Ch. 48 is all about sitting around and waiting for letters - a couple that never come.

"Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the first grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters, whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance. " (ch 48)

There are six by my count:

1. The chapter begins with everyone waiting for a letter from Mr Bennet that never comes (unforgiveable that he doesn't write, even if he had no news)
   
2. Letter from Mr Gardiner on his arrival in London (good man!)
   
3. Mr Collins' letter (what an #$%@, congratulating himself on not marrying Elizabeth)
   
4. Col. Forster's letter to Mr Gardiner, relating Wickham's gambling debts in Brighton
   
5. Mr Gardiner's letter relating Col F's and that Mr Bennet was coming home "dispirited"
   
6. Mrs Gardiner in daily expectation of a letter from Darcy to Elizabeth, and growing perplexed at their relationship when none arrives

You can really feel the anxiety of the ladies as they sit and wait, their powerlessness, their dependence on others for information. How difficult it must have been.