XXXIV + 

Everybody in and about Highbury who had ever visited Mr.¬†Elton, was disposed to pay him attention on his marriage. Dinner-parties and evening-parties were made for him and his lady; and invitations flowed in so fast that she had soon the pleasure of apprehending they were never to have a disengaged day. + 

вАЬI see how it is,вАЭ said she. вАЬI see what a life I am to lead among you. Upon my word we shall be absolutely dissipated. We really seem quite the fashion. If this is living in the country, it is nothing very formidable. From Monday next to Saturday, I assure you we have not a disengaged day!вБ†вАФA woman with fewer resources than I have, need not have been at a loss.вАЭ + 

No invitation came amiss to her. Her Bath habits made evening-parties perfectly natural to her, and Maple Grove had given her a taste for dinners. She was a little shocked at the want of two drawing rooms, at the poor attempt at rout-cakes, and there being no ice in the Highbury card-parties. Mrs.¬†Bates, Mrs.¬†Perry, Mrs.¬†Goddard and others, were a good deal behindhand in knowledge of the world, but she would soon show them how everything ought to be arranged. In the course of the spring she must return their civilities by one very superior partyвБ†вАФin which her card-tables should be set out with their separate candles and unbroken packs in the true styleвБ†вАФand more waiters engaged for the evening than their own establishment could furnish, to carry round the refreshments at exactly the proper hour, and in the proper order. + 

Emma, in the meanwhile, could not be satisfied without a dinner at Hartfield for the Eltons. They must not do less than others, or she should be exposed to odious suspicions, and imagined capable of pitiful resentment. A dinner there must be. After Emma had talked about it for ten minutes, Mr.¬†Woodhouse felt no unwillingness, and only made the usual stipulation of not sitting at the bottom of the table himself, with the usual regular difficulty of deciding who should do it for him. + 

The persons to be invited, required little thought. Besides the Eltons, it must be the Westons and Mr.¬†Knightley; so far it was all of courseвБ†вАФand it was hardly less inevitable that poor little Harriet must be asked to make the eighth:вБ†вАФbut this invitation was not given with equal satisfaction, and on many accounts Emma was particularly pleased by HarrietвАЩs begging to be allowed to decline it. вАЬShe would rather not be in his company more than she could help. She was not yet quite able to see him and his charming happy wife together, without feeling uncomfortable. If Miss Woodhouse would not be displeased, she would rather stay at home.вАЭ It was precisely what Emma would have wished, had she deemed it possible enough for wishing. She was delighted with the fortitude of her little friendвБ†вАФfor fortitude she knew it was in her to give up being in company and stay at home; and she could now invite the very person whom she really wanted to make the eighth, Jane Fairfax.вБ†вАФSince her last conversation with Mrs.¬†Weston and Mr.¬†Knightley, she was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she had often been.вБ†вАФMr.¬†KnightleyвАЩs words dwelt with her. He had said that Jane Fairfax received attentions from Mrs.¬†Elton which nobody else paid her. + 

вАЬThis is very true,вАЭ said she, вАЬat least as far as relates to me, which was all that was meantвБ†вАФand it is very shameful.вБ†вАФOf the same ageвБ†вАФand always knowing herвБ†вАФI ought to have been more her friend.вБ†вАФShe will never like me now. I have neglected her too long. But I will show her greater attention than I have done.вАЭ + 

Every invitation was successful. They were all disengaged and all happy.вБ†вАФThe preparatory interest of this dinner, however, was not yet over. A circumstance rather unlucky occurred. The two eldest little Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some weeks in the spring, and their papa now proposed bringing them, and staying one whole day at HartfieldвБ†вАФwhich one day would be the very day of this party.вБ†вАФHis professional engagements did not allow of his being put off, but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening so. Mr.¬†Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the utmost that his nerves could bearвБ†вАФand here would be a ninthвБ†вАФand Emma apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not being able to come even to Hartfield for forty-eight hours without falling in with a dinner-party. + 

