better.
Utterly unfazed by this, Ms Bennet decides to take her host’s carriage to get home as soon as possible, which gives each of the Netherfieldians (Netherfieldites?) pause for thought. Charles is in no small way devastated by the news, Ms Bingley blames her “jealousy and dislike” of Lizzy for driving Jane away and Mr Darcy thinks it’s about time, as she’s been such a distraction to him and made his good friend Ms Bingley tease him so much. The nerve of that woman!
To make sure Lizzy does not change her mind, he decides to conceal all signs of affection and interest towards her just to be safe speaking “scarcely” ten words to her throughout Saturday, and kept his eyes solely on his book when left alone with her for half an hour. Clearly, he has a way with the ladies. Conversely, Ms Bingley taps into a hitherto unknown vein of love that she targets at the Bennet sisters, doing all she can to keep Jane around because the girls can’t possibly lead separate lives.
After church, the Bennets take their leave and go back to their mother’s scornful arms. Her schemes dashed to pieces because Lizzy wouldn’t stay at Bingley’s house for another three days. On the other hand, her father is quite quietly pleased to have them back to restore the usual family balance. So far, we have heard little about what the Bennet household has been up to without the two girls, and I doubt we’ll get filled in much as everything is described as having “lost it’s animation” in their absence.
Despite this, we learn that Mary has been quietly reading, and Catherine and Lydia have been keeping track of their favourite soldiers, detailing a rather unpleasant flogging in thankfully few words. So nothing out of the ordinary, really.
Thoughts
- When the camera is on Lizzy, the rest of the world stops turning, it would seem.
- The best laid plans of Bennets and Men have gone awry again.
- Mr Darcy is really misdirecting his issues with Charlotte Bingley, but at least he made parting easier.
