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Title  Emma

Author  Jane Austen

Release Date  May 25  2008  EBook  158 

Language  English

Character set encoding  ASCII

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EMMA

BY

JANE AUSTEN




VOLUME I



CHAPTER I


Emma Woodhouse  handsome  clever  and rich  with a comfortable home and
happy disposition  seemed to unite some of the best blessings of
existence  and had lived nearly twenty one years in the world with very
little to distress or vex her 

She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate 
indulgent father  and had  in consequence of her sister s marriage 
been mistress of his house from a very early period   Her mother had
died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance
of her caresses  and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman
as governess  who had fallen little short of a mother in affection 

Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr  Woodhouse s family  less as a
governess than a friend  very fond of both daughters  but particularly
of Emma   Between  them  it was more the intimacy of sisters   Even
before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess 
the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any
restraint  and the shadow of authority being now long passed away  they
had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached 
and Emma doing just what she liked  highly esteeming Miss Taylor s
judgment  but directed chiefly by her own 

The real evils  indeed  of Emma s situation were the power of having
rather too much her own way  and a disposition to think a little too
well of herself  these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to
her many enjoyments   The danger  however  was at present so
unperceived  that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with
her 

Sorrow came  a gentle sorrow  but not at all in the shape of any
disagreeable consciousness   Miss Taylor married   It was Miss Taylor s
loss which first brought grief   It was on the wedding day of this
beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any
continuance   The wedding over  and the bride people gone  her father
and herself were left to dine together  with no prospect of a third to
cheer a long evening   Her father composed himself to sleep after
dinner  as usual  and she had then only to sit and think of what she
had lost 

The event had every promise of happiness for her friend   Mr  Weston
was a man of unexceptionable character  easy fortune  suitable age  and
pleasant manners  and there was some satisfaction in considering with
what self denying  generous friendship she had always wished and
promoted the match  but it was a black morning s work for her   The
want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day   She
recalled her past kindness  the kindness  the affection of sixteen
years  how she had taught and how she had played with her from five
years old  how she had devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her
in health  and how nursed her through the various illnesses of
childhood   A large debt of gratitude was owing here  but the
intercourse of the last seven years  the equal footing and perfect
unreserve which had soon followed Isabella s marriage  on their being
left to each other  was yet a dearer  tenderer recollection   She had
been a friend and companion such as few possessed  intelligent 
well informed  useful  gentle  knowing all the ways of the family 
interested in all its concerns  and peculiarly interested in herself 
in every pleasure  every scheme of hers  one to whom she could speak
every thought as it arose  and who had such an affection for her as
could never find fault 

How was she to bear the change   It was true that her friend was going
only half a mile from them  but Emma was aware that great must be the
difference between a Mrs  Weston  only half a mile from them  and a
Miss Taylor in the house  and with all her advantages  natural and
domestic  she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual
solitude   She dearly loved her father  but he was no companion for
her   He could not meet her in conversation  rational or playful 

The evil of the actual disparity in their ages  and Mr  Woodhouse had
not married early  was much increased by his constitution and habits 
for having been a valetudinarian all his life  without activity of mind
or body  he was a much older man in ways than in years  and though
everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable
temper  his talents could not have recommended him at any time 

Her sister  though comparatively but little removed by matrimony  being
settled in London  only sixteen miles off  was much beyond her daily
reach  and many a long October and November evening must be struggled
through at Hartfield  before Christmas brought the next visit from
Isabella and her husband  and their little children  to fill the house 
and give her pleasant society again 

Highbury  the large and populous village  almost amounting to a town 
to which Hartfield  in spite of its separate lawn  and shrubberies  and
name  did really belong  afforded her no equals   The Woodhouses were
first in consequence there   All looked up to them   She had many
acquaintance in the place  for her father was universally civil  but
not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for
even half a day   It was a melancholy change  and Emma could not but
sigh over it  and wish for impossible things  till her father awoke 
and made it necessary to be cheerful   His spirits required support 
He was a nervous man  easily depressed  fond of every body that he was
used to  and hating to part with them  hating change of every kind 
Matrimony  as the origin of change  was always disagreeable  and he was
by no means yet reconciled to his own daughter s marrying  nor could
ever speak of her but with compassion  though it had been entirely a
match of affection  when he was now obliged to part with Miss Taylor
too  and from his habits of gentle selfishness  and of being never able
to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself  he
was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for
herself as for them  and would have been a great deal happier if she
had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield   Emma smiled and
chatted as cheerfully as she could  to keep him from such thoughts  but
when tea came  it was impossible for him not to say exactly as he had
said at dinner 

 Poor Miss Taylor   I wish she were here again   What a pity it is that
Mr  Weston ever thought of her  

 I cannot agree with you  papa  you know I cannot   Mr  Weston is such
a good humoured  pleasant  excellent man  that he thoroughly deserves a
good wife   and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for
ever  and bear all my odd humours  when she might have a house of her
own  

 A house of her own   But where is the advantage of a house of her own 
This is three times as large   And you have never any odd humours  my
dear  

 How often we shall be going to see them  and they coming to see
us   We shall be always meeting   We  must begin  we must go and pay
wedding visit very soon  

 My dear  how am I to get so far  Randalls is such a distance   I could
not walk half so far  

 No  papa  nobody thought of your walking   We must go in the carriage 
to be sure  

 The carriage  But James will not like to put the horses to for such a
little way   and where are the poor horses to be while we are paying
our visit  

 They are to be put into Mr  Weston s stable  papa   You know we have
settled all that already   We talked it all over with Mr  Weston last
night   And as for James  you may be very sure he will always like
going to Randalls  because of his daughter s being housemaid there   I
only doubt whether he will ever take us anywhere else   That was your
doing  papa   You got Hannah that good place   Nobody thought of Hannah
till you mentioned her  James is so obliged to you  

 I am very glad I did think of her   It was very lucky  for I would not
have had poor James think himself slighted upon any account  and I am
sure she will make a very good servant  she is a civil  pretty spoken
girl  I have a great opinion of her   Whenever I see her  she always
curtseys and asks me how I do  in a very pretty manner  and when you
have had her here to do needlework  I observe she always turns the lock
of the door the right way and never bangs it   I am sure she will be an
excellent servant  and it will be a great comfort to poor Miss Taylor
to have somebody about her that she is used to see   Whenever James
goes over to see his daughter  you know  she will be hearing of us   He
will be able to tell her how we all are  

Emma spared no exertions to maintain this happier flow of ideas  and
hoped  by the help of backgammon  to get her father tolerably through
the evening  and be attacked by no regrets but her own   The
backgammon table was placed  but a visitor immediately afterwards
walked in and made it unnecessary 

Mr  Knightley  a sensible man about seven or eight and thirty  was not
only a very old and intimate friend of the family  but particularly
connected with it  as the elder brother of Isabella s husband   He
lived about a mile from Highbury  was a frequent visitor  and always
welcome  and at this time more welcome than usual  as coming directly
from their mutual connexions in London   He had returned to a late
dinner  after some days  absence  and now walked up to Hartfield to say
that all were well in Brunswick Square   It was a happy circumstance 
and animated Mr  Woodhouse for some time   Mr  Knightley had a cheerful
manner  which always did him good  and his many inquiries after  poor
Isabella  and her children were answered most satisfactorily   When
this was over  Mr  Woodhouse gratefully observed   It is very kind of
you  Mr  Knightley  to come out at this late hour to call upon us   I
am afraid you must have had a shocking walk  

 Not at all  sir   It is a beautiful moonlight night  and so mild that
I must draw back from your great fire  

 But you must have found it very damp and dirty   I wish you may not
catch cold  

 Dirty  sir  Look at my shoes   Not a speck on them  

 Well  that is quite surprising  for we have had a vast deal of rain
here   It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at
breakfast   I wanted them to put off the wedding  

 By the bye  I have not wished you joy   Being pretty well aware of
what sort of joy you must both be feeling  I have been in no hurry with
my congratulations  but I hope it all went off tolerably well   How did
you all behave  Who cried most  

 Ah  poor Miss Taylor   Tis a sad business  

 Poor Mr  and Miss Woodhouse  if you please  but I cannot possibly say
 poor Miss Taylor   I have a great regard for you and Emma  but when it
comes to the question of dependence or independence   At any rate  it
must be better to have only one to please than two  

 Especially when  one  of those two is such a fanciful  troublesome
creature   said Emma playfully    That is what you have in your head  I
know  and what you would certainly say if my father were not by  

 I believe it is very true  my dear  indeed   said Mr  Woodhouse  with
a sigh    I am afraid I am sometimes very fanciful and troublesome  

 My dearest papa  You do not think I could mean  you   or suppose Mr 
Knightley to mean  you    What a horrible idea  Oh no  I meant only
myself   Mr  Knightley loves to find fault with me  you know  in a
joke  it is all a joke   We always say what we like to one another  

Mr  Knightley  in fact  was one of the few people who could see faults
in Emma Woodhouse  and the only one who ever told her of them  and
though this was not particularly agreeable to Emma herself  she knew it
would be so much less so to her father  that she would not have him
really suspect such a circumstance as her not being thought perfect by
every body 

 Emma knows I never flatter her   said Mr  Knightley   but I meant no
reflection on any body   Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons
to please  she will now have but one   The chances are that she must be
a gainer  

 Well   said Emma  willing to let it pass   you want to hear about the
wedding  and I shall be happy to tell you  for we all behaved
charmingly   Every body was punctual  every body in their best looks 
not a tear  and hardly a long face to be seen   Oh no  we all felt that
we were going to be only half a mile apart  and were sure of meeting
every day  

 Dear Emma bears every thing so well   said her father    But  Mr 
Knightley  she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor  and I am
sure she  will  miss her more than she thinks for  

Emma turned away her head  divided between tears and smiles    It is
impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion   said Mr 
Knightley    We should not like her so well as we do  sir  if we could
suppose it  but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor s
advantage  she knows how very acceptable it must be  at Miss Taylor s
time of life  to be settled in a home of her own  and how important to
her to be secure of a comfortable provision  and therefore cannot allow
herself to feel so much pain as pleasure   Every friend of Miss Taylor
must be glad to have her so happily married  

 And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me   said Emma   and a
very considerable one  that I made the match myself   I made the match 
you know  four years ago  and to have it take place  and be proved in
the right  when so many people said Mr  Weston would never marry again 
may comfort me for any thing  

Mr  Knightley shook his head at her   Her father fondly replied   Ah 
my dear  I wish you would not make matches and foretell things  for
whatever you say always comes to pass   Pray do not make any more
matches  

 I promise you to make none for myself  papa  but I must  indeed  for
other people   It is the greatest amusement in the world  And after
such success  you know   Every body said that Mr  Weston would never
marry again   Oh dear  no  Mr  Weston  who had been a widower so long 
and who seemed so perfectly comfortable without a wife  so constantly
occupied either in his business in town or among his friends here 
always acceptable wherever he went  always cheerful  Mr  Weston need
not spend a single evening in the year alone if he did not like it   Oh
no  Mr  Weston certainly would never marry again   Some people even
talked of a promise to his wife on her deathbed  and others of the son
and the uncle not letting him   All manner of solemn nonsense was
talked on the subject  but I believed none of it 

 Ever since the day  about four years ago  that Miss Taylor and I met
with him in Broadway Lane  when  because it began to drizzle  he darted
away with so much gallantry  and borrowed two umbrellas for us from
Farmer Mitchell s  I made up my mind on the subject   I planned the
match from that hour  and when such success has blessed me in this
instance  dear papa  you cannot think that I shall leave off
match making  

 I do not understand what you mean by  success    said Mr  Knightley 
 Success supposes endeavour   Your time has been properly and
delicately spent  if you have been endeavouring for the last four years
to bring about this marriage   A worthy employment for a young lady s
mind  But if  which I rather imagine  your making the match  as you
call it  means only your planning it  your saying to yourself one idle
day   I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr 
Weston were to marry her   and saying it again to yourself every now
and then afterwards  why do you talk of success  Where is your merit 
What are you proud of  You made a lucky guess  and  that  is all that
can be said  

 And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess   
I pity you   I thought you cleverer  for  depend upon it a lucky guess
is never merely luck   There is always some talent in it   And as to my
poor word  success   which you quarrel with  I do not know that I am so
entirely without any claim to it   You have drawn two pretty pictures 
but I think there may be a third  a something between the do nothing
and the do all  If I had not promoted Mr  Weston s visits here  and
given many little encouragements  and smoothed many little matters  it
might not have come to any thing after all   I think you must know
Hartfield enough to comprehend that  

 A straightforward  open hearted man like Weston  and a rational 
unaffected woman like Miss Taylor  may be safely left to manage their
own concerns   You are more likely to have done harm to yourself  than
good to them  by interference  

 Emma never thinks of herself  if she can do good to others   rejoined
Mr  Woodhouse  understanding but in part    But  my dear  pray do not
make any more matches  they are silly things  and break up one s family
circle grievously  

 Only one more  papa  only for Mr  Elton   Poor Mr  Elton  You like Mr 
Elton  papa   I must look about for a wife for him   There is nobody in
Highbury who deserves him  and he has been here a whole year  and has
fitted up his house so comfortably  that it would be a shame to have
him single any longer  and I thought when he was joining their hands
to day  he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same
kind office done for him  I think very well of Mr  Elton  and this is
the only way I have of doing him a service  

 Mr  Elton is a very pretty young man  to be sure  and a very good
young man  and I have a great regard for him   But if you want to shew
him any attention  my dear  ask him to come and dine with us some day 
That will be a much better thing   I dare say Mr  Knightley will be so
kind as to meet him  

 With a great deal of pleasure  sir  at any time   said Mr  Knightley 
laughing   and I agree with you entirely  that it will be a much better
thing   Invite him to dinner  Emma  and help him to the best of the
fish and the chicken  but leave him to chuse his own wife   Depend upon
it  a man of six or seven and twenty can take care of himself  



CHAPTER II


Mr  Weston was a native of Highbury  and born of a respectable family 
which for the last two or three generations had been rising into
gentility and property   He had received a good education  but  on
succeeding early in life to a small independence  had become indisposed
for any of the more homely pursuits in which his brothers were engaged 
and had satisfied an active  cheerful mind and social temper by
entering into the militia of his county  then embodied 

Captain Weston was a general favourite  and when the chances of his
military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill  of a great
Yorkshire family  and Miss Churchill fell in love with him  nobody was
surprized  except her brother and his wife  who had never seen him  and
who were full of pride and importance  which the connexion would offend 

Miss Churchill  however  being of age  and with the full command of her
fortune  though her fortune bore no proportion to the
family estate  was not to be dissuaded from the marriage  and it took
place  to the infinite mortification of Mr  and Mrs  Churchill  who
threw her off with due decorum   It was an unsuitable connexion  and
did not produce much happiness   Mrs  Weston ought to have found more
in it  for she had a husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him
think every thing due to her in return for the great goodness of being
in love with him  but though she had one sort of spirit  she had not
the best   She had resolution enough to pursue her own will in spite of
her brother  but not enough to refrain from unreasonable regrets at
that brother s unreasonable anger  nor from missing the luxuries of her
former home   They lived beyond their income  but still it was nothing
in comparison of Enscombe  she did not cease to love her husband  but
she wanted at once to be the wife of Captain Weston  and Miss Churchill
of Enscombe 

Captain Weston  who had been considered  especially by the Churchills 
as making such an amazing match  was proved to have much the worst of
the bargain  for when his wife died  after a three years  marriage  he
was rather a poorer man than at first  and with a child to maintain 
From the expense of the child  however  he was soon relieved   The boy
had  with the additional softening claim of a lingering illness of his
mother s  been the means of a sort of reconciliation  and Mr  and Mrs 
Churchill  having no children of their own  nor any other young
creature of equal kindred to care for  offered to take the whole charge
of the little Frank soon after her decease   Some scruples and some
reluctance the widower father may be supposed to have felt  but as they
were overcome by other considerations  the child was given up to the
care and the wealth of the Churchills  and he had only his own comfort
to seek  and his own situation to improve as he could 

A complete change of life became desirable   He quitted the militia and
engaged in trade  having brothers already established in a good way in
London  which afforded him a favourable opening   It was a concern
which brought just employment enough   He had still a small house in
Highbury  where most of his leisure days were spent  and between useful
occupation and the pleasures of society  the next eighteen or twenty
years of his life passed cheerfully away   He had  by that time 
realised an easy competence  enough to secure the purchase of a little
estate adjoining Highbury  which he had always longed for  enough to
marry a woman as portionless even as Miss Taylor  and to live according
to the wishes of his own friendly and social disposition 

It was now some time since Miss Taylor had begun to influence his
schemes  but as it was not the tyrannic influence of youth on youth  it
had not shaken his determination of never settling till he could
purchase Randalls  and the sale of Randalls was long looked forward to 
but he had gone steadily on  with these objects in view  till they were
accomplished   He had made his fortune  bought his house  and obtained
his wife  and was beginning a new period of existence  with every
probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through   He
had never been an unhappy man  his own temper had secured him from
that  even in his first marriage  but his second must shew him how
delightful a well judging and truly amiable woman could be  and must
give him the pleasantest proof of its being a great deal better to
choose than to be chosen  to excite gratitude than to feel it 

He had only himself to please in his choice  his fortune was his own 
for as to Frank  it was more than being tacitly brought up as his
uncle s heir  it had become so avowed an adoption as to have him assume
the name of Churchill on coming of age   It was most unlikely 
therefore  that he should ever want his father s assistance   His
father had no apprehension of it   The aunt was a capricious woman  and
governed her husband entirely  but it was not in Mr  Weston s nature to
imagine that any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear 
and  as he believed  so deservedly dear   He saw his son every year in
London  and was proud of him  and his fond report of him as a very fine
young man had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too   He was
looked on as sufficiently belonging to the place to make his merits and
prospects a kind of common concern 

Mr  Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury  and a lively
curiosity to see him prevailed  though the compliment was so little
returned that he had never been there in his life   His coming to visit
his father had been often talked of but never achieved 

Now  upon his father s marriage  it was very generally proposed  as a
most proper attention  that the visit should take place   There was not
a dissentient voice on the subject  either when Mrs  Perry drank tea
with Mrs  and Miss Bates  or when Mrs  and Miss Bates returned the
visit   Now was the time for Mr  Frank Churchill to come among them 
and the hope strengthened when it was understood that he had written to
his new mother on the occasion   For a few days  every morning visit in
Highbury included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs  Weston had
received    I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr  Frank
Churchill has written to Mrs  Weston  I understand it was a very
handsome letter  indeed   Mr  Woodhouse told me of it   Mr  Woodhouse
saw the letter  and he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his
life  

It was  indeed  a highly prized letter   Mrs  Weston had  of course 
formed a very favourable idea of the young man  and such a pleasing
attention was an irresistible proof of his great good sense  and a most
welcome addition to every source and every expression of congratulation
which her marriage had already secured   She felt herself a most
fortunate woman  and she had lived long enough to know how fortunate
she might well be thought  where the only regret was for a partial
separation from friends whose friendship for her had never cooled  and
who could ill bear to part with her 

She knew that at times she must be missed  and could not think  without
pain  of Emma s losing a single pleasure  or suffering an hour s ennui 
from the want of her companionableness  but dear Emma was of no feeble
character  she was more equal to her situation than most girls would
have been  and had sense  and energy  and spirits that might be hoped
would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and
privations   And then there was such comfort in the very easy distance
of Randalls from Hartfield  so convenient for even solitary female
walking  and in Mr  Weston s disposition and circumstances  which would
make the approaching season no hindrance to their spending half the
evenings in the week together 

Her situation was altogether the subject of hours of gratitude to Mrs 
Weston  and of moments only of regret  and her satisfaction  her more
than satisfaction  her cheerful enjoyment  was so just and so apparent 
that Emma  well as she knew her father  was sometimes taken by surprize
at his being still able to pity  poor Miss Taylor   when they left her
at Randalls in the centre of every domestic comfort  or saw her go away
in the evening attended by her pleasant husband to a carriage of her
own   But never did she go without Mr  Woodhouse s giving a gentle
sigh  and saying   Ah  poor Miss Taylor  She would be very glad to
stay  

There was no recovering Miss Taylor  nor much likelihood of ceasing to
pity her  but a few weeks brought some alleviation to Mr  Woodhouse 
The compliments of his neighbours were over  he was no longer teased by
being wished joy of so sorrowful an event  and the wedding cake  which
had been a great distress to him  was all eat up   His own stomach
could bear nothing rich  and he could never believe other people to be
different from himself   What was unwholesome to him he regarded as
unfit for any body  and he had  therefore  earnestly tried to dissuade
them from having any wedding cake at all  and when that proved vain  as
earnestly tried to prevent any body s eating it   He had been at the
pains of consulting Mr  Perry  the apothecary  on the subject   Mr 
Perry was an intelligent  gentlemanlike man  whose frequent visits were
one of the comforts of Mr  Woodhouse s life  and upon being applied to 
he could not but acknowledge  though it seemed rather against the bias
of inclination  that wedding cake might certainly disagree with
many  perhaps with most people  unless taken moderately   With such an
opinion  in confirmation of his own  Mr  Woodhouse hoped to influence
every visitor of the newly married pair  but still the cake was eaten 
and there was no rest for his benevolent nerves till it was all gone 

There was a strange rumour in Highbury of all the little Perrys being
seen with a slice of Mrs  Weston s wedding cake in their hands  but Mr 
Woodhouse would never believe it 



CHAPTER III


Mr  Woodhouse was fond of society in his own way   He liked very much
to have his friends come and see him  and from various united causes 
from his long residence at Hartfield  and his good nature  from his
fortune  his house  and his daughter  he could command the visits of
his own little circle  in a great measure  as he liked   He had not
much intercourse with any families beyond that circle  his horror of
late hours  and large dinner parties  made him unfit for any
acquaintance but such as would visit him on his own terms   Fortunately
for him  Highbury  including Randalls in the same parish  and Donwell
Abbey in the parish adjoining  the seat of Mr  Knightley  comprehended
many such   Not unfrequently  through Emma s persuasion  he had some of
the chosen and the best to dine with him  but evening parties were what
he preferred  and  unless he fancied himself at any time unequal to
company  there was scarcely an evening in the week in which Emma could
not make up a card table for him 

Real  long standing regard brought the Westons and Mr  Knightley  and
by Mr  Elton  a young man living alone without liking it  the privilege
of exchanging any vacant evening of his own blank solitude for the
elegancies and society of Mr  Woodhouse s drawing room  and the smiles
of his lovely daughter  was in no danger of being thrown away 

After these came a second set  among the most come at able of whom were
Mrs  and Miss Bates  and Mrs  Goddard  three ladies almost always at
the service of an invitation from Hartfield  and who were fetched and
carried home so often  that Mr  Woodhouse thought it no hardship for
either James or the horses   Had it taken place only once a year  it
would have been a grievance 

Mrs  Bates  the widow of a former vicar of Highbury  was a very old
lady  almost past every thing but tea and quadrille   She lived with
her single daughter in a very small way  and was considered with all
the regard and respect which a harmless old lady  under such untoward
circumstances  can excite   Her daughter enjoyed a most uncommon degree
of popularity for a woman neither young  handsome  rich  nor married 
Miss Bates stood in the very worst predicament in the world for having
much of the public favour  and she had no intellectual superiority to
make atonement to herself  or frighten those who might hate her into
outward respect   She had never boasted either beauty or cleverness 
Her youth had passed without distinction  and her middle of life was
devoted to the care of a failing mother  and the endeavour to make a
small income go as far as possible   And yet she was a happy woman  and
a woman whom no one named without good will   It was her own universal
good will and contented temper which worked such wonders   She loved
every body  was interested in every body s happiness  quicksighted to
every body s merits  thought herself a most fortunate creature  and
surrounded with blessings in such an excellent mother  and so many good
neighbours and friends  and a home that wanted for nothing   The
simplicity and cheerfulness of her nature  her contented and grateful
spirit  were a recommendation to every body  and a mine of felicity to
herself   She was a great talker upon little matters  which exactly
suited Mr  Woodhouse  full of trivial communications and harmless
gossip 

Mrs  Goddard was the mistress of a School  not of a seminary  or an
establishment  or any thing which professed  in long sentences of
refined nonsense  to combine liberal acquirements with elegant
morality  upon new principles and new systems  and where young ladies
for enormous pay might be screwed out of health and into vanity  but a
real  honest  old fashioned Boarding school  where a reasonable
quantity of accomplishments were sold at a reasonable price  and where
girls might be sent to be out of the way  and scramble themselves into
a little education  without any danger of coming back prodigies   Mrs 
Goddard s school was in high repute  and very deservedly  for Highbury
was reckoned a particularly healthy spot  she had an ample house and
garden  gave the children plenty of wholesome food  let them run about
a great deal in the summer  and in winter dressed their chilblains with
her own hands   It was no wonder that a train of twenty young couple
now walked after her to church   She was a plain  motherly kind of
woman  who had worked hard in her youth  and now thought herself
entitled to the occasional holiday of a tea visit  and having formerly
owed much to Mr  Woodhouse s kindness  felt his particular claim on her
to leave her neat parlour  hung round with fancy work  whenever she
could  and win or lose a few sixpences by his fireside 

These were the ladies whom Emma found herself very frequently able to
collect  and happy was she  for her father s sake  in the power 
though  as far as she was herself concerned  it was no remedy for the
absence of Mrs  Weston   She was delighted to see her father look
comfortable  and very much pleased with herself for contriving things
so well  but the quiet prosings of three such women made her feel that
every evening so spent was indeed one of the long evenings she had
fearfully anticipated 

As she sat one morning  looking forward to exactly such a close of the
present day  a note was brought from Mrs  Goddard  requesting  in most
respectful terms  to be allowed to bring Miss Smith with her  a most
welcome request  for Miss Smith was a girl of seventeen  whom Emma knew
very well by sight  and had long felt an interest in  on account of her
beauty   A very gracious invitation was returned  and the evening no
longer dreaded by the fair mistress of the mansion 

Harriet Smith was the natural daughter of somebody   Somebody had
placed her  several years back  at Mrs  Goddard s school  and somebody
had lately raised her from the condition of scholar to that of
parlour boarder  This was all that was generally known of her history 
She had no visible friends but what had been acquired at Highbury  and
was now just returned from a long visit in the country to some young
ladies who had been at school there with her 

She was a very pretty girl  and her beauty happened to be of a sort
which Emma particularly admired   She was short  plump  and fair  with
a fine bloom  blue eyes  light hair  regular features  and a look of
great sweetness  and  before the end of the evening  Emma was as much
pleased with her manners as her person  and quite determined to
continue the acquaintance 

She was not struck by any thing remarkably clever in Miss Smith s
conversation  but she found her altogether very engaging  not
inconveniently shy  not unwilling to talk  and yet so far from pushing 
shewing so proper and becoming a deference  seeming so pleasantly
grateful for being admitted to Hartfield  and so artlessly impressed by
the appearance of every thing in so superior a style to what she had
been used to  that she must have good sense  and deserve encouragement 
Encouragement should be given   Those soft blue eyes  and all those
natural graces  should not be wasted on the inferior society of
Highbury and its connexions   The acquaintance she had already formed
were unworthy of her   The friends from whom she had just parted 
though very good sort of people  must be doing her harm   They were a
family of the name of Martin  whom Emma well knew by character  as
renting a large farm of Mr  Knightley  and residing in the parish of
Donwell  very creditably  she believed  she knew Mr  Knightley thought
highly of them  but they must be coarse and unpolished  and very unfit
to be the intimates of a girl who wanted only a little more knowledge
and elegance to be quite perfect    She  would notice her  she would
improve her  she would detach her from her bad acquaintance  and
introduce her into good society  she would form her opinions and her
manners   It would be an interesting  and certainly a very kind
undertaking  highly becoming her own situation in life  her leisure 
and powers 

She was so busy in admiring those soft blue eyes  in talking and
listening  and forming all these schemes in the in betweens  that the
evening flew away at a very unusual rate  and the supper table  which
always closed such parties  and for which she had been used to sit and
watch the due time  was all set out and ready  and moved forwards to
the fire  before she was aware   With an alacrity beyond the common
impulse of a spirit which yet was never indifferent to the credit of
doing every thing well and attentively  with the real good will of a
mind delighted with its own ideas  did she then do all the honours of
the meal  and help and recommend the minced chicken and scalloped
oysters  with an urgency which she knew would be acceptable to the
early hours and civil scruples of their guests 

Upon such occasions poor Mr  Woodhouses feelings were in sad warfare 
He loved to have the cloth laid  because it had been the fashion of his
youth  but his conviction of suppers being very unwholesome made him
rather sorry to see any thing put on it  and while his hospitality
would have welcomed his visitors to every thing  his care for their
health made him grieve that they would eat 

Such another small basin of thin gruel as his own was all that he
could  with thorough self approbation  recommend  though he might
constrain himself  while the ladies were comfortably clearing the nicer
things  to say 

 Mrs  Bates  let me propose your venturing on one of these eggs   An
egg boiled very soft is not unwholesome   Serle understands boiling an
egg better than any body   I would not recommend an egg boiled by any
body else  but you need not be afraid  they are very small  you
see  one of our small eggs will not hurt you   Miss Bates  let Emma
help you to a  little  bit of tart  a  very  little bit   Ours are all
apple tarts  You need not be afraid of unwholesome preserves here   I
do not advise the custard   Mrs  Goddard  what say you to  half  a
glass of wine  A  small  half glass  put into a tumbler of water  I do
not think it could disagree with you  

Emma allowed her father to talk  but supplied her visitors in a much
more satisfactory style  and on the present evening had particular
pleasure in sending them away happy   The happiness of Miss Smith was
quite equal to her intentions   Miss Woodhouse was so great a personage
in Highbury  that the prospect of the introduction had given as much
panic as pleasure  but the humble  grateful little girl went off with
highly gratified feelings  delighted with the affability with which
Miss Woodhouse had treated her all the evening  and actually shaken
hands with her at last 



CHAPTER IV


Harriet Smith s intimacy at Hartfield was soon a settled thing   Quick
and decided in her ways  Emma lost no time in inviting  encouraging 
and telling her to come very often  and as their acquaintance
increased  so did their satisfaction in each other   As a walking
companion  Emma had very early foreseen how useful she might find her 
In that respect Mrs  Weston s loss had been important   Her father
never went beyond the shrubbery  where two divisions of the ground
sufficed him for his long walk  or his short  as the year varied  and
since Mrs  Weston s marriage her exercise had been too much confined 
She had ventured once alone to Randalls  but it was not pleasant  and a
Harriet Smith  therefore  one whom she could summon at any time to a
walk  would be a valuable addition to her privileges   But in every
respect  as she saw more of her  she approved her  and was confirmed in
all her kind designs 

Harriet certainly was not clever  but she had a sweet  docile  grateful
disposition  was totally free from conceit  and only desiring to be
guided by any one she looked up to   Her early attachment to herself
was very amiable  and her inclination for good company  and power of
appreciating what was elegant and clever  shewed that there was no want
of taste  though strength of understanding must not be expected 
Altogether she was quite convinced of Harriet Smith s being exactly the
young friend she wanted  exactly the something which her home required 
Such a friend as Mrs  Weston was out of the question   Two such could
never be granted   Two such she did not want   It was quite a different
sort of thing  a sentiment distinct and independent   Mrs  Weston was
the object of a regard which had its basis in gratitude and esteem 
Harriet would be loved as one to whom she could be useful   For Mrs 
Weston there was nothing to be done  for Harriet every thing 

Her first attempts at usefulness were in an endeavour to find out who
were the parents  but Harriet could not tell   She was ready to tell
every thing in her power  but on this subject questions were vain 
Emma was obliged to fancy what she liked  but she could never believe
that in the same situation  she  should not have discovered the truth 
Harriet had no penetration   She had been satisfied to hear and believe
just what Mrs  Goddard chose to tell her  and looked no farther 

Mrs  Goddard  and the teachers  and the girls and the affairs of the
school in general  formed naturally a great part of the
conversation  and but for her acquaintance with the Martins of
Abbey Mill Farm  it must have been the whole   But the Martins occupied
her thoughts a good deal  she had spent two very happy months with
them  and now loved to talk of the pleasures of her visit  and describe
the many comforts and wonders of the place   Emma encouraged her
talkativeness  amused by such a picture of another set of beings  and
enjoying the youthful simplicity which could speak with so much
exultation of Mrs  Martin s having   two  parlours  two very good
parlours  indeed  one of them quite as large as Mrs  Goddard s
drawing room  and of her having an upper maid who had lived
five and twenty years with her  and of their having eight cows  two of
them Alderneys  and one a little Welch cow  a very pretty little Welch
cow indeed  and of Mrs  Martin s saying as she was so fond of it  it
should be called  her  cow  and of their having a very handsome
summer house in their garden  where some day next year they were all to
drink tea   a very handsome summer house  large enough to hold a dozen
people  

For some time she was amused  without thinking beyond the immediate
cause  but as she came to understand the family better  other feelings
arose   She had taken up a wrong idea  fancying it was a mother and
daughter  a son and son s wife  who all lived together  but when it
appeared that the Mr  Martin  who bore a part in the narrative  and was
always mentioned with approbation for his great good nature in doing
something or other  was a single man  that there was no young Mrs 
Martin  no wife in the case  she did suspect danger to her poor little
friend from all this hospitality and kindness  and that  if she were
not taken care of  she might be required to sink herself forever 

With this inspiriting notion  her questions increased in number and
meaning  and she particularly led Harriet to talk more of Mr  Martin 
and there was evidently no dislike to it   Harriet was very ready to
speak of the share he had had in their moonlight walks and merry
evening games  and dwelt a good deal upon his being so very
good humoured and obliging   He had gone three miles round one day in
order to bring her some walnuts  because she had said how fond she was
of them  and in every thing else he was so very obliging   He had his
shepherd s son into the parlour one night on purpose to sing to her 
She was very fond of singing   He could sing a little himself   She
believed he was very clever  and understood every thing   He had a very
fine flock  and  while she was with them  he had been bid more for his
wool than any body in the country   She believed every body spoke well
of him   His mother and sisters were very fond of him   Mrs  Martin had
told her one day  and there was a blush as she said it   that it was
impossible for any body to be a better son  and therefore she was sure 
whenever he married  he would make a good husband   Not that she
 wanted  him to marry   She was in no hurry at all 

 Well done  Mrs  Martin   thought Emma    You know what you are about  

 And when she had come away  Mrs  Martin was so very kind as to send
Mrs  Goddard a beautiful goose  the finest goose Mrs  Goddard had ever
seen   Mrs  Goddard had dressed it on a Sunday  and asked all the three
teachers  Miss Nash  and Miss Prince  and Miss Richardson  to sup with
her  

 Mr  Martin  I suppose  is not a man of information beyond the line of
his own business  He does not read  

 Oh yes   that is  no  I do not know  but I believe he has read a good
deal  but not what you would think any thing of   He reads the
Agricultural Reports  and some other books that lay in one of the
window seats  but he reads all  them  to himself   But sometimes of an
evening  before we went to cards  he would read something aloud out of
the Elegant Extracts  very entertaining   And I know he has read the
Vicar of Wakefield   He never read the Romance of the Forest  nor The
Children of the Abbey   He had never heard of such books before I
mentioned them  but he is determined to get them now as soon as ever he
can  

The next question was  

 What sort of looking man is Mr  Martin  

 Oh  not handsome  not at all handsome   I thought him very plain at
first  but I do not think him so plain now   One does not  you know 
after a time   But did you never see him  He is in Highbury every now
and then  and he is sure to ride through every week in his way to
Kingston   He has passed you very often  

 That may be  and I may have seen him fifty times  but without having
any idea of his name   A young farmer  whether on horseback or on foot 
is the very last sort of person to raise my curiosity   The yeomanry
are precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing
to do   A degree or two lower  and a creditable appearance might
interest me  I might hope to be useful to their families in some way or
other   But a farmer can need none of my help  and is  therefore  in
one sense  as much above my notice as in every other he is below it  

 To be sure   Oh yes  It is not likely you should ever have observed
him  but he knows you very well indeed  I mean by sight  

 I have no doubt of his being a very respectable young man   I know 
indeed  that he is so  and  as such  wish him well   What do you
imagine his age to be  

 He was four and twenty the 8th of last June  and my birthday is the
23rd just a fortnight and a day s difference  which is very odd  

 Only four and twenty  That is too young to settle   His mother is
perfectly right not to be in a hurry   They seem very comfortable as
they are  and if she were to take any pains to marry him  she would
probably repent it   Six years hence  if he could meet with a good sort
of young woman in the same rank as his own  with a little money  it
might be very desirable  

 Six years hence  Dear Miss Woodhouse  he would be thirty years old  

 Well  and that is as early as most men can afford to marry  who are
not born to an independence   Mr  Martin  I imagine  has his fortune
entirely to make  cannot be at all beforehand with the world   Whatever
money he might come into when his father died  whatever his share of
the family property  it is  I dare say  all afloat  all employed in his
stock  and so forth  and though  with diligence and good luck  he may
be rich in time  it is next to impossible that he should have realised
any thing yet  

 To be sure  so it is   But they live very comfortably   They have no
indoors man  else they do not want for any thing  and Mrs  Martin talks
of taking a boy another year  

 I wish you may not get into a scrape  Harriet  whenever he does
marry   I mean  as to being acquainted with his wife  for though his
sisters  from a superior education  are not to be altogether objected
to  it does not follow that he might marry any body at all fit for you
to notice   The misfortune of your birth ought to make you particularly
careful as to your associates   There can be no doubt of your being a
gentleman s daughter  and you must support your claim to that station
by every thing within your own power  or there will be plenty of people
who would take pleasure in degrading you  

 Yes  to be sure  I suppose there are   But while I visit at Hartfield 
and you are so kind to me  Miss Woodhouse  I am not afraid of what any
body can do  

 You understand the force of influence pretty well  Harriet  but I
would have you so firmly established in good society  as to be
independent even of Hartfield and Miss Woodhouse   I want to see you
permanently well connected  and to that end it will be advisable to
have as few odd acquaintance as may be  and  therefore  I say that if
you should still be in this country when Mr  Martin marries  I wish you
may not be drawn in by your intimacy with the sisters  to be acquainted
with the wife  who will probably be some mere farmer s daughter 
without education  

 To be sure   Yes   Not that I think Mr  Martin would ever marry any
body but what had had some education  and been very well brought up 
However  I do not mean to set up my opinion against yours  and I am
sure I shall not wish for the acquaintance of his wife   I shall always
have a great regard for the Miss Martins  especially Elizabeth  and
should be very sorry to give them up  for they are quite as well
educated as me   But if he marries a very ignorant  vulgar woman 
certainly I had better not visit her  if I can help it  

Emma watched her through the fluctuations of this speech  and saw no
alarming symptoms of love   The young man had been the first admirer 
but she trusted there was no other hold  and that there would be no
serious difficulty  on Harriet s side  to oppose any friendly
arrangement of her own 

They met Mr  Martin the very next day  as they were walking on the
Donwell road   He was on foot  and after looking very respectfully at
her  looked with most unfeigned satisfaction at her companion   Emma
was not sorry to have such an opportunity of survey  and walking a few
yards forward  while they talked together  soon made her quick eye
sufficiently acquainted with Mr  Robert Martin   His appearance was
very neat  and he looked like a sensible young man  but his person had
no other advantage  and when he came to be contrasted with gentlemen 
she thought he must lose all the ground he had gained in Harriet s
inclination   Harriet was not insensible of manner  she had voluntarily
noticed her father s gentleness with admiration as well as wonder   Mr 
Martin looked as if he did not know what manner was 

They remained but a few minutes together  as Miss Woodhouse must not be
kept waiting  and Harriet then came running to her with a smiling face 
and in a flutter of spirits  which Miss Woodhouse hoped very soon to
compose 

 Only think of our happening to meet him   How very odd  It was quite a
chance  he said  that he had not gone round by Randalls   He did not
think we ever walked this road   He thought we walked towards Randalls
most days   He has not been able to get the Romance of the Forest yet 
He was so busy the last time he was at Kingston that he quite forgot
it  but he goes again to morrow   So very odd we should happen to meet 
Well  Miss Woodhouse  is he like what you expected  What do you think
of him  Do you think him so very plain  

 He is very plain  undoubtedly  remarkably plain   but that is nothing
compared with his entire want of gentility   I had no right to expect
much  and I did not expect much  but I had no idea that he could be so
very clownish  so totally without air   I had imagined him  I confess 
a degree or two nearer gentility  

 To be sure   said Harriet  in a mortified voice   he is not so genteel
as real gentlemen  

 I think  Harriet  since your acquaintance with us  you have been
repeatedly in the company of some such very real gentlemen  that you
must yourself be struck with the difference in Mr  Martin   At
Hartfield  you have had very good specimens of well educated  well bred
men   I should be surprized if  after seeing them  you could be in
company with Mr  Martin again without perceiving him to be a very
inferior creature  and rather wondering at yourself for having ever
thought him at all agreeable before   Do not you begin to feel that
now  Were not you struck  I am sure you must have been struck by his
awkward look and abrupt manner  and the uncouthness of a voice which I
heard to be wholly unmodulated as I stood here  

 Certainly  he is not like Mr  Knightley   He has not such a fine air
and way of walking as Mr  Knightley   I see the difference plain
enough   But Mr  Knightley is so very fine a man  

 Mr  Knightley s air is so remarkably good that it is not fair to
compare Mr  Martin with  him    You might not see one in a hundred with
 gentleman  so plainly written as in Mr  Knightley   But he is not the
only gentleman you have been lately used to   What say you to Mr 
Weston and Mr  Elton  Compare Mr  Martin with either of  them  
Compare their manner of carrying themselves  of walking  of speaking 
of being silent   You must see the difference  

 Oh yes   there is a great difference   But Mr  Weston is almost an old
man   Mr  Weston must be between forty and fifty  

 Which makes his good manners the more valuable   The older a person
grows  Harriet  the more important it is that their manners should not
be bad  the more glaring and disgusting any loudness  or coarseness  or
awkwardness becomes   What is passable in youth is detestable in later
age   Mr  Martin is now awkward and abrupt  what will he be at Mr 
Weston s time of life  

 There is no saying  indeed   replied Harriet rather solemnly 

 But there may be pretty good guessing   He will be a completely gross 
vulgar farmer  totally inattentive to appearances  and thinking of
nothing but profit and loss  

 Will he  indeed  That will be very bad  

 How much his business engrosses him already is very plain from the
circumstance of his forgetting to inquire for the book you recommended 
He was a great deal too full of the market to think of any thing
else  which is just as it should be  for a thriving man   What has he
to do with books  And I have no doubt that he  will  thrive  and be a
very rich man in time  and his being illiterate and coarse need not
disturb  us   

 I wonder he did not remember the book   was all Harriet s answer  and
spoken with a degree of grave displeasure which Emma thought might be
safely left to itself   She  therefore  said no more for some time 
Her next beginning was 

 In one respect  perhaps  Mr  Elton s manners are superior to Mr 
Knightley s or Mr  Weston s  They have more gentleness   They might be
more safely held up as a pattern   There is an openness  a quickness 
almost a bluntness in Mr  Weston  which every body likes in  him  
because there is so much good humour with it  but that would not do to
be copied   Neither would Mr  Knightley s downright  decided 
commanding sort of manner  though it suits  him  very well  his figure 
and look  and situation in life seem to allow it  but if any young man
were to set about copying him  he would not be sufferable   On the
contrary  I think a young man might be very safely recommended to take
Mr  Elton as a model   Mr  Elton is good humoured  cheerful  obliging 
and gentle   He seems to me to be grown particularly gentle of late   I
do not know whether he has any design of ingratiating himself with
either of us  Harriet  by additional softness  but it strikes me that
his manners are softer than they used to be   If he means any thing  it
must be to please you   Did not I tell you what he said of you the
other day  

She then repeated some warm personal praise which she had drawn from
Mr  Elton  and now did full justice to  and Harriet blushed and smiled 
and said she had always thought Mr  Elton very agreeable 

Mr  Elton was the very person fixed on by Emma for driving the young
farmer out of Harriet s head   She thought it would be an excellent
match  and only too palpably desirable  natural  and probable  for her
to have much merit in planning it   She feared it was what every body
else must think of and predict   It was not likely  however  that any
body should have equalled her in the date of the plan  as it had
entered her brain during the very first evening of Harriet s coming to
Hartfield   The longer she considered it  the greater was her sense of
its expediency   Mr  Elton s situation was most suitable  quite the
gentleman himself  and without low connexions  at the same time  not of
any family that could fairly object to the doubtful birth of Harriet 
He had a comfortable home for her  and Emma imagined a very sufficient
income  for though the vicarage of Highbury was not large  he was known
to have some independent property  and she thought very highly of him
as a good humoured  well meaning  respectable young man  without any
deficiency of useful understanding or knowledge of the world 

She had already satisfied herself that he thought Harriet a beautiful
girl  which she trusted  with such frequent meetings at Hartfield  was
foundation enough on his side  and on Harriet s there could be little
doubt that the idea of being preferred by him would have all the usual
weight and efficacy   And he was really a very pleasing young man  a
young man whom any woman not fastidious might like   He was reckoned
very handsome  his person much admired in general  though not by her 
there being a want of elegance of feature which she could not dispense
with   but the girl who could be gratified by a Robert Martin s riding
about the country to get walnuts for her might very well be conquered
by Mr  Elton s admiration 



CHAPTER V


 I do not know what your opinion may be  Mrs  Weston   said Mr 
Knightley   of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith  but
I think it a bad thing  

 A bad thing  Do you really think it a bad thing   why so  

 I think they will neither of them do the other any good  

 You surprize me  Emma must do Harriet good  and by supplying her with
a new object of interest  Harriet may be said to do Emma good   I have
been seeing their intimacy with the greatest pleasure   How very
differently we feel   Not think they will do each other any good  This
will certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma  Mr 
Knightley  

 Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you  knowing
Weston to be out  and that you must still fight your own battle  

 Mr  Weston would undoubtedly support me  if he were here  for he
thinks exactly as I do on the subject   We were speaking of it only
yesterday  and agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma  that there
should be such a girl in Highbury for her to associate with   Mr 
Knightley  I shall not allow you to be a fair judge in this case   You
are so much used to live alone  that you do not know the value of a
companion  and  perhaps no man can be a good judge of the comfort a
woman feels in the society of one of her own sex  after being used to
it all her life   I can imagine your objection to Harriet Smith   She
is not the superior young woman which Emma s friend ought to be   But
on the other hand  as Emma wants to see her better informed  it will be
an inducement to her to read more herself   They will read together 
She means it  I know  

 Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years
old   I have seen a great many lists of her drawing up at various times
of books that she meant to read regularly through  and very good lists
they were  very well chosen  and very neatly arranged  sometimes
alphabetically  and sometimes by some other rule   The list she drew up
when only fourteen  I remember thinking it did her judgment so much
credit  that I preserved it some time  and I dare say she may have made
out a very good list now   But I have done with expecting any course of
steady reading from Emma   She will never submit to any thing requiring
industry and patience  and a subjection of the fancy to the
understanding   Where Miss Taylor failed to stimulate  I may safely
affirm that Harriet Smith will do nothing   You never could persuade
her to read half so much as you wished   You know you could not  

 I dare say   replied Mrs  Weston  smiling   that I thought so
 then    but since we have parted  I can never remember Emma s omitting
to do any thing I wished  

 There is hardly any desiring to refresh such a memory as
 that     said Mr  Knightley  feelingly  and for a moment or two he had
done    But I   he soon added   who have had no such charm thrown over
my senses  must still see  hear  and remember   Emma is spoiled by
being the cleverest of her family   At ten years old  she had the
misfortune of being able to answer questions which puzzled her sister
at seventeen   She was always quick and assured  Isabella slow and
diffident   And ever since she was twelve  Emma has been mistress of
the house and of you all   In her mother she lost the only person able
to cope with her   She inherits her mother s talents  and must have
been under subjection to her  

 I should have been sorry  Mr  Knightley  to be dependent on  your 
recommendation  had I quitted Mr  Woodhouse s family and wanted another
situation  I do not think you would have spoken a good word for me to
any body   I am sure you always thought me unfit for the office I held  

 Yes   said he  smiling    You are better placed  here   very fit for a
wife  but not at all for a governess   But you were preparing yourself
to be an excellent wife all the time you were at Hartfield   You might
not give Emma such a complete education as your powers would seem to
promise  but you were receiving a very good education from  her   on
the very material matrimonial point of submitting your own will  and
doing as you were bid  and if Weston had asked me to recommend him a
wife  I should certainly have named Miss Taylor  

 Thank you   There will be very little merit in making a good wife to
such a man as Mr  Weston  

 Why  to own the truth  I am afraid you are rather thrown away  and
that with every disposition to bear  there will be nothing to be borne 
We will not despair  however   Weston may grow cross from the
wantonness of comfort  or his son may plague him  

 I hope not  that    It is not likely   No  Mr  Knightley  do not
foretell vexation from that quarter  

 Not I  indeed   I only name possibilities   I do not pretend to Emma s
genius for foretelling and guessing   I hope  with all my heart  the
young man may be a Weston in merit  and a Churchill in fortune   But
Harriet Smith  I have not half done about Harriet Smith   I think her
the very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have   She
knows nothing herself  and looks upon Emma as knowing every thing   She
is a flatterer in all her ways  and so much the worse  because
undesigned   Her ignorance is hourly flattery   How can Emma imagine
she has any thing to learn herself  while Harriet is presenting such a
delightful inferiority  And as for Harriet  I will venture to say that
 she  cannot gain by the acquaintance   Hartfield will only put her out
of conceit with all the other places she belongs to   She will grow
just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and
circumstances have placed her home   I am much mistaken if Emma s
doctrines give any strength of mind  or tend at all to make a girl
adapt herself rationally to the varieties of her situation in
life   They only give a little polish  

 I either depend more upon Emma s good sense than you do  or am more
anxious for her present comfort  for I cannot lament the acquaintance 
How well she looked last night  

 Oh  you would rather talk of her person than her mind  would you 
Very well  I shall not attempt to deny Emma s being pretty  

 Pretty  say beautiful rather   Can you imagine any thing nearer
perfect beauty than Emma altogether  face and figure  

 I do not know what I could imagine  but I confess that I have seldom
seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers   But I am a
partial old friend  

 Such an eye   the true hazle eye  and so brilliant  regular features 
open countenance  with a complexion  oh  what a bloom of full health 
and such a pretty height and size  such a firm and upright figure 
There is health  not merely in her bloom  but in her air  her head  her
glance   One hears sometimes of a child being  the picture of health  
now  Emma always gives me the idea of being the complete picture of
grown up health   She is loveliness itself   Mr  Knightley  is not she  

 I have not a fault to find with her person   he replied    I think her
all you describe   I love to look at her  and I will add this praise 
that I do not think her personally vain   Considering how very handsome
she is  she appears to be little occupied with it  her vanity lies
another way   Mrs  Weston  I am not to be talked out of my dislike of
Harriet Smith  or my dread of its doing them both harm  

 And I  Mr  Knightley  am equally stout in my confidence of its not
doing them any harm   With all dear Emma s little faults  she is an
excellent creature   Where shall we see a better daughter  or a kinder
sister  or a truer friend  No  no  she has qualities which may be
trusted  she will never lead any one really wrong  she will make no
lasting blunder  where Emma errs once  she is in the right a hundred
times  

 Very well  I will not plague you any more   Emma shall be an angel 
and I will keep my spleen to myself till Christmas brings John and
Isabella   John loves Emma with a reasonable and therefore not a blind
affection  and Isabella always thinks as he does  except when he is not
quite frightened enough about the children   I am sure of having their
opinions with me  

 I know that you all love her really too well to be unjust or unkind 
but excuse me  Mr  Knightley  if I take the liberty  I consider myself 
you know  as having somewhat of the privilege of speech that Emma s
mother might have had  the liberty of hinting that I do not think any
possible good can arise from Harriet Smith s intimacy being made a
matter of much discussion among you   Pray excuse me  but supposing any
little inconvenience may be apprehended from the intimacy  it cannot be
expected that Emma  accountable to nobody but her father  who perfectly
approves the acquaintance  should put an end to it  so long as it is a
source of pleasure to herself   It has been so many years my province
to give advice  that you cannot be surprized  Mr  Knightley  at this
little remains of office  

 Not at all   cried he   I am much obliged to you for it   It is very
good advice  and it shall have a better fate than your advice has often
found  for it shall be attended to  

 Mrs  John Knightley is easily alarmed  and might be made unhappy about
her sister  

 Be satisfied   said he   I will not raise any outcry   I will keep my
ill humour to myself   I have a very sincere interest in Emma 
Isabella does not seem more my sister  has never excited a greater
interest  perhaps hardly so great   There is an anxiety  a curiosity in
what one feels for Emma   I wonder what will become of her  

 So do I   said Mrs  Weston gently   very much  

 She always declares she will never marry  which  of course  means just
nothing at all   But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man
she cared for   It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in
love with a proper object   I should like to see Emma in love  and in
some doubt of a return  it would do her good   But there is nobody
hereabouts to attach her  and she goes so seldom from home  

 There does  indeed  seem as little to tempt her to break her
resolution at present   said Mrs  Weston   as can well be  and while
she is so happy at Hartfield  I cannot wish her to be forming any
attachment which would be creating such difficulties on poor Mr 
Woodhouse s account   I do not recommend matrimony at present to Emma 
though I mean no slight to the state  I assure you  

Part of her meaning was to conceal some favourite thoughts of her own
and Mr  Weston s on the subject  as much as possible   There were
wishes at Randalls respecting Emma s destiny  but it was not desirable
to have them suspected  and the quiet transition which Mr  Knightley
soon afterwards made to  What does Weston think of the weather  shall
we have rain   convinced her that he had nothing more to say or surmise
about Hartfield 



CHAPTER VI


Emma could not feel a doubt of having given Harriet s fancy a proper
direction and raised the gratitude of her young vanity to a very good
purpose  for she found her decidedly more sensible than before of Mr 
Elton s being a remarkably handsome man  with most agreeable manners 
and as she had no hesitation in following up the assurance of his
admiration by agreeable hints  she was soon pretty confident of
creating as much liking on Harriet s side  as there could be any
occasion for   She was quite convinced of Mr  Elton s being in the
fairest way of falling in love  if not in love already   She had no
scruple with regard to him   He talked of Harriet  and praised her so
warmly  that she could not suppose any thing wanting which a little
time would not add   His perception of the striking improvement of
Harriet s manner  since her introduction at Hartfield  was not one of
the least agreeable proofs of his growing attachment 

 You have given Miss Smith all that she required   said he   you have
made her graceful and easy   She was a beautiful creature when she came
to you  but  in my opinion  the attractions you have added are
infinitely superior to what she received from nature  

 I am glad you think I have been useful to her  but Harriet only wanted
drawing out  and receiving a few  very few hints   She had all the
natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness in herself   I
have done very little  

 If it were admissible to contradict a lady   said the gallant Mr 
Elton  

 I have perhaps given her a little more decision of character  have
taught her to think on points which had not fallen in her way before  

 Exactly so  that is what principally strikes me   So much superadded
decision of character  Skilful has been the hand  

 Great has been the pleasure  I am sure   I never met with a
disposition more truly amiable  

 I have no doubt of it   And it was spoken with a sort of sighing
animation  which had a vast deal of the lover   She was not less
pleased another day with the manner in which he seconded a sudden wish
of hers  to have Harriet s picture 

 Did you ever have your likeness taken  Harriet   said she   did you
ever sit for your picture  

Harriet was on the point of leaving the room  and only stopt to say 
with a very interesting naivete 

 Oh  dear  no  never  

No sooner was she out of sight  than Emma exclaimed 

 What an exquisite possession a good picture of her would be  I would
give any money for it   I almost long to attempt her likeness myself 
You do not know it I dare say  but two or three years ago I had a great
passion for taking likenesses  and attempted several of my friends  and
was thought to have a tolerable eye in general   But from one cause or
another  I gave it up in disgust   But really  I could almost venture 
if Harriet would sit to me   It would be such a delight to have her
picture  

 Let me entreat you   cried Mr  Elton   it would indeed be a delight 
Let me entreat you  Miss Woodhouse  to exercise so charming a talent in
favour of your friend   I know what your drawings are   How could you
suppose me ignorant  Is not this room rich in specimens of your
landscapes and flowers  and has not Mrs  Weston some inimitable
figure pieces in her drawing room  at Randalls  

Yes  good man   thought Emma  but what has all that to do with taking
likenesses  You know nothing of drawing   Don t pretend to be in
raptures about mine   Keep your raptures for Harriet s face    Well  if
you give me such kind encouragement  Mr  Elton  I believe I shall try
what I can do   Harriet s features are very delicate  which makes a
likeness difficult  and yet there is a peculiarity in the shape of the
eye and the lines about the mouth which one ought to catch  

 Exactly so  The shape of the eye and the lines about the mouth  I have
not a doubt of your success   Pray  pray attempt it   As you will do
it  it will indeed  to use your own words  be an exquisite possession  

 But I am afraid  Mr  Elton  Harriet will not like to sit   She thinks
so little of her own beauty   Did not you observe her manner of
answering me  How completely it meant   why should my picture be
drawn   

 Oh  yes  I observed it  I assure you   It was not lost on me   But
still I cannot imagine she would not be persuaded  

Harriet was soon back again  and the proposal almost immediately made 
and she had no scruples which could stand many minutes against the
earnest pressing of both the others   Emma wished to go to work
directly  and therefore produced the portfolio containing her various
attempts at portraits  for not one of them had ever been finished  that
they might decide together on the best size for Harriet   Her many
beginnings were displayed   Miniatures  half lengths  whole lengths 
pencil  crayon  and water colours had been all tried in turn   She had
always wanted to do every thing  and had made more progress both in
drawing and music than many might have done with so little labour as
she would ever submit to   She played and sang   and drew in almost
every style  but steadiness had always been wanting  and in nothing had
she approached the degree of excellence which she would have been glad
to command  and ought not to have failed of   She was not much deceived
as to her own skill either as an artist or a musician  but she was not
unwilling to have others deceived  or sorry to know her reputation for
accomplishment often higher than it deserved 

There was merit in every drawing  in the least finished  perhaps the
most  her style was spirited  but had there been much less  or had
there been ten times more  the delight and admiration of her two
companions would have been the same   They were both in ecstasies   A
likeness pleases every body  and Miss Woodhouse s performances must be
capital 

 No great variety of faces for you   said Emma    I had only my own
family to study from   There is my father  another of my father  but
the idea of sitting for his picture made him so nervous  that I could
only take him by stealth  neither of them very like therefore   Mrs 
Weston again  and again  and again  you see   Dear Mrs  Weston  always
my kindest friend on every occasion   She would sit whenever I asked
her   There is my sister  and really quite her own little elegant
figure   and the face not unlike   I should have made a good likeness
of her  if she would have sat longer  but she was in such a hurry to
have me draw her four children that she would not be quiet   Then  here
come all my attempts at three of those four children   there they are 
Henry and John and Bella  from one end of the sheet to the other  and
any one of them might do for any one of the rest   She was so eager to
have them drawn that I could not refuse  but there is no making
children of three or four years old stand still you know  nor can it be
very easy to take any likeness of them  beyond the air and complexion 
unless they are coarser featured than any of mama s children ever were 
Here is my sketch of the fourth  who was a baby   I took him as he was
sleeping on the sofa  and it is as strong a likeness of his cockade as
you would wish to see   He had nestled down his head most conveniently 
That s very like   I am rather proud of little George   The corner of
the sofa is very good   Then here is my last    unclosing a pretty
sketch of a gentleman in small size  whole length   my last and my
best  my brother  Mr  John Knightley   This did not want much of being
finished  when I put it away in a pet  and vowed I would never take
another likeness   I could not help being provoked  for after all my
pains  and when I had really made a very good likeness of it   Mrs 
Weston and I were quite agreed in thinking it  very  like   only too
handsome  too flattering  but that was a fault on the right side  after
all this  came poor dear Isabella s cold approbation of   Yes  it was a
little like  but to be sure it did not do him justice   We had had a
great deal of trouble in persuading him to sit at all   It was made a
great favour of  and altogether it was more than I could bear  and so I
never would finish it  to have it apologised over as an unfavourable
likeness  to every morning visitor in Brunswick Square   and  as I
said  I did then forswear ever drawing any body again   But for
Harriet s sake  or rather for my own  and as there are no husbands and
wives in the case  at   present   I will break my resolution now  

Mr  Elton seemed very properly struck and delighted by the idea  and
was repeating   No husbands and wives in the case at present indeed  as
you observe   Exactly so   No husbands and wives   with so interesting
a consciousness  that Emma began to consider whether she had not better
leave them together at once   But as she wanted to be drawing  the
declaration must wait a little longer 

She had soon fixed on the size and sort of portrait   It was to be a
whole length in water colours  like Mr  John Knightley s  and was
destined  if she could please herself  to hold a very honourable
station over the mantelpiece 

The sitting began  and Harriet  smiling and blushing  and afraid of not
keeping her attitude and countenance  presented a very sweet mixture of
youthful expression to the steady eyes of the artist   But there was no
doing any thing  with Mr  Elton fidgeting behind her and watching every
touch   She gave him credit for stationing himself where he might gaze
and gaze again without offence  but was really obliged to put an end to
it  and request him to place himself elsewhere   It then occurred to
her to employ him in reading 

 If he would be so good as to read to them  it would be a kindness
indeed  It would amuse away the difficulties of her part  and lessen
the irksomeness of Miss Smith s  

Mr  Elton was only too happy   Harriet listened  and Emma drew in
peace   She must allow him to be still frequently coming to look  any
thing less would certainly have been too little in a lover  and he was
ready at the smallest intermission of the pencil  to jump up and see
the progress  and be charmed   There was no being displeased with such
an encourager  for his admiration made him discern a likeness almost
before it was possible   She could not respect his eye  but his love
and his complaisance were unexceptionable 

The sitting was altogether very satisfactory  she was quite enough
pleased with the first day s sketch to wish to go on   There was no
want of likeness  she had been fortunate in the attitude  and as she
meant to throw in a little improvement to the figure  to give a little
more height  and considerably more elegance  she had great confidence
of its being in every way a pretty drawing at last  and of its filling
its destined place with credit to them both  a standing memorial of the
beauty of one  the skill of the other  and the friendship of both  with
as many other agreeable associations as Mr  Elton s very promising
attachment was likely to add 

Harriet was to sit again the next day  and Mr  Elton  just as he ought 
entreated for the permission of attending and reading to them again 

 By all means   We shall be most happy to consider you as one of the
party  

The same civilities and courtesies  the same success and satisfaction 
took place on the morrow  and accompanied the whole progress of the
picture  which was rapid and happy   Every body who saw it was pleased 
but Mr  Elton was in continual raptures  and defended it through every
criticism 

 Miss Woodhouse has given her friend the only beauty she
wanted    observed Mrs  Weston to him  not in the least suspecting that
she was addressing a lover    The expression of the eye is most
correct  but Miss Smith has not those eyebrows and eyelashes   It is
the fault of her face that she has them not  

 Do you think so   replied he    I cannot agree with you   It appears
to me a most perfect resemblance in every feature   I never saw such a
likeness in my life   We must allow for the effect of shade  you know  

 You have made her too tall  Emma   said Mr  Knightley 

Emma knew that she had  but would not own it  and Mr  Elton warmly
added 

 Oh no  certainly not too tall  not in the least too tall   Consider 
she is sitting down  which naturally presents a different  which in
short gives exactly the idea  and the proportions must be preserved 
you know   Proportions  fore shortening   Oh no  it gives one exactly
the idea of such a height as Miss Smith s  Exactly so indeed  

 It is very pretty   said Mr  Woodhouse    So prettily done  Just as
your drawings always are  my dear   I do not know any body who draws so
well as you do   The only thing I do not thoroughly like is  that she
seems to be sitting out of doors  with only a little shawl over her
shoulders  and it makes one think she must catch cold  

 But  my dear papa  it is supposed to be summer  a warm day in summer 
Look at the tree  

 But it is never safe to sit out of doors  my dear  

 You  sir  may say any thing   cried Mr  Elton   but I must confess
that I regard it as a most happy thought  the placing of Miss Smith out
of doors  and the tree is touched with such inimitable spirit  Any
other situation would have been much less in character   The naivete of
Miss Smith s manners  and altogether  Oh  it is most admirable  I
cannot keep my eyes from it   I never saw such a likeness  

The next thing wanted was to get the picture framed  and here were a
few difficulties   It must be done directly  it must be done in London 
the order must go through the hands of some intelligent person whose
taste could be depended on  and Isabella  the usual doer of all
commissions  must not be applied to  because it was December  and Mr 
Woodhouse could not bear the idea of her stirring out of her house in
the fogs of December   But no sooner was the distress known to Mr 
Elton  than it was removed   His gallantry was always on the alert 
 Might he be trusted with the commission  what infinite pleasure should
he have in executing it  he could ride to London at any time   It was
impossible to say how much he should be gratified by being employed on
such an errand  

 He was too good   she could not endure the thought   she would not
give him such a troublesome office for the world    brought on the
desired repetition of entreaties and assurances   and a very few
minutes settled the business 

Mr  Elton was to take the drawing to London  chuse the frame  and give
the directions  and Emma thought she could so pack it as to ensure its
safety without much incommoding him  while he seemed mostly fearful of
not being incommoded enough 

 What a precious deposit   said he with a tender sigh  as he received
it 

 This man is almost too gallant to be in love   thought Emma    I
should say so  but that I suppose there may be a hundred different ways
of being in love   He is an excellent young man  and will suit Harriet
exactly  it will be an  Exactly so   as he says himself  but he does
sigh and languish  and study for compliments rather more than I could
endure as a principal   I come in for a pretty good share as a second 
But it is his gratitude on Harriet s account  



CHAPTER VII


The very day of Mr  Elton s going to London produced a fresh occasion
for Emma s services towards her friend   Harriet had been at Hartfield 
as usual  soon after breakfast  and  after a time  had gone home to
return again to dinner  she returned  and sooner than had been talked
of  and with an agitated  hurried look  announcing something
extraordinary to have happened which she was longing to tell   Half a
minute brought it all out   She had heard  as soon as she got back to
Mrs  Goddard s  that Mr  Martin had been there an hour before  and
finding she was not at home  nor particularly expected  had left a
little parcel for her from one of his sisters  and gone away  and on
opening this parcel  she had actually found  besides the two songs
which she had lent Elizabeth to copy  a letter to herself  and this
letter was from him  from Mr  Martin  and contained a direct proposal
of marriage    Who could have thought it  She was so surprized she did
not know what to do   Yes  quite a proposal of marriage  and a very
good letter  at least she thought so   And he wrote as if he really
loved her very much  but she did not know  and so  she was come as fast
as she could to ask Miss Woodhouse what she should do     Emma was
half ashamed of her friend for seeming so pleased and so doubtful 

 Upon my word   she cried   the young man is determined not to lose any
thing for want of asking   He will connect himself well if he can  

 Will you read the letter   cried Harriet    Pray do   I d rather you
would  

Emma was not sorry to be pressed   She read  and was surprized   The
style of the letter was much above her expectation   There were not
merely no grammatical errors  but as a composition it would not have
disgraced a gentleman  the language  though plain  was strong and
unaffected  and the sentiments it conveyed very much to the credit of
the writer   It was short  but expressed good sense  warm attachment 
liberality  propriety  even delicacy of feeling   She paused over it 
while Harriet stood anxiously watching for her opinion  with a  Well 
well   and was at last forced to add   Is it a good letter  or is it
too short  

 Yes  indeed  a very good letter   replied Emma rather slowly   so good
a letter  Harriet  that every thing considered  I think one of his
sisters must have helped him   I can hardly imagine the young man whom
I saw talking with you the other day could express himself so well  if
left quite to his own powers  and yet it is not the style of a woman 
no  certainly  it is too strong and concise  not diffuse enough for a
woman   No doubt he is a sensible man  and I suppose may have a natural
talent for  thinks strongly and clearly  and when he takes a pen in
hand  his thoughts naturally find proper words   It is so with some
men   Yes  I understand the sort of mind   Vigorous  decided  with
sentiments to a certain point  not coarse   A better written letter 
Harriet  returning it   than I had expected  

 Well   said the still waiting Harriet    well  and  and what shall I
do  

 What shall you do  In what respect  Do you mean with regard to this
letter  

 Yes  

 But what are you in doubt of  You must answer it of course  and
speedily  

 Yes  But what shall I say  Dear Miss Woodhouse  do advise me  

 Oh no  no  the letter had much better be all your own   You will
express yourself very properly  I am sure   There is no danger of your
not being intelligible  which is the first thing   Your meaning must be
unequivocal  no doubts or demurs  and such expressions of gratitude and
concern for the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires  will
present themselves unbidden to  your  mind  I am persuaded   You need
not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his
disappointment  

 You think I ought to refuse him then   said Harriet  looking down 

 Ought to refuse him  My dear Harriet  what do you mean  Are you in any
doubt as to that  I thought  but I beg your pardon  perhaps I have been
under a mistake   I certainly have been misunderstanding you  if you
feel in doubt as to the  purport  of your answer   I had imagined you
were consulting me only as to the wording of it  

Harriet was silent   With a little reserve of manner  Emma continued 

 You mean to return a favourable answer  I collect  

 No  I do not  that is  I do not mean  What shall I do  What would you
advise me to do  Pray  dear Miss Woodhouse  tell me what I ought to do  

 I shall not give you any advice  Harriet   I will have nothing to do
with it   This is a point which you must settle with your feelings  

 I had no notion that he liked me so very much   said Harriet 
contemplating the letter   For a little while Emma persevered in her
silence  but beginning to apprehend the bewitching flattery of that
letter might be too powerful  she thought it best to say 

 I lay it down as a general rule  Harriet  that if a woman  doubts  as
to whether she should accept a man or not  she certainly ought to
refuse him   If she can hesitate as to  Yes   she ought to say  No 
directly   It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful
feelings  with half a heart   I thought it my duty as a friend  and
older than yourself  to say thus much to you   But do not imagine that
I want to influence you  

 Oh  no  I am sure you are a great deal too kind to  but if you would
just advise me what I had best do  No  no  I do not mean that  As you
say  one s mind ought to be quite made up  One should not be
hesitating  It is a very serious thing   It will be safer to say  No  
perhaps   Do you think I had better say  No   

 Not for the world   said Emma  smiling graciously   would I advise you
either way   You must be the best judge of your own happiness   If you
prefer Mr  Martin to every other person  if you think him the most
agreeable man you have ever been in company with  why should you
hesitate  You blush  Harriet   Does any body else occur to you at this
moment under such a definition  Harriet  Harriet  do not deceive
yourself  do not be run away with by gratitude and compassion   At this
moment whom are you thinking of  

The symptoms were favourable   Instead of answering  Harriet turned
away confused  and stood thoughtfully by the fire  and though the
letter was still in her hand  it was now mechanically twisted about
without regard   Emma waited the result with impatience  but not
without strong hopes   At last  with some hesitation  Harriet said  

 Miss Woodhouse  as you will not give me your opinion  I must do as
well as I can by myself  and I have now quite determined  and really
almost made up my mind  to refuse Mr  Martin   Do you think I am right  

 Perfectly  perfectly right  my dearest Harriet  you are doing just
what you ought   While you were at all in suspense I kept my feelings
to myself  but now that you are so completely decided I have no
hesitation in approving   Dear Harriet  I give myself joy of this   It
would have grieved me to lose your acquaintance  which must have been
the consequence of your marrying Mr  Martin   While you were in the
smallest degree wavering  I said nothing about it  because I would not
influence  but it would have been the loss of a friend to me   I could
not have visited Mrs  Robert Martin  of Abbey Mill Farm   Now I am
secure of you for ever  

Harriet had not surmised her own danger  but the idea of it struck her
forcibly 

 You could not have visited me   she cried  looking aghast    No  to be
sure you could not  but I never thought of that before   That would
have been too dreadful   What an escape   Dear Miss Woodhouse  I would
not give up the pleasure and honour of being intimate with you for any
thing in the world  

 Indeed  Harriet  it would have been a severe pang to lose you  but it
must have been   You would have thrown yourself out of all good
society   I must have given you up  

 Dear me   How should I ever have borne it  It would have killed me
never to come to Hartfield any more  

 Dear affectionate creature    You  banished to Abbey Mill Farm    You 
confined to the society of the illiterate and vulgar all your life   I
wonder how the young man could have the assurance to ask it   He must
have a pretty good opinion of himself  

 I do not think he is conceited either  in general   said Harriet  her
conscience opposing such censure   at least  he is very good natured 
and I shall always feel much obliged to him  and have a great regard
for  but that is quite a different thing from  and you know  though he
may like me  it does not follow that I should  and certainly I must
confess that since my visiting here I have seen people  and if one
comes to compare them  person and manners  there is no comparison at
all   one  is so very handsome and agreeable   However  I do really
think Mr  Martin a very amiable young man  and have a great opinion of
him  and his being so much attached to me  and his writing such a
letter  but as to leaving you  it is what I would not do upon any
consideration  

 Thank you  thank you  my own sweet little friend   We will not be
parted   A woman is not to marry a man merely because she is asked  or
because he is attached to her  and can write a tolerable letter  

 Oh no   and it is but a short letter too  

Emma felt the bad taste of her friend  but let it pass with a  very
true  and it would be a small consolation to her  for the clownish
manner which might be offending her every hour of the day  to know that
her husband could write a good letter  

 Oh  yes  very   Nobody cares for a letter  the thing is  to be always
happy with pleasant companions   I am quite determined to refuse him 
But how shall I do  What shall I say  

Emma assured her there would be no difficulty in the answer  and
advised its being written directly  which was agreed to  in the hope of
her assistance  and though Emma continued to protest against any
assistance being wanted  it was in fact given in the formation of every
sentence   The looking over his letter again  in replying to it  had
such a softening tendency  that it was particularly necessary to brace
her up with a few decisive expressions  and she was so very much
concerned at the idea of making him unhappy  and thought so much of
what his mother and sisters would think and say  and was so anxious
that they should not fancy her ungrateful  that Emma believed if the
young man had come in her way at that moment  he would have been
accepted after all 

This letter  however  was written  and sealed  and sent   The business
was finished  and Harriet safe   She was rather low all the evening 
but Emma could allow for her amiable regrets  and sometimes relieved
them by speaking of her own affection  sometimes by bringing forward
the idea of Mr  Elton 

 I shall never be invited to Abbey Mill again   was said in rather a
sorrowful tone 

 Nor  if you were  could I ever bear to part with you  my Harriet   You
are a great deal too necessary at Hartfield to be spared to Abbey Mill  

 And I am sure I should never want to go there  for I am never happy
but at Hartfield  

Some time afterwards it was   I think Mrs  Goddard would be very much
surprized if she knew what had happened   I am sure Miss Nash
would  for Miss Nash thinks her own sister very well married  and it is
only a linen draper  

 One should be sorry to see greater pride or refinement in the teacher
of a school  Harriet   I dare say Miss Nash would envy you such an
opportunity as this of being married   Even this conquest would appear
valuable in her eyes   As to any thing superior for you  I suppose she
is quite in the dark   The attentions of a certain person can hardly be
among the tittle tattle of Highbury yet   Hitherto I fancy you and I
are the only people to whom his looks and manners have explained
themselves  

Harriet blushed and smiled  and said something about wondering that
people should like her so much   The idea of Mr  Elton was certainly
cheering  but still  after a time  she was tender hearted again towards
the rejected Mr  Martin 

 Now he has got my letter   said she softly    I wonder what they are
all doing  whether his sisters know  if he is unhappy  they will be
unhappy too   I hope he will not mind it so very much  

 Let us think of those among our absent friends who are more cheerfully
employed   cried Emma    At this moment  perhaps  Mr  Elton is shewing
your picture to his mother and sisters  telling how much more beautiful
is the original  and after being asked for it five or six times 
allowing them to hear your name  your own dear name  

 My picture   But he has left my picture in Bond street  

 Has he so   Then I know nothing of Mr  Elton   No  my dear little
modest Harriet  depend upon it the picture will not be in Bond street
till just before he mounts his horse to morrow   It is his companion
all this evening  his solace  his delight   It opens his designs to his
family  it introduces you among them  it diffuses through the party
those pleasantest feelings of our nature  eager curiosity and warm
prepossession   How cheerful  how animated  how suspicious  how busy
their imaginations all are  

Harriet smiled again  and her smiles grew stronger 



CHAPTER VIII


Harriet slept at Hartfield that night   For some weeks past she had
been spending more than half her time there  and gradually getting to
have a bed room appropriated to herself  and Emma judged it best in
every respect  safest and kindest  to keep her with them as much as
possible just at present   She was obliged to go the next morning for
an hour or two to Mrs  Goddard s  but it was then to be settled that
she should return to Hartfield  to make a regular visit of some days 

While she was gone  Mr  Knightley called  and sat some time with Mr 
Woodhouse and Emma  till Mr  Woodhouse  who had previously made up his
mind to walk out  was persuaded by his daughter not to defer it  and
was induced by the entreaties of both  though against the scruples of
his own civility  to leave Mr  Knightley for that purpose   Mr 
Knightley  who had nothing of ceremony about him  was offering by his
short  decided answers  an amusing contrast to the protracted apologies
and civil hesitations of the other 

 Well  I believe  if you will excuse me  Mr  Knightley  if you will not
consider me as doing a very rude thing  I shall take Emma s advice and
go out for a quarter of an hour   As the sun is out  I believe I had
better take my three turns while I can   I treat you without ceremony 
Mr  Knightley   We invalids think we are privileged people  

 My dear sir  do not make a stranger of me  

 I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter   Emma will be happy to
entertain you   And therefore I think I will beg your excuse and take
my three turns  my winter walk  

 You cannot do better  sir  

 I would ask for the pleasure of your company  Mr  Knightley  but I am
a very slow walker  and my pace would be tedious to you  and  besides 
you have another long walk before you  to Donwell Abbey  

 Thank you  sir  thank you  I am going this moment myself  and I think
the sooner  you  go the better   I will fetch your greatcoat and open
the garden door for you  

Mr  Woodhouse at last was off  but Mr  Knightley  instead of being
immediately off likewise  sat down again  seemingly inclined for more
chat   He began speaking of Harriet  and speaking of her with more
voluntary praise than Emma had ever heard before 

 I cannot rate her beauty as you do   said he   but she is a pretty
little creature  and I am inclined to think very well of her
disposition   Her character depends upon those she is with  but in good
hands she will turn out a valuable woman  

 I am glad you think so  and the good hands  I hope  may not be
wanting  

 Come   said he   you are anxious for a compliment  so I will tell you
that you have improved her   You have cured her of her school girl s
giggle  she really does you credit  

 Thank you   I should be mortified indeed if I did not believe I had
been of some use  but it is not every body who will bestow praise where
they may    You  do not often overpower me with it  

 You are expecting her again  you say  this morning  

 Almost every moment   She has been gone longer already than she
intended  

 Something has happened to delay her  some visitors perhaps  

 Highbury gossips   Tiresome wretches  

 Harriet may not consider every body tiresome that you would  

Emma knew this was too true for contradiction  and therefore said
nothing   He presently added  with a smile 

 I do not pretend to fix on times or places  but I must tell you that I
have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of
something to her advantage  

 Indeed  how so  of what sort  

 A very serious sort  I assure you   still smiling 

 Very serious  I can think of but one thing  Who is in love with her 
Who makes you their confidant  

Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr  Elton s having dropt a hint 
Mr  Knightley was a sort of general friend and adviser  and she knew
Mr  Elton looked up to him 

 I have reason to think   he replied   that Harriet Smith will soon
have an offer of marriage  and from a most unexceptionable
quarter   Robert Martin is the man   Her visit to Abbey Mill  this
summer  seems to have done his business   He is desperately in love and
means to marry her  

 He is very obliging   said Emma   but is he sure that Harriet means to
marry him  

 Well  well  means to make her an offer then   Will that do  He came to
the Abbey two evenings ago  on purpose to consult me about it   He
knows I have a thorough regard for him and all his family  and  I
believe  considers me as one of his best friends   He came to ask me
whether I thought it would be imprudent in him to settle so early 
whether I thought her too young  in short  whether I approved his
choice altogether  having some apprehension perhaps of her being
considered  especially since  your  making so much of her  as in a line
of society above him   I was very much pleased with all that he said 
I never hear better sense from any one than Robert Martin   He always
speaks to the purpose  open  straightforward  and very well judging 
He told me every thing  his circumstances and plans  and what they all
proposed doing in the event of his marriage   He is an excellent young
man  both as son and brother   I had no hesitation in advising him to
marry   He proved to me that he could afford it  and that being the
case  I was convinced he could not do better   I praised the fair lady
too  and altogether sent him away very happy   If he had never esteemed
my opinion before  he would have thought highly of me then  and  I dare
say  left the house thinking me the best friend and counsellor man ever
had   This happened the night before last   Now  as we may fairly
suppose  he would not allow much time to pass before he spoke to the
lady  and as he does not appear to have spoken yesterday  it is not
unlikely that he should be at Mrs  Goddard s to day  and she may be
detained by a visitor  without thinking him at all a tiresome wretch  

 Pray  Mr  Knightley   said Emma  who had been smiling to herself
through a great part of this speech   how do you know that Mr  Martin
did not speak yesterday  

 Certainly   replied he  surprized   I do not absolutely know it  but
it may be inferred   Was not she the whole day with you  

 Come   said she   I will tell you something  in return for what you
have told me   He did speak yesterday  that is  he wrote  and was
refused  

This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed  and Mr 
Knightley actually looked red with surprize and displeasure  as he
stood up  in tall indignation  and said 

 Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her   What is the
foolish girl about  

 Oh  to be sure   cried Emma   it is always incomprehensible to a man
that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage   A man always
imagines a woman to be ready for any body who asks her  

 Nonsense  a man does not imagine any such thing   But what is the
meaning of this  Harriet Smith refuse Robert Martin  madness  if it is
so  but I hope you are mistaken  

 I saw her answer   nothing could be clearer  

 You saw her answer   you wrote her answer too   Emma  this is your
doing   You persuaded her to refuse him  

 And if I did   which  however  I am far from allowing  I should not
feel that I had done wrong   Mr  Martin is a very respectable young
man  but I cannot admit him to be Harriet s equal  and am rather
surprized indeed that he should have ventured to address her   By your
account  he does seem to have had some scruples   It is a pity that
they were ever got over  

 Not Harriet s equal   exclaimed Mr  Knightley loudly and warmly  and
with calmer asperity  added  a few moments afterwards   No  he is not
her equal indeed  for he is as much her superior in sense as in
situation   Emma  your infatuation about that girl blinds you   What
are Harriet Smith s claims  either of birth  nature or education  to
any connexion higher than Robert Martin  She is the natural daughter of
nobody knows whom  with probably no settled provision at all  and
certainly no respectable relations   She is known only as
parlour boarder at a common school   She is not a sensible girl  nor a
girl of any information   She has been taught nothing useful  and is
too young and too simple to have acquired any thing herself   At her
age she can have no experience  and with her little wit  is not very
likely ever to have any that can avail her   She is pretty  and she is
good tempered  and that is all   My only scruple in advising the match
was on his account  as being beneath his deserts  and a bad connexion
for him   I felt that  as to fortune  in all probability he might do
much better  and that as to a rational companion or useful helpmate  he
could not do worse   But I could not reason so to a man in love  and
was willing to trust to there being no harm in her  to her having that
sort of disposition  which  in good hands  like his  might be easily
led aright and turn out very well   The advantage of the match I felt
to be all on her side  and had not the smallest doubt  nor have I now 
that there would be a general cry out upon her extreme good luck   Even
 your  satisfaction I made sure of   It crossed my mind immediately
that you would not regret your friend s leaving Highbury  for the sake
of her being settled so well   I remember saying to myself   Even Emma 
with all her partiality for Harriet  will think this a good match   

 I cannot help wondering at your knowing so little of Emma as to say
any such thing   What  think a farmer   and with all his sense and all
his merit Mr  Martin is nothing more   a good match for my intimate
friend  Not regret her leaving Highbury for the sake of marrying a man
whom I could never admit as an acquaintance of my own  I wonder you
should think it possible for me to have such feelings   I assure you
mine are very different   I must think your statement by no means fair 
You are not just to Harriet s claims   They would be estimated very
differently by others as well as myself  Mr  Martin may be the richest
of the two  but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in
society   The sphere in which she moves is much above his   It would be
a degradation  

 A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance  to be married to a
respectable  intelligent gentleman farmer  

 As to the circumstances of her birth  though in a legal sense she may
be called Nobody  it will not hold in common sense   She is not to pay
for the offence of others  by being held below the level of those with
whom she is brought up   There can scarcely be a doubt that her father
is a gentleman  and a gentleman of fortune   Her allowance is very
liberal  nothing has ever been grudged for her improvement or
comfort   That she is a gentleman s daughter  is indubitable to me 
that she associates with gentlemen s daughters  no one  I apprehend 
will deny   She is superior to Mr  Robert Martin  

 Whoever might be her parents   said Mr  Knightley   whoever may have
had the charge of her  it does not appear to have been any part of
their plan to introduce her into what you would call good society 
After receiving a very indifferent education she is left in Mrs 
Goddard s hands to shift as she can   to move  in short  in Mrs 
Goddard s line  to have Mrs  Goddard s acquaintance   Her friends
evidently thought this good enough for her  and it  was  good enough 
She desired nothing better herself   Till you chose to turn her into a
friend  her mind had no distaste for her own set  nor any ambition
beyond it   She was as happy as possible with the Martins in the
summer   She had no sense of superiority then   If she has it now  you
have given it   You have been no friend to Harriet Smith  Emma   Robert
Martin would never have proceeded so far  if he had not felt persuaded
of her not being disinclined to him   I know him well   He has too much
real feeling to address any woman on the haphazard of selfish passion 
And as to conceit  he is the farthest from it of any man I know 
Depend upon it he had encouragement  

It was most convenient to Emma not to make a direct reply to this
assertion  she chose rather to take up her own line of the subject
again 

 You are a very warm friend to Mr  Martin  but  as I said before  are
unjust to Harriet   Harriet s claims to marry well are not so
contemptible as you represent them   She is not a clever girl  but she
has better sense than you are aware of  and does not deserve to have
her understanding spoken of so slightingly   Waiving that point 
however  and supposing her to be  as you describe her  only pretty and
good natured  let me tell you  that in the degree she possesses them 
they are not trivial recommendations to the world in general  for she
is  in fact  a beautiful girl  and must be thought so by ninety nine
people out of an hundred  and till it appears that men are much more
philosophic on the subject of beauty than they are generally supposed 
till they do fall in love with well informed minds instead of handsome
faces  a girl  with such loveliness as Harriet  has a certainty of
being admired and sought after  of having the power of chusing from
among many  consequently a claim to be nice   Her good nature  too  is
not so very slight a claim  comprehending  as it does  real  thorough
sweetness of temper and manner  a very humble opinion of herself  and a
great readiness to be pleased with other people   I am very much
mistaken if your sex in general would not think such beauty  and such
temper  the highest claims a woman could possess  

 Upon my word  Emma  to hear you abusing the reason you have  is almost
enough to make me think so too   Better be without sense  than misapply
it as you do  

 To be sure   cried she playfully    I know  that  is the feeling of
you all   I know that such a girl as Harriet is exactly what every man
delights in  what at once bewitches his senses and satisfies his
judgment   Oh  Harriet may pick and chuse   Were you  yourself  ever to
marry  she is the very woman for you   And is she  at seventeen  just
entering into life  just beginning to be known  to be wondered at
because she does not accept the first offer she receives  No  pray let
her have time to look about her  

 I have always thought it a very foolish intimacy   said Mr  Knightley
presently   though I have kept my thoughts to myself  but I now
perceive that it will be a very unfortunate one for Harriet   You will
puff her up with such ideas of her own beauty  and of what she has a
claim to  that  in a little while  nobody within her reach will be good
enough for her   Vanity working on a weak head  produces every sort of
mischief   Nothing so easy as for a young lady to raise her
expectations too high   Miss Harriet Smith may not find offers of
marriage flow in so fast  though she is a very pretty girl   Men of
sense  whatever you may chuse to say  do not want silly wives   Men of
family would not be very fond of connecting themselves with a girl of
such obscurity  and most prudent men would be afraid of the
inconvenience and disgrace they might be involved in  when the mystery
of her parentage came to be revealed   Let her marry Robert Martin  and
she is safe  respectable  and happy for ever  but if you encourage her
to expect to marry greatly  and teach her to be satisfied with nothing
less than a man of consequence and large fortune  she may be a
parlour boarder at Mrs  Goddard s all the rest of her life  or  at
least   for Harriet Smith is a girl who will marry somebody or other  
till she grow desperate  and is glad to catch at the old
writing master s son  

