XXIX + 

It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind;вБ†вАФbut when a beginning is madeвБ†вАФwhen the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, feltвБ†вАФit must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more. + 

Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury, and longed to dance again; and the last half-hour of an evening which Mr.¬†Woodhouse was persuaded to spend with his daughter at Randalls, was passed by the two young people in schemes on the subject. FrankвАЩs was the first idea; and his the greatest zeal in pursuing it; for the lady was the best judge of the difficulties, and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance. But still she had inclination enough for showing people again how delightfully Mr.¬†Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse dancedвБ†вАФfor doing that in which she need not blush to compare herself with Jane FairfaxвБ†вАФand even for simple dancing itself, without any of the wicked aids of vanityвБ†вАФto assist him first in pacing out the room they were in to see what it could be made to holdвБ†вАФand then in taking the dimensions of the other parlour, in the hope of discovering, in spite of all that Mr.¬†Weston could say of their exactly equal size, that it was a little the largest. + 

His first proposition and request, that the dance begun at Mr.¬†ColeвАЩs should be finished thereвБ†вАФthat the same party should be collected, and the same musician engaged, met with the readiest acquiescence. Mr.¬†Weston entered into the idea with thorough enjoyment, and Mrs.¬†Weston most willingly undertook to play as long as they could wish to dance; and the interesting employment had followed, of reckoning up exactly who there would be, and portioning out the indispensable division of space to every couple. + 

вАЬYou and Miss Smith, and Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss Coxes five,вАЭ had been repeated many times over. вАЬAnd there will be the two Gilberts, young Cox, my father, and myself, besides Mr.¬†Knightley. Yes, that will be quite enough for pleasure. You and Miss Smith, and Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss Coxes five; and for five couple there will be plenty of room.вАЭ + 

But soon it came to be on one side, + 

вАЬBut will there be good room for five couple?вБ†вАФI really do not think there will.вАЭ + 

On another, + 

вАЬAnd after all, five couple are not enough to make it worth while to stand up. Five couple are nothing, when one thinks seriously about it. It will not do to invite five couple. It can be allowable only as the thought of the moment.вАЭ + 

Somebody said that Miss Gilbert was expected at her brotherвАЩs, and must be invited with the rest. Somebody else believed Mrs. Gilbert would have danced the other evening, if she had been asked. A word was put in for a second young Cox; and at last, Mr.¬†Weston naming one family of cousins who must be included, and another of very old acquaintance who could not be left out, it became a certainty that the five couple would be at least ten, and a very interesting speculation in what possible manner they could be disposed of. + 

The doors of the two rooms were just opposite each other. вАЬMight not they use both rooms, and dance across the passage?вАЭ It seemed the best scheme; and yet it was not so good but that many of them wanted a better. Emma said it would be awkward; Mrs.¬†Weston was in distress about the supper; and Mr.¬†Woodhouse opposed it earnestly, on the score of health. It made him so very unhappy, indeed, that it could not be persevered in. + 

вАЬOh! no,вАЭ said he; вАЬit would be the extreme of imprudence. I could not bear it for Emma!вБ†вАФEmma is not strong. She would catch a dreadful cold. So would poor little Harriet. So you would all. Mrs.¬†Weston, you would be quite laid up; do not let them talk of such a wild thing. Pray do not let them talk of it. That young man (speaking lower) is very thoughtless. Do not tell his father, but that young man is not quite the thing. He has been opening the doors very often this evening, and keeping them open very inconsiderately. He does not think of the draught. I do not mean to set you against him, but indeed he is not quite the thing!вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Weston was sorry for such a charge. She knew the importance of it, and said everything in her power to do it away. Every door was now closed, the passage plan given up, and the first scheme of dancing only in the room they were in resorted to again; and with such goodwill on Frank ChurchillвАЩs part, that the space which a quarter of an hour before had been deemed barely sufficient for five couple, was now endeavoured to be made out quite enough for ten. + 

вАЬWe were too magnificent,вАЭ said he. вАЬWe allowed unnecessary room. Ten couple may stand here very well.вАЭ + 

