XLVI + 

One morning, about ten days after Mrs.¬†ChurchillвАЩs decease, Emma was called downstairs to Mr.¬†Weston, who вАЬcould not stay five minutes, and wanted particularly to speak with her.вАЭвБ†вАФHe 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, + 

вАЬCan you come to Randalls at any time this morning?вБ†вАФDo, if it be possible. Mrs.¬†Weston wants to see you. She must see you.вАЭ + 

вАЬIs she unwell?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, no, not at allвБ†вАФonly a little agitated. She would have ordered the carriage, and come to you, but she must see you alone, and that you knowвБ†вАФ(nodding towards her father)вБ†вАФHumph!вБ†вАФCan you come?вАЭ + 

вАЬCertainly. This moment, if you please. It is impossible to refuse what you ask in such a way. But what can be the matter?вБ†вАФIs she really not ill?вАЭ + 

вАЬDepend upon meвБ†вАФbut ask no more questions. You will know it all in time. The most unaccountable business! But hush, hush!вАЭ + 

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. + 

вАЬNow,вАЭвБ†вАФsaid Emma, when they were fairly beyond the sweep gatesвБ†вАФвАЬnow Mr.¬†Weston, do let me know what has happened.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, no,вАЭвБ†вАФhe gravely replied.вБ†вАФвАЬDonвАЩt 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.вАЭ + 

вАЬBreak it to me,вАЭ cried Emma, standing still with terror.вБ†вАФвАЬGood God!вБ†вАФMr.¬†Weston, tell me at once.вБ†вАФSomething has happened in Brunswick Square. I know it has. Tell me, I charge you tell me this moment what it is.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, indeed you are mistaken.вАЭвБ†вАФ + 

вАЬMr.¬†Weston do not trifle with me.вБ†вАФConsider how many of my dearest friends are now in Brunswick Square. Which of them is it?вБ†вАФI charge you by all that is sacred, not to attempt concealment.вАЭ + 

вАЬUpon my word, EmmaвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬYour word!вБ†вАФwhy not your honour!вБ†вАФwhy not say upon your honour, that it has nothing to do with any of them? Good Heavens!вБ†вАФWhat can be to be broke to me, that does not relate to one of that family?вАЭ + 

вАЬUpon my honour,вАЭ said he very seriously, вАЬit does not. It is not in the smallest degree connected with any human being of the name of Knightley.вАЭ + 

EmmaвАЩs courage returned, and she walked on. + 

вАЬI was wrong,вАЭ he continued, вАЬin talking of its being broke to you. I should not have used the expression. In fact, it does not concern youвБ†вАФit concerns only myselfвБ†вАФthat is, we hope.вБ†вАФHumph!вБ†вАФIn short, my dear Emma, there is no occasion to be so uneasy about it. I donвАЩt say that it is not a disagreeable businessвБ†вАФbut things might be much worse.вБ†вАФIf we walk fast, we shall soon be at Randalls.вАЭ + 

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 concernвБ†вАФsomething just come to light, of a disagreeable nature in the circumstances of the familyвБ†вАФsomething which the late event at Richmond had brought forward. Her fancy was very active. Half a dozen natural children, perhapsвБ†вАФand poor Frank cut off!вБ†вАФThis, though very undesirable, would be no matter of agony to her. It inspired little more than an animating curiosity. + 

вАЬWho is that gentleman on horseback?вАЭ said she, as they proceededвБ†вАФspeaking more to assist Mr.¬†Weston in keeping his secret, than with any other view. + 

вАЬI do not know.вБ†вАФOne of the Otways.вБ†вАФNot Frank;вБ†вАФit is not Frank, I assure you. You will not see him. He is halfway to Windsor by this time.вАЭ + 

вАЬHas your son been with you, then?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! yesвБ†вАФdid not you know?вБ†вАФWell, well, never mind.вАЭ + 

For a moment he was silent; and then added, in a tone much more guarded and demure, + 