 We think so very differently on this point  Mr  Knightley  that there
can be no use in canvassing it   We shall only be making each other
more angry   But as to my  letting  her marry Robert Martin  it is
impossible  she has refused him  and so decidedly  I think  as must
prevent any second application   She must abide by the evil of having
refused him  whatever it may be  and as to the refusal itself  I will
not pretend to say that I might not influence her a little  but I
assure you there was very little for me or for any body to do   His
appearance is so much against him  and his manner so bad  that if she
ever were disposed to favour him  she is not now   I can imagine  that
before she had seen any body superior  she might tolerate him   He was
the brother of her friends  and he took pains to please her  and
altogether  having seen nobody better  that must have been his great
assistant  she might not  while she was at Abbey Mill  find him
disagreeable   But the case is altered now   She knows now what
gentlemen are  and nothing but a gentleman in education and manner has
any chance with Harriet  

 Nonsense  errant nonsense  as ever was talked   cried Mr 
Knightley    Robert Martin s manners have sense  sincerity  and
good humour to recommend them  and his mind has more true gentility
than Harriet Smith could understand  

Emma made no answer  and tried to look cheerfully unconcerned  but was
really feeling uncomfortable and wanting him very much to be gone   She
did not repent what she had done  she still thought herself a better
judge of such a point of female right and refinement than he could be 
but yet she had a sort of habitual respect for his judgment in general 
which made her dislike having it so loudly against her  and to have him
sitting just opposite to her in angry state  was very disagreeable 
Some minutes passed in this unpleasant silence  with only one attempt
on Emma s side to talk of the weather  but he made no answer   He was
thinking   The result of his thoughts appeared at last in these words 

 Robert Martin has no great loss  if he can but think so  and I hope it
will not be long before he does   Your views for Harriet are best known
to yourself  but as you make no secret of your love of match making  it
is fair to suppose that views  and plans  and projects you have   and
as a friend I shall just hint to you that if Elton is the man  I think
it will be all labour in vain  

Emma laughed and disclaimed   He continued 

 Depend upon it  Elton will not do   Elton is a very good sort of man 
and a very respectable vicar of Highbury  but not at all likely to make
an imprudent match   He knows the value of a good income as well as any
body   Elton may talk sentimentally  but he will act rationally   He is
as well acquainted with his own claims  as you can be with Harriet s 
He knows that he is a very handsome young man  and a great favourite
wherever he goes  and from his general way of talking in unreserved
moments  when there are only men present  I am convinced that he does
not mean to throw himself away   I have heard him speak with great
animation of a large family of young ladies that his sisters are
intimate with  who have all twenty thousand pounds apiece  

 I am very much obliged to you   said Emma  laughing again    If I had
set my heart on Mr  Elton s marrying Harriet  it would have been very
kind to open my eyes  but at present I only want to keep Harriet to
myself   I have done with match making indeed   I could never hope to
equal my own doings at Randalls   I shall leave off while I am well  

 Good morning to you    said he  rising and walking off abruptly   He
was very much vexed   He felt the disappointment of the young man  and
was mortified to have been the means of promoting it  by the sanction
he had given  and the part which he was persuaded Emma had taken in the
affair  was provoking him exceedingly 

Emma remained in a state of vexation too  but there was more
indistinctness in the causes of her s  than in his   She did not always
feel so absolutely satisfied with herself  so entirely convinced that
her opinions were right and her adversary s wrong  as Mr  Knightley 
He walked off in more complete self approbation than he left for her 
She was not so materially cast down  however  but that a little time
and the return of Harriet were very adequate restoratives   Harriet s
staying away so long was beginning to make her uneasy   The possibility
of the young man s coming to Mrs  Goddard s that morning  and meeting
with Harriet and pleading his own cause  gave alarming ideas   The
dread of such a failure after all became the prominent uneasiness  and
when Harriet appeared  and in very good spirits  and without having any
such reason to give for her long absence  she felt a satisfaction which
settled her with her own mind  and convinced her  that let Mr 
Knightley think or say what he would  she had done nothing which
woman s friendship and woman s feelings would not justify 

He had frightened her a little about Mr  Elton  but when she considered
that Mr  Knightley could not have observed him as she had done  neither
with the interest  nor  she must be allowed to tell herself  in spite
of Mr  Knightley s pretensions  with the skill of such an observer on
such a question as herself  that he had spoken it hastily and in anger 
she was able to believe  that he had rather said what he wished
resentfully to be true  than what he knew any thing about   He
certainly might have heard Mr  Elton speak with more unreserve than she
had ever done  and Mr  Elton might not be of an imprudent 
inconsiderate disposition as to money matters  he might naturally be
rather attentive than otherwise to them  but then  Mr  Knightley did
not make due allowance for the influence of a strong passion at war
with all interested motives   Mr  Knightley saw no such passion  and of
course thought nothing of its effects  but she saw too much of it to
feel a doubt of its overcoming any hesitations that a reasonable
prudence might originally suggest  and more than a reasonable  becoming
degree of prudence  she was very sure did not belong to Mr  Elton 

Harriet s cheerful look and manner established hers  she came back  not
to think of Mr  Martin  but to talk of Mr  Elton   Miss Nash had been
telling her something  which she repeated immediately with great
delight   Mr  Perry had been to Mrs  Goddard s to attend a sick child 
and Miss Nash had seen him  and he had told Miss Nash  that as he was
coming back yesterday from Clayton Park  he had met Mr  Elton  and
found to his great surprize  that Mr  Elton was actually on his road to
London  and not meaning to return till the morrow  though it was the
whist club night  which he had been never known to miss before  and Mr 
Perry had remonstrated with him about it  and told him how shabby it
was in him  their best player  to absent himself  and tried very much
to persuade him to put off his journey only one day  but it would not
do  Mr  Elton had been determined to go on  and had said in a  very 
 particular  way indeed  that he was going on business which he would
not put off for any inducement in the world  and something about a very
enviable commission  and being the bearer of something exceedingly
precious   Mr  Perry could not quite understand him  but he was very
sure there must be a  lady  in the case  and he told him so  and Mr 
Elton only looked very conscious and smiling  and rode off in great
spirits   Miss Nash had told her all this  and had talked a great deal
more about Mr  Elton  and said  looking so very significantly at her 
 that she did not pretend to understand what his business might be  but
she only knew that any woman whom Mr  Elton could prefer  she should
think the luckiest woman in the world  for  beyond a doubt  Mr  Elton
had not his equal for beauty or agreeableness  



CHAPTER IX


Mr  Knightley might quarrel with her  but Emma could not quarrel with
herself   He was so much displeased  that it was longer than usual
before he came to Hartfield again  and when they did meet  his grave
looks shewed that she was not forgiven   She was sorry  but could not
repent   On the contrary  her plans and proceedings were more and more
justified and endeared to her by the general appearances of the next
few days 

The Picture  elegantly framed  came safely to hand soon after Mr 
Elton s return  and being hung over the mantelpiece of the common
sitting room  he got up to look at it  and sighed out his half
sentences of admiration just as he ought  and as for Harriet s
feelings  they were visibly forming themselves into as strong and
steady an attachment as her youth and sort of mind admitted   Emma was
soon perfectly satisfied of Mr  Martin s being no otherwise remembered 
than as he furnished a contrast with Mr  Elton  of the utmost advantage
to the latter 

Her views of improving her little friend s mind  by a great deal of
useful reading and conversation  had never yet led to more than a few
first chapters  and the intention of going on to morrow   It was much
easier to chat than to study  much pleasanter to let her imagination
range and work at Harriet s fortune  than to be labouring to enlarge
her comprehension or exercise it on sober facts  and the only literary
pursuit which engaged Harriet at present  the only mental provision she
was making for the evening of life  was the collecting and transcribing
all the riddles of every sort that she could meet with  into a thin
quarto of hot pressed paper  made up by her friend  and ornamented with
ciphers and trophies 

In this age of literature  such collections on a very grand scale are
not uncommon   Miss Nash  head teacher at Mrs  Goddard s  had written
out at least three hundred  and Harriet  who had taken the first hint
of it from her  hoped  with Miss Woodhouse s help  to get a great many
more   Emma assisted with her invention  memory and taste  and as
Harriet wrote a very pretty hand  it was likely to be an arrangement of
the first order  in form as well as quantity 

Mr  Woodhouse was almost as much interested in the business as the
girls  and tried very often to recollect something worth their putting
in    So many clever riddles as there used to be when he was young  he
wondered he could not remember them  but he hoped he should in time  
And it always ended in  Kitty  a fair but frozen maid  

His good friend Perry  too  whom he had spoken to on the subject  did
not at present recollect any thing of the riddle kind  but he had
desired Perry to be upon the watch  and as he went about so much 
something  he thought  might come from that quarter 

It was by no means his daughter s wish that the intellects of Highbury
in general should be put under requisition   Mr  Elton was the only one
whose assistance she asked   He was invited to contribute any really
good enigmas  charades  or conundrums that he might recollect  and she
had the pleasure of seeing him most intently at work with his
recollections  and at the same time  as she could perceive  most
earnestly careful that nothing ungallant  nothing that did not breathe
a compliment to the sex should pass his lips   They owed to him their
two or three politest puzzles  and the joy and exultation with which at
last he recalled  and rather sentimentally recited  that well known
charade 

    My first doth affliction denote 
      Which my second is destin d to feel
    And my whole is the best antidote
      That affliction to soften and heal   

made her quite sorry to acknowledge that they had transcribed it some
pages ago already 

 Why will not you write one yourself for us  Mr  Elton   said she 
 that is the only security for its freshness  and nothing could be
easier to you  

 Oh no  he had never written  hardly ever  any thing of the kind in his
life   The stupidest fellow  He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse   he
stopt a moment   or Miss Smith could inspire him  

The very next day however produced some proof of inspiration   He
called for a few moments  just to leave a piece of paper on the table
containing  as he said  a charade  which a friend of his had addressed
to a young lady  the object of his admiration  but which  from his
manner  Emma was immediately convinced must be his own 

 I do not offer it for Miss Smith s collection   said he    Being my
friend s  I have no right to expose it in any degree to the public eye 
but perhaps you may not dislike looking at it  

The speech was more to Emma than to Harriet  which Emma could
understand   There was deep consciousness about him  and he found it
easier to meet her eye than her friend s   He was gone the next
moment   after another moment s pause 

 Take it   said Emma  smiling  and pushing the paper towards
Harriet   it is for you   Take your own  

But Harriet was in a tremor  and could not touch it  and Emma  never
loth to be first  was obliged to examine it herself 

        To Miss  

          CHARADE 

    My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings 
      Lords of the earth  their luxury and ease 
    Another view of man  my second brings 
      Behold him there  the monarch of the seas 

    But ah  united  what reverse we have 
      Man s boasted power and freedom  all are flown 
    Lord of the earth and sea  he bends a slave 
      And woman  lovely woman  reigns alone 

      Thy ready wit the word will soon supply 
      May its approval beam in that soft eye 

She cast her eye over it  pondered  caught the meaning  read it through
again to be quite certain  and quite mistress of the lines  and then
passing it to Harriet  sat happily smiling  and saying to herself 
while Harriet was puzzling over the paper in all the confusion of hope
and dulness   Very well  Mr  Elton  very well indeed   I have read
worse charades    Courtship   a very good hint   I give you credit for
it   This is feeling your way   This is saying very plainly   Pray 
Miss Smith  give me leave to pay my addresses to you   Approve my
charade and my intentions in the same glance  

      May its approval beam in that soft eye 

Harriet exactly   Soft is the very word for her eye  of all epithets 
the justest that could be given 

      Thy ready wit the word will soon supply 

Humph  Harriet s ready wit  All the better   A man must be very much in
love  indeed  to describe her so   Ah  Mr  Knightley  I wish you had
the benefit of this  I think this would convince you   For once in your
life you would be obliged to own yourself mistaken   An excellent
charade indeed  and very much to the purpose   Things must come to a
crisis soon now 

She was obliged to break off from these very pleasant observations 
which were otherwise of a sort to run into great length  by the
eagerness of Harriet s wondering questions 

 What can it be  Miss Woodhouse   what can it be  I have not an idea  I
cannot guess it in the least   What can it possibly be  Do try to find
it out  Miss Woodhouse   Do help me   I never saw any thing so hard 
Is it kingdom  I wonder who the friend was  and who could be the young
lady   Do you think it is a good one  Can it be woman 

      And woman  lovely woman  reigns alone 

Can it be Neptune 

      Behold him there  the monarch of the seas 

Or a trident  or a mermaid  or a shark  Oh  no  shark is only one
syllable   It must be very clever  or he would not have brought it 
Oh  Miss Woodhouse  do you think we shall ever find it out  

 Mermaids and sharks  Nonsense  My dear Harriet  what are you thinking
of  Where would be the use of his bringing us a charade made by a
friend upon a mermaid or a shark  Give me the paper and listen 

For Miss         read Miss Smith 

    My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings 
      Lords of the earth  their luxury and ease 

That is  court  

    Another view of man  my second brings 
      Behold him there  the monarch of the seas 

That is  ship    plain as it can be   Now for the cream 

    But ah  united    courtship   you know   what reverse we have 
      Man s boasted power and freedom  all are flown 
    Lord of the earth and sea  he bends a slave 
      And woman  lovely woman  reigns alone 

A very proper compliment   and then follows the application  which I
think  my dear Harriet  you cannot find much difficulty in
comprehending   Read it in comfort to yourself   There can be no doubt
of its being written for you and to you  

Harriet could not long resist so delightful a persuasion   She read the
concluding lines  and was all flutter and happiness   She could not
speak   But she was not wanted to speak   It was enough for her to
feel   Emma spoke for her 

 There is so pointed  and so particular a meaning in this compliment  
said she   that I cannot have a doubt as to Mr  Elton s intentions 
You are his object  and you will soon receive the completest proof of
it   I thought it must be so   I thought I could not be so deceived 
but now  it is clear  the state of his mind is as clear and decided  as
my wishes on the subject have been ever since I knew you   Yes 
Harriet  just so long have I been wanting the very circumstance to
happen what has happened   I could never tell whether an attachment
between you and Mr  Elton were most desirable or most natural   Its
probability and its eligibility have really so equalled each other  I
am very happy   I congratulate you  my dear Harriet  with all my heart 
This is an attachment which a woman may well feel pride in creating 
This is a connexion which offers nothing but good   It will give you
every thing that you want  consideration  independence  a proper
home  it will fix you in the centre of all your real friends  close to
Hartfield and to me  and confirm our intimacy for ever   This  Harriet 
is an alliance which can never raise a blush in either of us  

 Dear Miss Woodhouse    and  Dear Miss Woodhouse   was all that
Harriet  with many tender embraces could articulate at first  but when
they did arrive at something more like conversation  it was
sufficiently clear to her friend that she saw  felt  anticipated  and
remembered just as she ought   Mr  Elton s superiority had very ample
acknowledgment 

 Whatever you say is always right   cried Harriet   and therefore I
suppose  and believe  and hope it must be so  but otherwise I could not
have imagined it   It is so much beyond any thing I deserve   Mr 
Elton  who might marry any body  There cannot be two opinions about
 him    He is so very superior   Only think of those sweet verses   To
Miss          Dear me  how clever   Could it really be meant for me  

 I cannot make a question  or listen to a question about that   It is a
certainty   Receive it on my judgment   It is a sort of prologue to the
play  a motto to the chapter  and will be soon followed by
matter of fact prose  

 It is a sort of thing which nobody could have expected   I am sure  a
month ago  I had no more idea myself   The strangest things do take
place  

 When Miss Smiths and Mr  Eltons get acquainted  they do indeed  and
really it is strange  it is out of the common course that what is so
evidently  so palpably desirable  what courts the pre arrangement of
other people  should so immediately shape itself into the proper form 
You and Mr  Elton are by situation called together  you belong to one
another by every circumstance of your respective homes   Your marrying
will be equal to the match at Randalls   There does seem to be a
something in the air of Hartfield which gives love exactly the right
direction  and sends it into the very channel where it ought to flow 

      The course of true love never did run smooth  

A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that
passage  

 That Mr  Elton should really be in love with me   me  of all people 
who did not know him  to speak to him  at Michaelmas  And he  the very
handsomest man that ever was  and a man that every body looks up to 
quite like Mr  Knightley  His company so sought after  that every body
says he need not eat a single meal by himself if he does not chuse it 
that he has more invitations than there are days in the week   And so
excellent in the Church  Miss Nash has put down all the texts he has
ever preached from since he came to Highbury   Dear me  When I look
back to the first time I saw him  How little did I think   The two
Abbots and I ran into the front room and peeped through the blind when
we heard he was going by  and Miss Nash came and scolded us away  and
staid to look through herself  however  she called me back presently 
and let me look too  which was very good natured  And how beautiful we
thought he looked   He was arm in arm with Mr  Cole  

 This is an alliance which  whoever  whatever your friends may be  must
be agreeable to them  provided at least they have common sense  and we
are not to be addressing our conduct to fools   If they are anxious to
see you  happily  married  here is a man whose amiable character gives
every assurance of it   if they wish to have you settled in the same
country and circle which they have chosen to place you in  here it will
be accomplished  and if their only object is that you should  in the
common phrase  be  well  married  here is the comfortable fortune  the
respectable establishment  the rise in the world which must satisfy
them  

 Yes  very true   How nicely you talk  I love to hear you   You
understand every thing   You and Mr  Elton are one as clever as the
other   This charade   If I had studied a twelvemonth  I could never
have made any thing like it  

 I thought he meant to try his skill  by his manner of declining it
yesterday  

 I do think it is  without exception  the best charade I ever read  

 I never read one more to the purpose  certainly  

 It is as long again as almost all we have had before  

 I do not consider its length as particularly in its favour   Such
things in general cannot be too short  

Harriet was too intent on the lines to hear   The most satisfactory
comparisons were rising in her mind 

 It is one thing   said she  presently  her cheeks in a glow   to have
very good sense in a common way  like every body else  and if there is
any thing to say  to sit down and write a letter  and say just what you
must  in a short way  and another  to write verses and charades like
this  

Emma could not have desired a more spirited rejection of Mr  Martin s
prose 

 Such sweet lines   continued Harriet   these two last   But how shall
I ever be able to return the paper  or say I have found it out   Oh 
Miss Woodhouse  what can we do about that  

 Leave it to me   You do nothing   He will be here this evening  I dare
say  and then I will give it him back  and some nonsense or other will
pass between us  and you shall not be committed   Your soft eyes shall
chuse their own time for beaming   Trust to me  

 Oh  Miss Woodhouse  what a pity that I must not write this beautiful
charade into my book  I am sure I have not got one half so good  

 Leave out the two last lines  and there is no reason why you should
not write it into your book  

 Oh  but those two lines are   

   The best of all   Granted   for private enjoyment  and for private
enjoyment keep them   They are not at all the less written you know 
because you divide them   The couplet does not cease to be  nor does
its meaning change   But take it away  and all  appropriation  ceases 
and a very pretty gallant charade remains  fit for any collection 
Depend upon it  he would not like to have his charade slighted  much
better than his passion   A poet in love must be encouraged in both
capacities  or neither   Give me the book  I will write it down  and
then there can be no possible reflection on you  

Harriet submitted  though her mind could hardly separate the parts  so
as to feel quite sure that her friend were not writing down a
declaration of love   It seemed too precious an offering for any degree
of publicity 

 I shall never let that book go out of my own hands   said she 

 Very well   replied Emma   a most natural feeling  and the longer it
lasts  the better I shall be pleased   But here is my father coming 
you will not object to my reading the charade to him   It will be
giving him so much pleasure  He loves any thing of the sort  and
especially any thing that pays woman a compliment   He has the
tenderest spirit of gallantry towards us all   You must let me read it
to him  

Harriet looked grave 

 My dear Harriet  you must not refine too much upon this charade   You
will betray your feelings improperly  if you are too conscious and too
quick  and appear to affix more meaning  or even quite all the meaning
which may be affixed to it   Do not be overpowered by such a little
tribute of admiration   If he had been anxious for secrecy  he would
not have left the paper while I was by  but he rather pushed it towards
me than towards you   Do not let us be too solemn on the business   He
has encouragement enough to proceed  without our sighing out our souls
over this charade  

 Oh  no  I hope I shall not be ridiculous about it   Do as you please  

Mr  Woodhouse came in  and very soon led to the subject again  by the
recurrence of his very frequent inquiry of  Well  my dears  how does
your book go on   Have you got any thing fresh  

 Yes  papa  we have something to read you  something quite fresh   A
piece of paper was found on the table this morning   dropt  we suppose 
by a fairy   containing a very pretty charade  and we have just copied
it in  

She read it to him  just as he liked to have any thing read  slowly and
distinctly  and two or three times over  with explanations of every
part as she proceeded  and he was very much pleased  and  as she had
foreseen  especially struck with the complimentary conclusion 

 Aye  that s very just  indeed  that s very properly said   Very true 
 Woman  lovely woman   It is such a pretty charade  my dear  that I can
easily guess what fairy brought it   Nobody could have written so
prettily  but you  Emma  

Emma only nodded  and smiled   After a little thinking  and a very
tender sigh  he added 

 Ah  it is no difficulty to see who you take after  Your dear mother
was so clever at all those things  If I had but her memory  But I can
remember nothing   not even that particular riddle which you have heard
me mention  I can only recollect the first stanza  and there are
several 

    Kitty  a fair but frozen maid 
      Kindled a flame I yet deplore 
    The hood wink d boy I called to aid 
    Though of his near approach afraid 
      So fatal to my suit before 

And that is all that I can recollect of it  but it is very clever all
the way through   But I think  my dear  you said you had got it  

 Yes  papa  it is written out in our second page   We copied it from
the Elegant Extracts   It was Garrick s  you know  

 Aye  very true   I wish I could recollect more of it 

    Kitty  a fair but frozen maid 

The name makes me think of poor Isabella  for she was very near being
christened Catherine after her grandmama   I hope we shall have her
here next week   Have you thought  my dear  where you shall put
her  and what room there will be for the children  

 Oh  yes  she will have her own room  of course  the room she always
has   and there is the nursery for the children   just as usual  you
know   Why should there be any change  

 I do not know  my dear  but it is so long since she was here   not
since last Easter  and then only for a few days   Mr  John Knightley s
being a lawyer is very inconvenient   Poor Isabella   she is sadly
taken away from us all   and how sorry she will be when she comes  not
to see Miss Taylor here  

 She will not be surprized  papa  at least  

 I do not know  my dear   I am sure I was very much surprized when I
first heard she was going to be married  

 We must ask Mr  and Mrs  Weston to dine with us  while Isabella is
here  

 Yes  my dear  if there is time   But   in a very depressed tone   she
is coming for only one week   There will not be time for any thing  

 It is unfortunate that they cannot stay longer  but it seems a case of
necessity   Mr  John Knightley must be in town again on the 28th  and
we ought to be thankful  papa  that we are to have the whole of the
time they can give to the country  that two or three days are not to be
taken out for the Abbey   Mr  Knightley promises to give up his claim
this Christmas  though you know it is longer since they were with him 
than with us  

 It would be very hard  indeed  my dear  if poor Isabella were to be
anywhere but at Hartfield  

Mr  Woodhouse could never allow for Mr  Knightley s claims on his
brother  or any body s claims on Isabella  except his own   He sat
musing a little while  and then said 

 But I do not see why poor Isabella should be obliged to go back so
soon  though he does   I think  Emma  I shall try and persuade her to
stay longer with us   She and the children might stay very well  

 Ah  papa  that is what you never have been able to accomplish  and I
do not think you ever will   Isabella cannot bear to stay behind her
husband  

This was too true for contradiction   Unwelcome as it was  Mr 
Woodhouse could only give a submissive sigh  and as Emma saw his
spirits affected by the idea of his daughter s attachment to her
husband  she immediately led to such a branch of the subject as must
raise them 

 Harriet must give us as much of her company as she can while my
brother and sister are here   I am sure she will be pleased with the
children   We are very proud of the children  are not we  papa  I
wonder which she will think the handsomest  Henry or John  

 Aye  I wonder which she will   Poor little dears  how glad they will
be to come   They are very fond of being at Hartfield  Harriet  

 I dare say they are  sir   I am sure I do not know who is not  

 Henry is a fine boy  but John is very like his mama   Henry is the
eldest  he was named after me  not after his father   John  the second 
is named after his father   Some people are surprized  I believe  that
the eldest was not  but Isabella would have him called Henry  which I
thought very pretty of her   And he is a very clever boy  indeed   They
are all remarkably clever  and they have so many pretty ways   They
will come and stand by my chair  and say   Grandpapa  can you give me a
bit of string   and once Henry asked me for a knife  but I told him
knives were only made for grandpapas   I think their father is too
rough with them very often  

 He appears rough to you   said Emma   because you are so very gentle
yourself  but if you could compare him with other papas  you would not
think him rough   He wishes his boys to be active and hardy  and if
they misbehave  can give them a sharp word now and then  but he is an
affectionate father  certainly Mr  John Knightley is an affectionate
father   The children are all fond of him  

 And then their uncle comes in  and tosses them up to the ceiling in a
very frightful way  

 But they like it  papa  there is nothing they like so much   It is
such enjoyment to them  that if their uncle did not lay down the rule
of their taking turns  whichever began would never give way to the
other  

 Well  I cannot understand it  

 That is the case with us all  papa   One half of the world cannot
understand the pleasures of the other  

Later in the morning  and just as the girls were going to separate in
preparation for the regular four o clock dinner  the hero of this
inimitable charade walked in again   Harriet turned away  but Emma
could receive him with the usual smile  and her quick eye soon
discerned in his the consciousness of having made a push  of having
thrown a die  and she imagined he was come to see how it might turn up 
His ostensible reason  however  was to ask whether Mr  Woodhouse s
party could be made up in the evening without him  or whether he should
be in the smallest degree necessary at Hartfield   If he were  every
thing else must give way  but otherwise his friend Cole had been saying
so much about his dining with him  had made such a point of it  that he
had promised him conditionally to come 

Emma thanked him  but could not allow of his disappointing his friend
on their account  her father was sure of his rubber   He re urged  she
re declined  and he seemed then about to make his bow  when taking the
paper from the table  she returned it  

 Oh  here is the charade you were so obliging as to leave with us 
thank you for the sight of it   We admired it so much  that I have
ventured to write it into Miss Smith s collection   Your friend will
not take it amiss I hope   Of course I have not transcribed beyond the
first eight lines  

Mr  Elton certainly did not very well know what to say   He looked
rather doubtingly  rather confused  said something about
 honour    glanced at Emma and at Harriet  and then seeing the book
open on the table  took it up  and examined it very attentively   With
the view of passing off an awkward moment  Emma smilingly said 

 You must make my apologies to your friend  but so good a charade must
not be confined to one or two   He may be sure of every woman s
approbation while he writes with such gallantry  

 I have no hesitation in saying   replied Mr  Elton  though hesitating
a good deal while he spoke   I have no hesitation in saying  at least
if my friend feels at all as  I  do  I have not the smallest doubt
that  could he see his little effusion honoured as  I  see it   looking
at the book again  and replacing it on the table   he would consider it
as the proudest moment of his life  

After this speech he was gone as soon as possible   Emma could not
think it too soon  for with all his good and agreeable qualities  there
was a sort of parade in his speeches which was very apt to incline her
to laugh   She ran away to indulge the inclination  leaving the tender
and the sublime of pleasure to Harriet s share 



CHAPTER X


Though now the middle of December  there had yet been no weather to
prevent the young ladies from tolerably regular exercise  and on the
morrow  Emma had a charitable visit to pay to a poor sick family  who
lived a little way out of Highbury 

Their road to this detached cottage was down Vicarage Lane  a lane
leading at right angles from the broad  though irregular  main street
of the place  and  as may be inferred  containing the blessed abode of
Mr  Elton   A few inferior dwellings were first to be passed  and then 
about a quarter of a mile down the lane rose the Vicarage  an old and
not very good house  almost as close to the road as it could be   It
had no advantage of situation  but had been very much smartened up by
the present proprietor  and  such as it was  there could be no
possibility of the two friends passing it without a slackened pace and
observing eyes   Emma s remark was  

 There it is   There go you and your riddle book one of these days    
Harriet s was  

 Oh  what a sweet house   How very beautiful   There are the yellow
curtains that Miss Nash admires so much  

 I do not often walk this way  now    said Emma  as they proceeded 
 but  then  there will be an inducement  and I shall gradually get
intimately acquainted with all the hedges  gates  pools and pollards of
this part of Highbury  

Harriet  she found  had never in her life been within side the
Vicarage  and her curiosity to see it was so extreme  that  considering
exteriors and probabilities  Emma could only class it  as a proof of
love  with Mr  Elton s seeing ready wit in her 

 I wish we could contrive it   said she   but I cannot think of any
tolerable pretence for going in   no servant that I want to inquire
about of his housekeeper  no message from my father  

She pondered  but could think of nothing   After a mutual silence of
some minutes  Harriet thus began again  

 I do so wonder  Miss Woodhouse  that you should not be married  or
going to be married  so charming as you are    

Emma laughed  and replied 

 My being charming  Harriet  is not quite enough to induce me to marry 
I must find other people charming  one other person at least   And I am
not only  not going to be married  at present  but have very little
intention of ever marrying at all  

 Ah   so you say  but I cannot believe it  

 I must see somebody very superior to any one I have seen yet  to be
tempted  Mr  Elton  you know   recollecting herself   is out of the
question   and I do  not  wish to see any such person   I would rather
not be tempted   I cannot really change for the better   If I were to
marry  I must expect to repent it  

 Dear me   it is so odd to hear a woman talk so    

 I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry   Were I to
fall in love  indeed  it would be a different thing   but I never have
been in love  it is not my way  or my nature  and I do not think I ever
shall   And  without love  I am sure I should be a fool to change such
a situation as mine   Fortune I do not want  employment I do not want 
consequence I do not want  I believe few married women are half as much
mistress of their husband s house as I am of Hartfield  and never 
never could I expect to be so truly beloved and important  so always
first and always right in any man s eyes as I am in my father s  

 But then  to be an old maid at last  like Miss Bates  

 That is as formidable an image as you could present  Harriet  and if I
thought I should ever be like Miss Bates  so silly  so satisfied  so
smiling  so prosing  so undistinguishing and unfastidious  and so apt
to tell every thing relative to every body about me  I would marry
to morrow  But between  us   I am convinced there never can be any
likeness  except in being unmarried  

 But still  you will be an old maid  and that s so dreadful  

 Never mind  Harriet  I shall not be a poor old maid  and it is poverty
only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public   A single
woman  with a very narrow income  must be a ridiculous  disagreeable
old maid  the proper sport of boys and girls  but a single woman  of
good fortune  is always respectable  and may be as sensible and
pleasant as any body else   And the distinction is not quite so much
against the candour and common sense of the world as appears at first 
for a very narrow income has a tendency to contract the mind  and sour
the temper   Those who can barely live  and who live perforce in a very
small  and generally very inferior  society  may well be illiberal and
cross   This does not apply  however  to Miss Bates  she is only too
good natured and too silly to suit me  but  in general  she is very
much to the taste of every body  though single and though poor 
Poverty certainly has not contracted her mind   I really believe  if
she had only a shilling in the world  she would be very likely to give
away sixpence of it  and nobody is afraid of her   that is a great
charm  

 Dear me  but what shall you do  how shall you employ yourself when you
grow old  

 If I know myself  Harriet  mine is an active  busy mind  with a great
many independent resources  and I do not perceive why I should be more
in want of employment at forty or fifty than one and twenty   Woman s
usual occupations of hand and mind will be as open to me then as they
are now  or with no important variation   If I draw less  I shall read
more  if I give up music  I shall take to carpet work   And as for
objects of interest  objects for the affections  which is in truth the
great point of inferiority  the want of which is really the great evil
to be avoided in  not  marrying  I shall be very well off  with all the
children of a sister I love so much  to care about   There will be
enough of them  in all probability  to supply every sort of sensation
that declining life can need   There will be enough for every hope and
every fear  and though my attachment to none can equal that of a
parent  it suits my ideas of comfort better than what is warmer and
blinder   My nephews and nieces   I shall often have a niece with me  

 Do you know Miss Bates s niece   That is  I know you must have seen
her a hundred times  but are you acquainted  

 Oh  yes  we are always forced to be acquainted whenever she comes to
Highbury   By the bye   that  is almost enough to put one out of
conceit with a niece   Heaven forbid  at least  that I should ever bore
people half so much about all the Knightleys together  as she does
about Jane Fairfax   One is sick of the very name of Jane Fairfax 
Every letter from her is read forty times over  her compliments to all
friends go round and round again  and if she does but send her aunt the
pattern of a stomacher  or knit a pair of garters for her grandmother 
one hears of nothing else for a month   I wish Jane Fairfax very well 
but she tires me to death  

They were now approaching the cottage  and all idle topics were
superseded   Emma was very compassionate  and the distresses of the
poor were as sure of relief from her personal attention and kindness 
her counsel and her patience  as from her purse   She understood their
ways  could allow for their ignorance and their temptations  had no
romantic expectations of extraordinary virtue from those for whom
education had done so little  entered into their troubles with ready
sympathy  and always gave her assistance with as much intelligence as
good will   In the present instance  it was sickness and poverty
together which she came to visit  and after remaining there as long as
she could give comfort or advice  she quitted the cottage with such an
impression of the scene as made her say to Harriet  as they walked away 

 These are the sights  Harriet  to do one good   How trifling they make
every thing else appear   I feel now as if I could think of nothing but
these poor creatures all the rest of the day  and yet  who can say how
soon it may all vanish from my mind  

 Very true   said Harriet    Poor creatures  one can think of nothing
else  

 And really  I do not think the impression will soon be over   said
Emma  as she crossed the low hedge  and tottering footstep which ended
the narrow  slippery path through the cottage garden  and brought them
into the lane again    I do not think it will   stopping to look once
more at all the outward wretchedness of the place  and recall the still
greater within 

 Oh  dear  no   said her companion 

They walked on   The lane made a slight bend  and when that bend was
passed  Mr  Elton was immediately in sight  and so near as to give Emma
time only to say farther 

 Ah   Harriet  here comes a very sudden trial of our stability in good
thoughts   Well   smiling   I hope it may be allowed that if compassion
has produced exertion and relief to the sufferers  it has done all that
is truly important   If we feel for the wretched  enough to do all we
can for them  the rest is empty sympathy  only distressing to
ourselves  

Harriet could just answer   Oh  dear  yes   before the gentleman joined
them   The wants and sufferings of the poor family  however  were the
first subject on meeting   He had been going to call on them   His
visit he would now defer  but they had a very interesting parley about
what could be done and should be done   Mr  Elton then turned back to
accompany them 

 To fall in with each other on such an errand as this   thought Emma 
 to meet in a charitable scheme  this will bring a great increase of
love on each side   I should not wonder if it were to bring on the
declaration   It must  if I were not here   I wish I were anywhere
else  

Anxious to separate herself from them as far as she could  she soon
afterwards took possession of a narrow footpath  a little raised on one
side of the lane  leaving them together in the main road   But she had
not been there two minutes when she found that Harriet s habits of
dependence and imitation were bringing her up too  and that  in short 
they would both be soon after her   This would not do  she immediately
stopped  under pretence of having some alteration to make in the lacing
of her half boot  and stooping down in complete occupation of the
footpath  begged them to have the goodness to walk on  and she would
follow in half a minute   They did as they were desired  and by the
time she judged it reasonable to have done with her boot  she had the
comfort of farther delay in her power  being overtaken by a child from
the cottage  setting out  according to orders  with her pitcher  to
fetch broth from Hartfield   To walk by the side of this child  and
talk to and question her  was the most natural thing in the world  or
would have been the most natural  had she been acting just then without
design  and by this means the others were still able to keep ahead 
without any obligation of waiting for her   She gained on them 
however  involuntarily   the child s pace was quick  and theirs rather
slow  and she was the more concerned at it  from their being evidently
in a conversation which interested them   Mr  Elton was speaking with
animation  Harriet listening with a very pleased attention  and Emma 
having sent the child on  was beginning to think how she might draw
back a little more  when they both looked around  and she was obliged
to join them 

Mr  Elton was still talking  still engaged in some interesting detail 
and Emma experienced some disappointment when she found that he was
only giving his fair companion an account of the yesterday s party at
his friend Cole s  and that she was come in herself for the Stilton
cheese  the north Wiltshire  the butter  the cellery  the beet root 
and all the dessert 

 This would soon have led to something better  of course   was her
consoling reflection   any thing interests between those who love  and
any thing will serve as introduction to what is near the heart   If I
could but have kept longer away  

They now walked on together quietly  till within view of the vicarage
pales  when a sudden resolution  of at least getting Harriet into the
house  made her again find something very much amiss about her boot 
and fall behind to arrange it once more   She then broke the lace off
short  and dexterously throwing it into a ditch  was presently obliged
to entreat them to stop  and acknowledged her inability to put herself
to rights so as to be able to walk home in tolerable comfort 

 Part of my lace is gone   said she   and I do not know how I am to
contrive   I really am a most troublesome companion to you both  but I
hope I am not often so ill equipped  Mr  Elton  I must beg leave to
stop at your house  and ask your housekeeper for a bit of ribband or
string  or any thing just to keep my boot on  

Mr  Elton looked all happiness at this proposition  and nothing could
exceed his alertness and attention in conducting them into his house
and endeavouring to make every thing appear to advantage   The room
they were taken into was the one he chiefly occupied  and looking
forwards  behind it was another with which it immediately communicated 
the door between them was open  and Emma passed into it with the
housekeeper to receive her assistance in the most comfortable manner 
She was obliged to leave the door ajar as she found it  but she fully
intended that Mr  Elton should close it   It was not closed  however 
it still remained ajar  but by engaging the housekeeper in incessant
conversation  she hoped to make it practicable for him to chuse his own
subject in the adjoining room   For ten minutes she could hear nothing
but herself   It could be protracted no longer   She was then obliged
to be finished  and make her appearance 

The lovers were standing together at one of the windows   It had a most
favourable aspect  and  for half a minute  Emma felt the glory of
having schemed successfully   But it would not do  he had not come to
the point   He had been most agreeable  most delightful  he had told
Harriet that he had seen them go by  and had purposely followed them 
other little gallantries and allusions had been dropt  but nothing
serious 

 Cautious  very cautious   thought Emma   he advances inch by inch  and
will hazard nothing till he believes himself secure  

Still  however  though every thing had not been accomplished by her
ingenious device  she could not but flatter herself that it had been
the occasion of much present enjoyment to both  and must be leading
them forward to the great event 



CHAPTER XI


Mr  Elton must now be left to himself   It was no longer in Emma s
power to superintend his happiness or quicken his measures   The coming
of her sister s family was so very near at hand  that first in
anticipation  and then in reality  it became henceforth her prime
object of interest  and during the ten days of their stay at Hartfield
it was not to be expected  she did not herself expect  that any thing
beyond occasional  fortuitous assistance could be afforded by her to
the lovers   They might advance rapidly if they would  however  they
must advance somehow or other whether they would or no   She hardly
wished to have more leisure for them   There are people  who the more
you do for them  the less they will do for themselves 

Mr  and Mrs  John Knightley  from having been longer than usual absent
from Surry  were exciting of course rather more than the usual
interest   Till this year  every long vacation since their marriage had
been divided between Hartfield and Donwell Abbey  but all the holidays
of this autumn had been given to sea bathing for the children  and it
was therefore many months since they had been seen in a regular way by
their Surry connexions  or seen at all by Mr  Woodhouse  who could not
be induced to get so far as London  even for poor Isabella s sake  and
who consequently was now most nervously and apprehensively happy in
forestalling this too short visit 

He thought much of the evils of the journey for her  and not a little
of the fatigues of his own horses and coachman who were to bring some
of the party the last half of the way  but his alarms were needless 
the sixteen miles being happily accomplished  and Mr  and Mrs  John
Knightley  their five children  and a competent number of
nursery maids  all reaching Hartfield in safety   The bustle and joy of
such an arrival  the many to be talked to  welcomed  encouraged  and
variously dispersed and disposed of  produced a noise and confusion
which his nerves could not have borne under any other cause  nor have
endured much longer even for this  but the ways of Hartfield and the
feelings of her father were so respected by Mrs  John Knightley  that
in spite of maternal solicitude for the immediate enjoyment of her
little ones  and for their having instantly all the liberty and
attendance  all the eating and drinking  and sleeping and playing 
which they could possibly wish for  without the smallest delay  the
children were never allowed to be long a disturbance to him  either in
themselves or in any restless attendance on them 

Mrs  John Knightley was a pretty  elegant little woman  of gentle 
quiet manners  and a disposition remarkably amiable and affectionate 
wrapt up in her family  a devoted wife  a doating mother  and so
tenderly attached to her father and sister that  but for these higher
ties  a warmer love might have seemed impossible   She could never see
a fault in any of them   She was not a woman of strong understanding or
any quickness  and with this resemblance of her father  she inherited
also much of his constitution  was delicate in her own health 
over careful of that of her children  had many fears and many nerves 
and was as fond of her own Mr  Wingfield in town as her father could be
of Mr  Perry   They were alike too  in a general benevolence of temper 
and a strong habit of regard for every old acquaintance 

Mr  John Knightley was a tall  gentleman like  and very clever man 
rising in his profession  domestic  and respectable in his private
character  but with reserved manners which prevented his being
generally pleasing  and capable of being sometimes out of humour   He
was not an ill tempered man  not so often unreasonably cross as to
deserve such a reproach  but his temper was not his great perfection 
and  indeed  with such a worshipping wife  it was hardly possible that
any natural defects in it should not be increased   The extreme
sweetness of her temper must hurt his   He had all the clearness and
quickness of mind which she wanted  and he could sometimes act an
ungracious  or say a severe thing 

He was not a great favourite with his fair sister in law  Nothing wrong
in him escaped her   She was quick in feeling the little injuries to
Isabella  which Isabella never felt herself   Perhaps she might have
passed over more had his manners been flattering to Isabella s sister 
but they were only those of a calmly kind brother and friend  without
praise and without blindness  but hardly any degree of personal
compliment could have made her regardless of that greatest fault of all
in her eyes which he sometimes fell into  the want of respectful
forbearance towards her father   There he had not always the patience
that could have been wished   Mr  Woodhouse s peculiarities and
fidgetiness were sometimes provoking him to a rational remonstrance or
sharp retort equally ill bestowed   It did not often happen  for Mr 
John Knightley had really a great regard for his father in law  and
generally a strong sense of what was due to him  but it was too often
for Emma s charity  especially as there was all the pain of
apprehension frequently to be endured  though the offence came not 
The beginning  however  of every visit displayed none but the properest
feelings  and this being of necessity so short might be hoped to pass
away in unsullied cordiality   They had not been long seated and
composed when Mr  Woodhouse  with a melancholy shake of the head and a
sigh  called his daughter s attention to the sad change at Hartfield
since she had been there last 

 Ah  my dear   said he   poor Miss Taylor  It is a grievous business  

 Oh yes  sir   cried she with ready sympathy   how you must miss her 
And dear Emma  too   What a dreadful loss to you both   I have been so
grieved for you   I could not imagine how you could possibly do without
her   It is a sad change indeed   But I hope she is pretty well  sir  

 Pretty well  my dear  I hope  pretty well   I do not know but that the
place agrees with her tolerably  

Mr  John Knightley here asked Emma quietly whether there were any
doubts of the air of Randalls 

 Oh  no  none in the least   I never saw Mrs  Weston better in my
life  never looking so well   Papa is only speaking his own regret  

 Very much to the honour of both   was the handsome reply 

 And do you see her  sir  tolerably often   asked Isabella in the
plaintive tone which just suited her father 

Mr  Woodhouse hesitated    Not near so often  my dear  as I could wish  

 Oh  papa  we have missed seeing them but one entire day since they
married   Either in the morning or evening of every day  excepting one 
have we seen either Mr  Weston or Mrs  Weston  and generally both 
either at Randalls or here  and as you may suppose  Isabella  most
frequently here   They are very  very kind in their visits   Mr  Weston
is really as kind as herself   Papa  if you speak in that melancholy
way  you will be giving Isabella a false idea of us all   Every body
must be aware that Miss Taylor must be missed  but every body ought
also to be assured that Mr  and Mrs  Weston do really prevent our
missing her by any means to the extent we ourselves anticipated  which
is the exact truth  

 Just as it should be   said Mr  John Knightley   and just as I hoped
it was from your letters   Her wish of shewing you attention could not
be doubted  and his being a disengaged and social man makes it all
easy   I have been always telling you  my love  that I had no idea of
the change being so very material to Hartfield as you apprehended  and
now you have Emma s account  I hope you will be satisfied  

 Why  to be sure   said Mr  Woodhouse   yes  certainly  I cannot deny
that Mrs  Weston  poor Mrs  Weston  does come and see us pretty often  
but then  she is always obliged to go away again  

 It would be very hard upon Mr  Weston if she did not  papa    You
quite forget poor Mr  Weston  

 I think  indeed   said John Knightley pleasantly   that Mr  Weston has
some little claim   You and I  Emma  will venture to take the part of
the poor husband   I  being a husband  and you not being a wife  the
claims of the man may very likely strike us with equal force   As for
Isabella  she has been married long enough to see the convenience of
putting all the Mr  Westons aside as much as she can  

 Me  my love   cried his wife  hearing and understanding only in
part     Are you talking about me   I am sure nobody ought to be  or
can be  a greater advocate for matrimony than I am  and if it had not
been for the misery of her leaving Hartfield  I should never have
thought of Miss Taylor but as the most fortunate woman in the world 
and as to slighting Mr  Weston  that excellent Mr  Weston  I think
there is nothing he does not deserve   I believe he is one of the very
best tempered men that ever existed   Excepting yourself and your
brother  I do not know his equal for temper   I shall never forget his
flying Henry s kite for him that very windy day last Easter  and ever
since his particular kindness last September twelvemonth in writing
that note  at twelve o clock at night  on purpose to assure me that
there was no scarlet fever at Cobham  I have been convinced there could
not be a more feeling heart nor a better man in existence   If any body
can deserve him  it must be Miss Taylor  

 Where is the young man   said John Knightley    Has he been here on
this occasion  or has he not  

 He has not been here yet   replied Emma    There was a strong
expectation of his coming soon after the marriage  but it ended in
nothing  and I have not heard him mentioned lately  

 But you should tell them of the letter  my dear   said her father 
 He wrote a letter to poor Mrs  Weston  to congratulate her  and a very
proper  handsome letter it was   She shewed it to me   I thought it
very well done of him indeed   Whether it was his own idea you know 
one cannot tell   He is but young  and his uncle  perhaps   

 My dear papa  he is three and twenty  You forget how time passes  

 Three and twenty   is he indeed   Well  I could not have thought it  
and he was but two years old when he lost his poor mother   Well  time
does fly indeed   and my memory is very bad   However  it was an
exceeding good  pretty letter  and gave Mr  and Mrs  Weston a great
deal of pleasure   I remember it was written from Weymouth  and dated
Sept  28th  and began   My dear Madam   but I forget how it went on 
and it was signed  F  C  Weston Churchill     I remember that
perfectly  

 How very pleasing and proper of him   cried the good hearted Mrs  John
Knightley    I have no doubt of his being a most amiable young man 
But how sad it is that he should not live at home with his father 
There is something so shocking in a child s being taken away from his
parents and natural home   I never could comprehend how Mr  Weston
could part with him   To give up one s child   I really never could
think well of any body who proposed such a thing to any body else  

 Nobody ever did think well of the Churchills  I fancy   observed Mr 
John Knightley coolly    But you need not imagine Mr  Weston to have
felt what you would feel in giving up Henry or John   Mr  Weston is
rather an easy  cheerful tempered man  than a man of strong feelings 
he takes things as he finds them  and makes enjoyment of them somehow
or other  depending  I suspect  much more upon what is called society
for his comforts  that is  upon the power of eating and drinking  and
playing whist with his neighbours five times a week  than upon family
affection  or any thing that home affords  

Emma could not like what bordered on a reflection on Mr  Weston  and
had half a mind to take it up  but she struggled  and let it pass   She
would keep the peace if possible  and there was something honourable
and valuable in the strong domestic habits  the all sufficiency of home
to himself  whence resulted her brother s disposition to look down on
the common rate of social intercourse  and those to whom it was
important   It had a high claim to forbearance 



CHAPTER XII


Mr  Knightley was to dine with them  rather against the inclination of
Mr  Woodhouse  who did not like that any one should share with him in
Isabella s first day   Emma s sense of right however had decided it 
and besides the consideration of what was due to each brother  she had
particular pleasure  from the circumstance of the late disagreement
between Mr  Knightley and herself  in procuring him the proper
invitation 

She hoped they might now become friends again   She thought it was time
to make up   Making up indeed would not do    She  certainly had not
been in the wrong  and  he  would never own that he had   Concession
must be out of the question  but it was time to appear to forget that
they had ever quarrelled  and she hoped it might rather assist the
restoration of friendship  that when he came into the room she had one
of the children with her  the youngest  a nice little girl about eight
months old  who was now making her first visit to Hartfield  and very
happy to be danced about in her aunt s arms   It did assist  for though
he began with grave looks and short questions  he was soon led on to
talk of them all in the usual way  and to take the child out of her
arms with all the unceremoniousness of perfect amity   Emma felt they
were friends again  and the conviction giving her at first great
satisfaction  and then a little sauciness  she could not help saying 
as he was admiring the baby 

 What a comfort it is  that we think alike about our nephews and
nieces   As to men and women  our opinions are sometimes very
different  but with regard to these children  I observe we never
disagree  

 If you were as much guided by nature in your estimate of men and
women  and as little under the power of fancy and whim in your dealings
with them  as you are where these children are concerned  we might
always think alike  

 To be sure  our discordancies must always arise from my being in the
wrong  

 Yes   said he  smiling   and reason good   I was sixteen years old
when you were born  

 A material difference then   she replied   and no doubt you were much
my superior in judgment at that period of our lives  but does not the
lapse of one and twenty years bring our understandings a good deal
nearer  

 Yes  a good deal  nearer   

 But still  not near enough to give me a chance of being right  if we
think differently  

 I have still the advantage of you by sixteen years  experience  and by
not being a pretty young woman and a spoiled child   Come  my dear
Emma  let us be friends  and say no more about it   Tell your aunt 
little Emma  that she ought to set you a better example than to be
renewing old grievances  and that if she were not wrong before  she is
now  

 That s true   she cried   very true   Little Emma  grow up a better
woman than your aunt   Be infinitely cleverer and not half so
conceited   Now  Mr  Knightley  a word or two more  and I have done 
As far as good intentions went  we were  both  right  and I must say
that no effects on my side of the argument have yet proved wrong   I
only want to know that Mr  Martin is not very  very bitterly
disappointed  

 A man cannot be more so   was his short  full answer 

 Ah   Indeed I am very sorry   Come  shake hands with me  

This had just taken place and with great cordiality  when John
Knightley made his appearance  and  How d ye do  George   and  John 
how are you   succeeded in the true English style  burying under a
calmness that seemed all but indifference  the real attachment which
would have led either of them  if requisite  to do every thing for the
good of the other 

The evening was quiet and conversable  as Mr  Woodhouse declined cards
entirely for the sake of comfortable talk with his dear Isabella  and
the little party made two natural divisions  on one side he and his
daughter  on the other the two Mr  Knightleys  their subjects totally
distinct  or very rarely mixing  and Emma only occasionally joining in
one or the other 

The brothers talked of their own concerns and pursuits  but principally
of those of the elder  whose temper was by much the most communicative 
and who was always the greater talker   As a magistrate  he had
generally some point of law to consult John about  or  at least  some
curious anecdote to give  and as a farmer  as keeping in hand the
home farm at Donwell  he had to tell what every field was to bear next
year  and to give all such local information as could not fail of being
interesting to a brother whose home it had equally been the longest
part of his life  and whose attachments were strong   The plan of a
drain  the change of a fence  the felling of a tree  and the
destination of every acre for wheat  turnips  or spring corn  was
entered into with as much equality of interest by John  as his cooler
manners rendered possible  and if his willing brother ever left him any
thing to inquire about  his inquiries even approached a tone of
eagerness 

While they were thus comfortably occupied  Mr  Woodhouse was enjoying a
full flow of happy regrets and fearful affection with his daughter 

 My poor dear Isabella   said he  fondly taking her hand  and
interrupting  for a few moments  her busy labours for some one of her
five children   How long it is  how terribly long since you were here 
And how tired you must be after your journey   You must go to bed
early  my dear  and I recommend a little gruel to you before you
go   You and I will have a nice basin of gruel together   My dear Emma 
suppose we all have a little gruel  

Emma could not suppose any such thing  knowing as she did  that both
the Mr  Knightleys were as unpersuadable on that article as
herself   and two basins only were ordered   After a little more
discourse in praise of gruel  with some wondering at its not being
taken every evening by every body  he proceeded to say  with an air of
grave reflection 

 It was an awkward business  my dear  your spending the autumn at South
End instead of coming here   I never had much opinion of the sea air  

 Mr  Wingfield most strenuously recommended it  sir  or we should not
have gone   He recommended it for all the children  but particularly
for the weakness in little Bella s throat   both sea air and bathing  

 Ah  my dear  but Perry had many doubts about the sea doing her any
good  and as to myself  I have been long perfectly convinced  though
perhaps I never told you so before  that the sea is very rarely of use
to any body   I am sure it almost killed me once  

 Come  come   cried Emma  feeling this to be an unsafe subject   I must
beg you not to talk of the sea   It makes me envious and miserable   I
who have never seen it   South End is prohibited  if you please   My
dear Isabella  I have not heard you make one inquiry about Mr  Perry
yet  and he never forgets you  

 Oh  good Mr  Perry  how is he  sir  

 Why  pretty well  but not quite well   Poor Perry is bilious  and he
has not time to take care of himself  he tells me he has not time to
take care of himself  which is very sad  but he is always wanted all
round the country   I suppose there is not a man in such practice
anywhere   But then there is not so clever a man any where  

 And Mrs  Perry and the children  how are they  do the children grow 
I have a great regard for Mr  Perry   I hope he will be calling soon 
He will be so pleased to see my little ones  

 I hope he will be here to morrow  for I have a question or two to ask
him about myself of some consequence   And  my dear  whenever he comes 
you had better let him look at little Bella s throat  

 Oh  my dear sir  her throat is so much better that I have hardly any
uneasiness about it   Either bathing has been of the greatest service
to her  or else it is to be attributed to an excellent embrocation of
Mr  Wingfield s  which we have been applying at times ever since
August  

 It is not very likely  my dear  that bathing should have been of use
to her  and if I had known you were wanting an embrocation  I would
have spoken to  

 You seem to me to have forgotten Mrs  and Miss Bates   said Emma   I
have not heard one inquiry after them  

 Oh  the good Bateses  I am quite ashamed of myself  but you mention
them in most of your letters   I hope they are quite well   Good old
Mrs  Bates  I will call upon her to morrow  and take my children   They
are always so pleased to see my children    And that excellent Miss
Bates   such thorough worthy people    How are they  sir  

 Why  pretty well  my dear  upon the whole   But poor Mrs  Bates had a
bad cold about a month ago  

 How sorry I am   But colds were never so prevalent as they have been
this autumn   Mr  Wingfield told me that he has never known them more
general or heavy  except when it has been quite an influenza  

 That has been a good deal the case  my dear  but not to the degree you
mention   Perry says that colds have been very general  but not so
heavy as he has very often known them in November   Perry does not call
it altogether a sickly season  

 No  I do not know that Mr  Wingfield considers it  very  sickly
except  

 Ah  my poor dear child  the truth is  that in London it is always a
sickly season   Nobody is healthy in London  nobody can be   It is a
dreadful thing to have you forced to live there  so far off   and the
air so bad  

 No  indeed   we  are not at all in a bad air   Our part of London is
very superior to most others   You must not confound us with London in
general  my dear sir   The neighbourhood of Brunswick Square is very
different from almost all the rest   We are so very airy   I should be
unwilling  I own  to live in any other part of the town   there is
hardly any other that I could be satisfied to have my children in   but
 we  are so remarkably airy   Mr  Wingfield thinks the vicinity of
Brunswick Square decidedly the most favourable as to air  

 Ah  my dear  it is not like Hartfield   You make the best of it  but
after you have been a week at Hartfield  you are all of you different
creatures  you do not look like the same   Now I cannot say  that I
think you are any of you looking well at present  

 I am sorry to hear you say so  sir  but I assure you  excepting those
little nervous head aches and palpitations which I am never entirely
free from anywhere  I am quite well myself  and if the children were
rather pale before they went to bed  it was only because they were a
little more tired than usual  from their journey and the happiness of
coming   I hope you will think better of their looks to morrow  for I
assure you Mr  Wingfield told me  that he did not believe he had ever
sent us off altogether  in such good case   I trust  at least  that you
do not think Mr  Knightley looking ill   turning her eyes with
affectionate anxiety towards her husband 

 Middling  my dear  I cannot compliment you   I think Mr  John
Knightley very far from looking well  

 What is the matter  sir   Did you speak to me   cried Mr  John
Knightley  hearing his own name 

 I am sorry to find  my love  that my father does not think you looking
well  but I hope it is only from being a little fatigued   I could have
wished  however  as you know  that you had seen Mr  Wingfield before
you left home  

 My dear Isabella    exclaimed he hastily   pray do not concern
yourself about my looks   Be satisfied with doctoring and coddling
yourself and the children  and let me look as I chuse  

 I did not thoroughly understand what you were telling your brother  
cried Emma   about your friend Mr  Graham s intending to have a bailiff
from Scotland  to look after his new estate   What will it answer 
Will not the old prejudice be too strong  

And she talked in this way so long and successfully that  when forced
to give her attention again to her father and sister  she had nothing
worse to hear than Isabella s kind inquiry after Jane Fairfax  and Jane
Fairfax  though no great favourite with her in general  she was at that
moment very happy to assist in praising 

 That sweet  amiable Jane Fairfax   said Mrs  John Knightley     It is
so long since I have seen her  except now and then for a moment
accidentally in town   What happiness it must be to her good old
grandmother and excellent aunt  when she comes to visit them   I always
regret excessively on dear Emma s account that she cannot be more at
Highbury  but now their daughter is married  I suppose Colonel and Mrs 
Campbell will not be able to part with her at all   She would be such a
delightful companion for Emma  

Mr  Woodhouse agreed to it all  but added 

 Our little friend Harriet Smith  however  is just such another pretty
kind of young person   You will like Harriet   Emma could not have a
better companion than Harriet  

 I am most happy to hear it  but only Jane Fairfax one knows to be so
very accomplished and superior   and exactly Emma s age  

This topic was discussed very happily  and others succeeded of similar
moment  and passed away with similar harmony  but the evening did not
close without a little return of agitation   The gruel came and
supplied a great deal to be said  much praise and many comments  
undoubting decision of its wholesomeness for every constitution  and
pretty severe Philippics upon the many houses where it was never met
with tolerable   but  unfortunately  among the failures which the
daughter had to instance  the most recent  and therefore most
prominent  was in her own cook at South End  a young woman hired for
the time  who never had been able to understand what she meant by a
basin of nice smooth gruel  thin  but not too thin   Often as she had
wished for and ordered it  she had never been able to get any thing
tolerable   Here was a dangerous opening 

 Ah   said Mr  Woodhouse  shaking his head and fixing his eyes on her
with tender concern   The ejaculation in Emma s ear expressed   Ah 
there is no end of the sad consequences of your going to South End   It
does not bear talking of    And for a little while she hoped he would
not talk of it  and that a silent rumination might suffice to restore
him to the relish of his own smooth gruel   After an interval of some
minutes  however  he began with 

 I shall always be very sorry that you went to the sea this autumn 
instead of coming here  

 But why should you be sorry  sir   I assure you  it did the children a
great deal of good  

 And  moreover  if you must go to the sea  it had better not have been
to South End   South End is an unhealthy place   Perry was surprized to
hear you had fixed upon South End  

 I know there is such an idea with many people  but indeed it is quite
a mistake  sir   We all had our health perfectly well there  never
found the least inconvenience from the mud  and Mr  Wingfield says it
is entirely a mistake to suppose the place unhealthy  and I am sure he
may be depended on  for he thoroughly understands the nature of the
air  and his own brother and family have been there repeatedly  

 You should have gone to Cromer  my dear  if you went anywhere    Perry
was a week at Cromer once  and he holds it to be the best of all the
sea bathing places   A fine open sea  he says  and very pure air   And 
by what I understand  you might have had lodgings there quite away from
the sea  a quarter of a mile off  very comfortable   You should have
consulted Perry  

 But  my dear sir  the difference of the journey   only consider how
great it would have been   An hundred miles  perhaps  instead of forty  

 Ah  my dear  as Perry says  where health is at stake  nothing else
should be considered  and if one is to travel  there is not much to
chuse between forty miles and an hundred   Better not move at all 
better stay in London altogether than travel forty miles to get into a
worse air   This is just what Perry said   It seemed to him a very
ill judged measure  

Emma s attempts to stop her father had been vain  and when he had
reached such a point as this  she could not wonder at her
brother in law s breaking out 

 Mr  Perry   said he  in a voice of very strong displeasure   would do
as well to keep his opinion till it is asked for   Why does he make it
any business of his  to wonder at what I do   at my taking my family
to one part of the coast or another   I may be allowed  I hope  the use
of my judgment as well as Mr  Perry    I want his directions no more
than his drugs    He paused  and growing cooler in a moment  added 
with only sarcastic dryness   If Mr  Perry can tell me how to convey a
wife and five children a distance of an hundred and thirty miles with
no greater expense or inconvenience than a distance of forty  I should
be as willing to prefer Cromer to South End as he could himself  

 True  true   cried Mr  Knightley  with most ready interposition  
 very true   That s a consideration indeed   But John  as to what I was
telling you of my idea of moving the path to Langham  of turning it
more to the right that it may not cut through the home meadows  I
cannot conceive any difficulty   I should not attempt it  if it were to
be the means of inconvenience to the Highbury people  but if you call
to mind exactly the present line of the path         The only way of
proving it  however  will be to turn to our maps   I shall see you at
the Abbey to morrow morning I hope  and then we will look them over 
and you shall give me your opinion  

Mr  Woodhouse was rather agitated by such harsh reflections on his
friend Perry  to whom he had  in fact  though unconsciously  been
attributing many of his own feelings and expressions   but the
soothing attentions of his daughters gradually removed the present
evil  and the immediate alertness of one brother  and better
recollections of the other  prevented any renewal of it 



CHAPTER XIII


There could hardly be a happier creature in the world than Mrs  John
Knightley  in this short visit to Hartfield  going about every morning
among her old acquaintance with her five children  and talking over
what she had done every evening with her father and sister   She had
nothing to wish otherwise  but that the days did not pass so swiftly 
It was a delightful visit   perfect  in being much too short 

In general their evenings were less engaged with friends than their
mornings  but one complete dinner engagement  and out of the house too 
there was no avoiding  though at Christmas   Mr  Weston would take no
denial  they must all dine at Randalls one day   even Mr  Woodhouse was
persuaded to think it a possible thing in preference to a division of
the party 

How they were all to be conveyed  he would have made a difficulty if he
could  but as his son and daughter s carriage and horses were actually
at Hartfield  he was not able to make more than a simple question on
that head  it hardly amounted to a doubt  nor did it occupy Emma long
to convince him that they might in one of the carriages find room for
Harriet also 

Harriet  Mr  Elton  and Mr  Knightley  their own especial set  were the
only persons invited to meet them   the hours were to be early  as well
as the numbers few  Mr  Woodhouse s habits and inclination being
consulted in every thing 

The evening before this great event  for it was a very great event that
Mr  Woodhouse should dine out  on the 24th of December  had been spent
by Harriet at Hartfield  and she had gone home so much indisposed with
a cold  that  but for her own earnest wish of being nursed by Mrs 
Goddard  Emma could not have allowed her to leave the house   Emma
called on her the next day  and found her doom already signed with
regard to Randalls   She was very feverish and had a bad sore throat 
Mrs  Goddard was full of care and affection  Mr  Perry was talked of 
and Harriet herself was too ill and low to resist the authority which
excluded her from this delightful engagement  though she could not
speak of her loss without many tears 

Emma sat with her as long as she could  to attend her in Mrs  Goddard s
unavoidable absences  and raise her spirits by representing how much
Mr  Elton s would be depressed when he knew her state  and left her at
last tolerably comfortable  in the sweet dependence of his having a
most comfortless visit  and of their all missing her very much   She
had not advanced many yards from Mrs  Goddard s door  when she was met
by Mr  Elton himself  evidently coming towards it  and as they walked
on slowly together in conversation about the invalid  of whom he  on
the rumour of considerable illness  had been going to inquire  that he
might carry some report of her to Hartfield  they were overtaken by
Mr  John Knightley returning from the daily visit to Donwell  with his
two eldest boys  whose healthy  glowing faces shewed all the benefit of
a country run  and seemed to ensure a quick despatch of the roast
mutton and rice pudding they were hastening home for   They joined
company and proceeded together   Emma was just describing the nature of
her friend s complaint    a throat very much inflamed  with a great
deal of heat about her  a quick  low pulse   c   and she was sorry to
find from Mrs  Goddard that Harriet was liable to very bad
sore throats  and had often alarmed her with them    Mr  Elton looked
all alarm on the occasion  as he exclaimed 

 A sore throat   I hope not infectious   I hope not of a putrid
infectious sort   Has Perry seen her   Indeed you should take care of
yourself as well as of your friend   Let me entreat you to run no
risks   Why does not Perry see her  

Emma  who was not really at all frightened herself  tranquillised this
excess of apprehension by assurances of Mrs  Goddard s experience and
care  but as there must still remain a degree of uneasiness which she
could not wish to reason away  which she would rather feed and assist
than not  she added soon afterwards  as if quite another subject 

 It is so cold  so very cold  and looks and feels so very much like
snow  that if it were to any other place or with any other party  I
should really try not to go out to day  and dissuade my father from
venturing  but as he has made up his mind  and does not seem to feel
the cold himself  I do not like to interfere  as I know it would be so
great a disappointment to Mr  and Mrs  Weston   But  upon my word  Mr 
Elton  in your case  I should certainly excuse myself   You appear to
me a little hoarse already  and when you consider what demand of voice
and what fatigues to morrow will bring  I think it would be no more
than common prudence to stay at home and take care of yourself
to night  

Mr  Elton looked as if he did not very well know what answer to make 
which was exactly the case  for though very much gratified by the kind
care of such a fair lady  and not liking to resist any advice of her s 
he had not really the least inclination to give up the visit   but
Emma  too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to
hear him impartially  or see him with clear vision  was very well
satisfied with his muttering acknowledgment of its being  very cold 
certainly very cold   and walked on  rejoicing in having extricated him
from Randalls  and secured him the power of sending to inquire after
Harriet every hour of the evening 

 You do quite right   said she    we will make your apologies to Mr 
and Mrs  Weston  

But hardly had she so spoken  when she found her brother was civilly
offering a seat in his carriage  if the weather were Mr  Elton s only
objection  and Mr  Elton actually accepting the offer with much prompt
satisfaction   It was a done thing  Mr  Elton was to go  and never had
his broad handsome face expressed more pleasure than at this moment 
never had his smile been stronger  nor his eyes more exulting than when
he next looked at her 

 Well   said she to herself   this is most strange   After I had got
him off so well  to chuse to go into company  and leave Harriet ill
behind   Most strange indeed   But there is  I believe  in many men 
especially single men  such an inclination  such a passion for dining
out  a dinner engagement is so high in the class of their pleasures 
their employments  their dignities  almost their duties  that any thing
gives way to it  and this must be the case with Mr  Elton  a most
valuable  amiable  pleasing young man undoubtedly  and very much in
love with Harriet  but still  he cannot refuse an invitation  he must
dine out wherever he is asked   What a strange thing love is  he can
see ready wit in Harriet  but will not dine alone for her  

Soon afterwards Mr  Elton quitted them  and she could not but do him
the justice of feeling that there was a great deal of sentiment in his
manner of naming Harriet at parting  in the tone of his voice while
assuring her that he should call at Mrs  Goddard s for news of her fair
friend  the last thing before he prepared for the happiness of meeting
her again  when he hoped to be able to give a better report  and he
sighed and smiled himself off in a way that left the balance of
approbation much in his favour 

After a few minutes of entire silence between them  John Knightley
began with  

 I never in my life saw a man more intent on being agreeable than Mr 
Elton   It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned   With
men he can be rational and unaffected  but when he has ladies to
please  every feature works  

 Mr  Elton s manners are not perfect   replied Emma   but where there
is a wish to please  one ought to overlook  and one does overlook a
great deal   Where a man does his best with only moderate powers  he
will have the advantage over negligent superiority   There is such
perfect good temper and good will in Mr  Elton as one cannot but value  

 Yes   said Mr  John Knightley presently  with some slyness   he seems
to have a great deal of good will towards you  

 Me   she replied with a smile of astonishment   are you imagining me
to be Mr  Elton s object  

 Such an imagination has crossed me  I own  Emma  and if it never
occurred to you before  you may as well take it into consideration now  

 Mr  Elton in love with me   What an idea  

 I do not say it is so  but you will do well to consider whether it is
so or not  and to regulate your behaviour accordingly   I think your
manners to him encouraging   I speak as a friend  Emma   You had better
look about you  and ascertain what you do  and what you mean to do  

 I thank you  but I assure you you are quite mistaken   Mr  Elton and I
are very good friends  and nothing more   and she walked on  amusing
herself in the consideration of the blunders which often arise from a
partial knowledge of circumstances  of the mistakes which people of
high pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into  and not very
well pleased with her brother for imagining her blind and ignorant  and
in want of counsel   He said no more 

Mr  Woodhouse had so completely made up his mind to the visit  that in
spite of the increasing coldness  he seemed to have no idea of
shrinking from it  and set forward at last most punctually with his
eldest daughter in his own carriage  with less apparent consciousness
of the weather than either of the others  too full of the wonder of his
own going  and the pleasure it was to afford at Randalls to see that it
was cold  and too well wrapt up to feel it   The cold  however  was
severe  and by the time the second carriage was in motion  a few flakes
of snow were finding their way down  and the sky had the appearance of
being so overcharged as to want only a milder air to produce a very
white world in a very short time 

Emma soon saw that her companion was not in the happiest humour   The
preparing and the going abroad in such weather  with the sacrifice of
his children after dinner  were evils  were disagreeables at least 
which Mr  John Knightley did not by any means like  he anticipated
nothing in the visit that could be at all worth the purchase  and the
whole of their drive to the vicarage was spent by him in expressing his
discontent 

 A man   said he   must have a very good opinion of himself when he
asks people to leave their own fireside  and encounter such a day as
this  for the sake of coming to see him   He must think himself a most
agreeable fellow  I could not do such a thing   It is the greatest
absurdity  Actually snowing at this moment    The folly of not allowing
people to be comfortable at home  and the folly of people s not staying
comfortably at home when they can   If we were obliged to go out such
an evening as this  by any call of duty or business  what a hardship we
should deem it   and here are we  probably with rather thinner clothing
than usual  setting forward voluntarily  without excuse  in defiance of
the voice of nature  which tells man  in every thing given to his view
or his feelings  to stay at home himself  and keep all under shelter
that he can   here are we setting forward to spend five dull hours in
another man s house  with nothing to say or to hear that was not said
and heard yesterday  and may not be said and heard again to morrow 
Going in dismal weather  to return probably in worse   four horses and
four servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle  shivering
creatures into colder rooms and worse company than they might have had
at home  

Emma did not find herself equal to give the pleased assent  which no
doubt he was in the habit of receiving  to emulate the  Very true  my
love   which must have been usually administered by his travelling
companion  but she had resolution enough to refrain from making any
answer at all   She could not be complying  she dreaded being
quarrelsome  her heroism reached only to silence   She allowed him to
talk  and arranged the glasses  and wrapped herself up  without opening
her lips 

They arrived  the carriage turned  the step was let down  and Mr 
Elton  spruce  black  and smiling  was with them instantly   Emma
thought with pleasure of some change of subject   Mr  Elton was all
obligation and cheerfulness  he was so very cheerful in his civilities
indeed  that she began to think he must have received a different
account of Harriet from what had reached her   She had sent while
dressing  and the answer had been   Much the same  not better  

  My  report from Mrs  Goddard s   said she presently   was not so
pleasant as I had hoped   Not better  was  my  answer  

His face lengthened immediately  and his voice was the voice of
sentiment as he answered 

 Oh  no  I am grieved to find  I was on the point of telling you that
when I called at Mrs  Goddard s door  which I did the very last thing
before I returned to dress  I was told that Miss Smith was not better 
by no means better  rather worse   Very much grieved and concerned   I
had flattered myself that she must be better after such a cordial as I
knew had been given her in the morning  

Emma smiled and answered   My visit was of use to the nervous part of
her complaint  I hope  but not even I can charm away a sore throat  it
is a most severe cold indeed   Mr  Perry has been with her  as you
probably heard  

 Yes  I imagined  that is  I did not   

 He has been used to her in these complaints  and I hope to morrow
morning will bring us both a more comfortable report   But it is
impossible not to feel uneasiness   Such a sad loss to our party
to day  

 Dreadful   Exactly so  indeed   She will be missed every moment  

This was very proper  the sigh which accompanied it was really
estimable  but it should have lasted longer   Emma was rather in dismay
when only half a minute afterwards he began to speak of other things 
and in a voice of the greatest alacrity and enjoyment 

 What an excellent device   said he   the use of a sheepskin for
carriages   How very comfortable they make it   impossible to feel cold
with such precautions   The contrivances of modern days indeed have
rendered a gentleman s carriage perfectly complete   One is so fenced
and guarded from the weather  that not a breath of air can find its way
unpermitted   Weather becomes absolutely of no consequence   It is a
very cold afternoon  but in this carriage we know nothing of the
matter   Ha  snows a little I see  

 Yes   said John Knightley   and I think we shall have a good deal of
it  

 Christmas weather   observed Mr  Elton    Quite seasonable  and
extremely fortunate we may think ourselves that it did not begin
yesterday  and prevent this day s party  which it might very possibly
have done  for Mr  Woodhouse would hardly have ventured had there been
much snow on the ground  but now it is of no consequence   This is
quite the season indeed for friendly meetings   At Christmas every body
invites their friends about them  and people think little of even the
worst weather   I was snowed up at a friend s house once for a week 
Nothing could be pleasanter   I went for only one night  and could not
get away till that very day se nnight  

Mr  John Knightley looked as if he did not comprehend the pleasure  but
said only  coolly 

 I cannot wish to be snowed up a week at Randalls  

At another time Emma might have been amused  but she was too much
astonished now at Mr  Elton s spirits for other feelings   Harriet
seemed quite forgotten in the expectation of a pleasant party 

 We are sure of excellent fires   continued he   and every thing in the
greatest comfort   Charming people  Mr  and Mrs  Weston   Mrs  Weston
indeed is much beyond praise  and he is exactly what one values  so
hospitable  and so fond of society   it will be a small party  but
where small parties are select  they are perhaps the most agreeable of
any   Mr  Weston s dining room does not accommodate more than ten
comfortably  and for my part  I would rather  under such circumstances 
fall short by two than exceed by two   I think you will agree with me 
 turning with a soft air to Emma   I think I shall certainly have your
approbation  though Mr  Knightley perhaps  from being used to the large
parties of London  may not quite enter into our feelings  

 I know nothing of the large parties of London  sir  I never dine with
any body  

 Indeed   in a tone of wonder and pity   I had no idea that the law had
been so great a slavery   Well  sir  the time must come when you will
be paid for all this  when you will have little labour and great
enjoyment  

 My first enjoyment   replied John Knightley  as they passed through
the sweep gate   will be to find myself safe at Hartfield again  



CHAPTER XIV


Some change of countenance was necessary for each gentleman as they
walked into Mrs  Weston s drawing room   Mr  Elton must compose his
joyous looks  and Mr  John Knightley disperse his ill humour  Mr  Elton
must smile less  and Mr  John Knightley more  to fit them for the
place   Emma only might be as nature prompted  and shew herself just as
happy as she was   To her it was real enjoyment to be with the Westons 
Mr  Weston was a great favourite  and there was not a creature in the
world to whom she spoke with such unreserve  as to his wife  not any
one  to whom she related with such conviction of being listened to and
understood  of being always interesting and always intelligible  the
little affairs  arrangements  perplexities  and pleasures of her father
and herself   She could tell nothing of Hartfield  in which Mrs  Weston
had not a lively concern  and half an hour s uninterrupted
communication of all those little matters on which the daily happiness
of private life depends  was one of the first gratifications of each 

This was a pleasure which perhaps the whole day s visit might not
afford  which certainly did not belong to the present half hour  but
the very sight of Mrs  Weston  her smile  her touch  her voice was
grateful to Emma  and she determined to think as little as possible of
Mr  Elton s oddities  or of any thing else unpleasant  and enjoy all
that was enjoyable to the utmost 

The misfortune of Harriet s cold had been pretty well gone through
before her arrival   Mr  Woodhouse had been safely seated long enough
to give the history of it  besides all the history of his own and
Isabella s coming  and of Emma s being to follow  and had indeed just
got to the end of his satisfaction that James should come and see his
daughter  when the others appeared  and Mrs  Weston  who had been
almost wholly engrossed by her attentions to him  was able to turn away
and welcome her dear Emma 

Emma s project of forgetting Mr  Elton for a while made her rather
sorry to find  when they had all taken their places  that he was close
to her   The difficulty was great of driving his strange insensibility
towards Harriet  from her mind  while he not only sat at her elbow  but
was continually obtruding his happy countenance on her notice  and
solicitously addressing her upon every occasion   Instead of forgetting
him  his behaviour was such that she could not avoid the internal
suggestion of  Can it really be as my brother imagined  can it be
possible for this man to be beginning to transfer his affections from
Harriet to me   Absurd and insufferable     Yet he would be so anxious
for her being perfectly warm  would be so interested about her father 
and so delighted with Mrs  Weston  and at last would begin admiring her
drawings with so much zeal and so little knowledge as seemed terribly
like a would be lover  and made it some effort with her to preserve her
good manners   For her own sake she could not be rude  and for
Harriet s  in the hope that all would yet turn out right  she was even
positively civil  but it was an effort  especially as something was
going on amongst the others  in the most overpowering period of Mr 
Elton s nonsense  which she particularly wished to listen to   She
heard enough to know that Mr  Weston was giving some information about
his son  she heard the words  my son   and  Frank   and  my son  
repeated several times over  and  from a few other half syllables very
much suspected that he was announcing an early visit from his son  but
before she could quiet Mr  Elton  the subject was so completely past
that any reviving question from her would have been awkward 

Now  it so happened that in spite of Emma s resolution of never
marrying  there was something in the name  in the idea of Mr  Frank
Churchill  which always interested her   She had frequently
thought  especially since his father s marriage with Miss Taylor  that
if she  were  to marry  he was the very person to suit her in age 
character and condition   He seemed by this connexion between the
families  quite to belong to her   She could not but suppose it to be a
match that every body who knew them must think of   That Mr  and Mrs 
Weston did think of it  she was very strongly persuaded  and though not
meaning to be induced by him  or by any body else  to give up a
situation which she believed more replete with good than any she could
change it for  she had a great curiosity to see him  a decided
intention of finding him pleasant  of being liked by him to a certain
degree  and a sort of pleasure in the idea of their being coupled in
their friends  imaginations 

With such sensations  Mr  Elton s civilities were dreadfully ill timed 
but she had the comfort of appearing very polite  while feeling very
cross  and of thinking that the rest of the visit could not possibly
pass without bringing forward the same information again  or the
substance of it  from the open hearted Mr  Weston   So it proved   for
when happily released from Mr  Elton  and seated by Mr  Weston  at
dinner  he made use of the very first interval in the cares of
hospitality  the very first leisure from the saddle of mutton  to say
to her 

 We want only two more to be just the right number   I should like to
see two more here   your pretty little friend  Miss Smith  and my
son  and then I should say we were quite complete   I believe you did
not hear me telling the others in the drawing room that we are
expecting Frank   I had a letter from him this morning  and he will be
with us within a fortnight  

Emma spoke with a very proper degree of pleasure  and fully assented to
his proposition of Mr  Frank Churchill and Miss Smith making their
party quite complete 

 He has been wanting to come to us   continued Mr  Weston   ever since
September   every letter has been full of it  but he cannot command his
own time   He has those to please who must be pleased  and who  between
ourselves  are sometimes to be pleased only by a good many sacrifices 
But now I have no doubt of seeing him here about the second week in
January  

 What a very great pleasure it will be to you  and Mrs  Weston is so
anxious to be acquainted with him  that she must be almost as happy as
yourself  

 Yes  she would be  but that she thinks there will be another put off 
She does not depend upon his coming so much as I do  but she does not
know the parties so well as I do   The case  you see  is   but this is
quite between ourselves   I did not mention a syllable of it in the
other room   There are secrets in all families  you know   The case is 
that a party of friends are invited to pay a visit at Enscombe in
January  and that Frank s coming depends upon their being put off   If
they are not put off  he cannot stir   But I know they will  because it
is a family that a certain lady  of some consequence  at Enscombe  has
a particular dislike to  and though it is thought necessary to invite
them once in two or three years  they always are put off when it comes
to the point   I have not the smallest doubt of the issue   I am as
confident of seeing Frank here before the middle of January  as I am of
being here myself   but your good friend there  nodding towards the
upper end of the table  has so few vagaries herself  and has been so
little used to them at Hartfield  that she cannot calculate on their
effects  as I have been long in the practice of doing  

 I am sorry there should be any thing like doubt in the case   replied
Emma   but am disposed to side with you  Mr  Weston   If you think he
will come  I shall think so too  for you know Enscombe  

 Yes  I have some right to that knowledge  though I have never been at
the place in my life   She is an odd woman   But I never allow myself
to speak ill of her  on Frank s account  for I do believe her to be
very fond of him   I used to think she was not capable of being fond of
any body  except herself   but she has always been kind to him  in her
way  allowing for little whims and caprices  and expecting every thing
to be as she likes   And it is no small credit  in my opinion  to him 
that he should excite such an affection  for  though I would not say it
to any body else  she has no more heart than a stone to people in
general  and the devil of a temper  

Emma liked the subject so well  that she began upon it  to Mrs  Weston 
very soon after their moving into the drawing room  wishing her
joy  yet observing  that she knew the first meeting must be rather
alarming    Mrs  Weston agreed to it  but added  that she should be
very glad to be secure of undergoing the anxiety of a first meeting at
the time talked of    for I cannot depend upon his coming   I cannot be
so sanguine as Mr  Weston   I am very much afraid that it will all end
in nothing   Mr  Weston  I dare say  has been telling you exactly how
the matter stands  

 Yes  it seems to depend upon nothing but the ill humour of Mrs 
Churchill  which I imagine to be the most certain thing in the world  

 My Emma   replied Mrs  Weston  smiling   what is the certainty of
caprice    Then turning to Isabella  who had not been attending
before   You must know  my dear Mrs  Knightley  that we are by no means
so sure of seeing Mr  Frank Churchill  in my opinion  as his father
thinks   It depends entirely upon his aunt s spirits and pleasure  in
short  upon her temper   To you  to my two daughters  I may venture on
the truth   Mrs  Churchill rules at Enscombe  and is a very
odd tempered woman  and his coming now  depends upon her being willing
to spare him  

 Oh  Mrs  Churchill  every body knows Mrs  Churchill   replied
Isabella    and I am sure I never think of that poor young man without
the greatest compassion   To be constantly living with an ill tempered
person  must be dreadful   It is what we happily have never known any
thing of  but it must be a life of misery   What a blessing  that she
never had any children   Poor little creatures  how unhappy she would
have made them  

Emma wished she had been alone with Mrs  Weston   She should then have
heard more   Mrs  Weston would speak to her  with a degree of unreserve
which she would not hazard with Isabella  and  she really believed 
would scarcely try to conceal any thing relative to the Churchills from
her  excepting those views on the young man  of which her own
imagination had already given her such instinctive knowledge   But at
present there was nothing more to be said   Mr  Woodhouse very soon
followed them into the drawing room  To be sitting long after dinner 
was a confinement that he could not endure   Neither wine nor
conversation was any thing to him  and gladly did he move to those with
whom he was always comfortable 

While he talked to Isabella  however  Emma found an opportunity of
saying 

 And so you do not consider this visit from your son as by any means
certain   I am sorry for it   The introduction must be unpleasant 
whenever it takes place  and the sooner it could be over  the better  

 Yes  and every delay makes one more apprehensive of other delays 
Even if this family  the Braithwaites  are put off  I am still afraid
that some excuse may be found for disappointing us   I cannot bear to
imagine any reluctance on his side  but I am sure there is a great wish
on the Churchills  to keep him to themselves   There is jealousy   They
are jealous even of his regard for his father   In short  I can feel no
dependence on his coming  and I wish Mr  Weston were less sanguine  

 He ought to come   said Emma    If he could stay only a couple of
days  he ought to come  and one can hardly conceive a young man s not
having it in his power to do as much as that   A young  woman   if she
fall into bad hands  may be teazed  and kept at a distance from those
she wants to be with  but one cannot comprehend a young  man  s being
under such restraint  as not to be able to spend a week with his
father  if he likes it  

 One ought to be at Enscombe  and know the ways of the family  before
one decides upon what he can do   replied Mrs  Weston    One ought to
use the same caution  perhaps  in judging of the conduct of any one
individual of any one family  but Enscombe  I believe  certainly must
not be judged by general rules   she  is so very unreasonable  and
every thing gives way to her  

 But she is so fond of the nephew   he is so very great a favourite 
Now  according to my idea of Mrs  Churchill  it would be most natural 
that while she makes no sacrifice for the comfort of the husband  to
whom she owes every thing  while she exercises incessant caprice
towards  him   she should frequently be governed by the nephew  to whom
she owes nothing at all  

 My dearest Emma  do not pretend  with your sweet temper  to understand
a bad one  or to lay down rules for it   you must let it go its own
way   I have no doubt of his having  at times  considerable influence 
but it may be perfectly impossible for him to know beforehand  when  it
will be  

Emma listened  and then coolly said   I shall not be satisfied  unless
he comes  

 He may have a great deal of influence on some points   continued Mrs 
Weston   and on others  very little   and among those  on which she is
beyond his reach  it is but too likely  may be this very circumstance
of his coming away from them to visit us  



CHAPTER XV


Mr  Woodhouse was soon ready for his tea  and when he had drank his tea
he was quite ready to go home  and it was as much as his three
companions could do  to entertain away his notice of the lateness of
the hour  before the other gentlemen appeared   Mr  Weston was chatty
and convivial  and no friend to early separations of any sort  but at
last the drawing room party did receive an augmentation   Mr  Elton  in
very good spirits  was one of the first to walk in   Mrs  Weston and
Emma were sitting together on a sofa   He joined them immediately  and 
with scarcely an invitation  seated himself between them 

Emma  in good spirits too  from the amusement afforded her mind by the
expectation of Mr  Frank Churchill  was willing to forget his late
improprieties  and be as well satisfied with him as before  and on his
making Harriet his very first subject  was ready to listen with most
friendly smiles 

He professed himself extremely anxious about her fair friend  her
fair  lovely  amiable friend    Did she know   had she heard any thing
about her  since their being at Randalls   he felt much anxiety  he
must confess that the nature of her complaint alarmed him
considerably    And in this style he talked on for some time very
properly  not much attending to any answer  but altogether sufficiently
awake to the terror of a bad sore throat  and Emma was quite in charity
with him 

But at last there seemed a perverse turn  it seemed all at once as if
he were more afraid of its being a bad sore throat on her account  than
on Harriet s  more anxious that she should escape the infection  than
that there should be no infection in the complaint   He began with
great earnestness to entreat her to refrain from visiting the
sick chamber again  for the present  to entreat her to  promise   him 
not to venture into such hazard till he had seen Mr  Perry and learnt
his opinion  and though she tried to laugh it off and bring the subject
back into its proper course  there was no putting an end to his extreme
solicitude about her   She was vexed   It did appear  there was no
concealing it  exactly like the pretence of being in love with her 
instead of Harriet  an inconstancy  if real  the most contemptible and
abominable  and she had difficulty in behaving with temper   He turned
to Mrs  Weston to implore her assistance   Would not she give him her
support   would not she add her persuasions to his  to induce Miss
Woodhouse not to go to Mrs  Goddard s till it were certain that Miss
Smith s disorder had no infection   He could not be satisfied without a
promise  would not she give him her influence in procuring it  

 So scrupulous for others   he continued   and yet so careless for
herself   She wanted me to nurse my cold by staying at home to day  and
yet will not promise to avoid the danger of catching an ulcerated sore
throat herself   Is this fair  Mrs  Weston   Judge between us   Have
not I some right to complain   I am sure of your kind support and aid  

Emma saw Mrs  Weston s surprize  and felt that it must be great  at an
address which  in words and manner  was assuming to himself the right
of first interest in her  and as for herself  she was too much provoked
and offended to have the power of directly saying any thing to the
purpose   She could only give him a look  but it was such a look as she
thought must restore him to his senses  and then left the sofa 
removing to a seat by her sister  and giving her all her attention 

