LIV + 

Time passed on. A few more tomorrows, and the party from London would be arriving. It was an alarming change; and Emma was thinking of it one morning, as what must bring a great deal to agitate and grieve her, when Mr.¬†Knightley came in, and distressing thoughts were put by. After the first chat of pleasure he was silent; and then, in a graver tone, began with, + 

вАЬI have something to tell you, Emma; some news.вАЭ + 

вАЬGood or bad?вАЭ said she, quickly, looking up in his face. + 

вАЬI do not know which it ought to be called.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! good I am sure.вБ†вАФI see it in your countenance. You are trying not to smile.вАЭ + 

вАЬI am afraid,вАЭ said he, composing his features, вАЬI am very much afraid, my dear Emma, that you will not smile when you hear it.вАЭ + 

вАЬIndeed! but why so?вБ†вАФI can hardly imagine that anything which pleases or amuses you, should not please and amuse me too.вАЭ + 

вАЬThere is one subject,вАЭ he replied, вАЬI hope but one, on which we do not think alike.вАЭ He paused a moment, again smiling, with his eyes fixed on her face. вАЬDoes nothing occur to you?вБ†вАФDo not you recollect?вБ†вАФHarriet Smith.вАЭ + 

Her cheeks flushed at the name, and she felt afraid of something, though she knew not what. + 

вАЬHave you heard from her yourself this morning?вАЭ cried he. вАЬYou have, I believe, and know the whole.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, I have not; I know nothing; pray tell me.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are prepared for the worst, I seeвБ†вАФand very bad it is. Harriet Smith marries Robert Martin.вАЭ + 

Emma gave a start, which did not seem like being preparedвБ†вАФand her eyes, in eager gaze, said, вАЬNo, this is impossible!вАЭ but her lips were closed. + 

вАЬIt is so, indeed,вАЭ continued Mr.¬†Knightley; вАЬI have it from Robert Martin himself. He left me not half an hour ago.вАЭ + 

She was still looking at him with the most speaking amazement. + 

вАЬYou like it, my Emma, as little as I feared.вБ†вАФI wish our opinions were the same. But in time they will. Time, you may be sure, will make one or the other of us think differently; and, in the meanwhile, we need not talk much on the subject.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou mistake me, you quite mistake me,вАЭ she replied, exerting herself. вАЬIt is not that such a circumstance would now make me unhappy, but I cannot believe it. It seems an impossibility!вБ†вАФYou cannot mean to say, that Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin. You cannot mean that he has even proposed to her againвБ†вАФyet. You only mean, that he intends it.вАЭ + 

вАЬI mean that he has done it,вАЭ answered Mr.¬†Knightley, with smiling but determined decision, вАЬand been accepted.вАЭ + 

вАЬGood God!вАЭ she cried.вБ†вАФвАЬWell!вАЭвБ†вАФThen having recourse to her workbasket, in excuse for leaning down her face, and concealing all the exquisite feelings of delight and entertainment which she knew she must be expressing, she added, вАЬWell, now tell me everything; make this intelligible to me. How, where, when?вБ†вАФLet me know it all. I never was more surprisedвБ†вАФbut it does not make me unhappy, I assure you.вБ†вАФHowвБ†вАФhow has it been possible?вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is a very simple story. He went to town on business three days ago, and I got him to take charge of some papers which I was wanting to send to John.вБ†вАФHe delivered these papers to John, at his chambers, and was asked by him to join their party the same evening to AstleyвАЩs. They were going to take the two eldest boys to AstleyвАЩs. The party was to be our brother and sister, Henry, JohnвБ†вАФand Miss Smith. My friend Robert could not resist. They called for him in their way; were all extremely amused; and my brother asked him to dine with them the next dayвБ†вАФwhich he didвБ†вАФand in the course of that visit (as I understand) he found an opportunity of speaking to Harriet; and certainly did not speak in vain.вБ†вАФShe made him, by her acceptance, as happy even as he is deserving. He came down by yesterdayвАЩs coach, and was with me this morning immediately after breakfast, to report his proceedings, first on my affairs, and then on his own. This is all that I can relate of the how, where, and when. Your friend Harriet will make a much longer history when you see her.вБ†вАФShe will give you all the minute particulars, which only womanвАЩs language can make interesting.вБ†вАФIn our communications we deal only in the great.вБ†вАФHowever, I must say, that Robert MartinвАЩs heart seemed for him, and to me, very overflowing; and that he did mention, without its being much to the purpose, that on quitting their box at AstleyвАЩs, my brother took charge of Mrs.¬†John Knightley and little John, and he followed with Miss Smith and Henry; and that at one time they were in such a crowd, as to make Miss Smith rather uneasy.вАЭ + 