вАЬYes, Frank came over this morning, just to ask us how we did.вАЭ + 

They hurried on, and were speedily at Randalls.вБ†вАФвАЬWell, my dear,вАЭ said he, as they entered the roomвБ†вАФвАЬI 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.вАЭвБ†вАФAnd Emma distinctly heard him add, in a lower tone, before he quitted the roomвБ†вАФвАЬI have been as good as my word. She has not the least idea.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Weston was looking so ill, and had an air of so much perturbation, that EmmaвАЩs uneasiness increased; and the moment they were alone, she eagerly said, + 

вАЬWhat is it my dear friend? Something of a very unpleasant nature, I find, has occurred;вБ†вАФdo 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.вАЭ + 

вАЬHave you indeed no idea?вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Weston in a trembling voice. вАЬCannot you, my dear EmmaвБ†вАФcannot you form a guess as to what you are to hear?вАЭ + 

вАЬSo far as that it relates to Mr.¬†Frank Churchill, I do guess.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are right. It does relate to him, and I will tell you directly;вАЭ (resuming her work, and seeming resolved against looking up.) вАЬHe has been here this very morning, on a most extraordinary errand. It is impossible to express our surprise. He came to speak to his father on a subjectвБ†вАФto announce an attachmentвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

She stopped to breathe. Emma thought first of herself, and then of Harriet. + 

вАЬMore than an attachment, indeed,вАЭ resumed Mrs.¬†Weston; вАЬan engagementвБ†вАФa positive engagement.вБ†вАФWhat will you say, EmmaвБ†вАФwhat will anybody say, when it is known that Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are engaged;вБ†вАФnay, that they have been long engaged!вАЭ + 

Emma even jumped with surprise;вБ†вАФand, horror-struck, exclaimed, + 

вАЬJane Fairfax!вБ†вАФGood God! You are not serious? You do not mean it?вАЭ + 

вАЬYou may well be amazed,вАЭ returned Mrs.¬†Weston, still averting her eyes, and talking on with eagerness, that Emma might have time to recoverвБ†вАФвАЬYou may well be amazed. But it is even so. There has been a solemn engagement between them ever since OctoberвБ†вАФformed at Weymouth, and kept a secret from everybody. Not a creature knowing it but themselvesвБ†вАФneither the Campbells, nor her family, nor his.вБ†вАФIt is so wonderful, that though perfectly convinced of the fact, it is yet almost incredible to myself. I can hardly believe it.вБ†вАФI thought I knew him.вАЭ + 

Emma scarcely heard what was said.вБ†вАФHer mind was divided between two ideasвБ†вАФher own former conversations with him about Miss Fairfax; and poor Harriet;вБ†вАФand for some time she could only exclaim, and require confirmation, repeated confirmation. + 

вАЬWell,вАЭ said she at last, trying to recover herself; вАЬthis is a circumstance which I must think of at least half a day, before I can at all comprehend it. What!вБ†вАФengaged to her all the winterвБ†вАФbefore either of them came to Highbury?вАЭ + 

вАЬEngaged since OctoberвБ†вАФsecretly engaged.вБ†вАФIt has hurt me, Emma, very much. It has hurt his father equally. Some part of his conduct we cannot excuse.вАЭ + 

Emma pondered a moment, and then replied, вАЬI will not pretend not to understand you; and to give you all the relief in my power, be assured that no such effect has followed his attentions to me, as you are apprehensive of.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Weston looked up, afraid to believe; but EmmaвАЩs countenance was as steady as her words. + 

вАЬThat you may have less difficulty in believing this boast, of my present perfect indifference,вАЭ she continued, вАЬI will farther tell you, that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I did like him, when I was very much disposed to be attached to himвБ†вАФnay, was attachedвБ†вАФand how it came to cease, is perhaps the wonder. Fortunately, however, it did cease. I have really for some time past, for at least these three months, cared nothing about him. You may believe me, Mrs.¬†Weston. This is the simple truth.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and when she could find utterance, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good than anything else in the world could do. + 

вАЬMr.¬†Weston will be almost as much relieved as myself,вАЭ said she. вАЬOn this point we have been wretched. It was our darling wish that you might be attached to each otherвБ†вАФand we were persuaded that it was so.вБ†вАФImagine what we have been feeling on your account.вАЭ + 

