XI + 

Mr.¬†Elton must now be left to himself. It was no longer in EmmaвАЩs power to superintend his happiness or quicken his measures. The coming of her sisterвАЩs family was so very near at hand, that first in anticipation, and then in reality, it became henceforth her prime object of interest; and during the ten days of their stay at Hartfield it was not to be expectedвБ†вАФshe did not herself expectвБ†вАФthat anything beyond occasional, fortuitous assistance could be afforded by her to the lovers. They might advance rapidly if they would, however; they must advance somehow or other whether they would or no. She hardly wished to have more leisure for them. There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves. + 

Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†John Knightley, from having been longer than usual absent from Surry, were exciting of course rather more than the usual interest. Till this year, every long vacation since their marriage had been divided between Hartfield and Donwell Abbey; but all the holidays of this autumn had been given to sea-bathing for the children, and it was therefore many months since they had been seen in a regular way by their Surry connections, or seen at all by Mr.¬†Woodhouse, who could not be induced to get so far as London, even for poor IsabellaвАЩs sake; and who consequently was now most nervously and apprehensively happy in forestalling this too short visit. + 

He thought much of the evils of the journey for her, and not a little of the fatigues of his own horses and coachman who were to bring some of the party the last half of the way; but his alarms were needless; the sixteen miles being happily accomplished, and Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†John Knightley, their five children, and a competent number of nursery-maids, all reaching Hartfield in safety. The bustle and joy of such an arrival, the many to be talked to, welcomed, encouraged, and variously dispersed and disposed of, produced a noise and confusion which his nerves could not have borne under any other cause, nor have endured much longer even for this; but the ways of Hartfield and the feelings of her father were so respected by Mrs.¬†John Knightley, that in spite of maternal solicitude for the immediate enjoyment of her little ones, and for their having instantly all the liberty and attendance, all the eating and drinking, and sleeping and playing, which they could possibly wish for, without the smallest delay, the children were never allowed to be long a disturbance to him, either in themselves or in any restless attendance on them. + 

Mrs.¬†John Knightley was a pretty, elegant little woman, of gentle, quiet manners, and a disposition remarkably amiable and affectionate; wrapt up in her family; a devoted wife, a doting mother, and so tenderly attached to her father and sister that, but for these higher ties, a warmer love might have seemed impossible. She could never see a fault in any of them. She was not a woman of strong understanding or any quickness; and with this resemblance of her father, she inherited also much of his constitution; was delicate in her own health, overcareful of that of her children, had many fears and many nerves, and was as fond of her own Mr.¬†Wingfield in town as her father could be of Mr.¬†Perry. They were alike too, in a general benevolence of temper, and a strong habit of regard for every old acquaintance. + 

Mr.¬†John Knightley was a tall, gentleman-like, and very clever man; rising in his profession, domestic, and respectable in his private character; but with reserved manners which prevented his being generally pleasing; and capable of being sometimes out of humour. He was not an ill-tempered man, not so often unreasonably cross as to deserve such a reproach; but his temper was not his great perfection; and, indeed, with such a worshipping wife, it was hardly possible that any natural defects in it should not be increased. The extreme sweetness of her temper must hurt his. He had all the clearness and quickness of mind which she wanted, and he could sometimes act an ungracious, or say a severe thing. + 

He was not a great favourite with his fair sister-in-law. Nothing wrong in him escaped her. She was quick in feeling the little injuries to Isabella, which Isabella never felt herself. Perhaps she might have passed over more had his manners been flattering to IsabellaвАЩs sister, but they were only those of a calmly kind brother and friend, without praise and without blindness; but hardly any degree of personal compliment could have made her regardless of that greatest fault of all in her eyes which he sometimes fell into, the want of respectful forbearance towards her father. There he had not always the patience that could have been wished. Mr.¬†WoodhouseвАЩs peculiarities and fidgetiness were sometimes provoking him to a rational remonstrance or sharp retort equally ill-bestowed. It did not often happen; for Mr.¬†John Knightley had really a great regard for his father-in-law, and generally a strong sense of what was due to him; but it was too often for EmmaвАЩs charity, especially as there was all the pain of apprehension frequently to be endured, though the offence came not. The beginning, however, of every visit displayed none but the properest feelings, and this being of necessity so short might be hoped to pass away in unsullied cordiality. They had not been long seated and composed when Mr.¬†Woodhouse, with a melancholy shake of the head and a sigh, called his daughterвАЩs attention to the sad change at Hartfield since she had been there last. + 

вАЬAh, my dear,вАЭ said he, вАЬpoor Miss TaylorвБ†вАФIt is a grievous business.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh yes, sir,вАЭ cried she with ready sympathy, вАЬhow you must miss her! And dear Emma, too!вБ†вАФWhat a dreadful loss to you both!вБ†вАФI have been so grieved for you.вБ†вАФI could not imagine how you could possibly do without her.вБ†вАФIt is a sad change indeed.вБ†вАФBut I hope she is pretty well, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬPretty well, my dearвБ†вАФI hopeвБ†вАФpretty well.вБ†вАФI do not know but that the place agrees with her tolerably.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†John Knightley here asked Emma quietly whether there were any doubts of the air of Randalls. + 

вАЬOh! noвБ†вАФnone in the least. I never saw Mrs.¬†Weston better in my lifeвБ†вАФnever looking so well. Papa is only speaking his own regret.вАЭ + 

вАЬVery much to the honour of both,вАЭ was the handsome reply. + 

вАЬAnd do you see her, sir, tolerably often?вАЭ asked Isabella in the plaintive tone which just suited her father. + 