She had not time to know how Mr  Elton took the reproof  so rapidly did
another subject succeed  for Mr  John Knightley now came into the room
from examining the weather  and opened on them all with the information
of the ground being covered with snow  and of its still snowing fast 
with a strong drifting wind  concluding with these words to Mr 
Woodhouse 

 This will prove a spirited beginning of your winter engagements  sir 
Something new for your coachman and horses to be making their way
through a storm of snow  

Poor Mr  Woodhouse was silent from consternation  but every body else
had something to say  every body was either surprized or not surprized 
and had some question to ask  or some comfort to offer   Mrs  Weston
and Emma tried earnestly to cheer him and turn his attention from his
son in law  who was pursuing his triumph rather unfeelingly 

 I admired your resolution very much  sir   said he   in venturing out
in such weather  for of course you saw there would be snow very soon 
Every body must have seen the snow coming on   I admired your spirit 
and I dare say we shall get home very well   Another hour or two s snow
can hardly make the road impassable  and we are two carriages  if one
is blown over in the bleak part of the common field there will be the
other at hand   I dare say we shall be all safe at Hartfield before
midnight  

Mr  Weston  with triumph of a different sort  was confessing that he
had known it to be snowing some time  but had not said a word  lest it
should make Mr  Woodhouse uncomfortable  and be an excuse for his
hurrying away   As to there being any quantity of snow fallen or likely
to fall to impede their return  that was a mere joke  he was afraid
they would find no difficulty   He wished the road might be impassable 
that he might be able to keep them all at Randalls  and with the utmost
good will was sure that accommodation might be found for every body 
calling on his wife to agree with him  that with a little contrivance 
every body might be lodged  which she hardly knew how to do  from the
consciousness of there being but two spare rooms in the house 

 What is to be done  my dear Emma   what is to be done   was Mr 
Woodhouse s first exclamation  and all that he could say for some time 
To her he looked for comfort  and her assurances of safety  her
representation of the excellence of the horses  and of James  and of
their having so many friends about them  revived him a little 

His eldest daughter s alarm was equal to his own   The horror of being
blocked up at Randalls  while her children were at Hartfield  was full
in her imagination  and fancying the road to be now just passable for
adventurous people  but in a state that admitted no delay  she was
eager to have it settled  that her father and Emma should remain at
Randalls  while she and her husband set forward instantly through all
the possible accumulations of drifted snow that might impede them 

 You had better order the carriage directly  my love   said she   I
dare say we shall be able to get along  if we set off directly  and if
we do come to any thing very bad  I can get out and walk   I am not at
all afraid   I should not mind walking half the way   I could change my
shoes  you know  the moment I got home  and it is not the sort of thing
that gives me cold  

 Indeed   replied he    Then  my dear Isabella  it is the most
extraordinary sort of thing in the world  for in general every thing
does give you cold   Walk home   you are prettily shod for walking
home  I dare say   It will be bad enough for the horses  

Isabella turned to Mrs  Weston for her approbation of the plan   Mrs 
Weston could only approve   Isabella then went to Emma  but Emma could
not so entirely give up the hope of their being all able to get away 
and they were still discussing the point  when Mr  Knightley  who had
left the room immediately after his brother s first report of the snow 
came back again  and told them that he had been out of doors to
examine  and could answer for there not being the smallest difficulty
in their getting home  whenever they liked it  either now or an hour
hence   He had gone beyond the sweep  some way along the Highbury
road  the snow was nowhere above half an inch deep  in many places
hardly enough to whiten the ground  a very few flakes were falling at
present  but the clouds were parting  and there was every appearance of
its being soon over   He had seen the coachmen  and they both agreed
with him in there being nothing to apprehend 

To Isabella  the relief of such tidings was very great  and they were
scarcely less acceptable to Emma on her father s account  who was
immediately set as much at ease on the subject as his nervous
constitution allowed  but the alarm that had been raised could not be
appeased so as to admit of any comfort for him while he continued at
Randalls   He was satisfied of there being no present danger in
returning home  but no assurances could convince him that it was safe
to stay  and while the others were variously urging and recommending 
Mr  Knightley and Emma settled it in a few brief sentences   thus  

 Your father will not be easy  why do not you go  

 I am ready  if the others are  

 Shall I ring the bell  

 Yes  do  

And the bell was rung  and the carriages spoken for   A few minutes
more  and Emma hoped to see one troublesome companion deposited in his
own house  to get sober and cool  and the other recover his temper and
happiness when this visit of hardship were over 

The carriage came   and Mr  Woodhouse  always the first object on such
occasions  was carefully attended to his own by Mr  Knightley and Mr 
Weston  but not all that either could say could prevent some renewal of
alarm at the sight of the snow which had actually fallen  and the
discovery of a much darker night than he had been prepared for    He
was afraid they should have a very bad drive   He was afraid poor
Isabella would not like it   And there would be poor Emma in the
carriage behind   He did not know what they had best do   They must
keep as much together as they could   and James was talked to  and
given a charge to go very slow and wait for the other carriage 

Isabella stept in after her father  John Knightley  forgetting that he
did not belong to their party  stept in after his wife very naturally 
so that Emma found  on being escorted and followed into the second
carriage by Mr  Elton  that the door was to be lawfully shut on them 
and that they were to have a tete a tete drive   It would not have been
the awkwardness of a moment  it would have been rather a pleasure 
previous to the suspicions of this very day  she could have talked to
him of Harriet  and the three quarters of a mile would have seemed but
one   But now  she would rather it had not happened   She believed he
had been drinking too much of Mr  Weston s good wine  and felt sure
that he would want to be talking nonsense 

To restrain him as much as might be  by her own manners  she was
immediately preparing to speak with exquisite calmness and gravity of
the weather and the night  but scarcely had she begun  scarcely had
they passed the sweep gate and joined the other carriage  than she
found her subject cut up  her hand seized  her attention demanded  and
Mr  Elton actually making violent love to her   availing himself of the
precious opportunity  declaring sentiments which must be already well
known  hoping  fearing  adoring  ready to die if she refused him  but
flattering himself that his ardent attachment and unequalled love and
unexampled passion could not fail of having some effect  and in short 
very much resolved on being seriously accepted as soon as possible   It
really was so   Without scruple  without apology  without much
apparent diffidence  Mr  Elton  the lover of Harriet  was professing
himself  her  lover   She tried to stop him  but vainly  he would go
on  and say it all   Angry as she was  the thought of the moment made
her resolve to restrain herself when she did speak   She felt that half
this folly must be drunkenness  and therefore could hope that it might
belong only to the passing hour   Accordingly  with a mixture of the
serious and the playful  which she hoped would best suit his half and
half state  she replied 

 I am very much astonished  Mr  Elton   This to  me   you forget
yourself  you take me for my friend  any message to Miss Smith I shall
be happy to deliver  but no more of this to  me   if you please  

 Miss Smith   message to Miss Smith   What could she possibly mean    
And he repeated her words with such assurance of accent  such boastful
pretence of amazement  that she could not help replying with quickness 

 Mr  Elton  this is the most extraordinary conduct  and I can account
for it only in one way  you are not yourself  or you could not speak
either to me  or of Harriet  in such a manner   Command yourself enough
to say no more  and I will endeavour to forget it  

But Mr  Elton had only drunk wine enough to elevate his spirits  not at
all to confuse his intellects   He perfectly knew his own meaning  and
having warmly protested against her suspicion as most injurious  and
slightly touched upon his respect for Miss Smith as her friend   but
acknowledging his wonder that Miss Smith should be mentioned at
all   he resumed the subject of his own passion  and was very urgent
for a favourable answer 

As she thought less of his inebriety  she thought more of his
inconstancy and presumption  and with fewer struggles for politeness 
replied 

 It is impossible for me to doubt any longer   You have made yourself
too clear   Mr  Elton  my astonishment is much beyond any thing I can
express   After such behaviour  as I have witnessed during the last
month  to Miss Smith  such attentions as I have been in the daily habit
of observing  to be addressing me in this manner  this is an
unsteadiness of character  indeed  which I had not supposed possible 
Believe me  sir  I am far  very far  from gratified in being the object
of such professions  

 Good Heaven   cried Mr  Elton   what can be the meaning of this   
Miss Smith   I never thought of Miss Smith in the whole course of my
existence  never paid her any attentions  but as your friend  never
cared whether she were dead or alive  but as your friend   If she has
fancied otherwise  her own wishes have misled her  and I am very
sorry  extremely sorry  But  Miss Smith  indeed   Oh   Miss Woodhouse 
who can think of Miss Smith  when Miss Woodhouse is near   No  upon my
honour  there is no unsteadiness of character   I have thought only of
you   I protest against having paid the smallest attention to any one
else   Every thing that I have said or done  for many weeks past  has
been with the sole view of marking my adoration of yourself   You
cannot really  seriously  doubt it   No    in an accent meant to be
insinuating   I am sure you have seen and understood me  

It would be impossible to say what Emma felt  on hearing this  which
of all her unpleasant sensations was uppermost   She was too completely
overpowered to be immediately able to reply  and two moments of silence
being ample encouragement for Mr  Elton s sanguine state of mind  he
tried to take her hand again  as he joyously exclaimed  

 Charming Miss Woodhouse  allow me to interpret this interesting
silence   It confesses that you have long understood me  

 No  sir   cried Emma   it confesses no such thing   So far from having
long understood you  I have been in a most complete error with respect
to your views  till this moment   As to myself  I am very sorry that
you should have been giving way to any feelings   Nothing could be
farther from my wishes  your attachment to my friend Harriet  your
pursuit of her   pursuit  it appeared   gave me great pleasure  and I
have been very earnestly wishing you success  but had I supposed that
she were not your attraction to Hartfield  I should certainly have
thought you judged ill in making your visits so frequent   Am I to
believe that you have never sought to recommend yourself particularly
to Miss Smith   that you have never thought seriously of her  

 Never  madam   cried he  affronted in his turn    never  I assure you 
 I  think seriously of Miss Smith   Miss Smith is a very good sort of
girl  and I should be happy to see her respectably settled   I wish her
extremely well   and  no doubt  there are men who might not object
to  Every body has their level   but as for myself  I am not  I think 
quite so much at a loss   I need not so totally despair of an equal
alliance  as to be addressing myself to Miss Smith    No  madam  my
visits to Hartfield have been for yourself only  and the encouragement
I received   

 Encouragement   I give you encouragement   Sir  you have been entirely
mistaken in supposing it   I have seen you only as the admirer of my
friend   In no other light could you have been more to me than a common
acquaintance   I am exceedingly sorry   but it is well that the mistake
ends where it does   Had the same behaviour continued  Miss Smith might
have been led into a misconception of your views  not being aware 
probably  any more than myself  of the very great inequality which you
are so sensible of   But  as it is  the disappointment is single  and 
I trust  will not be lasting   I have no thoughts of matrimony at
present  

He was too angry to say another word  her manner too decided to invite
supplication  and in this state of swelling resentment  and mutually
deep mortification  they had to continue together a few minutes longer 
for the fears of Mr  Woodhouse had confined them to a foot pace  If
there had not been so much anger  there would have been desperate
awkwardness  but their straightforward emotions left no room for the
little zigzags of embarrassment   Without knowing when the carriage
turned into Vicarage Lane  or when it stopped  they found themselves 
all at once  at the door of his house  and he was out before another
syllable passed   Emma then felt it indispensable to wish him a good
night   The compliment was just returned  coldly and proudly  and 
under indescribable irritation of spirits  she was then conveyed to
Hartfield 

There she was welcomed  with the utmost delight  by her father  who had
been trembling for the dangers of a solitary drive from Vicarage
Lane  turning a corner which he could never bear to think of  and in
strange hands  a mere common coachman  no James  and there it seemed as
if her return only were wanted to make every thing go well  for Mr 
John Knightley  ashamed of his ill humour  was now all kindness and
attention  and so particularly solicitous for the comfort of her
father  as to seem  if not quite ready to join him in a basin of
gruel  perfectly sensible of its being exceedingly wholesome  and the
day was concluding in peace and comfort to all their little party 
except herself   But her mind had never been in such perturbation  and
it needed a very strong effort to appear attentive and cheerful till
the usual hour of separating allowed her the relief of quiet reflection 



CHAPTER XVI


The hair was curled  and the maid sent away  and Emma sat down to think
and be miserable   It was a wretched business indeed   Such an
overthrow of every thing she had been wishing for   Such a development
of every thing most unwelcome   Such a blow for Harriet   that was the
worst of all   Every part of it brought pain and humiliation  of some
sort or other  but  compared with the evil to Harriet  all was light 
and she would gladly have submitted to feel yet more mistaken  more in
error  more disgraced by mis judgment  than she actually was  could the
effects of her blunders have been confined to herself 

 If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man  I could have borne
any thing   He might have doubled his presumption to me  but poor
Harriet  

How she could have been so deceived   He protested that he had never
thought seriously of Harriet  never   She looked back as well as she
could  but it was all confusion   She had taken up the idea  she
supposed  and made every thing bend to it   His manners  however  must
have been unmarked  wavering  dubious  or she could not have been so
misled 

The picture   How eager he had been about the picture   and the
charade   and an hundred other circumstances   how clearly they had
seemed to point at Harriet   To be sure  the charade  with its  ready
wit   but then the  soft eyes   in fact it suited neither  it was a
jumble without taste or truth   Who could have seen through such
thick headed nonsense 

Certainly she had often  especially of late  thought his manners to
herself unnecessarily gallant  but it had passed as his way  as a mere
error of judgment  of knowledge  of taste  as one proof among others
that he had not always lived in the best society  that with all the
gentleness of his address  true elegance was sometimes wanting  but 
till this very day  she had never  for an instant  suspected it to mean
any thing but grateful respect to her as Harriet s friend 

To Mr  John Knightley was she indebted for her first idea on the
subject  for the first start of its possibility   There was no denying
that those brothers had penetration   She remembered what Mr  Knightley
had once said to her about Mr  Elton  the caution he had given  the
conviction he had professed that Mr  Elton would never marry
indiscreetly  and blushed to think how much truer a knowledge of his
character had been there shewn than any she had reached herself   It
was dreadfully mortifying  but Mr  Elton was proving himself  in many
respects  the very reverse of what she had meant and believed him 
proud  assuming  conceited  very full of his own claims  and little
concerned about the feelings of others 

Contrary to the usual course of things  Mr  Elton s wanting to pay his
addresses to her had sunk him in her opinion   His professions and his
proposals did him no service   She thought nothing of his attachment 
and was insulted by his hopes   He wanted to marry well  and having the
arrogance to raise his eyes to her  pretended to be in love  but she
was perfectly easy as to his not suffering any disappointment that need
be cared for   There had been no real affection either in his language
or manners   Sighs and fine words had been given in abundance  but she
could hardly devise any set of expressions  or fancy any tone of voice 
less allied with real love   She need not trouble herself to pity him 
He only wanted to aggrandise and enrich himself  and if Miss Woodhouse
of Hartfield  the heiress of thirty thousand pounds  were not quite so
easily obtained as he had fancied  he would soon try for Miss Somebody
else with twenty  or with ten 

But  that he should talk of encouragement  should consider her as aware
of his views  accepting his attentions  meaning  in short   to marry
him   should suppose himself her equal in connexion or mind   look down
upon her friend  so well understanding the gradations of rank below
him  and be so blind to what rose above  as to fancy himself shewing no
presumption in addressing her    It was most provoking 

Perhaps it was not fair to expect him to feel how very much he was her
inferior in talent  and all the elegancies of mind   The very want of
such equality might prevent his perception of it  but he must know that
in fortune and consequence she was greatly his superior   He must know
that the Woodhouses had been settled for several generations at
Hartfield  the younger branch of a very ancient family  and that the
Eltons were nobody   The landed property of Hartfield certainly was
inconsiderable  being but a sort of notch in the Donwell Abbey estate 
to which all the rest of Highbury belonged  but their fortune  from
other sources  was such as to make them scarcely secondary to Donwell
Abbey itself  in every other kind of consequence  and the Woodhouses
had long held a high place in the consideration of the neighbourhood
which Mr  Elton had first entered not two years ago  to make his way as
he could  without any alliances but in trade  or any thing to recommend
him to notice but his situation and his civility    But he had fancied
her in love with him  that evidently must have been his dependence  and
after raving a little about the seeming incongruity of gentle manners
and a conceited head  Emma was obliged in common honesty to stop and
admit that her own behaviour to him had been so complaisant and
obliging  so full of courtesy and attention  as  supposing her real
motive unperceived  might warrant a man of ordinary observation and
delicacy  like Mr  Elton  in fancying himself a very decided favourite 
If  she  had so misinterpreted his feelings  she had little right to
wonder that  he   with self interest to blind him  should have mistaken
hers 

The first error and the worst lay at her door   It was foolish  it was
wrong  to take so active a part in bringing any two people together 
It was adventuring too far  assuming too much  making light of what
ought to be serious  a trick of what ought to be simple   She was quite
concerned and ashamed  and resolved to do such things no more 

 Here have I   said she   actually talked poor Harriet into being very
much attached to this man   She might never have thought of him but for
me  and certainly never would have thought of him with hope  if I had
not assured her of his attachment  for she is as modest and humble as I
used to think him   Oh  that I had been satisfied with persuading her
not to accept young Martin   There I was quite right   That was well
done of me  but there I should have stopped  and left the rest to time
and chance   I was introducing her into good company  and giving her
the opportunity of pleasing some one worth having  I ought not to have
attempted more   But now  poor girl  her peace is cut up for some time 
I have been but half a friend to her  and if she were  not  to feel
this disappointment so very much  I am sure I have not an idea of any
body else who would be at all desirable for her   William Coxe  Oh  no 
I could not endure William Coxe  a pert young lawyer  

She stopt to blush and laugh at her own relapse  and then resumed a
more serious  more dispiriting cogitation upon what had been  and might
be  and must be   The distressing explanation she had to make to
Harriet  and all that poor Harriet would be suffering  with the
awkwardness of future meetings  the difficulties of continuing or
discontinuing the acquaintance  of subduing feelings  concealing
resentment  and avoiding eclat  were enough to occupy her in most
unmirthful reflections some time longer  and she went to bed at last
with nothing settled but the conviction of her having blundered most
dreadfully 

To youth and natural cheerfulness like Emma s  though under temporary
gloom at night  the return of day will hardly fail to bring return of
spirits   The youth and cheerfulness of morning are in happy analogy 
and of powerful operation  and if the distress be not poignant enough
to keep the eyes unclosed  they will be sure to open to sensations of
softened pain and brighter hope 

Emma got up on the morrow more disposed for comfort than she had gone
to bed  more ready to see alleviations of the evil before her  and to
depend on getting tolerably out of it 

It was a great consolation that Mr  Elton should not be really in love
with her  or so particularly amiable as to make it shocking to
disappoint him  that Harriet s nature should not be of that superior
sort in which the feelings are most acute and retentive  and that
there could be no necessity for any body s knowing what had passed
except the three principals  and especially for her father s being
given a moment s uneasiness about it 

These were very cheering thoughts  and the sight of a great deal of
snow on the ground did her further service  for any thing was welcome
that might justify their all three being quite asunder at present 

The weather was most favourable for her  though Christmas Day  she
could not go to church   Mr  Woodhouse would have been miserable had
his daughter attempted it  and she was therefore safe from either
exciting or receiving unpleasant and most unsuitable ideas   The ground
covered with snow  and the atmosphere in that unsettled state between
frost and thaw  which is of all others the most unfriendly for
exercise  every morning beginning in rain or snow  and every evening
setting in to freeze  she was for many days a most honourable prisoner 
No intercourse with Harriet possible but by note  no church for her on
Sunday any more than on Christmas Day  and no need to find excuses for
Mr  Elton s absenting himself 

It was weather which might fairly confine every body at home  and
though she hoped and believed him to be really taking comfort in some
society or other  it was very pleasant to have her father so well
satisfied with his being all alone in his own house  too wise to stir
out  and to hear him say to Mr  Knightley  whom no weather could keep
entirely from them   

 Ah   Mr  Knightley  why do not you stay at home like poor Mr  Elton  

These days of confinement would have been  but for her private
perplexities  remarkably comfortable  as such seclusion exactly suited
her brother  whose feelings must always be of great importance to his
companions  and he had  besides  so thoroughly cleared off his
ill humour at Randalls  that his amiableness never failed him during
the rest of his stay at Hartfield   He was always agreeable and
obliging  and speaking pleasantly of every body   But with all the
hopes of cheerfulness  and all the present comfort of delay  there was
still such an evil hanging over her in the hour of explanation with
Harriet  as made it impossible for Emma to be ever perfectly at ease 



CHAPTER XVII


Mr  and Mrs  John Knightley were not detained long at Hartfield   The
weather soon improved enough for those to move who must move  and Mr 
Woodhouse having  as usual  tried to persuade his daughter to stay
behind with all her children  was obliged to see the whole party set
off  and return to his lamentations over the destiny of poor
Isabella   which poor Isabella  passing her life with those she doated
on  full of their merits  blind to their faults  and always innocently
busy  might have been a model of right feminine happiness 

The evening of the very day on which they went brought a note from Mr 
Elton to Mr  Woodhouse  a long  civil  ceremonious note  to say  with
Mr  Elton s best compliments   that he was proposing to leave Highbury
the following morning in his way to Bath  where  in compliance with the
pressing entreaties of some friends  he had engaged to spend a few
weeks  and very much regretted the impossibility he was under  from
various circumstances of weather and business  of taking a personal
leave of Mr  Woodhouse  of whose friendly civilities he should ever
retain a grateful sense  and had Mr  Woodhouse any commands  should be
happy to attend to them  

Emma was most agreeably surprized   Mr  Elton s absence just at this
time was the very thing to be desired   She admired him for contriving
it  though not able to give him much credit for the manner in which it
was announced   Resentment could not have been more plainly spoken than
in a civility to her father  from which she was so pointedly excluded 
She had not even a share in his opening compliments   Her name was not
mentioned   and there was so striking a change in all this  and such
an ill judged solemnity of leave taking in his graceful
acknowledgments  as she thought  at first  could not escape her
father s suspicion 

It did  however   Her father was quite taken up with the surprize of so
sudden a journey  and his fears that Mr  Elton might never get safely
to the end of it  and saw nothing extraordinary in his language   It
was a very useful note  for it supplied them with fresh matter for
thought and conversation during the rest of their lonely evening   Mr 
Woodhouse talked over his alarms  and Emma was in spirits to persuade
them away with all her usual promptitude 

She now resolved to keep Harriet no longer in the dark   She had reason
to believe her nearly recovered from her cold  and it was desirable
that she should have as much time as possible for getting the better of
her other complaint before the gentleman s return   She went to Mrs 
Goddard s accordingly the very next day  to undergo the necessary
penance of communication  and a severe one it was    She had to destroy
all the hopes which she had been so industriously feeding  to appear in
the ungracious character of the one preferred  and acknowledge herself
grossly mistaken and mis judging in all her ideas on one subject  all
her observations  all her convictions  all her prophecies for the last
six weeks 

The confession completely renewed her first shame  and the sight of
Harriet s tears made her think that she should never be in charity with
herself again 

Harriet bore the intelligence very well  blaming nobody  and in every
thing testifying such an ingenuousness of disposition and lowly opinion
of herself  as must appear with particular advantage at that moment to
her friend 

Emma was in the humour to value simplicity and modesty to the utmost 
and all that was amiable  all that ought to be attaching  seemed on
Harriet s side  not her own   Harriet did not consider herself as
having any thing to complain of   The affection of such a man as Mr 
Elton would have been too great a distinction    She never could have
deserved him  and nobody but so partial and kind a friend as Miss
Woodhouse would have thought it possible 

Her tears fell abundantly  but her grief was so truly artless  that no
dignity could have made it more respectable in Emma s eyes  and she
listened to her and tried to console her with all her heart and
understanding  really for the time convinced that Harriet was the
superior creature of the two  and that to resemble her would be more
for her own welfare and happiness than all that genius or intelligence
could do 

It was rather too late in the day to set about being simple minded and
ignorant  but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of
being humble and discreet  and repressing imagination all the rest of
her life   Her second duty now  inferior only to her father s claims 
was to promote Harriet s comfort  and endeavour to prove her own
affection in some better method than by match making   She got her to
Hartfield  and shewed her the most unvarying kindness  striving to
occupy and amuse her  and by books and conversation  to drive Mr  Elton
from her thoughts 

Time  she knew  must be allowed for this being thoroughly done  and she
could suppose herself but an indifferent judge of such matters in
general  and very inadequate to sympathise in an attachment to Mr 
Elton in particular  but it seemed to her reasonable that at Harriet s
age  and with the entire extinction of all hope  such a progress might
be made towards a state of composure by the time of Mr  Elton s return 
as to allow them all to meet again in the common routine of
acquaintance  without any danger of betraying sentiments or increasing
them 

Harriet did think him all perfection  and maintained the non existence
of any body equal to him in person or goodness  and did  in truth 
prove herself more resolutely in love than Emma had foreseen  but yet
it appeared to her so natural  so inevitable to strive against an
inclination of that sort  unrequited   that she could not comprehend
its continuing very long in equal force 

If Mr  Elton  on his return  made his own indifference as evident and
indubitable as she could not doubt he would anxiously do  she could not
imagine Harriet s persisting to place her happiness in the sight or the
recollection of him 

Their being fixed  so absolutely fixed  in the same place  was bad for
each  for all three   Not one of them had the power of removal  or of
effecting any material change of society   They must encounter each
other  and make the best of it 

Harriet was farther unfortunate in the tone of her companions at Mrs 
Goddard s  Mr  Elton being the adoration of all the teachers and great
girls in the school  and it must be at Hartfield only that she could
have any chance of hearing him spoken of with cooling moderation or
repellent truth   Where the wound had been given  there must the cure
be found if anywhere  and Emma felt that  till she saw her in the way
of cure  there could be no true peace for herself 



CHAPTER XVIII


Mr  Frank Churchill did not come   When the time proposed drew near 
Mrs  Weston s fears were justified in the arrival of a letter of
excuse   For the present  he could not be spared  to his  very great
mortification and regret  but still he looked forward with the hope of
coming to Randalls at no distant period  

Mrs  Weston was exceedingly disappointed  much more disappointed  in
fact  than her husband  though her dependence on seeing the young man
had been so much more sober   but a sanguine temper  though for ever
expecting more good than occurs  does not always pay for its hopes by
any proportionate depression   It soon flies over the present failure 
and begins to hope again   For half an hour Mr  Weston was surprized
and sorry  but then he began to perceive that Frank s coming two or
three months later would be a much better plan  better time of year 
better weather  and that he would be able  without any doubt  to stay
considerably longer with them than if he had come sooner 

These feelings rapidly restored his comfort  while Mrs  Weston  of a
more apprehensive disposition  foresaw nothing but a repetition of
excuses and delays  and after all her concern for what her husband was
to suffer  suffered a great deal more herself 

Emma was not at this time in a state of spirits to care really about
Mr  Frank Churchill s not coming  except as a disappointment at
Randalls   The acquaintance at present had no charm for her   She
wanted  rather  to be quiet  and out of temptation  but still  as it
was desirable that she should appear  in general  like her usual self 
she took care to express as much interest in the circumstance  and
enter as warmly into Mr  and Mrs  Weston s disappointment  as might
naturally belong to their friendship 

She was the first to announce it to Mr  Knightley  and exclaimed quite
as much as was necessary   or  being acting a part  perhaps rather
more   at the conduct of the Churchills  in keeping him away   She then
proceeded to say a good deal more than she felt  of the advantage of
such an addition to their confined society in Surry  the pleasure of
looking at somebody new  the gala day to Highbury entire  which the
sight of him would have made  and ending with reflections on the
Churchills again  found herself directly involved in a disagreement
with Mr  Knightley  and  to her great amusement  perceived that she was
taking the other side of the question from her real opinion  and making
use of Mrs  Weston s arguments against herself 

 The Churchills are very likely in fault   said Mr  Knightley  coolly 
 but I dare say he might come if he would  

 I do not know why you should say so   He wishes exceedingly to come 
but his uncle and aunt will not spare him  

 I cannot believe that he has not the power of coming  if he made a
point of it   It is too unlikely  for me to believe it without proof  

 How odd you are   What has Mr  Frank Churchill done  to make you
suppose him such an unnatural creature  

 I am not supposing him at all an unnatural creature  in suspecting
that he may have learnt to be above his connexions  and to care very
little for any thing but his own pleasure  from living with those who
have always set him the example of it   It is a great deal more natural
than one could wish  that a young man  brought up by those who are
proud  luxurious  and selfish  should be proud  luxurious  and selfish
too   If Frank Churchill had wanted to see his father  he would have
contrived it between September and January   A man at his age  what is
he   three or four and twenty  cannot be without the means of doing as
much as that   It is impossible  

 That s easily said  and easily felt by you  who have always been your
own master   You are the worst judge in the world  Mr  Knightley  of
the difficulties of dependence   You do not know what it is to have
tempers to manage  

 It is not to be conceived that a man of three or four and twenty
should not have liberty of mind or limb to that amount   He cannot want
money  he cannot want leisure   We know  on the contrary  that he has
so much of both  that he is glad to get rid of them at the idlest
haunts in the kingdom   We hear of him for ever at some watering place
or other   A little while ago  he was at Weymouth   This proves that he
can leave the Churchills  

 Yes  sometimes he can  

 And those times are whenever he thinks it worth his while  whenever
there is any temptation of pleasure  

 It is very unfair to judge of any body s conduct  without an intimate
knowledge of their situation   Nobody  who has not been in the interior
of a family  can say what the difficulties of any individual of that
family may be   We ought to be acquainted with Enscombe  and with Mrs 
Churchill s temper  before we pretend to decide upon what her nephew
can do   He may  at times  be able to do a great deal more than he can
at others  

 There is one thing  Emma  which a man can always do  if he chuses  and
that is  his duty  not by manoeuvring and finessing  but by vigour and
resolution   It is Frank Churchill s duty to pay this attention to his
father   He knows it to be so  by his promises and messages  but if he
wished to do it  it might be done   A man who felt rightly would say at
once  simply and resolutely  to Mrs  Churchill    Every sacrifice of
mere pleasure you will always find me ready to make to your
convenience  but I must go and see my father immediately   I know he
would be hurt by my failing in such a mark of respect to him on the
present occasion   I shall  therefore  set off to morrow     If he
would say so to her at once  in the tone of decision becoming a man 
there would be no opposition made to his going  

 No   said Emma  laughing   but perhaps there might be some made to his
coming back again   Such language for a young man entirely dependent 
to use   Nobody but you  Mr  Knightley  would imagine it possible   But
you have not an idea of what is requisite in situations directly
opposite to your own   Mr  Frank Churchill to be making such a speech
as that to the uncle and aunt  who have brought him up  and are to
provide for him   Standing up in the middle of the room  I suppose  and
speaking as loud as he could   How can you imagine such conduct
practicable  

 Depend upon it  Emma  a sensible man would find no difficulty in it 
He would feel himself in the right  and the declaration  made  of
course  as a man of sense would make it  in a proper manner  would do
him more good  raise him higher  fix his interest stronger with the
people he depended on  than all that a line of shifts and expedients
can ever do   Respect would be added to affection   They would feel
that they could trust him  that the nephew who had done rightly by his
father  would do rightly by them  for they know  as well as he does  as
well as all the world must know  that he ought to pay this visit to his
father  and while meanly exerting their power to delay it  are in their
hearts not thinking the better of him for submitting to their whims 
Respect for right conduct is felt by every body   If he would act in
this sort of manner  on principle  consistently  regularly  their
little minds would bend to his  

 I rather doubt that   You are very fond of bending little minds  but
where little minds belong to rich people in authority  I think they
have a knack of swelling out  till they are quite as unmanageable as
great ones   I can imagine  that if you  as you are  Mr  Knightley 
were to be transported and placed all at once in Mr  Frank Churchill s
situation  you would be able to say and do just what you have been
recommending for him  and it might have a very good effect   The
Churchills might not have a word to say in return  but then  you would
have no habits of early obedience and long observance to break through 
To him who has  it might not be so easy to burst forth at once into
perfect independence  and set all their claims on his gratitude and
regard at nought   He may have as strong a sense of what would be
right  as you can have  without being so equal  under particular
circumstances  to act up to it  

 Then it would not be so strong a sense   If it failed to produce equal
exertion  it could not be an equal conviction  

 Oh  the difference of situation and habit   I wish you would try to
understand what an amiable young man may be likely to feel in directly
opposing those  whom as child and boy he has been looking up to all his
life  

 Our amiable young man is a very weak young man  if this be the first
occasion of his carrying through a resolution to do right against the
will of others   It ought to have been a habit with him by this time 
of following his duty  instead of consulting expediency   I can allow
for the fears of the child  but not of the man   As he became rational 
he ought to have roused himself and shaken off all that was unworthy in
their authority   He ought to have opposed the first attempt on their
side to make him slight his father   Had he begun as he ought  there
would have been no difficulty now  

 We shall never agree about him   cried Emma   but that is nothing
extraordinary   I have not the least idea of his being a weak young
man   I feel sure that he is not   Mr  Weston would not be blind to
folly  though in his own son  but he is very likely to have a more
yielding  complying  mild disposition than would suit your notions of
man s perfection   I dare say he has  and though it may cut him off
from some advantages  it will secure him many others  

 Yes  all the advantages of sitting still when he ought to move  and of
leading a life of mere idle pleasure  and fancying himself extremely
expert in finding excuses for it   He can sit down and write a fine
flourishing letter  full of professions and falsehoods  and persuade
himself that he has hit upon the very best method in the world of
preserving peace at home and preventing his father s having any right
to complain   His letters disgust me  

 Your feelings are singular   They seem to satisfy every body else  

 I suspect they do not satisfy Mrs  Weston   They hardly can satisfy a
woman of her good sense and quick feelings   standing in a mother s
place  but without a mother s affection to blind her   It is on her
account that attention to Randalls is doubly due  and she must doubly
feel the omission   Had she been a person of consequence herself  he
would have come I dare say  and it would not have signified whether he
did or no   Can you think your friend behindhand in these sort of
considerations   Do you suppose she does not often say all this to
herself   No  Emma  your amiable young man can be amiable only in
French  not in English   He may be very  aimable   have very good
manners  and be very agreeable  but he can have no English delicacy
towards the feelings of other people  nothing really amiable about him  

 You seem determined to think ill of him  

 Me   not at all   replied Mr  Knightley  rather displeased   I do not
want to think ill of him   I should be as ready to acknowledge his
merits as any other man  but I hear of none  except what are merely
personal  that he is well grown and good looking  with smooth 
plausible manners  

 Well  if he have nothing else to recommend him  he will be a treasure
at Highbury   We do not often look upon fine young men  well bred and
agreeable   We must not be nice and ask for all the virtues into the
bargain   Cannot you imagine  Mr  Knightley  what a  sensation  his
coming will produce   There will be but one subject throughout the
parishes of Donwell and Highbury  but one interest  one object of
curiosity  it will be all Mr  Frank Churchill  we shall think and speak
of nobody else  

 You will excuse my being so much over powered  If I find him
conversable  I shall be glad of his acquaintance  but if he is only a
chattering coxcomb  he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts  

 My idea of him is  that he can adapt his conversation to the taste of
every body  and has the power as well as the wish of being universally
agreeable   To you  he will talk of farming  to me  of drawing or
music  and so on to every body  having that general information on all
subjects which will enable him to follow the lead  or take the lead 
just as propriety may require  and to speak extremely well on each 
that is my idea of him  

 And mine   said Mr  Knightley warmly   is  that if he turn out any
thing like it  he will be the most insufferable fellow breathing 
What  at three and twenty to be the king of his company  the great
man  the practised politician  who is to read every body s character 
and make every body s talents conduce to the display of his own
superiority  to be dispensing his flatteries around  that he may make
all appear like fools compared with himself   My dear Emma  your own
good sense could not endure such a puppy when it came to the point  

 I will say no more about him   cried Emma   you turn every thing to
evil   We are both prejudiced  you against  I for him  and we have no
chance of agreeing till he is really here  

 Prejudiced   I am not prejudiced  

 But I am very much  and without being at all ashamed of it   My love
for Mr  and Mrs  Weston gives me a decided prejudice in his favour  

 He is a person I never think of from one month s end to another   said
Mr  Knightley  with a degree of vexation  which made Emma immediately
talk of something else  though she could not comprehend why he should
be angry 

To take a dislike to a young man  only because he appeared to be of a
different disposition from himself  was unworthy the real liberality of
mind which she was always used to acknowledge in him  for with all the
high opinion of himself  which she had often laid to his charge  she
had never before for a moment supposed it could make him unjust to the
merit of another 




VOLUME II



CHAPTER I


Emma and Harriet had been walking together one morning  and  in Emma s
opinion  had been talking enough of Mr  Elton for that day   She could
not think that Harriet s solace or her own sins required more  and she
was therefore industriously getting rid of the subject as they
returned   but it burst out again when she thought she had succeeded 
and after speaking some time of what the poor must suffer in winter 
and receiving no other answer than a very plaintive    Mr  Elton is so
good to the poor   she found something else must be done 

They were just approaching the house where lived Mrs  and Miss Bates 
She determined to call upon them and seek safety in numbers   There was
always sufficient reason for such an attention  Mrs  and Miss Bates
loved to be called on  and she knew she was considered by the very few
who presumed ever to see imperfection in her  as rather negligent in
that respect  and as not contributing what she ought to the stock of
their scanty comforts 

She had had many a hint from Mr  Knightley and some from her own heart 
as to her deficiency  but none were equal to counteract the persuasion
of its being very disagreeable   a waste of time  tiresome women  and
all the horror of being in danger of falling in with the second rate
and third rate of Highbury  who were calling on them for ever  and
therefore she seldom went near them   But now she made the sudden
resolution of not passing their door without going in  observing  as
she proposed it to Harriet  that  as well as she could calculate  they
were just now quite safe from any letter from Jane Fairfax 

The house belonged to people in business   Mrs  and Miss Bates occupied
the drawing room floor  and there  in the very moderate sized
apartment  which was every thing to them  the visitors were most
cordially and even gratefully welcomed  the quiet neat old lady  who
with her knitting was seated in the warmest corner  wanting even to
give up her place to Miss Woodhouse  and her more active  talking
daughter  almost ready to overpower them with care and kindness  thanks
for their visit  solicitude for their shoes  anxious inquiries after
Mr  Woodhouse s health  cheerful communications about her mother s  and
sweet cake from the beaufet   Mrs  Cole had just been there  just
called in for ten minutes  and had been so good as to sit an hour with
them  and  she  had taken a piece of cake and been so kind as to say
she liked it very much  and  therefore  she hoped Miss Woodhouse and
Miss Smith would do them the favour to eat a piece too  

The mention of the Coles was sure to be followed by that of Mr  Elton 
There was intimacy between them  and Mr  Cole had heard from Mr  Elton
since his going away   Emma knew what was coming  they must have the
letter over again  and settle how long he had been gone  and how much
he was engaged in company  and what a favourite he was wherever he
went  and how full the Master of the Ceremonies  ball had been  and she
went through it very well  with all the interest and all the
commendation that could be requisite  and always putting forward to
prevent Harriet s being obliged to say a word 

This she had been prepared for when she entered the house  but meant 
having once talked him handsomely over  to be no farther incommoded by
any troublesome topic  and to wander at large amongst all the
Mistresses and Misses of Highbury  and their card parties   She had not
been prepared to have Jane Fairfax succeed Mr  Elton  but he was
actually hurried off by Miss Bates  she jumped away from him at last
abruptly to the Coles  to usher in a letter from her niece 

 Oh  yes  Mr  Elton  I understand  certainly as to dancing   Mrs  Cole
was telling me that dancing at the rooms at Bath was   Mrs  Cole was so
kind as to sit some time with us  talking of Jane  for as soon as she
came in  she began inquiring after her  Jane is so very great a
favourite there   Whenever she is with us  Mrs  Cole does not know how
to shew her kindness enough  and I must say that Jane deserves it as
much as any body can   And so she began inquiring after her directly 
saying   I know you cannot have heard from Jane lately  because it is
not her time for writing   and when I immediately said   But indeed we
have  we had a letter this very morning   I do not know that I ever saw
any body more surprized    Have you  upon your honour   said she 
 well  that is quite unexpected   Do let me hear what she says   

Emma s politeness was at hand directly  to say  with smiling interest  

 Have you heard from Miss Fairfax so lately   I am extremely happy   I
hope she is well  

 Thank you   You are so kind   replied the happily deceived aunt  while
eagerly hunting for the letter    Oh  here it is   I was sure it could
not be far off  but I had put my huswife upon it  you see  without
being aware  and so it was quite hid  but I had it in my hand so very
lately that I was almost sure it must be on the table   I was reading
it to Mrs  Cole  and since she went away  I was reading it again to my
mother  for it is such a pleasure to her  a letter from Jane  that she
can never hear it often enough  so I knew it could not be far off  and
here it is  only just under my huswife  and since you are so kind as to
wish to hear what she says   but  first of all  I really must  in
justice to Jane  apologise for her writing so short a letter  only two
pages you see  hardly two  and in general she fills the whole paper
and crosses half   My mother often wonders that I can make it out so
well   She often says  when the letter is first opened   Well  Hetty 
now I think you will be put to it to make out all that checker work   
don t you  ma am   And then I tell her  I am sure she would contrive to
make it out herself  if she had nobody to do it for her  every word of
it  I am sure she would pore over it till she had made out every word 
And  indeed  though my mother s eyes are not so good as they were  she
can see amazingly well still  thank God   with the help of spectacles 
It is such a blessing   My mother s are really very good indeed   Jane
often says  when she is here   I am sure  grandmama  you must have had
very strong eyes to see as you do  and so much fine work as you have
done too   I only wish my eyes may last me as well   

All this spoken extremely fast obliged Miss Bates to stop for breath 
and Emma said something very civil about the excellence of Miss
Fairfax s handwriting 

 You are extremely kind   replied Miss Bates  highly gratified   you
who are such a judge  and write so beautifully yourself   I am sure
there is nobody s praise that could give us so much pleasure as Miss
Woodhouse s  My mother does not hear  she is a little deaf you know 
Ma am   addressing her   do you hear what Miss Woodhouse is so obliging
to say about Jane s handwriting  

And Emma had the advantage of hearing her own silly compliment repeated
twice over before the good old lady could comprehend it   She was
pondering  in the meanwhile  upon the possibility  without seeming very
rude  of making her escape from Jane Fairfax s letter  and had almost
resolved on hurrying away directly under some slight excuse  when Miss
Bates turned to her again and seized her attention 

 My mother s deafness is very trifling you see  just nothing at all 
By only raising my voice  and saying any thing two or three times over 
she is sure to hear  but then she is used to my voice   But it is very
remarkable that she should always hear Jane better than she does me 
Jane speaks so distinct   However  she will not find her grandmama at
all deafer than she was two years ago  which is saying a great deal at
my mother s time of life  and it really is full two years  you know 
since she was here   We never were so long without seeing her before 
and as I was telling Mrs  Cole  we shall hardly know how to make enough
of her now  

 Are you expecting Miss Fairfax here soon  

 Oh yes  next week  

 Indeed   that must be a very great pleasure  

 Thank you   You are very kind   Yes  next week   Every body is so
surprized  and every body says the same obliging things   I am sure she
will be as happy to see her friends at Highbury  as they can be to see
her   Yes  Friday or Saturday  she cannot say which  because Colonel
Campbell will be wanting the carriage himself one of those days   So
very good of them to send her the whole way   But they always do  you
know   Oh yes  Friday or Saturday next   That is what she writes about 
That is the reason of her writing out of rule  as we call it  for  in
the common course  we should not have heard from her before next
Tuesday or Wednesday  

 Yes  so I imagined   I was afraid there could be little chance of my
hearing any thing of Miss Fairfax to day  

 So obliging of you   No  we should not have heard  if it had not been
for this particular circumstance  of her being to come here so soon 
My mother is so delighted   for she is to be three months with us at
least   Three months  she says so  positively  as I am going to have
the pleasure of reading to you   The case is  you see  that the
Campbells are going to Ireland   Mrs  Dixon has persuaded her father
and mother to come over and see her directly   They had not intended to
go over till the summer  but she is so impatient to see them again  for
till she married  last October  she was never away from them so much as
a week  which must make it very strange to be in different kingdoms  I
was going to say  but however different countries  and so she wrote a
very urgent letter to her mother  or her father  I declare I do not
know which it was  but we shall see presently in Jane s letter  wrote
in Mr  Dixon s name as well as her own  to press their coming over
directly  and they would give them the meeting in Dublin  and take them
back to their country seat  Baly craig  a beautiful place  I fancy 
Jane has heard a great deal of its beauty  from Mr  Dixon  I mean   I
do not know that she ever heard about it from any body else  but it was
very natural  you know  that he should like to speak of his own place
while he was paying his addresses  and as Jane used to be very often
walking out with them  for Colonel and Mrs  Campbell were very
particular about their daughter s not walking out often with only Mr 
Dixon  for which I do not at all blame them  of course she heard every
thing he might be telling Miss Campbell about his own home in Ireland 
and I think she wrote us word that he had shewn them some drawings of
the place  views that he had taken himself   He is a most amiable 
charming young man  I believe   Jane was quite longing to go to
Ireland  from his account of things  

At this moment  an ingenious and animating suspicion entering Emma s
brain with regard to Jane Fairfax  this charming Mr  Dixon  and the not
going to Ireland  she said  with the insidious design of farther
discovery 

 You must feel it very fortunate that Miss Fairfax should be allowed to
come to you at such a time   Considering the very particular friendship
between her and Mrs  Dixon  you could hardly have expected her to be
excused from accompanying Colonel and Mrs  Campbell  

 Very true  very true  indeed   The very thing that we have always been
rather afraid of  for we should not have liked to have her at such a
distance from us  for months together  not able to come if any thing
was to happen   But you see  every thing turns out for the best   They
want her  Mr  and Mrs  Dixon  excessively to come over with Colonel and
Mrs  Campbell  quite depend upon it  nothing can be more kind or
pressing than their  joint  invitation  Jane says  as you will hear
presently  Mr  Dixon does not seem in the least backward in any
attention   He is a most charming young man   Ever since the service he
rendered Jane at Weymouth  when they were out in that party on the
water  and she  by the sudden whirling round of something or other
among the sails  would have been dashed into the sea at once  and
actually was all but gone  if he had not  with the greatest presence of
mind  caught hold of her habit    I can never think of it without
trembling    But ever since we had the history of that day  I have been
so fond of Mr  Dixon  

 But  in spite of all her friends  urgency  and her own wish of seeing
Ireland  Miss Fairfax prefers devoting the time to you and Mrs  Bates  

 Yes  entirely her own doing  entirely her own choice  and Colonel and
Mrs  Campbell think she does quite right  just what they should
recommend  and indeed they particularly  wish  her to try her native
air  as she has not been quite so well as usual lately  

 I am concerned to hear of it   I think they judge wisely   But Mrs 
Dixon must be very much disappointed   Mrs  Dixon  I understand  has no
remarkable degree of personal beauty  is not  by any means  to be
compared with Miss Fairfax  

 Oh  no   You are very obliging to say such things  but certainly not 
There is no comparison between them   Miss Campbell always was
absolutely plain  but extremely elegant and amiable  

 Yes  that of course  

 Jane caught a bad cold  poor thing  so long ago as the 7th of
November   as I am going to read to you   and has never been well
since   A long time  is not it  for a cold to hang upon her   She never
mentioned it before  because she would not alarm us   Just like her  so
considerate   But however  she is so far from well  that her kind
friends the Campbells think she had better come home  and try an air
that always agrees with her  and they have no doubt that three or four
months at Highbury will entirely cure her  and it is certainly a great
deal better that she should come here  than go to Ireland  if she is
unwell  Nobody could nurse her  as we should do  

 It appears to me the most desirable arrangement in the world  

 And so she is to come to us next Friday or Saturday  and the Campbells
leave town in their way to Holyhead the Monday following  as you will
find from Jane s letter   So sudden   You may guess  dear Miss
Woodhouse  what a flurry it has thrown me in   If it was not for the
drawback of her illness  but I am afraid we must expect to see her
grown thin  and looking very poorly   I must tell you what an unlucky
thing happened to me  as to that   I always make a point of reading
Jane s letters through to myself first  before I read them aloud to my
mother  you know  for fear of there being any thing in them to distress
her   Jane desired me to do it  so I always do   and so I began to day
with my usual caution  but no sooner did I come to the mention of her
being unwell  than I burst out  quite frightened  with  Bless me  poor
Jane is ill    which my mother  being on the watch  heard distinctly 
and was sadly alarmed at   However  when I read on  I found it was not
near so bad as I had fancied at first  and I make so light of it now to
her  that she does not think much about it   But I cannot imagine how I
could be so off my guard   If Jane does not get well soon  we will call
in Mr  Perry   The expense shall not be thought of  and though he is so
liberal  and so fond of Jane that I dare say he would not mean to
charge any thing for attendance  we could not suffer it to be so  you
know   He has a wife and family to maintain  and is not to be giving
away his time   Well  now I have just given you a hint of what Jane
writes about  we will turn to her letter  and I am sure she tells her
own story a great deal better than I can tell it for her  

 I am afraid we must be running away   said Emma  glancing at Harriet 
and beginning to rise   My father will be expecting us   I had no
intention  I thought I had no power of staying more than five minutes 
when I first entered the house   I merely called  because I would not
pass the door without inquiring after Mrs  Bates  but I have been so
pleasantly detained   Now  however  we must wish you and Mrs  Bates
good morning  

And not all that could be urged to detain her succeeded   She regained
the street  happy in this  that though much had been forced on her
against her will  though she had in fact heard the whole substance of
Jane Fairfax s letter  she had been able to escape the letter itself 



CHAPTER II


Jane Fairfax was an orphan  the only child of Mrs  Bates s youngest
daughter 

The marriage of Lieut  Fairfax of the         regiment of infantry  and
Miss Jane Bates  had had its day of fame and pleasure  hope and
interest  but nothing now remained of it  save the melancholy
remembrance of him dying in action abroad  of his widow sinking under
consumption and grief soon afterwards  and this girl 

By birth she belonged to Highbury   and when at three years old  on
losing her mother  she became the property  the charge  the
consolation  the fondling of her grandmother and aunt  there had seemed
every probability of her being permanently fixed there  of her being
taught only what very limited means could command  and growing up with
no advantages of connexion or improvement  to be engrafted on what
nature had given her in a pleasing person  good understanding  and
warm hearted  well meaning relations 

But the compassionate feelings of a friend of her father gave a change
to her destiny   This was Colonel Campbell  who had very highly
regarded Fairfax  as an excellent officer and most deserving young man 
and farther  had been indebted to him for such attentions  during a
severe camp fever  as he believed had saved his life   These were
claims which he did not learn to overlook  though some years passed
away from the death of poor Fairfax  before his own return to England
put any thing in his power   When he did return  he sought out the
child and took notice of her   He was a married man  with only one
living child  a girl  about Jane s age   and Jane became their guest 
paying them long visits and growing a favourite with all  and before
she was nine years old  his daughter s great fondness for her  and his
own wish of being a real friend  united to produce an offer from
Colonel Campbell of undertaking the whole charge of her education   It
was accepted  and from that period Jane had belonged to Colonel
Campbell s family  and had lived with them entirely  only visiting her
grandmother from time to time 

The plan was that she should be brought up for educating others  the
very few hundred pounds which she inherited from her father making
independence impossible   To provide for her otherwise was out of
Colonel Campbell s power  for though his income  by pay and
appointments  was handsome  his fortune was moderate and must be all
his daughter s  but  by giving her an education  he hoped to be
supplying the means of respectable subsistence hereafter 

Such was Jane Fairfax s history   She had fallen into good hands  known
nothing but kindness from the Campbells  and been given an excellent
education   Living constantly with right minded and well informed
people  her heart and understanding had received every advantage of
discipline and culture  and Colonel Campbell s residence being in
London  every lighter talent had been done full justice to  by the
attendance of first rate masters   Her disposition and abilities were
equally worthy of all that friendship could do  and at eighteen or
nineteen she was  as far as such an early age can be qualified for the
care of children  fully competent to the office of instruction herself 
but she was too much beloved to be parted with   Neither father nor
mother could promote  and the daughter could not endure it   The evil
day was put off   It was easy to decide that she was still too young 
and Jane remained with them  sharing  as another daughter  in all the
rational pleasures of an elegant society  and a judicious mixture of
home and amusement  with only the drawback of the future  the sobering
suggestions of her own good understanding to remind her that all this
might soon be over 

The affection of the whole family  the warm attachment of Miss Campbell
in particular  was the more honourable to each party from the
circumstance of Jane s decided superiority both in beauty and
acquirements   That nature had given it in feature could not be unseen
by the young woman  nor could her higher powers of mind be unfelt by
the parents   They continued together with unabated regard however 
till the marriage of Miss Campbell  who by that chance  that luck which
so often defies anticipation in matrimonial affairs  giving attraction
to what is moderate rather than to what is superior  engaged the
affections of Mr  Dixon  a young man  rich and agreeable  almost as
soon as they were acquainted  and was eligibly and happily settled 
while Jane Fairfax had yet her bread to earn 

This event had very lately taken place  too lately for any thing to be
yet attempted by her less fortunate friend towards entering on her path
of duty  though she had now reached the age which her own judgment had
fixed on for beginning   She had long resolved that one and twenty
should be the period   With the fortitude of a devoted novitiate  she
had resolved at one and twenty to complete the sacrifice  and retire
from all the pleasures of life  of rational intercourse  equal society 
peace and hope  to penance and mortification for ever 

The good sense of Colonel and Mrs  Campbell could not oppose such a
resolution  though their feelings did   As long as they lived  no
exertions would be necessary  their home might be hers for ever  and
for their own comfort they would have retained her wholly  but this
would be selfishness   what must be at last  had better be soon 
Perhaps they began to feel it might have been kinder and wiser to have
resisted the temptation of any delay  and spared her from a taste of
such enjoyments of ease and leisure as must now be relinquished 
Still  however  affection was glad to catch at any reasonable excuse
for not hurrying on the wretched moment   She had never been quite well
since the time of their daughter s marriage  and till she should have
completely recovered her usual strength  they must forbid her engaging
in duties  which  so far from being compatible with a weakened frame
and varying spirits  seemed  under the most favourable circumstances 
to require something more than human perfection of body and mind to be
discharged with tolerable comfort 

With regard to her not accompanying them to Ireland  her account to her
aunt contained nothing but truth  though there might be some truths not
told   It was her own choice to give the time of their absence to
Highbury  to spend  perhaps  her last months of perfect liberty with
those kind relations to whom she was so very dear  and the Campbells 
whatever might be their motive or motives  whether single  or double 
or treble  gave the arrangement their ready sanction  and said  that
they depended more on a few months spent in her native air  for the
recovery of her health  than on any thing else   Certain it was that
she was to come  and that Highbury  instead of welcoming that perfect
novelty which had been so long promised it  Mr  Frank Churchill  must
put up for the present with Jane Fairfax  who could bring only the
freshness of a two years  absence 

Emma was sorry   to have to pay civilities to a person she did not like
through three long months   to be always doing more than she wished 
and less than she ought   Why she did not like Jane Fairfax might be a
difficult question to answer  Mr  Knightley had once told her it was
because she saw in her the really accomplished young woman  which she
wanted to be thought herself  and though the accusation had been
eagerly refuted at the time  there were moments of self examination in
which her conscience could not quite acquit her   But  she could never
get acquainted with her  she did not know how it was  but there was
such coldness and reserve  such apparent indifference whether she
pleased or not  and then  her aunt was such an eternal talker   and she
was made such a fuss with by every body   and it had been always
imagined that they were to be so intimate  because their ages were the
same  every body had supposed they must be so fond of each other  
These were her reasons  she had no better 

It was a dislike so little just  every imputed fault was so magnified
by fancy  that she never saw Jane Fairfax the first time after any
considerable absence  without feeling that she had injured her  and
now  when the due visit was paid  on her arrival  after a two years 
interval  she was particularly struck with the very appearance and
manners  which for those two whole years she had been depreciating 
Jane Fairfax was very elegant  remarkably elegant  and she had herself
the highest value for elegance   Her height was pretty  just such as
almost every body would think tall  and nobody could think very tall 
her figure particularly graceful  her size a most becoming medium 
between fat and thin  though a slight appearance of ill health seemed
to point out the likeliest evil of the two   Emma could not but feel
all this  and then  her face  her features  there was more beauty in
them altogether than she had remembered  it was not regular  but it was
very pleasing beauty   Her eyes  a deep grey  with dark eye lashes and
eyebrows  had never been denied their praise  but the skin  which she
had been used to cavil at  as wanting colour  had a clearness and
delicacy which really needed no fuller bloom   It was a style of
beauty  of which elegance was the reigning character  and as such  she
must  in honour  by all her principles  admire it   elegance  which 
whether of person or of mind  she saw so little in Highbury   There 
not to be vulgar  was distinction  and merit 

In short  she sat  during the first visit  looking at Jane Fairfax with
twofold complacency  the sense of pleasure and the sense of rendering
justice  and was determining that she would dislike her no longer 
When she took in her history  indeed  her situation  as well as her
beauty  when she considered what all this elegance was destined to 
what she was going to sink from  how she was going to live  it seemed
impossible to feel any thing but compassion and respect  especially  if
to every well known particular entitling her to interest  were added
the highly probable circumstance of an attachment to Mr  Dixon  which
she had so naturally started to herself   In that case  nothing could
be more pitiable or more honourable than the sacrifices she had
resolved on   Emma was very willing now to acquit her of having seduced
Mr  Dixon s actions from his wife  or of any thing mischievous which
her imagination had suggested at first   If it were love  it might be
simple  single  successless love on her side alone   She might have
been unconsciously sucking in the sad poison  while a sharer of his
conversation with her friend  and from the best  the purest of motives 
might now be denying herself this visit to Ireland  and resolving to
divide herself effectually from him and his connexions by soon
beginning her career of laborious duty 

Upon the whole  Emma left her with such softened  charitable feelings 
as made her look around in walking home  and lament that Highbury
afforded no young man worthy of giving her independence  nobody that
she could wish to scheme about for her 

These were charming feelings  but not lasting   Before she had
committed herself by any public profession of eternal friendship for
Jane Fairfax  or done more towards a recantation of past prejudices and
errors  than saying to Mr  Knightley   She certainly is handsome  she
is better than handsome    Jane had spent an evening at Hartfield with
her grandmother and aunt  and every thing was relapsing much into its
usual state   Former provocations reappeared   The aunt was as tiresome
as ever  more tiresome  because anxiety for her health was now added to
admiration of her powers  and they had to listen to the description of
exactly how little bread and butter she ate for breakfast  and how
small a slice of mutton for dinner  as well as to see exhibitions of
new caps and new workbags for her mother and herself  and Jane s
offences rose again   They had music  Emma was obliged to play  and the
thanks and praise which necessarily followed appeared to her an
affectation of candour  an air of greatness  meaning only to shew off
in higher style her own very superior performance   She was  besides 
which was the worst of all  so cold  so cautious   There was no getting
at her real opinion   Wrapt up in a cloak of politeness  she seemed
determined to hazard nothing   She was disgustingly  was suspiciously
reserved 

If any thing could be more  where all was most  she was more reserved
on the subject of Weymouth and the Dixons than any thing   She seemed
bent on giving no real insight into Mr  Dixon s character  or her own
value for his company  or opinion of the suitableness of the match   It
was all general approbation and smoothness  nothing delineated or
distinguished   It did her no service however   Her caution was thrown
away   Emma saw its artifice  and returned to her first surmises 
There probably  was  something more to conceal than her own preference 
Mr  Dixon  perhaps  had been very near changing one friend for the
other  or been fixed only to Miss Campbell  for the sake of the future
twelve thousand pounds 

The like reserve prevailed on other topics   She and Mr  Frank
Churchill had been at Weymouth at the same time   It was known that
they were a little acquainted  but not a syllable of real information
could Emma procure as to what he truly was    Was he handsome     She
believed he was reckoned a very fine young man     Was he agreeable    
 He was generally thought so     Did he appear a sensible young man  a
young man of information     At a watering place  or in a common London
acquaintance  it was difficult to decide on such points   Manners were
all that could be safely judged of  under a much longer knowledge than
they had yet had of Mr  Churchill   She believed every body found his
manners pleasing    Emma could not forgive her 



CHAPTER III


Emma could not forgive her   but as neither provocation nor resentment
were discerned by Mr  Knightley  who had been of the party  and had
seen only proper attention and pleasing behaviour on each side  he was
expressing the next morning  being at Hartfield again on business with
Mr  Woodhouse  his approbation of the whole  not so openly as he might
have done had her father been out of the room  but speaking plain
enough to be very intelligible to Emma   He had been used to think her
unjust to Jane  and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement 

 A very pleasant evening   he began  as soon as Mr  Woodhouse had been
talked into what was necessary  told that he understood  and the papers
swept away    particularly pleasant   You and Miss Fairfax gave us some
very good music   I do not know a more luxurious state  sir  than
sitting at one s ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such
young women  sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation   I
am sure Miss Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant  Emma   You
left nothing undone   I was glad you made her play so much  for having
no instrument at her grandmother s  it must have been a real
indulgence  

 I am happy you approved   said Emma  smiling   but I hope I am not
often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield  

 No  my dear   said her father instantly    that  I am sure you are
not   There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are   If any
thing  you are too attentive   The muffin last night  if it had been
handed round once  I think it would have been enough  

 No   said Mr  Knightley  nearly at the same time   you are not often
deficient  not often deficient either in manner or comprehension   I
think you understand me  therefore  

An arch look expressed   I understand you well enough   but she said
only   Miss Fairfax is reserved  

 I always told you she was  a little  but you will soon overcome all
that part of her reserve which ought to be overcome  all that has its
foundation in diffidence   What arises from discretion must be
honoured  

 You think her diffident   I do not see it  

 My dear Emma   said he  moving from his chair into one close by her 
 you are not going to tell me  I hope  that you had not a pleasant
evening  

 Oh  no  I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions 
and amused to think how little information I obtained  

 I am disappointed   was his only answer 

 I hope every body had a pleasant evening   said Mr  Woodhouse  in his
quiet way    I had   Once  I felt the fire rather too much  but then I
moved back my chair a little  a very little  and it did not disturb me 
Miss Bates was very chatty and good humoured  as she always is  though
she speaks rather too quick   However  she is very agreeable  and Mrs 
Bates too  in a different way   I like old friends  and Miss Jane
Fairfax is a very pretty sort of young lady  a very pretty and a very
well behaved young lady indeed   She must have found the evening
agreeable  Mr  Knightley  because she had Emma  

 True  sir  and Emma  because she had Miss Fairfax  

Emma saw his anxiety  and wishing to appease it  at least for the
present  said  and with a sincerity which no one could question  

 She is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep one s eyes
from   I am always watching her to admire  and I do pity her from my
heart  

Mr  Knightley looked as if he were more gratified than he cared to
express  and before he could make any reply  Mr  Woodhouse  whose
thoughts were on the Bates s  said  

 It is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined   a
great pity indeed  and I have often wished  but it is so little one can
venture to do  small  trifling presents  of any thing uncommon   Now we
have killed a porker  and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg 
it is very small and delicate  Hartfield pork is not like any other
pork  but still it is pork  and  my dear Emma  unless one could be sure
of their making it into steaks  nicely fried  as ours are fried 
without the smallest grease  and not roast it  for no stomach can bear
roast pork  I think we had better send the leg  do not you think so 
my dear  

 My dear papa  I sent the whole hind quarter  I knew you would wish it 
There will be the leg to be salted  you know  which is so very nice 
and the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like  

 That s right  my dear  very right   I had not thought of it before 
but that is the best way   They must not over salt the leg  and then 
if it is not over salted  and if it is very thoroughly boiled  just as
Serle boils ours  and eaten very moderately of  with a boiled turnip 
and a little carrot or parsnip  I do not consider it unwholesome  

 Emma   said Mr  Knightley presently   I have a piece of news for you 
You like news  and I heard an article in my way hither that I think
will interest you  

 News   Oh  yes  I always like news   What is it   why do you smile
so   where did you hear it   at Randalls  

He had time only to say 

 No  not at Randalls  I have not been near Randalls   when the door was
thrown open  and Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax walked into the room 
Full of thanks  and full of news  Miss Bates knew not which to give
quickest   Mr  Knightley soon saw that he had lost his moment  and that
not another syllable of communication could rest with him 

 Oh  my dear sir  how are you this morning   My dear Miss Woodhouse   I
come quite over powered  Such a beautiful hind quarter of pork   You
are too bountiful   Have you heard the news   Mr  Elton is going to be
married  

Emma had not had time even to think of Mr  Elton  and she was so
completely surprized that she could not avoid a little start  and a
little blush  at the sound 

 There is my news   I thought it would interest you   said Mr 
Knightley  with a smile which implied a conviction of some part of what
had passed between them 

 But where could  you  hear it   cried Miss Bates    Where could you
possibly hear it  Mr  Knightley   For it is not five minutes since I
received Mrs  Cole s note  no  it cannot be more than five  or at
least ten  for I had got my bonnet and spencer on  just ready to come
out  I was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork  Jane
was standing in the passage  were not you  Jane   for my mother was so
afraid that we had not any salting pan large enough   So I said I would
go down and see  and Jane said   Shall I go down instead  for I think
you have a little cold  and Patty has been washing the kitchen     Oh 
my dear   said I  well  and just then came the note   A Miss Hawkins  
that s all I know   A Miss Hawkins of Bath   But  Mr  Knightley  how
could you possibly have heard it  for the very moment Mr  Cole told
Mrs  Cole of it  she sat down and wrote to me   A Miss Hawkins   

 I was with Mr  Cole on business an hour and a half ago   He had just
read Elton s letter as I was shewn in  and handed it to me directly  

 Well  that is quite  I suppose there never was a piece of news more
generally interesting   My dear sir  you really are too bountiful   My
mother desires her very best compliments and regards  and a thousand
thanks  and says you really quite oppress her  

 We consider our Hartfield pork   replied Mr  Woodhouse   indeed it
certainly is  so very superior to all other pork  that Emma and I
cannot have a greater pleasure than   

 Oh  my dear sir  as my mother says  our friends are only too good to
us   If ever there were people who  without having great wealth
themselves  had every thing they could wish for  I am sure it is us 
We may well say that  our lot is cast in a goodly heritage   Well  Mr 
Knightley  and so you actually saw the letter  well   

 It was short  merely to announce  but cheerful  exulting  of
course     Here was a sly glance at Emma    He had been so fortunate as
to  I forget the precise words  one has no business to remember them 
The information was  as you state  that he was going to be married to a
Miss Hawkins   By his style  I should imagine it just settled  

 Mr  Elton going to be married   said Emma  as soon as she could speak 
 He will have every body s wishes for his happiness  

 He is very young to settle   was Mr  Woodhouse s observation    He had
better not be in a hurry   He seemed to me very well off as he was   We
were always glad to see him at Hartfield  

 A new neighbour for us all  Miss Woodhouse   said Miss Bates 
joyfully   my mother is so pleased   she says she cannot bear to have
the poor old Vicarage without a mistress   This is great news  indeed 
Jane  you have never seen Mr  Elton   no wonder that you have such a
curiosity to see him  

Jane s curiosity did not appear of that absorbing nature as wholly to
occupy her 

 No  I have never seen Mr  Elton   she replied  starting on this
appeal   is he  is he a tall man  

 Who shall answer that question   cried Emma    My father would say
 yes   Mr  Knightley  no   and Miss Bates and I that he is just the
happy medium   When you have been here a little longer  Miss Fairfax 
you will understand that Mr  Elton is the standard of perfection in
Highbury  both in person and mind  

 Very true  Miss Woodhouse  so she will   He is the very best young
man  But  my dear Jane  if you remember  I told you yesterday he was
precisely the height of Mr  Perry   Miss Hawkins   I dare say  an
excellent young woman   His extreme attention to my mother  wanting
her to sit in the vicarage pew  that she might hear the better  for my
mother is a little deaf  you know  it is not much  but she does not
hear quite quick   Jane says that Colonel Campbell is a little deaf 
He fancied bathing might be good for it  the warm bath  but she says
it did him no lasting benefit   Colonel Campbell  you know  is quite
our angel   And Mr  Dixon seems a very charming young man  quite worthy
of him   It is such a happiness when good people get together  and they
always do   Now  here will be Mr  Elton and Miss Hawkins  and there are
the Coles  such very good people  and the Perrys  I suppose there never
was a happier or a better couple than Mr  and Mrs  Perry   I say  sir  
turning to Mr  Woodhouse   I think there are few places with such
society as Highbury   I always say  we are quite blessed in our
neighbours   My dear sir  if there is one thing my mother loves better
than another  it is pork  a roast loin of pork   

 As to who  or what Miss Hawkins is  or how long he has been acquainted
with her   said Emma   nothing I suppose can be known   One feels that
it cannot be a very long acquaintance   He has been gone only four
weeks  

Nobody had any information to give  and  after a few more wonderings 
Emma said 

 You are silent  Miss Fairfax  but I hope you mean to take an interest
in this news   You  who have been hearing and seeing so much of late on
these subjects  who must have been so deep in the business on Miss
Campbell s account  we shall not excuse your being indifferent about
Mr  Elton and Miss Hawkins  

 When I have seen Mr  Elton   replied Jane   I dare say I shall be
interested  but I believe it requires  that  with me   And as it is
some months since Miss Campbell married  the impression may be a little
worn off  

 Yes  he has been gone just four weeks  as you observe  Miss
Woodhouse   said Miss Bates   four weeks yesterday   A Miss
Hawkins   Well  I had always rather fancied it would be some young lady
hereabouts  not that I ever  Mrs  Cole once whispered to me  but I
immediately said   No  Mr  Elton is a most worthy young man  but   In
short  I do not think I am particularly quick at those sort of
discoveries   I do not pretend to it   What is before me  I see   At
the same time  nobody could wonder if Mr  Elton should have
aspired  Miss Woodhouse lets me chatter on  so good humouredly  She
knows I would not offend for the world   How does Miss Smith do   She
seems quite recovered now   Have you heard from Mrs  John Knightley
lately   Oh  those dear little children   Jane  do you know I always
fancy Mr  Dixon like Mr  John Knightley   I mean in person  tall  and
with that sort of look  and not very talkative  

 Quite wrong  my dear aunt  there is no likeness at all  

 Very odd  but one never does form a just idea of any body beforehand 
One takes up a notion  and runs away with it   Mr  Dixon  you say  is
not  strictly speaking  handsome  

 Handsome   Oh  no  far from it  certainly plain   I told you he was
plain  

 My dear  you said that Miss Campbell would not allow him to be plain 
and that you yourself   

 Oh  as for me  my judgment is worth nothing   Where I have a regard  I
always think a person well looking  But I gave what I believed the
general opinion  when I called him plain  

 Well  my dear Jane  I believe we must be running away   The weather
does not look well  and grandmama will be uneasy   You are too
obliging  my dear Miss Woodhouse  but we really must take leave   This
has been a most agreeable piece of news indeed   I shall just go round
by Mrs  Cole s  but I shall not stop three minutes  and  Jane  you had
better go home directly  I would not have you out in a shower   We
think she is the better for Highbury already   Thank you  we do indeed 
I shall not attempt calling on Mrs  Goddard  for I really do not think
she cares for any thing but  boiled  pork  when we dress the leg it
will be another thing   Good morning to you  my dear sir   Oh   Mr 
Knightley is coming too   Well  that is so very   I am sure if Jane is
tired  you will be so kind as to give her your arm   Mr  Elton  and
Miss Hawkins   Good morning to you  

Emma  alone with her father  had half her attention wanted by him while
he lamented that young people would be in such a hurry to marry  and
to marry strangers too  and the other half she could give to her own
view of the subject   It was to herself an amusing and a very welcome
piece of news  as proving that Mr  Elton could not have suffered long 
but she was sorry for Harriet  Harriet must feel it  and all that she
could hope was  by giving the first information herself  to save her
from hearing it abruptly from others   It was now about the time that
she was likely to call   If she were to meet Miss Bates in her
way   and upon its beginning to rain  Emma was obliged to expect that
the weather would be detaining her at Mrs  Goddard s  and that the
intelligence would undoubtedly rush upon her without preparation 

The shower was heavy  but short  and it had not been over five minutes 
when in came Harriet  with just the heated  agitated look which
hurrying thither with a full heart was likely to give  and the  Oh 
Miss Woodhouse  what do you think has happened   which instantly burst
forth  had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation   As the blow
was given  Emma felt that she could not now shew greater kindness than
in listening  and Harriet  unchecked  ran eagerly through what she had
to tell    She had set out from Mrs  Goddard s half an hour ago  she
had been afraid it would rain  she had been afraid it would pour down
every moment  but she thought she might get to Hartfield first  she had
hurried on as fast as possible  but then  as she was passing by the
house where a young woman was making up a gown for her  she thought she
would just step in and see how it went on  and though she did not seem
to stay half a moment there  soon after she came out it began to rain 
and she did not know what to do  so she ran on directly  as fast as she
could  and took shelter at Ford s    Ford s was the principal
woollen draper  linen draper  and haberdasher s shop united  the shop
first in size and fashion in the place    And so  there she had set 
without an idea of any thing in the world  full ten minutes 
perhaps  when  all of a sudden  who should come in  to be sure it was
so very odd   but they always dealt at Ford s  who should come in  but
Elizabeth Martin and her brother    Dear Miss Woodhouse  only think   I
thought I should have fainted   I did not know what to do   I was
sitting near the door  Elizabeth saw me directly  but he did not  he
was busy with the umbrella   I am sure she saw me  but she looked away
directly  and took no notice  and they both went to quite the farther
end of the shop  and I kept sitting near the door   Oh  dear  I was so
miserable   I am sure I must have been as white as my gown   I could
not go away you know  because of the rain  but I did so wish myself
anywhere in the world but there   Oh  dear  Miss Woodhouse  well  at
last  I fancy  he looked round and saw me  for instead of going on with
her buyings  they began whispering to one another   I am sure they were
talking of me  and I could not help thinking that he was persuading her
to speak to me   do you think he was  Miss Woodhouse    for presently
she came forward  came quite up to me  and asked me how I did  and
seemed ready to shake hands  if I would   She did not do any of it in
the same way that she used  I could see she was altered  but  however 
she seemed to  try  to be very friendly  and we shook hands  and stood
talking some time  but I know no more what I said  I was in such a
tremble   I remember she said she was sorry we never met now  which I
thought almost too kind   Dear  Miss Woodhouse  I was absolutely
miserable   By that time  it was beginning to hold up  and I was
determined that nothing should stop me from getting away  and
then  only think    I found he was coming up towards me too  slowly you
know  and as if he did not quite know what to do  and so he came and
spoke  and I answered  and I stood for a minute  feeling dreadfully 
you know  one can t tell how  and then I took courage  and said it did
not rain  and I must go  and so off I set  and I had not got three
yards from the door  when he came after me  only to say  if I was going
to Hartfield  he thought I had much better go round by Mr  Cole s
stables  for I should find the near way quite floated by this rain 
Oh  dear  I thought it would have been the death of me   So I said  I
was very much obliged to him   you know I could not do less  and then
he went back to Elizabeth  and I came round by the stables  I believe I
did  but I hardly knew where I was  or any thing about it   Oh   Miss
Woodhouse  I would rather done any thing than have it happen   and yet 
you know  there was a sort of satisfaction in seeing him behave so
pleasantly and so kindly   And Elizabeth  too   Oh   Miss Woodhouse  do
talk to me and make me comfortable again  

Very sincerely did Emma wish to do so  but it was not immediately in
her power   She was obliged to stop and think   She was not thoroughly
comfortable herself   The young man s conduct  and his sister s  seemed
the result of real feeling  and she could not but pity them   As
Harriet described it  there had been an interesting mixture of wounded
affection and genuine delicacy in their behaviour   But she had
believed them to be well meaning  worthy people before  and what
difference did this make in the evils of the connexion   It was folly
to be disturbed by it   Of course  he must be sorry to lose her  they
must be all sorry   Ambition  as well as love  had probably been
mortified   They might all have hoped to rise by Harriet s
acquaintance   and besides  what was the value of Harriet s
description   So easily pleased  so little discerning   what signified
her praise 

She exerted herself  and did try to make her comfortable  by
considering all that had passed as a mere trifle  and quite unworthy of
being dwelt on 

 It might be distressing  for the moment   said she   but you seem to
have behaved extremely well  and it is over  and may never  can never 
as a first meeting  occur again  and therefore you need not think about
it  

Harriet said   very true   and she  would not think about it   but
still she talked of it  still she could talk of nothing else  and Emma 
at last  in order to put the Martins out of her head  was obliged to
hurry on the news  which she had meant to give with so much tender
caution  hardly knowing herself whether to rejoice or be angry  ashamed
or only amused  at such a state of mind in poor Harriet  such a
conclusion of Mr  Elton s importance with her 

Mr  Elton s rights  however  gradually revived   Though she did not
feel the first intelligence as she might have done the day before  or
an hour before  its interest soon increased  and before their first
conversation was over  she had talked herself into all the sensations
of curiosity  wonder and regret  pain and pleasure  as to this
fortunate Miss Hawkins  which could conduce to place the Martins under
proper subordination in her fancy 

Emma learned to be rather glad that there had been such a meeting   It
had been serviceable in deadening the first shock  without retaining
any influence to alarm   As Harriet now lived  the Martins could not
get at her  without seeking her  where hitherto they had wanted either
the courage or the condescension to seek her  for since her refusal of
the brother  the sisters never had been at Mrs  Goddard s  and a
twelvemonth might pass without their being thrown together again  with
any necessity  or even any power of speech 



CHAPTER IV


Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting
situations  that a young person  who either marries or dies  is sure of
being kindly spoken of 

A week had not passed since Miss Hawkins s name was first mentioned in
Highbury  before she was  by some means or other  discovered to have
every recommendation of person and mind  to be handsome  elegant 
highly accomplished  and perfectly amiable  and when Mr  Elton himself
arrived to triumph in his happy prospects  and circulate the fame of
her merits  there was very little more for him to do  than to tell her
Christian name  and say whose music she principally played 

Mr  Elton returned  a very happy man   He had gone away rejected and
mortified  disappointed in a very sanguine hope  after a series of what
appeared to him strong encouragement  and not only losing the right
lady  but finding himself debased to the level of a very wrong one   He
had gone away deeply offended  he came back engaged to another  and to
another as superior  of course  to the first  as under such
circumstances what is gained always is to what is lost   He came back
gay and self satisfied  eager and busy  caring nothing for Miss
Woodhouse  and defying Miss Smith 

The charming Augusta Hawkins  in addition to all the usual advantages
of perfect beauty and merit  was in possession of an independent
fortune  of so many thousands as would always be called ten  a point of
some dignity  as well as some convenience   the story told well  he had
not thrown himself away  he had gained a woman of 10 000 l   or
thereabouts  and he had gained her with such delightful rapidity  the
first hour of introduction had been so very soon followed by
distinguishing notice  the history which he had to give Mrs  Cole of
the rise and progress of the affair was so glorious  the steps so
quick  from the accidental rencontre  to the dinner at Mr  Green s  and
the party at Mrs  Brown s  smiles and blushes rising in importance  
with consciousness and agitation richly scattered  the lady had been so
easily impressed  so sweetly disposed  had in short  to use a most
intelligible phrase  been so very ready to have him  that vanity and
prudence were equally contented 

He had caught both substance and shadow  both fortune and affection 
and was just the happy man he ought to be  talking only of himself and
his own concerns  expecting to be congratulated  ready to be laughed
at  and  with cordial  fearless smiles  now addressing all the young
ladies of the place  to whom  a few weeks ago  he would have been more
cautiously gallant 

The wedding was no distant event  as the parties had only themselves to
please  and nothing but the necessary preparations to wait for  and
when he set out for Bath again  there was a general expectation  which
a certain glance of Mrs  Cole s did not seem to contradict  that when
he next entered Highbury he would bring his bride 

During his present short stay  Emma had barely seen him  but just
enough to feel that the first meeting was over  and to give her the
impression of his not being improved by the mixture of pique and
pretension  now spread over his air   She was  in fact  beginning very
much to wonder that she had ever thought him pleasing at all  and his
sight was so inseparably connected with some very disagreeable
feelings  that  except in a moral light  as a penance  a lesson  a
source of profitable humiliation to her own mind  she would have been
thankful to be assured of never seeing him again   She wished him very
well  but he gave her pain  and his welfare twenty miles off would
administer most satisfaction 

The pain of his continued residence in Highbury  however  must
certainly be lessened by his marriage   Many vain solicitudes would be
prevented  many awkwardnesses smoothed by it   A  Mrs    Elton  would
be an excuse for any change of intercourse  former intimacy might sink
without remark   It would be almost beginning their life of civility
again 

Of the lady  individually  Emma thought very little   She was good
enough for Mr  Elton  no doubt  accomplished enough for Highbury  
handsome enough  to look plain  probably  by Harriet s side   As to
connexion  there Emma was perfectly easy  persuaded  that after all his
own vaunted claims and disdain of Harriet  he had done nothing   On
that article  truth seemed attainable    What  she was  must be
uncertain  but  who  she was  might be found out  and setting aside the
10 000 l   it did not appear that she was at all Harriet s superior 
She brought no name  no blood  no alliance   Miss Hawkins was the
youngest of the two daughters of a Bristol  merchant  of course  he
must be called  but  as the whole of the profits of his mercantile life
appeared so very moderate  it was not unfair to guess the dignity of
his line of trade had been very moderate also   Part of every winter
she had been used to spend in Bath  but Bristol was her home  the very
heart of Bristol  for though the father and mother had died some years
ago  an uncle remained  in the law line  nothing more distinctly
honourable was hazarded of him  than that he was in the law line  and
with him the daughter had lived   Emma guessed him to be the drudge of
some attorney  and too stupid to rise   And all the grandeur of the
connexion seemed dependent on the elder sister  who was  very   well 
 married   to a gentleman in a  great   way   near Bristol  who kept
two carriages   That was the wind up of the history  that was the glory
of Miss Hawkins 

Could she but have given Harriet her feelings about it all   She had
talked her into love  but  alas  she was not so easily to be talked out
of it   The charm of an object to occupy the many vacancies of
Harriet s mind was not to be talked away   He might be superseded by
another  he certainly would indeed  nothing could be clearer  even a
Robert Martin would have been sufficient  but nothing else  she feared 
would cure her   Harriet was one of those  who  having once begun 
would be always in love   And now  poor girl   she was considerably
worse from this reappearance of Mr  Elton   She was always having a
glimpse of him somewhere or other   Emma saw him only once  but two or
three times every day Harriet was sure  just  to meet with him  or
 just  to miss him   just  to hear his voice  or see his shoulder 
 just  to have something occur to preserve him in her fancy  in all the
favouring warmth of surprize and conjecture   She was  moreover 
perpetually hearing about him  for  excepting when at Hartfield  she
was always among those who saw no fault in Mr  Elton  and found nothing
so interesting as the discussion of his concerns  and every report 
therefore  every guess  all that had already occurred  all that might
occur in the arrangement of his affairs  comprehending income 
servants  and furniture  was continually in agitation around her   Her
regard was receiving strength by invariable praise of him  and her
regrets kept alive  and feelings irritated by ceaseless repetitions of
Miss Hawkins s happiness  and continual observation of  how much he
seemed attached   his air as he walked by the house  the very sitting
of his hat  being all in proof of how much he was in love 

Had it been allowable entertainment  had there been no pain to her
friend  or reproach to herself  in the waverings of Harriet s mind 
Emma would have been amused by its variations   Sometimes Mr  Elton
predominated  sometimes the Martins  and each was occasionally useful
as a check to the other   Mr  Elton s engagement had been the cure of
the agitation of meeting Mr  Martin   The unhappiness produced by the
knowledge of that engagement had been a little put aside by Elizabeth
Martin s calling at Mrs  Goddard s a few days afterwards   Harriet had
not been at home  but a note had been prepared and left for her 
written in the very style to touch  a small mixture of reproach  with a
great deal of kindness  and till Mr  Elton himself appeared  she had
been much occupied by it  continually pondering over what could be done
in return  and wishing to do more than she dared to confess   But Mr 
Elton  in person  had driven away all such cares   While he staid  the
Martins were forgotten  and on the very morning of his setting off for
Bath again  Emma  to dissipate some of the distress it occasioned 
judged it best for her to return Elizabeth Martin s visit 

How that visit was to be acknowledged  what would be necessary  and
what might be safest  had been a point of some doubtful consideration 
Absolute neglect of the mother and sisters  when invited to come  would
be ingratitude   It must not be  and yet the danger of a renewal of the
acquaintance   

After much thinking  she could determine on nothing better  than
Harriet s returning the visit  but in a way that  if they had
understanding  should convince them that it was to be only a formal
acquaintance   She meant to take her in the carriage  leave her at the
Abbey Mill  while she drove a little farther  and call for her again so
soon  as to allow no time for insidious applications or dangerous
recurrences to the past  and give the most decided proof of what degree
of intimacy was chosen for the future 

She could think of nothing better   and though there was something in
it which her own heart could not approve  something of ingratitude 
merely glossed over  it must be done  or what would become of Harriet 



CHAPTER V


Small heart had Harriet for visiting   Only half an hour before her
friend called for her at Mrs  Goddard s  her evil stars had led her to
the very spot where  at that moment  a trunk  directed to  The Rev 
Philip Elton  White Hart  Bath   was to be seen under the operation of
being lifted into the butcher s cart  which was to convey it to where
the coaches past  and every thing in this world  excepting that trunk
and the direction  was consequently a blank 

She went  however  and when they reached the farm  and she was to be
put down  at the end of the broad  neat gravel walk  which led between
espalier apple trees to the front door  the sight of every thing which
had given her so much pleasure the autumn before  was beginning to
revive a little local agitation  and when they parted  Emma observed
her to be looking around with a sort of fearful curiosity  which
determined her not to allow the visit to exceed the proposed quarter of
an hour   She went on herself  to give that portion of time to an old
servant who was married  and settled in Donwell 

The quarter of an hour brought her punctually to the white gate again 
and Miss Smith receiving her summons  was with her without delay  and
unattended by any alarming young man   She came solitarily down the
gravel walk  a Miss Martin just appearing at the door  and parting with
her seemingly with ceremonious civility 

Harriet could not very soon give an intelligible account   She was
feeling too much  but at last Emma collected from her enough to
understand the sort of meeting  and the sort of pain it was creating 
She had seen only Mrs  Martin and the two girls   They had received her
doubtingly  if not coolly  and nothing beyond the merest commonplace
had been talked almost all the time  till just at last  when Mrs 
Martin s saying  all of a sudden  that she thought Miss Smith was
grown  had brought on a more interesting subject  and a warmer manner 
In that very room she had been measured last September  with her two
friends   There were the pencilled marks and memorandums on the
wainscot by the window    He  had done it   They all seemed to remember
the day  the hour  the party  the occasion  to feel the same
consciousness  the same regrets  to be ready to return to the same good
understanding  and they were just growing again like themselves 
 Harriet  as Emma must suspect  as ready as the best of them to be
cordial and happy   when the carriage reappeared  and all was over 
The style of the visit  and the shortness of it  were then felt to be
decisive   Fourteen minutes to be given to those with whom she had
thankfully passed six weeks not six months ago   Emma could not but
picture it all  and feel how justly they might resent  how naturally
Harriet must suffer   It was a bad business   She would have given a
great deal  or endured a great deal  to have had the Martins in a
higher rank of life   They were so deserving  that a  little  higher
should have been enough   but as it was  how could she have done
otherwise   Impossible   She could not repent   They must be separated 
but there was a great deal of pain in the process  so much to herself
at this time  that she soon felt the necessity of a little consolation 
and resolved on going home by way of Randalls to procure it   Her mind
was quite sick of Mr  Elton and the Martins   The refreshment of
Randalls was absolutely necessary 

It was a good scheme  but on driving to the door they heard that
neither  master nor mistress was at home   they had both been out some
time  the man believed they were gone to Hartfield 

 This is too bad   cried Emma  as they turned away    And now we shall
just miss them  too provoking   I do not know when I have been so
disappointed    And she leaned back in the corner  to indulge her
murmurs  or to reason them away  probably a little of both  such being
the commonest process of a not ill disposed mind   Presently the
carriage stopt  she looked up  it was stopt by Mr  and Mrs  Weston  who
were standing to speak to her   There was instant pleasure in the sight
of them  and still greater pleasure was conveyed in sound  for Mr 
Weston immediately accosted her with 

 How d ye do   how d ye do   We have been sitting with your father  
glad to see him so well   Frank comes to morrow  I had a letter this
morning  we see him to morrow by dinner time to a certainty  he is at
Oxford to day  and he comes for a whole fortnight  I knew it would be
so   If he had come at Christmas he could not have staid three days  I
was always glad he did not come at Christmas  now we are going to have
just the right weather for him  fine  dry  settled weather   We shall
enjoy him completely  every thing has turned out exactly as we could
wish  

