IX + 

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

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

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

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

Mr.¬†Woodhouse was almost as much interested in the business as the girls, and tried very often to recollect something worth their putting in. вАЬSo many clever riddles as there used to be when he was youngвБ†вАФhe wondered he could not remember them! but he hoped he should in time.вАЭ And it always ended in вАЬKitty, a fair but frozen maid.вАЭ + 

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

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

My first doth affliction denote, + 

Which my second is destinвАЩd to feel + 

And my whole is the best antidote + 

That affliction to soften and heal.вБ†вАФ + 

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

вАЬWhy will not you write one yourself for us, Mr.¬†Elton?вАЭ said she; вАЬthat is the only security for its freshness; and nothing could be easier to you.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh no! he had never written, hardly ever, anything of the kind in his life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss WoodhouseвАЭвБ†вАФhe stopped a momentвБ†вАФвАЬor Miss Smith could inspire him.вАЭ + 

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

вАЬI do not offer it for Miss SmithвАЩs collection,вАЭ said he. вАЬBeing my friendвАЩs, I have no right to expose it in any degree to the public eye, but perhaps you may not dislike looking at it.вАЭ + 

The speech was more to Emma than to Harriet, which Emma could understand. There was deep consciousness about him, and he found it easier to meet her eye than her friendвАЩs. He was gone the next moment:вБ†вАФafter another momentвАЩs pause, + 

вАЬTake it,вАЭ said Emma, smiling, and pushing the paper towards HarrietвБ†вАФвАЬit is for you. Take your own.вАЭ + 

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

Charade + 

My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings, + 

Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease. + 

Another view of man, my second brings, + 

Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + 

But ah! united, what reverse we have! + 

ManвАЩs boasted power and freedom, all are flown; + 

Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave, + 

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + 

Thy ready wit the word will soon supply, + 

May its approval beam in that soft eye! + 

She cast her eye over it, pondered, caught the meaning, read it through again to be quite certain, and quite mistress of the lines, and then passing it to Harriet, sat happily smiling, and saying to herself, while Harriet was puzzling over the paper in all the confusion of hope and dullness, вАЬVery well, Mr.¬†Elton, very well indeed. I have read worse charades. CourtshipвБ†вАФa very good hint. I give you credit for it. This is feeling your way. This is saying very plainlyвБ†вАФвАШPray, Miss Smith, give me leave to pay my addresses to you. Approve my charade and my intentions in the same glance.вАЩ + 

May its approval beam in that soft eye! + 

Harriet exactly. Soft is the very word for her eyeвБ†вАФof all epithets, the justest that could be given. + 

Thy ready wit the word will soon supply. + 

HumphвБ†вАФHarrietвАЩs ready wit! All the better. A man must be very much in love, indeed, to describe her so. Ah! Mr.¬†Knightley, I wish you had the benefit of this; I think this would convince you. For once in your life you would be obliged to own yourself mistaken. An excellent charade indeed! and very much to the purpose. Things must come to a crisis soon now.вАЭ + 

She was obliged to break off from these very pleasant observations, which were otherwise of a sort to run into great length, by the eagerness of HarrietвАЩs wondering questions. + 

вАЬWhat can it be, Miss Woodhouse?вБ†вАФwhat can it be? I have not an ideaвБ†вАФI cannot guess it in the least. What can it possibly be? Do try to find it out, Miss Woodhouse. Do help me. I never saw anything so hard. Is it kingdom? I wonder who the friend wasвБ†вАФand who could be the young lady. Do you think it is a good one? Can it be woman? + 

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + 

Can it be Neptune? + 

Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + 

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

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

вАЬFor Miss вЄї, read Miss Smith. + 

My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings, Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease. + 

That is court. + 

Another view of man, my second brings; Behold him there, the monarch of the seas! + 

That is ship;вБ†вАФplain as it can be.вБ†вАФNow for the cream. + 

But ah! united, (courtship, you know,) what reverse we have! + 

ManвАЩs boasted power and freedom, all are flown; + 

Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave, + 

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone. + 

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

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

вАЬThere is so pointed, and so particular a meaning in this compliment,вАЭ said she, вАЬthat I cannot have a doubt as to Mr.¬†EltonвАЩs intentions. You are his objectвБ†вАФand you will soon receive the completest proof of it. I thought it must be so. I thought I could not be so deceived; but now, it is clear; the state of his mind is as clear and decided, as my wishes on the subject have been ever since I knew you. Yes, Harriet, just so long have I been wanting the very circumstance to happen that has happened. I could never tell whether an attachment between you and Mr.¬†Elton were most desirable or most natural. Its probability and its eligibility have really so equalled each other! I am very happy. I congratulate you, my dear Harriet, with all my heart. This is an attachment which a woman may well feel pride in creating. This is a connection which offers nothing but good. It will give you everything that you wantвБ†вАФconsideration, independence, a proper homeвБ†вАФit will fix you in the centre of all your real friends, close to Hartfield and to me, and confirm our intimacy forever. This, Harriet, is an alliance which can never raise a blush in either of us.вАЭ + 