She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself, by representing that though he certainly would make them nine, yet he always said so little, that the increase of noise would be very immaterial. She thought it in reality a sad exchange for herself, to have him with his grave looks and reluctant conversation opposed to her instead of his brother. + 

The event was more favourable to Mr.¬†Woodhouse than to Emma. John Knightley came; but Mr.¬†Weston was unexpectedly summoned to town and must be absent on the very day. He might be able to join them in the evening, but certainly not to dinner. Mr.¬†Woodhouse was quite at ease; and the seeing him so, with the arrival of the little boys and the philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate, removed the chief of even EmmaвАЩs vexation. + 

The day came, the party were punctually assembled, and Mr.¬†John Knightley seemed early to devote himself to the business of being agreeable. Instead of drawing his brother off to a window while they waited for dinner, he was talking to Miss Fairfax. Mrs.¬†Elton, as elegant as lace and pearls could make her, he looked at in silenceвБ†вАФwanting only to observe enough for IsabellaвАЩs informationвБ†вАФbut Miss Fairfax was an old acquaintance and a quiet girl, and he could talk to her. He had met her before breakfast as he was returning from a walk with his little boys, when it had been just beginning to rain. It was natural to have some civil hopes on the subject, and he said, + 

вАЬI hope you did not venture far, Miss Fairfax, this morning, or I am sure you must have been wet.вБ†вАФWe scarcely got home in time. I hope you turned directly.вАЭ + 

вАЬI went only to the post-office,вАЭ said she, вАЬand reached home before the rain was much. It is my daily errand. I always fetch the letters when I am here. It saves trouble, and is a something to get me out. A walk before breakfast does me good.вАЭ + 

вАЬNot a walk in the rain, I should imagine.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, but it did not absolutely rain when I set out.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†John Knightley smiled, and replied, + 

вАЬThat is to say, you chose to have your walk, for you were not six yards from your own door when I had the pleasure of meeting you; and Henry and John had seen more drops than they could count long before. The post-office has a great charm at one period of our lives. When you have lived to my age, you will begin to think letters are never worth going through the rain for.вАЭ + 

There was a little blush, and then this answer, + 

вАЬI must not hope to be ever situated as you are, in the midst of every dearest connection, and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing older should make me indifferent about letters.вАЭ + 

вАЬIndifferent! Oh! noвБ†вАФI never conceived you could become indifferent. Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive curse.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are speaking of letters of business; mine are letters of friendship.вАЭ + 

вАЬI have often thought them the worst of the two,вАЭ replied he coolly. вАЬBusiness, you know, may bring money, but friendship hardly ever does.вАЭ + 

вАЬAh! you are not serious now. I know Mr.¬†John Knightley too wellвБ†вАФI am very sure he understands the value of friendship as well as anybody. I can easily believe that letters are very little to you, much less than to me, but it is not your being ten years older than myself which makes the difference, it is not age, but situation. You have everybody dearest to you always at hand, I, probably, never shall again; and therefore till I have outlived all my affections, a post-office, I think, must always have power to draw me out, in worse weather than today.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhen I talked of your being altered by time, by the progress of years,вАЭ said John Knightley, вАЬI meant to imply the change of situation which time usually brings. I consider one as including the other. Time will generally lessen the interest of every attachment not within the daily circleвБ†вАФbut that is not the change I had in view for you. As an old friend, you will allow me to hope, Miss Fairfax, that ten years hence you may have as many concentrated objects as I have.вАЭ + 

It was kindly said, and very far from giving offence. A pleasant вАЬthank youвАЭ seemed meant to laugh it off, but a blush, a quivering lip, a tear in the eye, showed that it was felt beyond a laugh. Her attention was now claimed by Mr.¬†Woodhouse, who being, according to his custom on such occasions, making the circle of his guests, and paying his particular compliments to the ladies, was ending with herвБ†вАФand with all his mildest urbanity, said, + 