There was no resisting such news  no possibility of avoiding the
influence of such a happy face as Mr  Weston s  confirmed as it all was
by the words and the countenance of his wife  fewer and quieter  but
not less to the purpose   To know that  she  thought his coming certain
was enough to make Emma consider it so  and sincerely did she rejoice
in their joy   It was a most delightful reanimation of exhausted
spirits   The worn out past was sunk in the freshness of what was
coming  and in the rapidity of half a moment s thought  she hoped Mr 
Elton would now be talked of no more 

Mr  Weston gave her the history of the engagements at Enscombe  which
allowed his son to answer for having an entire fortnight at his
command  as well as the route and the method of his journey  and she
listened  and smiled  and congratulated 

 I shall soon bring him over to Hartfield   said he  at the conclusion 

Emma could imagine she saw a touch of the arm at this speech  from his
wife 

 We had better move on  Mr  Weston   said she   we are detaining the
girls  

 Well  well  I am ready    and turning again to Emma   but you must not
be expecting such a  very  fine young man  you have only had  my 
account you know  I dare say he is really nothing extraordinary    though
his own sparkling eyes at the moment were speaking a very
different conviction 

Emma could look perfectly unconscious and innocent  and answer in a
manner that appropriated nothing 

 Think of me to morrow  my dear Emma  about four o clock   was Mrs 
Weston s parting injunction  spoken with some anxiety  and meant only
for her 

 Four o clock   depend upon it he will be here by three   was Mr 
Weston s quick amendment  and so ended a most satisfactory meeting 
Emma s spirits were mounted quite up to happiness  every thing wore a
different air  James and his horses seemed not half so sluggish as
before   When she looked at the hedges  she thought the elder at least
must soon be coming out  and when she turned round to Harriet  she saw
something like a look of spring  a tender smile even there 

 Will Mr  Frank Churchill pass through Bath as well as Oxford    was a
question  however  which did not augur much 

But neither geography nor tranquillity could come all at once  and Emma
was now in a humour to resolve that they should both come in time 

The morning of the interesting day arrived  and Mrs  Weston s faithful
pupil did not forget either at ten  or eleven  or twelve o clock  that
she was to think of her at four 

 My dear  dear anxious friend    said she  in mental soliloquy  while
walking downstairs from her own room   always overcareful for every
body s comfort but your own  I see you now in all your little fidgets 
going again and again into his room  to be sure that all is right  
The clock struck twelve as she passed through the hall     Tis twelve 
I shall not forget to think of you four hours hence  and by this time
to morrow  perhaps  or a little later  I may be thinking of the
possibility of their all calling here   I am sure they will bring him
soon  

She opened the parlour door  and saw two gentlemen sitting with her
father  Mr  Weston and his son   They had been arrived only a few
minutes  and Mr  Weston had scarcely finished his explanation of
Frank s being a day before his time  and her father was yet in the
midst of his very civil welcome and congratulations  when she appeared 
to have her share of surprize  introduction  and pleasure 

The Frank Churchill so long talked of  so high in interest  was
actually before her  he was presented to her  and she did not think too
much had been said in his praise  he was a  very  good looking young
man  height  air  address  all were unexceptionable  and his
countenance had a great deal of the spirit and liveliness of his
father s  he looked quick and sensible   She felt immediately that she
should like him  and there was a well bred ease of manner  and a
readiness to talk  which convinced her that he came intending to be
acquainted with her  and that acquainted they soon must be 

He had reached Randalls the evening before   She was pleased with the
eagerness to arrive which had made him alter his plan  and travel
earlier  later  and quicker  that he might gain half a day 

 I told you yesterday   cried Mr  Weston with exultation   I told you
all that he would be here before the time named   I remembered what I
used to do myself   One cannot creep upon a journey  one cannot help
getting on faster than one has planned  and the pleasure of coming in
upon one s friends before the look out begins  is worth a great deal
more than any little exertion it needs  

 It is a great pleasure where one can indulge in it   said the young
man   though there are not many houses that I should presume on so far 
but in coming  home  I felt I might do any thing  

The word  home  made his father look on him with fresh complacency 
Emma was directly sure that he knew how to make himself agreeable  the
conviction was strengthened by what followed   He was very much pleased
with Randalls  thought it a most admirably arranged house  would hardly
allow it even to be very small  admired the situation  the walk to
Highbury  Highbury itself  Hartfield still more  and professed himself
to have always felt the sort of interest in the country which none but
one s  own  country gives  and the greatest curiosity to visit it 
That he should never have been able to indulge so amiable a feeling
before  passed suspiciously through Emma s brain  but still  if it were
a falsehood  it was a pleasant one  and pleasantly handled   His manner
had no air of study or exaggeration   He did really look and speak as
if in a state of no common enjoyment 

Their subjects in general were such as belong to an opening
acquaintance   On his side were the inquiries    Was she a
horsewoman   Pleasant rides   Pleasant walks   Had they a large
neighbourhood   Highbury  perhaps  afforded society enough   There were
several very pretty houses in and about it   Balls  had they
balls   Was it a musical society  

But when satisfied on all these points  and their acquaintance
proportionably advanced  he contrived to find an opportunity  while
their two fathers were engaged with each other  of introducing his
mother in law  and speaking of her with so much handsome praise  so
much warm admiration  so much gratitude for the happiness she secured
to his father  and her very kind reception of himself  as was an
additional proof of his knowing how to please  and of his certainly
thinking it worth while to try to please her   He did not advance a
word of praise beyond what she knew to be thoroughly deserved by Mrs 
Weston  but  undoubtedly he could know very little of the matter   He
understood what would be welcome  he could be sure of little else 
 His father s marriage   he said   had been the wisest measure  every
friend must rejoice in it  and the family from whom he had received
such a blessing must be ever considered as having conferred the highest
obligation on him  

He got as near as he could to thanking her for Miss Taylor s merits 
without seeming quite to forget that in the common course of things it
was to be rather supposed that Miss Taylor had formed Miss Woodhouse s
character  than Miss Woodhouse Miss Taylor s  And at last  as if
resolved to qualify his opinion completely for travelling round to its
object  he wound it all up with astonishment at the youth and beauty of
her person 

 Elegant  agreeable manners  I was prepared for   said he   but I
confess that  considering every thing  I had not expected more than a
very tolerably well looking woman of a certain age  I did not know that
I was to find a pretty young woman in Mrs  Weston  

 You cannot see too much perfection in Mrs  Weston for my feelings  
said Emma   were you to guess her to be  eighteen   I should listen
with pleasure  but  she  would be ready to quarrel with you for using
such words   Don t let her imagine that you have spoken of her as a
pretty young woman  

 I hope I should know better   he replied   no  depend upon it   with a
gallant bow   that in addressing Mrs  Weston I should understand whom I
might praise without any danger of being thought extravagant in my
terms  

Emma wondered whether the same suspicion of what might be expected from
their knowing each other  which had taken strong possession of her
mind  had ever crossed his  and whether his compliments were to be
considered as marks of acquiescence  or proofs of defiance   She must
see more of him to understand his ways  at present she only felt they
were agreeable 

She had no doubt of what Mr  Weston was often thinking about   His
quick eye she detected again and again glancing towards them with a
happy expression  and even  when he might have determined not to look 
she was confident that he was often listening 

Her own father s perfect exemption from any thought of the kind  the
entire deficiency in him of all such sort of penetration or suspicion 
was a most comfortable circumstance   Happily he was not farther from
approving matrimony than from foreseeing it    Though always objecting
to every marriage that was arranged  he never suffered beforehand from
the apprehension of any  it seemed as if he could not think so ill of
any two persons  understanding as to suppose they meant to marry till
it were proved against them   She blessed the favouring blindness   He
could now  without the drawback of a single unpleasant surmise  without
a glance forward at any possible treachery in his guest  give way to
all his natural kind hearted civility in solicitous inquiries after Mr 
Frank Churchill s accommodation on his journey  through the sad evils
of sleeping two nights on the road  and express very genuine unmixed
anxiety to know that he had certainly escaped catching cold  which 
however  he could not allow him to feel quite assured of himself till
after another night 

A reasonable visit paid  Mr  Weston began to move    He must be going 
He had business at the Crown about his hay  and a great many errands
for Mrs  Weston at Ford s  but he need not hurry any body else   His
son  too well bred to hear the hint  rose immediately also  saying 

 As you are going farther on business  sir  I will take the opportunity
of paying a visit  which must be paid some day or other  and therefore
may as well be paid now   I have the honour of being acquainted with a
neighbour of yours   turning to Emma   a lady residing in or near
Highbury  a family of the name of Fairfax   I shall have no difficulty 
I suppose  in finding the house  though Fairfax  I believe  is not the
proper name  I should rather say Barnes  or Bates   Do you know any
family of that name  

 To be sure we do   cried his father   Mrs  Bates  we passed her
house  I saw Miss Bates at the window   True  true  you are acquainted
with Miss Fairfax  I remember you knew her at Weymouth  and a fine girl
she is   Call upon her  by all means  

 There is no necessity for my calling this morning   said the young
man   another day would do as well  but there was that degree of
acquaintance at Weymouth which   

 Oh  go to day  go to day  Do not defer it   What is right to be done
cannot be done too soon   And  besides  I must give you a hint  Frank 
any want of attention to her  here  should be carefully avoided   You
saw her with the Campbells  when she was the equal of every body she
mixed with  but here she is with a poor old grandmother  who has barely
enough to live on   If you do not call early it will be a slight  

The son looked convinced 

 I have heard her speak of the acquaintance   said Emma   she is a very
elegant young woman  

He agreed to it  but with so quiet a  Yes   as inclined her almost to
doubt his real concurrence  and yet there must be a very distinct sort
of elegance for the fashionable world  if Jane Fairfax could be thought
only ordinarily gifted with it 

 If you were never particularly struck by her manners before   said
she   I think you will to day  You will see her to advantage  see her
and hear her  no  I am afraid you will not hear her at all  for she has
an aunt who never holds her tongue  

 You are acquainted with Miss Jane Fairfax  sir  are you   said Mr 
Woodhouse  always the last to make his way in conversation   then give
me leave to assure you that you will find her a very agreeable young
lady   She is staying here on a visit to her grandmama and aunt  very
worthy people  I have known them all my life   They will be extremely
glad to see you  I am sure  and one of my servants shall go with you to
shew you the way  

 My dear sir  upon no account in the world  my father can direct me  

 But your father is not going so far  he is only going to the Crown 
quite on the other side of the street  and there are a great many
houses  you might be very much at a loss  and it is a very dirty walk 
unless you keep on the footpath  but my coachman can tell you where you
had best cross the street  

Mr  Frank Churchill still declined it  looking as serious as he could 
and his father gave his hearty support by calling out   My good friend 
this is quite unnecessary  Frank knows a puddle of water when he sees
it  and as to Mrs  Bates s  he may get there from the Crown in a hop 
step  and jump  

They were permitted to go alone  and with a cordial nod from one  and a
graceful bow from the other  the two gentlemen took leave   Emma
remained very well pleased with this beginning of the acquaintance  and
could now engage to think of them all at Randalls any hour of the day 
with full confidence in their comfort 



CHAPTER VI


The next morning brought Mr  Frank Churchill again   He came with Mrs 
Weston  to whom and to Highbury he seemed to take very cordially   He
had been sitting with her  it appeared  most companionably at home 
till her usual hour of exercise  and on being desired to chuse their
walk  immediately fixed on Highbury    He did not doubt there being
very pleasant walks in every direction  but if left to him  he should
always chuse the same   Highbury  that airy  cheerful  happy looking
Highbury  would be his constant attraction     Highbury  with Mrs 
Weston  stood for Hartfield  and she trusted to its bearing the same
construction with him   They walked thither directly 

Emma had hardly expected them   for Mr  Weston  who had called in for
half a minute  in order to hear that his son was very handsome  knew
nothing of their plans  and it was an agreeable surprize to her 
therefore  to perceive them walking up to the house together  arm in
arm   She was wanting to see him again  and especially to see him in
company with Mrs  Weston  upon his behaviour to whom her opinion of him
was to depend   If he were deficient there  nothing should make amends
for it   But on seeing them together  she became perfectly satisfied 
It was not merely in fine words or hyperbolical compliment that he paid
his duty  nothing could be more proper or pleasing than his whole
manner to her  nothing could more agreeably denote his wish of
considering her as a friend and securing her affection   And there was
time enough for Emma to form a reasonable judgment  as their visit
included all the rest of the morning   They were all three walking
about together for an hour or two  first round the shrubberies of
Hartfield  and afterwards in Highbury   He was delighted with every
thing  admired Hartfield sufficiently for Mr  Woodhouse s ear  and when
their going farther was resolved on  confessed his wish to be made
acquainted with the whole village  and found matter of commendation and
interest much oftener than Emma could have supposed 

Some of the objects of his curiosity spoke very amiable feelings   He
begged to be shewn the house which his father had lived in so long  and
which had been the home of his father s father  and on recollecting
that an old woman who had nursed him was still living  walked in quest
of her cottage from one end of the street to the other  and though in
some points of pursuit or observation there was no positive merit  they
shewed  altogether  a good will towards Highbury in general  which must
be very like a merit to those he was with 

Emma watched and decided  that with such feelings as were now shewn  it
could not be fairly supposed that he had been ever voluntarily
absenting himself  that he had not been acting a part  or making a
parade of insincere professions  and that Mr  Knightley certainly had
not done him justice 

Their first pause was at the Crown Inn  an inconsiderable house  though
the principal one of the sort  where a couple of pair of post horses
were kept  more for the convenience of the neighbourhood than from any
run on the road  and his companions had not expected to be detained by
any interest excited there  but in passing it they gave the history of
the large room visibly added  it had been built many years ago for a
ball room  and while the neighbourhood had been in a particularly
populous  dancing state  had been occasionally used as such   but such
brilliant days had long passed away  and now the highest purpose for
which it was ever wanted was to accommodate a whist club established
among the gentlemen and half gentlemen of the place   He was
immediately interested   Its character as a ball room caught him  and
instead of passing on  he stopt for several minutes at the two superior
sashed windows which were open  to look in and contemplate its
capabilities  and lament that its original purpose should have ceased 
He saw no fault in the room  he would acknowledge none which they
suggested   No  it was long enough  broad enough  handsome enough   It
would hold the very number for comfort   They ought to have balls there
at least every fortnight through the winter   Why had not Miss
Woodhouse revived the former good old days of the room   She who could
do any thing in Highbury   The want of proper families in the place 
and the conviction that none beyond the place and its immediate
environs could be tempted to attend  were mentioned  but he was not
satisfied   He could not be persuaded that so many good looking houses
as he saw around him  could not furnish numbers enough for such a
meeting  and even when particulars were given and families described 
he was still unwilling to admit that the inconvenience of such a
mixture would be any thing  or that there would be the smallest
difficulty in every body s returning into their proper place the next
morning   He argued like a young man very much bent on dancing  and
Emma was rather surprized to see the constitution of the Weston prevail
so decidedly against the habits of the Churchills   He seemed to have
all the life and spirit  cheerful feelings  and social inclinations of
his father  and nothing of the pride or reserve of Enscombe   Of pride 
indeed  there was  perhaps  scarcely enough  his indifference to a
confusion of rank  bordered too much on inelegance of mind   He could
be no judge  however  of the evil he was holding cheap   It was but an
effusion of lively spirits 

At last he was persuaded to move on from the front of the Crown  and
being now almost facing the house where the Bateses lodged  Emma
recollected his intended visit the day before  and asked him if he had
paid it 

 Yes  oh  yes   he replied   I was just going to mention it   A very
successful visit   I saw all the three ladies  and felt very much
obliged to you for your preparatory hint   If the talking aunt had
taken me quite by surprize  it must have been the death of me   As it
was  I was only betrayed into paying a most unreasonable visit   Ten
minutes would have been all that was necessary  perhaps all that was
proper  and I had told my father I should certainly be at home before
him  but there was no getting away  no pause  and  to my utter
astonishment  I found  when he  finding me nowhere else  joined me
there at last  that I had been actually sitting with them very nearly
three quarters of an hour   The good lady had not given me the
possibility of escape before  

 And how did you think Miss Fairfax looking  

 Ill  very ill  that is  if a young lady can ever be allowed to look
ill   But the expression is hardly admissible  Mrs  Weston  is it 
Ladies can never look ill   And  seriously  Miss Fairfax is naturally
so pale  as almost always to give the appearance of ill health    A
most deplorable want of complexion  

Emma would not agree to this  and began a warm defence of Miss
Fairfax s complexion    It was certainly never brilliant  but she would
not allow it to have a sickly hue in general  and there was a softness
and delicacy in her skin which gave peculiar elegance to the character
of her face    He listened with all due deference  acknowledged that he
had heard many people say the same  but yet he must confess  that to
him nothing could make amends for the want of the fine glow of health 
Where features were indifferent  a fine complexion gave beauty to them
all  and where they were good  the effect was  fortunately he need not
attempt to describe what the effect was 

 Well   said Emma   there is no disputing about taste   At least you
admire her except her complexion  

He shook his head and laughed    I cannot separate Miss Fairfax and her
complexion  

 Did you see her often at Weymouth   Were you often in the same
society  

At this moment they were approaching Ford s  and he hastily exclaimed 
 Ha  this must be the very shop that every body attends every day of
their lives  as my father informs me   He comes to Highbury himself  he
says  six days out of the seven  and has always business at Ford s   If
it be not inconvenient to you  pray let us go in  that I may prove
myself to belong to the place  to be a true citizen of Highbury   I
must buy something at Ford s  It will be taking out my freedom    I
dare say they sell gloves  

 Oh  yes  gloves and every thing   I do admire your patriotism   You
will be adored in Highbury   You were very popular before you came 
because you were Mr  Weston s son  but lay out half a guinea at Ford s 
and your popularity will stand upon your own virtues  

They went in  and while the sleek  well tied parcels of  Men s Beavers 
and  York Tan  were bringing down and displaying on the counter  he
said   But I beg your pardon  Miss Woodhouse  you were speaking to me 
you were saying something at the very moment of this burst of my  amor 
 patriae    Do not let me lose it   I assure you the utmost stretch of
public fame would not make me amends for the loss of any happiness in
private life  

 I merely asked  whether you had known much of Miss Fairfax and her
party at Weymouth  

 And now that I understand your question  I must pronounce it to be a
very unfair one   It is always the lady s right to decide on the degree
of acquaintance   Miss Fairfax must already have given her account    I
shall not commit myself by claiming more than she may chuse to allow  

 Upon my word  you answer as discreetly as she could do herself   But
her account of every thing leaves so much to be guessed  she is so very
reserved  so very unwilling to give the least information about any
body  that I really think you may say what you like of your
acquaintance with her  

 May I  indeed   Then I will speak the truth  and nothing suits me so
well   I met her frequently at Weymouth   I had known the Campbells a
little in town  and at Weymouth we were very much in the same set 
Colonel Campbell is a very agreeable man  and Mrs  Campbell a friendly 
warm hearted woman   I like them all  

 You know Miss Fairfax s situation in life  I conclude  what she is
destined to be  

 Yes   rather hesitatingly   I believe I do  

 You get upon delicate subjects  Emma   said Mrs  Weston smiling 
 remember that I am here   Mr  Frank Churchill hardly knows what to say
when you speak of Miss Fairfax s situation in life   I will move a
little farther off  

 I certainly do forget to think of  her    said Emma   as having ever
been any thing but my friend and my dearest friend  

He looked as if he fully understood and honoured such a sentiment 

When the gloves were bought  and they had quitted the shop again   Did
you ever hear the young lady we were speaking of  play   said Frank
Churchill 

 Ever hear her   repeated Emma    You forget how much she belongs to
Highbury   I have heard her every year of our lives since we both
began   She plays charmingly  

 You think so  do you   I wanted the opinion of some one who could
really judge   She appeared to me to play well  that is  with
considerable taste  but I know nothing of the matter myself    I am
excessively fond of music  but without the smallest skill or right of
judging of any body s performance   I have been used to hear her s
admired  and I remember one proof of her being thought to play well   a
man  a very musical man  and in love with another woman  engaged to
her  on the point of marriage  would yet never ask that other woman to
sit down to the instrument  if the lady in question could sit down
instead  never seemed to like to hear one if he could hear the other 
That  I thought  in a man of known musical talent  was some proof  

 Proof indeed   said Emma  highly amused    Mr  Dixon is very musical 
is he   We shall know more about them all  in half an hour  from you 
than Miss Fairfax would have vouchsafed in half a year  

 Yes  Mr  Dixon and Miss Campbell were the persons  and I thought it a
very strong proof  

 Certainly  very strong it was  to own the truth  a great deal stronger
than  if  I  had been Miss Campbell  would have been at all agreeable
to me   I could not excuse a man s having more music than love  more
ear than eye  a more acute sensibility to fine sounds than to my
feelings   How did Miss Campbell appear to like it  

 It was her very particular friend  you know  

 Poor comfort   said Emma  laughing    One would rather have a stranger
preferred than one s very particular friend  with a stranger it might
not recur again  but the misery of having a very particular friend
always at hand  to do every thing better than one does oneself    Poor
Mrs  Dixon   Well  I am glad she is gone to settle in Ireland  

 You are right   It was not very flattering to Miss Campbell  but she
really did not seem to feel it  

 So much the better  or so much the worse   I do not know which   But
be it sweetness or be it stupidity in her  quickness of friendship  or
dulness of feeling  there was one person  I think  who must have felt
it   Miss Fairfax herself   She must have felt the improper and
dangerous distinction  

 As to that  I do not   

 Oh  do not imagine that I expect an account of Miss Fairfax s
sensations from you  or from any body else   They are known to no human
being  I guess  but herself   But if she continued to play whenever she
was asked by Mr  Dixon  one may guess what one chuses  

 There appeared such a perfectly good understanding among them all   
he began rather quickly  but checking himself  added   however  it is
impossible for me to say on what terms they really were  how it might
all be behind the scenes   I can only say that there was smoothness
outwardly   But you  who have known Miss Fairfax from a child  must be
a better judge of her character  and of how she is likely to conduct
herself in critical situations  than I can be  

 I have known her from a child  undoubtedly  we have been children and
women together  and it is natural to suppose that we should be
intimate   that we should have taken to each other whenever she visited
her friends   But we never did   I hardly know how it has happened  a
little  perhaps  from that wickedness on my side which was prone to
take disgust towards a girl so idolized and so cried up as she always
was  by her aunt and grandmother  and all their set   And then  her
reserve  I never could attach myself to any one so completely reserved  

 It is a most repulsive quality  indeed   said he    Oftentimes very
convenient  no doubt  but never pleasing   There is safety in reserve 
but no attraction   One cannot love a reserved person  

 Not till the reserve ceases towards oneself  and then the attraction
may be the greater   But I must be more in want of a friend  or an
agreeable companion  than I have yet been  to take the trouble of
conquering any body s reserve to procure one   Intimacy between Miss
Fairfax and me is quite out of the question   I have no reason to think
ill of her  not the least  except that such extreme and perpetual
cautiousness of word and manner  such a dread of giving a distinct idea
about any body  is apt to suggest suspicions of there being something
to conceal  

He perfectly agreed with her   and after walking together so long  and
thinking so much alike  Emma felt herself so well acquainted with him 
that she could hardly believe it to be only their second meeting   He
was not exactly what she had expected  less of the man of the world in
some of his notions  less of the spoiled child of fortune  therefore
better than she had expected   His ideas seemed more moderate  his
feelings warmer   She was particularly struck by his manner of
considering Mr  Elton s house  which  as well as the church  he would
go and look at  and would not join them in finding much fault with 
No  he could not believe it a bad house  not such a house as a man was
to be pitied for having   If it were to be shared with the woman he
loved  he could not think any man to be pitied for having that house 
There must be ample room in it for every real comfort   The man must be
a blockhead who wanted more 

Mrs  Weston laughed  and said he did not know what he was talking
about   Used only to a large house himself  and without ever thinking
how many advantages and accommodations were attached to its size  he
could be no judge of the privations inevitably belonging to a small
one   But Emma  in her own mind  determined that he  did  know what he
was talking about  and that he shewed a very amiable inclination to
settle early in life  and to marry  from worthy motives   He might not
be aware of the inroads on domestic peace to be occasioned by no
housekeeper s room  or a bad butler s pantry  but no doubt he did
perfectly feel that Enscombe could not make him happy  and that
whenever he were attached  he would willingly give up much of wealth to
be allowed an early establishment 



CHAPTER VII


Emma s very good opinion of Frank Churchill was a little shaken the
following day  by hearing that he was gone off to London  merely to
have his hair cut   A sudden freak seemed to have seized him at
breakfast  and he had sent for a chaise and set off  intending to
return to dinner  but with no more important view that appeared than
having his hair cut   There was certainly no harm in his travelling
sixteen miles twice over on such an errand  but there was an air of
foppery and nonsense in it which she could not approve   It did not
accord with the rationality of plan  the moderation in expense  or even
the unselfish warmth of heart  which she had believed herself to
discern in him yesterday   Vanity  extravagance  love of change 
restlessness of temper  which must be doing something  good or bad 
heedlessness as to the pleasure of his father and Mrs  Weston 
indifferent as to how his conduct might appear in general  he became
liable to all these charges   His father only called him a coxcomb  and
thought it a very good story  but that Mrs  Weston did not like it  was
clear enough  by her passing it over as quickly as possible  and making
no other comment than that  all young people would have their little
whims  

With the exception of this little blot  Emma found that his visit
hitherto had given her friend only good ideas of him   Mrs  Weston was
very ready to say how attentive and pleasant a companion he made
himself  how much she saw to like in his disposition altogether   He
appeared to have a very open temper  certainly a very cheerful and
lively one  she could observe nothing wrong in his notions  a great
deal decidedly right  he spoke of his uncle with warm regard  was fond
of talking of him  said he would be the best man in the world if he
were left to himself  and though there was no being attached to the
aunt  he acknowledged her kindness with gratitude  and seemed to mean
always to speak of her with respect   This was all very promising  and 
but for such an unfortunate fancy for having his hair cut  there was
nothing to denote him unworthy of the distinguished honour which her
imagination had given him  the honour  if not of being really in love
with her  of being at least very near it  and saved only by her own
indifference   for still her resolution held of never marrying   the
honour  in short  of being marked out for her by all their joint
acquaintance 

Mr  Weston  on his side  added a virtue to the account which must have
some weight   He gave her to understand that Frank admired her
extremely  thought her very beautiful and very charming  and with so
much to be said for him altogether  she found she must not judge him
harshly   As Mrs  Weston observed   all young people would have their
little whims  

There was one person among his new acquaintance in Surry  not so
leniently disposed   In general he was judged  throughout the parishes
of Donwell and Highbury  with great candour  liberal allowances were
made for the little excesses of such a handsome young man  one who
smiled so often and bowed so well  but there was one spirit among them
not to be softened  from its power of censure  by bows or smiles  Mr 
Knightley   The circumstance was told him at Hartfield  for the moment 
he was silent  but Emma heard him almost immediately afterwards say to
himself  over a newspaper he held in his hand   Hum  just the trifling 
silly fellow I took him for    She had half a mind to resent  but an
instant s observation convinced her that it was really said only to
relieve his own feelings  and not meant to provoke  and therefore she
let it pass 

Although in one instance the bearers of not good tidings  Mr  and Mrs 
Weston s visit this morning was in another respect particularly
opportune   Something occurred while they were at Hartfield  to make
Emma want their advice  and  which was still more lucky  she wanted
exactly the advice they gave 

This was the occurrence   The Coles had been settled some years in
Highbury  and were very good sort of people  friendly  liberal  and
unpretending  but  on the other hand  they were of low origin  in
trade  and only moderately genteel   On their first coming into the
country  they had lived in proportion to their income  quietly  keeping
little company  and that little unexpensively  but the last year or two
had brought them a considerable increase of means  the house in town
had yielded greater profits  and fortune in general had smiled on them 
With their wealth  their views increased  their want of a larger house 
their inclination for more company   They added to their house  to
their number of servants  to their expenses of every sort  and by this
time were  in fortune and style of living  second only to the family at
Hartfield   Their love of society  and their new dining room  prepared
every body for their keeping dinner company  and a few parties  chiefly
among the single men  had already taken place   The regular and best
families Emma could hardly suppose they would presume to invite  
neither Donwell  nor Hartfield  nor Randalls   Nothing should tempt
 her  to go  if they did  and she regretted that her father s known
habits would be giving her refusal less meaning than she could wish 
The Coles were very respectable in their way  but they ought to be
taught that it was not for them to arrange the terms on which the
superior families would visit them   This lesson  she very much feared 
they would receive only from herself  she had little hope of Mr 
Knightley  none of Mr  Weston 

But she had made up her mind how to meet this presumption so many weeks
before it appeared  that when the insult came at last  it found her
very differently affected   Donwell and Randalls had received their
invitation  and none had come for her father and herself  and Mrs 
Weston s accounting for it with  I suppose they will not take the
liberty with you  they know you do not dine out   was not quite
sufficient   She felt that she should like to have had the power of
refusal  and afterwards  as the idea of the party to be assembled
there  consisting precisely of those whose society was dearest to her 
occurred again and again  she did not know that she might not have been
tempted to accept   Harriet was to be there in the evening  and the
Bateses   They had been speaking of it as they walked about Highbury
the day before  and Frank Churchill had most earnestly lamented her
absence   Might not the evening end in a dance  had been a question of
his   The bare possibility of it acted as a farther irritation on her
spirits  and her being left in solitary grandeur  even supposing the
omission to be intended as a compliment  was but poor comfort 

It was the arrival of this very invitation while the Westons were at
Hartfield  which made their presence so acceptable  for though her
first remark  on reading it  was that  of course it must be declined  
she so very soon proceeded to ask them what they advised her to do 
that their advice for her going was most prompt and successful 

She owned that  considering every thing  she was not absolutely without
inclination for the party   The Coles expressed themselves so
properly  there was so much real attention in the manner of it  so
much consideration for her father    They would have solicited the
honour earlier  but had been waiting the arrival of a folding screen
from London  which they hoped might keep Mr  Woodhouse from any draught
of air  and therefore induce him the more readily to give them the
honour of his company    Upon the whole  she was very persuadable  and
it being briefly settled among themselves how it might be done without
neglecting his comfort  how certainly Mrs  Goddard  if not Mrs  Bates 
might be depended on for bearing him company   Mr  Woodhouse was to be
talked into an acquiescence of his daughter s going out to dinner on a
day now near at hand  and spending the whole evening away from him   As
for  his  going  Emma did not wish him to think it possible  the hours
would be too late  and the party too numerous   He was soon pretty well
resigned 

 I am not fond of dinner visiting   said he   I never was   No more is
Emma   Late hours do not agree with us   I am sorry Mr  and Mrs  Cole
should have done it   I think it would be much better if they would
come in one afternoon next summer  and take their tea with us  take us
in their afternoon walk  which they might do  as our hours are so
reasonable  and yet get home without being out in the damp of the
evening   The dews of a summer evening are what I would not expose any
body to   However  as they are so very desirous to have dear Emma dine
with them  and as you will both be there  and Mr  Knightley too  to
take care of her  I cannot wish to prevent it  provided the weather be
what it ought  neither damp  nor cold  nor windy    Then turning to
Mrs  Weston  with a look of gentle reproach   Ah   Miss Taylor  if you
had not married  you would have staid at home with me  

 Well  sir   cried Mr  Weston   as I took Miss Taylor away  it is
incumbent on me to supply her place  if I can  and I will step to Mrs 
Goddard in a moment  if you wish it  

But the idea of any thing to be done in a  moment   was increasing  not
lessening  Mr  Woodhouse s agitation   The ladies knew better how to
allay it   Mr  Weston must be quiet  and every thing deliberately
arranged 

With this treatment  Mr  Woodhouse was soon composed enough for talking
as usual    He should be happy to see Mrs  Goddard   He had a great
regard for Mrs  Goddard  and Emma should write a line  and invite her 
James could take the note   But first of all  there must be an answer
written to Mrs  Cole  

 You will make my excuses  my dear  as civilly as possible   You will
say that I am quite an invalid  and go no where  and therefore must
decline their obliging invitation  beginning with my  compliments   of
course   But you will do every thing right   I need not tell you what
is to be done   We must remember to let James know that the carriage
will be wanted on Tuesday   I shall have no fears for you with him   We
have never been there above once since the new approach was made  but
still I have no doubt that James will take you very safely   And when
you get there  you must tell him at what time you would have him come
for you again  and you had better name an early hour   You will not
like staying late   You will get very tired when tea is over  

 But you would not wish me to come away before I am tired  papa  

 Oh  no  my love  but you will soon be tired   There will be a great
many people talking at once   You will not like the noise  

 But  my dear sir   cried Mr  Weston   if Emma comes away early  it
will be breaking up the party  

 And no great harm if it does   said Mr  Woodhouse    The sooner every
party breaks up  the better  

 But you do not consider how it may appear to the Coles   Emma s going
away directly after tea might be giving offence   They are good natured
people  and think little of their own claims  but still they must feel
that any body s hurrying away is no great compliment  and Miss
Woodhouse s doing it would be more thought of than any other person s
in the room   You would not wish to disappoint and mortify the Coles  I
am sure  sir  friendly  good sort of people as ever lived  and who have
been your neighbours these  ten  years  

 No  upon no account in the world  Mr  Weston  I am much obliged to you
for reminding me   I should be extremely sorry to be giving them any
pain   I know what worthy people they are   Perry tells me that Mr 
Cole never touches malt liquor   You would not think it to look at him 
but he is bilious  Mr  Cole is very bilious   No  I would not be the
means of giving them any pain   My dear Emma  we must consider this   I
am sure  rather than run the risk of hurting Mr  and Mrs  Cole  you
would stay a little longer than you might wish   You will not regard
being tired   You will be perfectly safe  you know  among your friends  

 Oh yes  papa   I have no fears at all for myself  and I should have no
scruples of staying as late as Mrs  Weston  but on your account   I am
only afraid of your sitting up for me   I am not afraid of your not
being exceedingly comfortable with Mrs  Goddard   She loves piquet  you
know  but when she is gone home  I am afraid you will be sitting up by
yourself  instead of going to bed at your usual time  and the idea of
that would entirely destroy my comfort   You must promise me not to sit
up  

He did  on the condition of some promises on her side   such as that 
if she came home cold  she would be sure to warm herself thoroughly  if
hungry  that she would take something to eat  that her own maid should
sit up for her  and that Serle and the butler should see that every
thing were safe in the house  as usual 



CHAPTER VIII


Frank Churchill came back again  and if he kept his father s dinner
waiting  it was not known at Hartfield  for Mrs  Weston was too anxious
for his being a favourite with Mr  Woodhouse  to betray any
imperfection which could be concealed 

He came back  had had his hair cut  and laughed at himself with a very
good grace  but without seeming really at all ashamed of what he had
done   He had no reason to wish his hair longer  to conceal any
confusion of face  no reason to wish the money unspent  to improve his
spirits   He was quite as undaunted and as lively as ever  and  after
seeing him  Emma thus moralised to herself   

 I do not know whether it ought to be so  but certainly silly things do
cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent
way   Wickedness is always wickedness  but folly is not always
folly   It depends upon the character of those who handle it   Mr 
Knightley  he is  not  a trifling  silly young man   If he were  he
would have done this differently   He would either have gloried in the
achievement  or been ashamed of it   There would have been either the
ostentation of a coxcomb  or the evasions of a mind too weak to defend
its own vanities   No  I am perfectly sure that he is not trifling or
silly  

With Tuesday came the agreeable prospect of seeing him again  and for a
longer time than hitherto  of judging of his general manners  and by
inference  of the meaning of his manners towards herself  of guessing
how soon it might be necessary for her to throw coldness into her air 
and of fancying what the observations of all those might be  who were
now seeing them together for the first time 

She meant to be very happy  in spite of the scene being laid at Mr 
Cole s  and without being able to forget that among the failings of Mr 
Elton  even in the days of his favour  none had disturbed her more than
his propensity to dine with Mr  Cole 

Her father s comfort was amply secured  Mrs  Bates as well as Mrs 
Goddard being able to come  and her last pleasing duty  before she left
the house  was to pay her respects to them as they sat together after
dinner  and while her father was fondly noticing the beauty of her
dress  to make the two ladies all the amends in her power  by helping
them to large slices of cake and full glasses of wine  for whatever
unwilling self denial his care of their constitution might have obliged
them to practise during the meal   She had provided a plentiful dinner
for them  she wished she could know that they had been allowed to eat
it 

She followed another carriage to Mr  Cole s door  and was pleased to
see that it was Mr  Knightley s  for Mr  Knightley keeping no horses 
having little spare money and a great deal of health  activity  and
independence  was too apt  in Emma s opinion  to get about as he could 
and not use his carriage so often as became the owner of Donwell Abbey 
She had an opportunity now of speaking her approbation while warm from
her heart  for he stopped to hand her out 

 This is coming as you should do   said she   like a gentleman    I am
quite glad to see you  

He thanked her  observing   How lucky that we should arrive at the same
moment  for  if we had met first in the drawing room  I doubt whether
you would have discerned me to be more of a gentleman than usual    You
might not have distinguished how I came  by my look or manner  

 Yes I should  I am sure I should   There is always a look of
consciousness or bustle when people come in a way which they know to be
beneath them   You think you carry it off very well  I dare say  but
with you it is a sort of bravado  an air of affected unconcern  I
always observe it whenever I meet you under those circumstances    Now 
you have nothing to try for   You are not afraid of being supposed
ashamed   You are not striving to look taller than any body else 
 Now  I shall really be very happy to walk into the same room with you  

 Nonsensical girl   was his reply  but not at all in anger 

Emma had as much reason to be satisfied with the rest of the party as
with Mr  Knightley   She was received with a cordial respect which
could not but please  and given all the consequence she could wish for 
When the Westons arrived  the kindest looks of love  the strongest of
admiration were for her  from both husband and wife  the son approached
her with a cheerful eagerness which marked her as his peculiar object 
and at dinner she found him seated by her  and  as she firmly believed 
not without some dexterity on his side 

The party was rather large  as it included one other family  a proper
unobjectionable country family  whom the Coles had the advantage of
naming among their acquaintance  and the male part of Mr  Cox s family 
the lawyer of Highbury   The less worthy females were to come in the
evening  with Miss Bates  Miss Fairfax  and Miss Smith  but already  at
dinner  they were too numerous for any subject of conversation to be
general  and  while politics and Mr  Elton were talked over  Emma could
fairly surrender all her attention to the pleasantness of her
neighbour   The first remote sound to which she felt herself obliged to
attend  was the name of Jane Fairfax   Mrs  Cole seemed to be relating
something of her that was expected to be very interesting   She
listened  and found it well worth listening to   That very dear part of
Emma  her fancy  received an amusing supply   Mrs  Cole was telling
that she had been calling on Miss Bates  and as soon as she entered the
room had been struck by the sight of a pianoforte  a very elegant
looking instrument  not a grand  but a large sized square pianoforte 
and the substance of the story  the end of all the dialogue which
ensued of surprize  and inquiry  and congratulations on her side  and
explanations on Miss Bates s  was  that this pianoforte had arrived
from Broadwood s the day before  to the great astonishment of both aunt
and niece  entirely unexpected  that at first  by Miss Bates s account 
Jane herself was quite at a loss  quite bewildered to think who could
possibly have ordered it  but now  they were both perfectly satisfied
that it could be from only one quarter   of course it must be from
Colonel Campbell 

 One can suppose nothing else   added Mrs  Cole   and I was only
surprized that there could ever have been a doubt   But Jane  it seems 
had a letter from them very lately  and not a word was said about it 
She knows their ways best  but I should not consider their silence as
any reason for their not meaning to make the present   They might chuse
to surprize her  

Mrs  Cole had many to agree with her  every body who spoke on the
subject was equally convinced that it must come from Colonel Campbell 
and equally rejoiced that such a present had been made  and there were
enough ready to speak to allow Emma to think her own way  and still
listen to Mrs  Cole 

 I declare  I do not know when I have heard any thing that has given me
more satisfaction   It always has quite hurt me that Jane Fairfax  who
plays so delightfully  should not have an instrument   It seemed quite
a shame  especially considering how many houses there are where fine
instruments are absolutely thrown away   This is like giving ourselves
a slap  to be sure  and it was but yesterday I was telling Mr  Cole  I
really was ashamed to look at our new grand pianoforte in the
drawing room  while I do not know one note from another  and our little
girls  who are but just beginning  perhaps may never make any thing of
it  and there is poor Jane Fairfax  who is mistress of music  has not
any thing of the nature of an instrument  not even the pitifullest old
spinet in the world  to amuse herself with   I was saying this to Mr 
Cole but yesterday  and he quite agreed with me  only he is so
particularly fond of music that he could not help indulging himself in
the purchase  hoping that some of our good neighbours might be so
obliging occasionally to put it to a better use than we can  and that
really is the reason why the instrument was bought  or else I am sure
we ought to be ashamed of it   We are in great hopes that Miss
Woodhouse may be prevailed with to try it this evening  

Miss Woodhouse made the proper acquiescence  and finding that nothing
more was to be entrapped from any communication of Mrs  Cole s  turned
to Frank Churchill 

 Why do you smile   said she 

 Nay  why do you  

 Me   I suppose I smile for pleasure at Colonel Campbell s being so
rich and so liberal   It is a handsome present  

 Very  

 I rather wonder that it was never made before  

 Perhaps Miss Fairfax has never been staying here so long before  

 Or that he did not give her the use of their own instrument  which
must now be shut up in London  untouched by any body  

 That is a grand pianoforte  and he might think it too large for Mrs 
Bates s house  

 You may  say  what you chuse  but your countenance testifies that your
 thoughts  on this subject are very much like mine  

 I do not know   I rather believe you are giving me more credit for
acuteness than I deserve   I smile because you smile  and shall
probably suspect whatever I find you suspect  but at present I do not
see what there is to question   If Colonel Campbell is not the person 
who can be  

 What do you say to Mrs  Dixon  

 Mrs  Dixon  very true indeed   I had not thought of Mrs  Dixon   She
must know as well as her father  how acceptable an instrument would be 
and perhaps the mode of it  the mystery  the surprize  is more like a
young woman s scheme than an elderly man s  It is Mrs  Dixon  I dare
say   I told you that your suspicions would guide mine  

 If so  you must extend your suspicions and comprehend  Mr   Dixon in
them  

 Mr  Dixon   Very well   Yes  I immediately perceive that it must be
the joint present of Mr  and Mrs  Dixon   We were speaking the other
day  you know  of his being so warm an admirer of her performance  

 Yes  and what you told me on that head  confirmed an idea which I had
entertained before   I do not mean to reflect upon the good intentions
of either Mr  Dixon or Miss Fairfax  but I cannot help suspecting
either that  after making his proposals to her friend  he had the
misfortune to fall in love with  her   or that he became conscious of a
little attachment on her side   One might guess twenty things without
guessing exactly the right  but I am sure there must be a particular
cause for her chusing to come to Highbury instead of going with the
Campbells to Ireland   Here  she must be leading a life of privation
and penance  there it would have been all enjoyment   As to the
pretence of trying her native air  I look upon that as a mere
excuse   In the summer it might have passed  but what can any body s
native air do for them in the months of January  February  and March 
Good fires and carriages would be much more to the purpose in most
cases of delicate health  and I dare say in her s  I do not require you
to adopt all my suspicions  though you make so noble a profession of
doing it  but I honestly tell you what they are  

 And  upon my word  they have an air of great probability   Mr  Dixon s
preference of her music to her friend s  I can answer for being very
decided  

 And then  he saved her life   Did you ever hear of that    A water
party  and by some accident she was falling overboard   He caught her  

 He did   I was there  one of the party  

 Were you really   Well   But you observed nothing of course  for it
seems to be a new idea to you   If I had been there  I think I should
have made some discoveries  

 I dare say you would  but I  simple I  saw nothing but the fact  that
Miss Fairfax was nearly dashed from the vessel and that Mr  Dixon
caught her   It was the work of a moment   And though the consequent
shock and alarm was very great and much more durable  indeed I believe
it was half an hour before any of us were comfortable again  yet that
was too general a sensation for any thing of peculiar anxiety to be
observable   I do not mean to say  however  that you might not have
made discoveries  

The conversation was here interrupted   They were called on to share in
the awkwardness of a rather long interval between the courses  and
obliged to be as formal and as orderly as the others  but when the
table was again safely covered  when every corner dish was placed
exactly right  and occupation and ease were generally restored  Emma
said 

 The arrival of this pianoforte is decisive with me   I wanted to know
a little more  and this tells me quite enough   Depend upon it  we
shall soon hear that it is a present from Mr  and Mrs  Dixon  

 And if the Dixons should absolutely deny all knowledge of it we must
conclude it to come from the Campbells  

 No  I am sure it is not from the Campbells   Miss Fairfax knows it is
not from the Campbells  or they would have been guessed at first   She
would not have been puzzled  had she dared fix on them   I may not have
convinced you perhaps  but I am perfectly convinced myself that Mr 
Dixon is a principal in the business  

 Indeed you injure me if you suppose me unconvinced   Your reasonings
carry my judgment along with them entirely   At first  while I supposed
you satisfied that Colonel Campbell was the giver  I saw it only as
paternal kindness  and thought it the most natural thing in the world 
But when you mentioned Mrs  Dixon  I felt how much more probable that
it should be the tribute of warm female friendship   And now I can see
it in no other light than as an offering of love  

There was no occasion to press the matter farther   The conviction
seemed real  he looked as if he felt it   She said no more  other
subjects took their turn  and the rest of the dinner passed away  the
dessert succeeded  the children came in  and were talked to and admired
amid the usual rate of conversation  a few clever things said  a few
downright silly  but by much the larger proportion neither the one nor
the other  nothing worse than everyday remarks  dull repetitions  old
news  and heavy jokes 

The ladies had not been long in the drawing room  before the other
ladies  in their different divisions  arrived   Emma watched the entree
of her own particular little friend  and if she could not exult in her
dignity and grace  she could not only love the blooming sweetness and
the artless manner  but could most heartily rejoice in that light 
cheerful  unsentimental disposition which allowed her so many
alleviations of pleasure  in the midst of the pangs of disappointed
affection   There she sat  and who would have guessed how many tears
she had been lately shedding   To be in company  nicely dressed herself
and seeing others nicely dressed  to sit and smile and look pretty  and
say nothing  was enough for the happiness of the present hour   Jane
Fairfax did look and move superior  but Emma suspected she might have
been glad to change feelings with Harriet  very glad to have purchased
the mortification of having loved  yes  of having loved even Mr  Elton
in vain  by the surrender of all the dangerous pleasure of knowing
herself beloved by the husband of her friend 

In so large a party it was not necessary that Emma should approach her 
She did not wish to speak of the pianoforte  she felt too much in the
secret herself  to think the appearance of curiosity or interest fair 
and therefore purposely kept at a distance  but by the others  the
subject was almost immediately introduced  and she saw the blush of
consciousness with which congratulations were received  the blush of
guilt which accompanied the name of  my excellent friend Colonel
Campbell  

Mrs  Weston  kind hearted and musical  was particularly interested by
the circumstance  and Emma could not help being amused at her
perseverance in dwelling on the subject  and having so much to ask and
to say as to tone  touch  and pedal  totally unsuspicious of that wish
of saying as little about it as possible  which she plainly read in the
fair heroine s countenance 

They were soon joined by some of the gentlemen  and the very first of
the early was Frank Churchill   In he walked  the first and the
handsomest  and after paying his compliments en passant to Miss Bates
and her niece  made his way directly to the opposite side of the
circle  where sat Miss Woodhouse  and till he could find a seat by her 
would not sit at all   Emma divined what every body present must be
thinking   She was his object  and every body must perceive it   She
introduced him to her friend  Miss Smith  and  at convenient moments
afterwards  heard what each thought of the other    He had never seen
so lovely a face  and was delighted with her naivete   And she   Only
to be sure it was paying him too great a compliment  but she did think
there were some looks a little like Mr  Elton   Emma restrained her
indignation  and only turned from her in silence 

Smiles of intelligence passed between her and the gentleman on first
glancing towards Miss Fairfax  but it was most prudent to avoid speech 
He told her that he had been impatient to leave the dining room  hated
sitting long  was always the first to move when he could  that his
father  Mr  Knightley  Mr  Cox  and Mr  Cole  were left very busy over
parish business  that as long as he had staid  however  it had been
pleasant enough  as he had found them in general a set of
gentlemanlike  sensible men  and spoke so handsomely of Highbury
altogether  thought it so abundant in agreeable families  that Emma
began to feel she had been used to despise the place rather too much 
She questioned him as to the society in Yorkshire  the extent of the
neighbourhood about Enscombe  and the sort  and could make out from his
answers that  as far as Enscombe was concerned  there was very little
going on  that their visitings were among a range of great families 
none very near  and that even when days were fixed  and invitations
accepted  it was an even chance that Mrs  Churchill were not in health
and spirits for going  that they made a point of visiting no fresh
person  and that  though he had his separate engagements  it was not
without difficulty  without considerable address  at   times   that he
could get away  or introduce an acquaintance for a night 

She saw that Enscombe could not satisfy  and that Highbury  taken at
its best  might reasonably please a young man who had more retirement
at home than he liked   His importance at Enscombe was very evident 
He did not boast  but it naturally betrayed itself  that he had
persuaded his aunt where his uncle could do nothing  and on her
laughing and noticing it  he owned that he believed  excepting one or
two points  he could  with   time  persuade her to any thing   One of
those points on which his influence failed  he then mentioned   He had
wanted very much to go abroad  had been very eager indeed to be allowed
to travel  but she would not hear of it   This had happened the year
before    Now   he said  he was beginning to have no longer the same
wish 

The unpersuadable point  which he did not mention  Emma guessed to be
good behaviour to his father 

 I have made a most wretched discovery   said he  after a short
pause     I have been here a week to morrow  half my time   I never
knew days fly so fast   A week to morrow   And I have hardly begun to
enjoy myself   But just got acquainted with Mrs  Weston  and others   
I hate the recollection  

 Perhaps you may now begin to regret that you spent one whole day  out
of so few  in having your hair cut  

 No   said he  smiling   that is no subject of regret at all   I have
no pleasure in seeing my friends  unless I can believe myself fit to be
seen  

The rest of the gentlemen being now in the room  Emma found herself
obliged to turn from him for a few minutes  and listen to Mr  Cole 
When Mr  Cole had moved away  and her attention could be restored as
before  she saw Frank Churchill looking intently across the room at
Miss Fairfax  who was sitting exactly opposite 

 What is the matter   said she 

He started    Thank you for rousing me   he replied    I believe I have
been very rude  but really Miss Fairfax has done her hair in so odd a
way  so very odd a way  that I cannot keep my eyes from her   I never
saw any thing so outree   Those curls   This must be a fancy of her
own   I see nobody else looking like her    I must go and ask her
whether it is an Irish fashion   Shall I    Yes  I will  I declare I
will  and you shall see how she takes it   whether she colours  

He was gone immediately  and Emma soon saw him standing before Miss
Fairfax  and talking to her  but as to its effect on the young lady  as
he had improvidently placed himself exactly between them  exactly in
front of Miss Fairfax  she could absolutely distinguish nothing 

Before he could return to his chair  it was taken by Mrs  Weston 

 This is the luxury of a large party   said she    one can get near
every body  and say every thing   My dear Emma  I am longing to talk to
you   I have been making discoveries and forming plans  just like
yourself  and I must tell them while the idea is fresh   Do you know
how Miss Bates and her niece came here  

 How   They were invited  were not they  

 Oh  yes  but how they were conveyed hither   the manner of their
coming  

 They walked  I conclude   How else could they come  

 Very true   Well  a little while ago it occurred to me how very sad it
would be to have Jane Fairfax walking home again  late at night  and
cold as the nights are now   And as I looked at her  though I never saw
her appear to more advantage  it struck me that she was heated  and
would therefore be particularly liable to take cold   Poor girl   I
could not bear the idea of it  so  as soon as Mr  Weston came into the
room  and I could get at him  I spoke to him about the carriage   You
may guess how readily he came into my wishes  and having his
approbation  I made my way directly to Miss Bates  to assure her that
the carriage would be at her service before it took us home  for I
thought it would be making her comfortable at once   Good soul  she was
as grateful as possible  you may be sure    Nobody was ever so
fortunate as herself    but with many  many thanks   there was no
occasion to trouble us  for Mr  Knightley s carriage had brought  and
was to take them home again    I was quite surprized   very glad  I am
sure  but really quite surprized   Such a very kind attention  and so
thoughtful an attention   the sort of thing that so few men would
think of   And  in short  from knowing his usual ways  I am very much
inclined to think that it was for their accommodation the carriage was
used at all   I do suspect he would not have had a pair of horses for
himself  and that it was only as an excuse for assisting them  

 Very likely   said Emma   nothing more likely   I know no man more
likely than Mr  Knightley to do the sort of thing  to do any thing
really good natured  useful  considerate  or benevolent   He is not a
gallant man  but he is a very humane one  and this  considering Jane
Fairfax s ill health  would appear a case of humanity to him   and for
an act of unostentatious kindness  there is nobody whom I would fix on
more than on Mr  Knightley   I know he had horses to day  for we
arrived together  and I laughed at him about it  but he said not a word
that could betray  

 Well   said Mrs  Weston  smiling   you give him credit for more
simple  disinterested benevolence in this instance than I do  for while
Miss Bates was speaking  a suspicion darted into my head  and I have
never been able to get it out again   The more I think of it  the more
probable it appears   In short  I have made a match between Mr 
Knightley and Jane Fairfax   See the consequence of keeping you
company   What do you say to it  

 Mr  Knightley and Jane Fairfax   exclaimed Emma    Dear Mrs  Weston 
how could you think of such a thing   Mr  Knightley   Mr  Knightley
must not marry   You would not have little Henry cut out from
Donwell    Oh  no  no  Henry must have Donwell   I cannot at all
consent to Mr  Knightley s marrying  and I am sure it is not at all
likely   I am amazed that you should think of such a thing  

 My dear Emma  I have told you what led me to think of it   I do not
want the match  I do not want to injure dear little Henry  but the
idea has been given me by circumstances  and if Mr  Knightley really
wished to marry  you would not have him refrain on Henry s account  a
boy of six years old  who knows nothing of the matter  

 Yes  I would   I could not bear to have Henry supplanted    Mr 
Knightley marry   No  I have never had such an idea  and I cannot adopt
it now   And Jane Fairfax  too  of all women  

 Nay  she has always been a first favourite with him  as you very well
know  

 But the imprudence of such a match  

 I am not speaking of its prudence  merely its probability  

 I see no probability in it  unless you have any better foundation than
what you mention   His good nature  his humanity  as I tell you  would
be quite enough to account for the horses   He has a great regard for
the Bateses  you know  independent of Jane Fairfax  and is always glad
to shew them attention   My dear Mrs  Weston  do not take to
match making   You do it very ill   Jane Fairfax mistress of the
Abbey   Oh  no  no   every feeling revolts   For his own sake  I would
not have him do so mad a thing  

 Imprudent  if you please  but not mad   Excepting inequality of
fortune  and perhaps a little disparity of age  I can see nothing
unsuitable  

 But Mr  Knightley does not want to marry   I am sure he has not the
least idea of it   Do not put it into his head   Why should he marry   
He is as happy as possible by himself  with his farm  and his sheep 
and his library  and all the parish to manage  and he is extremely fond
of his brother s children   He has no occasion to marry  either to fill
up his time or his heart  

 My dear Emma  as long as he thinks so  it is so  but if he really
loves Jane Fairfax   

 Nonsense   He does not care about Jane Fairfax   In the way of love  I
am sure he does not   He would do any good to her  or her family  but   

 Well   said Mrs  Weston  laughing   perhaps the greatest good he could
do them  would be to give Jane such a respectable home  

 If it would be good to her  I am sure it would be evil to himself  a
very shameful and degrading connexion   How would he bear to have Miss
Bates belonging to him   To have her haunting the Abbey  and thanking
him all day long for his great kindness in marrying Jane     So very
kind and obliging   But he always had been such a very kind neighbour  
And then fly off  through half a sentence  to her mother s old
petticoat    Not that it was such a very old petticoat either  for
still it would last a great while  and  indeed  she must thankfully say
that their petticoats were all very strong   

 For shame  Emma   Do not mimic her   You divert me against my
conscience   And  upon my word  I do not think Mr  Knightley would be
much disturbed by Miss Bates   Little things do not irritate him   She
might talk on  and if he wanted to say any thing himself  he would only
talk louder  and drown her voice   But the question is not  whether it
would be a bad connexion for him  but whether he wishes it  and I think
he does   I have heard him speak  and so must you  so very highly of
Jane Fairfax   The interest he takes in her  his anxiety about her
health  his concern that she should have no happier prospect   I have
heard him express himself so warmly on those points   Such an admirer
of her performance on the pianoforte  and of her voice   I have heard
him say that he could listen to her for ever   Oh  and I had almost
forgotten one idea that occurred to me  this pianoforte that has been
sent here by somebody  though we have all been so well satisfied to
consider it a present from the Campbells  may it not be from Mr 
Knightley   I cannot help suspecting him   I think he is just the
person to do it  even without being in love  

 Then it can be no argument to prove that he is in love   But I do not
think it is at all a likely thing for him to do   Mr  Knightley does
nothing mysteriously  

 I have heard him lamenting her having no instrument repeatedly 
oftener than I should suppose such a circumstance would  in the common
course of things  occur to him  

 Very well  and if he had intended to give her one  he would have told
her so  

 There might be scruples of delicacy  my dear Emma   I have a very
strong notion that it comes from him   I am sure he was particularly
silent when Mrs  Cole told us of it at dinner  

 You take up an idea  Mrs  Weston  and run away with it  as you have
many a time reproached me with doing   I see no sign of attachment  I
believe nothing of the pianoforte  and proof only shall convince me
that Mr  Knightley has any thought of marrying Jane Fairfax  

They combated the point some time longer in the same way  Emma rather
gaining ground over the mind of her friend  for Mrs  Weston was the
most used of the two to yield  till a little bustle in the room shewed
them that tea was over  and the instrument in preparation   and at the
same moment Mr  Cole approaching to entreat Miss Woodhouse would do
them the honour of trying it   Frank Churchill  of whom  in the
eagerness of her conversation with Mrs  Weston  she had been seeing
nothing  except that he had found a seat by Miss Fairfax  followed Mr 
Cole  to add his very pressing entreaties  and as  in every respect  it
suited Emma best to lead  she gave a very proper compliance 

She knew the limitations of her own powers too well to attempt more
than she could perform with credit  she wanted neither taste nor spirit
in the little things which are generally acceptable  and could
accompany her own voice well   One accompaniment to her song took her
agreeably by surprize  a second  slightly but correctly taken by Frank
Churchill   Her pardon was duly begged at the close of the song  and
every thing usual followed   He was accused of having a delightful
voice  and a perfect knowledge of music  which was properly denied  and
that he knew nothing of the matter  and had no voice at all  roundly
asserted   They sang together once more  and Emma would then resign her
place to Miss Fairfax  whose performance  both vocal and instrumental 
she never could attempt to conceal from herself  was infinitely
superior to her own 

With mixed feelings  she seated herself at a little distance from the
numbers round the instrument  to listen   Frank Churchill sang again 
They had sung together once or twice  it appeared  at Weymouth   But
the sight of Mr  Knightley among the most attentive  soon drew away
half Emma s mind  and she fell into a train of thinking on the subject
of Mrs  Weston s suspicions  to which the sweet sounds of the united
voices gave only momentary interruptions   Her objections to Mr 
Knightley s marrying did not in the least subside   She could see
nothing but evil in it   It would be a great disappointment to Mr  John
Knightley  consequently to Isabella   A real injury to the children  a
most mortifying change  and material loss to them all   a very great
deduction from her father s daily comfort  and  as to herself  she
could not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey   A
Mrs  Knightley for them all to give way to   No  Mr  Knightley must
never marry   Little Henry must remain the heir of Donwell 

Presently Mr  Knightley looked back  and came and sat down by her 
They talked at first only of the performance   His admiration was
certainly very warm  yet she thought  but for Mrs  Weston  it would not
have struck her   As a sort of touchstone  however  she began to speak
of his kindness in conveying the aunt and niece  and though his answer
was in the spirit of cutting the matter short  she believed it to
indicate only his disinclination to dwell on any kindness of his own 

 I often feel concern   said she   that I dare not make our carriage
more useful on such occasions   It is not that I am without the wish 
but you know how impossible my father would deem it that James should
put to for such a purpose  

 Quite out of the question  quite out of the question   he replied   
 but you must often wish it  I am sure    And he smiled with such
seeming pleasure at the conviction  that she must proceed another step 

 This present from the Campbells   said she   this pianoforte is very
kindly given  

 Yes   he replied  and without the smallest apparent embarrassment   
 But they would have done better had they given her notice of it 
Surprizes are foolish things   The pleasure is not enhanced  and the
inconvenience is often considerable   I should have expected better
judgment in Colonel Campbell  

From that moment  Emma could have taken her oath that Mr  Knightley had
had no concern in giving the instrument   But whether he were entirely
free from peculiar attachment  whether there were no actual
preference  remained a little longer doubtful   Towards the end of
Jane s second song  her voice grew thick 

 That will do   said he  when it was finished  thinking aloud   you
have sung quite enough for one evening  now be quiet  

Another song  however  was soon begged for    One more   they would not
fatigue Miss Fairfax on any account  and would only ask for one more  
And Frank Churchill was heard to say   I think you could manage this
without effort  the first part is so very trifling   The strength of
the song falls on the second  

Mr  Knightley grew angry 

 That fellow   said he  indignantly   thinks of nothing but shewing off
his own voice   This must not be    And touching Miss Bates  who at
that moment passed near   Miss Bates  are you mad  to let your niece
sing herself hoarse in this manner   Go  and interfere   They have no
mercy on her  

Miss Bates  in her real anxiety for Jane  could hardly stay even to be
grateful  before she stept forward and put an end to all farther
singing   Here ceased the concert part of the evening  for Miss
Woodhouse and Miss Fairfax were the only young lady performers  but
soon  within five minutes  the proposal of dancing  originating nobody
exactly knew where  was so effectually promoted by Mr  and Mrs  Cole 
that every thing was rapidly clearing away  to give proper space   Mrs 
Weston  capital in her country dances  was seated  and beginning an
irresistible waltz  and Frank Churchill  coming up with most becoming
gallantry to Emma  had secured her hand  and led her up to the top 

While waiting till the other young people could pair themselves off 
Emma found time  in spite of the compliments she was receiving on her
voice and her taste  to look about  and see what became of Mr 
Knightley   This would be a trial   He was no dancer in general   If he
were to be very alert in engaging Jane Fairfax now  it might augur
something   There was no immediate appearance   No  he was talking to
Mrs  Cole  he was looking on unconcerned  Jane was asked by somebody
else  and he was still talking to Mrs  Cole 

Emma had no longer an alarm for Henry  his interest was yet safe  and
she led off the dance with genuine spirit and enjoyment   Not more than
five couple could be mustered  but the rarity and the suddenness of it
made it very delightful  and she found herself well matched in a
partner   They were a couple worth looking at 

Two dances  unfortunately  were all that could be allowed   It was
growing late  and Miss Bates became anxious to get home  on her
mother s account   After some attempts  therefore  to be permitted to
begin again  they were obliged to thank Mrs  Weston  look sorrowful 
and have done 

 Perhaps it is as well   said Frank Churchill  as he attended Emma to
her carriage    I must have asked Miss Fairfax  and her languid dancing
would not have agreed with me  after yours  



CHAPTER IX


Emma did not repent her condescension in going to the Coles   The visit
afforded her many pleasant recollections the next day  and all that she
might be supposed to have lost on the side of dignified seclusion  must
be amply repaid in the splendour of popularity   She must have
delighted the Coles  worthy people  who deserved to be made happy   And
left a name behind her that would not soon die away 

Perfect happiness  even in memory  is not common  and there were two
points on which she was not quite easy   She doubted whether she had
not transgressed the duty of woman by woman  in betraying her
suspicions of Jane Fairfax s feelings to Frank Churchill   It was
hardly right  but it had been so strong an idea  that it would escape
her  and his submission to all that she told  was a compliment to her
penetration  which made it difficult for her to be quite certain that
she ought to have held her tongue 

The other circumstance of regret related also to Jane Fairfax  and
there she had no doubt   She did unfeignedly and unequivocally regret
the inferiority of her own playing and singing   She did most heartily
grieve over the idleness of her childhood  and sat down and practised
vigorously an hour and a half 

She was then interrupted by Harriet s coming in  and if Harriet s
praise could have satisfied her  she might soon have been comforted 

 Oh  if I could but play as well as you and Miss Fairfax  

 Don t class us together  Harriet   My playing is no more like her s 
than a lamp is like sunshine  

 Oh  dear  I think you play the best of the two   I think you play
quite as well as she does   I am sure I had much rather hear you 
Every body last night said how well you played  

 Those who knew any thing about it  must have felt the difference   The
truth is  Harriet  that my playing is just good enough to be praised 
but Jane Fairfax s is much beyond it  

 Well  I always shall think that you play quite as well as she does  or
that if there is any difference nobody would ever find it out   Mr 
Cole said how much taste you had  and Mr  Frank Churchill talked a
great deal about your taste  and that he valued taste much more than
execution  

 Ah  but Jane Fairfax has them both  Harriet  

 Are you sure   I saw she had execution  but I did not know she had any
taste   Nobody talked about it   And I hate Italian singing    There is
no understanding a word of it   Besides  if she does play so very well 
you know  it is no more than she is obliged to do  because she will
have to teach   The Coxes were wondering last night whether she would
get into any great family   How did you think the Coxes looked  

 Just as they always do  very vulgar  

 They told me something   said Harriet rather hesitatingly   but it is
nothing of any consequence  

Emma was obliged to ask what they had told her  though fearful of its
producing Mr  Elton 

 They told me  that Mr  Martin dined with them last Saturday  

 Oh  

 He came to their father upon some business  and he asked him to stay
to dinner  

 Oh  

 They talked a great deal about him  especially Anne Cox   I do not
know what she meant  but she asked me if I thought I should go and stay
there again next summer  

 She meant to be impertinently curious  just as such an Anne Cox should
be  

 She said he was very agreeable the day he dined there   He sat by her
at dinner   Miss Nash thinks either of the Coxes would be very glad to
marry him  

 Very likely   I think they are  without exception  the most vulgar
girls in Highbury  

Harriet had business at Ford s   Emma thought it most prudent to go
with her   Another accidental meeting with the Martins was possible 
and in her present state  would be dangerous 

Harriet  tempted by every thing and swayed by half a word  was always
very long at a purchase  and while she was still hanging over muslins
and changing her mind  Emma went to the door for amusement   Much could
not be hoped from the traffic of even the busiest part of Highbury   
Mr  Perry walking hastily by  Mr  William Cox letting himself in at the
office door  Mr  Cole s carriage horses returning from exercise  or a
stray letter boy on an obstinate mule  were the liveliest objects she
could presume to expect  and when her eyes fell only on the butcher
with his tray  a tidy old woman travelling homewards from shop with her
full basket  two curs quarrelling over a dirty bone  and a string of
dawdling children round the baker s little bow window eyeing the
gingerbread  she knew she had no reason to complain  and was amused
enough  quite enough still to stand at the door   A mind lively and at
ease  can do with seeing nothing  and can see nothing that does not
answer 

She looked down the Randalls road   The scene enlarged  two persons
appeared  Mrs  Weston and her son in law  they were walking into
Highbury   to Hartfield of course   They were stopping  however  in the
first place at Mrs  Bates s  whose house was a little nearer Randalls
than Ford s  and had all but knocked  when Emma caught their
eye   Immediately they crossed the road and came forward to her  and
the agreeableness of yesterday s engagement seemed to give fresh
pleasure to the present meeting   Mrs  Weston informed her that she was
going to call on the Bateses  in order to hear the new instrument 

 For my companion tells me   said she   that I absolutely promised Miss
Bates last night  that I would come this morning   I was not aware of
it myself   I did not know that I had fixed a day  but as he says I
did  I am going now  

 And while Mrs  Weston pays her visit  I may be allowed  I hope   said
Frank Churchill   to join your party and wait for her at Hartfield  if
you are going home  

Mrs  Weston was disappointed 

 I thought you meant to go with me   They would be very much pleased  

 Me   I should be quite in the way   But  perhaps  I may be equally in
the way here   Miss Woodhouse looks as if she did not want me   My aunt
always sends me off when she is shopping   She says I fidget her to
death  and Miss Woodhouse looks as if she could almost say the same 
What am I to do  

 I am here on no business of my own   said Emma   I am only waiting for
my friend   She will probably have soon done  and then we shall go
home   But you had better go with Mrs  Weston and hear the instrument  

 Well  if you advise it   But  with a smile  if Colonel Campbell should
have employed a careless friend  and if it should prove to have an
indifferent tone  what shall I say   I shall be no support to Mrs 
Weston   She might do very well by herself   A disagreeable truth would
be palatable through her lips  but I am the wretchedest being in the
world at a civil falsehood  

 I do not believe any such thing   replied Emma    I am persuaded that
you can be as insincere as your neighbours  when it is necessary  but
there is no reason to suppose the instrument is indifferent   Quite
otherwise indeed  if I understood Miss Fairfax s opinion last night  

 Do come with me   said Mrs  Weston   if it be not very disagreeable to
you   It need not detain us long   We will go to Hartfield afterwards 
We will follow them to Hartfield   I really wish you to call with me 
It will be felt so great an attention  and I always thought you meant
it  

He could say no more  and with the hope of Hartfield to reward him 
returned with Mrs  Weston to Mrs  Bates s door   Emma watched them in 
and then joined Harriet at the interesting counter   trying  with all
the force of her own mind  to convince her that if she wanted plain
muslin it was of no use to look at figured  and that a blue ribbon  be
it ever so beautiful  would still never match her yellow pattern   At
last it was all settled  even to the destination of the parcel 

 Should I send it to Mrs  Goddard s  ma am   asked Mrs  Ford   
 Yes  no  yes  to Mrs  Goddard s  Only my pattern gown is at Hartfield 
No  you shall send it to Hartfield  if you please   But then  Mrs 
Goddard will want to see it   And I could take the pattern gown home
any day   But I shall want the ribbon directly  so it had better go to
Hartfield  at least the ribbon   You could make it into two parcels 
Mrs  Ford  could not you  

 It is not worth while  Harriet  to give Mrs  Ford the trouble of two
parcels  

 No more it is  

 No trouble in the world  ma am   said the obliging Mrs  Ford 

 Oh  but indeed I would much rather have it only in one   Then  if you
please  you shall send it all to Mrs  Goddard s   I do not know  No  I
think  Miss Woodhouse  I may just as well have it sent to Hartfield 
and take it home with me at night   What do you advise  

 That you do not give another half second to the subject   To
Hartfield  if you please  Mrs  Ford  

 Aye  that will be much best   said Harriet  quite satisfied   I should
not at all like to have it sent to Mrs  Goddard s  

Voices approached the shop  or rather one voice and two ladies  Mrs 
Weston and Miss Bates met them at the door 

 My dear Miss Woodhouse   said the latter   I am just run across to
entreat the favour of you to come and sit down with us a little while 
and give us your opinion of our new instrument  you and Miss Smith 
How do you do  Miss Smith   Very well I thank you   And I begged Mrs 
Weston to come with me  that I might be sure of succeeding  

 I hope Mrs  Bates and Miss Fairfax are   

 Very well  I am much obliged to you   My mother is delightfully well 
and Jane caught no cold last night   How is Mr  Woodhouse   I am so
glad to hear such a good account   Mrs  Weston told me you were here   
Oh  then  said I  I must run across  I am sure Miss Woodhouse will
allow me just to run across and entreat her to come in  my mother will
be so very happy to see her  and now we are such a nice party  she
cannot refuse    Aye  pray do   said Mr  Frank Churchill   Miss
Woodhouse s opinion of the instrument will be worth having     But 
said I  I shall be more sure of succeeding if one of you will go with
me    Oh   said he   wait half a minute  till I have finished my
job    For  would you believe it  Miss Woodhouse  there he is  in the
most obliging manner in the world  fastening in the rivet of my
mother s spectacles   The rivet came out  you know  this morning    So
very obliging   For my mother had no use of her spectacles  could not
put them on   And  by the bye  every body ought to have two pair of
spectacles  they should indeed   Jane said so   I meant to take them
over to John Saunders the first thing I did  but something or other
hindered me all the morning  first one thing  then another  there is no
saying what  you know   At one time Patty came to say she thought the
kitchen chimney wanted sweeping   Oh  said I  Patty do not come with
your bad news to me   Here is the rivet of your mistress s spectacles
out   Then the baked apples came home  Mrs  Wallis sent them by her
boy  they are extremely civil and obliging to us  the Wallises 
always  I have heard some people say that Mrs  Wallis can be uncivil
and give a very rude answer  but we have never known any thing but the
greatest attention from them   And it cannot be for the value of our
custom now  for what is our consumption of bread  you know   Only three
of us   besides dear Jane at present  and she really eats
nothing  makes such a shocking breakfast  you would be quite frightened
if you saw it   I dare not let my mother know how little she eats  so I
say one thing and then I say another  and it passes off   But about the
middle of the day she gets hungry  and there is nothing she likes so
well as these baked apples  and they are extremely wholesome  for I
took the opportunity the other day of asking Mr  Perry  I happened to
meet him in the street   Not that I had any doubt before   I have so
often heard Mr  Woodhouse recommend a baked apple   I believe it is the
only way that Mr  Woodhouse thinks the fruit thoroughly wholesome   We
have apple dumplings  however  very often   Patty makes an excellent
apple dumpling  Well  Mrs  Weston  you have prevailed  I hope  and
these ladies will oblige us  

Emma would be  very happy to wait on Mrs  Bates   c    and they did at
last move out of the shop  with no farther delay from Miss Bates than 

 How do you do  Mrs  Ford   I beg your pardon   I did not see you
before   I hear you have a charming collection of new ribbons from
town   Jane came back delighted yesterday   Thank ye  the gloves do
very well  only a little too large about the wrist  but Jane is taking
them in  

 What was I talking of   said she  beginning again when they were all
in the street 

Emma wondered on what  of all the medley  she would fix 

 I declare I cannot recollect what I was talking of   Oh  my mother s
spectacles   So very obliging of Mr  Frank Churchill    Oh   said he 
 I do think I can fasten the rivet  I like a job of this kind
excessively    Which you know shewed him to be so very        Indeed I
must say that  much as I had heard of him before and much as I had
expected  he very far exceeds any thing        I do congratulate you 
Mrs  Weston  most warmly   He seems every thing the fondest parent
could         Oh   said he   I can fasten the rivet   I like a job of
that sort excessively   I never shall forget his manner   And when I
brought out the baked apples from the closet  and hoped our friends
would be so very obliging as to take some   Oh   said he directly 
 there is nothing in the way of fruit half so good  and these are the
finest looking home baked apples I ever saw in my life    That  you
know  was so very        And I am sure  by his manner  it was no
compliment   Indeed they are very delightful apples  and Mrs  Wallis
does them full justice  only we do not have them baked more than twice 
and Mr  Woodhouse made us promise to have them done three times  but
Miss Woodhouse will be so good as not to mention it   The apples
themselves are the very finest sort for baking  beyond a doubt  all
from Donwell  some of Mr  Knightley s most liberal supply   He sends us
a sack every year  and certainly there never was such a keeping apple
anywhere as one of his trees  I believe there is two of them   My
mother says the orchard was always famous in her younger days   But I
was really quite shocked the other day  for Mr  Knightley called one
morning  and Jane was eating these apples  and we talked about them and
said how much she enjoyed them  and he asked whether we were not got to
the end of our stock    I am sure you must be   said he   and I will
send you another supply  for I have a great many more than I can ever
use   William Larkins let me keep a larger quantity than usual this
year   I will send you some more  before they get good for nothing   So
I begged he would not  for really as to ours being gone  I could not
absolutely say that we had a great many left  it was but half a dozen
indeed  but they should be all kept for Jane  and I could not at all
bear that he should be sending us more  so liberal as he had been
already  and Jane said the same   And when he was gone  she almost
quarrelled with me  No  I should not say quarrelled  for we never had a
quarrel in our lives  but she was quite distressed that I had owned the
apples were so nearly gone  she wished I had made him believe we had a
great many left   Oh  said I  my dear  I did say as much as I could 
However  the very same evening William Larkins came over with a large
basket of apples  the same sort of apples  a bushel at least  and I was
very much obliged  and went down and spoke to William Larkins and said
every thing  as you may suppose   William Larkins is such an old
acquaintance   I am always glad to see him   But  however  I found
afterwards from Patty  that William said it was all the apples of
 that  sort his master had  he had brought them all  and now his master
had not one left to bake or boil   William did not seem to mind it
himself  he was so pleased to think his master had sold so many  for
William  you know  thinks more of his master s profit than any thing 
but Mrs  Hodges  he said  was quite displeased at their being all sent
away   She could not bear that her master should not be able to have
another apple tart this spring   He told Patty this  but bid her not
mind it  and be sure not to say any thing to us about it  for Mrs 
Hodges  would  be cross sometimes  and as long as so many sacks were
sold  it did not signify who ate the remainder   And so Patty told me 
and I was excessively shocked indeed   I would not have Mr  Knightley
know any thing about it for the world   He would be so very        I
wanted to keep it from Jane s knowledge  but  unluckily  I had
mentioned it before I was aware  

Miss Bates had just done as Patty opened the door  and her visitors
walked upstairs without having any regular narration to attend to 
pursued only by the sounds of her desultory good will 

 Pray take care  Mrs  Weston  there is a step at the turning   Pray
take care  Miss Woodhouse  ours is rather a dark staircase  rather
darker and narrower than one could wish   Miss Smith  pray take care 
Miss Woodhouse  I am quite concerned  I am sure you hit your foot 
Miss Smith  the step at the turning  



CHAPTER X


The appearance of the little sitting room as they entered  was
tranquillity itself  Mrs  Bates  deprived of her usual employment 
slumbering on one side of the fire  Frank Churchill  at a table near
her  most deedily occupied about her spectacles  and Jane Fairfax 
standing with her back to them  intent on her pianoforte 

Busy as he was  however  the young man was yet able to shew a most
happy countenance on seeing Emma again 

 This is a pleasure   said he  in rather a low voice   coming at least
ten minutes earlier than I had calculated   You find me trying to be
useful  tell me if you think I shall succeed  

 What   said Mrs  Weston   have not you finished it yet  you would not
earn a very good livelihood as a working silversmith at this rate  

 I have not been working uninterruptedly   he replied   I have been
assisting Miss Fairfax in trying to make her instrument stand steadily 
it was not quite firm  an unevenness in the floor  I believe   You see
we have been wedging one leg with paper   This was very kind of you to
be persuaded to come   I was almost afraid you would be hurrying home  

He contrived that she should be seated by him  and was sufficiently
employed in looking out the best baked apple for her  and trying to
make her help or advise him in his work  till Jane Fairfax was quite
ready to sit down to the pianoforte again   That she was not
immediately ready  Emma did suspect to arise from the state of her
nerves  she had not yet possessed the instrument long enough to touch
it without emotion  she must reason herself into the power of
performance  and Emma could not but pity such feelings  whatever their
origin  and could not but resolve never to expose them to her neighbour
again 

At last Jane began  and though the first bars were feebly given  the
powers of the instrument were gradually done full justice to   Mrs 
Weston had been delighted before  and was delighted again  Emma joined
her in all her praise  and the pianoforte  with every proper
discrimination  was pronounced to be altogether of the highest promise 

 Whoever Colonel Campbell might employ   said Frank Churchill  with a
smile at Emma   the person has not chosen ill   I heard a good deal of
Colonel Campbell s taste at Weymouth  and the softness of the upper
notes I am sure is exactly what he and  all   that   party  would
particularly prize   I dare say  Miss Fairfax  that he either gave his
friend very minute directions  or wrote to Broadwood himself   Do not
you think so  

Jane did not look round   She was not obliged to hear   Mrs  Weston had
been speaking to her at the same moment 

 It is not fair   said Emma  in a whisper   mine was a random guess 
Do not distress her  

He shook his head with a smile  and looked as if he had very little
doubt and very little mercy   Soon afterwards he began again 

 How much your friends in Ireland must be enjoying your pleasure on
this occasion  Miss Fairfax   I dare say they often think of you  and
wonder which will be the day  the precise day of the instrument s
coming to hand   Do you imagine Colonel Campbell knows the business to
be going forward just at this time   Do you imagine it to be the
consequence of an immediate commission from him  or that he may have
sent only a general direction  an order indefinite as to time  to
depend upon contingencies and conveniences  

He paused   She could not but hear  she could not avoid answering 

 Till I have a letter from Colonel Campbell   said she  in a voice of
forced calmness   I can imagine nothing with any confidence   It must
be all conjecture  

 Conjecture  aye  sometimes one conjectures right  and sometimes one
conjectures wrong   I wish I could conjecture how soon I shall make
this rivet quite firm   What nonsense one talks  Miss Woodhouse  when
hard at work  if one talks at all   your real workmen  I suppose  hold
their tongues  but we gentlemen labourers if we get hold of a
word  Miss Fairfax said something about conjecturing   There  it is
done   I have the pleasure  madam   to Mrs  Bates   of restoring your
spectacles  healed for the present  

He was very warmly thanked both by mother and daughter  to escape a
little from the latter  he went to the pianoforte  and begged Miss
Fairfax  who was still sitting at it  to play something more 

 If you are very kind   said he   it will be one of the waltzes we
danced last night   let me live them over again   You did not enjoy
them as I did  you appeared tired the whole time   I believe you were
glad we danced no longer  but I would have given worlds  all the
worlds one ever has to give  for another half hour  

She played 

 What felicity it is to hear a tune again which  has  made one happy   
If I mistake not that was danced at Weymouth  

She looked up at him for a moment  coloured deeply  and played
something else   He took some music from a chair near the pianoforte 
and turning to Emma  said 

 Here is something quite new to me   Do you know it   Cramer    And
here are a new set of Irish melodies   That  from such a quarter  one
might expect   This was all sent with the instrument   Very thoughtful
of Colonel Campbell  was not it   He knew Miss Fairfax could have no
music here   I honour that part of the attention particularly  it shews
it to have been so thoroughly from the heart   Nothing hastily done 
nothing incomplete   True affection only could have prompted it  

Emma wished he would be less pointed  yet could not help being amused 
and when on glancing her eye towards Jane Fairfax she caught the
remains of a smile  when she saw that with all the deep blush of
consciousness  there had been a smile of secret delight  she had less
scruple in the amusement  and much less compunction with respect to
her   This amiable  upright  perfect Jane Fairfax was apparently
cherishing very reprehensible feelings 

He brought all the music to her  and they looked it over together   
Emma took the opportunity of whispering 

 You speak too plain   She must understand you  

 I hope she does   I would have her understand me   I am not in the
least ashamed of my meaning  

 But really  I am half ashamed  and wish I had never taken up the idea  

 I am very glad you did  and that you communicated it to me   I have
now a key to all her odd looks and ways   Leave shame to her   If she
does wrong  she ought to feel it  

 She is not entirely without it  I think  

 I do not see much sign of it   She is playing  Robin   Adair  at this
moment   his  favourite  

Shortly afterwards Miss Bates  passing near the window  descried Mr 
Knightley on horse back not far off 

 Mr  Knightley I declare   I must speak to him if possible  just to
thank him   I will not open the window here  it would give you all
cold  but I can go into my mother s room you know   I dare say he will
come in when he knows who is here   Quite delightful to have you all
meet so   Our little room so honoured  

She was in the adjoining chamber while she still spoke  and opening the
casement there  immediately called Mr  Knightley s attention  and every
syllable of their conversation was as distinctly heard by the others 
as if it had passed within the same apartment 

 How d  ye do   how d ye do   Very well  I thank you   So obliged to
you for the carriage last night   We were just in time  my mother just
ready for us   Pray come in  do come in   You will find some friends
here  

So began Miss Bates  and Mr  Knightley seemed determined to be heard in
his turn  for most resolutely and commandingly did he say 

 How is your niece  Miss Bates   I want to inquire after you all  but
particularly your niece   How is Miss Fairfax   I hope she caught no
cold last night   How is she to day  Tell me how Miss Fairfax is  

And Miss Bates was obliged to give a direct answer before he would hear
her in any thing else   The listeners were amused  and Mrs  Weston gave
Emma a look of particular meaning   But Emma still shook her head in
steady scepticism 

 So obliged to you   so very much obliged to you for the carriage  
resumed Miss Bates 

He cut her short with 

 I am going to Kingston   Can I do any thing for you  

 Oh  dear  Kingston  are you   Mrs  Cole was saying the other day she
wanted something from Kingston  

 Mrs  Cole has servants to send   Can I do any thing for  you   

 No  I thank you   But do come in   Who do you think is here    Miss
Woodhouse and Miss Smith  so kind as to call to hear the new
pianoforte   Do put up your horse at the Crown  and come in  

 Well   said he  in a deliberating manner   for five minutes  perhaps  

 And here is Mrs  Weston and Mr  Frank Churchill too   Quite
delightful  so many friends  

 No  not now  I thank you   I could not stay two minutes   I must get
on to Kingston as fast as I can  

 Oh  do come in   They will be so very happy to see you  

 No  no  your room is full enough   I will call another day  and hear
the pianoforte  

 Well  I am so sorry   Oh   Mr  Knightley  what a delightful party last
night  how extremely pleasant   Did you ever see such dancing    Was
not it delightful   Miss Woodhouse and Mr  Frank Churchill  I never saw
any thing equal to it  

 Oh  very delightful indeed  I can say nothing less  for I suppose Miss
Woodhouse and Mr  Frank Churchill are hearing every thing that passes 
And  raising his voice still more  I do not see why Miss Fairfax should
not be mentioned too   I think Miss Fairfax dances very well  and Mrs 
Weston is the very best country dance player  without exception  in
England   Now  if your friends have any gratitude  they will say
something pretty loud about you and me in return  but I cannot stay to
hear it  

 Oh   Mr  Knightley  one moment more  something of consequence  so
shocked   Jane and I are both so shocked about the apples  

 What is the matter now  

 To think of your sending us all your store apples   You said you had a
great many  and now you have not one left   We really are so shocked 
Mrs  Hodges may well be angry   William Larkins mentioned it here   You
should not have done it  indeed you should not   Ah  he is off   He
never can bear to be thanked   But I thought he would have staid now 
and it would have been a pity not to have mentioned        Well 
 returning to the room   I have not been able to succeed   Mr 
Knightley cannot stop   He is going to Kingston   He asked me if he
could do any thing        

 Yes   said Jane   we heard his kind offers  we heard every thing  

 Oh  yes  my dear  I dare say you might  because you know  the door was
open  and the window was open  and Mr  Knightley spoke loud   You must
have heard every thing to be sure    Can I do any thing for you at
Kingston   said he  so I just mentioned        Oh   Miss Woodhouse 
must you be going   You seem but just come  so very obliging of you  

Emma found it really time to be at home  the visit had already lasted
long  and on examining watches  so much of the morning was perceived to
be gone  that Mrs  Weston and her companion taking leave also  could
allow themselves only to walk with the two young ladies to Hartfield
gates  before they set off for Randalls 



CHAPTER XI


It may be possible to do without dancing entirely   Instances have been
known of young people passing many  many months successively  without
being at any ball of any description  and no material injury accrue
either to body or mind   but when a beginning is made  when the
felicities of rapid motion have once been  though slightly  felt  it
must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more 

Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury  and longed to dance again 
and the last half hour of an evening which Mr  Woodhouse was persuaded
to spend with his daughter at Randalls  was passed by the two young
people in schemes on the subject   Frank s was the first idea  and his
the greatest zeal in pursuing it  for the lady was the best judge of
the difficulties  and the most solicitous for accommodation and
appearance   But still she had inclination enough for shewing people
again how delightfully Mr  Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse
danced  for doing that in which she need not blush to compare herself
with Jane Fairfax  and even for simple dancing itself  without any of
the wicked aids of vanity  to assist him first in pacing out the room
they were in to see what it could be made to hold  and then in taking
the dimensions of the other parlour  in the hope of discovering  in
spite of all that Mr  Weston could say of their exactly equal size 
that it was a little the largest 

His first proposition and request  that the dance begun at Mr  Cole s
should be finished there  that the same party should be collected  and
the same musician engaged  met with the readiest acquiescence   Mr 
Weston entered into the idea with thorough enjoyment  and Mrs  Weston
most willingly undertook to play as long as they could wish to dance 
and the interesting employment had followed  of reckoning up exactly
who there would be  and portioning out the indispensable division of
space to every couple 