вАЬDear Miss Woodhouse!вАЭвБ†вАФand вАЬDear Miss Woodhouse,вАЭ was all that Harriet, with many tender embraces could articulate at first; but when they did arrive at something more like conversation, it was sufficiently clear to her friend that she saw, felt, anticipated, and remembered just as she ought. Mr.¬†EltonвАЩs superiority had very ample acknowledgment. + 

вАЬWhatever you say is always right,вАЭ cried Harriet, вАЬand therefore I suppose, and believe, and hope it must be so; but otherwise I could not have imagined it. It is so much beyond anything I deserve. Mr.¬†Elton, who might marry anybody! There cannot be two opinions about him. He is so very superior. Only think of those sweet versesвБ†вАФвАШTo Miss вЄї.вАЩ Dear me, how clever!вБ†вАФCould it really be meant for me?вАЭ + 

вАЬI cannot make a question, or listen to a question about that. It is a certainty. Receive it on my judgment. It is a sort of prologue to the play, a motto to the chapter; and will be soon followed by matter-of-fact prose.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is a sort of thing which nobody could have expected. I am sure, a month ago, I had no more idea myself!вБ†вАФThe strangest things do take place!вАЭ + 

вАЬWhen Miss Smiths and Mr.¬†Eltons get acquaintedвБ†вАФthey do indeedвБ†вАФand really it is strange; it is out of the common course that what is so evidently, so palpably desirableвБ†вАФwhat courts the prearrangement of other people, should so immediately shape itself into the proper form. You and Mr.¬†Elton are by situation called together; you belong to one another by every circumstance of your respective homes. Your marrying will be equal to the match at Randalls. There does seem to be a something in the air of Hartfield which gives love exactly the right direction, and sends it into the very channel where it ought to flow. + 

The course of true love never did run smoothвБ†вАФ + 

A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that passage.вАЭ + 

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

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

вАЬYes, very true. How nicely you talk; I love to hear you. You understand everything. You and Mr.¬†Elton are one as clever as the other. This charade!вБ†вАФIf I had studied a twelvemonth, I could never have made anything like it.вАЭ + 

вАЬI thought he meant to try his skill, by his manner of declining it yesterday.вАЭ + 

вАЬI do think it is, without exception, the best charade I ever read.вАЭ + 

вАЬI never read one more to the purpose, certainly.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is as long again as almost all we have had before.вАЭ + 

вАЬI do not consider its length as particularly in its favour. Such things in general cannot be too short.вАЭ + 

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

вАЬIt is one thing,вАЭ said she, presentlyвБ†вАФher cheeks in a glowвБ†вАФвАЬto have very good sense in a common way, like everybody else, and if there is anything to say, to sit down and write a letter, and say just what you must, in a short way; and another, to write verses and charades like this.вАЭ + 

Emma could not have desired a more spirited rejection of Mr.¬†MartinвАЩs prose. + 

вАЬSuch sweet lines!вАЭ continued HarrietвБ†вАФвАЬthese two last!вБ†вАФBut how shall I ever be able to return the paper, or say I have found it out?вБ†вАФOh! Miss Woodhouse, what can we do about that?вАЭ + 

вАЬLeave it to me. You do nothing. He will be here this evening, I dare say, and then I will give it him back, and some nonsense or other will pass between us, and you shall not be committed.вБ†вАФYour soft eyes shall choose their own time for beaming. Trust to me.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! Miss Woodhouse, what a pity that I must not write this beautiful charade into my book! I am sure I have not got one half so good.вАЭ + 

вАЬLeave out the two last lines, and there is no reason why you should not write it into your book.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! but those two lines areвАЭвБ†вАФ + 

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

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

вАЬI shall never let that book go out of my own hands,вАЭ said she. + 

вАЬVery well,вАЭ replied Emma; вАЬa most natural feeling; and the longer it lasts, the better I shall be pleased. But here is my father coming: you will not object to my reading the charade to him. It will be giving him so much pleasure! He loves anything of the sort, and especially anything that pays woman a compliment. He has the tenderest spirit of gallantry towards us all!вБ†вАФYou must let me read it to him.вАЭ + 

Harriet looked grave. + 

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

вАЬOh! noвБ†вАФI hope I shall not be ridiculous about it. Do as you please.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†Woodhouse came in, and very soon led to the subject again, by the recurrence of his very frequent inquiry of вАЬWell, my dears, how does your book go on?вБ†вАФHave you got anything fresh?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, papa; we have something to read you, something quite fresh. A piece of paper was found on the table this morningвБ†вАФ(dropt, we suppose, by a fairy)вБ†вАФcontaining a very pretty charade, and we have just copied it in.вАЭ + 

She read it to him, just as he liked to have anything read, slowly and distinctly, and two or three times over, with explanations of every part as she proceededвБ†вАФand he was very much pleased, and, as she had foreseen, especially struck with the complimentary conclusion. + 

вАЬAye, thatвАЩs very just, indeed, thatвАЩs very properly said. Very true. вАШWoman, lovely woman.вАЩ It is such a pretty charade, my dear, that I can easily guess what fairy brought it.вБ†вАФNobody could have written so prettily, but you, Emma.вАЭ + 