вАЬI am very sorry to hear, Miss Fairfax, of your being out this morning in the rain. Young ladies should take care of themselves.вБ†вАФYoung ladies are delicate plants. They should take care of their health and their complexion. My dear, did you change your stockings?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir, I did indeed; and I am very much obliged by your kind solicitude about me.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear Miss Fairfax, young ladies are very sure to be cared for.вБ†вАФI hope your good grandmama and aunt are well. They are some of my very old friends. I wish my health allowed me to be a better neighbour. You do us a great deal of honour today, I am sure. My daughter and I are both highly sensible of your goodness, and have the greatest satisfaction in seeing you at Hartfield.вАЭ + 

The kindhearted, polite old man might then sit down and feel that he had done his duty, and made every fair lady welcome and easy. + 

By this time, the walk in the rain had reached Mrs.¬†Elton, and her remonstrances now opened upon Jane. + 

вАЬMy dear Jane, what is this I hear?вБ†вАФGoing to the post-office in the rain!вБ†вАФThis must not be, I assure you.вБ†вАФYou sad girl, how could you do such a thing?вБ†вАФIt is a sign I was not there to take care of you.вАЭ + 

Jane very patiently assured her that she had not caught any cold. + 

вАЬOh! do not tell me. You really are a very sad girl, and do not know how to take care of yourself.вБ†вАФTo the post-office indeed! Mrs.¬†Weston, did you ever hear the like? You and I must positively exert our authority.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy advice,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Weston kindly and persuasively, вАЬI certainly do feel tempted to give. Miss Fairfax, you must not run such risks.вБ†вАФLiable as you have been to severe colds, indeed you ought to be particularly careful, especially at this time of year. The spring I always think requires more than common care. Better wait an hour or two, or even half a day for your letters, than run the risk of bringing on your cough again. Now do not you feel that you had? Yes, I am sure you are much too reasonable. You look as if you would not do such a thing again.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! she shall not do such a thing again,вАЭ eagerly rejoined Mrs.¬†Elton. вАЬWe will not allow her to do such a thing again:вАЭвБ†вАФand nodding significantlyвБ†вАФвАЬthere must be some arrangement made, there must indeed. I shall speak to Mr.¬†E. The man who fetches our letters every morning (one of our men, I forget his name) shall inquire for yours too and bring them to you. That will obviate all difficulties you know; and from us I really think, my dear Jane, you can have no scruple to accept such an accommodation.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou are extremely kind,вАЭ said Jane; вАЬbut I cannot give up my early walk. I am advised to be out of doors as much as I can, I must walk somewhere, and the post-office is an object; and upon my word, I have scarcely ever had a bad morning before.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear Jane, say no more about it. The thing is determined, that is (laughing affectedly) as far as I can presume to determine anything without the concurrence of my lord and master. You know, Mrs.¬†Weston, you and I must be cautious how we express ourselves. But I do flatter myself, my dear Jane, that my influence is not entirely worn out. If I meet with no insuperable difficulties therefore, consider that point as settled.вАЭ + 

вАЬExcuse me,вАЭ said Jane earnestly, вАЬI cannot by any means consent to such an arrangement, so needlessly troublesome to your servant. If the errand were not a pleasure to me, it could be done, as it always is when I am not here, by my grandmamaвАЩs.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! my dear; but so much as Patty has to do!вБ†вАФAnd it is a kindness to employ our men.вАЭ + 

Jane looked as if she did not mean to be conquered; but instead of answering, she began speaking again to Mr.¬†John Knightley. + 

вАЬThe post-office is a wonderful establishment!вАЭ said she.вБ†вАФвАЬThe regularity and despatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing!вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is certainly very well regulated.вАЭ + 

вАЬSo seldom that any negligence or blunder appears! So seldom that a letter, among the thousands that are constantly passing about the kingdom, is even carried wrongвБ†вАФand not one in a million, I suppose, actually lost! And when one considers the variety of hands, and of bad hands too, that are to be deciphered, it increases the wonder.вАЭ + 

