Elizabeth spent most of the night in Jane’s room. In the morning, Jane was slightly better, but Elizabeth sent a note to Longbourn asking her mother to visit.
Mrs. Bennet arrived soon after breakfast with her two youngest daughters, Catherine and Lydia. When Mrs. Bennet saw Jane, she was relieved that her daughter was not in danger, but she had no wish for Jane to get well too quickly. If Jane stayed at Netherfield, she would spend more time with Mr. Bingley.
“She is much too ill to be moved,” Mrs. Bennet told Mr. Bingley. “We must stay here a little longer.”
“Of course,” Bingley replied. “She must not leave until she is well.”
Mrs. Bennet was very happy. She began to praise Mr. Bingley and his beautiful house, but she was very rude when she spoke to Mr. Darcy. She argued with him about life in the country, insisting that it was just as exciting as life in London. Elizabeth felt very embarrassed by her mother’s behavior.
Mrs. Bennet then began to boast about Jane’s beauty. “I don’t want to brag, but Jane is so beautiful. When she was fifteen, a gentleman was so in love with her that he even wrote poetry for her!”
“And that was the end of his love,” Elizabeth added quickly, trying to stop her mother. “I wonder who first discovered that poetry could drive love away?”
“I always thought poetry was the food of love,” Mr. Darcy said.
“For a strong love, perhaps,” Elizabeth replied. “But for a small crush, a bad poem is enough to kill it.”
Darcy only smiled. Elizabeth was worried that her mother would say something even more embarrassing, so she was relieved when Mrs. Bennet finally ordered her carriage to leave.
Before they left, Lydia, the youngest daughter, walked up to Mr. Bingley. She reminded him that he had promised to give a ball at Netherfield.
“I am ready to keep my promise,” Mr. Bingley said kindly. “As soon as your sister is better, you can choose the day for the ball. But you wouldn't want to dance while she is sick, would you?”
Lydia agreed that they should wait. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters finally departed, and Elizabeth went straight back to Jane’s room. She was happy to be away from the Bingley sisters, who she knew were probably laughing at her family’s bad manners.