 You and Miss Smith  and Miss Fairfax  will be three  and the two Miss
Coxes five   had been repeated many times over    And there will be the
two Gilberts  young Cox  my father  and myself  besides Mr  Knightley 
Yes  that will be quite enough for pleasure   You and Miss Smith  and
Miss Fairfax  will be three  and the two Miss Coxes five  and for five
couple there will be plenty of room  

But soon it came to be on one side 

 But will there be good room for five couple   I really do not think
there will  

On another 

 And after all  five couple are not enough to make it worth while to
stand up   Five couple are nothing  when one thinks seriously about it 
It will not do to  invite  five couple   It can be allowable only as
the thought of the moment  

Somebody said that  Miss  Gilbert was expected at her brother s  and
must be invited with the rest   Somebody else believed  Mrs   Gilbert
would have danced the other evening  if she had been asked   A word was
put in for a second young Cox  and at last  Mr  Weston naming one
family of cousins who must be included  and another of very old
acquaintance who could not be left out  it became a certainty that the
five couple would be at least ten  and a very interesting speculation
in what possible manner they could be disposed of 

The doors of the two rooms were just opposite each other    Might not
they use both rooms  and dance across the passage   It seemed the best
scheme  and yet it was not so good but that many of them wanted a
better   Emma said it would be awkward  Mrs  Weston was in distress
about the supper  and Mr  Woodhouse opposed it earnestly  on the score
of health   It made him so very unhappy  indeed  that it could not be
persevered in 

 Oh  no   said he   it would be the extreme of imprudence   I could not
bear it for Emma   Emma is not strong   She would catch a dreadful
cold   So would poor little Harriet   So you would all   Mrs  Weston 
you would be quite laid up  do not let them talk of such a wild thing 
Pray do not let them talk of it   That young man  speaking lower  is
very thoughtless   Do not tell his father  but that young man is not
quite the thing   He has been opening the doors very often this
evening  and keeping them open very inconsiderately   He does not think
of the draught   I do not mean to set you against him  but indeed he is
not quite the thing  

Mrs  Weston was sorry for such a charge   She knew the importance of
it  and said every thing in her power to do it away   Every door was
now closed  the passage plan given up  and the first scheme of dancing
only in the room they were in resorted to again  and with such
good will on Frank Churchill s part  that the space which a quarter of
an hour before had been deemed barely sufficient for five couple  was
now endeavoured to be made out quite enough for ten 

 We were too magnificent   said he    We allowed unnecessary room   Ten
couple may stand here very well  

Emma demurred    It would be a crowd  a sad crowd  and what could be
worse than dancing without space to turn in  

 Very true   he gravely replied   it was very bad    But still he went
on measuring  and still he ended with 

 I think there will be very tolerable room for ten couple  

 No  no   said she   you are quite unreasonable   It would be dreadful
to be standing so close   Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to
be dancing in a crowd  and a crowd in a little room  

 There is no denying it   he replied    I agree with you exactly   A
crowd in a little room  Miss Woodhouse  you have the art of giving
pictures in a few words   Exquisite  quite exquisite   Still  however 
having proceeded so far  one is unwilling to give the matter up   It
would be a disappointment to my father  and altogether  I do not know
that  I am rather of opinion that ten couple might stand here very
well  

Emma perceived that the nature of his gallantry was a little
self willed  and that he would rather oppose than lose the pleasure of
dancing with her  but she took the compliment  and forgave the rest 
Had she intended ever to  marry  him  it might have been worth while to
pause and consider  and try to understand the value of his preference 
and the character of his temper  but for all the purposes of their
acquaintance  he was quite amiable enough 

Before the middle of the next day  he was at Hartfield  and he entered
the room with such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of
the scheme   It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement 

 Well  Miss Woodhouse   he almost immediately began   your inclination
for dancing has not been quite frightened away  I hope  by the terrors
of my father s little rooms   I bring a new proposal on the subject   a
thought of my father s  which waits only your approbation to be acted
upon   May I hope for the honour of your hand for the two first dances
of this little projected ball  to be given  not at Randalls  but at the
Crown Inn  

 The Crown  

 Yes  if you and Mr  Woodhouse see no objection  and I trust you
cannot  my father hopes his friends will be so kind as to visit him
there   Better accommodations  he can promise them  and not a less
grateful welcome than at Randalls   It is his own idea   Mrs  Weston
sees no objection to it  provided you are satisfied   This is what we
all feel   Oh  you were perfectly right   Ten couple  in either of the
Randalls rooms  would have been insufferable   Dreadful   I felt how
right you were the whole time  but was too anxious for securing  any 
 thing  to like to yield   Is not it a good exchange   You consent  I
hope you consent  

 It appears to me a plan that nobody can object to  if Mr  and Mrs 
Weston do not   I think it admirable  and  as far as I can answer for
myself  shall be most happy  It seems the only improvement that could
be   Papa  do you not think it an excellent improvement  

She was obliged to repeat and explain it  before it was fully
comprehended  and then  being quite new  farther representations were
necessary to make it acceptable 

 No  he thought it very far from an improvement  a very bad plan  much
worse than the other   A room at an inn was always damp and dangerous 
never properly aired  or fit to be inhabited   If they must dance  they
had better dance at Randalls   He had never been in the room at the
Crown in his life  did not know the people who kept it by sight   Oh 
no  a very bad plan   They would catch worse colds at the Crown than
anywhere  

 I was going to observe  sir   said Frank Churchill   that one of the
great recommendations of this change would be the very little danger of
any body s catching cold  so much less danger at the Crown than at
Randalls   Mr  Perry might have reason to regret the alteration  but
nobody else could  

 Sir   said Mr  Woodhouse  rather warmly   you are very much mistaken
if you suppose Mr  Perry to be that sort of character   Mr  Perry is
extremely concerned when any of us are ill   But I do not understand
how the room at the Crown can be safer for you than your father s
house  

 From the very circumstance of its being larger  sir   We shall have no
occasion to open the windows at all  not once the whole evening  and it
is that dreadful habit of opening the windows  letting in cold air upon
heated bodies  which  as you well know  sir  does the mischief  

 Open the windows   but surely  Mr  Churchill  nobody would think of
opening the windows at Randalls   Nobody could be so imprudent   I
never heard of such a thing   Dancing with open windows   I am sure 
neither your father nor Mrs  Weston  poor Miss Taylor that was  would
suffer it  

 Ah  sir  but a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a
window curtain  and throw up a sash  without its being suspected   I
have often known it done myself  

 Have you indeed  sir   Bless me   I never could have supposed it   But
I live out of the world  and am often astonished at what I hear 
However  this does make a difference  and  perhaps  when we come to
talk it over  but these sort of things require a good deal of
consideration   One cannot resolve upon them in a hurry   If Mr  and
Mrs  Weston will be so obliging as to call here one morning  we may
talk it over  and see what can be done  

 But  unfortunately  sir  my time is so limited   

 Oh   interrupted Emma   there will be plenty of time for talking every
thing over   There is no hurry at all   If it can be contrived to be at
the Crown  papa  it will be very convenient for the horses   They will
be so near their own stable  

 So they will  my dear   That is a great thing   Not that James ever
complains  but it is right to spare our horses when we can   If I could
be sure of the rooms being thoroughly aired  but is Mrs  Stokes to be
trusted   I doubt it   I do not know her  even by sight  

 I can answer for every thing of that nature  sir  because it will be
under Mrs  Weston s care   Mrs  Weston undertakes to direct the whole  

 There  papa   Now you must be satisfied  Our own dear Mrs  Weston  who
is carefulness itself   Do not you remember what Mr  Perry said  so
many years ago  when I had the measles    If  Miss   Taylor  undertakes
to wrap Miss Emma up  you need not have any fears  sir    How often
have I heard you speak of it as such a compliment to her  

 Aye  very true   Mr  Perry did say so   I shall never forget it   Poor
little Emma   You were very bad with the measles  that is  you would
have been very bad  but for Perry s great attention   He came four
times a day for a week   He said  from the first  it was a very good
sort  which was our great comfort  but the measles are a dreadful
complaint   I hope whenever poor Isabella s little ones have the
measles  she will send for Perry  

 My father and Mrs  Weston are at the Crown at this moment   said Frank
Churchill   examining the capabilities of the house   I left them there
and came on to Hartfield  impatient for your opinion  and hoping you
might be persuaded to join them and give your advice on the spot   I
was desired to say so from both   It would be the greatest pleasure to
them  if you could allow me to attend you there   They can do nothing
satisfactorily without you  

Emma was most happy to be called to such a council  and her father 
engaging to think it all over while she was gone  the two young people
set off together without delay for the Crown   There were Mr  and Mrs 
Weston  delighted to see her and receive her approbation  very busy and
very happy in their different way  she  in some little distress  and
he  finding every thing perfect 

 Emma   said she   this paper is worse than I expected   Look  in
places you see it is dreadfully dirty  and the wainscot is more yellow
and forlorn than any thing I could have imagined  

 My dear  you are too particular   said her husband    What does all
that signify   You will see nothing of it by candlelight   It will be
as clean as Randalls by candlelight   We never see any thing of it on
our club nights  

The ladies here probably exchanged looks which meant   Men never know
when things are dirty or not   and the gentlemen perhaps thought each
to himself   Women will have their little nonsenses and needless cares  

One perplexity  however  arose  which the gentlemen did not disdain 
It regarded a supper room   At the time of the ballroom s being built 
suppers had not been in question  and a small card room adjoining  was
the only addition   What was to be done   This card room would be
wanted as a card room now  or  if cards were conveniently voted
unnecessary by their four selves  still was it not too small for any
comfortable supper   Another room of much better size might be secured
for the purpose  but it was at the other end of the house  and a long
awkward passage must be gone through to get at it   This made a
difficulty   Mrs  Weston was afraid of draughts for the young people in
that passage  and neither Emma nor the gentlemen could tolerate the
prospect of being miserably crowded at supper 

Mrs  Weston proposed having no regular supper  merely sandwiches   c  
set out in the little room  but that was scouted as a wretched
suggestion   A private dance  without sitting down to supper  was
pronounced an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women  and Mrs 
Weston must not speak of it again   She then took another line of
expediency  and looking into the doubtful room  observed 

 I do not think it  is  so very small   We shall not be many  you know  

And Mr  Weston at the same time  walking briskly with long steps
through the passage  was calling out 

 You talk a great deal of the length of this passage  my dear   It is a
mere nothing after all  and not the least draught from the stairs  

 I wish   said Mrs  Weston   one could know which arrangement our
guests in general would like best   To do what would be most generally
pleasing must be our object  if one could but tell what that would be  

 Yes  very true   cried Frank   very true   You want your neighbours 
opinions   I do not wonder at you   If one could ascertain what the
chief of them  the Coles  for instance   They are not far off   Shall I
call upon them   Or Miss Bates   She is still nearer    And I do not
know whether Miss Bates is not as likely to understand the inclinations
of the rest of the people as any body   I think we do want a larger
council   Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to join us  

 Well  if you please   said Mrs  Weston rather hesitating   if you
think she will be of any use  

 You will get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates   said Emma    She
will be all delight and gratitude  but she will tell you nothing   She
will not even listen to your questions   I see no advantage in
consulting Miss Bates  

 But she is so amusing  so extremely amusing   I am very fond of
hearing Miss Bates talk   And I need not bring the whole family  you
know  

Here Mr  Weston joined them  and on hearing what was proposed  gave it
his decided approbation 

 Aye  do  Frank   Go and fetch Miss Bates  and let us end the matter at
once   She will enjoy the scheme  I am sure  and I do not know a
properer person for shewing us how to do away difficulties   Fetch Miss
Bates   We are growing a little too nice   She is a standing lesson of
how to be happy   But fetch them both   Invite them both  

 Both sir   Can the old lady        

 The old lady   No  the young lady  to be sure   I shall think you a
great blockhead  Frank  if you bring the aunt without the niece  

 Oh   I beg your pardon  sir   I did not immediately recollect 
Undoubtedly if you wish it  I will endeavour to persuade them both  
And away he ran 

Long before he reappeared  attending the short  neat  brisk moving
aunt  and her elegant niece   Mrs  Weston  like a sweet tempered woman
and a good wife  had examined the passage again  and found the evils of
it much less than she had supposed before  indeed very trifling  and
here ended the difficulties of decision   All the rest  in speculation
at least  was perfectly smooth   All the minor arrangements of table
and chair  lights and music  tea and supper  made themselves  or were
left as mere trifles to be settled at any time between Mrs  Weston and
Mrs  Stokes    Every body invited  was certainly to come  Frank had
already written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days beyond his
fortnight  which could not possibly be refused   And a delightful dance
it was to be 

Most cordially  when Miss Bates arrived  did she agree that it must 
As a counsellor she was not wanted  but as an approver   a much safer
character   she was truly welcome   Her approbation  at once general
and minute  warm and incessant  could not but please  and for another
half hour they were all walking to and fro  between the different
rooms  some suggesting  some attending  and all in happy enjoyment of
the future   The party did not break up without Emma s being positively
secured for the two first dances by the hero of the evening  nor
without her overhearing Mr  Weston whisper to his wife   He has asked
her  my dear   That s right   I knew he would  



CHAPTER XII


One thing only was wanting to make the prospect of the ball completely
satisfactory to Emma  its being fixed for a day within the granted term
of Frank Churchill s stay in Surry  for  in spite of Mr  Weston s
confidence  she could not think it so very impossible that the
Churchills might not allow their nephew to remain a day beyond his
fortnight   But this was not judged feasible   The preparations must
take their time  nothing could be properly ready till the third week
were entered on  and for a few days they must be planning  proceeding
and hoping in uncertainty  at the risk  in her opinion  the great
risk  of its being all in vain 

Enscombe however was gracious  gracious in fact  if not in word   His
wish of staying longer evidently did not please  but it was not
opposed   All was safe and prosperous  and as the removal of one
solicitude generally makes way for another  Emma  being now certain of
her ball  began to adopt as the next vexation Mr  Knightley s provoking
indifference about it   Either because he did not dance himself  or
because the plan had been formed without his being consulted  he seemed
resolved that it should not interest him  determined against its
exciting any present curiosity  or affording him any future amusement 
To her voluntary communications Emma could get no more approving reply 
than 

 Very well   If the Westons think it worth while to be at all this
trouble for a few hours of noisy entertainment  I have nothing to say
against it  but that they shall not chuse pleasures for me    Oh  yes 
I must be there  I could not refuse  and I will keep as much awake as I
can  but I would rather be at home  looking over William Larkins s
week s account  much rather  I confess    Pleasure in seeing
dancing   not I  indeed  I never look at it   I do not know who
does   Fine dancing  I believe  like virtue  must be its own reward 
Those who are standing by are usually thinking of something very
different  

This Emma felt was aimed at her  and it made her quite angry   It was
not in compliment to Jane Fairfax however that he was so indifferent 
or so indignant  he was not guided by  her  feelings in reprobating the
ball  for  she  enjoyed the thought of it to an extraordinary degree 
It made her animated  open hearted  she voluntarily said   

 Oh   Miss Woodhouse  I hope nothing may happen to prevent the ball 
What a disappointment it would be   I do look forward to it  I own 
with  very  great pleasure  

It was not to oblige Jane Fairfax therefore that he would have
preferred the society of William Larkins   No   she was more and more
convinced that Mrs  Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise   There
was a great deal of friendly and of compassionate attachment on his
side  but no love 

Alas  there was soon no leisure for quarrelling with Mr  Knightley 
Two days of joyful security were immediately followed by the over throw
of every thing   A letter arrived from Mr  Churchill to urge his
nephew s instant return   Mrs  Churchill was unwell  far too unwell to
do without him  she had been in a very suffering state  so said her
husband  when writing to her nephew two days before  though from her
usual unwillingness to give pain  and constant habit of never thinking
of herself  she had not mentioned it  but now she was too ill to
trifle  and must entreat him to set off for Enscombe without delay 

The substance of this letter was forwarded to Emma  in a note from Mrs 
Weston  instantly   As to his going  it was inevitable   He must be
gone within a few hours  though without feeling any real alarm for his
aunt  to lessen his repugnance   He knew her illnesses  they never
occurred but for her own convenience 

Mrs  Weston added   that he could only allow himself time to hurry to
Highbury  after breakfast  and take leave of the few friends there whom
he could suppose to feel any interest in him  and that he might be
expected at Hartfield very soon  

This wretched note was the finale of Emma s breakfast   When once it
had been read  there was no doing any thing  but lament and exclaim 
The loss of the ball  the loss of the young man  and all that the
young man might be feeling   It was too wretched    Such a delightful
evening as it would have been   Every body so happy   and she and her
partner the happiest    I said it would be so   was the only
consolation 

Her father s feelings were quite distinct   He thought principally of
Mrs  Churchill s illness  and wanted to know how she was treated  and
as for the ball  it was shocking to have dear Emma disappointed  but
they would all be safer at home 

Emma was ready for her visitor some time before he appeared  but if
this reflected at all upon his impatience  his sorrowful look and total
want of spirits when he did come might redeem him   He felt the going
away almost too much to speak of it   His dejection was most evident 
He sat really lost in thought for the first few minutes  and when
rousing himself  it was only to say 

 Of all horrid things  leave taking is the worst  

 But you will come again   said Emma    This will not be your only
visit to Randalls  

 Ah    shaking his head   the uncertainty of when I may be able to
return   I shall try for it with a zeal   It will be the object of all
my thoughts and cares   and if my uncle and aunt go to town this
spring  but I am afraid  they did not stir last spring   I am afraid it
is a custom gone for ever  

 Our poor ball must be quite given up  

 Ah  that ball   why did we wait for any thing   why not seize the
pleasure at once   How often is happiness destroyed by preparation 
foolish preparation   You told us it would be so   Oh   Miss Woodhouse 
why are you always so right  

 Indeed  I am very sorry to be right in this instance   I would much
rather have been merry than wise  

 If I can come again  we are still to have our ball   My father depends
on it   Do not forget your engagement  

Emma looked graciously 

 Such a fortnight as it has been   he continued   every day more
precious and more delightful than the day before   every day making me
less fit to bear any other place   Happy those  who can remain at
Highbury  

 As you do us such ample justice now   said Emma  laughing   I will
venture to ask  whether you did not come a little doubtfully at first 
Do not we rather surpass your expectations   I am sure we do   I am
sure you did not much expect to like us   You would not have been so
long in coming  if you had had a pleasant idea of Highbury  

He laughed rather consciously  and though denying the sentiment  Emma
was convinced that it had been so 

 And you must be off this very morning  

 Yes  my father is to join me here   we shall walk back together  and I
must be off immediately   I am almost afraid that every moment will
bring him  

 Not five minutes to spare even for your friends Miss Fairfax and Miss
Bates   How unlucky   Miss Bates s powerful  argumentative mind might
have strengthened yours  

 Yes  I  have  called there  passing the door  I thought it better   It
was a right thing to do   I went in for three minutes  and was detained
by Miss Bates s being absent   She was out  and I felt it impossible
not to wait till she came in   She is a woman that one may  that one
 must  laugh at  but that one would not wish to slight   It was better
to pay my visit  then   

He hesitated  got up  walked to a window 

 In short   said he   perhaps  Miss Woodhouse  I think you can hardly
be quite without suspicion   

He looked at her  as if wanting to read her thoughts   She hardly knew
what to say   It seemed like the forerunner of something absolutely
serious  which she did not wish   Forcing herself to speak  therefore 
in the hope of putting it by  she calmly said 

 You are quite in the right  it was most natural to pay your visit 
then   

He was silent   She believed he was looking at her  probably reflecting
on what she had said  and trying to understand the manner   She heard
him sigh   It was natural for him to feel that he had  cause  to sigh 
He could not believe her to be encouraging him   A few awkward moments
passed  and he sat down again  and in a more determined manner said 

 It was something to feel that all the rest of my time might be given
to Hartfield   My regard for Hartfield is most warm   

He stopt again  rose again  and seemed quite embarrassed    He was more
in love with her than Emma had supposed  and who can say how it might
have ended  if his father had not made his appearance   Mr  Woodhouse
soon followed  and the necessity of exertion made him composed 

A very few minutes more  however  completed the present trial   Mr 
Weston  always alert when business was to be done  and as incapable of
procrastinating any evil that was inevitable  as of foreseeing any that
was doubtful  said   It was time to go   and the young man  though he
might and did sigh  could not but agree  to take leave 

 I shall hear about you all   said he   that is my chief consolation 
I shall hear of every thing that is going on among you   I have engaged
Mrs  Weston to correspond with me   She has been so kind as to promise
it   Oh  the blessing of a female correspondent  when one is really
interested in the absent   she will tell me every thing   In her
letters I shall be at dear Highbury again  

A very friendly shake of the hand  a very earnest  Good bye   closed
the speech  and the door had soon shut out Frank Churchill   Short had
been the notice  short their meeting  he was gone  and Emma felt so
sorry to part  and foresaw so great a loss to their little society from
his absence as to begin to be afraid of being too sorry  and feeling it
too much 

It was a sad change   They had been meeting almost every day since his
arrival   Certainly his being at Randalls had given great spirit to the
last two weeks  indescribable spirit  the idea  the expectation of
seeing him which every morning had brought  the assurance of his
attentions  his liveliness  his manners   It had been a very happy
fortnight  and forlorn must be the sinking from it into the common
course of Hartfield days   To complete every other recommendation  he
had  almost  told her that he loved her   What strength  or what
constancy of affection he might be subject to  was another point  but
at present she could not doubt his having a decidedly warm admiration 
a conscious preference of herself  and this persuasion  joined to all
the rest  made her think that she  must  be a little in love with him 
in spite of every previous determination against it 

 I certainly must   said she    This sensation of listlessness 
weariness  stupidity  this disinclination to sit down and employ
myself  this feeling of every thing s being dull and insipid about the
house    I must be in love  I should be the oddest creature in the
world if I were not  for a few weeks at least   Well  evil to some is
always good to others   I shall have many fellow mourners for the ball 
if not for Frank Churchill  but Mr  Knightley will be happy   He may
spend the evening with his dear William Larkins now if he likes  

Mr  Knightley  however  shewed no triumphant happiness   He could not
say that he was sorry on his own account  his very cheerful look would
have contradicted him if he had  but he said  and very steadily  that
he was sorry for the disappointment of the others  and with
considerable kindness added 

 You  Emma  who have so few opportunities of dancing  you are really
out of luck  you are very much out of luck  

It was some days before she saw Jane Fairfax  to judge of her honest
regret in this woeful change  but when they did meet  her composure was
odious   She had been particularly unwell  however  suffering from
headache to a degree  which made her aunt declare  that had the ball
taken place  she did not think Jane could have attended it  and it was
charity to impute some of her unbecoming indifference to the languor of
ill health 



CHAPTER XIII


Emma continued to entertain no doubt of her being in love   Her ideas
only varied as to the how much   At first  she thought it was a good
deal  and afterwards  but little   She had great pleasure in hearing
Frank Churchill talked of  and  for his sake  greater pleasure than
ever in seeing Mr  and Mrs  Weston  she was very often thinking of him 
and quite impatient for a letter  that she might know how he was  how
were his spirits  how was his aunt  and what was the chance of his
coming to Randalls again this spring   But  on the other hand  she
could not admit herself to be unhappy  nor  after the first morning  to
be less disposed for employment than usual  she was still busy and
cheerful  and  pleasing as he was  she could yet imagine him to have
faults  and farther  though thinking of him so much  and  as she sat
drawing or working  forming a thousand amusing schemes for the progress
and close of their attachment  fancying interesting dialogues  and
inventing elegant letters  the conclusion of every imaginary
declaration on his side was that she  refused   him    Their affection
was always to subside into friendship   Every thing tender and charming
was to mark their parting  but still they were to part   When she
became sensible of this  it struck her that she could not be very much
in love  for in spite of her previous and fixed determination never to
quit her father  never to marry  a strong attachment certainly must
produce more of a struggle than she could foresee in her own feelings 

 I do not find myself making any use of the word  sacrifice    said
she     In not one of all my clever replies  my delicate negatives  is
there any allusion to making a sacrifice   I do suspect that he is not
really necessary to my happiness   So much the better   I certainly
will not persuade myself to feel more than I do   I am quite enough in
love   I should be sorry to be more  

Upon the whole  she was equally contented with her view of his feelings 

  He  is undoubtedly very much in love  every thing denotes it  very
much in love indeed   and when he comes again  if his affection
continue  I must be on my guard not to encourage it   It would be most
inexcusable to do otherwise  as my own mind is quite made up   Not that
I imagine he can think I have been encouraging him hitherto   No  if he
had believed me at all to share his feelings  he would not have been so
wretched   Could he have thought himself encouraged  his looks and
language at parting would have been different    Still  however  I must
be on my guard   This is in the supposition of his attachment
continuing what it now is  but I do not know that I expect it will  I
do not look upon him to be quite the sort of man   I do not altogether
build upon his steadiness or constancy    His feelings are warm  but I
can imagine them rather changeable    Every consideration of the
subject  in short  makes me thankful that my happiness is not more
deeply involved   I shall do very well again after a little while  and
then  it will be a good thing over  for they say every body is in love
once in their lives  and I shall have been let off easily  

When his letter to Mrs  Weston arrived  Emma had the perusal of it  and
she read it with a degree of pleasure and admiration which made her at
first shake her head over her own sensations  and think she had
undervalued their strength   It was a long  well written letter  giving
the particulars of his journey and of his feelings  expressing all the
affection  gratitude  and respect which was natural and honourable  and
describing every thing exterior and local that could be supposed
attractive  with spirit and precision   No suspicious flourishes now of
apology or concern  it was the language of real feeling towards Mrs 
Weston  and the transition from Highbury to Enscombe  the contrast
between the places in some of the first blessings of social life was
just enough touched on to shew how keenly it was felt  and how much
more might have been said but for the restraints of propriety   The
charm of her own name was not wanting    Miss   Woodhouse  appeared
more than once  and never without a something of pleasing connexion 
either a compliment to her taste  or a remembrance of what she had
said  and in the very last time of its meeting her eye  unadorned as it
was by any such broad wreath of gallantry  she yet could discern the
effect of her influence and acknowledge the greatest compliment perhaps
of all conveyed   Compressed into the very lowest vacant corner were
these words   I had not a spare moment on Tuesday  as you know  for
Miss Woodhouse s beautiful little friend   Pray make my excuses and
adieus to her    This  Emma could not doubt  was all for herself 
Harriet was remembered only from being  her  friend   His information
and prospects as to Enscombe were neither worse nor better than had
been anticipated  Mrs  Churchill was recovering  and he dared not yet 
even in his own imagination  fix a time for coming to Randalls again 

Gratifying  however  and stimulative as was the letter in the material
part  its sentiments  she yet found  when it was folded up and returned
to Mrs  Weston  that it had not added any lasting warmth  that she
could still do without the writer  and that he must learn to do without
her   Her intentions were unchanged   Her resolution of refusal only
grew more interesting by the addition of a scheme for his subsequent
consolation and happiness   His recollection of Harriet  and the words
which clothed it  the  beautiful little friend   suggested to her the
idea of Harriet s succeeding her in his affections   Was it
impossible   No   Harriet undoubtedly was greatly his inferior in
understanding  but he had been very much struck with the loveliness of
her face and the warm simplicity of her manner  and all the
probabilities of circumstance and connexion were in her favour   For
Harriet  it would be advantageous and delightful indeed 

 I must not dwell upon it   said she    I must not think of it   I know
the danger of indulging such speculations   But stranger things have
happened  and when we cease to care for each other as we do now  it
will be the means of confirming us in that sort of true disinterested
friendship which I can already look forward to with pleasure  

It was well to have a comfort in store on Harriet s behalf  though it
might be wise to let the fancy touch it seldom  for evil in that
quarter was at hand   As Frank Churchill s arrival had succeeded Mr 
Elton s engagement in the conversation of Highbury  as the latest
interest had entirely borne down the first  so now upon Frank
Churchill s disappearance  Mr  Elton s concerns were assuming the most
irresistible form   His wedding day was named   He would soon be among
them again  Mr  Elton and his bride   There was hardly time to talk
over the first letter from Enscombe before  Mr  Elton and his bride 
was in every body s mouth  and Frank Churchill was forgotten   Emma
grew sick at the sound   She had had three weeks of happy exemption
from Mr  Elton  and Harriet s mind  she had been willing to hope  had
been lately gaining strength   With Mr  Weston s ball in view at least 
there had been a great deal of insensibility to other things  but it
was now too evident that she had not attained such a state of composure
as could stand against the actual approach  new carriage  bell ringing 
and all 

Poor Harriet was in a flutter of spirits which required all the
reasonings and soothings and attentions of every kind that Emma could
give   Emma felt that she could not do too much for her  that Harriet
had a right to all her ingenuity and all her patience  but it was heavy
work to be for ever convincing without producing any effect  for ever
agreed to  without being able to make their opinions the same   Harriet
listened submissively  and said  it was very true  it was just as Miss
Woodhouse described  it was not worth while to think about them  and
she would not think about them any longer  but no change of subject
could avail  and the next half hour saw her as anxious and restless
about the Eltons as before   At last Emma attacked her on another
ground 

 Your allowing yourself to be so occupied and so unhappy about Mr 
Elton s marrying  Harriet  is the strongest reproach you can make  me  
You could not give me a greater reproof for the mistake I fell into 
It was all my doing  I know   I have not forgotten it  I assure
you   Deceived myself  I did very miserably deceive you  and it will
be a painful reflection to me for ever   Do not imagine me in danger of
forgetting it  

Harriet felt this too much to utter more than a few words of eager
exclamation   Emma continued 

 I have not said  exert yourself Harriet for my sake  think less  talk
less of Mr  Elton for my sake  because for your own sake rather  I
would wish it to be done  for the sake of what is more important than
my comfort  a habit of self command in you  a consideration of what is
your duty  an attention to propriety  an endeavour to avoid the
suspicions of others  to save your health and credit  and restore your
tranquillity   These are the motives which I have been pressing on you 
They are very important  and sorry I am that you cannot feel them
sufficiently to act upon them   My being saved from pain is a very
secondary consideration   I want you to save yourself from greater
pain   Perhaps I may sometimes have felt that Harriet would not forget
what was due  or rather what would be kind by me  

This appeal to her affections did more than all the rest   The idea of
wanting gratitude and consideration for Miss Woodhouse  whom she really
loved extremely  made her wretched for a while  and when the violence
of grief was comforted away  still remained powerful enough to prompt
to what was right and support her in it very tolerably 

 You  who have been the best friend I ever had in my life   Want
gratitude to you   Nobody is equal to you   I care for nobody as I do
for you   Oh   Miss Woodhouse  how ungrateful I have been  

Such expressions  assisted as they were by every thing that look and
manner could do  made Emma feel that she had never loved Harriet so
well  nor valued her affection so highly before 

 There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart   said she afterwards
to herself    There is nothing to be compared to it   Warmth and
tenderness of heart  with an affectionate  open manner  will beat all
the clearness of head in the world  for attraction  I am sure it will 
It is tenderness of heart which makes my dear father so generally
beloved  which gives Isabella all her popularity    I have it not  but
I know how to prize and respect it   Harriet is my superior in all the
charm and all the felicity it gives   Dear Harriet   I would not change
you for the clearest headed  longest sighted  best judging female
breathing   Oh  the coldness of a Jane Fairfax   Harriet is worth a
hundred such  And for a wife  a sensible man s wife  it is invaluable 
I mention no names  but happy the man who changes Emma for Harriet  



CHAPTER XIV


Mrs  Elton was first seen at church   but though devotion might be
interrupted  curiosity could not be satisfied by a bride in a pew  and
it must be left for the visits in form which were then to be paid  to
settle whether she were very pretty indeed  or only rather pretty  or
not pretty at all 

Emma had feelings  less of curiosity than of pride or propriety  to
make her resolve on not being the last to pay her respects  and she
made a point of Harriet s going with her  that the worst of the
business might be gone through as soon as possible 

She could not enter the house again  could not be in the same room to
which she had with such vain artifice retreated three months ago  to
lace up her boot  without  recollecting    A thousand vexatious
thoughts would recur   Compliments  charades  and horrible blunders 
and it was not to be supposed that poor Harriet should not be
recollecting too  but she behaved very well  and was only rather pale
and silent   The visit was of course short  and there was so much
embarrassment and occupation of mind to shorten it  that Emma would not
allow herself entirely to form an opinion of the lady  and on no
account to give one  beyond the nothing meaning terms of being
 elegantly dressed  and very pleasing  

She did not really like her   She would not be in a hurry to find
fault  but she suspected that there was no elegance   ease  but not
elegance    She was almost sure that for a young woman  a stranger  a
bride  there was too much ease   Her person was rather good  her face
not unpretty  but neither feature  nor air  nor voice  nor manner  were
elegant   Emma thought at least it would turn out so 

As for Mr  Elton  his manners did not appear  but no  she would not
permit a hasty or a witty word from herself about his manners   It was
an awkward ceremony at any time to be receiving wedding visits  and a
man had need be all grace to acquit himself well through it   The woman
was better off  she might have the assistance of fine clothes  and the
privilege of bashfulness  but the man had only his own good sense to
depend on  and when she considered how peculiarly unlucky poor Mr 
Elton was in being in the same room at once with the woman he had just
married  the woman he had wanted to marry  and the woman whom he had
been expected to marry  she must allow him to have the right to look as
little wise  and to be as much affectedly  and as little really easy as
could be 

 Well  Miss Woodhouse   said Harriet  when they had quitted the house 
and after waiting in vain for her friend to begin   Well  Miss
Woodhouse   with a gentle sigh   what do you think of her    Is not she
very charming  

There was a little hesitation in Emma s answer 

 Oh  yes  very  a very pleasing young woman  

 I think her beautiful  quite beautiful  

 Very nicely dressed  indeed  a remarkably elegant gown  

 I am not at all surprized that he should have fallen in love  

 Oh  no  there is nothing to surprize one at all   A pretty fortune 
and she came in his way  

 I dare say   returned Harriet  sighing again   I dare say she was very
much attached to him  

 Perhaps she might  but it is not every man s fate to marry the woman
who loves him best   Miss Hawkins perhaps wanted a home  and thought
this the best offer she was likely to have  

 Yes   said Harriet earnestly   and well she might  nobody could ever
have a better   Well  I wish them happy with all my heart   And now 
Miss Woodhouse  I do not think I shall mind seeing them again   He is
just as superior as ever   but being married  you know  it is quite a
different thing   No  indeed  Miss Woodhouse  you need not be afraid  I
can sit and admire him now without any great misery   To know that he
has not thrown himself away  is such a comfort    She does seem a
charming young woman  just what he deserves   Happy creature   He
called her  Augusta    How delightful  

When the visit was returned  Emma made up her mind   She could then see
more and judge better   From Harriet s happening not to be at
Hartfield  and her father s being present to engage Mr  Elton  she had
a quarter of an hour of the lady s conversation to herself  and could
composedly attend to her  and the quarter of an hour quite convinced
her that Mrs  Elton was a vain woman  extremely well satisfied with
herself  and thinking much of her own importance  that she meant to
shine and be very superior  but with manners which had been formed in a
bad school  pert and familiar  that all her notions were drawn from one
set of people  and one style of living  that if not foolish she was
ignorant  and that her society would certainly do Mr  Elton no good 

Harriet would have been a better match   If not wise or refined
herself  she would have connected him with those who were  but Miss
Hawkins  it might be fairly supposed from her easy conceit  had been
the best of her own set   The rich brother in law near Bristol was the
pride of the alliance  and his place and his carriages were the pride
of him 

The very first subject after being seated was Maple Grove   My brother
Mr  Suckling s seat    a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove   The
grounds of Hartfield were small  but neat and pretty  and the house was
modern and well built  Mrs  Elton seemed most favourably impressed by
the size of the room  the entrance  and all that she could see or
imagine    Very like Maple Grove indeed   She was quite struck by the
likeness   That room was the very shape and size of the morning room at
Maple Grove  her sister s favourite room     Mr  Elton was appealed
to    Was not it astonishingly like    She could really almost fancy
herself at Maple Grove  

 And the staircase  You know  as I came in  I observed how very like
the staircase was  placed exactly in the same part of the house   I
really could not help exclaiming   I assure you  Miss Woodhouse  it is
very delightful to me  to be reminded of a place I am so extremely
partial to as Maple Grove   I have spent so many happy months there 
 with a little sigh of sentiment   A charming place  undoubtedly 
Every body who sees it is struck by its beauty  but to me  it has been
quite a home   Whenever you are transplanted  like me  Miss Woodhouse 
you will understand how very delightful it is to meet with any thing at
all like what one has left behind   I always say this is quite one of
the evils of matrimony  

Emma made as slight a reply as she could  but it was fully sufficient
for Mrs  Elton  who only wanted to be talking herself 

 So extremely like Maple Grove   And it is not merely the house  the
grounds  I assure you  as far as I could observe  are strikingly like 
The laurels at Maple Grove are in the same profusion as here  and stand
very much in the same way  just across the lawn  and I had a glimpse of
a fine large tree  with a bench round it  which put me so exactly in
mind   My brother and sister will be enchanted with this place   People
who have extensive grounds themselves are always pleased with any thing
in the same style  

Emma doubted the truth of this sentiment   She had a great idea that
people who had extensive grounds themselves cared very little for the
extensive grounds of any body else  but it was not worth while to
attack an error so double dyed  and therefore only said in reply 

 When you have seen more of this country  I am afraid you will think
you have overrated Hartfield   Surry is full of beauties  

 Oh  yes  I am quite aware of that   It is the garden of England  you
know   Surry is the garden of England  

 Yes  but we must not rest our claims on that distinction   Many
counties  I believe  are called the garden of England  as well as
Surry  

 No  I fancy not   replied Mrs  Elton  with a most satisfied smile   I
never heard any county but Surry called so  

Emma was silenced 

 My brother and sister have promised us a visit in the spring  or
summer at farthest   continued Mrs  Elton   and that will be our time
for exploring   While they are with us  we shall explore a great deal 
I dare say   They will have their barouche landau  of course  which
holds four perfectly  and therefore  without saying any thing of  our 
carriage  we should be able to explore the different beauties extremely
well   They would hardly come in their chaise  I think  at that season
of the year   Indeed  when the time draws on  I shall decidedly
recommend their bringing the barouche landau  it will be so very much
preferable   When people come into a beautiful country of this sort 
you know  Miss Woodhouse  one naturally wishes them to see as much as
possible  and Mr  Suckling is extremely fond of exploring   We explored
to King s Weston twice last summer  in that way  most delightfully 
just after their first having the barouche landau   You have many
parties of that kind here  I suppose  Miss Woodhouse  every summer  

 No  not immediately here   We are rather out of distance of the very
striking beauties which attract the sort of parties you speak of  and
we are a very quiet set of people  I believe  more disposed to stay at
home than engage in schemes of pleasure  

 Ah  there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort   Nobody
can be more devoted to home than I am   I was quite a proverb for it at
Maple Grove   Many a time has Selina said  when she has been going to
Bristol   I really cannot get this girl to move from the house   I
absolutely must go in by myself  though I hate being stuck up in the
barouche landau without a companion  but Augusta  I believe  with her
own good will  would never stir beyond the park paling    Many a time
has she said so  and yet I am no advocate for entire seclusion   I
think  on the contrary  when people shut themselves up entirely from
society  it is a very bad thing  and that it is much more advisable to
mix in the world in a proper degree  without living in it either too
much or too little   I perfectly understand your situation  however 
Miss Woodhouse   looking towards Mr  Woodhouse   Your father s state
of health must be a great drawback   Why does not he try Bath   Indeed
he should   Let me recommend Bath to you   I assure you I have no doubt
of its doing Mr  Woodhouse good  

 My father tried it more than once  formerly  but without receiving any
benefit  and Mr  Perry  whose name  I dare say  is not unknown to you 
does not conceive it would be at all more likely to be useful now  

 Ah  that s a great pity  for I assure you  Miss Woodhouse  where the
waters do agree  it is quite wonderful the relief they give   In my
Bath life  I have seen such instances of it   And it is so cheerful a
place  that it could not fail of being of use to Mr  Woodhouse s
spirits  which  I understand  are sometimes much depressed   And as to
its recommendations to  you   I fancy I need not take much pains to
dwell on them   The advantages of Bath to the young are pretty
generally understood   It would be a charming introduction for you  who
have lived so secluded a life  and I could immediately secure you some
of the best society in the place   A line from me would bring you a
little host of acquaintance  and my particular friend  Mrs  Partridge 
the lady I have always resided with when in Bath  would be most happy
to shew you any attentions  and would be the very person for you to go
into public with  

It was as much as Emma could bear  without being impolite   The idea of
her being indebted to Mrs  Elton for what was called an
 introduction   of her going into public under the auspices of a friend
of Mrs  Elton s  probably some vulgar  dashing widow  who  with the
help of a boarder  just made a shift to live    The dignity of Miss
Woodhouse  of Hartfield  was sunk indeed 

She restrained herself  however  from any of the reproofs she could
have given  and only thanked Mrs  Elton coolly   but their going to
Bath was quite out of the question  and she was not perfectly convinced
that the place might suit her better than her father   And then  to
prevent farther outrage and indignation  changed the subject directly 

 I do not ask whether you are musical  Mrs  Elton   Upon these
occasions  a lady s character generally precedes her  and Highbury has
long known that you are a superior performer  

 Oh  no  indeed  I must protest against any such idea   A superior
performer   very far from it  I assure you   Consider from how partial
a quarter your information came   I am doatingly fond of
music  passionately fond   and my friends say I am not entirely devoid
of taste  but as to any thing else  upon my honour my performance is
 mediocre  to the last degree   You  Miss Woodhouse  I well know  play
delightfully   I assure you it has been the greatest satisfaction 
comfort  and delight to me  to hear what a musical society I am got
into   I absolutely cannot do without music   It is a necessary of life
to me  and having always been used to a very musical society  both at
Maple Grove and in Bath  it would have been a most serious sacrifice 
I honestly said as much to Mr  E  when he was speaking of my future
home  and expressing his fears lest the retirement of it should be
disagreeable  and the inferiority of the house too  knowing what I had
been accustomed to  of course he was not wholly without apprehension 
When he was speaking of it in that way  I honestly said that  the 
 world  I could give up  parties  balls  plays  for I had no fear of
retirement   Blessed with so many resources within myself  the world
was not necessary to  me    I could do very well without it   To those
who had no resources it was a different thing  but my resources made me
quite independent   And as to smaller sized rooms than I had been used
to  I really could not give it a thought   I hoped I was perfectly
equal to any sacrifice of that description   Certainly I had been
accustomed to every luxury at Maple Grove  but I did assure him that
two carriages were not necessary to my happiness  nor were spacious
apartments    But   said I   to be quite honest  I do not think I can
live without something of a musical society   I condition for nothing
else  but without music  life would be a blank to me   

 We cannot suppose   said Emma  smiling   that Mr  Elton would hesitate
to assure you of there being a  very  musical society in Highbury  and
I hope you will not find he has outstepped the truth more than may be
pardoned  in consideration of the motive  

 No  indeed  I have no doubts at all on that head   I am delighted to
find myself in such a circle   I hope we shall have many sweet little
concerts together   I think  Miss Woodhouse  you and I must establish a
musical club  and have regular weekly meetings at your house  or ours 
Will not it be a good plan   If  we  exert ourselves  I think we shall
not be long in want of allies   Something of that nature would be
particularly desirable for  me   as an inducement to keep me in
practice  for married women  you know  there is a sad story against
them  in general   They are but too apt to give up music  

 But you  who are so extremely fond of it  there can be no danger 
surely  

 I should hope not  but really when I look around among my
acquaintance  I tremble   Selina has entirely given up music  never
touches the instrument  though she played sweetly   And the same may be
said of Mrs  Jeffereys  Clara Partridge  that was  and of the two
Milmans  now Mrs  Bird and Mrs  James Cooper  and of more than I can
enumerate   Upon my word it is enough to put one in a fright   I used
to be quite angry with Selina  but really I begin now to comprehend
that a married woman has many things to call her attention   I believe
I was half an hour this morning shut up with my housekeeper  

 But every thing of that kind   said Emma   will soon be in so regular
a train   

 Well   said Mrs  Elton  laughing   we shall see  

Emma  finding her so determined upon neglecting her music  had nothing
more to say  and  after a moment s pause  Mrs  Elton chose another
subject 

 We have been calling at Randalls   said she   and found them both at
home  and very pleasant people they seem to be   I like them extremely 
Mr  Weston seems an excellent creature  quite a first rate favourite
with me already  I assure you   And  she  appears so truly good  there
is something so motherly and kind hearted about her  that it wins upon
one directly   She was your governess  I think  

Emma was almost too much astonished to answer  but Mrs  Elton hardly
waited for the affirmative before she went on 

 Having understood as much  I was rather astonished to find her so very
lady like   But she is really quite the gentlewoman  

 Mrs  Weston s manners   said Emma   were always particularly good 
Their propriety  simplicity  and elegance  would make them the safest
model for any young woman  

 And who do you think came in while we were there  

Emma was quite at a loss   The tone implied some old acquaintance  and
how could she possibly guess 

 Knightley   continued Mrs  Elton   Knightley himself   Was not it
lucky   for  not being within when he called the other day  I had never
seen him before  and of course  as so particular a friend of Mr  E  s 
I had a great curiosity    My friend Knightley  had been so often
mentioned  that I was really impatient to see him  and I must do my
caro sposo the justice to say that he need not be ashamed of his
friend   Knightley is quite the gentleman   I like him very much 
Decidedly  I think  a very gentleman like man  

Happily  it was now time to be gone   They were off  and Emma could
breathe 

 Insufferable woman   was her immediate exclamation    Worse than I had
supposed   Absolutely insufferable   Knightley   I could not have
believed it   Knightley   never seen him in her life before  and call
him Knightley   and discover that he is a gentleman   A little upstart 
vulgar being  with her Mr  E   and her  caro   sposo   and her
resources  and all her airs of pert pretension and underbred finery 
Actually to discover that Mr  Knightley is a gentleman   I doubt
whether he will return the compliment  and discover her to be a lady 
I could not have believed it   And to propose that she and I should
unite to form a musical club   One would fancy we were bosom friends 
And Mrs  Weston    Astonished that the person who had brought me up
should be a gentlewoman   Worse and worse   I never met with her equal 
Much beyond my hopes   Harriet is disgraced by any comparison   Oh 
what would Frank Churchill say to her  if he were here   How angry and
how diverted he would be   Ah  there I am  thinking of him directly 
Always the first person to be thought of   How I catch myself out 
Frank Churchill comes as regularly into my mind    

All this ran so glibly through her thoughts  that by the time her
father had arranged himself  after the bustle of the Eltons  departure 
and was ready to speak  she was very tolerably capable of attending 

 Well  my dear   he deliberately began   considering we never saw her
before  she seems a very pretty sort of young lady  and I dare say she
was very much pleased with you   She speaks a little too quick   A
little quickness of voice there is which rather hurts the ear   But I
believe I am nice  I do not like strange voices  and nobody speaks like
you and poor Miss Taylor   However  she seems a very obliging 
pretty behaved young lady  and no doubt will make him a very good wife 
Though I think he had better not have married   I made the best excuses
I could for not having been able to wait on him and Mrs  Elton on this
happy occasion  I said that I hoped I  should  in the course of the
summer   But I ought to have gone before   Not to wait upon a bride is
very remiss   Ah  it shews what a sad invalid I am   But I do not like
the corner into Vicarage Lane  

 I dare say your apologies were accepted  sir   Mr  Elton knows you  

 Yes   but a young lady  a bride  I ought to have paid my respects to
her if possible   It was being very deficient  

 But  my dear papa  you are no friend to matrimony  and therefore why
should you be so anxious to pay your respects to a  bride    It ought
to be no recommendation to  you    It is encouraging people to marry if
you make so much of them  

 No  my dear  I never encouraged any body to marry  but I would always
wish to pay every proper attention to a lady  and a bride  especially 
is never to be neglected   More is avowedly due to  her    A bride  you
know  my dear  is always the first in company  let the others be who
they may  

 Well  papa  if this is not encouragement to marry  I do not know what
is   And I should never have expected you to be lending your sanction
to such vanity baits for poor young ladies  

 My dear  you do not understand me   This is a matter of mere common
politeness and good breeding  and has nothing to do with any
encouragement to people to marry  

Emma had done   Her father was growing nervous  and could not
understand  her    Her mind returned to Mrs  Elton s offences  and
long  very long  did they occupy her 



CHAPTER XV


Emma was not required  by any subsequent discovery  to retract her ill
opinion of Mrs  Elton   Her observation had been pretty correct   Such
as Mrs  Elton appeared to her on this second interview  such she
appeared whenever they met again   self important  presuming  familiar 
ignorant  and ill bred  She had a little beauty and a little
accomplishment  but so little judgment that she thought herself coming
with superior knowledge of the world  to enliven and improve a country
neighbourhood  and conceived Miss Hawkins to have held such a place in
society as Mrs  Elton s consequence only could surpass 

There was no reason to suppose Mr  Elton thought at all differently
from his wife   He seemed not merely happy with her  but proud   He had
the air of congratulating himself on having brought such a woman to
Highbury  as not even Miss Woodhouse could equal  and the greater part
of her new acquaintance  disposed to commend  or not in the habit of
judging  following the lead of Miss Bates s good will  or taking it for
granted that the bride must be as clever and as agreeable as she
professed herself  were very well satisfied  so that Mrs  Elton s
praise passed from one mouth to another as it ought to do  unimpeded by
Miss Woodhouse  who readily continued her first contribution and talked
with a good grace of her being  very pleasant and very elegantly
dressed  

In one respect Mrs  Elton grew even worse than she had appeared at
first   Her feelings altered towards Emma   Offended  probably  by the
little encouragement which her proposals of intimacy met with  she drew
back in her turn and gradually became much more cold and distant  and
though the effect was agreeable  the ill will which produced it was
necessarily increasing Emma s dislike   Her manners  too  and Mr 
Elton s  were unpleasant towards Harriet   They were sneering and
negligent   Emma hoped it must rapidly work Harriet s cure  but the
sensations which could prompt such behaviour sunk them both very
much   It was not to be doubted that poor Harriet s attachment had been
an offering to conjugal unreserve  and her own share in the story 
under a colouring the least favourable to her and the most soothing to
him  had in all likelihood been given also   She was  of course  the
object of their joint dislike    When they had nothing else to say  it
must be always easy to begin abusing Miss Woodhouse  and the enmity
which they dared not shew in open disrespect to her  found a broader
vent in contemptuous treatment of Harriet 

Mrs  Elton took a great fancy to Jane Fairfax  and from the first   Not
merely when a state of warfare with one young lady might be supposed to
recommend the other  but from the very first  and she was not satisfied
with expressing a natural and reasonable admiration  but without
solicitation  or plea  or privilege  she must be wanting to assist and
befriend her   Before Emma had forfeited her confidence  and about the
third time of their meeting  she heard all Mrs  Elton s knight errantry
on the subject   

 Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming  Miss Woodhouse   I quite rave
about Jane Fairfax   A sweet  interesting creature   So mild and
ladylike  and with such talents   I assure you I think she has very
extraordinary talents   I do not scruple to say that she plays
extremely well   I know enough of music to speak decidedly on that
point   Oh  she is absolutely charming   You will laugh at my
warmth  but  upon my word  I talk of nothing but Jane Fairfax    And
her situation is so calculated to affect one   Miss Woodhouse  we must
exert ourselves and endeavour to do something for her   We must bring
her forward   Such talent as hers must not be suffered to remain
unknown   I dare say you have heard those charming lines of the poet 

         Full many a flower is born to blush unseen 
           And waste its fragrance on the desert air  

We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax  

 I cannot think there is any danger of it   was Emma s calm answer  
 and when you are better acquainted with Miss Fairfax s situation and
understand what her home has been  with Colonel and Mrs  Campbell  I
have no idea that you will suppose her talents can be unknown  

 Oh  but dear Miss Woodhouse  she is now in such retirement  such
obscurity  so thrown away   Whatever advantages she may have enjoyed
with the Campbells are so palpably at an end   And I think she feels
it   I am sure she does   She is very timid and silent   One can see
that she feels the want of encouragement   I like her the better for
it   I must confess it is a recommendation to me   I am a great
advocate for timidity  and I am sure one does not often meet with
it   But in those who are at all inferior  it is extremely
prepossessing   Oh   I assure you  Jane Fairfax is a very delightful
character  and interests me more than I can express  

 You appear to feel a great deal  but I am not aware how you or any of
Miss Fairfax s acquaintance here  any of those who have known her
longer than yourself  can shew her any other attention than   

 My dear Miss Woodhouse  a vast deal may be done by those who dare to
act   You and I need not be afraid   If  we  set the example  many will
follow it as far as they can  though all have not our situations    We 
have carriages to fetch and convey her home  and  we  live in a style
which could not make the addition of Jane Fairfax  at any time  the
least inconvenient   I should be extremely displeased if Wright were to
send us up such a dinner  as could make me regret having asked  more 
than Jane Fairfax to partake of it   I have no idea of that sort of
thing   It is not likely that I  should   considering what I have been
used to   My greatest danger  perhaps  in housekeeping  may be quite
the other way  in doing too much  and being too careless of expense 
Maple Grove will probably be my model more than it ought to be  for we
do not at all affect to equal my brother  Mr  Suckling  in
income   However  my resolution is taken as to noticing Jane Fairfax   
I shall certainly have her very often at my house  shall introduce her
wherever I can  shall have musical parties to draw out her talents  and
shall be constantly on the watch for an eligible situation   My
acquaintance is so very extensive  that I have little doubt of hearing
of something to suit her shortly   I shall introduce her  of course 
very particularly to my brother and sister when they come to us   I am
sure they will like her extremely  and when she gets a little
acquainted with them  her fears will completely wear off  for there
really is nothing in the manners of either but what is highly
conciliating   I shall have her very often indeed while they are with
me  and I dare say we shall sometimes find a seat for her in the
barouche landau in some of our exploring parties  

 Poor Jane Fairfax    thought Emma    You have not deserved this   You
may have done wrong with regard to Mr  Dixon  but this is a punishment
beyond what you can have merited   The kindness and protection of Mrs 
Elton    Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax    Heavens   Let me not suppose
that she dares go about  Emma Woodhouse ing me    But upon my honour 
there seems no limits to the licentiousness of that woman s tongue  

Emma had not to listen to such paradings again  to any so exclusively
addressed to herself  so disgustingly decorated with a  dear Miss
Woodhouse    The change on Mrs  Elton s side soon afterwards appeared 
and she was left in peace  neither forced to be the very particular
friend of Mrs  Elton  nor  under Mrs  Elton s guidance  the very active
patroness of Jane Fairfax  and only sharing with others in a general
way  in knowing what was felt  what was meditated  what was done 

She looked on with some amusement   Miss Bates s gratitude for Mrs 
Elton s attentions to Jane was in the first style of guileless
simplicity and warmth   She was quite one of her worthies  the most
amiable  affable  delightful woman  just as accomplished and
condescending as Mrs  Elton meant to be considered   Emma s only
surprize was that Jane Fairfax should accept those attentions and
tolerate Mrs  Elton as she seemed to do   She heard of her walking with
the Eltons  sitting with the Eltons  spending a day with the Eltons 
This was astonishing   She could not have believed it possible that the
taste or the pride of Miss Fairfax could endure such society and
friendship as the Vicarage had to offer 

 She is a riddle  quite a riddle   said she    To chuse to remain here
month after month  under privations of every sort   And now to chuse
the mortification of Mrs  Elton s notice and the penury of her
conversation  rather than return to the superior companions who have
always loved her with such real  generous affection  

Jane had come to Highbury professedly for three months  the Campbells
were gone to Ireland for three months  but now the Campbells had
promised their daughter to stay at least till Midsummer  and fresh
invitations had arrived for her to join them there   According to Miss
Bates  it all came from her  Mrs  Dixon had written most pressingly 
Would Jane but go  means were to be found  servants sent  friends
contrived  no travelling difficulty allowed to exist  but still she had
declined it 

 She must have some motive  more powerful than appears  for refusing
this invitation   was Emma s conclusion    She must be under some sort
of penance  inflicted either by the Campbells or herself   There is
great fear  great caution  great resolution somewhere    She is  not 
to be with the  Dixons    The decree is issued by somebody   But why
must she consent to be with the Eltons   Here is quite a separate
puzzle  

Upon her speaking her wonder aloud on that part of the subject  before
the few who knew her opinion of Mrs  Elton  Mrs  Weston ventured this
apology for Jane 

 We cannot suppose that she has any great enjoyment at the Vicarage  my
dear Emma  but it is better than being always at home   Her aunt is a
good creature  but  as a constant companion  must be very tiresome   We
must consider what Miss Fairfax quits  before we condemn her taste for
what she goes to  

 You are right  Mrs  Weston   said Mr  Knightley warmly   Miss Fairfax
is as capable as any of us of forming a just opinion of Mrs  Elton 
Could she have chosen with whom to associate  she would not have chosen
her   But  with a reproachful smile at Emma  she receives attentions
from Mrs  Elton  which nobody else pays her  

Emma felt that Mrs  Weston was giving her a momentary glance  and she
was herself struck by his warmth   With a faint blush  she presently
replied 

 Such attentions as Mrs  Elton s  I should have imagined  would rather
disgust than gratify Miss Fairfax   Mrs  Elton s invitations I should
have imagined any thing but inviting  

 I should not wonder   said Mrs  Weston   if Miss Fairfax were to have
been drawn on beyond her own inclination  by her aunt s eagerness in
accepting Mrs  Elton s civilities for her   Poor Miss Bates may very
likely have committed her niece and hurried her into a greater
appearance of intimacy than her own good sense would have dictated  in
spite of the very natural wish of a little change  

Both felt rather anxious to hear him speak again  and after a few
minutes silence  he said 

 Another thing must be taken into consideration too  Mrs  Elton does
not talk  to  Miss Fairfax as she speaks  of  her   We all know the
difference between the pronouns he or she and thou  the plainest spoken
amongst us  we all feel the influence of a something beyond common
civility in our personal intercourse with each other  a something more
early implanted   We cannot give any body the disagreeable hints that
we may have been very full of the hour before   We feel things
differently   And besides the operation of this  as a general
principle  you may be sure that Miss Fairfax awes Mrs  Elton by her
superiority both of mind and manner  and that  face to face  Mrs  Elton
treats her with all the respect which she has a claim to   Such a woman
as Jane Fairfax probably never fell in Mrs  Elton s way before  and no
degree of vanity can prevent her acknowledging her own comparative
littleness in action  if not in consciousness  

 I know how highly you think of Jane Fairfax   said Emma   Little Henry
was in her thoughts  and a mixture of alarm and delicacy made her
irresolute what else to say 

 Yes   he replied   any body may know how highly I think of her  

 And yet   said Emma  beginning hastily and with an arch look  but soon
stopping  it was better  however  to know the worst at once  she
hurried on   And yet  perhaps  you may hardly be aware yourself how
highly it is   The extent of your admiration may take you by surprize
some day or other  

Mr  Knightley was hard at work upon the lower buttons of his thick
leather gaiters  and either the exertion of getting them together  or
some other cause  brought the colour into his face  as he answered 

 Oh  are you there   But you are miserably behindhand   Mr  Cole gave
me a hint of it six weeks ago  

He stopped   Emma felt her foot pressed by Mrs  Weston  and did not
herself know what to think   In a moment he went on  

 That will never be  however  I can assure you   Miss Fairfax  I dare
say  would not have me if I were to ask her  and I am very sure I shall
never ask her  

Emma returned her friend s pressure with interest  and was pleased
enough to exclaim 

 You are not vain  Mr  Knightley   I will say that for you  

He seemed hardly to hear her  he was thoughtful  and in a manner which
shewed him not pleased  soon afterwards said 

 So you have been settling that I should marry Jane Fairfax  

 No indeed I have not   You have scolded me too much for match making 
for me to presume to take such a liberty with you   What I said just
now  meant nothing   One says those sort of things  of course  without
any idea of a serious meaning   Oh  no  upon my word I have not the
smallest wish for your marrying Jane Fairfax or Jane any body   You
would not come in and sit with us in this comfortable way  if you were
married  

Mr  Knightley was thoughtful again   The result of his reverie was 
 No  Emma  I do not think the extent of my admiration for her will ever
take me by surprize   I never had a thought of her in that way  I
assure you    And soon afterwards   Jane Fairfax is a very charming
young woman  but not even Jane Fairfax is perfect   She has a fault 
She has not the open temper which a man would wish for in a wife  

Emma could not but rejoice to hear that she had a fault    Well   said
she   and you soon silenced Mr  Cole  I suppose  

 Yes  very soon   He gave me a quiet hint  I told him he was mistaken 
he asked my pardon and said no more   Cole does not want to be wiser or
wittier than his neighbours  

 In that respect how unlike dear Mrs  Elton  who wants to be wiser and
wittier than all the world   I wonder how she speaks of the Coles  what
she calls them   How can she find any appellation for them  deep
enough in familiar vulgarity   She calls you  Knightley  what can she
do for Mr  Cole   And so I am not to be surprized that Jane Fairfax
accepts her civilities and consents to be with her   Mrs  Weston  your
argument weighs most with me   I can much more readily enter into the
temptation of getting away from Miss Bates  than I can believe in the
triumph of Miss Fairfax s mind over Mrs  Elton   I have no faith in
Mrs  Elton s acknowledging herself the inferior in thought  word  or
deed  or in her being under any restraint beyond her own scanty rule of
good breeding  I cannot imagine that she will not be continually
insulting her visitor with praise  encouragement  and offers of
service  that she will not be continually detailing her magnificent
intentions  from the procuring her a permanent situation to the
including her in those delightful exploring parties which are to take
place in the barouche landau  

 Jane Fairfax has feeling   said Mr  Knightley   I do not accuse her of
want of feeling   Her sensibilities  I suspect  are strong  and her
temper excellent in its power of forbearance  patience  self control 
but it wants openness   She is reserved  more reserved  I think  than
she used to be  And I love an open temper   No  till Cole alluded to my
supposed attachment  it had never entered my head   I saw Jane Fairfax
and conversed with her  with admiration and pleasure always  but with
no thought beyond  

 Well  Mrs  Weston   said Emma triumphantly when he left them   what do
you say now to Mr  Knightley s marrying Jane Fairfax  

 Why  really  dear Emma  I say that he is so very much occupied by the
idea of  not  being in love with her  that I should not wonder if it
were to end in his being so at last   Do not beat me  



CHAPTER XVI


Every body in and about Highbury who had ever visited Mr  Elton  was
disposed to pay him attention on his marriage   Dinner parties and
evening parties were made for him and his lady  and invitations flowed
in so fast that she had soon the pleasure of apprehending they were
never to have a disengaged day 

 I see how it is   said she    I see what a life I am to lead among
you   Upon my word we shall be absolutely dissipated   We really seem
quite the fashion   If this is living in the country  it is nothing
very formidable   From Monday next to Saturday  I assure you we have
not a disengaged day   A woman with fewer resources than I have  need
not have been at a loss  

No invitation came amiss to her   Her Bath habits made evening parties
perfectly natural to her  and Maple Grove had given her a taste for
dinners   She was a little shocked at the want of two drawing rooms  at
the poor attempt at rout cakes  and there being no ice in the Highbury
card parties  Mrs  Bates  Mrs  Perry  Mrs  Goddard and others  were a
good deal behind hand in knowledge of the world  but she would soon
shew them how every thing ought to be arranged   In the course of the
spring she must return their civilities by one very superior party  in
which her card tables should be set out with their separate candles and
unbroken packs in the true style  and more waiters engaged for the
evening than their own establishment could furnish  to carry round the
refreshments at exactly the proper hour  and in the proper order 

Emma  in the meanwhile  could not be satisfied without a dinner at
Hartfield for the Eltons   They must not do less than others  or she
should be exposed to odious suspicions  and imagined capable of pitiful
resentment   A dinner there must be   After Emma had talked about it
for ten minutes  Mr  Woodhouse felt no unwillingness  and only made the
usual stipulation of not sitting at the bottom of the table himself 
with the usual regular difficulty of deciding who should do it for him 

The persons to be invited  required little thought   Besides the
Eltons  it must be the Westons and Mr  Knightley  so far it was all of
course  and it was hardly less inevitable that poor little Harriet
must be asked to make the eighth   but this invitation was not given
with equal satisfaction  and on many accounts Emma was particularly
pleased by Harriet s begging to be allowed to decline it    She would
rather not be in his company more than she could help   She was not yet
quite able to see him and his charming happy wife together  without
feeling uncomfortable   If Miss Woodhouse would not be displeased  she
would rather stay at home   It was precisely what Emma would have
wished  had she deemed it possible enough for wishing   She was
delighted with the fortitude of her little friend  for fortitude she
knew it was in her to give up being in company and stay at home  and
she could now invite the very person whom she really wanted to make the
eighth  Jane Fairfax    Since her last conversation with Mrs  Weston
and Mr  Knightley  she was more conscience stricken about Jane Fairfax
than she had often been   Mr  Knightley s words dwelt with her   He had
said that Jane Fairfax received attentions from Mrs  Elton which nobody
else paid her 

 This is very true   said she   at least as far as relates to me  which
was all that was meant  and it is very shameful   Of the same age  and
always knowing her  I ought to have been more her friend    She will
never like me now   I have neglected her too long   But I will shew her
greater attention than I have done  

Every invitation was successful   They were all disengaged and all
happy    The preparatory interest of this dinner  however  was not yet
over   A circumstance rather unlucky occurred   The two eldest little
Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some
weeks in the spring  and their papa now proposed bringing them  and
staying one whole day at Hartfield  which one day would be the very day
of this party   His professional engagements did not allow of his being
put off  but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening
so   Mr  Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the
utmost that his nerves could bear  and here would be a ninth  and Emma
apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not
being able to come even to Hartfield for forty eight hours without
falling in with a dinner party 

She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself  by
representing that though he certainly would make them nine  yet he
always said so little  that the increase of noise would be very
immaterial   She thought it in reality a sad exchange for herself  to
have him with his grave looks and reluctant conversation opposed to her
instead of his brother 

The event was more favourable to Mr  Woodhouse than to Emma   John
Knightley came  but Mr  Weston was unexpectedly summoned to town and
must be absent on the very day   He might be able to join them in the
evening  but certainly not to dinner   Mr  Woodhouse was quite at ease 
and the seeing him so  with the arrival of the little boys and the
philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate  removed the
chief of even Emma s vexation 

The day came  the party were punctually assembled  and Mr  John
Knightley seemed early to devote himself to the business of being
agreeable   Instead of drawing his brother off to a window while they
waited for dinner  he was talking to Miss Fairfax   Mrs  Elton  as
elegant as lace and pearls could make her  he looked at in silence  
wanting only to observe enough for Isabella s information  but Miss
Fairfax was an old acquaintance and a quiet girl  and he could talk to
her   He had met her before breakfast as he was returning from a walk
with his little boys  when it had been just beginning to rain   It was
natural to have some civil hopes on the subject  and he said 

 I hope you did not venture far  Miss Fairfax  this morning  or I am
sure you must have been wet   We scarcely got home in time   I hope you
turned directly  

 I went only to the post office   said she   and reached home before
the rain was much   It is my daily errand   I always fetch the letters
when I am here   It saves trouble  and is a something to get me out   A
walk before breakfast does me good  

 Not a walk in the rain  I should imagine  

 No  but it did not absolutely rain when I set out  

Mr  John Knightley smiled  and replied 

 That is to say  you chose to have your walk  for you were not six
yards from your own door when I had the pleasure of meeting you  and
Henry and John had seen more drops than they could count long before 
The post office has a great charm at one period of our lives   When you
have lived to my age  you will begin to think letters are never worth
going through the rain for  

There was a little blush  and then this answer 

 I must not hope to be ever situated as you are  in the midst of every
dearest connexion  and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing
older should make me indifferent about letters  

 Indifferent   Oh  no  I never conceived you could become indifferent 
Letters are no matter of indifference  they are generally a very
positive curse  

 You are speaking of letters of business  mine are letters of
friendship  

 I have often thought them the worst of the two   replied he coolly 
 Business  you know  may bring money  but friendship hardly ever does  

 Ah  you are not serious now   I know Mr  John Knightley too well  I
am very sure he understands the value of friendship as well as any
body   I can easily believe that letters are very little to you  much
less than to me  but it is not your being ten years older than myself
which makes the difference  it is not age  but situation   You have
every body dearest to you always at hand  I  probably  never shall
again  and therefore till I have outlived all my affections  a
post office  I think  must always have power to draw me out  in worse
weather than to day  

 When I talked of your being altered by time  by the progress of
years   said John Knightley   I meant to imply the change of situation
which time usually brings   I consider one as including the other 
Time will generally lessen the interest of every attachment not within
the daily circle  but that is not the change I had in view for you   As
an old friend  you will allow me to hope  Miss Fairfax  that ten years
hence you may have as many concentrated objects as I have  

It was kindly said  and very far from giving offence   A pleasant
 thank you  seemed meant to laugh it off  but a blush  a quivering lip 
a tear in the eye  shewed that it was felt beyond a laugh   Her
attention was now claimed by Mr  Woodhouse  who being  according to his
custom on such occasions  making the circle of his guests  and paying
his particular compliments to the ladies  was ending with her  and with
all his mildest urbanity  said 

 I am very sorry to hear  Miss Fairfax  of your being out this morning
in the rain   Young ladies should take care of themselves    Young
ladies are delicate plants   They should take care of their health and
their complexion   My dear  did you change your stockings  

 Yes  sir  I did indeed  and I am very much obliged by your kind
solicitude about me  

 My dear Miss Fairfax  young ladies are very sure to be cared for    I
hope your good grand mama and aunt are well   They are some of my very
old friends   I wish my health allowed me to be a better neighbour 
You do us a great deal of honour to day  I am sure   My daughter and I
are both highly sensible of your goodness  and have the greatest
satisfaction in seeing you at Hartfield  

The kind hearted  polite old man might then sit down and feel that he
had done his duty  and made every fair lady welcome and easy 

By this time  the walk in the rain had reached Mrs  Elton  and her
remonstrances now opened upon Jane 

 My dear Jane  what is this I hear   Going to the post office in the
rain   This must not be  I assure you   You sad girl  how could you do
such a thing   It is a sign I was not there to take care of you  

Jane very patiently assured her that she had not caught any cold 

 Oh  do not tell  me    You really are a very sad girl  and do not know
how to take care of yourself   To the post office indeed   Mrs  Weston 
did you ever hear the like   You and I must positively exert our
authority  

 My advice   said Mrs  Weston kindly and persuasively   I certainly do
feel tempted to give   Miss Fairfax  you must not run such risks   
Liable as you have been to severe colds  indeed you ought to be
particularly careful  especially at this time of year   The spring I
always think requires more than common care   Better wait an hour or
two  or even half a day for your letters  than run the risk of bringing
on your cough again   Now do not you feel that you had   Yes  I am sure
you are much too reasonable   You look as if you would not do such a
thing again  

 Oh  she  shall   not  do such a thing again   eagerly rejoined Mrs 
Elton    We will not allow her to do such a thing again    and nodding
significantly   there must be some arrangement made  there must indeed 
I shall speak to Mr  E  The man who fetches our letters every morning
 one of our men  I forget his name  shall inquire for yours too and
bring them to you   That will obviate all difficulties you know  and
from  us  I really think  my dear Jane  you can have no scruple to
accept such an accommodation  

 You are extremely kind   said Jane   but I cannot give up my early
walk   I am advised to be out of doors as much as I can  I must walk
somewhere  and the post office is an object  and upon my word  I have
scarcely ever had a bad morning before  

 My dear Jane  say no more about it   The thing is determined  that is
 laughing affectedly  as far as I can presume to determine any thing
without the concurrence of my lord and master   You know  Mrs  Weston 
you and I must be cautious how we express ourselves   But I do flatter
myself  my dear Jane  that my influence is not entirely worn out   If I
meet with no insuperable difficulties therefore  consider that point as
settled  

 Excuse me   said Jane earnestly   I cannot by any means consent to
such an arrangement  so needlessly troublesome to your servant   If the
errand were not a pleasure to me  it could be done  as it always is
when I am not here  by my grandmama s  

 Oh  my dear  but so much as Patty has to do   And it is a kindness to
employ our men  

Jane looked as if she did not mean to be conquered  but instead of
answering  she began speaking again to Mr  John Knightley 

 The post office is a wonderful establishment   said she     The
regularity and despatch of it   If one thinks of all that it has to do 
and all that it does so well  it is really astonishing  

 It is certainly very well regulated  

 So seldom that any negligence or blunder appears   So seldom that a
letter  among the thousands that are constantly passing about the
kingdom  is even carried wrong  and not one in a million  I suppose 
actually lost   And when one considers the variety of hands  and of bad
hands too  that are to be deciphered  it increases the wonder  

 The clerks grow expert from habit   They must begin with some
quickness of sight and hand  and exercise improves them   If you want
any farther explanation   continued he  smiling   they are paid for it 
That is the key to a great deal of capacity   The public pays and must
be served well  

The varieties of handwriting were farther talked of  and the usual
observations made 

 I have heard it asserted   said John Knightley   that the same sort of
handwriting often prevails in a family  and where the same master
teaches  it is natural enough   But for that reason  I should imagine
the likeness must be chiefly confined to the females  for boys have
very little teaching after an early age  and scramble into any hand
they can get   Isabella and Emma  I think  do write very much alike   I
have not always known their writing apart  

 Yes   said his brother hesitatingly   there is a likeness   I know
what you mean  but Emma s hand is the strongest  

 Isabella and Emma both write beautifully   said Mr  Woodhouse   and
always did   And so does poor Mrs  Weston   with half a sigh and half a
smile at her 

 I never saw any gentleman s handwriting   Emma began  looking also at
Mrs  Weston  but stopped  on perceiving that Mrs  Weston was attending
to some one else  and the pause gave her time to reflect   Now  how am
I going to introduce him   Am I unequal to speaking his name at once
before all these people   Is it necessary for me to use any roundabout
phrase   Your Yorkshire friend  your correspondent in Yorkshire   that
would be the way  I suppose  if I were very bad   No  I can pronounce
his name without the smallest distress   I certainly get better and
better   Now for it  

Mrs  Weston was disengaged and Emma began again   Mr  Frank Churchill
writes one of the best gentleman s hands I ever saw  

 I do not admire it   said Mr  Knightley    It is too small  wants
strength   It is like a woman s writing  

This was not submitted to by either lady   They vindicated him against
the base aspersion    No  it by no means wanted strength  it was not a
large hand  but very clear and certainly strong   Had not Mrs  Weston
any letter about her to produce    No  she had heard from him very
lately  but having answered the letter  had put it away 

 If we were in the other room   said Emma   if I had my writing desk  I
am sure I could produce a specimen   I have a note of his    Do not you
remember  Mrs  Weston  employing him to write for you one day  

 He chose to say he was employed   

 Well  well  I have that note  and can shew it after dinner to convince
Mr  Knightley  

 Oh  when a gallant young man  like Mr  Frank Churchill   said Mr 
Knightley dryly   writes to a fair lady like Miss Woodhouse  he will 
of course  put forth his best  

Dinner was on table   Mrs  Elton  before she could be spoken to  was
ready  and before Mr  Woodhouse had reached her with his request to be
allowed to hand her into the dining parlour  was saying  

 Must I go first   I really am ashamed of always leading the way  

Jane s solicitude about fetching her own letters had not escaped Emma 
She had heard and seen it all  and felt some curiosity to know whether
the wet walk of this morning had produced any   She suspected that it
 had   that it would not have been so resolutely encountered but in
full expectation of hearing from some one very dear  and that it had
not been in vain   She thought there was an air of greater happiness
than usual  a glow both of complexion and spirits 

She could have made an inquiry or two  as to the expedition and the
expense of the Irish mails   it was at her tongue s end  but she
abstained   She was quite determined not to utter a word that should
hurt Jane Fairfax s feelings  and they followed the other ladies out of
the room  arm in arm  with an appearance of good will highly becoming
to the beauty and grace of each 



CHAPTER XVII


When the ladies returned to the drawing room after dinner  Emma found
it hardly possible to prevent their making two distinct parties   with
so much perseverance in judging and behaving ill did Mrs  Elton engross
Jane Fairfax and slight herself   She and Mrs  Weston were obliged to
be almost always either talking together or silent together   Mrs 
Elton left them no choice   If Jane repressed her for a little time 
she soon began again  and though much that passed between them was in a
half whisper  especially on Mrs  Elton s side  there was no avoiding a
knowledge of their principal subjects  The post office  catching
cold  fetching letters  and friendship  were long under discussion  and
to them succeeded one  which must be at least equally unpleasant to
Jane  inquiries whether she had yet heard of any situation likely to
suit her  and professions of Mrs  Elton s meditated activity 

 Here is April come   said she   I get quite anxious about you   June
will soon be here  

 But I have never fixed on June or any other month  merely looked
forward to the summer in general  

 But have you really heard of nothing  

 I have not even made any inquiry  I do not wish to make any yet  

 Oh  my dear  we cannot begin too early  you are not aware of the
difficulty of procuring exactly the desirable thing  

 I not aware   said Jane  shaking her head   dear Mrs  Elton  who can
have thought of it as I have done  

 But you have not seen so much of the world as I have   You do not know
how many candidates there always are for the  first  situations   I saw
a vast deal of that in the neighbourhood round Maple Grove   A cousin
of Mr  Suckling  Mrs  Bragge  had such an infinity of applications 
every body was anxious to be in her family  for she moves in the first
circle   Wax candles in the schoolroom   You may imagine how desirable 
Of all houses in the kingdom Mrs  Bragge s is the one I would most wish
to see you in  

 Colonel and Mrs  Campbell are to be in town again by midsummer   said
Jane    I must spend some time with them  I am sure they will want
it   afterwards I may probably be glad to dispose of myself   But I
would not wish you to take the trouble of making any inquiries at
present  

 Trouble  aye  I know your scruples   You are afraid of giving me
trouble  but I assure you  my dear Jane  the Campbells can hardly be
more interested about you than I am   I shall write to Mrs  Partridge
in a day or two  and shall give her a strict charge to be on the
look out for any thing eligible  

 Thank you  but I would rather you did not mention the subject to her 
till the time draws nearer  I do not wish to be giving any body
trouble  

 But  my dear child  the time is drawing near  here is April  and June 
or say even July  is very near  with such business to accomplish before
us   Your inexperience really amuses me   A situation such as you
deserve  and your friends would require for you  is no everyday
occurrence  is not obtained at a moment s notice  indeed  indeed  we
must begin inquiring directly  

 Excuse me  ma am  but this is by no means my intention  I make no
inquiry myself  and should be sorry to have any made by my friends 
When I am quite determined as to the time  I am not at all afraid of
being long unemployed   There are places in town  offices  where
inquiry would soon produce something  Offices for the sale  not quite
of human flesh  but of human intellect  

 Oh  my dear  human flesh   You quite shock me  if you mean a fling at
the slave trade  I assure you Mr  Suckling was always rather a friend
to the abolition  

 I did not mean  I was not thinking of the slave trade   replied Jane 
 governess trade  I assure you  was all that I had in view  widely
different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on  but as to
the greater misery of the victims  I do not know where it lies   But I
only mean to say that there are advertising offices  and that by
applying to them I should have no doubt of very soon meeting with
something that would do  

 Something that would do   repeated Mrs  Elton    Aye   that  may suit
your humble ideas of yourself   I know what a modest creature you are 
but it will not satisfy your friends to have you taking up with any
thing that may offer  any inferior  commonplace situation  in a family
not moving in a certain circle  or able to command the elegancies of
life  

 You are very obliging  but as to all that  I am very indifferent  it
would be no object to me to be with the rich  my mortifications  I
think  would only be the greater  I should suffer more from comparison 
A gentleman s family is all that I should condition for  

 I know you  I know you  you would take up with any thing  but I shall
be a little more nice  and I am sure the good Campbells will be quite
on my side  with your superior talents  you have a right to move in the
first circle   Your musical knowledge alone would entitle you to name
your own terms  have as many rooms as you like  and mix in the family
as much as you chose   that is  I do not know  if you knew the harp 
you might do all that  I am very sure  but you sing as well as
play   yes  I really believe you might  even without the harp 
stipulate for what you chose   and you must and shall be delightfully 
honourably and comfortably settled before the Campbells or I have any
rest  

 You may well class the delight  the honour  and the comfort of such a
situation together   said Jane   they are pretty sure to be equal 
however  I am very serious in not wishing any thing to be attempted at
present for me   I am exceedingly obliged to you  Mrs  Elton  I am
obliged to any body who feels for me  but I am quite serious in wishing
nothing to be done till the summer   For two or three months longer I
shall remain where I am  and as I am  

 And I am quite serious too  I assure you   replied Mrs  Elton gaily 
 in resolving to be always on the watch  and employing my friends to
watch also  that nothing really unexceptionable may pass us  

In this style she ran on  never thoroughly stopped by any thing till
Mr  Woodhouse came into the room  her vanity had then a change of
object  and Emma heard her saying in the same half whisper to Jane 

 Here comes this dear old beau of mine  I protest   Only think of his
gallantry in coming away before the other men   what a dear creature he
is   I assure you I like him excessively   I admire all that quaint 
old fashioned politeness  it is much more to my taste than modern ease 
modern ease often disgusts me   But this good old Mr  Woodhouse  I wish
you had heard his gallant speeches to me at dinner   Oh   I assure you
I began to think my caro sposo would be absolutely jealous   I fancy I
am rather a favourite  he took notice of my gown   How do you like
it   Selina s choice  handsome  I think  but I do not know whether it
is not over trimmed  I have the greatest dislike to the idea of being
over trimmed  quite a horror of finery   I must put on a few ornaments
now  because it is expected of me   A bride  you know  must appear like
a bride  but my natural taste is all for simplicity  a simple style of
dress is so infinitely preferable to finery   But I am quite in the
minority  I believe  few people seem to value simplicity of
dress   show and finery are every thing   I have some notion of putting
such a trimming as this to my white and silver poplin   Do you think it
will look well  

The whole party were but just reassembled in the drawing room when Mr 
Weston made his appearance among them   He had returned to a late
dinner  and walked to Hartfield as soon as it was over   He had been
too much expected by the best judges  for surprize  but there was
great joy   Mr  Woodhouse was almost as glad to see him now  as he
would have been sorry to see him before   John Knightley only was in
mute astonishment   That a man who might have spent his evening quietly
at home after a day of business in London  should set off again  and
walk half a mile to another man s house  for the sake of being in mixed
company till bed time  of finishing his day in the efforts of civility
and the noise of numbers  was a circumstance to strike him deeply   A
man who had been in motion since eight o clock in the morning  and
might now have been still  who had been long talking  and might have
been silent  who had been in more than one crowd  and might have been
alone   Such a man  to quit the tranquillity and independence of his
own fireside  and on the evening of a cold sleety April day rush out
again into the world   Could he by a touch of his finger have instantly
taken back his wife  there would have been a motive  but his coming
would probably prolong rather than break up the party   John Knightley
looked at him with amazement  then shrugged his shoulders  and said   I
could not have believed it even of  him   

Mr  Weston meanwhile  perfectly unsuspicious of the indignation he was
exciting  happy and cheerful as usual  and with all the right of being
principal talker  which a day spent anywhere from home confers  was
making himself agreeable among the rest  and having satisfied the
inquiries of his wife as to his dinner  convincing her that none of all
her careful directions to the servants had been forgotten  and spread
abroad what public news he had heard  was proceeding to a family
communication  which  though principally addressed to Mrs  Weston  he
had not the smallest doubt of being highly interesting to every body in
the room   He gave her a letter  it was from Frank  and to herself  he
had met with it in his way  and had taken the liberty of opening it 

 Read it  read it   said he   it will give you pleasure  only a few
lines  will not take you long  read it to Emma  

The two ladies looked over it together  and he sat smiling and talking
to them the whole time  in a voice a little subdued  but very audible
to every body 

 Well  he is coming  you see  good news  I think   Well  what do you
say to it   I always told you he would be here again soon  did not
I   Anne  my dear  did not I always tell you so  and you would not
believe me   In town next week  you see  at the latest  I dare say  for
 she  is as impatient as the black gentleman when any thing is to be
done  most likely they will be there to morrow or Saturday   As to her
illness  all nothing of course   But it is an excellent thing to have
Frank among us again  so near as town   They will stay a good while
when they do come  and he will be half his time with us   This is
precisely what I wanted   Well  pretty good news  is not it   Have you
finished it   Has Emma read it all   Put it up  put it up  we will have
a good talk about it some other time  but it will not do now   I shall
only just mention the circumstance to the others in a common way  

Mrs  Weston was most comfortably pleased on the occasion   Her looks
and words had nothing to restrain them   She was happy  she knew she
was happy  and knew she ought to be happy   Her congratulations were
warm and open  but Emma could not speak so fluently    She  was a
little occupied in weighing her own feelings  and trying to understand
the degree of her agitation  which she rather thought was considerable 

Mr  Weston  however  too eager to be very observant  too communicative
to want others to talk  was very well satisfied with what she did say 
and soon moved away to make the rest of his friends happy by a partial
communication of what the whole room must have overheard already 

It was well that he took every body s joy for granted  or he might not
have thought either Mr  Woodhouse or Mr  Knightley particularly
delighted   They were the first entitled  after Mrs  Weston and Emma 
to be made happy   from them he would have proceeded to Miss Fairfax 
but she was so deep in conversation with John Knightley  that it would
have been too positive an interruption  and finding himself close to
Mrs  Elton  and her attention disengaged  he necessarily began on the
subject with her 



CHAPTER XVIII


 I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of introducing my son to you  
said Mr  Weston 

Mrs  Elton  very willing to suppose a particular compliment intended
her by such a hope  smiled most graciously 

 You have heard of a certain Frank Churchill  I presume   he
continued   and know him to be my son  though he does not bear my
name  

 Oh  yes  and I shall be very happy in his acquaintance   I am sure Mr 
Elton will lose no time in calling on him  and we shall both have great
pleasure in seeing him at the Vicarage  

 You are very obliging   Frank will be extremely happy  I am sure    He
is to be in town next week  if not sooner   We have notice of it in a
letter to day  I met the letters in my way this morning  and seeing my
son s hand  presumed to open it  though it was not directed to me  it
was to Mrs  Weston   She is his principal correspondent  I assure you 
I hardly ever get a letter  

 And so you absolutely opened what was directed to her   Oh   Mr 
Weston   laughing affectedly  I must protest against that   A most
dangerous precedent indeed   I beg you will not let your neighbours
follow your example   Upon my word  if this is what I am to expect  we
married women must begin to exert ourselves   Oh   Mr  Weston  I could
not have believed it of you  

 Aye  we men are sad fellows   You must take care of yourself  Mrs 
Elton   This letter tells us  it is a short letter  written in a hurry 
merely to give us notice  it tells us that they are all coming up to
town directly  on Mrs  Churchill s account  she has not been well the
whole winter  and thinks Enscombe too cold for her  so they are all to
move southward without loss of time  

 Indeed   from Yorkshire  I think   Enscombe is in Yorkshire  

 Yes  they are about one hundred and ninety miles from London   a
considerable journey  

 Yes  upon my word  very considerable   Sixty five miles farther than
from Maple Grove to London   But what is distance  Mr  Weston  to
people of large fortune   You would be amazed to hear how my brother 
Mr  Suckling  sometimes flies about   You will hardly believe me  but
twice in one week he and Mr  Bragge went to London and back again with
four horses  

 The evil of the distance from Enscombe   said Mr  Weston   is  that
Mrs  Churchill   as   we   understand   has not been able to leave the
sofa for a week together   In Frank s last letter she complained  he
said  of being too weak to get into her conservatory without having
both his arm and his uncle s  This  you know  speaks a great degree of
weakness  but now she is so impatient to be in town  that she means to
sleep only two nights on the road   So Frank writes word   Certainly 
delicate ladies have very extraordinary constitutions  Mrs  Elton   You
must grant me that  

 No  indeed  I shall grant you nothing   I always take the part of my
own sex   I do indeed   I give you notice  You will find me a
formidable antagonist on that point   I always stand up for women  and
I assure you  if you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at
an inn  you would not wonder at Mrs  Churchill s making incredible
exertions to avoid it   Selina says it is quite horror to her  and I
believe I have caught a little of her nicety   She always travels with
her own sheets  an excellent precaution   Does Mrs  Churchill do the
same  

 Depend upon it  Mrs  Churchill does every thing that any other fine
lady ever did   Mrs  Churchill will not be second to any lady in the
land for   

Mrs  Elton eagerly interposed with 

 Oh   Mr  Weston  do not mistake me   Selina is no fine lady  I assure
you   Do not run away with such an idea  

 Is not she   Then she is no rule for Mrs  Churchill  who is as
thorough a fine lady as any body ever beheld  

Mrs  Elton began to think she had been wrong in disclaiming so warmly 
It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was
 not  a fine lady  perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence of
it   and she was considering in what way she had best retract  when Mr 
Weston went on 