Mr.¬†Woodhouse hesitated.вБ†вАФвАЬNot near so often, my dear, as I could wish.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! papa, we have missed seeing them but one entire day since they married. Either in the morning or evening of every day, excepting one, have we seen either Mr.¬†Weston or Mrs.¬†Weston, and generally both, either at Randalls or hereвБ†вАФand as you may suppose, Isabella, most frequently here. They are very, very kind in their visits. Mr.¬†Weston is really as kind as herself. Papa, if you speak in that melancholy way, you will be giving Isabella a false idea of us all. Everybody must be aware that Miss Taylor must be missed, but everybody ought also to be assured that Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Weston do really prevent our missing her by any means to the extent we ourselves anticipatedвБ†вАФwhich is the exact truth.вАЭ + 

вАЬJust as it should be,вАЭ said Mr.¬†John Knightley, вАЬand just as I hoped it was from your letters. Her wish of showing you attention could not be doubted, and his being a disengaged and social man makes it all easy. I have been always telling you, my love, that I had no idea of the change being so very material to Hartfield as you apprehended; and now you have EmmaвАЩs account, I hope you will be satisfied.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhy, to be sure,вАЭ said Mr.¬†WoodhouseвБ†вАФвАЬyes, certainlyвБ†вАФI cannot deny that Mrs.¬†Weston, poor Mrs.¬†Weston, does come and see us pretty oftenвБ†вАФbut thenвБ†вАФshe is always obliged to go away again.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt would be very hard upon Mr.¬†Weston if she did not, papa.вБ†вАФYou quite forget poor Mr.¬†Weston.вАЭ + 

вАЬI think, indeed,вАЭ said John Knightley pleasantly, вАЬthat Mr.¬†Weston has some little claim. You and I, Emma, will venture to take the part of the poor husband. I, being a husband, and you not being a wife, the claims of the man may very likely strike us with equal force. As for Isabella, she has been married long enough to see the convenience of putting all the Mr.¬†Westons aside as much as she can.вАЭ + 

вАЬMe, my love,вАЭ cried his wife, hearing and understanding only in part.вБ†вАФвАЬAre you talking about me?вБ†вАФI am sure nobody ought to be, or can be, a greater advocate for matrimony than I am; and if it had not been for the misery of her leaving Hartfield, I should never have thought of Miss Taylor but as the most fortunate woman in the world; and as to slighting Mr.¬†Weston, that excellent Mr.¬†Weston, I think there is nothing he does not deserve. I believe he is one of the very best-tempered men that ever existed. Excepting yourself and your brother, I do not know his equal for temper. I shall never forget his flying HenryвАЩs kite for him that very windy day last EasterвБ†вАФand ever since his particular kindness last September twelvemonth in writing that note, at twelve oвАЩclock at night, on purpose to assure me that there was no scarlet fever at Cobham, I have been convinced there could not be a more feeling heart nor a better man in existence.вБ†вАФIf anybody can deserve him, it must be Miss Taylor.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhere is the young man?вАЭ said John Knightley. вАЬHas he been here on this occasionвБ†вАФor has he not?вАЭ + 

вАЬHe has not been here yet,вАЭ replied Emma. вАЬThere was a strong expectation of his coming soon after the marriage, but it ended in nothing; and I have not heard him mentioned lately.вАЭ + 

вАЬBut you should tell them of the letter, my dear,вАЭ said her father. вАЬHe wrote a letter to poor Mrs.¬†Weston, to congratulate her, and a very proper, handsome letter it was. She showed it to me. I thought it very well done of him indeed. Whether it was his own idea you know, one cannot tell. He is but young, and his uncle, perhapsвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear papa, he is three-and-twenty. You forget how time passes.вАЭ + 

вАЬThree-and-twenty!вБ†вАФis he indeed?вБ†вАФWell, I could not have thought itвБ†вАФand he was but two years old when he lost his poor mother! Well, time does fly indeed!вБ†вАФand my memory is very bad. However, it was an exceeding good, pretty letter, and gave Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Weston a great deal of pleasure. I remember it was written from Weymouth, and dated Sept. 28thвБ†вАФand began, вАШMy dear Madam,вАЩ but I forget how it went on; and it was signed вАШF. C. Weston Churchill.вАЩвБ†вАФI remember that perfectly.вАЭ + 

вАЬHow very pleasing and proper of him!вАЭ cried the good-hearted Mrs.¬†John Knightley. вАЬI have no doubt of his being a most amiable young man. But how sad it is that he should not live at home with his father! There is something so shocking in a childвАЩs being taken away from his parents and natural home! I never could comprehend how Mr.¬†Weston could part with him. To give up oneвАЩs child! I really never could think well of anybody who proposed such a thing to anybody else.вАЭ + 

вАЬNobody ever did think well of the Churchills, I fancy,вАЭ observed Mr.¬†John Knightley coolly. вАЬBut you need not imagine Mr.¬†Weston to have felt what you would feel in giving up Henry or John. Mr.¬†Weston is rather an easy, cheerful-tempered man, than a man of strong feelings; he takes things as he finds them, and makes enjoyment of them somehow or other, depending, I suspect, much more upon what is called society for his comforts, that is, upon the power of eating and drinking, and playing whist with his neighbours five times a week, than upon family affection, or anything that home affords.вАЭ + 

Emma could not like what bordered on a reflection on Mr.¬†Weston, and had half a mind to take it up; but she struggled, and let it pass. She would keep the peace if possible; and there was something honourable and valuable in the strong domestic habits, the all-sufficiency of home to himself, whence resulted her brotherвАЩs disposition to look down on the common rate of social intercourse, and those to whom it was important.вБ†вАФIt had a high claim to forbearance. + 