He stopped.вБ†вАФEmma dared not attempt any immediate reply. To speak, she was sure would be to betray a most unreasonable degree of happiness. She must wait a moment, or he would think her mad. Her silence disturbed him; and after observing her a little while, he added, + 

вАЬEmma, my love, you said that this circumstance would not now make you unhappy; but I am afraid it gives you more pain than you expected. His situation is an evilвБ†вАФbut you must consider it as what satisfies your friend; and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him as you know him more. His good sense and good principles would delight you.вБ†вАФAs far as the man is concerned, you could not wish your friend in better hands. His rank in society I would alter if I could, which is saying a great deal I assure you, Emma.вБ†вАФYou laugh at me about William Larkins; but I could quite as ill spare Robert Martin.вАЭ + 

He wanted her to look up and smile; and having now brought herself not to smile too broadlyвБ†вАФshe didвБ†вАФcheerfully answering, + 

вАЬYou need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think Harriet is doing extremely well. Her connections may be worse than his. In respectability of character, there can be no doubt that they are. I have been silent from surprise merely, excessive surprise. You cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me! how peculiarly unprepared I was!вБ†вАФfor I had reason to believe her very lately more determined against him, much more, than she was before.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou ought to know your friend best,вАЭ replied Mr.¬†Knightley; вАЬbut I should say she was a good-tempered, softhearted girl, not likely to be very, very determined against any young man who told her he loved her.вАЭ + 

Emma could not help laughing as she answered, вАЬUpon my word, I believe you know her quite as well as I do.вБ†вАФBut, Mr.¬†Knightley, are you perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright accepted him. I could suppose she might in timeвБ†вАФbut can she already?вБ†вАФDid not you misunderstand him?вБ†вАФYou were both talking of other things; of business, shows of cattle, or new drillsвБ†вАФand might not you, in the confusion of so many subjects, mistake him?вБ†вАФIt was not HarrietвАЩs hand that he was certain ofвБ†вАФit was the dimensions of some famous ox.вАЭ + 

The contrast between the countenance and air of Mr.¬†Knightley and Robert Martin was, at this moment, so strong to EmmaвАЩs feelings, and so strong was the recollection of all that had so recently passed on HarrietвАЩs side, so fresh the sound of those words, spoken with such emphasis, вАЬNo, I hope I know better than to think of Robert Martin,вАЭ that she was really expecting the intelligence to prove, in some measure, premature. It could not be otherwise. + 

вАЬDo you dare say this?вАЭ cried Mr.¬†Knightley. вАЬDo you dare to suppose me so great a blockhead, as not to know what a man is talking of?вБ†вАФWhat do you deserve?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other; and, therefore, you must give me a plain, direct answer. Are you quite sure that you understand the terms on which Mr.¬†Martin and Harriet now are?вАЭ + 

вАЬI am quite sure,вАЭ he replied, speaking very distinctly, вАЬthat he told me she had accepted him; and that there was no obscurity, nothing doubtful, in the words he used; and I think I can give you a proof that it must be so. He asked my opinion as to what he was now to do. He knew of no one but Mrs.¬†Goddard to whom he could apply for information of her relations or friends. Could I mention anything more fit to be done, than to go to Mrs.¬†Goddard? I assured him that I could not. Then, he said, he would endeavour to see her in the course of this day.вАЭ + 