 Mrs  Churchill is not much in my good graces  as you may suspect  but
this is quite between ourselves   She is very fond of Frank  and
therefore I would not speak ill of her   Besides  she is out of health
now  but  that  indeed  by her own account  she has always been   I
would not say so to every body  Mrs  Elton  but I have not much faith
in Mrs  Churchill s illness  

 If she is really ill  why not go to Bath  Mr  Weston   To Bath  or to
Clifton     She has taken it into her head that Enscombe is too cold
for her   The fact is  I suppose  that she is tired of Enscombe   She
has now been a longer time stationary there  than she ever was before 
and she begins to want change   It is a retired place   A fine place 
but very retired  

 Aye  like Maple Grove  I dare say   Nothing can stand more retired
from the road than Maple Grove   Such an immense plantation all round
it   You seem shut out from every thing  in the most complete
retirement    And Mrs  Churchill probably has not health or spirits
like Selina to enjoy that sort of seclusion   Or  perhaps she may not
have resources enough in herself to be qualified for a country life   I
always say a woman cannot have too many resources  and I feel very
thankful that I have so many myself as to be quite independent of
society  

 Frank was here in February for a fortnight  

 So I remember to have heard   He will find an  addition  to the
society of Highbury when he comes again  that is  if I may presume to
call myself an addition   But perhaps he may never have heard of there
being such a creature in the world  

This was too loud a call for a compliment to be passed by  and Mr 
Weston  with a very good grace  immediately exclaimed 

 My dear madam   Nobody but yourself could imagine such a thing
possible   Not heard of you   I believe Mrs  Weston s letters lately
have been full of very little else than Mrs  Elton  

He had done his duty and could return to his son 

 When Frank left us   continued he   it was quite uncertain when we
might see him again  which makes this day s news doubly welcome   It
has been completely unexpected   That is   I  always had a strong
persuasion he would be here again soon  I was sure something favourable
would turn up  but nobody believed me   He and Mrs  Weston were both
dreadfully desponding    How could he contrive to come   And how could
it be supposed that his uncle and aunt would spare him again   and so
forth  I always felt that something would happen in our favour  and so
it has  you see   I have observed  Mrs  Elton  in the course of my
life  that if things are going untowardly one month  they are sure to
mend the next  

 Very true  Mr  Weston  perfectly true   It is just what I used to say
to a certain gentleman in company in the days of courtship  when 
because things did not go quite right  did not proceed with all the
rapidity which suited his feelings  he was apt to be in despair  and
exclaim that he was sure at this rate it would be  May  before Hymen s
saffron robe would be put on for us   Oh  the pains I have been at to
dispel those gloomy ideas and give him cheerfuller views   The
carriage  we had disappointments about the carriage   one morning  I
remember  he came to me quite in despair  

She was stopped by a slight fit of coughing  and Mr  Weston instantly
seized the opportunity of going on 

 You were mentioning May   May is the very month which Mrs  Churchill
is ordered  or has ordered herself  to spend in some warmer place than
Enscombe  in short  to spend in London  so that we have the agreeable
prospect of frequent visits from Frank the whole spring  precisely the
season of the year which one should have chosen for it   days almost at
the longest  weather genial and pleasant  always inviting one out  and
never too hot for exercise   When he was here before  we made the best
of it  but there was a good deal of wet  damp  cheerless weather  there
always is in February  you know  and we could not do half that we
intended   Now will be the time   This will be complete enjoyment  and
I do not know  Mrs  Elton  whether the uncertainty of our meetings  the
sort of constant expectation there will be of his coming in to day or
to morrow  and at any hour  may not be more friendly to happiness than
having him actually in the house   I think it is so   I think it is the
state of mind which gives most spirit and delight   I hope you will be
pleased with my son  but you must not expect a prodigy   He is
generally thought a fine young man  but do not expect a prodigy   Mrs 
Weston s partiality for him is very great  and  as you may suppose 
most gratifying to me   She thinks nobody equal to him  

 And I assure you  Mr  Weston  I have very little doubt that my opinion
will be decidedly in his favour   I have heard so much in praise of Mr 
Frank Churchill   At the same time it is fair to observe  that I am one
of those who always judge for themselves  and are by no means
implicitly guided by others   I give you notice that as I find your
son  so I shall judge of him   I am no flatterer  

Mr  Weston was musing 

 I hope   said he presently   I have not been severe upon poor Mrs 
Churchill   If she is ill I should be sorry to do her injustice  but
there are some traits in her character which make it difficult for me
to speak of her with the forbearance I could wish   You cannot be
ignorant  Mrs  Elton  of my connexion with the family  nor of the
treatment I have met with  and  between ourselves  the whole blame of
it is to be laid to her   She was the instigator   Frank s mother would
never have been slighted as she was but for her   Mr  Churchill has
pride  but his pride is nothing to his wife s  his is a quiet 
indolent  gentlemanlike sort of pride that would harm nobody  and only
make himself a little helpless and tiresome  but her pride is arrogance
and insolence   And what inclines one less to bear  she has no fair
pretence of family or blood   She was nobody when he married her 
barely the daughter of a gentleman  but ever since her being turned
into a Churchill she has out Churchill d them all in high and mighty
claims   but in herself  I assure you  she is an upstart  

 Only think  well  that must be infinitely provoking   I have quite a
horror of upstarts   Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to
people of that sort  for there is a family in that neighbourhood who
are such an annoyance to my brother and sister from the airs they give
themselves   Your description of Mrs  Churchill made me think of them
directly   People of the name of Tupman  very lately settled there  and
encumbered with many low connexions  but giving themselves immense
airs  and expecting to be on a footing with the old established
families   A year and a half is the very utmost that they can have
lived at West Hall  and how they got their fortune nobody knows   They
came from Birmingham  which is not a place to promise much  you know 
Mr  Weston   One has not great hopes from Birmingham   I always say
there is something direful in the sound   but nothing more is
positively known of the Tupmans  though a good many things I assure you
are suspected  and yet by their manners they evidently think themselves
equal even to my brother  Mr  Suckling  who happens to be one of their
nearest neighbours   It is infinitely too bad   Mr  Suckling  who has
been eleven years a resident at Maple Grove  and whose father had it
before him  I believe  at least  I am almost sure that old Mr  Suckling
had completed the purchase before his death  

They were interrupted   Tea was carrying round  and Mr  Weston  having
said all that he wanted  soon took the opportunity of walking away 

After tea  Mr  and Mrs  Weston  and Mr  Elton sat down with Mr 
Woodhouse to cards   The remaining five were left to their own powers 
and Emma doubted their getting on very well  for Mr  Knightley seemed
little disposed for conversation  Mrs  Elton was wanting notice  which
nobody had inclination to pay  and she was herself in a worry of
spirits which would have made her prefer being silent 

Mr  John Knightley proved more talkative than his brother   He was to
leave them early the next day  and he soon began with  

 Well  Emma  I do not believe I have any thing more to say about the
boys  but you have your sister s letter  and every thing is down at
full length there we may be sure   My charge would be much more concise
than her s  and probably not much in the same spirit  all that I have
to recommend being comprised in  do not spoil them  and do not physic
them  

 I rather hope to satisfy you both   said Emma   for I shall do all in
my power to make them happy  which will be enough for Isabella  and
happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic  

 And if you find them troublesome  you must send them home again  

 That is very likely   You think so  do not you  

 I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father  or even
may be some encumbrance to you  if your visiting engagements continue
to increase as much as they have done lately  

 Increase  

 Certainly  you must be sensible that the last half year has made a
great difference in your way of life  

 Difference   No indeed I am not  

 There can be no doubt of your being much more engaged with company
than you used to be   Witness this very time   Here am I come down for
only one day  and you are engaged with a dinner party    When did it
happen before  or any thing like it   Your neighbourhood is increasing 
and you mix more with it   A little while ago  every letter to Isabella
brought an account of fresh gaieties  dinners at Mr  Cole s  or balls
at the Crown   The difference which Randalls  Randalls alone makes in
your goings on  is very great  

 Yes   said his brother quickly   it is Randalls that does it all  

 Very well  and as Randalls  I suppose  is not likely to have less
influence than heretofore  it strikes me as a possible thing  Emma 
that Henry and John may be sometimes in the way   And if they are  I
only beg you to send them home  

 No   cried Mr  Knightley   that need not be the consequence   Let them
be sent to Donwell   I shall certainly be at leisure  

 Upon my word   exclaimed Emma   you amuse me   I should like to know
how many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being
of the party  and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure
to attend to the little boys   These amazing engagements of mine  what
have they been   Dining once with the Coles  and having a ball talked
of  which never took place   I can understand you   nodding at Mr  John
Knightley   your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends
at once here  delights you too much to pass unnoticed   But you 
 turning to Mr  Knightley   who know how very  very seldom I am ever
two hours from Hartfield  why you should foresee such a series of
dissipation for me  I cannot imagine   And as to my dear little boys  I
must say  that if Aunt Emma has not time for them  I do not think they
would fare much better with Uncle Knightley  who is absent from home
about five hours where she is absent one  and who  when he is at home 
is either reading to himself or settling his accounts  

Mr  Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile  and succeeded without
difficulty  upon Mrs  Elton s beginning to talk to him 




VOLUME III



CHAPTER I


A very little quiet reflection was enough to satisfy Emma as to the
nature of her agitation on hearing this news of Frank Churchill   She
was soon convinced that it was not for herself she was feeling at all
apprehensive or embarrassed  it was for him   Her own attachment had
really subsided into a mere nothing  it was not worth thinking of   
but if he  who had undoubtedly been always so much the most in love of
the two  were to be returning with the same warmth of sentiment which
he had taken away  it would be very distressing   If a separation of
two months should not have cooled him  there were dangers and evils
before her   caution for him and for herself would be necessary   She
did not mean to have her own affections entangled again  and it would
be incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his 

She wished she might be able to keep him from an absolute declaration 
That would be so very painful a conclusion of their present
acquaintance   and yet  she could not help rather anticipating
something decisive   She felt as if the spring would not pass without
bringing a crisis  an event  a something to alter her present composed
and tranquil state 

It was not very long  though rather longer than Mr  Weston had
foreseen  before she had the power of forming some opinion of Frank
Churchill s feelings   The Enscombe family were not in town quite so
soon as had been imagined  but he was at Highbury very soon afterwards 
He rode down for a couple of hours  he could not yet do more  but as he
came from Randalls immediately to Hartfield  she could then exercise
all her quick observation  and speedily determine how he was
influenced  and how she must act   They met with the utmost
friendliness   There could be no doubt of his great pleasure in seeing
her   But she had an almost instant doubt of his caring for her as he
had done  of his feeling the same tenderness in the same degree   She
watched him well   It was a clear thing he was less in love than he had
been   Absence  with the conviction probably of her indifference  had
produced this very natural and very desirable effect 

He was in high spirits  as ready to talk and laugh as ever  and seemed
delighted to speak of his former visit  and recur to old stories  and
he was not without agitation   It was not in his calmness that she read
his comparative difference   He was not calm  his spirits were
evidently fluttered  there was restlessness about him   Lively as he
was  it seemed a liveliness that did not satisfy himself  but what
decided her belief on the subject  was his staying only a quarter of an
hour  and hurrying away to make other calls in Highbury    He had seen
a group of old acquaintance in the street as he passed  he had not
stopped  he would not stop for more than a word  but he had the vanity
to think they would be disappointed if he did not call  and much as he
wished to stay longer at Hartfield  he must hurry off   She had no
doubt as to his being less in love  but neither his agitated spirits 
nor his hurrying away  seemed like a perfect cure  and she was rather
inclined to think it implied a dread of her returning power  and a
discreet resolution of not trusting himself with her long 

This was the only visit from Frank Churchill in the course of ten days 
He was often hoping  intending to come  but was always prevented   His
aunt could not bear to have him leave her   Such was his own account at
Randall s  If he were quite sincere  if he really tried to come  it was
to be inferred that Mrs  Churchill s removal to London had been of no
service to the wilful or nervous part of her disorder   That she was
really ill was very certain  he had declared himself convinced of it 
at Randalls   Though much might be fancy  he could not doubt  when he
looked back  that she was in a weaker state of health than she had been
half a year ago   He did not believe it to proceed from any thing that
care and medicine might not remove  or at least that she might not have
many years of existence before her  but he could not be prevailed on 
by all his father s doubts  to say that her complaints were merely
imaginary  or that she was as strong as ever 

It soon appeared that London was not the place for her   She could not
endure its noise   Her nerves were under continual irritation and
suffering  and by the ten days  end  her nephew s letter to Randalls
communicated a change of plan   They were going to remove immediately
to Richmond   Mrs  Churchill had been recommended to the medical skill
of an eminent person there  and had otherwise a fancy for the place   A
ready furnished house in a favourite spot was engaged  and much benefit
expected from the change 

Emma heard that Frank wrote in the highest spirits of this arrangement 
and seemed most fully to appreciate the blessing of having two months
before him of such near neighbourhood to many dear friends  for the
house was taken for May and June   She was told that now he wrote with
the greatest confidence of being often with them  almost as often as he
could even wish 

Emma saw how Mr  Weston understood these joyous prospects   He was
considering her as the source of all the happiness they offered   She
hoped it was not so   Two months must bring it to the proof 

Mr  Weston s own happiness was indisputable   He was quite delighted 
It was the very circumstance he could have wished for   Now  it would
be really having Frank in their neighbourhood   What were nine miles to
a young man   An hour s ride   He would be always coming over   The
difference in that respect of Richmond and London was enough to make
the whole difference of seeing him always and seeing him never 
Sixteen miles  nay  eighteen  it must be full eighteen to
Manchester street  was a serious obstacle   Were he ever able to get
away  the day would be spent in coming and returning   There was no
comfort in having him in London  he might as well be at Enscombe  but
Richmond was the very distance for easy intercourse   Better than
nearer 

One good thing was immediately brought to a certainty by this
removal   the ball at the Crown   It had not been forgotten before 
but it had been soon acknowledged vain to attempt to fix a day   Now 
however  it was absolutely to be  every preparation was resumed  and
very soon after the Churchills had removed to Richmond  a few lines
from Frank  to say that his aunt felt already much better for the
change  and that he had no doubt of being able to join them for
twenty four hours at any given time  induced them to name as early a
day as possible 

Mr  Weston s ball was to be a real thing   A very few to morrows stood
between the young people of Highbury and happiness 

Mr  Woodhouse was resigned   The time of year lightened the evil to
him   May was better for every thing than February   Mrs  Bates was
engaged to spend the evening at Hartfield  James had due notice  and he
sanguinely hoped that neither dear little Henry nor dear little John
would have any thing the matter with them  while dear Emma were gone 



CHAPTER II


No misfortune occurred  again to prevent the ball   The day approached 
the day arrived  and after a morning of some anxious watching  Frank
Churchill  in all the certainty of his own self  reached Randalls
before dinner  and every thing was safe 

No second meeting had there yet been between him and Emma   The room at
the Crown was to witness it   but it would be better than a common
meeting in a crowd   Mr  Weston had been so very earnest in his
entreaties for her arriving there as soon as possible after themselves 
for the purpose of taking her opinion as to the propriety and comfort
of the rooms before any other persons came  that she could not refuse
him  and must therefore spend some quiet interval in the young man s
company   She was to convey Harriet  and they drove to the Crown in
good time  the Randalls party just sufficiently before them 

Frank Churchill seemed to have been on the watch  and though he did not
say much  his eyes declared that he meant to have a delightful evening 
They all walked about together  to see that every thing was as it
should be  and within a few minutes were joined by the contents of
another carriage  which Emma could not hear the sound of at first 
without great surprize    So unreasonably early   she was going to
exclaim  but she presently found that it was a family of old friends 
who were coming  like herself  by particular desire  to help Mr 
Weston s judgment  and they were so very closely followed by another
carriage of cousins  who had been entreated to come early with the same
distinguishing earnestness  on the same errand  that it seemed as if
half the company might soon be collected together for the purpose of
preparatory inspection 

Emma perceived that her taste was not the only taste on which Mr 
Weston depended  and felt  that to be the favourite and intimate of a
man who had so many intimates and confidantes  was not the very first
distinction in the scale of vanity   She liked his open manners  but a
little less of open heartedness would have made him a higher
character   General benevolence  but not general friendship  made a man
what he ought to be    She could fancy such a man   The whole party
walked about  and looked  and praised again  and then  having nothing
else to do  formed a sort of half circle round the fire  to observe in
their various modes  till other subjects were started  that  though
 May   a fire in the evening was still very pleasant 

Emma found that it was not Mr  Weston s fault that the number of privy
councillors was not yet larger   They had stopped at Mrs  Bates s door
to offer the use of their carriage  but the aunt and niece were to be
brought by the Eltons 

Frank was standing by her  but not steadily  there was a restlessness 
which shewed a mind not at ease   He was looking about  he was going to
the door  he was watching for the sound of other carriages   impatient
to begin  or afraid of being always near her 

Mrs  Elton was spoken of    I think she must be here soon   said he 
 I have a great curiosity to see Mrs  Elton  I have heard so much of
her   It cannot be long  I think  before she comes  

A carriage was heard   He was on the move immediately  but coming back 
said 

 I am forgetting that I am not acquainted with her   I have never seen
either Mr  or Mrs  Elton   I have no business to put myself forward  

Mr  and Mrs  Elton appeared  and all the smiles and the proprieties
passed 

 But Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax   said Mr  Weston  looking about    We
thought you were to bring them  

The mistake had been slight   The carriage was sent for them now   Emma
longed to know what Frank s first opinion of Mrs  Elton might be  how
he was affected by the studied elegance of her dress  and her smiles of
graciousness   He was immediately qualifying himself to form an
opinion  by giving her very proper attention  after the introduction
had passed 

In a few minutes the carriage returned   Somebody talked of rain     I
will see that there are umbrellas  sir   said Frank to his father 
 Miss Bates must not be forgotten    and away he went   Mr  Weston was
following  but Mrs  Elton detained him  to gratify him by her opinion
of his son  and so briskly did she begin  that the young man himself 
though by no means moving slowly  could hardly be out of hearing 

 A very fine young man indeed  Mr  Weston   You know I candidly told
you I should form my own opinion  and I am happy to say that I am
extremely pleased with him   You may believe me   I never compliment 
I think him a very handsome young man  and his manners are precisely
what I like and approve  so truly the gentleman  without the least
conceit or puppyism   You must know I have a vast dislike to puppies  
quite a horror of them   They were never tolerated at Maple Grove 
Neither Mr  Suckling nor me had ever any patience with them  and we
used sometimes to say very cutting things   Selina  who is mild almost
to a fault  bore with them much better  

While she talked of his son  Mr  Weston s attention was chained  but
when she got to Maple Grove  he could recollect that there were ladies
just arriving to be attended to  and with happy smiles must hurry away 

Mrs  Elton turned to Mrs  Weston    I have no doubt of its being our
carriage with Miss Bates and Jane   Our coachman and horses are so
extremely expeditious   I believe we drive faster than any body    What
a pleasure it is to send one s carriage for a friend    I understand
you were so kind as to offer  but another time it will be quite
unnecessary   You may be very sure I shall always take care of  them   

Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax  escorted by the two gentlemen  walked into
the room  and Mrs  Elton seemed to think it as much her duty as Mrs 
Weston s to receive them   Her gestures and movements might be
understood by any one who looked on like Emma  but her words  every
body s words  were soon lost under the incessant flow of Miss Bates 
who came in talking  and had not finished her speech under many minutes
after her being admitted into the circle at the fire   As the door
opened she was heard 

 So very obliging of you   No rain at all   Nothing to signify   I do
not care for myself   Quite thick shoes   And Jane declares  
Well    as soon as she was within the door  Well   This is brilliant
indeed   This is admirable   Excellently contrived  upon my word 
Nothing wanting   Could not have imagined it   So well lighted up   
Jane  Jane  look   did you ever see any thing   Oh   Mr  Weston  you
must really have had Aladdin s lamp   Good Mrs  Stokes would not know
her own room again   I saw her as I came in  she was standing in the
entrance    Oh   Mrs  Stokes   said I  but I had not time for more  
She was now met by Mrs  Weston     Very well  I thank you  ma am  I
hope you are quite well   Very happy to hear it   So afraid you might
have a headache   seeing you pass by so often  and knowing how much
trouble you must have   Delighted to hear it indeed   Ah  dear Mrs 
Elton  so obliged to you for the carriage   excellent time   Jane and I
quite ready   Did not keep the horses a moment   Most comfortable
carriage    Oh  and I am sure our thanks are due to you  Mrs  Weston 
on that score   Mrs  Elton had most kindly sent Jane a note  or we
should have been    But two such offers in one day   Never were such
neighbours   I said to my mother   Upon my word  ma am      Thank you 
my mother is remarkably well   Gone to Mr  Woodhouse s  I made her take
her shawl  for the evenings are not warm  her large new shawl   Mrs 
Dixon s wedding present   So kind of her to think of my mother   Bought
at Weymouth  you know  Mr  Dixon s choice   There were three others 
Jane says  which they hesitated about some time   Colonel Campbell
rather preferred an olive   My dear Jane  are you sure you did not wet
your feet   It was but a drop or two  but I am so afraid   but Mr 
Frank Churchill was so extremely  and there was a mat to step upon  I
shall never forget his extreme politeness   Oh   Mr  Frank Churchill  I
must tell you my mother s spectacles have never been in fault since 
the rivet never came out again   My mother often talks of your
good nature   Does not she  Jane   Do not we often talk of Mr  Frank
Churchill    Ah  here s Miss Woodhouse   Dear Miss Woodhouse  how do
you do    Very well I thank you  quite well   This is meeting quite in
fairy land    Such a transformation   Must not compliment  I know
 eyeing Emma most complacently   that would be rude  but upon my word 
Miss Woodhouse  you do look  how do you like Jane s hair   You are a
judge    She did it all herself   Quite wonderful how she does her
hair    No hairdresser from London I think could   Ah  Dr  Hughes I
declare  and Mrs  Hughes   Must go and speak to Dr  and Mrs  Hughes
for a moment   How do you do   How do you do   Very well  I thank you 
This is delightful  is not it   Where s dear Mr  Richard    Oh  there
he is   Don t disturb him   Much better employed talking to the young
ladies   How do you do  Mr  Richard   I saw you the other day as you
rode through the town  Mrs  Otway  I protest   and good Mr  Otway  and
Miss Otway and Miss Caroline   Such a host of friends   and Mr  George
and Mr  Arthur   How do you do   How do you all do   Quite well  I am
much obliged to you   Never better    Don t I hear another
carriage   Who can this be   very likely the worthy Coles   Upon my
word  this is charming to be standing about among such friends   And
such a noble fire   I am quite roasted   No coffee  I thank you  for
me  never take coffee   A little tea if you please  sir  by and
bye   no hurry  Oh  here it comes   Every thing so good  

Frank Churchill returned to his station by Emma  and as soon as Miss
Bates was quiet  she found herself necessarily overhearing the
discourse of Mrs  Elton and Miss Fairfax  who were standing a little
way behind her   He was thoughtful   Whether he were overhearing too 
she could not determine   After a good many compliments to Jane on her
dress and look  compliments very quietly and properly taken  Mrs  Elton
was evidently wanting to be complimented herself  and it was   How do
you like my gown   How do you like my trimming    How has Wright done
my hair    with many other relative questions  all answered with
patient politeness   Mrs  Elton then said   Nobody can think less of
dress in general than I do  but upon such an occasion as this  when
every body s eyes are so much upon me  and in compliment to the
Westons  who I have no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do me
honour  I would not wish to be inferior to others   And I see very few
pearls in the room except mine    So Frank Churchill is a capital
dancer  I understand   We shall see if our styles suit   A fine young
man certainly is Frank Churchill   I like him very well  

At this moment Frank began talking so vigorously  that Emma could not
but imagine he had overheard his own praises  and did not want to hear
more   and the voices of the ladies were drowned for a while  till
another suspension brought Mrs  Elton s tones again distinctly
forward   Mr  Elton had just joined them  and his wife was exclaiming 

 Oh  you have found us out at last  have you  in our seclusion    I was
this moment telling Jane  I thought you would begin to be impatient for
tidings of us  

 Jane    repeated Frank Churchill  with a look of surprize and
displeasure     That is easy  but Miss Fairfax does not disapprove it 
I suppose  

 How do you like Mrs  Elton   said Emma in a whisper 

 Not at all  

 You are ungrateful  

 Ungrateful   What do you mean    Then changing from a frown to a
smile   No  do not tell me  I do not want to know what you mean   
Where is my father   When are we to begin dancing  

Emma could hardly understand him  he seemed in an odd humour   He
walked off to find his father  but was quickly back again with both Mr 
and Mrs  Weston   He had met with them in a little perplexity  which
must be laid before Emma   It had just occurred to Mrs  Weston that
Mrs  Elton must be asked to begin the ball  that she would expect it 
which interfered with all their wishes of giving Emma that
distinction   Emma heard the sad truth with fortitude 

 And what are we to do for a proper partner for her   said Mr  Weston 
 She will think Frank ought to ask her  

Frank turned instantly to Emma  to claim her former promise  and
boasted himself an engaged man  which his father looked his most
perfect approbation of  and it then appeared that Mrs  Weston was
wanting  him  to dance with Mrs  Elton himself  and that their business
was to help to persuade him into it  which was done pretty soon    Mr 
Weston and Mrs  Elton led the way  Mr  Frank Churchill and Miss
Woodhouse followed   Emma must submit to stand second to Mrs  Elton 
though she had always considered the ball as peculiarly for her   It
was almost enough to make her think of marrying   Mrs  Elton had
undoubtedly the advantage  at this time  in vanity completely
gratified  for though she had intended to begin with Frank Churchill 
she could not lose by the change   Mr  Weston might be his son s
superior    In spite of this little rub  however  Emma was smiling with
enjoyment  delighted to see the respectable length of the set as it was
forming  and to feel that she had so many hours of unusual festivity
before her    She was more disturbed by Mr  Knightley s not dancing
than by any thing else   There he was  among the standers by  where he
ought not to be  he ought to be dancing   not classing himself with the
husbands  and fathers  and whist players  who were pretending to feel
an interest in the dance till their rubbers were made up   so young as
he looked    He could not have appeared to greater advantage perhaps
anywhere  than where he had placed himself   His tall  firm  upright
figure  among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly
men  was such as Emma felt must draw every body s eyes  and  excepting
her own partner  there was not one among the whole row of young men who
could be compared with him   He moved a few steps nearer  and those few
steps were enough to prove in how gentlemanlike a manner  with what
natural grace  he must have danced  would he but take the
trouble   Whenever she caught his eye  she forced him to smile  but in
general he was looking grave   She wished he could love a ballroom
better  and could like Frank Churchill better    He seemed often
observing her   She must not flatter herself that he thought of her
dancing  but if he were criticising her behaviour  she did not feel
afraid   There was nothing like flirtation between her and her partner 
They seemed more like cheerful  easy friends  than lovers   That Frank
Churchill thought less of her than he had done  was indubitable 

The ball proceeded pleasantly   The anxious cares  the incessant
attentions of Mrs  Weston  were not thrown away   Every body seemed
happy  and the praise of being a delightful ball  which is seldom
bestowed till after a ball has ceased to be  was repeatedly given in
the very beginning of the existence of this   Of very important  very
recordable events  it was not more productive than such meetings
usually are   There was one  however  which Emma thought something
of   The two last dances before supper were begun  and Harriet had no
partner   the only young lady sitting down   and so equal had been
hitherto the number of dancers  that how there could be any one
disengaged was the wonder   But Emma s wonder lessened soon afterwards 
on seeing Mr  Elton sauntering about   He would not ask Harriet to
dance if it were possible to be avoided  she was sure he would not  and
she was expecting him every moment to escape into the card room 

Escape  however  was not his plan   He came to the part of the room
where the sitters by were collected  spoke to some  and walked about in
front of them  as if to shew his liberty  and his resolution of
maintaining it   He did not omit being sometimes directly before Miss
Smith  or speaking to those who were close to her    Emma saw it   She
was not yet dancing  she was working her way up from the bottom  and
had therefore leisure to look around  and by only turning her head a
little she saw it all   When she was half way up the set  the whole
group were exactly behind her  and she would no longer allow her eyes
to watch  but Mr  Elton was so near  that she heard every syllable of a
dialogue which just then took place between him and Mrs  Weston  and
she perceived that his wife  who was standing immediately above her 
was not only listening also  but even encouraging him by significant
glances   The kind hearted  gentle Mrs  Weston had left her seat to
join him and say   Do not you dance  Mr  Elton   to which his prompt
reply was   Most readily  Mrs  Weston  if you will dance with me  

 Me   oh  no  I would get you a better partner than myself   I am no
dancer  

 If Mrs  Gilbert wishes to dance   said he   I shall have great
pleasure  I am sure  for  though beginning to feel myself rather an old
married man  and that my dancing days are over  it would give me very
great pleasure at any time to stand up with an old friend like Mrs 
Gilbert  

 Mrs  Gilbert does not mean to dance  but there is a young lady
disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing  Miss Smith  
 Miss Smith   oh   I had not observed   You are extremely obliging  
and if I were not an old married man   But my dancing days are over 
Mrs  Weston   You will excuse me   Any thing else I should be most
happy to do  at your command  but my dancing days are over  

Mrs  Weston said no more  and Emma could imagine with what surprize and
mortification she must be returning to her seat   This was Mr  Elton 
the amiable  obliging  gentle Mr  Elton    She looked round for a
moment  he had joined Mr  Knightley at a little distance  and was
arranging himself for settled conversation  while smiles of high glee
passed between him and his wife 

She would not look again   Her heart was in a glow  and she feared her
face might be as hot 

In another moment a happier sight caught her   Mr  Knightley leading
Harriet to the set   Never had she been more surprized  seldom more
delighted  than at that instant   She was all pleasure and gratitude 
both for Harriet and herself  and longed to be thanking him  and though
too distant for speech  her countenance said much  as soon as she could
catch his eye again 

His dancing proved to be just what she had believed it  extremely good 
and Harriet would have seemed almost too lucky  if it had not been for
the cruel state of things before  and for the very complete enjoyment
and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features
announced   It was not thrown away on her  she bounded higher than
ever  flew farther down the middle  and was in a continual course of
smiles 

Mr  Elton had retreated into the card room  looking  Emma trusted  very
foolish   She did not think he was quite so hardened as his wife 
though growing very like her    she  spoke some of her feelings  by
observing audibly to her partner 

 Knightley has taken pity on poor little Miss Smith   Very goodnatured 
I declare  

Supper was announced   The move began  and Miss Bates might be heard
from that moment  without interruption  till her being seated at table
and taking up her spoon 

 Jane  Jane  my dear Jane  where are you   Here is your tippet   Mrs 
Weston begs you to put on your tippet   She says she is afraid there
will be draughts in the passage  though every thing has been done  One
door nailed up  Quantities of matting  My dear Jane  indeed you must 
Mr  Churchill  oh  you are too obliging   How well you put it on   so
gratified   Excellent dancing indeed    Yes  my dear  I ran home  as I
said I should  to help grandmama to bed  and got back again  and nobody
missed me   I set off without saying a word  just as I told you 
Grandmama was quite well  had a charming evening with Mr  Woodhouse  a
vast deal of chat  and backgammon   Tea was made downstairs  biscuits
and baked apples and wine before she came away   amazing luck in some
of her throws  and she inquired a great deal about you  how you were
amused  and who were your partners    Oh   said I   I shall not
forestall Jane  I left her dancing with Mr  George Otway  she will love
to tell you all about it herself to morrow  her first partner was Mr 
Elton  I do not know who will ask her next  perhaps Mr  William Cox  
My dear sir  you are too obliging   Is there nobody you would not
rather   I am not helpless   Sir  you are most kind   Upon my word 
Jane on one arm  and me on the other   Stop  stop  let us stand a
little back  Mrs  Elton is going  dear Mrs  Elton  how elegant she
looks   Beautiful lace   Now we all follow in her train   Quite the
queen of the evening   Well  here we are at the passage   Two steps 
Jane  take care of the two steps   Oh  no  there is but one   Well  I
was persuaded there were two   How very odd   I was convinced there
were two  and there is but one   I never saw any thing equal to the
comfort and style  Candles everywhere   I was telling you of your
grandmama  Jane   There was a little disappointment    The baked apples
and biscuits  excellent in their way  you know  but there was a
delicate fricassee of sweetbread and some asparagus brought in at
first  and good Mr  Woodhouse  not thinking the asparagus quite boiled
enough  sent it all out again   Now there is nothing grandmama loves
better than sweetbread and asparagus  so she was rather disappointed 
but we agreed we would not speak of it to any body  for fear of its
getting round to dear Miss Woodhouse  who would be so very much
concerned   Well  this is brilliant   I am all amazement  could not
have supposed any thing   Such elegance and profusion   I have seen
nothing like it since   Well  where shall we sit  where shall we sit 
Anywhere  so that Jane is not in a draught   Where  I  sit is of no
consequence   Oh  do you recommend this side   Well  I am sure  Mr 
Churchill  only it seems too good  but just as you please   What you
direct in this house cannot be wrong   Dear Jane  how shall we ever
recollect half the dishes for grandmama   Soup too   Bless me   I
should not be helped so soon  but it smells most excellent  and I
cannot help beginning  

Emma had no opportunity of speaking to Mr  Knightley till after supper 
but  when they were all in the ballroom again  her eyes invited him
irresistibly to come to her and be thanked   He was warm in his
reprobation of Mr  Elton s conduct  it had been unpardonable rudeness 
and Mrs  Elton s looks also received the due share of censure 

 They aimed at wounding more than Harriet   said he    Emma  why is it
that they are your enemies  

He looked with smiling penetration  and  on receiving no answer  added 
  She  ought not to be angry with you  I suspect  whatever he may
be   To that surmise  you say nothing  of course  but confess  Emma 
that you did want him to marry Harriet  

 I did   replied Emma   and they cannot forgive me  

He shook his head  but there was a smile of indulgence with it  and he
only said 

 I shall not scold you   I leave you to your own reflections  

 Can you trust me with such flatterers   Does my vain spirit ever tell
me I am wrong  

 Not your vain spirit  but your serious spirit   If one leads you
wrong  I am sure the other tells you of it  

 I do own myself to have been completely mistaken in Mr  Elton   There
is a littleness about him which you discovered  and which I did not 
and I was fully convinced of his being in love with Harriet   It was
through a series of strange blunders  

 And  in return for your acknowledging so much  I will do you the
justice to say  that you would have chosen for him better than he has
chosen for himself   Harriet Smith has some first rate qualities  which
Mrs  Elton is totally without   An unpretending  single minded  artless
girl  infinitely to be preferred by any man of sense and taste to such
a woman as Mrs  Elton   I found Harriet more conversable than I
expected  

Emma was extremely gratified   They were interrupted by the bustle of
Mr  Weston calling on every body to begin dancing again 

 Come Miss Woodhouse  Miss Otway  Miss Fairfax  what are you all
doing    Come Emma  set your companions the example   Every body is
lazy   Every body is asleep  

 I am ready   said Emma   whenever I am wanted  

 Whom are you going to dance with   asked Mr  Knightley 

She hesitated a moment  and then replied   With you  if you will ask
me  

 Will you   said he  offering his hand 

 Indeed I will   You have shewn that you can dance  and you know we are
not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper  

 Brother and sister  no  indeed  



CHAPTER III


This little explanation with Mr  Knightley gave Emma considerable
pleasure   It was one of the agreeable recollections of the ball  which
she walked about the lawn the next morning to enjoy   She was extremely
glad that they had come to so good an understanding respecting the
Eltons  and that their opinions of both husband and wife were so much
alike  and his praise of Harriet  his concession in her favour  was
peculiarly gratifying   The impertinence of the Eltons  which for a few
minutes had threatened to ruin the rest of her evening  had been the
occasion of some of its highest satisfactions  and she looked forward
to another happy result  the cure of Harriet s infatuation    From
Harriet s manner of speaking of the circumstance before they quitted
the ballroom  she had strong hopes   It seemed as if her eyes were
suddenly opened  and she were enabled to see that Mr  Elton was not the
superior creature she had believed him   The fever was over  and Emma
could harbour little fear of the pulse being quickened again by
injurious courtesy   She depended on the evil feelings of the Eltons
for supplying all the discipline of pointed neglect that could be
farther requisite   Harriet rational  Frank Churchill not too much in
love  and Mr  Knightley not wanting to quarrel with her  how very happy
a summer must be before her 

She was not to see Frank Churchill this morning   He had told her that
he could not allow himself the pleasure of stopping at Hartfield  as he
was to be at home by the middle of the day   She did not regret it 

Having arranged all these matters  looked them through  and put them
all to rights  she was just turning to the house with spirits freshened
up for the demands of the two little boys  as well as of their
grandpapa  when the great iron sweep gate opened  and two persons
entered whom she had never less expected to see together  Frank
Churchill  with Harriet leaning on his arm  actually Harriet   A moment
sufficed to convince her that something extraordinary had happened 
Harriet looked white and frightened  and he was trying to cheer her   
The iron gates and the front door were not twenty yards asunder   they
were all three soon in the hall  and Harriet immediately sinking into a
chair fainted away 

A young lady who faints  must be recovered  questions must be answered 
and surprizes be explained   Such events are very interesting  but the
suspense of them cannot last long   A few minutes made Emma acquainted
with the whole 

Miss Smith  and Miss Bickerton  another parlour boarder at Mrs 
Goddard s  who had been also at the ball  had walked out together  and
taken a road  the Richmond road  which  though apparently public enough
for safety  had led them into alarm   About half a mile beyond
Highbury  making a sudden turn  and deeply shaded by elms on each side 
it became for a considerable stretch very retired  and when the young
ladies had advanced some way into it  they had suddenly perceived at a
small distance before them  on a broader patch of greensward by the
side  a party of gipsies   A child on the watch  came towards them to
beg  and Miss Bickerton  excessively frightened  gave a great scream 
and calling on Harriet to follow her  ran up a steep bank  cleared a
slight hedge at the top  and made the best of her way by a short cut
back to Highbury   But poor Harriet could not follow   She had suffered
very much from cramp after dancing  and her first attempt to mount the
bank brought on such a return of it as made her absolutely powerless  
and in this state  and exceedingly terrified  she had been obliged to
remain 

How the trampers might have behaved  had the young ladies been more
courageous  must be doubtful  but such an invitation for attack could
not be resisted  and Harriet was soon assailed by half a dozen
children  headed by a stout woman and a great boy  all clamorous  and
impertinent in look  though not absolutely in word   More and more
frightened  she immediately promised them money  and taking out her
purse  gave them a shilling  and begged them not to want more  or to
use her ill   She was then able to walk  though but slowly  and was
moving away  but her terror and her purse were too tempting  and she
was followed  or rather surrounded  by the whole gang  demanding more 

In this state Frank Churchill had found her  she trembling and
conditioning  they loud and insolent   By a most fortunate chance his
leaving Highbury had been delayed so as to bring him to her assistance
at this critical moment   The pleasantness of the morning had induced
him to walk forward  and leave his horses to meet him by another road 
a mile or two beyond Highbury  and happening to have borrowed a pair
of scissors the night before of Miss Bates  and to have forgotten to
restore them  he had been obliged to stop at her door  and go in for a
few minutes  he was therefore later than he had intended  and being on
foot  was unseen by the whole party till almost close to them   The
terror which the woman and boy had been creating in Harriet was then
their own portion   He had left them completely frightened  and Harriet
eagerly clinging to him  and hardly able to speak  had just strength
enough to reach Hartfield  before her spirits were quite overcome   It
was his idea to bring her to Hartfield  he had thought of no other
place 

This was the amount of the whole story   of his communication and of
Harriet s as soon as she had recovered her senses and speech    He
dared not stay longer than to see her well  these several delays left
him not another minute to lose  and Emma engaging to give assurance of
her safety to Mrs  Goddard  and notice of there being such a set of
people in the neighbourhood to Mr  Knightley  he set off  with all the
grateful blessings that she could utter for her friend and herself 

Such an adventure as this   a fine young man and a lovely young woman
thrown together in such a way  could hardly fail of suggesting certain
ideas to the coldest heart and the steadiest brain   So Emma thought 
at least   Could a linguist  could a grammarian  could even a
mathematician have seen what she did  have witnessed their appearance
together  and heard their history of it  without feeling that
circumstances had been at work to make them peculiarly interesting to
each other   How much more must an imaginist  like herself  be on fire
with speculation and foresight   especially with such a groundwork of
anticipation as her mind had already made 

It was a very extraordinary thing   Nothing of the sort had ever
occurred before to any young ladies in the place  within her memory  no
rencontre  no alarm of the kind   and now it had happened to the very
person  and at the very hour  when the other very person was chancing
to pass by to rescue her   It certainly was very extraordinary   And
knowing  as she did  the favourable state of mind of each at this
period  it struck her the more   He was wishing to get the better of
his attachment to herself  she just recovering from her mania for Mr 
Elton   It seemed as if every thing united to promise the most
interesting consequences   It was not possible that the occurrence
should not be strongly recommending each to the other 

In the few minutes  conversation which she had yet had with him  while
Harriet had been partially insensible  he had spoken of her terror  her
naivete  her fervour as she seized and clung to his arm  with a
sensibility amused and delighted  and just at last  after Harriet s own
account had been given  he had expressed his indignation at the
abominable folly of Miss Bickerton in the warmest terms   Every thing
was to take its natural course  however  neither impelled nor assisted 
She would not stir a step  nor drop a hint   No  she had had enough of
interference   There could be no harm in a scheme  a mere passive
scheme   It was no more than a wish   Beyond it she would on no account
proceed 

Emma s first resolution was to keep her father from the knowledge of
what had passed   aware of the anxiety and alarm it would occasion  but
she soon felt that concealment must be impossible   Within half an hour
it was known all over Highbury   It was the very event to engage those
who talk most  the young and the low  and all the youth and servants in
the place were soon in the happiness of frightful news   The last
night s ball seemed lost in the gipsies   Poor Mr  Woodhouse trembled
as he sat  and  as Emma had foreseen  would scarcely be satisfied
without their promising never to go beyond the shrubbery again   It was
some comfort to him that many inquiries after himself and Miss
Woodhouse  for his neighbours knew that he loved to be inquired after  
as well as Miss Smith  were coming in during the rest of the day  and
he had the pleasure of returning for answer  that they were all very
indifferent  which  though not exactly true  for she was perfectly
well  and Harriet not much otherwise  Emma would not interfere with 
She had an unhappy state of health in general for the child of such a
man  for she hardly knew what indisposition was  and if he did not
invent illnesses for her  she could make no figure in a message 

The gipsies did not wait for the operations of justice  they took
themselves off in a hurry   The young ladies of Highbury might have
walked again in safety before their panic began  and the whole history
dwindled soon into a matter of little importance but to Emma and her
nephews   in her imagination it maintained its ground  and Henry and
John were still asking every day for the story of Harriet and the
gipsies  and still tenaciously setting her right if she varied in the
slightest particular from the original recital 



CHAPTER IV


A very few days had passed after this adventure  when Harriet came one
morning to Emma with a small parcel in her hand  and after sitting down
and hesitating  thus began 

 Miss Woodhouse  if you are at leisure  I have something that I should
like to tell you  a sort of confession to make  and then  you know  it
will be over  

Emma was a good deal surprized  but begged her to speak   There was a
seriousness in Harriet s manner which prepared her  quite as much as
her words  for something more than ordinary 

 It is my duty  and I am sure it is my wish   she continued   to have
no reserves with you on this subject   As I am happily quite an altered
creature in  one   respect   it is very fit that you should have the
satisfaction of knowing it   I do not want to say more than is
necessary  I am too much ashamed of having given way as I have done 
and I dare say you understand me  

 Yes   said Emma   I hope I do  

 How I could so long a time be fancying myself         cried Harriet 
warmly    It seems like madness   I can see nothing at all
extraordinary in him now   I do not care whether I meet him or
not  except that of the two I had rather not see him  and indeed I
would go any distance round to avoid him  but I do not envy his wife in
the least  I neither admire her nor envy her  as I have done   she is
very charming  I dare say  and all that  but I think her very
ill tempered and disagreeable  I shall never forget her look the other
night   However  I assure you  Miss Woodhouse  I wish her no evil   No 
let them be ever so happy together  it will not give me another
moment s pang   and to convince you that I have been speaking truth  I
am now going to destroy  what I ought to have destroyed long ago  what
I ought never to have kept   I know that very well  blushing as she
spoke    However  now I will destroy it all  and it is my particular
wish to do it in your presence  that you may see how rational I am
grown   Cannot you guess what this parcel holds   said she  with a
conscious look 

 Not the least in the world   Did he ever give you any thing  

 No  I cannot call them gifts  but they are things that I have valued
very much  

She held the parcel towards her  and Emma read the words  Most 
 precious   treasures  on the top   Her curiosity was greatly excited 
Harriet unfolded the parcel  and she looked on with impatience   Within
abundance of silver paper was a pretty little Tunbridge ware box  which
Harriet opened   it was well lined with the softest cotton  but 
excepting the cotton  Emma saw only a small piece of court plaister 

 Now   said Harriet   you  must  recollect  

 No  indeed I do not  

 Dear me   I should not have thought it possible you could forget what
passed in this very room about court plaister  one of the very last
times we ever met in it   It was but a very few days before I had my
sore throat  just before Mr  and Mrs  John Knightley came   I think the
very evening   Do not you remember his cutting his finger with your new
penknife  and your recommending court plaister    But  as you had none
about you  and knew I had  you desired me to supply him  and so I took
mine out and cut him a piece  but it was a great deal too large  and he
cut it smaller  and kept playing some time with what was left  before
he gave it back to me   And so then  in my nonsense  I could not help
making a treasure of it  so I put it by never to be used  and looked
at it now and then as a great treat  

 My dearest Harriet   cried Emma  putting her hand before her face  and
jumping up   you make me more ashamed of myself than I can bear 
Remember it   Aye  I remember it all now  all  except your saving this
relic  I knew nothing of that till this moment  but the cutting the
finger  and my recommending court plaister  and saying I had none about
me   Oh  my sins  my sins   And I had plenty all the while in my
pocket   One of my senseless tricks   I deserve to be under a continual
blush all the rest of my life   Well   sitting down again   go
on  what else  

 And had you really some at hand yourself   I am sure I never suspected
it  you did it so naturally  

 And so you actually put this piece of court plaister by for his sake  
said Emma  recovering from her state of shame and feeling divided
between wonder and amusement   And secretly she added to herself   Lord
bless me  when should I ever have thought of putting by in cotton a
piece of court plaister that Frank Churchill had been pulling about   I
never was equal to this  

 Here   resumed Harriet  turning to her box again   here is something
still more valuable  I mean that  has   been  more valuable  because
this is what did really once belong to him  which the court plaister
never did  

Emma was quite eager to see this superior treasure   It was the end of
an old pencil   the part without any lead 

 This was really his   said Harriet    Do not you remember one
morning   no  I dare say you do not   But one morning  I forget exactly
the day  but perhaps it was the Tuesday or Wednesday before  that 
 evening   he wanted to make a memorandum in his pocket book  it was
about spruce beer  Mr  Knightley had been telling him something about
brewing spruce beer  and he wanted to put it down  but when he took out
his pencil  there was so little lead that he soon cut it all away  and
it would not do  so you lent him another  and this was left upon the
table as good for nothing   But I kept my eye on it  and  as soon as I
dared  caught it up  and never parted with it again from that moment  

 I do remember it   cried Emma   I perfectly remember it    Talking
about spruce beer   Oh  yes  Mr  Knightley and I both saying we liked
it  and Mr  Elton s seeming resolved to learn to like it too   I
perfectly remember it   Stop  Mr  Knightley was standing just here  was
not he   I have an idea he was standing just here  

 Ah   I do not know   I cannot recollect   It is very odd  but I cannot
recollect   Mr  Elton was sitting here  I remember  much about where I
am now    

 Well  go on  

 Oh  that s all   I have nothing more to shew you  or to say  except
that I am now going to throw them both behind the fire  and I wish you
to see me do it  

 My poor dear Harriet  and have you actually found happiness in
treasuring up these things  

 Yes  simpleton as I was   but I am quite ashamed of it now  and wish I
could forget as easily as I can burn them   It was very wrong of me 
you know  to keep any remembrances  after he was married   I knew it
was  but had not resolution enough to part with them  

 But  Harriet  is it necessary to burn the court plaister   I have not
a word to say for the bit of old pencil  but the court plaister might
be useful  

 I shall be happier to burn it   replied Harriet    It has a
disagreeable look to me   I must get rid of every thing    There it
goes  and there is an end  thank Heaven  of Mr  Elton  

 And when   thought Emma   will there be a beginning of Mr  Churchill  

She had soon afterwards reason to believe that the beginning was
already made  and could not but hope that the gipsy  though she had
 told  no fortune  might be proved to have made Harriet s   About a
fortnight after the alarm  they came to a sufficient explanation  and
quite undesignedly   Emma was not thinking of it at the moment  which
made the information she received more valuable   She merely said  in
the course of some trivial chat   Well  Harriet  whenever you marry I
would advise you to do so and so   and thought no more of it  till
after a minute s silence she heard Harriet say in a very serious tone 
 I shall never marry  

Emma then looked up  and immediately saw how it was  and after a
moment s debate  as to whether it should pass unnoticed or not  replied 

 Never marry   This is a new resolution  

 It is one that I shall never change  however  

After another short hesitation   I hope it does not proceed from  I
hope it is not in compliment to Mr  Elton  

 Mr  Elton indeed   cried Harriet indignantly    Oh  no   and Emma
could just catch the words   so superior to Mr  Elton  

She then took a longer time for consideration   Should she proceed no
farther   should she let it pass  and seem to suspect nothing   
Perhaps Harriet might think her cold or angry if she did  or perhaps if
she were totally silent  it might only drive Harriet into asking her to
hear too much  and against any thing like such an unreserve as had
been  such an open and frequent discussion of hopes and chances  she
was perfectly resolved    She believed it would be wiser for her to say
and know at once  all that she meant to say and know   Plain dealing
was always best   She had previously determined how far she would
proceed  on any application of the sort  and it would be safer for
both  to have the judicious law of her own brain laid down with
speed    She was decided  and thus spoke  

 Harriet  I will not affect to be in doubt of your meaning   Your
resolution  or rather your expectation of never marrying  results from
an idea that the person whom you might prefer  would be too greatly
your superior in situation to think of you   Is not it so  

 Oh   Miss Woodhouse  believe me I have not the presumption to
suppose   Indeed I am not so mad   But it is a pleasure to me to admire
him at a distance  and to think of his infinite superiority to all the
rest of the world  with the gratitude  wonder  and veneration  which
are so proper  in me especially  

 I am not at all surprized at you  Harriet   The service he rendered
you was enough to warm your heart  

 Service  oh  it was such an inexpressible obligation    The very
recollection of it  and all that I felt at the time  when I saw him
coming  his noble look  and my wretchedness before   Such a change   In
one moment such a change   From perfect misery to perfect happiness  

 It is very natural   It is natural  and it is honourable    Yes 
honourable  I think  to chuse so well and so gratefully    But that it
will be a fortunate preference is more that I can promise   I do not
advise you to give way to it  Harriet   I do not by any means engage
for its being returned   Consider what you are about   Perhaps it will
be wisest in you to check your feelings while you can  at any rate do
not let them carry you far  unless you are persuaded of his liking you 
Be observant of him   Let his behaviour be the guide of your
sensations   I give you this caution now  because I shall never speak
to you again on the subject   I am determined against all interference 
Henceforward I know nothing of the matter   Let no name ever pass our
lips   We were very wrong before  we will be cautious now   He is your
superior  no doubt  and there do seem objections and obstacles of a
very serious nature  but yet  Harriet  more wonderful things have taken
place  there have been matches of greater disparity   But take care of
yourself   I would not have you too sanguine  though  however it may
end  be assured your raising your thoughts to  him   is a mark of good
taste which I shall always know how to value  

Harriet kissed her hand in silent and submissive gratitude   Emma was
very decided in thinking such an attachment no bad thing for her
friend   Its tendency would be to raise and refine her mind  and it
must be saving her from the danger of degradation 



CHAPTER V


In this state of schemes  and hopes  and connivance  June opened upon
Hartfield   To Highbury in general it brought no material change   The
Eltons were still talking of a visit from the Sucklings  and of the use
to be made of their barouche landau  and Jane Fairfax was still at her
grandmother s  and as the return of the Campbells from Ireland was
again delayed  and August  instead of Midsummer  fixed for it  she was
likely to remain there full two months longer  provided at least she
were able to defeat Mrs  Elton s activity in her service  and save
herself from being hurried into a delightful situation against her will 

Mr  Knightley  who  for some reason best known to himself  had
certainly taken an early dislike to Frank Churchill  was only growing
to dislike him more   He began to suspect him of some double dealing in
his pursuit of Emma   That Emma was his object appeared indisputable 
Every thing declared it  his own attentions  his father s hints  his
mother in law s guarded silence  it was all in unison  words  conduct 
discretion  and indiscretion  told the same story   But while so many
were devoting him to Emma  and Emma herself making him over to Harriet 
Mr  Knightley began to suspect him of some inclination to trifle with
Jane Fairfax   He could not understand it  but there were symptoms of
intelligence between them  he thought so at least  symptoms of
admiration on his side  which  having once observed  he could not
persuade himself to think entirely void of meaning  however he might
wish to escape any of Emma s errors of imagination    She  was not
present when the suspicion first arose   He was dining with the
Randalls family  and Jane  at the Eltons   and he had seen a look  more
than a single look  at Miss Fairfax  which  from the admirer of Miss
Woodhouse  seemed somewhat out of place   When he was again in their
company  he could not help remembering what he had seen  nor could he
avoid observations which  unless it were like Cowper and his fire at
twilight 

 Myself creating what I saw  

brought him yet stronger suspicion of there being a something of
private liking  of private understanding even  between Frank Churchill
and Jane 

He had walked up one day after dinner  as he very often did  to spend
his evening at Hartfield   Emma and Harriet were going to walk  he
joined them  and  on returning  they fell in with a larger party  who 
like themselves  judged it wisest to take their exercise early  as the
weather threatened rain  Mr  and Mrs  Weston and their son  Miss Bates
and her niece  who had accidentally met   They all united  and  on
reaching Hartfield gates  Emma  who knew it was exactly the sort of
visiting that would be welcome to her father  pressed them all to go in
and drink tea with him   The Randalls party agreed to it immediately 
and after a pretty long speech from Miss Bates  which few persons
listened to  she also found it possible to accept dear Miss Woodhouse s
most obliging invitation 

As they were turning into the grounds  Mr  Perry passed by on
horseback   The gentlemen spoke of his horse 

 By the bye   said Frank Churchill to Mrs  Weston presently   what
became of Mr  Perry s plan of setting up his carriage  

Mrs  Weston looked surprized  and said   I did not know that he ever
had any such plan  

 Nay  I had it from you   You wrote me word of it three months ago  

 Me  impossible  

 Indeed you did   I remember it perfectly   You mentioned it as what
was certainly to be very soon   Mrs  Perry had told somebody  and was
extremely happy about it   It was owing to  her  persuasion  as she
thought his being out in bad weather did him a great deal of harm   You
must remember it now  

 Upon my word I never heard of it till this moment  

 Never  really  never   Bless me  how could it be   Then I must have
dreamt it  but I was completely persuaded  Miss Smith  you walk as if
you were tired   You will not be sorry to find yourself at home  

 What is this   What is this   cried Mr  Weston   about Perry and a
carriage   Is Perry going to set up his carriage  Frank   I am glad he
can afford it   You had it from himself  had you  

 No  sir   replied his son  laughing   I seem to have had it from
nobody   Very odd   I really was persuaded of Mrs  Weston s having
mentioned it in one of her letters to Enscombe  many weeks ago  with
all these particulars  but as she declares she never heard a syllable
of it before  of course it must have been a dream   I am a great
dreamer   I dream of every body at Highbury when I am away  and when I
have gone through my particular friends  then I begin dreaming of Mr 
and Mrs  Perry  

 It is odd though   observed his father   that you should have had such
a regular connected dream about people whom it was not very likely you
should be thinking of at Enscombe   Perry s setting up his carriage 
and his wife s persuading him to it  out of care for his health  just
what will happen  I have no doubt  some time or other  only a little
premature   What an air of probability sometimes runs through a dream 
And at others  what a heap of absurdities it is   Well  Frank  your
dream certainly shews that Highbury is in your thoughts when you are
absent   Emma  you are a great dreamer  I think  

Emma was out of hearing   She had hurried on before her guests to
prepare her father for their appearance  and was beyond the reach of
Mr  Weston s hint 

 Why  to own the truth   cried Miss Bates  who had been trying in vain
to be heard the last two minutes   if I must speak on this subject 
there is no denying that Mr  Frank Churchill might have  I do not mean
to say that he did not dream it  I am sure I have sometimes the oddest
dreams in the world  but if I am questioned about it  I must
acknowledge that there was such an idea last spring  for Mrs  Perry
herself mentioned it to my mother  and the Coles knew of it as well as
ourselves  but it was quite a secret  known to nobody else  and only
thought of about three days   Mrs  Perry was very anxious that he
should have a carriage  and came to my mother in great spirits one
morning because she thought she had prevailed   Jane  don t you
remember grandmama s telling us of it when we got home   I forget where
we had been walking to  very likely to Randalls  yes  I think it was
to Randalls   Mrs  Perry was always particularly fond of my
mother  indeed I do not know who is not  and she had mentioned it to
her in confidence  she had no objection to her telling us  of course 
but it was not to go beyond   and  from that day to this  I never
mentioned it to a soul that I know of   At the same time  I will not
positively answer for my having never dropt a hint  because I know I do
sometimes pop out a thing before I am aware   I am a talker  you know 
I am rather a talker  and now and then I have let a thing escape me
which I should not   I am not like Jane  I wish I were   I will answer
for it  she  never betrayed the least thing in the world   Where is
she   Oh  just behind   Perfectly remember Mrs  Perry s coming   
Extraordinary dream  indeed  

They were entering the hall   Mr  Knightley s eyes had preceded Miss
Bates s in a glance at Jane   From Frank Churchill s face  where he
thought he saw confusion suppressed or laughed away  he had
involuntarily turned to hers  but she was indeed behind  and too busy
with her shawl   Mr  Weston had walked in   The two other gentlemen
waited at the door to let her pass   Mr  Knightley suspected in Frank
Churchill the determination of catching her eye  he seemed watching
her intently  in vain  however  if it were so   Jane passed between
them into the hall  and looked at neither 

There was no time for farther remark or explanation   The dream must be
borne with  and Mr  Knightley must take his seat with the rest round
the large modern circular table which Emma had introduced at Hartfield 
and which none but Emma could have had power to place there and
persuade her father to use  instead of the small sized Pembroke  on
which two of his daily meals had  for forty years been crowded   Tea
passed pleasantly  and nobody seemed in a hurry to move 

 Miss Woodhouse   said Frank Churchill  after examining a table behind
him  which he could reach as he sat   have your nephews taken away
their alphabets  their box of letters   It used to stand here   Where
is it   This is a sort of dull looking evening  that ought to be
treated rather as winter than summer   We had great amusement with
those letters one morning   I want to puzzle you again  

Emma was pleased with the thought  and producing the box  the table was
quickly scattered over with alphabets  which no one seemed so much
disposed to employ as their two selves   They were rapidly forming
words for each other  or for any body else who would be puzzled   The
quietness of the game made it particularly eligible for Mr  Woodhouse 
who had often been distressed by the more animated sort  which Mr 
Weston had occasionally introduced  and who now sat happily occupied in
lamenting  with tender melancholy  over the departure of the  poor
little boys   or in fondly pointing out  as he took up any stray letter
near him  how beautifully Emma had written it 

Frank Churchill placed a word before Miss Fairfax   She gave a slight
glance round the table  and applied herself to it   Frank was next to
Emma  Jane opposite to them  and Mr  Knightley so placed as to see them
all  and it was his object to see as much as he could  with as little
apparent observation   The word was discovered  and with a faint smile
pushed away   If meant to be immediately mixed with the others  and
buried from sight  she should have looked on the table instead of
looking just across  for it was not mixed  and Harriet  eager after
every fresh word  and finding out none  directly took it up  and fell
to work   She was sitting by Mr  Knightley  and turned to him for help 
The word was  blunder   and as Harriet exultingly proclaimed it  there
was a blush on Jane s cheek which gave it a meaning not otherwise
ostensible   Mr  Knightley connected it with the dream  but how it
could all be  was beyond his comprehension   How the delicacy  the
discretion of his favourite could have been so lain asleep   He feared
there must be some decided involvement   Disingenuousness and double
dealing seemed to meet him at every turn   These letters were but the
vehicle for gallantry and trick   It was a child s play  chosen to
conceal a deeper game on Frank Churchill s part 

With great indignation did he continue to observe him  with great alarm
and distrust  to observe also his two blinded companions   He saw a
short word prepared for Emma  and given to her with a look sly and
demure   He saw that Emma had soon made it out  and found it highly
entertaining  though it was something which she judged it proper to
appear to censure  for she said   Nonsense  for shame   He heard Frank
Churchill next say  with a glance towards Jane   I will give it to
her  shall I    and as clearly heard Emma opposing it with eager
laughing warmth    No  no  you must not  you shall not  indeed  

It was done however   This gallant young man  who seemed to love
without feeling  and to recommend himself without complaisance 
directly handed over the word to Miss Fairfax  and with a particular
degree of sedate civility entreated her to study it   Mr  Knightley s
excessive curiosity to know what this word might be  made him seize
every possible moment for darting his eye towards it  and it was not
long before he saw it to be  Dixon    Jane Fairfax s perception seemed
to accompany his  her comprehension was certainly more equal to the
covert meaning  the superior intelligence  of those five letters so
arranged   She was evidently displeased  looked up  and seeing herself
watched  blushed more deeply than he had ever perceived her  and saying
only   I did not know that proper names were allowed   pushed away the
letters with even an angry spirit  and looked resolved to be engaged by
no other word that could be offered   Her face was averted from those
who had made the attack  and turned towards her aunt 

 Aye  very true  my dear   cried the latter  though Jane had not spoken
a word   I was just going to say the same thing   It is time for us to
be going indeed   The evening is closing in  and grandmama will be
looking for us   My dear sir  you are too obliging   We really must
wish you good night  

Jane s alertness in moving  proved her as ready as her aunt had
preconceived   She was immediately up  and wanting to quit the table 
but so many were also moving  that she could not get away  and Mr 
Knightley thought he saw another collection of letters anxiously pushed
towards her  and resolutely swept away by her unexamined   She was
afterwards looking for her shawl  Frank Churchill was looking also  it
was growing dusk  and the room was in confusion  and how they parted 
Mr  Knightley could not tell 

He remained at Hartfield after all the rest  his thoughts full of what
he had seen  so full  that when the candles came to assist his
observations  he must  yes  he certainly must  as a friend  an anxious
friend  give Emma some hint  ask her some question   He could not see
her in a situation of such danger  without trying to preserve her   It
was his duty 

 Pray  Emma   said he   may I ask in what lay the great amusement  the
poignant sting of the last word given to you and Miss Fairfax   I saw
the word  and am curious to know how it could be so very entertaining
to the one  and so very distressing to the other  

Emma was extremely confused   She could not endure to give him the true
explanation  for though her suspicions were by no means removed  she
was really ashamed of having ever imparted them 

 Oh   she cried in evident embarrassment   it all meant nothing  a mere
joke among ourselves  

 The joke   he replied gravely   seemed confined to you and Mr 
Churchill  

He had hoped she would speak again  but she did not   She would rather
busy herself about any thing than speak   He sat a little while in
doubt   A variety of evils crossed his mind   Interference  fruitless
interference   Emma s confusion  and the acknowledged intimacy  seemed
to declare her affection engaged   Yet he would speak   He owed it to
her  to risk any thing that might be involved in an unwelcome
interference  rather than her welfare  to encounter any thing  rather
than the remembrance of neglect in such a cause 

 My dear Emma   said he at last  with earnest kindness   do you think
you perfectly understand the degree of acquaintance between the
gentleman and lady we have been speaking of  

 Between Mr  Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax   Oh  yes  perfectly   
Why do you make a doubt of it  

 Have you never at any time had reason to think that he admired her  or
that she admired him  

 Never  never   she cried with a most open eagerness   Never  for the
twentieth part of a moment  did such an idea occur to me   And how
could it possibly come into your head  

 I have lately imagined that I saw symptoms of attachment between
them  certain expressive looks  which I did not believe meant to be
public  

 Oh  you amuse me excessively   I am delighted to find that you can
vouchsafe to let your imagination wander  but it will not do  very
sorry to check you in your first essay  but indeed it will not do 
There is no admiration between them  I do assure you  and the
appearances which have caught you  have arisen from some peculiar
circumstances  feelings rather of a totally different nature  it is
impossible exactly to explain   there is a good deal of nonsense in
it  but the part which is capable of being communicated  which is
sense  is  that they are as far from any attachment or admiration for
one another  as any two beings in the world can be   That is  I
 presume  it to be so on her side  and I can  answer  for its being so
on his   I will answer for the gentleman s indifference  

She spoke with a confidence which staggered  with a satisfaction which
silenced  Mr  Knightley   She was in gay spirits  and would have
prolonged the conversation  wanting to hear the particulars of his
suspicions  every look described  and all the wheres and hows of a
circumstance which highly entertained her   but his gaiety did not meet
hers   He found he could not be useful  and his feelings were too much
irritated for talking   That he might not be irritated into an absolute
fever  by the fire which Mr  Woodhouse s tender habits required almost
every evening throughout the year  he soon afterwards took a hasty
leave  and walked home to the coolness and solitude of Donwell Abbey 



CHAPTER VI


After being long fed with hopes of a speedy visit from Mr  and Mrs 
Suckling  the Highbury world were obliged to endure the mortification
of hearing that they could not possibly come till the autumn   No such
importation of novelties could enrich their intellectual stores at
present   In the daily interchange of news  they must be again
restricted to the other topics with which for a while the Sucklings 
coming had been united  such as the last accounts of Mrs  Churchill 
whose health seemed every day to supply a different report  and the
situation of Mrs  Weston  whose happiness it was to be hoped might
eventually be as much increased by the arrival of a child  as that of
all her neighbours was by the approach of it 

Mrs  Elton was very much disappointed   It was the delay of a great
deal of pleasure and parade   Her introductions and recommendations
must all wait  and every projected party be still only talked of   So
she thought at first   but a little consideration convinced her that
every thing need not be put off   Why should not they explore to Box
Hill though the Sucklings did not come   They could go there again with
them in the autumn   It was settled that they should go to Box Hill 
That there was to be such a party had been long generally known   it
had even given the idea of another   Emma had never been to Box Hill 
she wished to see what every body found so well worth seeing  and she
and Mr  Weston had agreed to chuse some fine morning and drive thither 
Two or three more of the chosen only were to be admitted to join them 
and it was to be done in a quiet  unpretending  elegant way  infinitely
superior to the bustle and preparation  the regular eating and
drinking  and picnic parade of the Eltons and the Sucklings 

This was so very well understood between them  that Emma could not but
feel some surprise  and a little displeasure  on hearing from Mr 
Weston that he had been proposing to Mrs  Elton  as her brother and
sister had failed her  that the two parties should unite  and go
together  and that as Mrs  Elton had very readily acceded to it  so it
was to be  if she had no objection   Now  as her objection was nothing
but her very great dislike of Mrs  Elton  of which Mr  Weston must
already be perfectly aware  it was not worth bringing forward
again   it could not be done without a reproof to him  which would be
giving pain to his wife  and she found herself therefore obliged to
consent to an arrangement which she would have done a great deal to
avoid  an arrangement which would probably expose her even to the
degradation of being said to be of Mrs  Elton s party   Every feeling
was offended  and the forbearance of her outward submission left a
heavy arrear due of secret severity in her reflections on the
unmanageable goodwill of Mr  Weston s temper 

 I am glad you approve of what I have done   said he very comfortably 
 But I thought you would   Such schemes as these are nothing without
numbers   One cannot have too large a party   A large party secures its
own amusement   And she is a good natured woman after all   One could
not leave her out  

Emma denied none of it aloud  and agreed to none of it in private 

It was now the middle of June  and the weather fine  and Mrs  Elton was
growing impatient to name the day  and settle with Mr  Weston as to
pigeon pies and cold lamb  when a lame carriage horse threw every thing
into sad uncertainty   It might be weeks  it might be only a few days 
before the horse were useable  but no preparations could be ventured
on  and it was all melancholy stagnation   Mrs  Elton s resources were
inadequate to such an attack 

 Is not this most vexatious  Knightley   she cried    And such weather
for exploring   These delays and disappointments are quite odious 
What are we to do   The year will wear away at this rate  and nothing
done   Before this time last year I assure you we had had a delightful
exploring party from Maple Grove to Kings Weston  

 You had better explore to Donwell   replied Mr  Knightley    That may
be done without horses   Come  and eat my strawberries   They are
ripening fast  

If Mr  Knightley did not begin seriously  he was obliged to proceed so 
for his proposal was caught at with delight  and the  Oh   I should
like it of all things   was not plainer in words than manner   Donwell
was famous for its strawberry beds  which seemed a plea for the
invitation   but no plea was necessary  cabbage beds would have been
enough to tempt the lady  who only wanted to be going somewhere   She
promised him again and again to come  much oftener than he doubted  and
was extremely gratified by such a proof of intimacy  such a
distinguishing compliment as she chose to consider it 

 You may depend upon me   said she    I certainly will come   Name your
day  and I will come   You will allow me to bring Jane Fairfax  

 I cannot name a day   said he   till I have spoken to some others whom
I would wish to meet you  

 Oh  leave all that to me   Only give me a carte blanche   I am Lady
Patroness  you know   It is my party   I will bring friends with me  

 I hope you will bring Elton   said he    but I will not trouble you to
give any other invitations  

 Oh  now you are looking very sly   But consider  you need not be
afraid of delegating power to  me    I am no young lady on her
preferment   Married women  you know  may be safely authorised   It is
my party   Leave it all to me   I will invite your guests  

 No    he calmly replied    there is but one married woman in the world
whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell  and
that one is   

   Mrs  Weston  I suppose   interrupted Mrs  Elton  rather mortified 

 No  Mrs  Knightley   and till she is in being  I will manage such
matters myself  

 Ah  you are an odd creature   she cried  satisfied to have no one
preferred to herself    You are a humourist  and may say what you like 
Quite a humourist   Well  I shall bring Jane with me  Jane and her
aunt   The rest I leave to you   I have no objections at all to meeting
the Hartfield family   Don t scruple   I know you are attached to them  

 You certainly will meet them if I can prevail  and I shall call on
Miss Bates in my way home  

 That s quite unnecessary  I see Jane every day   but as you like   It
is to be a morning scheme  you know  Knightley  quite a simple thing 
I shall wear a large bonnet  and bring one of my little baskets hanging
on my arm   Here   probably this basket with pink ribbon   Nothing can
be more simple  you see   And Jane will have such another   There is to
be no form or parade  a sort of gipsy party   We are to walk about your
gardens  and gather the strawberries ourselves  and sit under
trees   and whatever else you may like to provide  it is to be all out
of doors  a table spread in the shade  you know   Every thing as
natural and simple as possible   Is not that your idea  

 Not quite   My idea of the simple and the natural will be to have the
table spread in the dining room  The nature and the simplicity of
gentlemen and ladies  with their servants and furniture  I think is
best observed by meals within doors   When you are tired of eating
strawberries in the garden  there shall be cold meat in the house  

 Well  as you please  only don t have a great set out   And  by the
bye  can I or my housekeeper be of any use to you with our opinion   
Pray be sincere  Knightley   If you wish me to talk to Mrs  Hodges  or
to inspect anything   

 I have not the least wish for it  I thank you  

 Well  but if any difficulties should arise  my housekeeper is
extremely clever  

 I will answer for it  that mine thinks herself full as clever  and
would spurn any body s assistance  

 I wish we had a donkey   The thing would be for us all to come on
donkeys  Jane  Miss Bates  and me  and my caro sposo walking by   I
really must talk to him about purchasing a donkey   In a country life I
conceive it to be a sort of necessary  for  let a woman have ever so
many resources  it is not possible for her to be always shut up at
home   and very long walks  you know  in summer there is dust  and in
winter there is dirt  

 You will not find either  between Donwell and Highbury   Donwell Lane
is never dusty  and now it is perfectly dry   Come on a donkey 
however  if you prefer it   You can borrow Mrs  Cole s   I would wish
every thing to be as much to your taste as possible  

 That I am sure you would   Indeed I do you justice  my good friend 
Under that peculiar sort of dry  blunt manner  I know you have the
warmest heart   As I tell Mr  E   you are a thorough humourist    Yes 
believe me  Knightley  I am fully sensible of your attention to me in
the whole of this scheme   You have hit upon the very thing to please
me  

Mr  Knightley had another reason for avoiding a table in the shade   He
wished to persuade Mr  Woodhouse  as well as Emma  to join the party 
and he knew that to have any of them sitting down out of doors to eat
would inevitably make him ill   Mr  Woodhouse must not  under the
specious pretence of a morning drive  and an hour or two spent at
Donwell  be tempted away to his misery 

He was invited on good faith   No lurking horrors were to upbraid him
for his easy credulity   He did consent   He had not been at Donwell
for two years    Some very fine morning  he  and Emma  and Harriet 
could go very well  and he could sit still with Mrs  Weston  while the
dear girls walked about the gardens   He did not suppose they could be
damp now  in the middle of the day   He should like to see the old
house again exceedingly  and should be very happy to meet Mr  and Mrs 
Elton  and any other of his neighbours   He could not see any objection
at all to his  and Emma s  and Harriet s going there some very fine
morning   He thought it very well done of Mr  Knightley to invite
them  very kind and sensible  much cleverer than dining out   He was
not fond of dining out  

Mr  Knightley was fortunate in every body s most ready concurrence 
The invitation was everywhere so well received  that it seemed as if 
like Mrs  Elton  they were all taking the scheme as a particular
compliment to themselves   Emma and Harriet professed very high
expectations of pleasure from it  and Mr  Weston  unasked  promised to
get Frank over to join them  if possible  a proof of approbation and
gratitude which could have been dispensed with    Mr  Knightley was
then obliged to say that he should be glad to see him  and Mr  Weston
engaged to lose no time in writing  and spare no arguments to induce
him to come 

In the meanwhile the lame horse recovered so fast  that the party to
Box Hill was again under happy consideration  and at last Donwell was
settled for one day  and Box Hill for the next   the weather appearing
exactly right 

Under a bright mid day sun  at almost Midsummer  Mr  Woodhouse was
safely conveyed in his carriage  with one window down  to partake of
this al fresco party  and in one of the most comfortable rooms in the
Abbey  especially prepared for him by a fire all the morning  he was
happily placed  quite at his ease  ready to talk with pleasure of what
had been achieved  and advise every body to come and sit down  and not
to heat themselves    Mrs  Weston  who seemed to have walked there on
purpose to be tired  and sit all the time with him  remained  when all
the others were invited or persuaded out  his patient listener and
sympathiser 

It was so long since Emma had been at the Abbey  that as soon as she
was satisfied of her father s comfort  she was glad to leave him  and
look around her  eager to refresh and correct her memory with more
particular observation  more exact understanding of a house and grounds
which must ever be so interesting to her and all her family 

She felt all the honest pride and complacency which her alliance with
the present and future proprietor could fairly warrant  as she viewed
the respectable size and style of the building  its suitable  becoming 
characteristic situation  low and sheltered  its ample gardens
stretching down to meadows washed by a stream  of which the Abbey  with
all the old neglect of prospect  had scarcely a sight  and its
abundance of timber in rows and avenues  which neither fashion nor
extravagance had rooted up   The house was larger than Hartfield  and
totally unlike it  covering a good deal of ground  rambling and
irregular  with many comfortable  and one or two handsome rooms   It
was just what it ought to be  and it looked what it was  and Emma felt
an increasing respect for it  as the residence of a family of such true
gentility  untainted in blood and understanding   Some faults of temper
John Knightley had  but Isabella had connected herself unexceptionably 
She had given them neither men  nor names  nor places  that could raise
a blush   These were pleasant feelings  and she walked about and
indulged them till it was necessary to do as the others did  and
collect round the strawberry beds   The whole party were assembled 
excepting Frank Churchill  who was expected every moment from Richmond 
and Mrs  Elton  in all her apparatus of happiness  her large bonnet and
her basket  was very ready to lead the way in gathering  accepting  or
talking  strawberries  and only strawberries  could now be thought or
spoken of    The best fruit in England  every body s favourite  always
wholesome   These the finest beds and finest sorts   Delightful to
gather for one s self  the only way of really enjoying them   Morning
decidedly the best time  never tired  every sort good  hautboy
infinitely superior  no comparison  the others hardly
eatable  hautboys very scarce  Chili preferred  white wood finest
flavour of all  price of strawberries in London  abundance about
Bristol  Maple Grove  cultivation  beds when to be renewed  gardeners
thinking exactly different  no general rule  gardeners never to be put
out of their way  delicious fruit  only too rich to be eaten much
of  inferior to cherries  currants more refreshing  only objection to
gathering strawberries the stooping  glaring sun  tired to death  could
bear it no longer  must go and sit in the shade  

Such  for half an hour  was the conversation  interrupted only once by
Mrs  Weston  who came out  in her solicitude after her son in law  to
inquire if he were come  and she was a little uneasy    She had some
fears of his horse 

Seats tolerably in the shade were found  and now Emma was obliged to
overhear what Mrs  Elton and Jane Fairfax were talking of    A
situation  a most desirable situation  was in question   Mrs  Elton had
received notice of it that morning  and was in raptures   It was not
with Mrs  Suckling  it was not with Mrs  Bragge  but in felicity and
splendour it fell short only of them   it was with a cousin of Mrs 
Bragge  an acquaintance of Mrs  Suckling  a lady known at Maple Grove 
Delightful  charming  superior  first circles  spheres  lines  ranks 
every thing  and Mrs  Elton was wild to have the offer closed with
immediately   On her side  all was warmth  energy  and triumph  and she
positively refused to take her friend s negative  though Miss Fairfax
continued to assure her that she would not at present engage in any
thing  repeating the same motives which she had been heard to urge
before    Still Mrs  Elton insisted on being authorised to write an
acquiescence by the morrow s post   How Jane could bear it at all  was
astonishing to Emma   She did look vexed  she did speak pointedly  and
at last  with a decision of action unusual to her  proposed a
removal     Should not they walk   Would not Mr  Knightley shew them
the gardens  all the gardens   She wished to see the whole
extent    The pertinacity of her friend seemed more than she could bear 

It was hot  and after walking some time over the gardens in a
scattered  dispersed way  scarcely any three together  they insensibly
followed one another to the delicious shade of a broad short avenue of
limes  which stretching beyond the garden at an equal distance from the
river  seemed the finish of the pleasure grounds    It led to nothing 
nothing but a view at the end over a low stone wall with high pillars 
which seemed intended  in their erection  to give the appearance of an
approach to the house  which never had been there   Disputable 
however  as might be the taste of such a termination  it was in itself
a charming walk  and the view which closed it extremely pretty   The
considerable slope  at nearly the foot of which the Abbey stood 
gradually acquired a steeper form beyond its grounds  and at half a
mile distant was a bank of considerable abruptness and grandeur  well
clothed with wood   and at the bottom of this bank  favourably placed
and sheltered  rose the Abbey Mill Farm  with meadows in front  and the
river making a close and handsome curve around it 

It was a sweet view  sweet to the eye and the mind   English verdure 
English culture  English comfort  seen under a sun bright  without
being oppressive 

In this walk Emma and Mr  Weston found all the others assembled  and
towards this view she immediately perceived Mr  Knightley and Harriet
distinct from the rest  quietly leading the way   Mr  Knightley and
Harriet   It was an odd tete a tete  but she was glad to see it   There
had been a time when he would have scorned her as a companion  and
turned from her with little ceremony   Now they seemed in pleasant
conversation   There had been a time also when Emma would have been
sorry to see Harriet in a spot so favourable for the Abbey Mill Farm 
but now she feared it not   It might be safely viewed with all its
appendages of prosperity and beauty  its rich pastures  spreading
flocks  orchard in blossom  and light column of smoke ascending   She
joined them at the wall  and found them more engaged in talking than in
looking around   He was giving Harriet information as to modes of
agriculture  etc   and Emma received a smile which seemed to say 
 These are my own concerns   I have a right to talk on such subjects 
without being suspected of introducing Robert Martin    She did not
suspect him   It was too old a story   Robert Martin had probably
ceased to think of Harriet   They took a few turns together along the
walk   The shade was most refreshing  and Emma found it the pleasantest
part of the day 

The next remove was to the house  they must all go in and eat   and
they were all seated and busy  and still Frank Churchill did not come 
Mrs  Weston looked  and looked in vain   His father would not own
himself uneasy  and laughed at her fears  but she could not be cured of
wishing that he would part with his black mare   He had expressed
himself as to coming  with more than common certainty    His aunt was
so much better  that he had not a doubt of getting over to them    Mrs 
Churchill s state  however  as many were ready to remind her  was
liable to such sudden variation as might disappoint her nephew in the
most reasonable dependence  and Mrs  Weston was at last persuaded to
believe  or to say  that it must be by some attack of Mrs  Churchill
that he was prevented coming    Emma looked at Harriet while the point
was under consideration  she behaved very well  and betrayed no emotion 

The cold repast was over  and the party were to go out once more to see
what had not yet been seen  the old Abbey fish ponds  perhaps get as
far as the clover  which was to be begun cutting on the morrow  or  at
any rate  have the pleasure of being hot  and growing cool again   Mr 
Woodhouse  who had already taken his little round in the highest part
of the gardens  where no damps from the river were imagined even by
him  stirred no more  and his daughter resolved to remain with him 
that Mrs  Weston might be persuaded away by her husband to the exercise
and variety which her spirits seemed to need 

Mr  Knightley had done all in his power for Mr  Woodhouse s
entertainment   Books of engravings  drawers of medals  cameos  corals 
shells  and every other family collection within his cabinets  had been
prepared for his old friend  to while away the morning  and the
kindness had perfectly answered   Mr  Woodhouse had been exceedingly
well amused   Mrs  Weston had been shewing them all to him  and now he
would shew them all to Emma   fortunate in having no other resemblance
to a child  than in a total want of taste for what he saw  for he was
slow  constant  and methodical   Before this second looking over was
begun  however  Emma walked into the hall for the sake of a few
moments  free observation of the entrance and ground plot of the
house  and was hardly there  when Jane Fairfax appeared  coming quickly
in from the garden  and with a look of escape    Little expecting to
meet Miss Woodhouse so soon  there was a start at first  but Miss
Woodhouse was the very person she was in quest of 

 Will you be so kind   said she   when I am missed  as to say that I am
gone home   I am going this moment   My aunt is not aware how late it
is  nor how long we have been absent  but I am sure we shall be wanted 
and I am determined to go directly   I have said nothing about it to
any body   It would only be giving trouble and distress   Some are gone
to the ponds  and some to the lime walk   Till they all come in I shall
not be missed  and when they do  will you have the goodness to say that
I am gone  

 Certainly  if you wish it   but you are not going to walk to Highbury
alone  

 Yes  what should hurt me   I walk fast   I shall be at home in twenty
minutes  

 But it is too far  indeed it is  to be walking quite alone   Let my
father s servant go with you   Let me order the carriage   It can be
round in five minutes  

 Thank you  thank you  but on no account   I would rather walk    And
for  me  to be afraid of walking alone   I  who may so soon have to
guard others  

She spoke with great agitation  and Emma very feelingly replied   That
can be no reason for your being exposed to danger now   I must order
the carriage   The heat even would be danger   You are fatigued
already  

 I am    she answered   I am fatigued  but it is not the sort of
fatigue  quick walking will refresh me   Miss Woodhouse  we all know at
times what it is to be wearied in spirits   Mine  I confess  are
exhausted   The greatest kindness you can shew me  will be to let me
have my own way  and only say that I am gone when it is necessary  

Emma had not another word to oppose   She saw it all  and entering into
her feelings  promoted her quitting the house immediately  and watched
her safely off with the zeal of a friend   Her parting look was
grateful  and her parting words   Oh   Miss Woodhouse  the comfort of
being sometimes alone    seemed to burst from an overcharged heart  and
to describe somewhat of the continual endurance to be practised by her 
even towards some of those who loved her best 

 Such a home  indeed  such an aunt   said Emma  as she turned back into
the hall again    I do pity you   And the more sensibility you betray
of their just horrors  the more I shall like you  

Jane had not been gone a quarter of an hour  and they had only
accomplished some views of St  Mark s Place  Venice  when Frank
Churchill entered the room   Emma had not been thinking of him  she had
forgotten to think of him  but she was very glad to see him   Mrs 
Weston would be at ease   The black mare was blameless   they  were
right who had named Mrs  Churchill as the cause   He had been detained
by a temporary increase of illness in her  a nervous seizure  which had
lasted some hours  and he had quite given up every thought of coming 
till very late   and had he known how hot a ride he should have  and
how late  with all his hurry  he must be  he believed he should not
have come at all   The heat was excessive  he had never suffered any
thing like it  almost wished he had staid at home  nothing killed him
like heat  he could bear any degree of cold  etc   but heat was
intolerable  and he sat down  at the greatest possible distance from
the slight remains of Mr  Woodhouse s fire  looking very deplorable 

 You will soon be cooler  if you sit still   said Emma 

 As soon as I am cooler I shall go back again   I could very ill be
spared  but such a point had been made of my coming   You will all be
going soon I suppose  the whole party breaking up   I met  one  as I
came  Madness in such weather   absolute madness  

Emma listened  and looked  and soon perceived that Frank Churchill s
state might be best defined by the expressive phrase of being out of
humour   Some people were always cross when they were hot   Such might
be his constitution  and as she knew that eating and drinking were
often the cure of such incidental complaints  she recommended his
taking some refreshment  he would find abundance of every thing in the
dining room  and she humanely pointed out the door 

 No  he should not eat   He was not hungry  it would only make him
hotter    In two minutes  however  he relented in his own favour  and
muttering something about spruce beer  walked off   Emma returned all
her attention to her father  saying in secret  

 I am glad I have done being in love with him   I should not like a man
who is so soon discomposed by a hot morning   Harriet s sweet easy
temper will not mind it  

He was gone long enough to have had a very comfortable meal  and came
back all the better  grown quite cool  and  with good manners  like
himself  able to draw a chair close to them  take an interest in their
employment  and regret  in a reasonable way  that he should be so late 
He was not in his best spirits  but seemed trying to improve them  and 
at last  made himself talk nonsense very agreeably   They were looking
over views in Swisserland 

 As soon as my aunt gets well  I shall go abroad   said he    I shall
never be easy till I have seen some of these places   You will have my
sketches  some time or other  to look at  or my tour to read  or my
poem   I shall do something to expose myself  

 That may be  but not by sketches in Swisserland   You will never go to
Swisserland   Your uncle and aunt will never allow you to leave
England  

 They may be induced to go too   A warm climate may be prescribed for
her   I have more than half an expectation of our all going abroad   I
assure you I have   I feel a strong persuasion  this morning  that I
shall soon be abroad   I ought to travel   I am tired of doing nothing 
I want a change   I am serious  Miss Woodhouse  whatever your
penetrating eyes may fancy  I am sick of England   and would leave it
to morrow  if I could  

 You are sick of prosperity and indulgence   Cannot you invent a few
hardships for yourself  and be contented to stay  

  I  sick of prosperity and indulgence   You are quite mistaken   I do
not look upon myself as either prosperous or indulged   I am thwarted
in every thing material   I do not consider myself at all a fortunate
person  

 You are not quite so miserable  though  as when you first came   Go
and eat and drink a little more  and you will do very well   Another
slice of cold meat  another draught of Madeira and water  will make you
nearly on a par with the rest of us  

 No  I shall not stir   I shall sit by you   You are my best cure  

 We are going to Box Hill to morrow   you will join us   It is not
Swisserland  but it will be something for a young man so much in want
of a change   You will stay  and go with us  

 No  certainly not  I shall go home in the cool of the evening  

 But you may come again in the cool of to morrow morning  

 No  It will not be worth while   If I come  I shall be cross  

 Then pray stay at Richmond  

 But if I do  I shall be crosser still   I can never bear to think of
you all there without me  

 These are difficulties which you must settle for yourself   Chuse your
own degree of crossness   I shall press you no more  

The rest of the party were now returning  and all were soon collected 
With some there was great joy at the sight of Frank Churchill  others
took it very composedly  but there was a very general distress and
disturbance on Miss Fairfax s disappearance being explained   That it
was time for every body to go  concluded the subject  and with a short
final arrangement for the next day s scheme  they parted   Frank
Churchill s little inclination to exclude himself increased so much 
that his last words to Emma were 

 Well   if  you  wish me to stay and join the party  I will  

She smiled her acceptance  and nothing less than a summons from
Richmond was to take him back before the following evening 



