 coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of
his breakfast.
    Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss
Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish and not well enough to
leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately; and Jane, who
had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from
expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at
her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and when Miss
Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude
for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended
her.
    When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth
began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they
shewed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having examined his patient, said, as
might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must
endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised
her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms
increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a
moment, nor were the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they
had in fact nothing to do elsewhere.
    When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go; and very
unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted
a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern in parting with
her, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an
invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully
consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with
her stay, and bring back a supply of clothes.
 

                                  Chapter VIII

At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half past six Elizabeth
was summoned to dinner. To the civil enquiries which then poured in, and amongst
which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior solicitude of Mr.
Bingley's, she could not make a very favourable answer. Jane was by no means
better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or four times how much they
were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they
disliked being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their
indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them, restored Elizabeth
to the enjoyment of all her