вАЬI have escaped; and that I should escape, may be a matter of grateful wonder to you and myself. But this does not acquit him, Mrs.¬†Weston; and I must say, that I think him greatly to blame. What right had he to come among us with affection and faith engaged, and with manners so very disengaged? What right had he to endeavour to please, as he certainly didвБ†вАФto distinguish any one young woman with persevering attention, as he certainly didвБ†вАФwhile he really belonged to another?вБ†вАФHow could he tell what mischief he might be doing?вБ†вАФHow could he tell that he might not be making me in love with him?вБ†вАФvery wrong, very wrong indeed.вАЭ + 

вАЬFrom something that he said, my dear Emma, I rather imagineвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬAnd how could she bear such behaviour! Composure with a witness! to look on, while repeated attentions were offering to another woman, before her face, and not resent it.вБ†вАФThat is a degree of placidity, which I can neither comprehend nor respect.вАЭ + 

вАЬThere were misunderstandings between them, Emma; he said so expressly. He had not time to enter into much explanation. He was here only a quarter of an hour, and in a state of agitation which did not allow the full use even of the time he could stayвБ†вАФbut that there had been misunderstandings he decidedly said. The present crisis, indeed, seemed to be brought on by them; and those misunderstandings might very possibly arise from the impropriety of his conduct.вАЭ + 

вАЬImpropriety! Oh! Mrs.¬†WestonвБ†вАФit is too calm a censure. Much, much beyond impropriety!вБ†вАФIt has sunk him, I cannot say how it has sunk him in my opinion. So unlike what a man should be!вБ†вАФNone of that upright integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of his life.вАЭ + 

вАЬNay, dear Emma, now I must take his part; for though he has been wrong in this instance, I have known him long enough to answer for his having many, very many, good qualities; andвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬGood God!вАЭ cried Emma, not attending to her.вБ†вАФвАЬMrs.¬†Smallridge, too! Jane actually on the point of going as governess! What could he mean by such horrible indelicacy? To suffer her to engage herselfвБ†вАФto suffer her even to think of such a measure!вАЭ + 

вАЬHe knew nothing about it, Emma. On this article I can fully acquit him. It was a private resolution of hers, not communicated to himвБ†вАФor at least not communicated in a way to carry conviction.вБ†вАФTill yesterday, I know he said he was in the dark as to her plans. They burst on him, I do not know how, but by some letter or messageвБ†вАФand it was the discovery of what she was doing, of this very project of hers, which determined him to come forward at once, own it all to his uncle, throw himself on his kindness, and, in short, put an end to the miserable state of concealment that had been carrying on so long.вАЭ + 

Emma began to listen better. + 

вАЬI am to hear from him soon,вАЭ continued Mrs.¬†Weston. вАЬHe told me at parting, that he should soon write; and he spoke in a manner which seemed to promise me many particulars that could not be given now. Let us wait, therefore, for this letter. It may bring many extenuations. It may make many things intelligible and excusable which now are not to be understood. DonвАЩt let us be severe, donвАЩt let us be in a hurry to condemn him. Let us have patience. I must love him; and now that I am satisfied on one point, the one material point, I am sincerely anxious for its all turning out well, and ready to hope that it may. They must both have suffered a great deal under such a system of secrecy and concealment.вАЭ + 

вАЬHis sufferings,вАЭ replied Emma dryly, вАЬdo not appear to have done him much harm. Well, and how did Mr.¬†Churchill take it?вАЭ + 

вАЬMost favourably for his nephewвБ†вАФgave his consent with scarcely a difficulty. Conceive what the events of a week have done in that family! While poor Mrs.¬†Churchill lived, I suppose there could not have been a hope, a chance, a possibility;вБ†вАФbut scarcely are her remains at rest in the family vault, than her husband is persuaded to act exactly opposite to what she would have required. What a blessing it is, when undue influence does not survive the grave!вБ†вАФHe gave his consent with very little persuasion.вАЭ + 