CHAPTER VII


They had a very fine day for Box Hill  and all the other outward
circumstances of arrangement  accommodation  and punctuality  were in
favour of a pleasant party   Mr  Weston directed the whole  officiating
safely between Hartfield and the Vicarage  and every body was in good
time   Emma and Harriet went together  Miss Bates and her niece  with
the Eltons  the gentlemen on horseback   Mrs  Weston remained with Mr 
Woodhouse   Nothing was wanting but to be happy when they got there 
Seven miles were travelled in expectation of enjoyment  and every body
had a burst of admiration on first arriving  but in the general amount
of the day there was deficiency   There was a languor  a want of
spirits  a want of union  which could not be got over   They separated
too much into parties   The Eltons walked together  Mr  Knightley took
charge of Miss Bates and Jane  and Emma and Harriet belonged to Frank
Churchill   And Mr  Weston tried  in vain  to make them harmonise
better   It seemed at first an accidental division  but it never
materially varied   Mr  and Mrs  Elton  indeed  shewed no unwillingness
to mix  and be as agreeable as they could  but during the two whole
hours that were spent on the hill  there seemed a principle of
separation  between the other parties  too strong for any fine
prospects  or any cold collation  or any cheerful Mr  Weston  to remove 

At first it was downright dulness to Emma   She had never seen Frank
Churchill so silent and stupid   He said nothing worth hearing  looked
without seeing  admired without intelligence  listened without knowing
what she said   While he was so dull  it was no wonder that Harriet
should be dull likewise  and they were both insufferable 

When they all sat down it was better  to her taste a great deal better 
for Frank Churchill grew talkative and gay  making her his first
object   Every distinguishing attention that could be paid  was paid to
her   To amuse her  and be agreeable in her eyes  seemed all that he
cared for  and Emma  glad to be enlivened  not sorry to be flattered 
was gay and easy too  and gave him all the friendly encouragement  the
admission to be gallant  which she had ever given in the first and most
animating period of their acquaintance  but which now  in her own
estimation  meant nothing  though in the judgment of most people
looking on it must have had such an appearance as no English word but
flirtation could very well describe    Mr  Frank Churchill and Miss
Woodhouse flirted together excessively    They were laying themselves
open to that very phrase  and to having it sent off in a letter to
Maple Grove by one lady  to Ireland by another   Not that Emma was gay
and thoughtless from any real felicity  it was rather because she felt
less happy than she had expected   She laughed because she was
disappointed  and though she liked him for his attentions  and thought
them all  whether in friendship  admiration  or playfulness  extremely
judicious  they were not winning back her heart   She still intended
him for her friend 

 How much I am obliged to you   said he   for telling me to come
to day    If it had not been for you  I should certainly have lost all
the happiness of this party   I had quite determined to go away again  

 Yes  you were very cross  and I do not know what about  except that
you were too late for the best strawberries   I was a kinder friend
than you deserved   But you were humble   You begged hard to be
commanded to come  

 Don t say I was cross   I was fatigued   The heat overcame me  

 It is hotter to day  

 Not to my feelings   I am perfectly comfortable to day  

 You are comfortable because you are under command  

 Your command   Yes  

 Perhaps I intended you to say so  but I meant self command  You had 
somehow or other  broken bounds yesterday  and run away from your own
management  but to day you are got back again  and as I cannot be
always with you  it is best to believe your temper under your own
command rather than mine  

 It comes to the same thing   I can have no self command without a
motive   You order me  whether you speak or not   And you can be always
with me   You are always with me  

 Dating from three o clock yesterday   My perpetual influence could not
begin earlier  or you would not have been so much out of humour before  

 Three o clock yesterday   That is your date   I thought I had seen you
first in February  

 Your gallantry is really unanswerable   But  lowering her voice   
nobody speaks except ourselves  and it is rather too much to be talking
nonsense for the entertainment of seven silent people  

 I say nothing of which I am ashamed   replied he  with lively
impudence    I saw you first in February   Let every body on the Hill
hear me if they can   Let my accents swell to Mickleham on one side 
and Dorking on the other   I saw you first in February    And then
whispering    Our companions are excessively stupid   What shall we do
to rouse them   Any nonsense will serve   They  shall  talk   Ladies
and gentlemen  I am ordered by Miss Woodhouse  who  wherever she is 
presides  to say  that she desires to know what you are all thinking
of  

Some laughed  and answered good humouredly  Miss Bates said a great
deal  Mrs  Elton swelled at the idea of Miss Woodhouse s presiding  Mr 
Knightley s answer was the most distinct 

 Is Miss Woodhouse sure that she would like to hear what we are all
thinking of  

 Oh  no  no   cried Emma  laughing as carelessly as she could    Upon
no account in the world   It is the very last thing I would stand the
brunt of just now   Let me hear any thing rather than what you are all
thinking of   I will not say quite all   There are one or two  perhaps 
 glancing at Mr  Weston and Harriet   whose thoughts I might not be
afraid of knowing  

 It is a sort of thing   cried Mrs  Elton emphatically   which  I 
should not have thought myself privileged to inquire into   Though 
perhaps  as the  Chaperon  of the party    I  never was in any
circle  exploring parties  young ladies  married women   

Her mutterings were chiefly to her husband  and he murmured  in reply 

 Very true  my love  very true   Exactly so  indeed  quite unheard of  
but some ladies say any thing   Better pass it off as a joke   Every
body knows what is due to  you   

 It will not do   whispered Frank to Emma   they are most of them
affronted   I will attack them with more address   Ladies and
gentlemen  I am ordered by Miss Woodhouse to say  that she waives her
right of knowing exactly what you may all be thinking of  and only
requires something very entertaining from each of you  in a general
way   Here are seven of you  besides myself   who  she is pleased to
say  am very entertaining already   and she only demands from each of
you either one thing very clever  be it prose or verse  original or
repeated  or two things moderately clever  or three things very dull
indeed  and she engages to laugh heartily at them all  

 Oh  very well   exclaimed Miss Bates   then I need not be uneasy 
 Three things very dull indeed    That will just do for me  you know 
I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my
mouth  shan t I   looking round with the most good humoured dependence
on every body s assent   Do not you all think I shall  

Emma could not resist 

 Ah  ma am  but there may be a difficulty   Pardon me  but you will be
limited as to number  only three at once  

Miss Bates  deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner  did not
immediately catch her meaning  but  when it burst on her  it could not
anger  though a slight blush shewed that it could pain her 

 Ah   well  to be sure   Yes  I see what she means   turning to Mr 
Knightley   and I will try to hold my tongue   I must make myself very
disagreeable  or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend  

 I like your plan   cried Mr  Weston    Agreed  agreed   I will do my
best   I am making a conundrum   How will a conundrum reckon  

 Low  I am afraid  sir  very low   answered his son    but we shall be
indulgent  especially to any one who leads the way  

 No  no   said Emma   it will not reckon low   A conundrum of Mr 
Weston s shall clear him and his next neighbour   Come  sir  pray let
me hear it  

 I doubt its being very clever myself   said Mr  Weston    It is too
much a matter of fact  but here it is   What two letters of the
alphabet are there  that express perfection  

 What two letters   express perfection   I am sure I do not know  

 Ah  you will never guess   You   to Emma   I am certain  will never
guess   I will tell you   M  and A   Em ma   Do you understand  

Understanding and gratification came together   It might be a very
indifferent piece of wit  but Emma found a great deal to laugh at and
enjoy in it  and so did Frank and Harriet   It did not seem to touch
the rest of the party equally  some looked very stupid about it  and
Mr  Knightley gravely said 

 This explains the sort of clever thing that is wanted  and Mr  Weston
has done very well for himself  but he must have knocked up every body
else    Perfection  should not have come quite so soon  

 Oh  for myself  I protest I must be excused   said Mrs  Elton    I 
really cannot attempt  I am not at all fond of the sort of thing   I
had an acrostic once sent to me upon my own name  which I was not at
all pleased with   I knew who it came from   An abominable puppy    You
know who I mean  nodding to her husband   These kind of things are very
well at Christmas  when one is sitting round the fire  but quite out of
place  in my opinion  when one is exploring about the country in
summer   Miss Woodhouse must excuse me   I am not one of those who have
witty things at every body s service   I do not pretend to be a wit   I
have a great deal of vivacity in my own way  but I really must be
allowed to judge when to speak and when to hold my tongue   Pass us  if
you please  Mr  Churchill   Pass Mr  E   Knightley  Jane  and myself 
We have nothing clever to say  not one of us 

 Yes  yes  pray pass  me    added her husband  with a sort of sneering
consciousness    I  have nothing to say that can entertain Miss
Woodhouse  or any other young lady   An old married man  quite good
for nothing   Shall we walk  Augusta  

 With all my heart   I am really tired of exploring so long on one
spot   Come  Jane  take my other arm  

Jane declined it  however  and the husband and wife walked off    Happy
couple   said Frank Churchill  as soon as they were out of
hearing    How well they suit one another   Very lucky  marrying as
they did  upon an acquaintance formed only in a public place   They
only knew each other  I think  a few weeks in Bath   Peculiarly
lucky   for as to any real knowledge of a person s disposition that
Bath  or any public place  can give  it is all nothing  there can be no
knowledge   It is only by seeing women in their own homes  among their
own set  just as they always are  that you can form any just judgment 
Short of that  it is all guess and luck  and will generally be
ill luck  How many a man has committed himself on a short acquaintance 
and rued it all the rest of his life  

Miss Fairfax  who had seldom spoken before  except among her own
confederates  spoke now 

 Such things do occur  undoubtedly    She was stopped by a cough 
Frank Churchill turned towards her to listen 

 You were speaking   said he  gravely   She recovered her voice 

 I was only going to observe  that though such unfortunate
circumstances do sometimes occur both to men and women  I cannot
imagine them to be very frequent   A hasty and imprudent attachment may
arise  but there is generally time to recover from it afterwards   I
would be understood to mean  that it can be only weak  irresolute
characters   whose happiness must be always at the mercy of chance  
who will suffer an unfortunate acquaintance to be an inconvenience  an
oppression for ever  

He made no answer  merely looked  and bowed in submission  and soon
afterwards said  in a lively tone 

 Well  I have so little confidence in my own judgment  that whenever I
marry  I hope some body will chuse my wife for me   Will you    turning
to Emma   Will you chuse a wife for me   I am sure I should like any
body fixed on by you   You provide for the family  you know   with a
smile at his father   Find some body for me   I am in no hurry   Adopt
her  educate her  

 And make her like myself  

 By all means  if you can  

 Very well   I undertake the commission   You shall have a charming
wife  

 She must be very lively  and have hazle eyes   I care for nothing
else   I shall go abroad for a couple of years  and when I return  I
shall come to you for my wife   Remember  

Emma was in no danger of forgetting   It was a commission to touch
every favourite feeling   Would not Harriet be the very creature
described   Hazle eyes excepted  two years more might make her all that
he wished   He might even have Harriet in his thoughts at the moment 
who could say   Referring the education to her seemed to imply it 

 Now  ma am   said Jane to her aunt   shall we join Mrs  Elton  

 If you please  my dear   With all my heart   I am quite ready   I was
ready to have gone with her  but this will do just as well   We shall
soon overtake her   There she is  no  that s somebody else   That s one
of the ladies in the Irish car party  not at all like her    Well  I
declare   

They walked off  followed in half a minute by Mr  Knightley   Mr 
Weston  his son  Emma  and Harriet  only remained  and the young man s
spirits now rose to a pitch almost unpleasant   Even Emma grew tired at
last of flattery and merriment  and wished herself rather walking
quietly about with any of the others  or sitting almost alone  and
quite unattended to  in tranquil observation of the beautiful views
beneath her   The appearance of the servants looking out for them to
give notice of the carriages was a joyful sight  and even the bustle of
collecting and preparing to depart  and the solicitude of Mrs  Elton to
have  her  carriage first  were gladly endured  in the prospect of the
quiet drive home which was to close the very questionable enjoyments of
this day of pleasure   Such another scheme  composed of so many
ill assorted people  she hoped never to be betrayed into again 

While waiting for the carriage  she found Mr  Knightley by her side 
He looked around  as if to see that no one were near  and then said 

 Emma  I must once more speak to you as I have been used to do  a
privilege rather endured than allowed  perhaps  but I must still use
it   I cannot see you acting wrong  without a remonstrance   How could
you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates   How could you be so insolent in
your wit to a woman of her character  age  and situation    Emma  I had
not thought it possible  

Emma recollected  blushed  was sorry  but tried to laugh it off 

 Nay  how could I help saying what I did   Nobody could have helped it 
It was not so very bad   I dare say she did not understand me  

 I assure you she did   She felt your full meaning   She has talked of
it since   I wish you could have heard how she talked of it  with what
candour and generosity   I wish you could have heard her honouring your
forbearance  in being able to pay her such attentions  as she was for
ever receiving from yourself and your father  when her society must be
so irksome  

 Oh   cried Emma   I know there is not a better creature in the world 
but you must allow  that what is good and what is ridiculous are most
unfortunately blended in her  

 They are blended   said he   I acknowledge  and  were she prosperous 
I could allow much for the occasional prevalence of the ridiculous over
the good   Were she a woman of fortune  I would leave every harmless
absurdity to take its chance  I would not quarrel with you for any
liberties of manner   Were she your equal in situation  but  Emma 
consider how far this is from being the case   She is poor  she has
sunk from the comforts she was born to  and  if she live to old age 
must probably sink more   Her situation should secure your compassion 
It was badly done  indeed   You  whom she had known from an infant 
whom she had seen grow up from a period when her notice was an honour 
to have you now  in thoughtless spirits  and the pride of the moment 
laugh at her  humble her  and before her niece  too  and before others 
many of whom  certainly  some    would be entirely guided by  your 
treatment of her   This is not pleasant to you  Emma  and it is very
far from pleasant to me  but I must  I will   I will tell you truths
while I can  satisfied with proving myself your friend by very faithful
counsel  and trusting that you will some time or other do me greater
justice than you can do now  

While they talked  they were advancing towards the carriage  it was
ready  and  before she could speak again  he had handed her in   He had
misinterpreted the feelings which had kept her face averted  and her
tongue motionless   They were combined only of anger against herself 
mortification  and deep concern   She had not been able to speak  and 
on entering the carriage  sunk back for a moment overcome  then
reproaching herself for having taken no leave  making no
acknowledgment  parting in apparent sullenness  she looked out with
voice and hand eager to shew a difference  but it was just too late 
He had turned away  and the horses were in motion   She continued to
look back  but in vain  and soon  with what appeared unusual speed 
they were half way down the hill  and every thing left far behind   She
was vexed beyond what could have been expressed  almost beyond what she
could conceal   Never had she felt so agitated  mortified  grieved  at
any circumstance in her life   She was most forcibly struck   The truth
of this representation there was no denying   She felt it at her heart 
How could she have been so brutal  so cruel to Miss Bates   How could
she have exposed herself to such ill opinion in any one she valued 
And how suffer him to leave her without saying one word of gratitude 
of concurrence  of common kindness 

Time did not compose her   As she reflected more  she seemed but to
feel it more   She never had been so depressed   Happily it was not
necessary to speak   There was only Harriet  who seemed not in spirits
herself  fagged  and very willing to be silent  and Emma felt the tears
running down her cheeks almost all the way home  without being at any
trouble to check them  extraordinary as they were 



CHAPTER VIII


The wretchedness of a scheme to Box Hill was in Emma s thoughts all the
evening   How it might be considered by the rest of the party  she
could not tell   They  in their different homes  and their different
ways  might be looking back on it with pleasure  but in her view it was
a morning more completely misspent  more totally bare of rational
satisfaction at the time  and more to be abhorred in recollection  than
any she had ever passed   A whole evening of back gammon with her
father  was felicity to it    There   indeed  lay real pleasure  for
there she was giving up the sweetest hours of the twenty four to his
comfort  and feeling that  unmerited as might be the degree of his fond
affection and confiding esteem  she could not  in her general conduct 
be open to any severe reproach   As a daughter  she hoped she was not
without a heart   She hoped no one could have said to her   How could
you be so unfeeling to your father    I must  I will tell you truths
while I can    Miss Bates should never again  no  never   If attention 
in future  could do away the past  she might hope to be forgiven   She
had been often remiss  her conscience told her so  remiss  perhaps 
more in thought than fact  scornful  ungracious   But it should be so
no more   In the warmth of true contrition  she would call upon her the
very next morning  and it should be the beginning  on her side  of a
regular  equal  kindly intercourse 

She was just as determined when the morrow came  and went early  that
nothing might prevent her   It was not unlikely  she thought  that she
might see Mr  Knightley in her way  or  perhaps  he might come in while
she were paying her visit   She had no objection   She would not be
ashamed of the appearance of the penitence  so justly and truly hers 
Her eyes were towards Donwell as she walked  but she saw him not 

 The ladies were all at home    She had never rejoiced at the sound
before  nor ever before entered the passage  nor walked up the stairs 
with any wish of giving pleasure  but in conferring obligation  or of
deriving it  except in subsequent ridicule 

There was a bustle on her approach  a good deal of moving and talking 
She heard Miss Bates s voice  something was to be done in a hurry  the
maid looked frightened and awkward  hoped she would be pleased to wait
a moment  and then ushered her in too soon   The aunt and niece seemed
both escaping into the adjoining room   Jane she had a distinct glimpse
of  looking extremely ill  and  before the door had shut them out  she
heard Miss Bates saying   Well  my dear  I shall  say  you are laid
down upon the bed  and I am sure you are ill enough  

Poor old Mrs  Bates  civil and humble as usual  looked as if she did
not quite understand what was going on 

 I am afraid Jane is not very well   said she   but I do not know  they
 tell  me she is well   I dare say my daughter will be here presently 
Miss Woodhouse   I hope you find a chair   I wish Hetty had not gone 
I am very little able  Have you a chair  ma am  Do you sit where you
like   I am sure she will be here presently  

Emma seriously hoped she would   She had a moment s fear of Miss Bates
keeping away from her   But Miss Bates soon came   Very happy and
obliged   but Emma s conscience told her that there was not the same
cheerful volubility as before  less ease of look and manner   A very
friendly inquiry after Miss Fairfax  she hoped  might lead the way to a
return of old feelings   The touch seemed immediate 

 Ah   Miss Woodhouse  how kind you are   I suppose you have heard  and
are come to give us joy   This does not seem much like joy  indeed  in
me   twinkling away a tear or two   but it will be very trying for us
to part with her  after having had her so long  and she has a dreadful
headache just now  writing all the morning   such long letters  you
know  to be written to Colonel Campbell  and Mrs  Dixon    My dear  
said I   you will blind yourself   for tears were in her eyes
perpetually   One cannot wonder  one cannot wonder   It is a great
change  and though she is amazingly fortunate  such a situation  I
suppose  as no young woman before ever met with on first going out  do
not think us ungrateful  Miss Woodhouse  for such surprising good
fortune   again dispersing her tears   but  poor dear soul  if you were
to see what a headache she has   When one is in great pain  you know
one cannot feel any blessing quite as it may deserve   She is as low as
possible   To look at her  nobody would think how delighted and happy
she is to have secured such a situation   You will excuse her not
coming to you  she is not able  she is gone into her own room  I want
her to lie down upon the bed    My dear   said I   I shall say you are
laid down upon the bed    but  however  she is not  she is walking
about the room   But  now that she has written her letters  she says
she shall soon be well   She will be extremely sorry to miss seeing
you  Miss Woodhouse  but your kindness will excuse her   You were kept
waiting at the door  I was quite ashamed  but somehow there was a
little bustle  for it so happened that we had not heard the knock  and
till you were on the stairs  we did not know any body was coming    It
is only Mrs  Cole   said I   depend upon it   Nobody else would come so
early     Well   said she   it must be borne some time or other  and it
may as well be now   But then Patty came in  and said it was you 
 Oh   said I   it is Miss Woodhouse   I am sure you will like to see
her      I can see nobody   said she  and up she got  and would go
away  and that was what made us keep you waiting  and extremely sorry
and ashamed we were    If you must go  my dear   said I   you must  and
I will say you are laid down upon the bed   

Emma was most sincerely interested   Her heart had been long growing
kinder towards Jane  and this picture of her present sufferings acted
as a cure of every former ungenerous suspicion  and left her nothing
but pity  and the remembrance of the less just and less gentle
sensations of the past  obliged her to admit that Jane might very
naturally resolve on seeing Mrs  Cole or any other steady friend  when
she might not bear to see herself   She spoke as she felt  with earnest
regret and solicitude  sincerely wishing that the circumstances which
she collected from Miss Bates to be now actually determined on  might
be as much for Miss Fairfax s advantage and comfort as possible    It
must be a severe trial to them all   She had understood it was to be
delayed till Colonel Campbell s return  

 So very kind   replied Miss Bates    But you are always kind  

There was no bearing such an  always   and to break through her
dreadful gratitude  Emma made the direct inquiry of  

 Where  may I ask   is Miss Fairfax going  

 To a Mrs  Smallridge  charming woman  most superior  to have the
charge of her three little girls  delightful children   Impossible that
any situation could be more replete with comfort  if we except 
perhaps  Mrs  Suckling s own family  and Mrs  Bragge s  but Mrs 
Smallridge is intimate with both  and in the very same
neighbourhood   lives only four miles from Maple Grove   Jane will be
only four miles from Maple Grove  

 Mrs  Elton  I suppose  has been the person to whom Miss Fairfax owes   

 Yes  our good Mrs  Elton   The most indefatigable  true friend   She
would not take a denial   She would not let Jane say   No   for when
Jane first heard of it   it was the day before yesterday  the very
morning we were at Donwell   when Jane first heard of it  she was quite
decided against accepting the offer  and for the reasons you mention 
exactly as you say  she had made up her mind to close with nothing till
Colonel Campbell s return  and nothing should induce her to enter into
any engagement at present  and so she told Mrs  Elton over and over
again  and I am sure I had no more idea that she would change her
mind   but that good Mrs  Elton  whose judgment never fails her  saw
farther than I did   It is not every body that would have stood out in
such a kind way as she did  and refuse to take Jane s answer  but she
positively declared she would  not  write any such denial yesterday  as
Jane wished her  she would wait  and  sure enough  yesterday evening it
was all settled that Jane should go   Quite a surprize to me   I had
not the least idea   Jane took Mrs  Elton aside  and told her at once 
that upon thinking over the advantages of Mrs  Smallridge s situation 
she had come to the resolution of accepting it   I did not know a word
of it till it was all settled  

 You spent the evening with Mrs  Elton  

 Yes  all of us  Mrs  Elton would have us come   It was settled so 
upon the hill  while we were walking about with Mr  Knightley    You
 must   all  spend your evening with us   said she   I positively must
have you  all  come   

 Mr  Knightley was there too  was he  

 No  not Mr  Knightley  he declined it from the first  and though I
thought he would come  because Mrs  Elton declared she would not let
him off  he did not   but my mother  and Jane  and I  were all there 
and a very agreeable evening we had   Such kind friends  you know  Miss
Woodhouse  one must always find agreeable  though every body seemed
rather fagged after the morning s party   Even pleasure  you know  is
fatiguing  and I cannot say that any of them seemed very much to have
enjoyed it   However   I  shall always think it a very pleasant party 
and feel extremely obliged to the kind friends who included me in it  

 Miss Fairfax  I suppose  though you were not aware of it  had been
making up her mind the whole day  

 I dare say she had  

 Whenever the time may come  it must be unwelcome to her and all her
friends  but I hope her engagement will have every alleviation that is
possible  I mean  as to the character and manners of the family  

 Thank you  dear Miss Woodhouse   Yes  indeed  there is every thing in
the world that can make her happy in it   Except the Sucklings and
Bragges  there is not such another nursery establishment  so liberal
and elegant  in all Mrs  Elton s acquaintance   Mrs  Smallridge  a most
delightful woman   A style of living almost equal to Maple Grove  and
as to the children  except the little Sucklings and little Bragges 
there are not such elegant sweet children anywhere   Jane will be
treated with such regard and kindness    It will be nothing but
pleasure  a life of pleasure   And her salary    I really cannot
venture to name her salary to you  Miss Woodhouse   Even you  used as
you are to great sums  would hardly believe that so much could be given
to a young person like Jane  

 Ah  madam   cried Emma   if other children are at all like what I
remember to have been myself  I should think five times the amount of
what I have ever yet heard named as a salary on such occasions  dearly
earned  

 You are so noble in your ideas  

 And when is Miss Fairfax to leave you  

 Very soon  very soon  indeed  that s the worst of it   Within a
fortnight   Mrs  Smallridge is in a great hurry   My poor mother does
not know how to bear it   So then  I try to put it out of her thoughts 
and say  Come ma am  do not let us think about it any more  

 Her friends must all be sorry to lose her  and will not Colonel and
Mrs  Campbell be sorry to find that she has engaged herself before
their return  

 Yes  Jane says she is sure they will  but yet  this is such a
situation as she cannot feel herself justified in declining   I was so
astonished when she first told me what she had been saying to Mrs 
Elton  and when Mrs  Elton at the same moment came congratulating me
upon it   It was before tea  stay  no  it could not be before tea 
because we were just going to cards  and yet it was before tea  because
I remember thinking  Oh  no  now I recollect  now I have it  something
happened before tea  but not that   Mr  Elton was called out of the
room before tea  old John Abdy s son wanted to speak with him   Poor
old John  I have a great regard for him  he was clerk to my poor father
twenty seven years  and now  poor old man  he is bed ridden  and very
poorly with the rheumatic gout in his joints   I must go and see him
to day  and so will Jane  I am sure  if she gets out at all   And poor
John s son came to talk to Mr  Elton about relief from the parish  he
is very well to do himself  you know  being head man at the Crown 
ostler  and every thing of that sort  but still he cannot keep his
father without some help  and so  when Mr  Elton came back  he told us
what John ostler had been telling him  and then it came out about the
chaise having been sent to Randalls to take Mr  Frank Churchill to
Richmond   That was what happened before tea   It was after tea that
Jane spoke to Mrs  Elton  

Miss Bates would hardly give Emma time to say how perfectly new this
circumstance was to her  but as without supposing it possible that she
could be ignorant of any of the particulars of Mr  Frank Churchill s
going  she proceeded to give them all  it was of no consequence 

What Mr  Elton had learned from the ostler on the subject  being the
accumulation of the ostler s own knowledge  and the knowledge of the
servants at Randalls  was  that a messenger had come over from Richmond
soon after the return of the party from Box Hill  which messenger 
however  had been no more than was expected  and that Mr  Churchill had
sent his nephew a few lines  containing  upon the whole  a tolerable
account of Mrs  Churchill  and only wishing him not to delay coming
back beyond the next morning early  but that Mr  Frank Churchill having
resolved to go home directly  without waiting at all  and his horse
seeming to have got a cold  Tom had been sent off immediately for the
Crown chaise  and the ostler had stood out and seen it pass by  the boy
going a good pace  and driving very steady 

There was nothing in all this either to astonish or interest  and it
caught Emma s attention only as it united with the subject which
already engaged her mind   The contrast between Mrs  Churchill s
importance in the world  and Jane Fairfax s  struck her  one was every
thing  the other nothing  and she sat musing on the difference of
woman s destiny  and quite unconscious on what her eyes were fixed 
till roused by Miss Bates s saying 

 Aye  I see what you are thinking of  the pianoforte   What is to
become of that   Very true   Poor dear Jane was talking of it just
now     You must go   said she    You and I must part   You will have
no business here   Let it stay  however   said she   give it houseroom
till Colonel Campbell comes back   I shall talk about it to him  he
will settle for me  he will help me out of all my difficulties     And
to this day  I do believe  she knows not whether it was his present or
his daughter s  

Now Emma was obliged to think of the pianoforte  and the remembrance of
all her former fanciful and unfair conjectures was so little pleasing 
that she soon allowed herself to believe her visit had been long
enough  and  with a repetition of every thing that she could venture to
say of the good wishes which she really felt  took leave 



CHAPTER IX


Emma s pensive meditations  as she walked home  were not interrupted 
but on entering the parlour  she found those who must rouse her   Mr 
Knightley and Harriet had arrived during her absence  and were sitting
with her father   Mr  Knightley immediately got up  and in a manner
decidedly graver than usual  said 

 I would not go away without seeing you  but I have no time to spare 
and therefore must now be gone directly   I am going to London  to
spend a few days with John and Isabella   Have you any thing to send or
say  besides the  love   which nobody carries  

 Nothing at all   But is not this a sudden scheme  

 Yes  rather  I have been thinking of it some little time  

Emma was sure he had not forgiven her  he looked unlike himself   Time 
however  she thought  would tell him that they ought to be friends
again   While he stood  as if meaning to go  but not going  her father
began his inquiries 

 Well  my dear  and did you get there safely   And how did you find my
worthy old friend and her daughter   I dare say they must have been
very much obliged to you for coming   Dear Emma has been to call on
Mrs  and Miss Bates  Mr  Knightley  as I told you before   She is
always so attentive to them  

Emma s colour was heightened by this unjust praise  and with a smile 
and shake of the head  which spoke much  she looked at Mr  Knightley   
It seemed as if there were an instantaneous impression in her favour 
as if his eyes received the truth from her s  and all that had passed
of good in her feelings were at once caught and honoured    He looked
at her with a glow of regard   She was warmly gratified  and in
another moment still more so  by a little movement of more than common
friendliness on his part   He took her hand   whether she had not
herself made the first motion  she could not say  she might  perhaps 
have rather offered it  but he took her hand  pressed it  and certainly
was on the point of carrying it to his lips  when  from some fancy or
other  he suddenly let it go   Why he should feel such a scruple  why
he should change his mind when it was all but done  she could not
perceive   He would have judged better  she thought  if he had not
stopped   The intention  however  was indubitable  and whether it was
that his manners had in general so little gallantry  or however else it
happened  but she thought nothing became him more    It was with him 
of so simple  yet so dignified a nature    She could not but recall the
attempt with great satisfaction   It spoke such perfect amity   He left
them immediately afterwards  gone in a moment   He always moved with
the alertness of a mind which could neither be undecided nor dilatory 
but now he seemed more sudden than usual in his disappearance 

Emma could not regret her having gone to Miss Bates  but she wished she
had left her ten minutes earlier   it would have been a great pleasure
to talk over Jane Fairfax s situation with Mr  Knightley    Neither
would she regret that he should be going to Brunswick Square  for she
knew how much his visit would be enjoyed  but it might have happened at
a better time  and to have had longer notice of it  would have been
pleasanter   They parted thorough friends  however  she could not be
deceived as to the meaning of his countenance  and his unfinished
gallantry   it was all done to assure her that she had fully recovered
his good opinion   He had been sitting with them half an hour  she
found   It was a pity that she had not come back earlier 

In the hope of diverting her father s thoughts from the
disagreeableness of Mr  Knightley s going to London  and going so
suddenly  and going on horseback  which she knew would be all very bad 
Emma communicated her news of Jane Fairfax  and her dependence on the
effect was justified  it supplied a very useful check   interested 
without disturbing him   He had long made up his mind to Jane Fairfax s
going out as governess  and could talk of it cheerfully  but Mr 
Knightley s going to London had been an unexpected blow 

 I am very glad  indeed  my dear  to hear she is to be so comfortably
settled   Mrs  Elton is very good natured and agreeable  and I dare say
her acquaintance are just what they ought to be   I hope it is a dry
situation  and that her health will be taken good care of   It ought to
be a first object  as I am sure poor Miss Taylor s always was with me 
You know  my dear  she is going to be to this new lady what Miss Taylor
was to us   And I hope she will be better off in one respect  and not
be induced to go away after it has been her home so long  

The following day brought news from Richmond to throw every thing else
into the background   An express arrived at Randalls to announce the
death of Mrs  Churchill   Though her nephew had had no particular
reason to hasten back on her account  she had not lived above
six and thirty hours after his return   A sudden seizure of a different
nature from any thing foreboded by her general state  had carried her
off after a short struggle   The great Mrs  Churchill was no more 

It was felt as such things must be felt   Every body had a degree of
gravity and sorrow  tenderness towards the departed  solicitude for the
surviving friends  and  in a reasonable time  curiosity to know where
she would be buried   Goldsmith tells us  that when lovely woman stoops
to folly  she has nothing to do but to die  and when she stoops to be
disagreeable  it is equally to be recommended as a clearer of ill fame 
Mrs  Churchill  after being disliked at least twenty five years  was
now spoken of with compassionate allowances   In one point she was
fully justified   She had never been admitted before to be seriously
ill   The event acquitted her of all the fancifulness  and all the
selfishness of imaginary complaints 

 Poor Mrs  Churchill  no doubt she had been suffering a great deal 
more than any body had ever supposed  and continual pain would try the
temper   It was a sad event  a great shock  with all her faults  what
would Mr  Churchill do without her   Mr  Churchill s loss would be
dreadful indeed   Mr  Churchill would never get over it     Even Mr 
Weston shook his head  and looked solemn  and said   Ah  poor woman 
who would have thought it   and resolved  that his mourning should be
as handsome as possible  and his wife sat sighing and moralising over
her broad hems with a commiseration and good sense  true and steady 
How it would affect Frank was among the earliest thoughts of both   It
was also a very early speculation with Emma   The character of Mrs 
Churchill  the grief of her husband  her mind glanced over them both
with awe and compassion  and then rested with lightened feelings on how
Frank might be affected by the event  how benefited  how freed   She
saw in a moment all the possible good   Now  an attachment to Harriet
Smith would have nothing to encounter   Mr  Churchill  independent of
his wife  was feared by nobody  an easy  guidable man  to be persuaded
into any thing by his nephew   All that remained to be wished was  that
the nephew should form the attachment  as  with all her goodwill in the
cause  Emma could feel no certainty of its being already formed 

Harriet behaved extremely well on the occasion  with great
self command   What ever she might feel of brighter hope  she betrayed
nothing   Emma was gratified  to observe such a proof in her of
strengthened character  and refrained from any allusion that might
endanger its maintenance   They spoke  therefore  of Mrs  Churchill s
death with mutual forbearance 

Short letters from Frank were received at Randalls  communicating all
that was immediately important of their state and plans   Mr  Churchill
was better than could be expected  and their first removal  on the
departure of the funeral for Yorkshire  was to be to the house of a
very old friend in Windsor  to whom Mr  Churchill had been promising a
visit the last ten years   At present  there was nothing to be done for
Harriet  good wishes for the future were all that could yet be possible
on Emma s side 

It was a more pressing concern to shew attention to Jane Fairfax  whose
prospects were closing  while Harriet s opened  and whose engagements
now allowed of no delay in any one at Highbury  who wished to shew her
kindness  and with Emma it was grown into a first wish   She had
scarcely a stronger regret than for her past coldness  and the person 
whom she had been so many months neglecting  was now the very one on
whom she would have lavished every distinction of regard or sympathy 
She wanted to be of use to her  wanted to shew a value for her society 
and testify respect and consideration   She resolved to prevail on her
to spend a day at Hartfield   A note was written to urge it   The
invitation was refused  and by a verbal message    Miss Fairfax was not
well enough to write   and when Mr  Perry called at Hartfield  the same
morning  it appeared that she was so much indisposed as to have been
visited  though against her own consent  by himself  and that she was
suffering under severe headaches  and a nervous fever to a degree 
which made him doubt the possibility of her going to Mrs  Smallridge s
at the time proposed   Her health seemed for the moment completely
deranged  appetite quite gone  and though there were no absolutely
alarming symptoms  nothing touching the pulmonary complaint  which was
the standing apprehension of the family  Mr  Perry was uneasy about
her   He thought she had undertaken more than she was equal to  and
that she felt it so herself  though she would not own it   Her spirits
seemed overcome   Her present home  he could not but observe  was
unfavourable to a nervous disorder   confined always to one room   he
could have wished it otherwise  and her good aunt  though his very old
friend  he must acknowledge to be not the best companion for an invalid
of that description   Her care and attention could not be questioned 
they were  in fact  only too great   He very much feared that Miss
Fairfax derived more evil than good from them   Emma listened with the
warmest concern  grieved for her more and more  and looked around eager
to discover some way of being useful   To take her  be it only an hour
or two  from her aunt  to give her change of air and scene  and quiet
rational conversation  even for an hour or two  might do her good  and
the following morning she wrote again to say  in the most feeling
language she could command  that she would call for her in the carriage
at any hour that Jane would name  mentioning that she had Mr  Perry s
decided opinion  in favour of such exercise for his patient   The
answer was only in this short note 

 Miss Fairfax s compliments and thanks  but is quite unequal to any
exercise  

Emma felt that her own note had deserved something better  but it was
impossible to quarrel with words  whose tremulous inequality shewed
indisposition so plainly  and she thought only of how she might best
counteract this unwillingness to be seen or assisted   In spite of the
answer  therefore  she ordered the carriage  and drove to Mrs  Bates s 
in the hope that Jane would be induced to join her  but it would not
do   Miss Bates came to the carriage door  all gratitude  and agreeing
with her most earnestly in thinking an airing might be of the greatest
service  and every thing that message could do was tried  but all in
vain   Miss Bates was obliged to return without success  Jane was quite
unpersuadable  the mere proposal of going out seemed to make her
worse   Emma wished she could have seen her  and tried her own powers 
but  almost before she could hint the wish  Miss Bates made it appear
that she had promised her niece on no account to let Miss Woodhouse in 
 Indeed  the truth was  that poor dear Jane could not bear to see any
body  any body at all   Mrs  Elton  indeed  could not be denied  and
Mrs  Cole had made such a point  and Mrs  Perry had said so much  but 
except them  Jane would really see nobody  

Emma did not want to be classed with the Mrs  Eltons  the Mrs  Perrys 
and the Mrs  Coles  who would force themselves anywhere  neither could
she feel any right of preference herself  she submitted  therefore 
and only questioned Miss Bates farther as to her niece s appetite and
diet  which she longed to be able to assist   On that subject poor Miss
Bates was very unhappy  and very communicative  Jane would hardly eat
any thing    Mr  Perry recommended nourishing food  but every thing
they could command  and never had any body such good neighbours  was
distasteful 

Emma  on reaching home  called the housekeeper directly  to an
examination of her stores  and some arrowroot of very superior quality
was speedily despatched to Miss Bates with a most friendly note   In
half an hour the arrowroot was returned  with a thousand thanks from
Miss Bates  but  dear Jane would not be satisfied without its being
sent back  it was a thing she could not take  and  moreover  she
insisted on her saying  that she was not at all in want of any thing  

When Emma afterwards heard that Jane Fairfax had been seen wandering
about the meadows  at some distance from Highbury  on the afternoon of
the very day on which she had  under the plea of being unequal to any
exercise  so peremptorily refused to go out with her in the carriage 
she could have no doubt  putting every thing together  that Jane was
resolved to receive no kindness from  her    She was sorry  very sorry 
Her heart was grieved for a state which seemed but the more pitiable
from this sort of irritation of spirits  inconsistency of action  and
inequality of powers  and it mortified her that she was given so little
credit for proper feeling  or esteemed so little worthy as a friend 
but she had the consolation of knowing that her intentions were good 
and of being able to say to herself  that could Mr  Knightley have been
privy to all her attempts of assisting Jane Fairfax  could he even have
seen into her heart  he would not  on this occasion  have found any
thing to reprove 



CHAPTER X


One morning  about ten days after Mrs  Churchill s decease  Emma was
called downstairs to Mr  Weston  who  could not stay five minutes  and
wanted particularly to speak with her     He met her at the
parlour door  and hardly asking her how she did  in the natural key of
his voice  sunk it immediately  to say  unheard by her father 

 Can you come to Randalls at any time this morning   Do  if it be
possible   Mrs  Weston wants to see you   She must see you  

 Is she unwell  

 No  no  not at all  only a little agitated   She would have ordered
the carriage  and come to you  but she must see you  alone   and that
you know   nodding towards her father   Humph   Can you come  

 Certainly   This moment  if you please   It is impossible to refuse
what you ask in such a way   But what can be the matter    Is she
really not ill  

 Depend upon me  but ask no more questions   You will know it all in
time   The most unaccountable business   But hush  hush  

To guess what all this meant  was impossible even for Emma   Something
really important seemed announced by his looks  but  as her friend was
well  she endeavoured not to be uneasy  and settling it with her
father  that she would take her walk now  she and Mr  Weston were soon
out of the house together and on their way at a quick pace for Randalls 

 Now    said Emma  when they were fairly beyond the sweep gates    now
Mr  Weston  do let me know what has happened  

 No  no    he gravely replied    Don t ask me   I promised my wife to
leave it all to her   She will break it to you better than I can   Do
not be impatient  Emma  it will all come out too soon  

 Break it to me   cried Emma  standing still with terror     Good
God   Mr  Weston  tell me at once   Something has happened in Brunswick
Square   I know it has   Tell me  I charge you tell me this moment what
it is  

 No  indeed you are mistaken    

 Mr  Weston do not trifle with me   Consider how many of my dearest
friends are now in Brunswick Square   Which of them is it    I charge
you by all that is sacred  not to attempt concealment  

 Upon my word  Emma    

 Your word   why not your honour   why not say upon your honour  that
it has nothing to do with any of them   Good Heavens   What can be to
be  broke  to me  that does not relate to one of that family  

 Upon my honour   said he very seriously   it does not   It is not in
the smallest degree connected with any human being of the name of
Knightley  

Emma s courage returned  and she walked on 

 I was wrong   he continued   in talking of its being  broke  to you 
I should not have used the expression   In fact  it does not concern
you  it concerns only myself   that is  we hope   Humph   In short  my
dear Emma  there is no occasion to be so uneasy about it   I don t say
that it is not a disagreeable business  but things might be much
worse   If we walk fast  we shall soon be at Randalls  

Emma found that she must wait  and now it required little effort   She
asked no more questions therefore  merely employed her own fancy  and
that soon pointed out to her the probability of its being some money
concern  something just come to light  of a disagreeable nature in the
circumstances of the family   something which the late event at
Richmond had brought forward   Her fancy was very active   Half a dozen
natural children  perhaps  and poor Frank cut off    This  though very
undesirable  would be no matter of agony to her   It inspired little
more than an animating curiosity 

 Who is that gentleman on horseback   said she  as they proceeded  
speaking more to assist Mr  Weston in keeping his secret  than with any
other view 

 I do not know   One of the Otways   Not Frank   it is not Frank  I
assure you   You will not see him   He is half way to Windsor by this
time  

 Has your son been with you  then  

 Oh  yes  did not you know   Well  well  never mind  

For a moment he was silent  and then added  in a tone much more guarded
and demure 

 Yes  Frank came over this morning  just to ask us how we did  

They hurried on  and were speedily at Randalls    Well  my dear   said
he  as they entered the room   I have brought her  and now I hope you
will soon be better   I shall leave you together   There is no use in
delay   I shall not be far off  if you want me     And Emma distinctly
heard him add  in a lower tone  before he quitted the room    I have
been as good as my word   She has not the least idea  

Mrs  Weston was looking so ill  and had an air of so much perturbation 
that Emma s uneasiness increased  and the moment they were alone  she
eagerly said 

 What is it my dear friend   Something of a very unpleasant nature  I
find  has occurred   do let me know directly what it is   I have been
walking all this way in complete suspense   We both abhor suspense   Do
not let mine continue longer   It will do you good to speak of your
distress  whatever it may be  

 Have you indeed no idea   said Mrs  Weston in a trembling voice 
 Cannot you  my dear Emma  cannot you form a guess as to what you are
to hear  

 So far as that it relates to Mr  Frank Churchill  I do guess  

 You are right   It does relate to him  and I will tell you directly  
 resuming her work  and seeming resolved against looking up    He has
been here this very morning  on a most extraordinary errand   It is
impossible to express our surprize   He came to speak to his father on
a subject   to announce an attachment   

She stopped to breathe   Emma thought first of herself  and then of
Harriet 

 More than an attachment  indeed   resumed Mrs  Weston   an
engagement  a positive engagement   What will you say  Emma  what will
any body say  when it is known that Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax
are engaged   nay  that they have been long engaged  

Emma even jumped with surprize   and  horror struck  exclaimed 

 Jane Fairfax   Good God   You are not serious   You do not mean it  

 You may well be amazed   returned Mrs  Weston  still averting her
eyes  and talking on with eagerness  that Emma might have time to
recover    You may well be amazed   But it is even so   There has been
a solemn engagement between them ever since October  formed at
Weymouth  and kept a secret from every body   Not a creature knowing it
but themselves  neither the Campbells  nor her family  nor his    It is
so wonderful  that though perfectly convinced of the fact  it is yet
almost incredible to myself   I can hardly believe it    I thought I
knew him  

Emma scarcely heard what was said   Her mind was divided between two
ideas  her own former conversations with him about Miss Fairfax  and
poor Harriet   and for some time she could only exclaim  and require
confirmation  repeated confirmation 

 Well   said she at last  trying to recover herself   this is a
circumstance which I must think of at least half a day  before I can at
all comprehend it   What   engaged to her all the winter  before
either of them came to Highbury  

 Engaged since October   secretly engaged   It has hurt me  Emma  very
much   It has hurt his father equally    Some   part  of his conduct we
cannot excuse  

Emma pondered a moment  and then replied   I will not pretend  not  to
understand you  and to give you all the relief in my power  be assured
that no such effect has followed his attentions to me  as you are
apprehensive of  

Mrs  Weston looked up  afraid to believe  but Emma s countenance was as
steady as her words 

 That you may have less difficulty in believing this boast  of my
present perfect indifference   she continued   I will farther tell you 
that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance  when I
did like him  when I was very much disposed to be attached to him  nay 
was attached  and how it came to cease  is perhaps the wonder 
Fortunately  however  it did cease   I have really for some time past 
for at least these three months  cared nothing about him   You may
believe me  Mrs  Weston   This is the simple truth  

Mrs  Weston kissed her with tears of joy  and when she could find
utterance  assured her  that this protestation had done her more good
than any thing else in the world could do 

 Mr  Weston will be almost as much relieved as myself   said she    On
this point we have been wretched   It was our darling wish that you
might be attached to each other  and we were persuaded that it was
so    Imagine what we have been feeling on your account  

 I have escaped  and that I should escape  may be a matter of grateful
wonder to you and myself   But this does not acquit  him   Mrs  Weston 
and I must say  that I think him greatly to blame   What right had he
to come among us with affection and faith engaged  and with manners so
 very  disengaged   What right had he to endeavour to please  as he
certainly did  to distinguish any one young woman with persevering
attention  as he certainly did  while he really belonged to
another   How could he tell what mischief he might be doing    How
could he tell that he might not be making me in love with him   very
wrong  very wrong indeed  

 From something that he said  my dear Emma  I rather imagine   

 And how could  she  bear such behaviour   Composure with a witness 
to look on  while repeated attentions were offering to another woman 
before her face  and not resent it   That is a degree of placidity 
which I can neither comprehend nor respect  

 There were misunderstandings between them  Emma  he said so expressly 
He had not time to enter into much explanation   He was here only a
quarter of an hour  and in a state of agitation which did not allow the
full use even of the time he could stay  but that there had been
misunderstandings he decidedly said   The present crisis  indeed 
seemed to be brought on by them  and those misunderstandings might very
possibly arise from the impropriety of his conduct  

 Impropriety   Oh   Mrs  Weston  it is too calm a censure   Much  much
beyond impropriety   It has sunk him  I cannot say how it has sunk him
in my opinion   So unlike what a man should be    None of that upright
integrity  that strict adherence to truth and principle  that disdain
of trick and littleness  which a man should display in every
transaction of his life  

 Nay  dear Emma  now I must take his part  for though he has been wrong
in this instance  I have known him long enough to answer for his having
many  very many  good qualities  and   

 Good God   cried Emma  not attending to her    Mrs  Smallridge  too 
Jane actually on the point of going as governess   What could he mean
by such horrible indelicacy   To suffer her to engage herself  to
suffer her even to think of such a measure  

 He knew nothing about it  Emma   On this article I can fully acquit
him   It was a private resolution of hers  not communicated to him  or
at least not communicated in a way to carry conviction    Till
yesterday  I know he said he was in the dark as to her plans   They
burst on him  I do not know how  but by some letter or message  and it
was the discovery of what she was doing  of this very project of hers 
which determined him to come forward at once  own it all to his uncle 
throw himself on his kindness  and  in short  put an end to the
miserable state of concealment that had been carrying on so long  

Emma began to listen better 

 I am to hear from him soon   continued Mrs  Weston    He told me at
parting  that he should soon write  and he spoke in a manner which
seemed to promise me many particulars that could not be given now   Let
us wait  therefore  for this letter   It may bring many extenuations 
It may make many things intelligible and excusable which now are not to
be understood   Don t let us be severe  don t let us be in a hurry to
condemn him   Let us have patience   I must love him  and now that I am
satisfied on one point  the one material point  I am sincerely anxious
for its all turning out well  and ready to hope that it may   They must
both have suffered a great deal under such a system of secresy and
concealment  

  His  sufferings   replied Emma dryly   do not appear to have done him
much harm   Well  and how did Mr  Churchill take it  

 Most favourably for his nephew  gave his consent with scarcely a
difficulty   Conceive what the events of a week have done in that
family   While poor Mrs  Churchill lived  I suppose there could not
have been a hope  a chance  a possibility   but scarcely are her
remains at rest in the family vault  than her husband is persuaded to
act exactly opposite to what she would have required   What a blessing
it is  when undue influence does not survive the grave    He gave his
consent with very little persuasion  

 Ah   thought Emma   he would have done as much for Harriet  

 This was settled last night  and Frank was off with the light this
morning   He stopped at Highbury  at the Bates s  I fancy  some
time  and then came on hither  but was in such a hurry to get back to
his uncle  to whom he is just now more necessary than ever  that  as I
tell you  he could stay with us but a quarter of an hour    He was very
much agitated  very much  indeed  to a degree that made him appear
quite a different creature from any thing I had ever seen him
before   In addition to all the rest  there had been the shock of
finding her so very unwell  which he had had no previous suspicion of  
and there was every appearance of his having been feeling a great deal  

 And do you really believe the affair to have been carrying on with
such perfect secresy   The Campbells  the Dixons  did none of them know
of the engagement  

Emma could not speak the name of Dixon without a little blush 

 None  not one   He positively said that it had been known to no being
in the world but their two selves  

 Well   said Emma   I suppose we shall gradually grow reconciled to the
idea  and I wish them very happy   But I shall always think it a very
abominable sort of proceeding   What has it been but a system of
hypocrisy and deceit   espionage  and treachery    To come among us
with professions of openness and simplicity  and such a league in
secret to judge us all   Here have we been  the whole winter and
spring  completely duped  fancying ourselves all on an equal footing of
truth and honour  with two people in the midst of us who may have been
carrying round  comparing and sitting in judgment on sentiments and
words that were never meant for both to hear   They must take the
consequence  if they have heard each other spoken of in a way not
perfectly agreeable  

 I am quite easy on that head   replied Mrs  Weston    I am very sure
that I never said any thing of either to the other  which both might
not have heard  

 You are in luck   Your only blunder was confined to my ear  when you
imagined a certain friend of ours in love with the lady  

 True   But as I have always had a thoroughly good opinion of Miss
Fairfax  I never could  under any blunder  have spoken ill of her  and
as to speaking ill of him  there I must have been safe  

At this moment Mr  Weston appeared at a little distance from the
window  evidently on the watch   His wife gave him a look which invited
him in  and  while he was coming round  added   Now  dearest Emma  let
me intreat you to say and look every thing that may set his heart at
ease  and incline him to be satisfied with the match   Let us make the
best of it  and  indeed  almost every thing may be fairly said in her
favour   It is not a connexion to gratify  but if Mr  Churchill does
not feel that  why should we  and it may be a very fortunate
circumstance for him  for Frank  I mean  that he should have attached
himself to a girl of such steadiness of character and good judgment as
I have always given her credit for  and still am disposed to give her
credit for  in spite of this one great deviation from the strict rule
of right   And how much may be said in her situation for even that
error  

 Much  indeed   cried Emma feelingly    If a woman can ever be excused
for thinking only of herself  it is in a situation like Jane
Fairfax s   Of such  one may almost say  that  the world is not
their s  nor the world s law   

She met Mr  Weston on his entrance  with a smiling countenance 
exclaiming 

 A very pretty trick you have been playing me  upon my word   This was
a device  I suppose  to sport with my curiosity  and exercise my talent
of guessing   But you really frightened me   I thought you had lost
half your property  at least   And here  instead of its being a matter
of condolence  it turns out to be one of congratulation   I
congratulate you  Mr  Weston  with all my heart  on the prospect of
having one of the most lovely and accomplished young women in England
for your daughter  

A glance or two between him and his wife  convinced him that all was as
right as this speech proclaimed  and its happy effect on his spirits
was immediate   His air and voice recovered their usual briskness  he
shook her heartily and gratefully by the hand  and entered on the
subject in a manner to prove  that he now only wanted time and
persuasion to think the engagement no very bad thing   His companions
suggested only what could palliate imprudence  or smooth objections 
and by the time they had talked it all over together  and he had talked
it all over again with Emma  in their walk back to Hartfield  he was
become perfectly reconciled  and not far from thinking it the very best
thing that Frank could possibly have done 



CHAPTER XI


 Harriet  poor Harriet    Those were the words  in them lay the
tormenting ideas which Emma could not get rid of  and which constituted
the real misery of the business to her   Frank Churchill had behaved
very ill by herself  very ill in many ways   but it was not so much
 his  behaviour as her  own   which made her so angry with him   It was
the scrape which he had drawn her into on Harriet s account  that gave
the deepest hue to his offence   Poor Harriet  to be a second time the
dupe of her misconceptions and flattery   Mr  Knightley had spoken
prophetically  when he once said   Emma  you have been no friend to
Harriet Smith    She was afraid she had done her nothing but
disservice   It was true that she had not to charge herself  in this
instance as in the former  with being the sole and original author of
the mischief  with having suggested such feelings as might otherwise
never have entered Harriet s imagination  for Harriet had acknowledged
her admiration and preference of Frank Churchill before she had ever
given her a hint on the subject  but she felt completely guilty of
having encouraged what she might have repressed   She might have
prevented the indulgence and increase of such sentiments   Her
influence would have been enough   And now she was very conscious that
she ought to have prevented them   She felt that she had been risking
her friend s happiness on most insufficient grounds   Common sense
would have directed her to tell Harriet  that she must not allow
herself to think of him  and that there were five hundred chances to
one against his ever caring for her    But  with common sense   she
added   I am afraid I have had little to do  

She was extremely angry with herself   If she could not have been angry
with Frank Churchill too  it would have been dreadful    As for Jane
Fairfax  she might at least relieve her feelings from any present
solicitude on her account   Harriet would be anxiety enough  she need
no longer be unhappy about Jane  whose troubles and whose ill health
having  of course  the same origin  must be equally under cure   Her
days of insignificance and evil were over   She would soon be well  and
happy  and prosperous    Emma could now imagine why her own attentions
had been slighted   This discovery laid many smaller matters open   No
doubt it had been from jealousy   In Jane s eyes she had been a rival 
and well might any thing she could offer of assistance or regard be
repulsed   An airing in the Hartfield carriage would have been the
rack  and arrowroot from the Hartfield storeroom must have been poison 
She understood it all  and as far as her mind could disengage itself
from the injustice and selfishness of angry feelings  she acknowledged
that Jane Fairfax would have neither elevation nor happiness beyond her
desert   But poor Harriet was such an engrossing charge   There was
little sympathy to be spared for any body else   Emma was sadly fearful
that this second disappointment would be more severe than the first 
Considering the very superior claims of the object  it ought  and
judging by its apparently stronger effect on Harriet s mind  producing
reserve and self command  it would    She must communicate the painful
truth  however  and as soon as possible   An injunction of secresy had
been among Mr  Weston s parting words    For the present  the whole
affair was to be completely a secret   Mr  Churchill had made a point
of it  as a token of respect to the wife he had so very recently lost 
and every body admitted it to be no more than due decorum     Emma had
promised  but still Harriet must be excepted   It was her superior duty 

In spite of her vexation  she could not help feeling it almost
ridiculous  that she should have the very same distressing and delicate
office to perform by Harriet  which Mrs  Weston had just gone through
by herself   The intelligence  which had been so anxiously announced to
her  she was now to be anxiously announcing to another   Her heart beat
quick on hearing Harriet s footstep and voice  so  she supposed  had
poor Mrs  Weston felt when  she  was approaching Randalls   Could the
event of the disclosure bear an equal resemblance    But of that 
unfortunately  there could be no chance 

 Well  Miss Woodhouse   cried Harriet  coming eagerly into the room  
 is not this the oddest news that ever was  

 What news do you mean   replied Emma  unable to guess  by look or
voice  whether Harriet could indeed have received any hint 

 About Jane Fairfax   Did you ever hear any thing so strange   Oh   you
need not be afraid of owning it to me  for Mr  Weston has told me
himself   I met him just now   He told me it was to be a great secret 
and  therefore  I should not think of mentioning it to any body but
you  but he said you knew it  

 What did Mr  Weston tell you    said Emma  still perplexed 

 Oh  he told me all about it  that Jane Fairfax and Mr  Frank Churchill
are to be married  and that they have been privately engaged to one
another this long while   How very odd  

It was  indeed  so odd  Harriet s behaviour was so extremely odd  that
Emma did not know how to understand it   Her character appeared
absolutely changed   She seemed to propose shewing no agitation  or
disappointment  or peculiar concern in the discovery   Emma looked at
her  quite unable to speak 

 Had you any idea   cried Harriet   of his being in love with
her   You  perhaps  might   You  blushing as she spoke  who can see
into every body s heart  but nobody else   

 Upon my word   said Emma   I begin to doubt my having any such talent 
Can you seriously ask me  Harriet  whether I imagined him attached to
another woman at the very time that I was  tacitly  if not openly  
encouraging you to give way to your own feelings   I never had the
slightest suspicion  till within the last hour  of Mr  Frank
Churchill s having the least regard for Jane Fairfax   You may be very
sure that if I had  I should have cautioned you accordingly  

 Me   cried Harriet  colouring  and astonished    Why should you
caution me   You do not think I care about Mr  Frank Churchill  

 I am delighted to hear you speak so stoutly on the subject   replied
Emma  smiling   but you do not mean to deny that there was a time  and
not very distant either  when you gave me reason to understand that you
did care about him  

 Him   never  never   Dear Miss Woodhouse  how could you so mistake
me   turning away distressed 

 Harriet   cried Emma  after a moment s pause   What do you mean   
Good Heaven  what do you mean   Mistake you   Am I to suppose then    

She could not speak another word   Her voice was lost  and she sat
down  waiting in great terror till Harriet should answer 

Harriet  who was standing at some distance  and with face turned from
her  did not immediately say any thing  and when she did speak  it was
in a voice nearly as agitated as Emma s 

 I should not have thought it possible   she began   that you could
have misunderstood me   I know we agreed never to name him  but
considering how infinitely superior he is to every body else  I should
not have thought it possible that I could be supposed to mean any other
person   Mr  Frank Churchill  indeed   I do not know who would ever
look at him in the company of the other   I hope I have a better taste
than to think of Mr  Frank Churchill  who is like nobody by his side 
And that you should have been so mistaken  is amazing   I am sure  but
for believing that you entirely approved and meant to encourage me in
my attachment  I should have considered it at first too great a
presumption almost  to dare to think of him   At first  if you had not
told me that more wonderful things had happened  that there had been
matches of greater disparity  those were your very words     I should
not have dared to give way to  I should not have thought it
possible  But if  you   who had been always acquainted with him   

 Harriet   cried Emma  collecting herself resolutely   Let us
understand each other now  without the possibility of farther mistake 
Are you speaking of  Mr  Knightley  

 To be sure I am   I never could have an idea of any body else  and so
I thought you knew   When we talked about him  it was as clear as
possible  

 Not quite   returned Emma  with forced calmness   for all that you
then said  appeared to me to relate to a different person   I could
almost assert that you had  named  Mr  Frank Churchill   I am sure the
service Mr  Frank Churchill had rendered you  in protecting you from
the gipsies  was spoken of  

 Oh   Miss Woodhouse  how you do forget  

 My dear Harriet  I perfectly remember the substance of what I said on
the occasion   I told you that I did not wonder at your attachment 
that considering the service he had rendered you  it was extremely
natural   and you agreed to it  expressing yourself very warmly as to
your sense of that service  and mentioning even what your sensations
had been in seeing him come forward to your rescue   The impression of
it is strong on my memory  

 Oh  dear   cried Harriet   now I recollect what you mean  but I was
thinking of something very different at the time   It was not the
gipsies  it was not Mr  Frank Churchill that I meant   No   with some
elevation  I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance  of Mr 
Knightley s coming and asking me to dance  when Mr  Elton would not
stand up with me  and when there was no other partner in the room 
That was the kind action  that was the noble benevolence and
generosity  that was the service which made me begin to feel how
superior he was to every other being upon earth  

 Good God   cried Emma   this has been a most unfortunate  most
deplorable mistake   What is to be done  

 You would not have encouraged me  then  if you had understood me   At
least  however  I cannot be worse off than I should have been  if the
other had been the person  and now  it  is  possible   

She paused a few moments   Emma could not speak 

 I do not wonder  Miss Woodhouse   she resumed   that you should feel a
great difference between the two  as to me or as to any body   You must
think one five hundred million times more above me than the other   But
I hope  Miss Woodhouse  that supposing  that if  strange as it may
appear     But you know they were your own words  that  more  wonderful
things had happened  matches of  greater  disparity had taken place
than between Mr  Frank Churchill and me  and  therefore  it seems as if
such a thing even as this  may have occurred before  and if I should
be so fortunate  beyond expression  as to  if Mr  Knightley should
really  if  he  does not mind the disparity  I hope  dear Miss
Woodhouse  you will not set yourself against it  and try to put
difficulties in the way   But you are too good for that  I am sure  

Harriet was standing at one of the windows   Emma turned round to look
at her in consternation  and hastily said 

 Have you any idea of Mr  Knightley s returning your affection  

 Yes   replied Harriet modestly  but not fearfully   I must say that I
have  

Emma s eyes were instantly withdrawn  and she sat silently meditating 
in a fixed attitude  for a few minutes   A few minutes were sufficient
for making her acquainted with her own heart   A mind like hers  once
opening to suspicion  made rapid progress   She touched  she
admitted  she acknowledged the whole truth   Why was it so much worse
that Harriet should be in love with Mr  Knightley  than with Frank
Churchill   Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet s
having some hope of a return   It darted through her  with the speed of
an arrow  that Mr  Knightley must marry no one but herself 

Her own conduct  as well as her own heart  was before her in the same
few minutes   She saw it all with a clearness which had never blessed
her before   How improperly had she been acting by Harriet   How
inconsiderate  how indelicate  how irrational  how unfeeling had been
her conduct   What blindness  what madness  had led her on   It struck
her with dreadful force  and she was ready to give it every bad name in
the world   Some portion of respect for herself  however  in spite of
all these demerits  some concern for her own appearance  and a strong
sense of justice by Harriet   there would be no need of  compassion  to
the girl who believed herself loved by Mr  Knightley  but justice
required that she should not be made unhappy by any coldness now   gave
Emma the resolution to sit and endure farther with calmness  with even
apparent kindness   For her own advantage indeed  it was fit that the
utmost extent of Harriet s hopes should be enquired into  and Harriet
had done nothing to forfeit the regard and interest which had been so
voluntarily formed and maintained  or to deserve to be slighted by the
person  whose counsels had never led her right    Rousing from
reflection  therefore  and subduing her emotion  she turned to Harriet
again  and  in a more inviting accent  renewed the conversation  for as
to the subject which had first introduced it  the wonderful story of
Jane Fairfax  that was quite sunk and lost    Neither of them thought
but of Mr  Knightley and themselves 

Harriet  who had been standing in no unhappy reverie  was yet very glad
to be called from it  by the now encouraging manner of such a judge 
and such a friend as Miss Woodhouse  and only wanted invitation  to
give the history of her hopes with great  though trembling
delight   Emma s tremblings as she asked  and as she listened  were
better concealed than Harriet s  but they were not less   Her voice was
not unsteady  but her mind was in all the perturbation that such a
development of self  such a burst of threatening evil  such a confusion
of sudden and perplexing emotions  must create    She listened with
much inward suffering  but with great outward patience  to Harriet s
detail   Methodical  or well arranged  or very well delivered  it could
not be expected to be  but it contained  when separated from all the
feebleness and tautology of the narration  a substance to sink her
spirit  especially with the corroborating circumstances  which her own
memory brought in favour of Mr  Knightley s most improved opinion of
Harriet 

Harriet had been conscious of a difference in his behaviour ever since
those two decisive dances   Emma knew that he had  on that occasion 
found her much superior to his expectation   From that evening  or at
least from the time of Miss Woodhouse s encouraging her to think of
him  Harriet had begun to be sensible of his talking to her much more
than he had been used to do  and of his having indeed quite a different
manner towards her  a manner of kindness and sweetness   Latterly she
had been more and more aware of it   When they had been all walking
together  he had so often come and walked by her  and talked so very
delightfully   He seemed to want to be acquainted with her   Emma knew
it to have been very much the case   She had often observed the change 
to almost the same extent    Harriet repeated expressions of
approbation and praise from him  and Emma felt them to be in the
closest agreement with what she had known of his opinion of Harriet 
He praised her for being without art or affectation  for having simple 
honest  generous  feelings    She knew that he saw such recommendations
in Harriet  he had dwelt on them to her more than once   Much that
lived in Harriet s memory  many little particulars of the notice she
had received from him  a look  a speech  a removal from one chair to
another  a compliment implied  a preference inferred  had been
unnoticed  because unsuspected  by Emma   Circumstances that might
swell to half an hour s relation  and contained multiplied proofs to
her who had seen them  had passed undiscerned by her who now heard
them  but the two latest occurrences to be mentioned  the two of
strongest promise to Harriet  were not without some degree of witness
from Emma herself   The first  was his walking with her apart from the
others  in the lime walk at Donwell  where they had been walking some
time before Emma came  and he had taken pains  as she was convinced  to
draw her from the rest to himself  and at first  he had talked to her
in a more particular way than he had ever done before  in a very
particular way indeed    Harriet could not recall it without a blush  
He seemed to be almost asking her  whether her affections were
engaged    But as soon as she  Miss Woodhouse  appeared likely to join
them  he changed the subject  and began talking about farming    The
second  was his having sat talking with her nearly half an hour before
Emma came back from her visit  the very last morning of his being at
Hartfield  though  when he first came in  he had said that he could not
stay five minutes  and his having told her  during their conversation 
that though he must go to London  it was very much against his
inclination that he left home at all  which was much more  as Emma
felt  than he had acknowledged to  her    The superior degree of
confidence towards Harriet  which this one article marked  gave her
severe pain 

On the subject of the first of the two circumstances  she did  after a
little reflection  venture the following question    Might he not   Is
not it possible  that when enquiring  as you thought  into the state of
your affections  he might be alluding to Mr  Martin  he might have Mr 
Martin s interest in view   But Harriet rejected the suspicion with
spirit 

 Mr  Martin   No indeed   There was not a hint of Mr  Martin   I hope I
know better now  than to care for Mr  Martin  or to be suspected of it  

When Harriet had closed her evidence  she appealed to her dear Miss
Woodhouse  to say whether she had not good ground for hope 

 I never should have presumed to think of it at first   said she   but
for you   You told me to observe him carefully  and let his behaviour
be the rule of mine  and so I have   But now I seem to feel that I may
deserve him  and that if he does chuse me  it will not be any thing so
very wonderful  

The bitter feelings occasioned by this speech  the many bitter
feelings  made the utmost exertion necessary on Emma s side  to enable
her to say on reply 

 Harriet  I will only venture to declare  that Mr  Knightley is the
last man in the world  who would intentionally give any woman the idea
of his feeling for her more than he really does  

Harriet seemed ready to worship her friend for a sentence so
satisfactory  and Emma was only saved from raptures and fondness  which
at that moment would have been dreadful penance  by the sound of her
father s footsteps   He was coming through the hall   Harriet was too
much agitated to encounter him    She could not compose herself   Mr 
Woodhouse would be alarmed  she had better go    with most ready
encouragement from her friend  therefore  she passed off through
another door  and the moment she was gone  this was the spontaneous
burst of Emma s feelings    Oh God  that I had never seen her  

The rest of the day  the following night  were hardly enough for her
thoughts   She was bewildered amidst the confusion of all that had
rushed on her within the last few hours   Every moment had brought a
fresh surprize  and every surprize must be matter of humiliation to
her   How to understand it all   How to understand the deceptions she
had been thus practising on herself  and living under   The blunders 
the blindness of her own head and heart   she sat still  she walked
about  she tried her own room  she tried the shrubbery  in every place 
every posture  she perceived that she had acted most weakly  that she
had been imposed on by others in a most mortifying degree  that she had
been imposing on herself in a degree yet more mortifying  that she was
wretched  and should probably find this day but the beginning of
wretchedness 

To understand  thoroughly understand her own heart  was the first
endeavour   To that point went every leisure moment which her father s
claims on her allowed  and every moment of involuntary absence of mind 

How long had Mr  Knightley been so dear to her  as every feeling
declared him now to be   When had his influence  such influence
begun    When had he succeeded to that place in her affection  which
Frank Churchill had once  for a short period  occupied   She looked
back  she compared the two  compared them  as they had always stood in
her estimation  from the time of the latter s becoming known to her  
and as they must at any time have been compared by her  had it  oh 
had it  by any blessed felicity  occurred to her  to institute the
comparison   She saw that there never had been a time when she did not
consider Mr  Knightley as infinitely the superior  or when his regard
for her had not been infinitely the most dear   She saw  that in
persuading herself  in fancying  in acting to the contrary  she had
been entirely under a delusion  totally ignorant of her own heart  and 
in short  that she had never really cared for Frank Churchill at all 

This was the conclusion of the first series of reflection   This was
the knowledge of herself  on the first question of inquiry  which she
reached  and without being long in reaching it    She was most
sorrowfully indignant  ashamed of every sensation but the one revealed
to her  her affection for Mr  Knightley    Every other part of her mind
was disgusting 

With insufferable vanity had she believed herself in the secret of
every body s feelings  with unpardonable arrogance proposed to arrange
every body s destiny   She was proved to have been universally
mistaken  and she had not quite done nothing  for she had done
mischief   She had brought evil on Harriet  on herself  and she too
much feared  on Mr  Knightley   Were this most unequal of all
connexions to take place  on her must rest all the reproach of having
given it a beginning  for his attachment  she must believe to be
produced only by a consciousness of Harriet s   and even were this not
the case  he would never have known Harriet at all but for her folly 

Mr  Knightley and Harriet Smith   It was a union to distance every
wonder of the kind   The attachment of Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax
became commonplace  threadbare  stale in the comparison  exciting no
surprize  presenting no disparity  affording nothing to be said or
thought   Mr  Knightley and Harriet Smith   Such an elevation on her
side   Such a debasement on his   It was horrible to Emma to think how
it must sink him in the general opinion  to foresee the smiles  the
sneers  the merriment it would prompt at his expense  the mortification
and disdain of his brother  the thousand inconveniences to
himself   Could it be   No  it was impossible   And yet it was far 
very far  from impossible   Was it a new circumstance for a man of
first rate abilities to be captivated by very inferior powers   Was it
new for one  perhaps too busy to seek  to be the prize of a girl who
would seek him   Was it new for any thing in this world to be unequal 
inconsistent  incongruous  or for chance and circumstance  as second
causes  to direct the human fate 

Oh  had she never brought Harriet forward   Had she left her where she
ought  and where he had told her she ought   Had she not  with a folly
which no tongue could express  prevented her marrying the
unexceptionable young man who would have made her happy and respectable
in the line of life to which she ought to belong  all would have been
safe  none of this dreadful sequel would have been 

How Harriet could ever have had the presumption to raise her thoughts
to Mr  Knightley   How she could dare to fancy herself the chosen of
such a man till actually assured of it    But Harriet was less humble 
had fewer scruples than formerly    Her inferiority  whether of mind or
situation  seemed little felt    She had seemed more sensible of Mr 
Elton s being to stoop in marrying her  than she now seemed of Mr 
Knightley s    Alas  was not that her own doing too   Who had been at
pains to give Harriet notions of self consequence but herself   Who but
herself had taught her  that she was to elevate herself if possible 
and that her claims were great to a high worldly establishment    If
Harriet  from being humble  were grown vain  it was her doing too 



CHAPTER XII


Till now that she was threatened with its loss  Emma had never known
how much of her happiness depended on being  first  with Mr  Knightley 
first in interest and affection   Satisfied that it was so  and feeling
it her due  she had enjoyed it without reflection  and only in the
dread of being supplanted  found how inexpressibly important it had
been   Long  very long  she felt she had been first  for  having no
female connexions of his own  there had been only Isabella whose claims
could be compared with hers  and she had always known exactly how far
he loved and esteemed Isabella   She had herself been first with him
for many years past   She had not deserved it  she had often been
negligent or perverse  slighting his advice  or even wilfully opposing
him  insensible of half his merits  and quarrelling with him because he
would not acknowledge her false and insolent estimate of her own  but
still  from family attachment and habit  and thorough excellence of
mind  he had loved her  and watched over her from a girl  with an
endeavour to improve her  and an anxiety for her doing right  which no
other creature had at all shared   In spite of all her faults  she knew
she was dear to him  might she not say  very dear    When the
suggestions of hope  however  which must follow here  presented
themselves  she could not presume to indulge them   Harriet Smith might
think herself not unworthy of being peculiarly  exclusively 
passionately loved by Mr  Knightley    She  could not   She could not
flatter herself with any idea of blindness in his attachment to  her  
She had received a very recent proof of its impartiality    How shocked
had he been by her behaviour to Miss Bates   How directly  how strongly
had he expressed himself to her on the subject   Not too strongly for
the offence  but far  far too strongly to issue from any feeling softer
than upright justice and clear sighted goodwill    She had no hope 
nothing to deserve the name of hope  that he could have that sort of
affection for herself which was now in question  but there was a hope
 at times a slight one  at times much stronger   that Harriet might
have deceived herself  and be overrating his regard for  her    Wish it
she must  for his sake  be the consequence nothing to herself  but his
remaining single all his life   Could she be secure of that  indeed  of
his never marrying at all  she believed she should be perfectly
satisfied   Let him but continue the same Mr  Knightley to her and her
father  the same Mr  Knightley to all the world  let Donwell and
Hartfield lose none of their precious intercourse of friendship and
confidence  and her peace would be fully secured   Marriage  in fact 
would not do for her   It would be incompatible with what she owed to
her father  and with what she felt for him   Nothing should separate
her from her father   She would not marry  even if she were asked by
Mr  Knightley 

It must be her ardent wish that Harriet might be disappointed  and she
hoped  that when able to see them together again  she might at least be
able to ascertain what the chances for it were   She should see them
henceforward with the closest observance  and wretchedly as she had
hitherto misunderstood even those she was watching  she did not know
how to admit that she could be blinded here    He was expected back
every day   The power of observation would be soon given  frightfully
soon it appeared when her thoughts were in one course   In the
meanwhile  she resolved against seeing Harriet    It would do neither
of them good  it would do the subject no good  to be talking of it
farther   She was resolved not to be convinced  as long as she could
doubt  and yet had no authority for opposing Harriet s confidence   To
talk would be only to irritate   She wrote to her  therefore  kindly 
but decisively  to beg that she would not  at present  come to
Hartfield  acknowledging it to be her conviction  that all farther
confidential discussion of  one  topic had better be avoided  and
hoping  that if a few days were allowed to pass before they met again 
except in the company of others  she objected only to a
tete a tete  they might be able to act as if they had forgotten the
conversation of yesterday   Harriet submitted  and approved  and was
grateful 

This point was just arranged  when a visitor arrived to tear Emma s
thoughts a little from the one subject which had engrossed them 
sleeping or waking  the last twenty four hours  Mrs  Weston  who had
been calling on her daughter in law elect  and took Hartfield in her
way home  almost as much in duty to Emma as in pleasure to herself  to
relate all the particulars of so interesting an interview 

Mr  Weston had accompanied her to Mrs  Bates s  and gone through his
share of this essential attention most handsomely  but she having then
induced Miss Fairfax to join her in an airing  was now returned with
much more to say  and much more to say with satisfaction  than a
quarter of an hour spent in Mrs  Bates s parlour  with all the
encumbrance of awkward feelings  could have afforded 

A little curiosity Emma had  and she made the most of it while her
friend related   Mrs  Weston had set off to pay the visit in a good
deal of agitation herself  and in the first place had wished not to go
at all at present  to be allowed merely to write to Miss Fairfax
instead  and to defer this ceremonious call till a little time had
passed  and Mr  Churchill could be reconciled to the engagement s
becoming known  as  considering every thing  she thought such a visit
could not be paid without leading to reports   but Mr  Weston had
thought differently  he was extremely anxious to shew his approbation
to Miss Fairfax and her family  and did not conceive that any suspicion
could be excited by it  or if it were  that it would be of any
consequence  for  such things   he observed   always got about    Emma
smiled  and felt that Mr  Weston had very good reason for saying so 
They had gone  in short  and very great had been the evident distress
and confusion of the lady   She had hardly been able to speak a word 
and every look and action had shewn how deeply she was suffering from
consciousness   The quiet  heart felt satisfaction of the old lady  and
the rapturous delight of her daughter  who proved even too joyous to
talk as usual  had been a gratifying  yet almost an affecting  scene 
They were both so truly respectable in their happiness  so
disinterested in every sensation  thought so much of Jane  so much of
every body  and so little of themselves  that every kindly feeling was
at work for them   Miss Fairfax s recent illness had offered a fair
plea for Mrs  Weston to invite her to an airing  she had drawn back and
declined at first  but  on being pressed had yielded  and  in the
course of their drive  Mrs  Weston had  by gentle encouragement 
overcome so much of her embarrassment  as to bring her to converse on
the important subject   Apologies for her seemingly ungracious silence
in their first reception  and the warmest expressions of the gratitude
she was always feeling towards herself and Mr  Weston  must necessarily
open the cause  but when these effusions were put by  they had talked a
good deal of the present and of the future state of the engagement 
Mrs  Weston was convinced that such conversation must be the greatest
relief to her companion  pent up within her own mind as every thing had
so long been  and was very much pleased with all that she had said on
the subject 

 On the misery of what she had suffered  during the concealment of so
many months   continued Mrs  Weston   she was energetic   This was one
of her expressions    I will not say  that since I entered into the
engagement I have not had some happy moments  but I can say  that I
have never known the blessing of one tranquil hour    and the
quivering lip  Emma  which uttered it  was an attestation that I felt
at my heart  

 Poor girl   said Emma    She thinks herself wrong  then  for having
consented to a private engagement  

 Wrong   No one  I believe  can blame her more than she is disposed to
blame herself    The consequence   said she   has been a state of
perpetual suffering to me  and so it ought   But after all the
punishment that misconduct can bring  it is still not less misconduct 
Pain is no expiation   I never can be blameless   I have been acting
contrary to all my sense of right  and the fortunate turn that every
thing has taken  and the kindness I am now receiving  is what my
conscience tells me ought not to be     Do not imagine  madam   she
continued   that I was taught wrong   Do not let any reflection fall on
the principles or the care of the friends who brought me up   The error
has been all my own  and I do assure you that  with all the excuse that
present circumstances may appear to give  I shall yet dread making the
story known to Colonel Campbell   

 Poor girl   said Emma again    She loves him then excessively  I
suppose   It must have been from attachment only  that she could be led
to form the engagement   Her affection must have overpowered her
judgment  

 Yes  I have no doubt of her being extremely attached to him  

 I am afraid   returned Emma  sighing   that I must often have
contributed to make her unhappy  

 On your side  my love  it was very innocently done   But she probably
had something of that in her thoughts  when alluding to the
misunderstandings which he had given us hints of before   One natural
consequence of the evil she had involved herself in   she said   was
that of making her  unreasonable    The consciousness of having done
amiss  had exposed her to a thousand inquietudes  and made her captious
and irritable to a degree that must have been  that had been  hard for
him to bear    I did not make the allowances   said she   which I ought
to have done  for his temper and spirits  his delightful spirits  and
that gaiety  that playfulness of disposition  which  under any other
circumstances  would  I am sure  have been as constantly bewitching to
me  as they were at first   She then began to speak of you  and of the
great kindness you had shewn her during her illness  and with a blush
which shewed me how it was all connected  desired me  whenever I had an
opportunity  to thank you  I could not thank you too much  for every
wish and every endeavour to do her good   She was sensible that you had
never received any proper acknowledgment from herself  

 If I did not know her to be happy now   said Emma  seriously   which 
in spite of every little drawback from her scrupulous conscience  she
must be  I could not bear these thanks   for  oh   Mrs  Weston  if
there were an account drawn up of the evil and the good I have done
Miss Fairfax   Well  checking herself  and trying to be more lively  
this is all to be forgotten   You are very kind to bring me these
interesting particulars   They shew her to the greatest advantage   I
am sure she is very good  I hope she will be very happy   It is fit
that the fortune should be on his side  for I think the merit will be
all on hers  

Such a conclusion could not pass unanswered by Mrs  Weston   She
thought well of Frank in almost every respect  and  what was more  she
loved him very much  and her defence was  therefore  earnest   She
talked with a great deal of reason  and at least equal affection  but
she had too much to urge for Emma s attention  it was soon gone to
Brunswick Square or to Donwell  she forgot to attempt to listen  and
when Mrs  Weston ended with   We have not yet had the letter we are so
anxious for  you know  but I hope it will soon come   she was obliged
to pause before she answered  and at last obliged to answer at random 
before she could at all recollect what letter it was which they were so
anxious for 

 Are you well  my Emma   was Mrs  Weston s parting question 

 Oh  perfectly   I am always well  you know   Be sure to give me
intelligence of the letter as soon as possible  

Mrs  Weston s communications furnished Emma with more food for
unpleasant reflection  by increasing her esteem and compassion  and her
sense of past injustice towards Miss Fairfax   She bitterly regretted
not having sought a closer acquaintance with her  and blushed for the
envious feelings which had certainly been  in some measure  the cause 
Had she followed Mr  Knightley s known wishes  in paying that attention
to Miss Fairfax  which was every way her due  had she tried to know her
better  had she done her part towards intimacy  had she endeavoured to
find a friend there instead of in Harriet Smith  she must  in all
probability  have been spared from every pain which pressed on her
now   Birth  abilities  and education  had been equally marking one as
an associate for her  to be received with gratitude  and the
other  what was she   Supposing even that they had never become
intimate friends  that she had never been admitted into Miss Fairfax s
confidence on this important matter  which was most probable  still 
in knowing her as she ought  and as she might  she must have been
preserved from the abominable suspicions of an improper attachment to
Mr  Dixon  which she had not only so foolishly fashioned and harboured
herself  but had so unpardonably imparted  an idea which she greatly
feared had been made a subject of material distress to the delicacy of
Jane s feelings  by the levity or carelessness of Frank Churchill s 
Of all the sources of evil surrounding the former  since her coming to
Highbury  she was persuaded that she must herself have been the worst 
She must have been a perpetual enemy   They never could have been all
three together  without her having stabbed Jane Fairfax s peace in a
thousand instances  and on Box Hill  perhaps  it had been the agony of
a mind that would bear no more 

The evening of this day was very long  and melancholy  at Hartfield 
The weather added what it could of gloom   A cold stormy rain set in 
and nothing of July appeared but in the trees and shrubs  which the
wind was despoiling  and the length of the day  which only made such
cruel sights the longer visible 

The weather affected Mr  Woodhouse  and he could only be kept tolerably
comfortable by almost ceaseless attention on his daughter s side  and
by exertions which had never cost her half so much before   It reminded
her of their first forlorn tete a tete  on the evening of Mrs  Weston s
wedding day  but Mr  Knightley had walked in then  soon after tea  and
dissipated every melancholy fancy   Alas  such delightful proofs of
Hartfield s attraction  as those sort of visits conveyed  might shortly
be over   The picture which she had then drawn of the privations of the
approaching winter  had proved erroneous  no friends had deserted them 
no pleasures had been lost   But her present forebodings she feared
would experience no similar contradiction   The prospect before her
now  was threatening to a degree that could not be entirely dispelled  
that might not be even partially brightened   If all took place that
might take place among the circle of her friends  Hartfield must be
comparatively deserted  and she left to cheer her father with the
spirits only of ruined happiness 

The child to be born at Randalls must be a tie there even dearer than
herself  and Mrs  Weston s heart and time would be occupied by it 
They should lose her  and  probably  in great measure  her husband
also   Frank Churchill would return among them no more  and Miss
Fairfax  it was reasonable to suppose  would soon cease to belong to
Highbury   They would be married  and settled either at or near
Enscombe   All that were good would be withdrawn  and if to these
losses  the loss of Donwell were to be added  what would remain of
cheerful or of rational society within their reach   Mr  Knightley to
be no longer coming there for his evening comfort    No longer walking
in at all hours  as if ever willing to change his own home for
their s   How was it to be endured   And if he were to be lost to them
for Harriet s sake  if he were to be thought of hereafter  as finding
in Harriet s society all that he wanted  if Harriet were to be the
chosen  the first  the dearest  the friend  the wife to whom he looked
for all the best blessings of existence  what could be increasing
Emma s wretchedness but the reflection never far distant from her mind 
that it had been all her own work 

When it came to such a pitch as this  she was not able to refrain from
a start  or a heavy sigh  or even from walking about the room for a few
seconds  and the only source whence any thing like consolation or
composure could be drawn  was in the resolution of her own better
conduct  and the hope that  however inferior in spirit and gaiety might
be the following and every future winter of her life to the past  it
would yet find her more rational  more acquainted with herself  and
leave her less to regret when it were gone 



CHAPTER XIII


The weather continued much the same all the following morning  and the
same loneliness  and the same melancholy  seemed to reign at
Hartfield  but in the afternoon it cleared  the wind changed into a
softer quarter  the clouds were carried off  the sun appeared  it was
summer again   With all the eagerness which such a transition gives 
Emma resolved to be out of doors as soon as possible   Never had the
exquisite sight  smell  sensation of nature  tranquil  warm  and
brilliant after a storm  been more attractive to her   She longed for
the serenity they might gradually introduce  and on Mr  Perry s coming
in soon after dinner  with a disengaged hour to give her father  she
lost no time ill hurrying into the shrubbery   There  with spirits
freshened  and thoughts a little relieved  she had taken a few turns 
when she saw Mr  Knightley passing through the garden door  and coming
towards her   It was the first intimation of his being returned from
London   She had been thinking of him the moment before  as
unquestionably sixteen miles distant   There was time only for the
quickest arrangement of mind   She must be collected and calm   In half
a minute they were together   The  How d ye do s  were quiet and
constrained on each side   She asked after their mutual friends  they
were all well   When had he left them   Only that morning   He must
have had a wet ride   Yes   He meant to walk with her  she found    He
had just looked into the dining room  and as he was not wanted there 
preferred being out of doors    She thought he neither looked nor spoke
cheerfully  and the first possible cause for it  suggested by her
fears  was  that he had perhaps been communicating his plans to his
brother  and was pained by the manner in which they had been received 

They walked together   He was silent   She thought he was often looking
at her  and trying for a fuller view of her face than it suited her to
give   And this belief produced another dread   Perhaps he wanted to
speak to her  of his attachment to Harriet  he might be watching for
encouragement to begin   She did not  could not  feel equal to lead the
way to any such subject   He must do it all himself   Yet she could not
bear this silence   With him it was most unnatural   She
considered  resolved  and  trying to smile  began  

 You have some news to hear  now you are come back  that will rather
surprize you  

 Have I   said he quietly  and looking at her   of what nature  

 Oh  the best nature in the world  a wedding  

After waiting a moment  as if to be sure she intended to say no more 
he replied 

 If you mean Miss Fairfax and Frank Churchill  I have heard that
already  

 How is it possible   cried Emma  turning her glowing cheeks towards
him  for  while she spoke  it occurred to her that he might have called
at Mrs  Goddard s in his way 

 I had a few lines on parish business from Mr  Weston this morning  and
at the end of them he gave me a brief account of what had happened  

Emma was quite relieved  and could presently say  with a little more
composure 

  You  probably have been less surprized than any of us  for you have
had your suspicions   I have not forgotten that you once tried to give
me a caution   I wish I had attended to it  but   with a sinking voice
and a heavy sigh  I seem to have been doomed to blindness  

For a moment or two nothing was said  and she was unsuspicious of
having excited any particular interest  till she found her arm drawn
within his  and pressed against his heart  and heard him thus saying 
in a tone of great sensibility  speaking low 

 Time  my dearest Emma  time will heal the wound   Your own excellent
sense  your exertions for your father s sake  I know you will not allow
yourself      Her arm was pressed again  as he added  in a more broken
and subdued accent   The feelings of the warmest
friendship  Indignation  Abominable scoundrel     And in a louder 
steadier tone  he concluded with   He will soon be gone   They will
soon be in Yorkshire   I am sorry for  her    She deserves a better
fate  