Emma demurred. вАЬIt would be a crowdвБ†вАФa sad crowd; and what could be worse than dancing without space to turn in?вАЭ + 

вАЬVery true,вАЭ he gravely replied; вАЬit was very bad.вАЭ But still he went on measuring, and still he ended with, + 

вАЬI think there will be very tolerable room for ten couple.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, no,вАЭ said she, вАЬyou are quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful to be standing so close! Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be dancing in a crowdвБ†вАФand a crowd in a little room!вАЭ + 

вАЬThere is no denying it,вАЭ he replied. вАЬI agree with you exactly. A crowd in a little roomвБ†вАФMiss Woodhouse, you have the art of giving pictures in a few words. Exquisite, quite exquisite!вБ†вАФStill, however, having proceeded so far, one is unwilling to give the matter up. It would be a disappointment to my fatherвБ†вАФand altogetherвБ†вАФI do not know thatвБ†вАФI am rather of opinion that ten couple might stand here very well.вАЭ + 

Emma perceived that the nature of his gallantry was a little self-willed, and that he would rather oppose than lose the pleasure of dancing with her; but she took the compliment, and forgave the rest. Had she intended ever to marry him, it might have been worth while to pause and consider, and try to understand the value of his preference, and the character of his temper; but for all the purposes of their acquaintance, he was quite amiable enough. + 

Before the middle of the next day, he was at Hartfield; and he entered the room with such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of the scheme. It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement. + 

вАЬWell, Miss Woodhouse,вАЭ he almost immediately began, вАЬyour inclination for dancing has not been quite frightened away, I hope, by the terrors of my fatherвАЩs little rooms. I bring a new proposal on the subject:вБ†вАФa thought of my fatherвАЩs, which waits only your approbation to be acted upon. May I hope for the honour of your hand for the two first dances of this little projected ball, to be given, not at Randalls, but at the Crown Inn?вАЭ + 

вАЬThe Crown!вАЭ + 

вАЬYes; if you and Mr.¬†Woodhouse see no objection, and I trust you cannot, my father hopes his friends will be so kind as to visit him there. Better accommodations, he can promise them, and not a less grateful welcome than at Randalls. It is his own idea. Mrs.¬†Weston sees no objection to it, provided you are satisfied. This is what we all feel. Oh! you were perfectly right! Ten couple, in either of the Randalls rooms, would have been insufferable!вБ†вАФDreadful!вБ†вАФI felt how right you were the whole time, but was too anxious for securing anything to like to yield. Is not it a good exchange?вБ†вАФYou consentвБ†вАФI hope you consent?вАЭ + 

вАЬIt appears to me a plan that nobody can object to, if Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Weston do not. I think it admirable; and, as far as I can answer for myself, shall be most happyвБ†вАФIt seems the only improvement that could be. Papa, do you not think it an excellent improvement?вАЭ + 

She was obliged to repeat and explain it, before it was fully comprehended; and then, being quite new, farther representations were necessary to make it acceptable. + 

вАЬNo; he thought it very far from an improvementвБ†вАФa very bad planвБ†вАФmuch worse than the other. A room at an inn was always damp and dangerous; never properly aired, or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they had better dance at Randalls. He had never been in the room at the Crown in his lifeвБ†вАФdid not know the people who kept it by sight.вБ†вАФOh! noвБ†вАФa very bad plan. They would catch worse colds at the Crown than anywhere.вАЭ + 

вАЬI was going to observe, sir,вАЭ said Frank Churchill, вАЬthat one of the great recommendations of this change would be the very little danger of anybodyвАЩs catching coldвБ†вАФso much less danger at the Crown than at Randalls! Mr.¬†Perry might have reason to regret the alteration, but nobody else could.вАЭ + 

вАЬSir,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Woodhouse, rather warmly, вАЬyou are very much mistaken if you suppose Mr.¬†Perry to be that sort of character. Mr.¬†Perry is extremely concerned when any of us are ill. But I do not understand how the room at the Crown can be safer for you than your fatherвАЩs house.вАЭ + 

вАЬFrom the very circumstance of its being larger, sir. We shall have no occasion to open the windows at allвБ†вАФnot once the whole evening; and it is that dreadful habit of opening the windows, letting in cold air upon heated bodies, which (as you well know, sir) does the mischief.вАЭ + 