вАЬI am perfectly satisfied,вАЭ replied Emma, with the brightest smiles, вАЬand most sincerely wish them happy.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are materially changed since we talked on this subject before.вАЭ + 

вАЬI hope soвБ†вАФfor at that time I was a fool.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd I am changed also; for I am now very willing to grant you all HarrietвАЩs good qualities. I have taken some pains for your sake, and for Robert MartinвАЩs sake, (whom I have always had reason to believe as much in love with her as ever,) to get acquainted with her. I have often talked to her a good deal. You must have seen that I did. Sometimes, indeed, I have thought you were half suspecting me of pleading poor MartinвАЩs cause, which was never the case; but, from all my observations, I am convinced of her being an artless, amiable girl, with very good notions, very seriously good principles, and placing her happiness in the affections and utility of domestic life.вБ†вАФMuch of this, I have no doubt, she may thank you for.вАЭ + 

вАЬMe!вАЭ cried Emma, shaking her head.вБ†вАФвАЬAh! poor Harriet!вАЭ + 

She checked herself, however, and submitted quietly to a little more praise than she deserved. + 

Their conversation was soon afterwards closed by the entrance of her father. She was not sorry. She wanted to be alone. Her mind was in a state of flutter and wonder, which made it impossible for her to be collected. She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits; and till she had moved about, and talked to herself, and laughed and reflected, she could be fit for nothing rational. + 

Her fatherвАЩs business was to announce JamesвАЩs being gone out to put the horses to, preparatory to their now daily drive to Randalls; and she had, therefore, an immediate excuse for disappearing. + 

The joy, the gratitude, the exquisite delight of her sensations may be imagined. The sole grievance and alloy thus removed in the prospect of HarrietвАЩs welfare, she was really in danger of becoming too happy for security.вБ†вАФWhat had she to wish for? Nothing, but to grow more worthy of him, whose intentions and judgment had been ever so superior to her own. Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly might teach her humility and circumspection in future. + 

Serious she was, very serious in her thankfulness, and in her resolutions; and yet there was no preventing a laugh, sometimes in the very midst of them. She must laugh at such a close! Such an end of the doleful disappointment of five weeks back! Such a heartвБ†вАФsuch a Harriet! + 

Now there would be pleasure in her returningвБ†вАФEverything would be a pleasure. It would be a great pleasure to know Robert Martin. + 

High in the rank of her most serious and heartfelt felicities, was the reflection that all necessity of concealment from Mr.¬†Knightley would soon be over. The disguise, equivocation, mystery, so hateful to her to practise, might soon be over. She could now look forward to giving him that full and perfect confidence which her disposition was most ready to welcome as a duty. + 

In the gayest and happiest spirits she set forward with her father; not always listening, but always agreeing to what he said; and, whether in speech or silence, conniving at the comfortable persuasion of his being obliged to go to Randalls every day, or poor Mrs.¬†Weston would be disappointed. + 

They arrived.вБ†вАФMrs.¬†Weston was alone in the drawing-room:вБ†вАФbut hardly had they been told of the baby, and Mr.¬†Woodhouse received the thanks for coming, which he asked for, when a glimpse was caught through the blind, of two figures passing near the window. + 

вАЬIt is Frank and Miss Fairfax,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Weston. вАЬI was just going to tell you of our agreeable surprise in seeing him arrive this morning. He stays till tomorrow, and Miss Fairfax has been persuaded to spend the day with us.вБ†вАФThey are coming in, I hope.вАЭ + 

In half a minute they were in the room. Emma was extremely glad to see himвБ†вАФbut there was a degree of confusionвБ†вАФa number of embarrassing recollections on each side. They met readily and smiling, but with a consciousness which at first allowed little to be said; and having all sat down again, there was for some time such a blank in the circle, that Emma began to doubt whether the wish now indulged, which she had long felt, of seeing Frank Churchill once more, and of seeing him with Jane, would yield its proportion of pleasure. When Mr.¬†Weston joined the party, however, and when the baby was fetched, there was no longer a want of subject or animationвБ†вАФor of courage and opportunity for Frank Churchill to draw near her and say, + 

