I'm alive I swear, just lazy. I apologize. This chapter is a bit shorter, but I believe the next one is longer, so hang in there guys!

(Y/N) spent most of the night in her sister's room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a favorable answer to the questions which she received very early from Mr. Jones via a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of this progress, however, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, requesting that her mother visit Sakura, and form her own judgement of her situation. The note was immediately sent, and its contents as quickly agreed to. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.

Had she found Sakura in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied that her illness was not alarming, she had no desire for her to recover immediately, as her restoration to health would allow her to leave Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried home; neither did the doctor, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Sakura, at Caroline's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast parlor. Alfred met them with the hope that Mrs. Bennet had not found Sakura worse than she expected.

"Indeed I have, sir," was her answer. "She is much too ill to be moved. The doctor says we must not think of moving her. We must rely on your kindness a little longer."

"Move her?" cried Alfred. "It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her being moved."

"You may depend on it, Madam," said Caroline, with cold politeness, "that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains with us."

Mrs. Bennet thanked them profusely.

"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers an extensive amount, though with the greatest patience in the world. Which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing compared to her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Jones, and a charming view over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of leaving it in a hurry, I hope, though you have only a short lease."

"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he; "and therefore if I should decide to leave Netherfield, I would probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself quite settled here."

"That is exactly what I would have guessed of you," said (Y/N).

"You begin to understand me, do you?" cried he, turning towards her.

"Oh yes, I understand you perfectly."

"I wish could take this as a compliment; but to be so easily seen through is pitiful."

"That is how it goes. It does not make sense that a deep, intricate character is just as admired as such a one as yours."

"(N/N)," her mother reprimanded, "remember where you are, and do not act in the wild manner that you are known to do at home."

"I did not know," continued Alfred immediately, "that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."

"Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. They at least have that advantage."

"The country," said Arthur, "can in general supply only a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighborhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."

"But people themselves change so much, that there is always something new to be observed in them."

"Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of referring to a country neighborhood. "I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town."

Everybody was surprised, and Arthur, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who thought she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her speech.

"I cannot imagine that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Jones?"

"When I am in the country," he replied, "I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They each have their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either."

"Aye, that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman," looking at Arthur, "seemed to think of the country as nothing at all."

"Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken," said (Y/N), blushing at her mother's behavior. "You quite mistook Mr. Kirkland. He only meant that there is not as much of a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town, which you must acknowledge to be true."

"Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighborhood, I believe there are few neighborhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families."

Nothing but concern for (Y/N) was able to allow Alfred to keep his composure. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Arthur with a very expressive smile. (Y/N), for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn while she had been away.

"Yes, she visited yesterday with her father. What a pleasant man Sir William is, Mr. Jones, isn't he? So much a man of fashion! So elegant and good-tempered! He has always something to say to everybody. That is my idea of good breeding; and those who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, are quite mistaken."

"Did Charlotte dine with you?"

"No, she went home. I believe her help was needed with the mince-pies. I, for one, Mr. Jones, always keep servants that can do their own work; my daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are very good girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not good-looking! Not that I think Charlotte is very plain - but then she is our close friend."

"She seems to be a very pleasant young woman."

"Oh dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied Sakura's beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Sakura - one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own bias. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner's in town who was so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we left. But however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some poetry for her, and very pretty it was."

"And so ended his affection," said (Y/N) impatiently. "There has been many a love, I expect, defeated in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the effectiveness of poetry in driving away love!"

"I have always been told to consider poetry as the food of love," said Arthur.

"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may be. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it is only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely."

Arthur only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made (Y/N) worry lest her mother should expose herself again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks to Alfred for his kindness to Sakura, with an apology for also troubling him with (N/N). Alfred was instinctively polite in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be polite as well, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters spoke up. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should remind Alfred of his promise to give a ball at Netherfield.

Felicia was a fearless, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humored personality; a favorite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. (7) She had high spirits, and a naturally high opinion of herself, which the attention of the officers had increased. She was very up to the task, therefore, of addressing Alfred on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear:

"I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill."

Felicia declared herself satisfied. "Oh yes - it would be much better to wait till Sakura was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball," she added, "I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not."

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and (Y/N) returned instantly to Sakura, leaving her own and her relations' behavior to the remarks of the two ladies and Arthur; the latter of whom, however, could not be persuaded to join in their criticism of her, in spite of all of Caroline's jests about fine eyes.

(7) When a young woman of aristocratic or upper-class family background has reached maturity, she "comes out" into society at a formal "debut". Originally, the term meant the woman was old enough to be married, and part of the purpose of her coming out was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select circle. Normally, any younger sisters have to wait to be presented until any older sisters are married, however, Felicia, or Lydia in the original book, was her mother's favorite, so she was presented before her sisters were married, and, by today's standards, before she was even an adult.