вАЬOpen the windows!вБ†вАФbut surely, Mr.¬†Churchill, nobody would think of opening the windows at Randalls. Nobody could be so imprudent! I never heard of such a thing. Dancing with open windows!вБ†вАФI am sure, neither your father nor Mrs.¬†Weston (poor Miss Taylor that was) would suffer it.вАЭ + 

вАЬAh! sirвБ†вАФbut a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a window-curtain, and throw up a sash, without its being suspected. I have often known it done myself.вАЭ + 

вАЬHave you indeed, sir?вБ†вАФBless me! I never could have supposed it. But I live out of the world, and am often astonished at what I hear. However, this does make a difference; and, perhaps, when we come to talk it overвБ†вАФbut these sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Weston will be so obliging as to call here one morning, we may talk it over, and see what can be done.вАЭ + 

вАЬBut, unfortunately, sir, my time is so limitedвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬOh!вАЭ interrupted Emma, вАЬthere will be plenty of time for talking everything over. There is no hurry at all. If it can be contrived to be at the Crown, papa, it will be very convenient for the horses. They will be so near their own stable.вАЭ + 

вАЬSo they will, my dear. That is a great thing. Not that James ever complains; but it is right to spare our horses when we can. If I could be sure of the rooms being thoroughly airedвБ†вАФbut is Mrs.¬†Stokes to be trusted? I doubt it. I do not know her, even by sight.вАЭ + 

вАЬI can answer for everything of that nature, sir, because it will be under Mrs.¬†WestonвАЩs care. Mrs.¬†Weston undertakes to direct the whole.вАЭ + 

вАЬThere, papa!вБ†вАФNow you must be satisfiedвБ†вАФOur own dear Mrs.¬†Weston, who is carefulness itself. Do not you remember what Mr.¬†Perry said, so many years ago, when I had the measles? вАШIf Miss Taylor undertakes to wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have any fears, sir.вАЩ How often have I heard you speak of it as such a compliment to her!вАЭ + 

вАЬAye, very true. Mr.¬†Perry did say so. I shall never forget it. Poor little Emma! You were very bad with the measles; that is, you would have been very bad, but for PerryвАЩs great attention. He came four times a day for a week. He said, from the first, it was a very good sortвБ†вАФwhich was our great comfort; but the measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope whenever poor IsabellaвАЩs little ones have the measles, she will send for Perry.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy father and Mrs.¬†Weston are at the Crown at this moment,вАЭ said Frank Churchill, вАЬexamining the capabilities of the house. I left them there and came on to Hartfield, impatient for your opinion, and hoping you might be persuaded to join them and give your advice on the spot. I was desired to say so from both. It would be the greatest pleasure to them, if you could allow me to attend you there. They can do nothing satisfactorily without you.вАЭ + 

Emma was most happy to be called to such a council; and her father, engaging to think it all over while she was gone, the two young people set off together without delay for the Crown. There were Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Weston; delighted to see her and receive her approbation, very busy and very happy in their different way; she, in some little distress; and he, finding everything perfect. + 

вАЬEmma,вАЭ said she, вАЬthis paper is worse than I expected. Look! in places you see it is dreadfully dirty; and the wainscot is more yellow and forlorn than anything I could have imagined.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear, you are too particular,вАЭ said her husband. вАЬWhat does all that signify? You will see nothing of it by candlelight. It will be as clean as Randalls by candlelight. We never see anything of it on our club-nights.вАЭ + 

The ladies here probably exchanged looks which meant, вАЬMen never know when things are dirty or not;вАЭ and the gentlemen perhaps thought each to himself, вАЬWomen will have their little nonsenses and needless cares.вАЭ + 

One perplexity, however, arose, which the gentlemen did not disdain. It regarded a supper-room. At the time of the ballroomвАЩs being built, suppers had not been in question; and a small cardroom adjoining, was the only addition. What was to be done? This cardroom would be wanted as a cardroom now; or, if cards were conveniently voted unnecessary by their four selves, still was it not too small for any comfortable supper? Another room of much better size might be secured for the purpose; but it was at the other end of the house, and a long awkward passage must be gone through to get at it. This made a difficulty. Mrs.¬†Weston was afraid of draughts for the young people in that passage; and neither Emma nor the gentlemen could tolerate the prospect of being miserably crowded at supper. + 