вАЬThe clerks grow expert from habit.вБ†вАФThey must begin with some quickness of sight and hand, and exercise improves them. If you want any farther explanation,вАЭ continued he, smiling, вАЬthey are paid for it. That is the key to a great deal of capacity. The public pays and must be served well.вАЭ + 

The varieties of handwriting were farther talked of, and the usual observations made. + 

вАЬI have heard it asserted,вАЭ said John Knightley, вАЬthat the same sort of handwriting often prevails in a family; and where the same master teaches, it is natural enough. But for that reason, I should imagine the likeness must be chiefly confined to the females, for boys have very little teaching after an early age, and scramble into any hand they can get. Isabella and Emma, I think, do write very much alike. I have not always known their writing apart.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes,вАЭ said his brother hesitatingly, вАЬthere is a likeness. I know what you meanвБ†вАФbut EmmaвАЩs hand is the strongest.вАЭ + 

вАЬIsabella and Emma both write beautifully,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Woodhouse; вАЬand always did. And so does poor Mrs.¬†WestonвАЭвБ†вАФwith half a sigh and half a smile at her. + 

вАЬI never saw any gentlemanвАЩs handwritingвАЭвБ†вАФEmma began, looking also at Mrs.¬†Weston; but stopped, on perceiving that Mrs.¬†Weston was attending to someone elseвБ†вАФand the pause gave her time to reflect, вАЬNow, how am I going to introduce him?вБ†вАФAm I unequal to speaking his name at once before all these people? Is it necessary for me to use any roundabout phrase?вБ†вАФYour Yorkshire friendвБ†вАФyour correspondent in Yorkshire;вБ†вАФthat would be the way, I suppose, if I were very bad.вБ†вАФNo, I can pronounce his name without the smallest distress. I certainly get better and better.вБ†вАФNow for it.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Weston was disengaged and Emma began againвБ†вАФвАЬMr.¬†Frank Churchill writes one of the best gentlemanвАЩs hands I ever saw.вАЭ + 

вАЬI do not admire it,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Knightley. вАЬIt is too smallвБ†вАФwants strength. It is like a womanвАЩs writing.вАЭ + 

This was not submitted to by either lady. They vindicated him against the base aspersion. вАЬNo, it by no means wanted strengthвБ†вАФit was not a large hand, but very clear and certainly strong. Had not Mrs.¬†Weston any letter about her to produce?вАЭ No, she had heard from him very lately, but having answered the letter, had put it away. + 

вАЬIf we were in the other room,вАЭ said Emma, вАЬif I had my writing-desk, I am sure I could produce a specimen. I have a note of his.вБ†вАФDo not you remember, Mrs.¬†Weston, employing him to write for you one day?вАЭ + 

вАЬHe chose to say he was employedвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬWell, well, I have that note; and can show it after dinner to convince Mr.¬†Knightley.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! when a gallant young man, like Mr.¬†Frank Churchill,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Knightley dryly, вАЬwrites to a fair lady like Miss Woodhouse, he will, of course, put forth his best.вАЭ + 

Dinner was on table.вБ†вАФMrs.¬†Elton, before she could be spoken to, was ready; and before Mr.¬†Woodhouse had reached her with his request to be allowed to hand her into the dining-parlour, was sayingвБ†вАФ + 

вАЬMust I go first? I really am ashamed of always leading the way.вАЭ + 

JaneвАЩs solicitude about fetching her own letters had not escaped Emma. She had heard and seen it all; and felt some curiosity to know whether the wet walk of this morning had produced any. She suspected that it had; that it would not have been so resolutely encountered but in full expectation of hearing from someone very dear, and that it had not been in vain. She thought there was an air of greater happiness than usualвБ†вАФa glow both of complexion and spirits. + 

She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the expense of the Irish mails;вБ†вАФit was at her tongueвАЩs endвБ†вАФbut she abstained. She was quite determined not to utter a word that should hurt Jane FairfaxвАЩs feelings; and they followed the other ladies out of the room, arm in arm, with an appearance of goodwill highly becoming to the beauty and grace of each. + 