Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton's beginning to talk to him.VOLUME IIICHAPTER IA 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 IINo 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 headach! - 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 IIIThis 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 IVA 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 VIn 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 VIAfter 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 vexations, 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 VIIThey 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 VIIIThe 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 headach 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 IXEmma'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 XOne 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.'