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To Mr . Darcy it was welcome intelligence : Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough . She attracted him more than he liked ; and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her and more teasing than usual to himself . He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him — nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity ; sensible that , if such an idea had been suggested , his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it . Steady to his purpose , he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday : and though they were at one time left by themselves for half an hour , he adhered most conscientiously to his book , and would not even look at her . On Sunday , after morning service , the separation , so agreeable to almost all , took place . Miss Bingley’s civility to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly , as well as her affection for Jane ; and when they parted , after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield , and embracing her most tenderly , she even shook hands with the former . Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest spirits . They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother . Mrs . Bennet wondered at their coming , and thought them very wrong to give so much trouble , and was sure Jane would have caught cold again . But their father , though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure , was really glad to see them ; he had felt their importance in the family circle . The evening conversation , when they were all assembled , had lost much of its animation , and almost all its sense , by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth . They found Mary , as usual , deep in the study of thorough bass and human nature ; and had some new extracts to admire and some new observations of threadbare morality to listen to . Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort . Much had been done , and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday ; several of the officers had dined lately with their uncle ; a private had been flogged ; and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married . CHAPTER XIII “ I hope , my dear , ” said Mr . Bennet to his wife , as they were at breakfast the next morning , “ that you have ordered a good dinner to - day , because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party . ” “ Who do you mean , my dear ? I know of nobody that is coming , I am sure , unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in ; and I hope my dinners are good enough for her . I do not believe she often sees such at home . ” “ The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger . ” Mrs . Bennet’s eyes sparkled . “ A gentleman and a stranger ! It is Mr . Bingley , I am sure . Why , Jane — you never dropped a word of this — you sly thing ! Well , I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr . Bingley . But — good Lord ! how unlucky ! there is not a bit of fish to be got to - day . Lydia , my love , ring the bell . I must speak to Hill this moment . ” “ It is not Mr . Bingley , ” said her husband ; “ it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life . ”
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