вАЬI have to thank you, Miss Woodhouse, for a very kind forgiving message in one of Mrs.¬†WestonвАЩs letters. I hope time has not made you less willing to pardon. I hope you do not retract what you then said.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, indeed,вАЭ cried Emma, most happy to begin, вАЬnot in the least. I am particularly glad to see and shake hands with youвБ†вАФand to give you joy in person.вАЭ + 

He thanked her with all his heart, and continued some time to speak with serious feeling of his gratitude and happiness. + 

вАЬIs not she looking well?вАЭ said he, turning his eyes towards Jane. вАЬBetter than she ever used to do?вБ†вАФYou see how my father and Mrs.¬†Weston dote upon her.вАЭ + 

But his spirits were soon rising again, and with laughing eyes, after mentioning the expected return of the Campbells, he named the name of Dixon.вБ†вАФEmma blushed, and forbade its being pronounced in her hearing. + 

вАЬI can never think of it,вАЭ she cried, вАЬwithout extreme shame.вАЭ + 

вАЬThe shame,вАЭ he answered, вАЬis all mine, or ought to be. But is it possible that you had no suspicion?вБ†вАФI mean of late. Early, I know, you had none.вАЭ + 

вАЬI never had the smallest, I assure you.вАЭ + 

вАЬThat appears quite wonderful. I was once very nearвБ†вАФand I wish I hadвБ†вАФit would have been better. But though I was always doing wrong things, they were very bad wrong things, and such as did me no service.вБ†вАФIt would have been a much better transgression had I broken the bond of secrecy and told you everything.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is not now worth a regret,вАЭ said Emma. + 

вАЬI have some hope,вАЭ resumed he, вАЬof my uncleвАЩs being persuaded to pay a visit at Randalls; he wants to be introduced to her. When the Campbells are returned, we shall meet them in London, and continue there, I trust, till we may carry her northward.вБ†вАФBut now, I am at such a distance from herвБ†вАФis not it hard, Miss Woodhouse?вБ†вАФTill this morning, we have not once met since the day of reconciliation. Do not you pity me?вАЭ + 

Emma spoke her pity so very kindly, that with a sudden accession of gay thought, he cried, + 

вАЬAh! by the by,вАЭ then sinking his voice, and looking demure for the momentвБ†вАФвАЬI hope Mr.¬†Knightley is well?вАЭ He paused.вБ†вАФShe coloured and laughed.вБ†вАФвАЬI know you saw my letter, and think you may remember my wish in your favour. Let me return your congratulations.вБ†вАФI assure you that I have heard the news with the warmest interest and satisfaction.вБ†вАФHe is a man whom I cannot presume to praise.вАЭ + 

Emma was delighted, and only wanted him to go on in the same style; but his mind was the next moment in his own concerns and with his own Jane, and his next words were, + 

вАЬDid you ever see such a skin?вБ†вАФsuch smoothness! such delicacy!вБ†вАФand yet without being actually fair.вБ†вАФOne cannot call her fair. It is a most uncommon complexion, with her dark eyelashes and hairвБ†вАФa most distinguishing complexion! So peculiarly the lady in it.вБ†вАФJust colour enough for beauty.вАЭ + 

вАЬI have always admired her complexion,вАЭ replied Emma, archly; вАЬbut do not I remember the time when you found fault with her for being so pale?вБ†вАФWhen we first began to talk of her.вБ†вАФHave you quite forgotten?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! noвБ†вАФwhat an impudent dog I was!вБ†вАФHow could I dareвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

But he laughed so heartily at the recollection, that Emma could not help saying, + 

вАЬI do suspect that in the midst of your perplexities at that time, you had very great amusement in tricking us all.вБ†вАФI am sure you had.вБ†вАФI am sure it was a consolation to you.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! no, no, noвБ†вАФhow can you suspect me of such a thing? I was the most miserable wretch!вАЭ + 