Emma understood him  and as soon as she could recover from the flutter
of pleasure  excited by such tender consideration  replied 

 You are very kind  but you are mistaken  and I must set you right    I
am not in want of that sort of compassion   My blindness to what was
going on  led me to act by them in a way that I must always be ashamed
of  and I was very foolishly tempted to say and do many things which
may well lay me open to unpleasant conjectures  but I have no other
reason to regret that I was not in the secret earlier  

 Emma   cried he  looking eagerly at her   are you  indeed    but
checking himself   No  no  I understand you  forgive me  I am pleased
that you can say even so much   He is no object of regret  indeed  and
it will not be very long  I hope  before that becomes the
acknowledgment of more than your reason   Fortunate that your
affections were not farther entangled   I could never  I confess  from
your manners  assure myself as to the degree of what you felt   I could
only be certain that there was a preference  and a preference which I
never believed him to deserve   He is a disgrace to the name of
man   And is he to be rewarded with that sweet young woman    Jane 
Jane  you will be a miserable creature  

 Mr  Knightley   said Emma  trying to be lively  but really confused  
 I am in a very extraordinary situation   I cannot let you continue in
your error  and yet  perhaps  since my manners gave such an impression 
I have as much reason to be ashamed of confessing that I never have
been at all attached to the person we are speaking of  as it might be
natural for a woman to feel in confessing exactly the reverse    But I
never have  

He listened in perfect silence   She wished him to speak  but he would
not   She supposed she must say more before she were entitled to his
clemency  but it was a hard case to be obliged still to lower herself
in his opinion   She went on  however 

 I have very little to say for my own conduct   I was tempted by his
attentions  and allowed myself to appear pleased    An old story 
probably  a common case  and no more than has happened to hundreds of
my sex before  and yet it may not be the more excusable in one who sets
up as I do for Understanding   Many circumstances assisted the
temptation   He was the son of Mr  Weston  he was continually here  I
always found him very pleasant  and  in short  for  with a sigh  let me
swell out the causes ever so ingeniously  they all centre in this at
last  my vanity was flattered  and I allowed his attentions   Latterly 
however  for some time  indeed  I have had no idea of their meaning
any thing   I thought them a habit  a trick  nothing that called for
seriousness on my side   He has imposed on me  but he has not injured
me   I have never been attached to him   And now I can tolerably
comprehend his behaviour   He never wished to attach me   It was merely
a blind to conceal his real situation with another   It was his object
to blind all about him  and no one  I am sure  could be more
effectually blinded than myself  except that I was  not  blinded  that
it was my good fortune  that  in short  I was somehow or other safe
from him  

She had hoped for an answer here  for a few words to say that her
conduct was at least intelligible  but he was silent  and  as far as
she could judge  deep in thought   At last  and tolerably in his usual
tone  he said 

 I have never had a high opinion of Frank Churchill   I can suppose 
however  that I may have underrated him   My acquaintance with him has
been but trifling   And even if I have not underrated him hitherto  he
may yet turn out well   With such a woman he has a chance   I have no
motive for wishing him ill  and for her sake  whose happiness will be
involved in his good character and conduct  I shall certainly wish him
well  

 I have no doubt of their being happy together   said Emma   I believe
them to be very mutually and very sincerely attached  

 He is a most fortunate man   returned Mr  Knightley  with energy    So
early in life  at three and twenty  a period when  if a man chuses a
wife  he generally chuses ill   At three and twenty to have drawn such
a prize   What years of felicity that man  in all human calculation 
has before him   Assured of the love of such a woman  the disinterested
love  for Jane Fairfax s character vouches for her disinterestedness 
every thing in his favour   equality of situation  I mean  as far as
regards society  and all the habits and manners that are important 
equality in every point but one  and that one  since the purity of her
heart is not to be doubted  such as must increase his felicity  for it
will be his to bestow the only advantages she wants   A man would
always wish to give a woman a better home than the one he takes her
from  and he who can do it  where there is no doubt of  her  regard 
must  I think  be the happiest of mortals   Frank Churchill is  indeed 
the favourite of fortune   Every thing turns out for his good   He
meets with a young woman at a watering place  gains her affection 
cannot even weary her by negligent treatment  and had he and all his
family sought round the world for a perfect wife for him  they could
not have found her superior   His aunt is in the way   His aunt
dies   He has only to speak   His friends are eager to promote his
happiness    He had used every body ill  and they are all delighted to
forgive him    He is a fortunate man indeed  

 You speak as if you envied him  

 And I do envy him  Emma   In one respect he is the object of my envy  

Emma could say no more   They seemed to be within half a sentence of
Harriet  and her immediate feeling was to avert the subject  if
possible   She made her plan  she would speak of something totally
different  the children in Brunswick Square  and she only waited for
breath to begin  when Mr  Knightley startled her  by saying 

 You will not ask me what is the point of envy   You are determined  I
see  to have no curiosity   You are wise  but  I  cannot be wise 
Emma  I must tell you what you will not ask  though I may wish it
unsaid the next moment  

 Oh  then  don t speak it  don t speak it   she eagerly cried    Take a
little time  consider  do not commit yourself  

 Thank you   said he  in an accent of deep mortification  and not
another syllable followed 

Emma could not bear to give him pain   He was wishing to confide in
her  perhaps to consult her   cost her what it would  she would
listen   She might assist his resolution  or reconcile him to it  she
might give just praise to Harriet  or  by representing to him his own
independence  relieve him from that state of indecision  which must be
more intolerable than any alternative to such a mind as his   They had
reached the house 

 You are going in  I suppose   said he 

 No    replied Emma  quite confirmed by the depressed manner in which
he still spoke   I should like to take another turn   Mr  Perry is not
gone    And  after proceeding a few steps  she added    I stopped you
ungraciously  just now  Mr  Knightley  and  I am afraid  gave you
pain   But if you have any wish to speak openly to me as a friend  or
to ask my opinion of any thing that you may have in contemplation  as a
friend  indeed  you may command me   I will hear whatever you like   I
will tell you exactly what I think  

 As a friend    repeated Mr  Knightley    Emma  that I fear is a
word  No  I have no wish  Stay  yes  why should I hesitate    I have
gone too far already for concealment   Emma  I accept your offer  
Extraordinary as it may seem  I accept it  and refer myself to you as a
friend   Tell me  then  have I no chance of ever succeeding  

He stopped in his earnestness to look the question  and the expression
of his eyes overpowered her 

 My dearest Emma   said he   for dearest you will always be  whatever
the event of this hour s conversation  my dearest  most beloved
Emma  tell me at once   Say  No   if it is to be said     She could
really say nothing    You are silent   he cried  with great animation 
 absolutely silent  at present I ask no more  

Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment   The
dread of being awakened from the happiest dream  was perhaps the most
prominent feeling 

 I cannot make speeches  Emma    he soon resumed  and in a tone of such
sincere  decided  intelligible tenderness as was tolerably
convincing    If I loved you less  I might be able to talk about it
more   But you know what I am   You hear nothing but truth from me   I
have blamed you  and lectured you  and you have borne it as no other
woman in England would have borne it    Bear with the truths I would
tell you now  dearest Emma  as well as you have borne with them   The
manner  perhaps  may have as little to recommend them   God knows  I
have been a very indifferent lover    But you understand me   Yes  you
see  you understand my feelings  and will return them if you can   At
present  I ask only to hear  once to hear your voice  

While he spoke  Emma s mind was most busy  and  with all the wonderful
velocity of thought  had been able  and yet without losing a word  to
catch and comprehend the exact truth of the whole  to see that
Harriet s hopes had been entirely groundless  a mistake  a delusion  as
complete a delusion as any of her own  that Harriet was nothing  that
she was every thing herself  that what she had been saying relative to
Harriet had been all taken as the language of her own feelings  and
that her agitation  her doubts  her reluctance  her discouragement  had
been all received as discouragement from herself   And not only was
there time for these convictions  with all their glow of attendant
happiness  there was time also to rejoice that Harriet s secret had not
escaped her  and to resolve that it need not  and should not   It was
all the service she could now render her poor friend  for as to any of
that heroism of sentiment which might have prompted her to entreat him
to transfer his affection from herself to Harriet  as infinitely the
most worthy of the two  or even the more simple sublimity of resolving
to refuse him at once and for ever  without vouchsafing any motive 
because he could not marry them both  Emma had it not   She felt for
Harriet  with pain and with contrition  but no flight of generosity run
mad  opposing all that could be probable or reasonable  entered her
brain   She had led her friend astray  and it would be a reproach to
her for ever  but her judgment was as strong as her feelings  and as
strong as it had ever been before  in reprobating any such alliance for
him  as most unequal and degrading   Her way was clear  though not
quite smooth   She spoke then  on being so entreated    What did she
say   Just what she ought  of course   A lady always does    She said
enough to shew there need not be despair  and to invite him to say more
himself   He  had  despaired at one period  he had received such an
injunction to caution and silence  as for the time crushed every
hope   she had begun by refusing to hear him   The change had perhaps
been somewhat sudden   her proposal of taking another turn  her
renewing the conversation which she had just put an end to  might be a
little extraordinary   She felt its inconsistency  but Mr  Knightley
was so obliging as to put up with it  and seek no farther explanation 

Seldom  very seldom  does complete truth belong to any human
disclosure  seldom can it happen that something is not a little
disguised  or a little mistaken  but where  as in this case  though the
conduct is mistaken  the feelings are not  it may not be very
material    Mr  Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting
heart than she possessed  or a heart more disposed to accept of his 

He had  in fact  been wholly unsuspicious of his own influence   He had
followed her into the shrubbery with no idea of trying it   He had
come  in his anxiety to see how she bore Frank Churchill s engagement 
with no selfish view  no view at all  but of endeavouring  if she
allowed him an opening  to soothe or to counsel her   The rest had been
the work of the moment  the immediate effect of what he heard  on his
feelings   The delightful assurance of her total indifference towards
Frank Churchill  of her having a heart completely disengaged from him 
had given birth to the hope  that  in time  he might gain her affection
himself   but it had been no present hope  he had only  in the
momentary conquest of eagerness over judgment  aspired to be told that
she did not forbid his attempt to attach her   The superior hopes which
gradually opened were so much the more enchanting    The affection 
which he had been asking to be allowed to create  if he could  was
already his   Within half an hour  he had passed from a thoroughly
distressed state of mind  to something so like perfect happiness  that
it could bear no other name 

 Her  change was equal   This one half hour had given to each the same
precious certainty of being beloved  had cleared from each the same
degree of ignorance  jealousy  or distrust   On his side  there had
been a long standing jealousy  old as the arrival  or even the
expectation  of Frank Churchill   He had been in love with Emma  and
jealous of Frank Churchill  from about the same period  one sentiment
having probably enlightened him as to the other   It was his jealousy
of Frank Churchill that had taken him from the country   The Box Hill
party had decided him on going away   He would save himself from
witnessing again such permitted  encouraged attentions   He had gone to
learn to be indifferent    But he had gone to a wrong place   There was
too much domestic happiness in his brother s house  woman wore too
amiable a form in it  Isabella was too much like Emma  differing only
in those striking inferiorities  which always brought the other in
brilliancy before him  for much to have been done  even had his time
been longer   He had stayed on  however  vigorously  day after
day  till this very morning s post had conveyed the history of Jane
Fairfax   Then  with the gladness which must be felt  nay  which he did
not scruple to feel  having never believed Frank Churchill to be at all
deserving Emma  was there so much fond solicitude  so much keen anxiety
for her  that he could stay no longer   He had ridden home through the
rain  and had walked up directly after dinner  to see how this sweetest
and best of all creatures  faultless in spite of all her faults  bore
the discovery 

He had found her agitated and low   Frank Churchill was a villain    He
heard her declare that she had never loved him   Frank Churchill s
character was not desperate   She was his own Emma  by hand and word 
when they returned into the house  and if he could have thought of
Frank Churchill then  he might have deemed him a very good sort of
fellow 



CHAPTER XIV


What totally different feelings did Emma take back into the house from
what she had brought out   she had then been only daring to hope for a
little respite of suffering   she was now in an exquisite flutter of
happiness  and such happiness moreover as she believed must still be
greater when the flutter should have passed away 

They sat down to tea  the same party round the same table  how often
it had been collected   and how often had her eyes fallen on the same
shrubs in the lawn  and observed the same beautiful effect of the
western sun   But never in such a state of spirits  never in any thing
like it  and it was with difficulty that she could summon enough of her
usual self to be the attentive lady of the house  or even the attentive
daughter 

Poor Mr  Woodhouse little suspected what was plotting against him in
the breast of that man whom he was so cordially welcoming  and so
anxiously hoping might not have taken cold from his ride   Could he
have seen the heart  he would have cared very little for the lungs  but
without the most distant imagination of the impending evil  without the
slightest perception of any thing extraordinary in the looks or ways of
either  he repeated to them very comfortably all the articles of news
he had received from Mr  Perry  and talked on with much
self contentment  totally unsuspicious of what they could have told him
in return 

As long as Mr  Knightley remained with them  Emma s fever continued 
but when he was gone  she began to be a little tranquillised and
subdued  and in the course of the sleepless night  which was the tax
for such an evening  she found one or two such very serious points to
consider  as made her feel  that even her happiness must have some
alloy   Her father  and Harriet   She could not be alone without
feeling the full weight of their separate claims  and how to guard the
comfort of both to the utmost  was the question   With respect to her
father  it was a question soon answered   She hardly knew yet what Mr 
Knightley would ask  but a very short parley with her own heart
produced the most solemn resolution of never quitting her father   She
even wept over the idea of it  as a sin of thought   While he lived  it
must be only an engagement  but she flattered herself  that if divested
of the danger of drawing her away  it might become an increase of
comfort to him    How to do her best by Harriet  was of more difficult
decision   how to spare her from any unnecessary pain  how to make her
any possible atonement  how to appear least her enemy    On these
subjects  her perplexity and distress were very great  and her mind
had to pass again and again through every bitter reproach and sorrowful
regret that had ever surrounded it    She could only resolve at last 
that she would still avoid a meeting with her  and communicate all that
need be told by letter  that it would be inexpressibly desirable to
have her removed just now for a time from Highbury  and  indulging in
one scheme more  nearly resolve  that it might be practicable to get
an invitation for her to Brunswick Square   Isabella had been pleased
with Harriet  and a few weeks spent in London must give her some
amusement    She did not think it in Harriet s nature to escape being
benefited by novelty and variety  by the streets  the shops  and the
children    At any rate  it would be a proof of attention and kindness
in herself  from whom every thing was due  a separation for the
present  an averting of the evil day  when they must all be together
again 

She rose early  and wrote her letter to Harriet  an employment which
left her so very serious  so nearly sad  that Mr  Knightley  in walking
up to Hartfield to breakfast  did not arrive at all too soon  and half
an hour stolen afterwards to go over the same ground again with him 
literally and figuratively  was quite necessary to reinstate her in a
proper share of the happiness of the evening before 

He had not left her long  by no means long enough for her to have the
slightest inclination for thinking of any body else  when a letter was
brought her from Randalls  a very thick letter   she guessed what it
must contain  and deprecated the necessity of reading it    She was now
in perfect charity with Frank Churchill  she wanted no explanations 
she wanted only to have her thoughts to herself  and as for
understanding any thing he wrote  she was sure she was incapable of
it   It must be waded through  however   She opened the packet  it was
too surely so   a note from Mrs  Weston to herself  ushered in the
letter from Frank to Mrs  Weston 

 I have the greatest pleasure  my dear Emma  in forwarding to you the
enclosed   I know what thorough justice you will do it  and have
scarcely a doubt of its happy effect   I think we shall never
materially disagree about the writer again  but I will not delay you by
a long preface   We are quite well   This letter has been the cure of
all the little nervousness I have been feeling lately   I did not quite
like your looks on Tuesday  but it was an ungenial morning  and though
you will never own being affected by weather  I think every body feels
a north east wind   I felt for your dear father very much in the storm
of Tuesday afternoon and yesterday morning  but had the comfort of
hearing last night  by Mr  Perry  that it had not made him ill 
                               Yours ever 
                                                        A  W  

                        To Mrs  Weston  
                                                       WINDSOR JULY 
MY DEAR MADAM 

 If I made myself intelligible yesterday  this letter will be expected 
but expected or not  I know it will be read with candour and
indulgence   You are all goodness  and I believe there will be need of
even all your goodness to allow for some parts of my past conduct   
But I have been forgiven by one who had still more to resent   My
courage rises while I write   It is very difficult for the prosperous
to be humble   I have already met with such success in two applications
for pardon  that I may be in danger of thinking myself too sure of
yours  and of those among your friends who have had any ground of
offence   You must all endeavour to comprehend the exact nature of my
situation when I first arrived at Randalls  you must consider me as
having a secret which was to be kept at all hazards   This was the
fact   My right to place myself in a situation requiring such
concealment  is another question   I shall not discuss it here   For my
temptation to  think  it a right  I refer every caviller to a brick
house  sashed windows below  and casements above  in Highbury   I dared
not address her openly  my difficulties in the then state of Enscombe
must be too well known to require definition  and I was fortunate
enough to prevail  before we parted at Weymouth  and to induce the most
upright female mind in the creation to stoop in charity to a secret
engagement   Had she refused  I should have gone mad   But you will be
ready to say  what was your hope in doing this   What did you look
forward to   To any thing  every thing  to time  chance  circumstance 
slow effects  sudden bursts  perseverance and weariness  health and
sickness   Every possibility of good was before me  and the first of
blessings secured  in obtaining her promises of faith and
correspondence   If you need farther explanation  I have the honour  my
dear madam  of being your husband s son  and the advantage of
inheriting a disposition to hope for good  which no inheritance of
houses or lands can ever equal the value of   See me  then  under these
circumstances  arriving on my first visit to Randalls   and here I am
conscious of wrong  for that visit might have been sooner paid   You
will look back and see that I did not come till Miss Fairfax was in
Highbury  and as  you  were the person slighted  you will forgive me
instantly  but I must work on my father s compassion  by reminding him 
that so long as I absented myself from his house  so long I lost the
blessing of knowing you   My behaviour  during the very happy fortnight
which I spent with you  did not  I hope  lay me open to reprehension 
excepting on one point   And now I come to the principal  the only
important part of my conduct while belonging to you  which excites my
own anxiety  or requires very solicitous explanation   With the
greatest respect  and the warmest friendship  do I mention Miss
Woodhouse  my father perhaps will think I ought to add  with the
deepest humiliation    A few words which dropped from him yesterday
spoke his opinion  and some censure I acknowledge myself liable to   My
behaviour to Miss Woodhouse indicated  I believe  more than it ought   
In order to assist a concealment so essential to me  I was led on to
make more than an allowable use of the sort of intimacy into which we
were immediately thrown   I cannot deny that Miss Woodhouse was my
ostensible object  but I am sure you will believe the declaration  that
had I not been convinced of her indifference  I would not have been
induced by any selfish views to go on    Amiable and delightful as Miss
Woodhouse is  she never gave me the idea of a young woman likely to be
attached  and that she was perfectly free from any tendency to being
attached to me  was as much my conviction as my wish   She received my
attentions with an easy  friendly  goodhumoured playfulness  which
exactly suited me   We seemed to understand each other   From our
relative situation  those attentions were her due  and were felt to be
so   Whether Miss Woodhouse began really to understand me before the
expiration of that fortnight  I cannot say   when I called to take
leave of her  I remember that I was within a moment of confessing the
truth  and I then fancied she was not without suspicion  but I have no
doubt of her having since detected me  at least in some degree    She
may not have surmised the whole  but her quickness must have penetrated
a part   I cannot doubt it   You will find  whenever the subject
becomes freed from its present restraints  that it did not take her
wholly by surprize   She frequently gave me hints of it   I remember
her telling me at the ball  that I owed Mrs  Elton gratitude for her
attentions to Miss Fairfax    I hope this history of my conduct towards
her will be admitted by you and my father as great extenuation of what
you saw amiss   While you considered me as having sinned against Emma
Woodhouse  I could deserve nothing from either   Acquit me here  and
procure for me  when it is allowable  the acquittal and good wishes of
that said Emma Woodhouse  whom I regard with so much brotherly
affection  as to long to have her as deeply and as happily in love as
myself    Whatever strange things I said or did during that fortnight 
you have now a key to   My heart was in Highbury  and my business was
to get my body thither as often as might be  and with the least
suspicion   If you remember any queernesses  set them all to the right
account    Of the pianoforte so much talked of  I feel it only
necessary to say  that its being ordered was absolutely unknown to Miss
F    who would never have allowed me to send it  had any choice been
given her    The delicacy of her mind throughout the whole engagement 
my dear madam  is much beyond my power of doing justice to   You will
soon  I earnestly hope  know her thoroughly yourself    No description
can describe her   She must tell you herself what she is  yet not by
word  for never was there a human creature who would so designedly
suppress her own merit   Since I began this letter  which will be
longer than I foresaw  I have heard from her    She gives a good
account of her own health  but as she never complains  I dare not
depend   I want to have your opinion of her looks   I know you will
soon call on her  she is living in dread of the visit   Perhaps it is
paid already   Let me hear from you without delay  I am impatient for a
thousand particulars   Remember how few minutes I was at Randalls  and
in how bewildered  how mad a state  and I am not much better yet  still
insane either from happiness or misery   When I think of the kindness
and favour I have met with  of her excellence and patience  and my
uncle s generosity  I am mad with joy   but when I recollect all the
uneasiness I occasioned her  and how little I deserve to be forgiven  I
am mad with anger   If I could but see her again   But I must not
propose it yet   My uncle has been too good for me to encroach   I must
still add to this long letter   You have not heard all that you ought
to hear   I could not give any connected detail yesterday  but the
suddenness  and  in one light  the unseasonableness with which the
affair burst out  needs explanation  for though the event of the 26th
ult   as you will conclude  immediately opened to me the happiest
prospects  I should not have presumed on such early measures  but from
the very particular circumstances  which left me not an hour to lose 
I should myself have shrunk from any thing so hasty  and she would have
felt every scruple of mine with multiplied strength and refinement   
But I had no choice   The hasty engagement she had entered into with
that woman  Here  my dear madam  I was obliged to leave off abruptly 
to recollect and compose myself   I have been walking over the country 
and am now  I hope  rational enough to make the rest of my letter what
it ought to be   It is  in fact  a most mortifying retrospect for me 
I behaved shamefully   And here I can admit  that my manners to Miss
W   in being unpleasant to Miss F   were highly blameable    She 
disapproved them  which ought to have been enough   My plea of
concealing the truth she did not think sufficient   She was displeased 
I thought unreasonably so   I thought her  on a thousand occasions 
unnecessarily scrupulous and cautious   I thought her even cold   But
she was always right   If I had followed her judgment  and subdued my
spirits to the level of what she deemed proper  I should have escaped
the greatest unhappiness I have ever known   We quarrelled    Do you
remember the morning spent at Donwell    There  every little
dissatisfaction that had occurred before came to a crisis   I was late 
I met her walking home by herself  and wanted to walk with her  but she
would not suffer it   She absolutely refused to allow me  which I then
thought most unreasonable   Now  however  I see nothing in it but a
very natural and consistent degree of discretion   While I  to blind
the world to our engagement  was behaving one hour with objectionable
particularity to another woman  was she to be consenting the next to a
proposal which might have made every previous caution useless   Had we
been met walking together between Donwell and Highbury  the truth must
have been suspected    I was mad enough  however  to resent   I doubted
her affection   I doubted it more the next day on Box Hill  when 
provoked by such conduct on my side  such shameful  insolent neglect of
her  and such apparent devotion to Miss W   as it would have been
impossible for any woman of sense to endure  she spoke her resentment
in a form of words perfectly intelligible to me    In short  my dear
madam  it was a quarrel blameless on her side  abominable on mine  and
I returned the same evening to Richmond  though I might have staid with
you till the next morning  merely because I would be as angry with her
as possible   Even then  I was not such a fool as not to mean to be
reconciled in time  but I was the injured person  injured by her
coldness  and I went away determined that she should make the first
advances   I shall always congratulate myself that you were not of the
Box Hill party   Had you witnessed my behaviour there  I can hardly
suppose you would ever have thought well of me again   Its effect upon
her appears in the immediate resolution it produced   as soon as she
found I was really gone from Randalls  she closed with the offer of
that officious Mrs  Elton  the whole system of whose treatment of her 
by the bye  has ever filled me with indignation and hatred   I must not
quarrel with a spirit of forbearance which has been so richly extended
towards myself  but  otherwise  I should loudly protest against the
share of it which that woman has known     Jane   indeed   You will
observe that I have not yet indulged myself in calling her by that
name  even to you   Think  then  what I must have endured in hearing it
bandied between the Eltons with all the vulgarity of needless
repetition  and all the insolence of imaginary superiority   Have
patience with me  I shall soon have done    She closed with this offer 
resolving to break with me entirely  and wrote the next day to tell me
that we never were to meet again     She   felt   the   engagement 
 to   be   a   source   of   repentance   and   misery   to   each  
 she   dissolved   it    This letter reached me on the very morning of
my poor aunt s death   I answered it within an hour  but from the
confusion of my mind  and the multiplicity of business falling on me at
once  my answer  instead of being sent with all the many other letters
of that day  was locked up in my writing desk  and I  trusting that I
had written enough  though but a few lines  to satisfy her  remained
without any uneasiness   I was rather disappointed that I did not hear
from her again speedily  but I made excuses for her  and was too busy 
and  may I add    too cheerful in my views to be captious   We removed
to Windsor  and two days afterwards I received a parcel from her  my
own letters all returned   and a few lines at the same time by the
post  stating her extreme surprize at not having had the smallest reply
to her last  and adding  that as silence on such a point could not be
misconstrued  and as it must be equally desirable to both to have every
subordinate arrangement concluded as soon as possible  she now sent me 
by a safe conveyance  all my letters  and requested  that if I could
not directly command hers  so as to send them to Highbury within a
week  I would forward them after that period to her at     in short 
the full direction to Mr  Smallridge s  near Bristol  stared me in the
face   I knew the name  the place  I knew all about it  and instantly
saw what she had been doing   It was perfectly accordant with that
resolution of character which I knew her to possess  and the secrecy
she had maintained  as to any such design in her former letter  was
equally descriptive of its anxious delicacy   For the world would not
she have seemed to threaten me   Imagine the shock  imagine how  till I
had actually detected my own blunder  I raved at the blunders of the
post    What was to be done   One thing only   I must speak to my
uncle   Without his sanction I could not hope to be listened to
again    I spoke  circumstances were in my favour  the late event had
softened away his pride  and he was  earlier than I could have
anticipated  wholly reconciled and complying  and could say at last 
poor man   with a deep sigh  that he wished I might find as much
happiness in the marriage state as he had done   I felt that it would
be of a different sort   Are you disposed to pity me for what I must
have suffered in opening the cause to him  for my suspense while all
was at stake   No  do not pity me till I reached Highbury  and saw how
ill I had made her   Do not pity me till I saw her wan  sick looks   I
reached Highbury at the time of day when  from my knowledge of their
late breakfast hour  I was certain of a good chance of finding her
alone   I was not disappointed  and at last I was not disappointed
either in the object of my journey   A great deal of very reasonable 
very just displeasure I had to persuade away   But it is done  we are
reconciled  dearer  much dearer  than ever  and no moment s uneasiness
can ever occur between us again   Now  my dear madam  I will release
you  but I could not conclude before   A thousand and a thousand thanks
for all the kindness you have ever shewn me  and ten thousand for the
attentions your heart will dictate towards her   If you think me in a
way to be happier than I deserve  I am quite of your opinion   Miss W 
calls me the child of good fortune   I hope she is right   In one
respect  my good fortune is undoubted  that of being able to subscribe
myself 
                    Your obliged and affectionate Son 
                                          F  C  WESTON CHURCHILL 



CHAPTER XV


This letter must make its way to Emma s feelings   She was obliged  in
spite of her previous determination to the contrary  to do it all the
justice that Mrs  Weston foretold   As soon as she came to her own
name  it was irresistible  every line relating to herself was
interesting  and almost every line agreeable  and when this charm
ceased  the subject could still maintain itself  by the natural return
of her former regard for the writer  and the very strong attraction
which any picture of love must have for her at that moment   She never
stopt till she had gone through the whole  and though it was impossible
not to feel that he had been wrong  yet he had been less wrong than she
had supposed  and he had suffered  and was very sorry  and he was so
grateful to Mrs  Weston  and so much in love with Miss Fairfax  and she
was so happy herself  that there was no being severe  and could he have
entered the room  she must have shaken hands with him as heartily as
ever 

She thought so well of the letter  that when Mr  Knightley came again 
she desired him to read it   She was sure of Mrs  Weston s wishing it
to be communicated  especially to one  who  like Mr  Knightley  had
seen so much to blame in his conduct 

 I shall be very glad to look it over   said he   but it seems long   I
will take it home with me at night  

But that would not do   Mr  Weston was to call in the evening  and she
must return it by him 

 I would rather be talking to you   he replied   but as it seems a
matter of justice  it shall be done  

He began  stopping  however  almost directly to say   Had I been
offered the sight of one of this gentleman s letters to his
mother in law a few months ago  Emma  it would not have been taken with
such indifference  

He proceeded a little farther  reading to himself  and then  with a
smile  observed   Humph  a fine complimentary opening  But it is his
way   One man s style must not be the rule of another s   We will not
be severe  

 It will be natural for me   he added shortly afterwards   to speak my
opinion aloud as I read   By doing it  I shall feel that I am near you 
It will not be so great a loss of time   but if you dislike it   

 Not at all   I should wish it  

Mr  Knightley returned to his reading with greater alacrity 

 He trifles here   said he   as to the temptation   He knows he is
wrong  and has nothing rational to urge   Bad   He ought not to have
formed the engagement    His father s disposition    he is unjust 
however  to his father   Mr  Weston s sanguine temper was a blessing on
all his upright and honourable exertions  but Mr  Weston earned every
present comfort before he endeavoured to gain it   Very true  he did
not come till Miss Fairfax was here  

 And I have not forgotten   said Emma   how sure you were that he might
have come sooner if he would   You pass it over very handsomely  but
you were perfectly right  

 I was not quite impartial in my judgment  Emma   but yet  I think  
had  you  not been in the case  I should still have distrusted him  

When he came to Miss Woodhouse  he was obliged to read the whole of it
aloud  all that related to her  with a smile  a look  a shake of the
head  a word or two of assent  or disapprobation  or merely of love  as
the subject required  concluding  however  seriously  and  after steady
reflection  thus  

 Very bad  though it might have been worse   Playing a most dangerous
game   Too much indebted to the event for his acquittal    No judge of
his own manners by you   Always deceived in fact by his own wishes  and
regardless of little besides his own convenience    Fancying you to
have fathomed his secret   Natural enough   his own mind full of
intrigue  that he should suspect it in others   Mystery  Finesse  how
they pervert the understanding   My Emma  does not every thing serve to
prove more and more the beauty of truth and sincerity in all our
dealings with each other  

Emma agreed to it  and with a blush of sensibility on Harriet s
account  which she could not give any sincere explanation of 

 You had better go on   said she 

He did so  but very soon stopt again to say   the pianoforte   Ah 
That was the act of a very  very young man  one too young to consider
whether the inconvenience of it might not very much exceed the
pleasure   A boyish scheme  indeed   I cannot comprehend a man s
wishing to give a woman any proof of affection which he knows she would
rather dispense with  and he did know that she would have prevented the
instrument s coming if she could  

After this  he made some progress without any pause   Frank Churchill s
confession of having behaved shamefully was the first thing to call for
more than a word in passing 

 I perfectly agree with you  sir    was then his remark    You did
behave very shamefully   You never wrote a truer line   And having gone
through what immediately followed of the basis of their disagreement 
and his persisting to act in direct opposition to Jane Fairfax s sense
of right  he made a fuller pause to say   This is very bad   He had
induced her to place herself  for his sake  in a situation of extreme
difficulty and uneasiness  and it should have been his first object to
prevent her from suffering unnecessarily   She must have had much more
to contend with  in carrying on the correspondence  than he could   He
should have respected even unreasonable scruples  had there been such 
but hers were all reasonable   We must look to her one fault  and
remember that she had done a wrong thing in consenting to the
engagement  to bear that she should have been in such a state of
punishment  

Emma knew that he was now getting to the Box Hill party  and grew
uncomfortable   Her own behaviour had been so very improper   She was
deeply ashamed  and a little afraid of his next look   It was all read 
however  steadily  attentively  and without the smallest remark  and 
excepting one momentary glance at her  instantly withdrawn  in the fear
of giving pain  no remembrance of Box Hill seemed to exist 

 There is no saying much for the delicacy of our good friends  the
Eltons   was his next observation    His feelings are natural    What 
actually resolve to break with him entirely   She felt the engagement
to be a source of repentance and misery to each  she dissolved
it   What a view this gives of her sense of his behaviour   Well  he
must be a most extraordinary   

 Nay  nay  read on   You will find how very much he suffers  

 I hope he does   replied Mr  Knightley coolly  and resuming the
letter     Smallridge    What does this mean   What is all this  

 She had engaged to go as governess to Mrs  Smallridge s children  a
dear friend of Mrs  Elton s  a neighbour of Maple Grove  and  by the
bye  I wonder how Mrs  Elton bears the disappointment  

 Say nothing  my dear Emma  while you oblige me to read  not even of
Mrs  Elton   Only one page more   I shall soon have done   What a
letter the man writes  

 I wish you would read it with a kinder spirit towards him  

 Well  there  is  feeling here   He does seem to have suffered in
finding her ill   Certainly  I can have no doubt of his being fond of
her    Dearer  much dearer than ever    I hope he may long continue to
feel all the value of such a reconciliation   He is a very liberal
thanker  with his thousands and tens of thousands    Happier than I
deserve   Come  he knows himself there    Miss Woodhouse calls me the
child of good fortune    Those were Miss Woodhouse s words  were
they    And a fine ending  and there is the letter   The child of good
fortune   That was your name for him  was it  

 You do not appear so well satisfied with his letter as I am  but still
you must  at least I hope you must  think the better of him for it   I
hope it does him some service with you  

 Yes  certainly it does   He has had great faults  faults of
inconsideration and thoughtlessness  and I am very much of his opinion
in thinking him likely to be happier than he deserves  but still as he
is  beyond a doubt  really attached to Miss Fairfax  and will soon  it
may be hoped  have the advantage of being constantly with her  I am
very ready to believe his character will improve  and acquire from hers
the steadiness and delicacy of principle that it wants   And now  let
me talk to you of something else   I have another person s interest at
present so much at heart  that I cannot think any longer about Frank
Churchill   Ever since I left you this morning  Emma  my mind has been
hard at work on one subject  

The subject followed  it was in plain  unaffected  gentlemanlike
English  such as Mr  Knightley used even to the woman he was in love
with  how to be able to ask her to marry him  without attacking the
happiness of her father   Emma s answer was ready at the first word 
 While her dear father lived  any change of condition must be
impossible for her   She could never quit him    Part only of this
answer  however  was admitted   The impossibility of her quitting her
father  Mr  Knightley felt as strongly as herself  but the
inadmissibility of any other change  he could not agree to   He had
been thinking it over most deeply  most intently  he had at first hoped
to induce Mr  Woodhouse to remove with her to Donwell  he had wanted to
believe it feasible  but his knowledge of Mr  Woodhouse would not
suffer him to deceive himself long  and now he confessed his
persuasion  that such a transplantation would be a risk of her father s
comfort  perhaps even of his life  which must not be hazarded   Mr 
Woodhouse taken from Hartfield   No  he felt that it ought not to be
attempted   But the plan which had arisen on the sacrifice of this  he
trusted his dearest Emma would not find in any respect objectionable 
it was  that he should be received at Hartfield  that so long as her
father s happiness in other words his life  required Hartfield to
continue her home  it should be his likewise 

Of their all removing to Donwell  Emma had already had her own passing
thoughts   Like him  she had tried the scheme and rejected it  but such
an alternative as this had not occurred to her   She was sensible of
all the affection it evinced   She felt that  in quitting Donwell  he
must be sacrificing a great deal of independence of hours and habits 
that in living constantly with her father  and in no house of his own 
there would be much  very much  to be borne with   She promised to
think of it  and advised him to think of it more  but he was fully
convinced  that no reflection could alter his wishes or his opinion on
the subject   He had given it  he could assure her  very long and calm
consideration  he had been walking away from William Larkins the whole
morning  to have his thoughts to himself 

 Ah  there is one difficulty unprovided for   cried Emma    I am sure
William Larkins will not like it   You must get his consent before you
ask mine  

She promised  however  to think of it  and pretty nearly promised 
moreover  to think of it  with the intention of finding it a very good
scheme 

It is remarkable  that Emma  in the many  very many  points of view in
which she was now beginning to consider Donwell Abbey  was never struck
with any sense of injury to her nephew Henry  whose rights as
heir expectant had formerly been so tenaciously regarded   Think she
must of the possible difference to the poor little boy  and yet she
only gave herself a saucy conscious smile about it  and found amusement
in detecting the real cause of that violent dislike of Mr  Knightley s
marrying Jane Fairfax  or any body else  which at the time she had
wholly imputed to the amiable solicitude of the sister and the aunt 

This proposal of his  this plan of marrying and continuing at
Hartfield  the more she contemplated it  the more pleasing it became 
His evils seemed to lessen  her own advantages to increase  their
mutual good to outweigh every drawback   Such a companion for herself
in the periods of anxiety and cheerlessness before her    Such a
partner in all those duties and cares to which time must be giving
increase of melancholy 

She would have been too happy but for poor Harriet  but every blessing
of her own seemed to involve and advance the sufferings of her friend 
who must now be even excluded from Hartfield   The delightful family
party which Emma was securing for herself  poor Harriet must  in mere
charitable caution  be kept at a distance from   She would be a loser
in every way   Emma could not deplore her future absence as any
deduction from her own enjoyment   In such a party  Harriet would be
rather a dead weight than otherwise  but for the poor girl herself  it
seemed a peculiarly cruel necessity that was to be placing her in such
a state of unmerited punishment 

In time  of course  Mr  Knightley would be forgotten  that is 
supplanted  but this could not be expected to happen very early   Mr 
Knightley himself would be doing nothing to assist the cure   not like
Mr  Elton   Mr  Knightley  always so kind  so feeling  so truly
considerate for every body  would never deserve to be less worshipped
than now  and it really was too much to hope even of Harriet  that she
could be in love with more than  three  men in one year 



CHAPTER XVI


It was a very great relief to Emma to find Harriet as desirous as
herself to avoid a meeting   Their intercourse was painful enough by
letter   How much worse  had they been obliged to meet 

Harriet expressed herself very much as might be supposed  without
reproaches  or apparent sense of ill usage  and yet Emma fancied there
was a something of resentment  a something bordering on it in her
style  which increased the desirableness of their being separate    It
might be only her own consciousness  but it seemed as if an angel only
could have been quite without resentment under such a stroke 

She had no difficulty in procuring Isabella s invitation  and she was
fortunate in having a sufficient reason for asking it  without
resorting to invention   There was a tooth amiss   Harriet really
wished  and had wished some time  to consult a dentist   Mrs  John
Knightley was delighted to be of use  any thing of ill health was a
recommendation to her  and though not so fond of a dentist as of a Mr 
Wingfield  she was quite eager to have Harriet under her care   When it
was thus settled on her sister s side  Emma proposed it to her friend 
and found her very persuadable    Harriet was to go  she was invited
for at least a fortnight  she was to be conveyed in Mr  Woodhouse s
carriage   It was all arranged  it was all completed  and Harriet was
safe in Brunswick Square 

Now Emma could  indeed  enjoy Mr  Knightley s visits  now she could
talk  and she could listen with true happiness  unchecked by that sense
of injustice  of guilt  of something most painful  which had haunted
her when remembering how disappointed a heart was near her  how much
might at that moment  and at a little distance  be enduring by the
feelings which she had led astray herself 

The difference of Harriet at Mrs  Goddard s  or in London  made perhaps
an unreasonable difference in Emma s sensations  but she could not
think of her in London without objects of curiosity and employment 
which must be averting the past  and carrying her out of herself 

She would not allow any other anxiety to succeed directly to the place
in her mind which Harriet had occupied   There was a communication
before her  one which  she  only could be competent to make  the
confession of her engagement to her father  but she would have nothing
to do with it at present   She had resolved to defer the disclosure
till Mrs  Weston were safe and well   No additional agitation should be
thrown at this period among those she loved  and the evil should not
act on herself by anticipation before the appointed time   A fortnight 
at least  of leisure and peace of mind  to crown every warmer  but more
agitating  delight  should be hers 

She soon resolved  equally as a duty and a pleasure  to employ half an
hour of this holiday of spirits in calling on Miss Fairfax    She ought
to go  and she was longing to see her  the resemblance of their present
situations increasing every other motive of goodwill   It would be a
 secret  satisfaction  but the consciousness of a similarity of
prospect would certainly add to the interest with which she should
attend to any thing Jane might communicate 

She went  she had driven once unsuccessfully to the door  but had not
been into the house since the morning after Box Hill  when poor Jane
had been in such distress as had filled her with compassion  though all
the worst of her sufferings had been unsuspected    The fear of being
still unwelcome  determined her  though assured of their being at home 
to wait in the passage  and send up her name    She heard Patty
announcing it  but no such bustle succeeded as poor Miss Bates had
before made so happily intelligible   No  she heard nothing but the
instant reply of   Beg her to walk up    and a moment afterwards she
was met on the stairs by Jane herself  coming eagerly forward  as if no
other reception of her were felt sufficient    Emma had never seen her
look so well  so lovely  so engaging   There was consciousness 
animation  and warmth  there was every thing which her countenance or
manner could ever have wanted    She came forward with an offered hand 
and said  in a low  but very feeling tone 

 This is most kind  indeed   Miss Woodhouse  it is impossible for me to
express  I hope you will believe  Excuse me for being so entirely
without words  

Emma was gratified  and would soon have shewn no want of words  if the
sound of Mrs  Elton s voice from the sitting room had not checked her 
and made it expedient to compress all her friendly and all her
congratulatory sensations into a very  very earnest shake of the hand 

Mrs  Bates and Mrs  Elton were together   Miss Bates was out  which
accounted for the previous tranquillity   Emma could have wished Mrs 
Elton elsewhere  but she was in a humour to have patience with every
body  and as Mrs  Elton met her with unusual graciousness  she hoped
the rencontre would do them no harm 

She soon believed herself to penetrate Mrs  Elton s thoughts  and
understand why she was  like herself  in happy spirits  it was being in
Miss Fairfax s confidence  and fancying herself acquainted with what
was still a secret to other people   Emma saw symptoms of it
immediately in the expression of her face  and while paying her own
compliments to Mrs  Bates  and appearing to attend to the good old
lady s replies  she saw her with a sort of anxious parade of mystery
fold up a letter which she had apparently been reading aloud to Miss
Fairfax  and return it into the purple and gold reticule by her side 
saying  with significant nods 

 We can finish this some other time  you know   You and I shall not
want opportunities   And  in fact  you have heard all the essential
already   I only wanted to prove to you that Mrs  S  admits our
apology  and is not offended   You see how delightfully she writes 
Oh  she is a sweet creature   You would have doated on her  had you
gone   But not a word more   Let us be discreet  quite on our good
behaviour   Hush   You remember those lines   I forget the poem at this
moment 

         For when a lady s in the case 
         You know all other things give place  

Now I say  my dear  in  our  case  for  lady   read    mum  a word to
the wise   I am in a fine flow of spirits  an t I   But I want to set
your heart at ease as to Mrs  S    My  representation  you see  has
quite appeased her  

And again  on Emma s merely turning her head to look at Mrs  Bates s
knitting  she added  in a half whisper 

 I mentioned no  names   you will observe   Oh  no  cautious as a
minister of state   I managed it extremely well  

Emma could not doubt   It was a palpable display  repeated on every
possible occasion   When they had all talked a little while in harmony
of the weather and Mrs  Weston  she found herself abruptly addressed
with 

 Do not you think  Miss Woodhouse  our saucy little friend here is
charmingly recovered   Do not you think her cure does Perry the highest
credit    here was a side glance of great meaning at Jane   Upon my
word  Perry has restored her in a wonderful short time    Oh  if you
had seen her  as I did  when she was at the worst     And when Mrs 
Bates was saying something to Emma  whispered farther   We do not say a
word of any  assistance  that Perry might have  not a word of a certain
young physician from Windsor   Oh  no  Perry shall have all the credit  

 I have scarce had the pleasure of seeing you  Miss Woodhouse   she
shortly afterwards began   since the party to Box Hill   Very pleasant
party   But yet I think there was something wanting   Things did not
seem  that is  there seemed a little cloud upon the spirits of
some   So it appeared to me at least  but I might be mistaken 
However  I think it answered so far as to tempt one to go again   What
say you both to our collecting the same party  and exploring to Box
Hill again  while the fine weather lasts    It must be the same party 
you know  quite the same party  not  one  exception  

Soon after this Miss Bates came in  and Emma could not help being
diverted by the perplexity of her first answer to herself  resulting 
she supposed  from doubt of what might be said  and impatience to say
every thing 

 Thank you  dear Miss Woodhouse  you are all kindness   It is
impossible to say  Yes  indeed  I quite understand  dearest Jane s
prospects  that is  I do not mean   But she is charmingly recovered   
How is Mr  Woodhouse   I am so glad   Quite out of my power    Such a
happy little circle as you find us here   Yes  indeed    Charming young
man   that is  so very friendly  I mean good Mr  Perry   such
attention to Jane    And from her great  her more than commonly
thankful delight towards Mrs  Elton for being there  Emma guessed that
there had been a little show of resentment towards Jane  from the
vicarage quarter  which was now graciously overcome    After a few
whispers  indeed  which placed it beyond a guess  Mrs  Elton  speaking
louder  said 

 Yes  here I am  my good friend  and here I have been so long  that
anywhere else I should think it necessary to apologise  but  the truth
is  that I am waiting for my lord and master   He promised to join me
here  and pay his respects to you  

 What  are we to have the pleasure of a call from Mr  Elton    That
will be a favour indeed  for I know gentlemen do not like morning
visits  and Mr  Elton s time is so engaged  

 Upon my word it is  Miss Bates   He really is engaged from morning to
night   There is no end of people s coming to him  on some pretence or
other   The magistrates  and overseers  and churchwardens  are always
wanting his opinion   They seem not able to do any thing without
him    Upon my word  Mr  E    I often say   rather you than I    I do
not know what would become of my crayons and my instrument  if I had
half so many applicants    Bad enough as it is  for I absolutely
neglect them both to an unpardonable degree   I believe I have not
played a bar this fortnight   However  he is coming  I assure you 
yes  indeed  on purpose to wait on you all    And putting up her hand
to screen her words from Emma   A congratulatory visit  you know   Oh 
yes  quite indispensable  

Miss Bates looked about her  so happily   

 He promised to come to me as soon as he could disengage himself from
Knightley  but he and Knightley are shut up together in deep
consultation   Mr  E  is Knightley s right hand  

Emma would not have smiled for the world  and only said   Is Mr  Elton
gone on foot to Donwell   He will have a hot walk  

 Oh  no  it is a meeting at the Crown  a regular meeting   Weston and
Cole will be there too  but one is apt to speak only of those who
lead   I fancy Mr  E  and Knightley have every thing their own way  

 Have not you mistaken the day   said Emma    I am almost certain that
the meeting at the Crown is not till to morrow   Mr  Knightley was at
Hartfield yesterday  and spoke of it as for Saturday  

 Oh  no  the meeting is certainly to day   was the abrupt answer  which
denoted the impossibility of any blunder on Mrs  Elton s side     I do
believe   she continued   this is the most troublesome parish that ever
was   We never heard of such things at Maple Grove  

 Your parish there was small   said Jane 

 Upon my word  my dear  I do not know  for I never heard the subject
talked of  

 But it is proved by the smallness of the school  which I have heard
you speak of  as under the patronage of your sister and Mrs  Bragge 
the only school  and not more than five and twenty children  

 Ah  you clever creature  that s very true   What a thinking brain you
have   I say  Jane  what a perfect character you and I should make  if
we could be shaken together   My liveliness and your solidity would
produce perfection   Not that I presume to insinuate  however  that
 some  people may not think  you  perfection already   But hush   not
a word  if you please  

It seemed an unnecessary caution  Jane was wanting to give her words 
not to Mrs  Elton  but to Miss Woodhouse  as the latter plainly saw 
The wish of distinguishing her  as far as civility permitted  was very
evident  though it could not often proceed beyond a look 

Mr  Elton made his appearance   His lady greeted him with some of her
sparkling vivacity 

 Very pretty  sir  upon my word  to send me on here  to be an
encumbrance to my friends  so long before you vouchsafe to come    But
you knew what a dutiful creature you had to deal with   You knew I
should not stir till my lord and master appeared    Here have I been
sitting this hour  giving these young ladies a sample of true conjugal
obedience  for who can say  you know  how soon it may be wanted  

Mr  Elton was so hot and tired  that all this wit seemed thrown away 
His civilities to the other ladies must be paid  but his subsequent
object was to lament over himself for the heat he was suffering  and
the walk he had had for nothing 

 When I got to Donwell   said he   Knightley could not be found   Very
odd  very unaccountable  after the note I sent him this morning  and
the message he returned  that he should certainly be at home till one  

 Donwell   cried his wife    My dear Mr  E   you have not been to
Donwell   You mean the Crown  you come from the meeting at the Crown  

 No  no  that s to morrow  and I particularly wanted to see Knightley
to day on that very account   Such a dreadful broiling morning    I
went over the fields too   speaking in a tone of great ill usage  
which made it so much the worse   And then not to find him at home   I
assure you I am not at all pleased   And no apology left  no message
for me   The housekeeper declared she knew nothing of my being
expected    Very extraordinary   And nobody knew at all which way he
was gone   Perhaps to Hartfield  perhaps to the Abbey Mill  perhaps
into his woods    Miss Woodhouse  this is not like our friend
Knightley   Can you explain it  

Emma amused herself by protesting that it was very extraordinary 
indeed  and that she had not a syllable to say for him 

 I cannot imagine   said Mrs  Elton   feeling the indignity as a wife
ought to do    I cannot imagine how he could do such a thing by you  of
all people in the world   The very last person whom one should expect
to be forgotten   My dear Mr  E   he must have left a message for you 
I am sure he must   Not even Knightley could be so very eccentric   
and his servants forgot it   Depend upon it  that was the case  and
very likely to happen with the Donwell servants  who are all  I have
often observed  extremely awkward and remiss   I am sure I would not
have such a creature as his Harry stand at our sideboard for any
consideration   And as for Mrs  Hodges  Wright holds her very cheap
indeed   She promised Wright a receipt  and never sent it  

 I met William Larkins   continued Mr  Elton   as I got near the house 
and he told me I should not find his master at home  but I did not
believe him   William seemed rather out of humour   He did not know
what was come to his master lately  he said  but he could hardly ever
get the speech of him   I have nothing to do with William s wants  but
it really is of very great importance that  I  should see Knightley
to day  and it becomes a matter  therefore  of very serious
inconvenience that I should have had this hot walk to no purpose  

Emma felt that she could not do better than go home directly   In all
probability she was at this very time waited for there  and Mr 
Knightley might be preserved from sinking deeper in aggression towards
Mr  Elton  if not towards William Larkins 

She was pleased  on taking leave  to find Miss Fairfax determined to
attend her out of the room  to go with her even downstairs  it gave her
an opportunity which she immediately made use of  to say 

 It is as well  perhaps  that I have not had the possibility   Had you
not been surrounded by other friends  I might have been tempted to
introduce a subject  to ask questions  to speak more openly than might
have been strictly correct   I feel that I should certainly have been
impertinent  

 Oh   cried Jane  with a blush and an hesitation which Emma thought
infinitely more becoming to her than all the elegance of all her usual
composure   there would have been no danger   The danger would have
been of my wearying you   You could not have gratified me more than by
expressing an interest     Indeed  Miss Woodhouse   speaking more
collectedly   with the consciousness which I have of misconduct  very
great misconduct  it is particularly consoling to me to know that those
of my friends  whose good opinion is most worth preserving  are not
disgusted to such a degree as to  I have not time for half that I could
wish to say   I long to make apologies  excuses  to urge something for
myself   I feel it so very due   But  unfortunately  in short  if your
compassion does not stand my friend   

 Oh  you are too scrupulous  indeed you are   cried Emma warmly  and
taking her hand    You owe me no apologies  and every body to whom you
might be supposed to owe them  is so perfectly satisfied  so delighted
even   

 You are very kind  but I know what my manners were to you    So cold
and artificial   I had always a part to act   It was a life of
deceit   I know that I must have disgusted you  

 Pray say no more   I feel that all the apologies should be on my side 
Let us forgive each other at once   We must do whatever is to be done
quickest  and I think our feelings will lose no time there   I hope you
have pleasant accounts from Windsor  

 Very  

 And the next news  I suppose  will be  that we are to lose you  just
as I begin to know you  

 Oh  as to all that  of course nothing can be thought of yet   I am
here till claimed by Colonel and Mrs  Campbell  

 Nothing can be actually settled yet  perhaps   replied Emma 
smiling   but  excuse me  it must be thought of  

The smile was returned as Jane answered 

 You are very right  it has been thought of   And I will own to you   I
am sure it will be safe   that so far as our living with Mr  Churchill
at Enscombe  it is settled   There must be three months  at least  of
deep mourning  but when they are over  I imagine there will be nothing
more to wait for  

 Thank you  thank you   This is just what I wanted to be assured of   
Oh  if you knew how much I love every thing that is decided and open   
Good bye  good bye  



CHAPTER XVII


Mrs  Weston s friends were all made happy by her safety  and if the
satisfaction of her well doing could be increased to Emma  it was by
knowing her to be the mother of a little girl   She had been decided in
wishing for a Miss Weston   She would not acknowledge that it was with
any view of making a match for her  hereafter  with either of
Isabella s sons  but she was convinced that a daughter would suit both
father and mother best   It would be a great comfort to Mr  Weston  as
he grew older  and even Mr  Weston might be growing older ten years
hence  to have his fireside enlivened by the sports and the nonsense 
the freaks and the fancies of a child never banished from home  and
Mrs  Weston  no one could doubt that a daughter would be most to her 
and it would be quite a pity that any one who so well knew how to
teach  should not have their powers in exercise again 

 She has had the advantage  you know  of practising on me   she
continued   like La Baronne d Almane on La Comtesse d Ostalis  in
Madame de Genlis  Adelaide and Theodore  and we shall now see her own
little Adelaide educated on a more perfect plan  

 That is   replied Mr  Knightley   she will indulge her even more than
she did you  and believe that she does not indulge her at all   It will
be the only difference  

 Poor child   cried Emma   at that rate  what will become of her  

 Nothing very bad   The fate of thousands   She will be disagreeable in
infancy  and correct herself as she grows older   I am losing all my
bitterness against spoilt children  my dearest Emma   I  who am owing
all my happiness to  you   would not it be horrible ingratitude in me
to be severe on them  

Emma laughed  and replied    But I had the assistance of all your
endeavours to counteract the indulgence of other people   I doubt
whether my own sense would have corrected me without it  

 Do you   I have no doubt   Nature gave you understanding    Miss
Taylor gave you principles   You must have done well   My interference
was quite as likely to do harm as good   It was very natural for you to
say  what right has he to lecture me   and I am afraid very natural
for you to feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner   I do not
believe I did you any good   The good was all to myself  by making you
an object of the tenderest affection to me   I could not think about
you so much without doating on you  faults and all  and by dint of
fancying so many errors  have been in love with you ever since you were
thirteen at least  

 I am sure you were of use to me   cried Emma    I was very often
influenced rightly by you  oftener than I would own at the time   I am
very sure you did me good   And if poor little Anna Weston is to be
spoiled  it will be the greatest humanity in you to do as much for her
as you have done for me  except falling in love with her when she is
thirteen  

 How often  when you were a girl  have you said to me  with one of your
saucy looks   Mr  Knightley  I am going to do so and so  papa says I
may  or I have Miss Taylor s leave   something which  you knew  I did
not approve   In such cases my interference was giving you two bad
feelings instead of one  

 What an amiable creature I was   No wonder you should hold my speeches
in such affectionate remembrance  

  Mr  Knightley    You always called me   Mr  Knightley   and  from
habit  it has not so very formal a sound   And yet it is formal   I
want you to call me something else  but I do not know what  

 I remember once calling you  George   in one of my amiable fits  about
ten years ago   I did it because I thought it would offend you  but  as
you made no objection  I never did it again  

 And cannot you call me  George  now  

 Impossible   I never can call you any thing but  Mr  Knightley   I
will not promise even to equal the elegant terseness of Mrs  Elton  by
calling you Mr  K   But I will promise   she added presently  laughing
and blushing   I will promise to call you once by your Christian name 
I do not say when  but perhaps you may guess where   in the building in
which N  takes M  for better  for worse  

Emma grieved that she could not be more openly just to one important
service which his better sense would have rendered her  to the advice
which would have saved her from the worst of all her womanly
follies  her wilful intimacy with Harriet Smith  but it was too tender
a subject   She could not enter on it    Harriet was very seldom
mentioned between them   This  on his side  might merely proceed from
her not being thought of  but Emma was rather inclined to attribute it
to delicacy  and a suspicion  from some appearances  that their
friendship were declining   She was aware herself  that  parting under
any other circumstances  they certainly should have corresponded more 
and that her intelligence would not have rested  as it now almost
wholly did  on Isabella s letters   He might observe that it was so 
The pain of being obliged to practise concealment towards him  was very
little inferior to the pain of having made Harriet unhappy 

Isabella sent quite as good an account of her visitor as could be
expected  on her first arrival she had thought her out of spirits 
which appeared perfectly natural  as there was a dentist to be
consulted  but  since that business had been over  she did not appear
to find Harriet different from what she had known her before   
Isabella  to be sure  was no very quick observer  yet if Harriet had
not been equal to playing with the children  it would not have escaped
her   Emma s comforts and hopes were most agreeably carried on  by
Harriet s being to stay longer  her fortnight was likely to be a month
at least   Mr  and Mrs  John Knightley were to come down in August  and
she was invited to remain till they could bring her back 

 John does not even mention your friend   said Mr  Knightley    Here is
his answer  if you like to see it  

It was the answer to the communication of his intended marriage   Emma
accepted it with a very eager hand  with an impatience all alive to
know what he would say about it  and not at all checked by hearing that
her friend was unmentioned 

 John enters like a brother into my happiness   continued Mr 
Knightley   but he is no complimenter  and though I well know him to
have  likewise  a most brotherly affection for you  he is so far from
making flourishes  that any other young woman might think him rather
cool in her praise   But I am not afraid of your seeing what he writes  

 He writes like a sensible man   replied Emma  when she had read the
letter    I honour his sincerity   It is very plain that he considers
the good fortune of the engagement as all on my side  but that he is
not without hope of my growing  in time  as worthy of your affection 
as you think me already   Had he said any thing to bear a different
construction  I should not have believed him  

 My Emma  he means no such thing   He only means   

 He and I should differ very little in our estimation of the two  
interrupted she  with a sort of serious smile   much less  perhaps 
than he is aware of  if we could enter without ceremony or reserve on
the subject  

 Emma  my dear Emma   

 Oh   she cried with more thorough gaiety   if you fancy your brother
does not do me justice  only wait till my dear father is in the secret 
and hear his opinion   Depend upon it  he will be much farther from
doing  you  justice   He will think all the happiness  all the
advantage  on your side of the question  all the merit on mine   I wish
I may not sink into  poor Emma  with him at once    His tender
compassion towards oppressed worth can go no farther  

 Ah   he cried   I wish your father might be half as easily convinced
as John will be  of our having every right that equal worth can give 
to be happy together   I am amused by one part of John s letter  did
you notice it   where he says  that my information did not take him
wholly by surprize  that he was rather in expectation of hearing
something of the kind  

 If I understand your brother  he only means so far as your having some
thoughts of marrying   He had no idea of me   He seems perfectly
unprepared for that  

 Yes  yes  but I am amused that he should have seen so far into my
feelings   What has he been judging by   I am not conscious of any
difference in my spirits or conversation that could prepare him at this
time for my marrying any more than at another    But it was so  I
suppose   I dare say there was a difference when I was staying with
them the other day   I believe I did not play with the children quite
so much as usual   I remember one evening the poor boys saying   Uncle
seems always tired now   

The time was coming when the news must spread farther  and other
persons  reception of it tried   As soon as Mrs  Weston was
sufficiently recovered to admit Mr  Woodhouse s visits  Emma having it
in view that her gentle reasonings should be employed in the cause 
resolved first to announce it at home  and then at Randalls    But how
to break it to her father at last   She had bound herself to do it  in
such an hour of Mr  Knightley s absence  or when it came to the point
her heart would have failed her  and she must have put it off  but Mr 
Knightley was to come at such a time  and follow up the beginning she
was to make   She was forced to speak  and to speak cheerfully too 
She must not make it a more decided subject of misery to him  by a
melancholy tone herself   She must not appear to think it a
misfortune   With all the spirits she could command  she prepared him
first for something strange  and then  in a few words  said  that if
his consent and approbation could be obtained  which  she trusted 
would be attended with no difficulty  since it was a plan to promote
the happiness of all  she and Mr  Knightley meant to marry  by which
means Hartfield would receive the constant addition of that person s
company whom she knew he loved  next to his daughters and Mrs  Weston 
best in the world 

Poor man   it was at first a considerable shock to him  and he tried
earnestly to dissuade her from it   She was reminded  more than once 
of having always said she would never marry  and assured that it would
be a great deal better for her to remain single  and told of poor
Isabella  and poor Miss Taylor   But it would not do   Emma hung about
him affectionately  and smiled  and said it must be so  and that he
must not class her with Isabella and Mrs  Weston  whose marriages
taking them from Hartfield  had  indeed  made a melancholy change  but
she was not going from Hartfield  she should be always there  she was
introducing no change in their numbers or their comforts but for the
better  and she was very sure that he would be a great deal the happier
for having Mr  Knightley always at hand  when he were once got used to
the idea   Did he not love Mr  Knightley very much    He would not deny
that he did  she was sure   Whom did he ever want to consult on
business but Mr  Knightley   Who was so useful to him  who so ready to
write his letters  who so glad to assist him    Who so cheerful  so
attentive  so attached to him   Would not he like to have him always on
the spot   Yes   That was all very true   Mr  Knightley could not be
there too often  he should be glad to see him every day   but they did
see him every day as it was   Why could not they go on as they had done 

Mr  Woodhouse could not be soon reconciled  but the worst was overcome 
the idea was given  time and continual repetition must do the rest   
To Emma s entreaties and assurances succeeded Mr  Knightley s  whose
fond praise of her gave the subject even a kind of welcome  and he was
soon used to be talked to by each  on every fair occasion    They had
all the assistance which Isabella could give  by letters of the
strongest approbation  and Mrs  Weston was ready  on the first meeting 
to consider the subject in the most serviceable light  first  as a
settled  and  secondly  as a good one  well aware of the nearly equal
importance of the two recommendations to Mr  Woodhouse s mind   It was
agreed upon  as what was to be  and every body by whom he was used to
be guided assuring him that it would be for his happiness  and having
some feelings himself which almost admitted it  he began to think that
some time or other  in another year or two  perhaps  it might not be
so very bad if the marriage did take place 

Mrs  Weston was acting no part  feigning no feelings in all that she
said to him in favour of the event   She had been extremely surprized 
never more so  than when Emma first opened the affair to her  but she
saw in it only increase of happiness to all  and had no scruple in
urging him to the utmost   She had such a regard for Mr  Knightley  as
to think he deserved even her dearest Emma  and it was in every respect
so proper  suitable  and unexceptionable a connexion  and in one
respect  one point of the highest importance  so peculiarly eligible 
so singularly fortunate  that now it seemed as if Emma could not safely
have attached herself to any other creature  and that she had herself
been the stupidest of beings in not having thought of it  and wished it
long ago   How very few of those men in a rank of life to address Emma
would have renounced their own home for Hartfield   And who but Mr 
Knightley could know and bear with Mr  Woodhouse  so as to make such an
arrangement desirable    The difficulty of disposing of poor Mr 
Woodhouse had been always felt in her husband s plans and her own  for
a marriage between Frank and Emma   How to settle the claims of
Enscombe and Hartfield had been a continual impediment  less
acknowledged by Mr  Weston than by herself  but even he had never been
able to finish the subject better than by saying   Those matters will
take care of themselves  the young people will find a way    But here
there was nothing to be shifted off in a wild speculation on the
future   It was all right  all open  all equal   No sacrifice on any
side worth the name   It was a union of the highest promise of felicity
in itself  and without one real  rational difficulty to oppose or delay
it 

Mrs  Weston  with her baby on her knee  indulging in such reflections
as these  was one of the happiest women in the world   If any thing
could increase her delight  it was perceiving that the baby would soon
have outgrown its first set of caps 

The news was universally a surprize wherever it spread  and Mr  Weston
had his five minutes share of it  but five minutes were enough to
familiarise the idea to his quickness of mind    He saw the advantages
of the match  and rejoiced in them with all the constancy of his wife 
but the wonder of it was very soon nothing  and by the end of an hour
he was not far from believing that he had always foreseen it 

 It is to be a secret  I conclude   said he    These matters are always
a secret  till it is found out that every body knows them   Only let me
be told when I may speak out   I wonder whether Jane has any suspicion  

He went to Highbury the next morning  and satisfied himself on that
point   He told her the news   Was not she like a daughter  his eldest
daughter   he must tell her  and Miss Bates being present  it passed 
of course  to Mrs  Cole  Mrs  Perry  and Mrs  Elton  immediately
afterwards   It was no more than the principals were prepared for  they
had calculated from the time of its being known at Randalls  how soon
it would be over Highbury  and were thinking of themselves  as the
evening wonder in many a family circle  with great sagacity 

In general  it was a very well approved match   Some might think him 
and others might think her  the most in luck   One set might recommend
their all removing to Donwell  and leaving Hartfield for the John
Knightleys  and another might predict disagreements among their
servants  but yet  upon the whole  there was no serious objection
raised  except in one habitation  the Vicarage   There  the surprize
was not softened by any satisfaction   Mr  Elton cared little about it 
compared with his wife  he only hoped  the young lady s pride would now
be contented   and supposed  she had always meant to catch Knightley if
she could   and  on the point of living at Hartfield  could daringly
exclaim   Rather he than I     But Mrs  Elton was very much discomposed
indeed    Poor Knightley   poor fellow   sad business for him   She was
extremely concerned  for  though very eccentric  he had a thousand good
qualities    How could he be so taken in   Did not think him at all in
love  not in the least   Poor Knightley   There would be an end of all
pleasant intercourse with him   How happy he had been to come and dine
with them whenever they asked him   But that would be all over now   
Poor fellow   No more exploring parties to Donwell made for  her    Oh 
no  there would be a Mrs  Knightley to throw cold water on every
thing   Extremely disagreeable   But she was not at all sorry that she
had abused the housekeeper the other day   Shocking plan  living
together   It would never do   She knew a family near Maple Grove who
had tried it  and been obliged to separate before the end of the first
quarter 



CHAPTER XVIII


Time passed on   A few more to morrows  and the party from London would
be arriving   It was an alarming change  and Emma was thinking of it
one morning  as what must bring a great deal to agitate and grieve her 
when Mr  Knightley came in  and distressing thoughts were put by 
After the first chat of pleasure he was silent  and then  in a graver
tone  began with 

 I have something to tell you  Emma  some news  

 Good or bad   said she  quickly  looking up in his face 

 I do not know which it ought to be called  

 Oh  good I am sure   I see it in your countenance   You are trying not
to smile  

 I am afraid   said he  composing his features   I am very much afraid 
my dear Emma  that you will not smile when you hear it  

 Indeed  but why so   I can hardly imagine that any thing which pleases
or amuses you  should not please and amuse me too  

 There is one subject   he replied   I hope but one  on which we do not
think alike    He paused a moment  again smiling  with his eyes fixed
on her face    Does nothing occur to you    Do not you
recollect   Harriet Smith  

Her cheeks flushed at the name  and she felt afraid of something 
though she knew not what 

 Have you heard from her yourself this morning   cried he    You have 
I believe  and know the whole  

 No  I have not  I know nothing  pray tell me  

 You are prepared for the worst  I see  and very bad it is   Harriet
Smith marries Robert Martin  

Emma gave a start  which did not seem like being prepared  and her
eyes  in eager gaze  said   No  this is impossible   but her lips were
closed 

 It is so  indeed   continued Mr  Knightley   I have it from Robert
Martin himself   He left me not half an hour ago  

She was still looking at him with the most speaking amazement 

 You like it  my Emma  as little as I feared   I wish our opinions were
the same   But in time they will   Time  you may be sure  will make one
or the other of us think differently  and  in the meanwhile  we need
not talk much on the subject  

 You mistake me  you quite mistake me   she replied  exerting herself 
 It is not that such a circumstance would now make me unhappy  but I
cannot believe it   It seems an impossibility   You cannot mean to say 
that Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin   You cannot mean that he
has even proposed to her again  yet   You only mean  that he intends
it  

 I mean that he has done it   answered Mr  Knightley  with smiling but
determined decision   and been accepted  

 Good God   she cried    Well    Then having recourse to her
workbasket  in excuse for leaning down her face  and concealing all the
exquisite feelings of delight and entertainment which she knew she must
be expressing  she added   Well  now tell me every thing  make this
intelligible to me   How  where  when   Let me know it all   I never
was more surprized  but it does not make me unhappy  I assure
you   How  how has it been possible  

 It is a very simple story   He went to town on business three days
ago  and I got him to take charge of some papers which I was wanting to
send to John   He delivered these papers to John  at his chambers  and
was asked by him to join their party the same evening to Astley s 
They were going to take the two eldest boys to Astley s  The party was
to be our brother and sister  Henry  John  and Miss Smith   My friend
Robert could not resist   They called for him in their way  were all
extremely amused  and my brother asked him to dine with them the next
day  which he did  and in the course of that visit  as I understand  he
found an opportunity of speaking to Harriet  and certainly did not
speak in vain   She made him  by her acceptance  as happy even as he is
deserving   He came down by yesterday s coach  and was with me this
morning immediately after breakfast  to report his proceedings  first
on my affairs  and then on his own   This is all that I can relate of
the how  where  and when   Your friend Harriet will make a much longer
history when you see her    She will give you all the minute
particulars  which only woman s language can make interesting   In our
communications we deal only in the great   However  I must say  that
Robert Martin s heart seemed for  him   and to  me   very overflowing 
and that he did mention  without its being much to the purpose  that on
quitting their box at Astley s  my brother took charge of Mrs  John
Knightley and little John  and he followed with Miss Smith and Henry 
and that at one time they were in such a crowd  as to make Miss Smith
rather uneasy  

He stopped   Emma dared not attempt any immediate reply   To speak  she
was sure would be to betray a most unreasonable degree of happiness 
She must wait a moment  or he would think her mad   Her silence
disturbed him  and after observing her a little while  he added 

 Emma  my love  you said that this circumstance would not now make you
unhappy  but I am afraid it gives you more pain than you expected   His
situation is an evil  but you must consider it as what satisfies your
friend  and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him as
you know him more   His good sense and good principles would delight
you   As far as the man is concerned  you could not wish your friend in
better hands   His rank in society I would alter if I could  which is
saying a great deal I assure you  Emma   You laugh at me about William
Larkins  but I could quite as ill spare Robert Martin  

He wanted her to look up and smile  and having now brought herself not
to smile too broadly  she did  cheerfully answering 

 You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match   I think
Harriet is doing extremely well    Her  connexions may be worse than
 his    In respectability of character  there can be no doubt that they
are   I have been silent from surprize merely  excessive surprize   You
cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me  how peculiarly
unprepared I was   for I had reason to believe her very lately more
determined against him  much more  than she was before  

 You ought to know your friend best   replied Mr  Knightley   but I
should say she was a good tempered  soft hearted girl  not likely to be
very  very determined against any young man who told her he loved her  

Emma could not help laughing as she answered   Upon my word  I believe
you know her quite as well as I do   But  Mr  Knightley  are you
perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright  accepted  him   I
could suppose she might in time  but can she already    Did not you
misunderstand him   You were both talking of other things  of business 
shows of cattle  or new drills  and might not you  in the confusion of
so many subjects  mistake him   It was not Harriet s hand that he was
certain of  it was the dimensions of some famous ox  

The contrast between the countenance and air of Mr  Knightley and
Robert Martin was  at this moment  so strong to Emma s feelings  and so
strong was the recollection of all that had so recently passed on
Harriet s side  so fresh the sound of those words  spoken with such
emphasis   No  I hope I know better than to think of Robert Martin  
that she was really expecting the intelligence to prove  in some
measure  premature   It could not be otherwise 

 Do you dare say this   cried Mr  Knightley    Do you dare to suppose
me so great a blockhead  as not to know what a man is talking of   
What do you deserve  

 Oh   I always deserve the best treatment  because I never put up with
any other  and  therefore  you must give me a plain  direct answer 
Are you quite sure that you understand the terms on which Mr  Martin
and Harriet now are  

 I am quite sure   he replied  speaking very distinctly   that he told
me she had accepted him  and that there was no obscurity  nothing
doubtful  in the words he used  and I think I can give you a proof that
it must be so   He asked my opinion as to what he was now to do   He
knew of no one but Mrs  Goddard to whom he could apply for information
of her relations or friends   Could I mention any thing more fit to be
done  than to go to Mrs  Goddard   I assured him that I could not 
Then  he said  he would endeavour to see her in the course of this day  

 I am perfectly satisfied   replied Emma  with the brightest smiles 
 and most sincerely wish them happy  

 You are materially changed since we talked on this subject before  

 I hope so  for at that time I was a fool  

 And I am changed also  for I am now very willing to grant you all
Harriet s good qualities   I have taken some pains for your sake  and
for Robert Martin s sake   whom I have always had reason to believe as
much in love with her as ever   to get acquainted with her   I have
often talked to her a good deal   You must have seen that I did 
Sometimes  indeed  I have thought you were half suspecting me of
pleading poor Martin s cause  which was never the case  but  from all
my observations  I am convinced of her being an artless  amiable girl 
with very good notions  very seriously good principles  and placing her
happiness in the affections and utility of domestic life    Much of
this  I have no doubt  she may thank you for  

 Me   cried Emma  shaking her head    Ah  poor Harriet  

She checked herself  however  and submitted quietly to a little more
praise than she deserved 

Their conversation was soon afterwards closed by the entrance of her
father   She was not sorry   She wanted to be alone   Her mind was in a
state of flutter and wonder  which made it impossible for her to be
collected   She was in dancing  singing  exclaiming spirits  and till
she had moved about  and talked to herself  and laughed and reflected 
she could be fit for nothing rational 

Her father s business was to announce James s being gone out to put the
horses to  preparatory to their now daily drive to Randalls  and she
had  therefore  an immediate excuse for disappearing 

The joy  the gratitude  the exquisite delight of her sensations may be
imagined   The sole grievance and alloy thus removed in the prospect of
Harriet s welfare  she was really in danger of becoming too happy for
security   What had she to wish for   Nothing  but to grow more worthy
of him  whose intentions and judgment had been ever so superior to her
own   Nothing  but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her
humility and circumspection in future 

Serious she was  very serious in her thankfulness  and in her
resolutions  and yet there was no preventing a laugh  sometimes in the
very midst of them   She must laugh at such a close   Such an end of
the doleful disappointment of five weeks back   Such a heart  such a
Harriet 

Now there would be pleasure in her returning  Every thing would be a
pleasure   It would be a great pleasure to know Robert Martin 

High in the rank of her most serious and heartfelt felicities  was the
reflection that all necessity of concealment from Mr  Knightley would
soon be over   The disguise  equivocation  mystery  so hateful to her
to practise  might soon be over   She could now look forward to giving
him that full and perfect confidence which her disposition was most
ready to welcome as a duty 

In the gayest and happiest spirits she set forward with her father  not
always listening  but always agreeing to what he said  and  whether in
speech or silence  conniving at the comfortable persuasion of his being
obliged to go to Randalls every day  or poor Mrs  Weston would be
disappointed 

They arrived   Mrs  Weston was alone in the drawing room   but hardly
had they been told of the baby  and Mr  Woodhouse received the thanks
for coming  which he asked for  when a glimpse was caught through the
blind  of two figures passing near the window 

 It is Frank and Miss Fairfax   said Mrs  Weston    I was just going to
tell you of our agreeable surprize in seeing him arrive this morning 
He stays till to morrow  and Miss Fairfax has been persuaded to spend
the day with us   They are coming in  I hope  

In half a minute they were in the room   Emma was extremely glad to see
him  but there was a degree of confusion  a number of embarrassing
recollections on each side   They met readily and smiling  but with a
consciousness which at first allowed little to be said  and having all
sat down again  there was for some time such a blank in the circle 
that Emma began to doubt whether the wish now indulged  which she had
long felt  of seeing Frank Churchill once more  and of seeing him with
Jane  would yield its proportion of pleasure   When Mr  Weston joined
the party  however  and when the baby was fetched  there was no longer
a want of subject or animation  or of courage and opportunity for
Frank Churchill to draw near her and say 

 I have to thank you  Miss Woodhouse  for a very kind forgiving message
in one of Mrs  Weston s letters   I hope time has not made you less
willing to pardon   I hope you do not retract what you then said  

 No  indeed   cried Emma  most happy to begin   not in the least   I am
particularly glad to see and shake hands with you  and to give you joy
in person  

He thanked her with all his heart  and continued some time to speak
with serious feeling of his gratitude and happiness 

 Is not she looking well   said he  turning his eyes towards Jane 
 Better than she ever used to do   You see how my father and Mrs 
Weston doat upon her  

But his spirits were soon rising again  and with laughing eyes  after
mentioning the expected return of the Campbells  he named the name of
Dixon   Emma blushed  and forbade its being pronounced in her hearing 

 I can never think of it   she cried   without extreme shame  

 The shame   he answered   is all mine  or ought to be   But is it
possible that you had no suspicion   I mean of late   Early  I know 
you had none  

 I never had the smallest  I assure you  

 That appears quite wonderful   I was once very near  and I wish I
had  it would have been better   But though I was always doing wrong
things  they were very bad wrong things  and such as did me no
service    It would have been a much better transgression had I broken
the bond of secrecy and told you every thing  

 It is not now worth a regret   said Emma 

 I have some hope   resumed he   of my uncle s being persuaded to pay a
visit at Randalls  he wants to be introduced to her   When the
Campbells are returned  we shall meet them in London  and continue
there  I trust  till we may carry her northward   But now  I am at such
a distance from her  is not it hard  Miss Woodhouse    Till this
morning  we have not once met since the day of reconciliation   Do not
you pity me  

Emma spoke her pity so very kindly  that with a sudden accession of gay
thought  he cried 

 Ah  by the bye   then sinking his voice  and looking demure for the
moment   I hope Mr  Knightley is well    He paused   She coloured and
laughed    I know you saw my letter  and think you may remember my wish
in your favour   Let me return your congratulations    I assure you
that I have heard the news with the warmest interest and
satisfaction   He is a man whom I cannot presume to praise  

Emma was delighted  and only wanted him to go on in the same style  but
his mind was the next moment in his own concerns and with his own Jane 
and his next words were 

 Did you ever see such a skin   such smoothness  such delicacy   and
yet without being actually fair   One cannot call her fair   It is a
most uncommon complexion  with her dark eye lashes and hair  a most
distinguishing complexion   So peculiarly the lady in it    Just colour
enough for beauty  

 I have always admired her complexion   replied Emma  archly   but do
not I remember the time when you found fault with her for being so
pale    When we first began to talk of her   Have you quite forgotten  

 Oh  no  what an impudent dog I was   How could I dare   

But he laughed so heartily at the recollection  that Emma could not
help saying 

 I do suspect that in the midst of your perplexities at that time  you
had very great amusement in tricking us all   I am sure you had    I am
sure it was a consolation to you  

 Oh  no  no  no  how can you suspect me of such a thing   I was the
most miserable wretch  

 Not quite so miserable as to be insensible to mirth   I am sure it was
a source of high entertainment to you  to feel that you were taking us
all in   Perhaps I am the readier to suspect  because  to tell you the
truth  I think it might have been some amusement to myself in the same
situation   I think there is a little likeness between us  

He bowed 

 If not in our dispositions   she presently added  with a look of true
sensibility   there is a likeness in our destiny  the destiny which
bids fair to connect us with two characters so much superior to our
own  

 True  true   he answered  warmly    No  not true on your side   You
can have no superior  but most true on mine   She is a complete angel 
Look at her   Is not she an angel in every gesture   Observe the turn
of her throat   Observe her eyes  as she is looking up at my father   
You will be glad to hear  inclining his head  and whispering seriously 
that my uncle means to give her all my aunt s jewels   They are to be
new set   I am resolved to have some in an ornament for the head   Will
not it be beautiful in her dark hair  

 Very beautiful  indeed   replied Emma  and she spoke so kindly  that
he gratefully burst out 

 How delighted I am to see you again  and to see you in such excellent
looks   I would not have missed this meeting for the world   I should
certainly have called at Hartfield  had you failed to come  

The others had been talking of the child  Mrs  Weston giving an account
of a little alarm she had been under  the evening before  from the
infant s appearing not quite well   She believed she had been foolish 
but it had alarmed her  and she had been within half a minute of
sending for Mr  Perry   Perhaps she ought to be ashamed  but Mr  Weston
had been almost as uneasy as herself   In ten minutes  however  the
child had been perfectly well again   This was her history  and
particularly interesting it was to Mr  Woodhouse  who commended her
very much for thinking of sending for Perry  and only regretted that
she had not done it    She should always send for Perry  if the child
appeared in the slightest degree disordered  were it only for a moment 
She could not be too soon alarmed  nor send for Perry too often   It
was a pity  perhaps  that he had not come last night  for  though the
child seemed well now  very well considering  it would probably have
been better if Perry had seen it  

Frank Churchill caught the name 

 Perry   said he to Emma  and trying  as he spoke  to catch Miss
Fairfax s eye    My friend Mr  Perry   What are they saying about Mr 
Perry   Has he been here this morning   And how does he travel
now   Has he set up his carriage  

Emma soon recollected  and understood him  and while she joined in the
laugh  it was evident from Jane s countenance that she too was really
hearing him  though trying to seem deaf 

 Such an extraordinary dream of mine   he cried    I can never think of
it without laughing   She hears us  she hears us  Miss Woodhouse   I
see it in her cheek  her smile  her vain attempt to frown   Look at
her   Do not you see that  at this instant  the very passage of her own
letter  which sent me the report  is passing under her eye  that the
whole blunder is spread before her  that she can attend to nothing
else  though pretending to listen to the others  

Jane was forced to smile completely  for a moment  and the smile partly
remained as she turned towards him  and said in a conscious  low  yet
steady voice 

 How you can bear such recollections  is astonishing to me    They
 will  sometimes obtrude  but how you can court them  

He had a great deal to say in return  and very entertainingly  but
Emma s feelings were chiefly with Jane  in the argument  and on leaving
Randalls  and falling naturally into a comparison of the two men  she
felt  that pleased as she had been to see Frank Churchill  and really
regarding him as she did with friendship  she had never been more
sensible of Mr  Knightley s high superiority of character   The
happiness of this most happy day  received its completion  in the
animated contemplation of his worth which this comparison produced 



CHAPTER XIX


If Emma had still  at intervals  an anxious feeling for Harriet  a
momentary doubt of its being possible for her to be really cured of her
attachment to Mr  Knightley  and really able to accept another man from
unbiased inclination  it was not long that she had to suffer from the
recurrence of any such uncertainty   A very few days brought the party
from London  and she had no sooner an opportunity of being one hour
alone with Harriet  than she became perfectly satisfied  unaccountable
as it was   that Robert Martin had thoroughly supplanted Mr 
Knightley  and was now forming all her views of happiness 

Harriet was a little distressed  did look a little foolish at first 
but having once owned that she had been presumptuous and silly  and
self deceived  before  her pain and confusion seemed to die away with
the words  and leave her without a care for the past  and with the
fullest exultation in the present and future  for  as to her friend s
approbation  Emma had instantly removed every fear of that nature  by
meeting her with the most unqualified congratulations    Harriet was
most happy to give every particular of the evening at Astley s  and the
dinner the next day  she could dwell on it all with the utmost delight 
But what did such particulars explain    The fact was  as Emma could
now acknowledge  that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin  and that
his continuing to love her had been irresistible   Beyond this  it must
ever be unintelligible to Emma 

The event  however  was most joyful  and every day was giving her fresh
reason for thinking so   Harriet s parentage became known   She proved
to be the daughter of a tradesman  rich enough to afford her the
comfortable maintenance which had ever been hers  and decent enough to
have always wished for concealment   Such was the blood of gentility
which Emma had formerly been so ready to vouch for    It was likely to
be as untainted  perhaps  as the blood of many a gentleman   but what a
connexion had she been preparing for Mr  Knightley  or for the
Churchills  or even for Mr  Elton    The stain of illegitimacy 
unbleached by nobility or wealth  would have been a stain indeed 

No objection was raised on the father s side  the young man was treated
liberally  it was all as it should be   and as Emma became acquainted
with Robert Martin  who was now introduced at Hartfield  she fully
acknowledged in him all the appearance of sense and worth which could
bid fairest for her little friend   She had no doubt of Harriet s
happiness with any good tempered man  but with him  and in the home he
offered  there would be the hope of more  of security  stability  and
improvement   She would be placed in the midst of those who loved her 
and who had better sense than herself  retired enough for safety  and
occupied enough for cheerfulness   She would be never led into
temptation  nor left for it to find her out   She would be respectable
and happy  and Emma admitted her to be the luckiest creature in the
world  to have created so steady and persevering an affection in such a
man   or  if not quite the luckiest  to yield only to herself 

Harriet  necessarily drawn away by her engagements with the Martins 
was less and less at Hartfield  which was not to be regretted    The
intimacy between her and Emma must sink  their friendship must change
into a calmer sort of goodwill  and  fortunately  what ought to be  and
must be  seemed already beginning  and in the most gradual  natural
manner 

Before the end of September  Emma attended Harriet to church  and saw
her hand bestowed on Robert Martin with so complete a satisfaction  as
no remembrances  even connected with Mr  Elton as he stood before them 
could impair   Perhaps  indeed  at that time she scarcely saw Mr 
Elton  but as the clergyman whose blessing at the altar might next fall
on herself   Robert Martin and Harriet Smith  the latest couple engaged
of the three  were the first to be married 

Jane Fairfax had already quitted Highbury  and was restored to the
comforts of her beloved home with the Campbells   The Mr  Churchills
were also in town  and they were only waiting for November 

The intermediate month was the one fixed on  as far as they dared  by
Emma and Mr  Knightley   They had determined that their marriage ought
to be concluded while John and Isabella were still at Hartfield  to
allow them the fortnight s absence in a tour to the seaside  which was
the plan   John and Isabella  and every other friend  were agreed in
approving it   But Mr  Woodhouse  how was Mr  Woodhouse to be induced
to consent   he  who had never yet alluded to their marriage but as a
distant event 

When first sounded on the subject  he was so miserable  that they were
almost hopeless   A second allusion  indeed  gave less pain    He began
to think it was to be  and that he could not prevent it  a very
promising step of the mind on its way to resignation   Still  however 
he was not happy   Nay  he appeared so much otherwise  that his
daughter s courage failed   She could not bear to see him suffering  to
know him fancying himself neglected  and though her understanding
almost acquiesced in the assurance of both the Mr  Knightleys  that
when once the event were over  his distress would be soon over too  she
hesitated  she could not proceed 

In this state of suspense they were befriended  not by any sudden
illumination of Mr  Woodhouse s mind  or any wonderful change of his
nervous system  but by the operation of the same system in another
way    Mrs  Weston s poultry house was robbed one night of all her
turkeys  evidently by the ingenuity of man   Other poultry yards in the
neighbourhood also suffered   Pilfering was  housebreaking  to Mr 
Woodhouse s fears   He was very uneasy  and but for the sense of his
son in law s protection  would have been under wretched alarm every
night of his life   The strength  resolution  and presence of mind of
the Mr  Knightleys  commanded his fullest dependence   While either of
them protected him and his  Hartfield was safe    But Mr  John
Knightley must be in London again by the end of the first week in
November 

The result of this distress was  that  with a much more voluntary 
cheerful consent than his daughter had ever presumed to hope for at the
moment  she was able to fix her wedding day  and Mr  Elton was called
on  within a month from the marriage of Mr  and Mrs  Robert Martin  to
join the hands of Mr  Knightley and Miss Woodhouse 

The wedding was very much like other weddings  where the parties have
no taste for finery or parade  and Mrs  Elton  from the particulars
detailed by her husband  thought it all extremely shabby  and very
inferior to her own    Very little white satin  very few lace veils  a
most pitiful business   Selina would stare when she heard of it    But 
in spite of these deficiencies  the wishes  the hopes  the confidence 
the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the
ceremony  were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union 



FINIS









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