вАЬAh!вАЭ thought Emma, вАЬhe would have done as much for Harriet.вАЭ + 

вАЬThis was settled last night, and Frank was off with the light this morning. He stopped at Highbury, at the BatesвАЩs, I fancy, some timeвБ†вАФand then came on hither; but was in such a hurry to get back to his uncle, to whom he is just now more necessary than ever, that, as I tell you, he could stay with us but a quarter of an hour.вБ†вАФHe was very much agitatedвБ†вАФvery much, indeedвБ†вАФto a degree that made him appear quite a different creature from anything I had ever seen him before.вБ†вАФIn addition to all the rest, there had been the shock of finding her so very unwell, which he had had no previous suspicion ofвБ†вАФand there was every appearance of his having been feeling a great deal.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd do you really believe the affair to have been carrying on with such perfect secrecy?вБ†вАФThe Campbells, the Dixons, did none of them know of the engagement?вАЭ + 

Emma could not speak the name of Dixon without a little blush. + 

вАЬNone; not one. He positively said that it had been known to no being in the world but their two selves.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell,вАЭ said Emma, вАЬI suppose we shall gradually grow reconciled to the idea, and I wish them very happy. But I shall always think it a very abominable sort of proceeding. What has it been but a system of hypocrisy and deceitвБ†вАФespionage, and treachery?вБ†вАФTo come among us with professions of openness and simplicity; and such a league in secret to judge us all!вБ†вАФHere have we been, the whole winter and spring, completely duped, fancying ourselves all on an equal footing of truth and honour, with two people in the midst of us who may have been carrying round, comparing and sitting in judgment on sentiments and words that were never meant for both to hear.вБ†вАФThey must take the consequence, if they have heard each other spoken of in a way not perfectly agreeable!вАЭ + 

вАЬI am quite easy on that head,вАЭ replied Mrs.¬†Weston. вАЬI am very sure that I never said anything of either to the other, which both might not have heard.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are in luck.вБ†вАФYour only blunder was confined to my ear, when you imagined a certain friend of ours in love with the lady.вАЭ + 

вАЬTrue. But as I have always had a thoroughly good opinion of Miss Fairfax, I never could, under any blunder, have spoken ill of her; and as to speaking ill of him, there I must have been safe.вАЭ + 

At this moment Mr.¬†Weston appeared at a little distance from the window, evidently on the watch. His wife gave him a look which invited him in; and, while he was coming round, added, вАЬNow, dearest Emma, let me intreat you to say and look everything that may set his heart at ease, and incline him to be satisfied with the match. Let us make the best of itвБ†вАФand, indeed, almost everything may be fairly said in her favour. It is not a connection to gratify; but if Mr.¬†Churchill does not feel that, why should we? and it may be a very fortunate circumstance for him, for Frank, I mean, that he should have attached himself to a girl of such steadiness of character and good judgment as I have always given her credit forвБ†вАФand still am disposed to give her credit for, in spite of this one great deviation from the strict rule of right. And how much may be said in her situation for even that error!вАЭ + 

вАЬMuch, indeed!вАЭ cried Emma feelingly. вАЬIf a woman can ever be excused for thinking only of herself, it is in a situation like Jane FairfaxвАЩs.вБ†вАФOf such, one may almost say, that вАШthe world is not theirs, nor the worldвАЩs law.вАЩвАКвАЭ + 

She met Mr.¬†Weston on his entrance, with a smiling countenance, exclaiming, + 

вАЬA very pretty trick you have been playing me, upon my word! This was a device, I suppose, to sport with my curiosity, and exercise my talent of guessing. But you really frightened me. I thought you had lost half your property, at least. And here, instead of its being a matter of condolence, it turns out to be one of congratulation.вБ†вАФI congratulate you, Mr.¬†Weston, with all my heart, on the prospect of having one of the most lovely and accomplished young women in England for your daughter.вАЭ + 

A glance or two between him and his wife, convinced him that all was as right as this speech proclaimed; and its happy effect on his spirits was immediate. His air and voice recovered their usual briskness: he shook her heartily and gratefully by the hand, and entered on the subject in a manner to prove, that he now only wanted time and persuasion to think the engagement no very bad thing. His companions suggested only what could palliate imprudence, or smooth objections; and by the time they had talked it all over together, and he had talked it all over again with Emma, in their walk back to Hartfield, he was become perfectly reconciled, and not far from thinking it the very best thing that Frank could possibly have done. + 