Emma only nodded, and smiled.вБ†вАФAfter a little thinking, and a very tender sigh, he added, + 

вАЬAh! it is no difficulty to see who you take after! Your dear mother was so clever at all those things! If I had but her memory! But I can remember nothing;вБ†вАФnot even that particular riddle which you have heard me mention; I can only recollect the first stanza; and there are several. + 

Kitty, a fair but frozen maid, + 

Kindled a flame I yet deplore, + 

The hoodwinkвАЩd boy I called to aid, + 

Though of his near approach afraid, + 

So fatal to my suit before. + 

And that is all that I can recollect of itвБ†вАФbut it is very clever all the way through. But I think, my dear, you said you had got it.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, papa, it is written out in our second page. We copied it from the Elegant Extracts. It was GarrickвАЩs, you know.вАЭ + 

вАЬAye, very true.вБ†вАФI wish I could recollect more of it. + 

Kitty, a fair but frozen maid. + 

The name makes me think of poor Isabella; for she was very near being christened Catherine after her grandmama. I hope we shall have her here next week. Have you thought, my dear, where you shall put herвБ†вАФand what room there will be for the children?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! yesвБ†вАФshe will have her own room, of course; the room she always has;вБ†вАФand there is the nursery for the childrenвБ†вАФjust as usual, you know. Why should there be any change?вАЭ + 

вАЬI do not know, my dearвБ†вАФbut it is so long since she was here!вБ†вАФnot since last Easter, and then only for a few days.вБ†вАФMr.¬†John KnightleyвАЩs being a lawyer is very inconvenient.вБ†вАФPoor Isabella!вБ†вАФshe is sadly taken away from us all!вБ†вАФand how sorry she will be when she comes, not to see Miss Taylor here!вАЭ + 

вАЬShe will not be surprised, papa, at least.вАЭ + 

вАЬI do not know, my dear. I am sure I was very much surprised when I first heard she was going to be married.вАЭ + 

вАЬWe must ask Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Weston to dine with us, while Isabella is here.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, my dear, if there is time.вБ†вАФButвБ†вАФ(in a very depressed tone)вБ†вАФshe is coming for only one week. There will not be time for anything.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is unfortunate that they cannot stay longerвБ†вАФbut it seems a case of necessity. Mr.¬†John Knightley must be in town again on the 28th, and we ought to be thankful, papa, that we are to have the whole of the time they can give to the country, that two or three days are not to be taken out for the Abbey. Mr.¬†Knightley promises to give up his claim this ChristmasвБ†вАФthough you know it is longer since they were with him, than with us.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt would be very hard, indeed, my dear, if poor Isabella were to be anywhere but at Hartfield.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†Woodhouse could never allow for Mr.¬†KnightleyвАЩs claims on his brother, or anybodyвАЩs claims on Isabella, except his own. He sat musing a little while, and then said, + 

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

вАЬAh! papaвБ†вАФthat is what you never have been able to accomplish, and I do not think you ever will. Isabella cannot bear to stay behind her husband.вАЭ + 

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

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

вАЬAye, I wonder which she will. Poor little dears, how glad they will be to come. They are very fond of being at Hartfield, Harriet.вАЭ + 

вАЬI dare say they are, sir. I am sure I do not know who is not.вАЭ + 

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

вАЬHe appears rough to you,вАЭ said Emma, вАЬbecause you are so very gentle yourself; but if you could compare him with other papas, you would not think him rough. He wishes his boys to be active and hardy; and if they misbehave, can give them a sharp word now and then; but he is an affectionate fatherвБ†вАФcertainly Mr.¬†John Knightley is an affectionate father. The children are all fond of him.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a very frightful way!вАЭ + 

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

вАЬWell, I cannot understand it.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat is the case with us all, papa. One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.вАЭ + 

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

Emma thanked him, but could not allow of his disappointing his friend on their account; her father was sure of his rubber. He re-urgedвБ†вАФshe re-declined; and he seemed then about to make his bow, when taking the paper from the table, she returned itвБ†вАФ + 

вАЬOh! here is the charade you were so obliging as to leave with us; thank you for the sight of it. We admired it so much, that I have ventured to write it into Miss SmithвАЩs collection. Your friend will not take it amiss I hope. Of course I have not transcribed beyond the first eight lines.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†Elton certainly did not very well know what to say. He looked rather doubtinglyвБ†вАФrather confused; said something about вАЬhonour,вАЭвБ†вАФglanced at Emma and at Harriet, and then seeing the book open on the table, took it up, and examined it very attentively. With the view of passing off an awkward moment, Emma smilingly said, + 

вАЬYou must make my apologies to your friend; but so good a charade must not be confined to one or two. He may be sure of every womanвАЩs approbation while he writes with such gallantry.вАЭ + 

вАЬI have no hesitation in saying,вАЭ replied Mr.¬†Elton, though hesitating a good deal while he spoke; вАЬI have no hesitation in sayingвБ†вАФat least if my friend feels at all as I doвБ†вАФI have not the smallest doubt that, could he see his little effusion honoured as I see it, (looking at the book again, and replacing it on the table), he would consider it as the proudest moment of his life.вАЭ + 

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