Chapter VIII — Pride and Prejudice

Sympathy in the room and contempt in the hallway are often the same household. Elizabeth remains at Netherfield nursing Jane, who is no better by dinner. The Bingley sisters repeat how shocked they are at a bad cold, then forget Jane the moment she is out of sight; only Bingley's genuine anxiety eases Elizabeth's sense of being an intruder.

When Elizabeth returns to Jane after dinner, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst attack her in her absence: no conversation, style, taste, or beauty, only an excellent walker with blowzy hair and a petticoat six inches deep in mud. Bingley says he thought she looked remarkably well. Darcy calls the walk conceited independence; Bingley says it shows affection for Jane. Caroline whispers that the adventure has not dimmed Darcy's admiration of Elizabeth's fine eyes; he replies they were brightened by the exercise. The sisters then praise Jane while mocking the Bennets' uncles in trade at Meryton and near Cheapside; Darcy agrees such connections lessen marriage chances, and Bingley will not join them.

In the evening Elizabeth chooses a book over high-stakes loo. Talk turns to accomplishments: Bingley lists screens and purses; Darcy claims to know only half a dozen truly accomplished women; Caroline adds music, languages, and manner; Darcy adds extensive reading. Elizabeth says she never saw a woman with all those qualities united. After she leaves, Caroline calls that posture a mean art of captivation; Darcy agrees that arts of captivation bearing affinity to cunning are despicable. Jane grows worse; Bingley arranges for the apothecary at dawn while his sisters sing duets downstairs.