Page 177 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Elizabeth left them together.

For the remainder of the afternoon, Lydia made no complaint about returning to the nursery. She asked only how her mother did and whether she might see her again.

Mr. Jones returned as promised. Mrs. Bennet was awake and complained that the pain had become unbearable. He left medicines with Hill and repeated his instruction that someone remain with her.

Mrs. Phillips refused to go home.

“You may tell Mr. Phillips that I shall stay with Frances again tonight. He can send whatever I require.”

By evening the house had become unusually quiet.

After dinner Jane went upstairs to relieve Mrs. Phillips, and Elizabeth remained below with her father, Mary and Kitty. The three sisters plied their needles in silence while Mr. Bennet attempted to read.

A scream sounded overhead.

Elizabeth was out of her chair and running down the hall when Jane appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Papa! Send for Mr. Jones!”

Mr. Bennet ran into the hall as Elizabeth hurried upstairs.

Mrs. Phillips stood beside the bed, crying out her sister’s name. Mrs. Bennet lay motionless against the pillows, her face strangely altered.

“Frances, look at me. Frances!”

Elizabeth went to the bed.

“Mamma?”

There was no response.

She touched her mother's hand.

“Mamma, can you hear me?”

Nothing.

Mrs. Phillips began to sob. “She was speaking to me. She said my name, and then she made such a strange sound. Oh, Frances, wake up.”

Elizabeth stood beside the bed looking down at her mother. Was it beginning again?

Chapter 48: The Vigil

May 20, 1811

Mr. Jones arrived at Longbourn less than half an hour after he was summoned.

Mrs. Bennet had not moved.

He examined her while Mr. Bennet and her daughters waited downstairs. Mrs. Phillips remained in the bedchamber and sat holding her sister's hand while he worked.

At last, he came into the drawing room, and Mr. Bennet rose to meet him.

“I believe your wife has suffered an apoplexy. I am sorry, Bennet. It is a very grave attack.”

Jane reached for Elizabeth's hand as her father asked, “Then she will not recover?”

“I cannot say for certain. She may regain consciousness, but you must prepare yourself for the possibility that she will not. I shall do what I can for her, but in cases such as this, the outlook is grim.”