Mrs.¬†Weston proposed having no regular supper; merely sandwiches, etc., set out in the little room; but that was scouted as a wretched suggestion. A private dance, without sitting down to supper, was pronounced an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women; and Mrs.¬†Weston must not speak of it again. She then took another line of expediency, and looking into the doubtful room, observed, + 

вАЬI do not think it is so very small. We shall not be many, you know.вАЭ + 

And Mr.¬†Weston at the same time, walking briskly with long steps through the passage, was calling out, + 

вАЬYou talk a great deal of the length of this passage, my dear. It is a mere nothing after all; and not the least draught from the stairs.вАЭ + 

вАЬI wish,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Weston, вАЬone could know which arrangement our guests in general would like best. To do what would be most generally pleasing must be our objectвБ†вАФif one could but tell what that would be.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, very true,вАЭ cried Frank, вАЬvery true. You want your neighboursвАЩ opinions. I do not wonder at you. If one could ascertain what the chief of themвБ†вАФthe Coles, for instance. They are not far off. Shall I call upon them? Or Miss Bates? She is still nearer.вБ†вАФAnd I do not know whether Miss Bates is not as likely to understand the inclinations of the rest of the people as anybody. I think we do want a larger council. Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to join us?вАЭ + 

вАЬWellвБ†вАФif you please,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Weston rather hesitating, вАЬif you think she will be of any use.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou will get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates,вАЭ said Emma. вАЬShe will be all delight and gratitude, but she will tell you nothing. She will not even listen to your questions. I see no advantage in consulting Miss Bates.вАЭ + 

вАЬBut she is so amusing, so extremely amusing! I am very fond of hearing Miss Bates talk. And I need not bring the whole family, you know.вАЭ + 

Here Mr.¬†Weston joined them, and on hearing what was proposed, gave it his decided approbation. + 

вАЬAye, do, Frank.вБ†вАФGo and fetch Miss Bates, and let us end the matter at once. She will enjoy the scheme, I am sure; and I do not know a properer person for showing us how to do away difficulties. Fetch Miss Bates. We are growing a little too nice. She is a standing lesson of how to be happy. But fetch them both. Invite them both.вАЭ + 

вАЬBoth sir! Can the old lady?вАЭвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ + 

вАЬThe old lady! No, the young lady, to be sure. I shall think you a great blockhead, Frank, if you bring the aunt without the niece.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! I beg your pardon, sir. I did not immediately recollect. Undoubtedly if you wish it, I will endeavour to persuade them both.вАЭ And away he ran. + 

Long before he reappeared, attending the short, neat, brisk-moving aunt, and her elegant nieceвБ†вАФMrs.¬†Weston, like a sweet-tempered woman and a good wife, had examined the passage again, and found the evils of it much less than she had supposed beforeвБ†вАФindeed very trifling; and here ended the difficulties of decision. All the rest, in speculation at least, was perfectly smooth. All the minor arrangements of table and chair, lights and music, tea and supper, made themselves; or were left as mere trifles to be settled at any time between Mrs.¬†Weston and Mrs.¬†Stokes.вБ†вАФEverybody invited, was certainly to come; Frank had already written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days beyond his fortnight, which could not possibly be refused. And a delightful dance it was to be. + 

Most cordially, when Miss Bates arrived, did she agree that it must. As a counsellor she was not wanted; but as an approver, (a much safer character,) she was truly welcome. Her approbation, at once general and minute, warm and incessant, could not but please; and for another half-hour they were all walking to and fro, between the different rooms, some suggesting, some attending, and all in happy enjoyment of the future. The party did not break up without EmmaвАЩs being positively secured for the two first dances by the hero of the evening, nor without her overhearing Mr.¬†Weston whisper to his wife, вАЬHe has asked her, my dear. ThatвАЩs right. I knew he would!вАЭ + 