вАЬNot quite so miserable as to be insensible to mirth. I am sure it was a source of high entertainment to you, to feel that you were taking us all in.вБ†вАФPerhaps I am the readier to suspect, because, to tell you the truth, I think it might have been some amusement to myself in the same situation. I think there is a little likeness between us.вАЭ + 

He bowed. + 

вАЬIf not in our dispositions,вАЭ she presently added, with a look of true sensibility, вАЬthere is a likeness in our destiny; the destiny which bids fair to connect us with two characters so much superior to our own.вАЭ + 

вАЬTrue, true,вАЭ he answered, warmly. вАЬNo, not true on your side. You can have no superior, but most true on mine.вБ†вАФShe is a complete angel. Look at her. Is not she an angel in every gesture? Observe the turn of her throat. Observe her eyes, as she is looking up at my father.вБ†вАФYou will be glad to hear (inclining his head, and whispering seriously) that my uncle means to give her all my auntвАЩs jewels. They are to be new set. I am resolved to have some in an ornament for the head. Will not it be beautiful in her dark hair?вАЭ + 

вАЬVery beautiful, indeed,вАЭ replied Emma; and she spoke so kindly, that he gratefully burst out, + 

вАЬHow delighted I am to see you again! and to see you in such excellent looks!вБ†вАФI would not have missed this meeting for the world. I should certainly have called at Hartfield, had you failed to come.вАЭ + 

The others had been talking of the child, Mrs.¬†Weston giving an account of a little alarm she had been under, the evening before, from the infantвАЩs appearing not quite well. She believed she had been foolish, but it had alarmed her, and she had been within half a minute of sending for Mr.¬†Perry. Perhaps she ought to be ashamed, but Mr.¬†Weston had been almost as uneasy as herself.вБ†вАФIn ten minutes, however, the child had been perfectly well again. This was her history; and particularly interesting it was to Mr.¬†Woodhouse, who commended her very much for thinking of sending for Perry, and only regretted that she had not done it. вАЬShe should always send for Perry, if the child appeared in the slightest degree disordered, were it only for a moment. She could not be too soon alarmed, nor send for Perry too often. It was a pity, perhaps, that he had not come last night; for, though the child seemed well now, very well considering, it would probably have been better if Perry had seen it.вАЭ + 

Frank Churchill caught the name. + 

вАЬPerry!вАЭ said he to Emma, and trying, as he spoke, to catch Miss FairfaxвАЩs eye. вАЬMy friend Mr.¬†Perry! What are they saying about Mr.¬†Perry?вБ†вАФHas he been here this morning?вБ†вАФAnd how does he travel now?вБ†вАФHas he set up his carriage?вАЭ + 

Emma soon recollected, and understood him; and while she joined in the laugh, it was evident from JaneвАЩs countenance that she too was really hearing him, though trying to seem deaf. + 

вАЬSuch an extraordinary dream of mine!вАЭ he cried. вАЬI can never think of it without laughing.вБ†вАФShe hears us, she hears us, Miss Woodhouse. I see it in her cheek, her smile, her vain attempt to frown. Look at her. Do not you see that, at this instant, the very passage of her own letter, which sent me the report, is passing under her eyeвБ†вАФthat the whole blunder is spread before herвБ†вАФthat she can attend to nothing else, though pretending to listen to the others?вАЭ + 

Jane was forced to smile completely, for a moment; and the smile partly remained as she turned towards him, and said in a conscious, low, yet steady voice, + 

вАЬHow you can bear such recollections, is astonishing to me!вБ†вАФThey will sometimes obtrudeвБ†вАФbut how you can court them!вАЭ + 

He had a great deal to say in return, and very entertainingly; but EmmaвАЩs feelings were chiefly with Jane, in the argument; and on leaving Randalls, and falling naturally into a comparison of the two men, she felt, that pleased as she had been to see Frank Churchill, and really regarding him as she did with friendship, she had never been more sensible of Mr.¬†KnightleyвАЩs high superiority of character. The happiness of this most happy day, received its completion, in the animated contemplation of his worth which this comparison produced. + 