XXI + 

Emma could not forgive her;вБ†вАФbut as neither provocation nor resentment were discerned by Mr.¬†Knightley, who had been of the party, and had seen only proper attention and pleasing behaviour on each side, he was expressing the next morning, being at Hartfield again on business with Mr.¬†Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole; not so openly as he might have done had her father been out of the room, but speaking plain enough to be very intelligible to Emma. He had been used to think her unjust to Jane, and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement. + 

вАЬA very pleasant evening,вАЭ he began, as soon as Mr.¬†Woodhouse had been talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers swept away;вБ†вАФвАЬparticularly pleasant. You and Miss Fairfax gave us some very good music. I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting at oneвАЩs ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women; sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation. I am sure Miss Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant, Emma. You left nothing undone. I was glad you made her play so much, for having no instrument at her grandmotherвАЩs, it must have been a real indulgence.вАЭ + 

вАЬI am happy you approved,вАЭ said Emma, smiling; вАЬbut I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, my dear,вАЭ said her father instantly; вАЬthat I am sure you are not. There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are. If anything, you are too attentive. The muffin last nightвБ†вАФif it had been handed round once, I think it would have been enough.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Knightley, nearly at the same time; вАЬyou are not often deficient; not often deficient either in manner or comprehension. I think you understand me, therefore.вАЭ + 

An arch look expressedвБ†вАФвАЬI understand you well enough;вАЭ but she said only, вАЬMiss Fairfax is reserved.вАЭ + 

вАЬI always told you she wasвБ†вАФa little; but you will soon overcome all that part of her reserve which ought to be overcome, all that has its foundation in diffidence. What arises from discretion must be honoured.вАЭ + 

вАЬYou think her diffident. I do not see it.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear Emma,вАЭ said he, moving from his chair into one close by her, вАЬyou are not going to tell me, I hope, that you had not a pleasant evening.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh! no; I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions; and amused to think how little information I obtained.вАЭ + 

вАЬI am disappointed,вАЭ was his only answer. + 

вАЬI hope everybody had a pleasant evening,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Woodhouse, in his quiet way. вАЬI had. Once, I felt the fire rather too much; but then I moved back my chair a little, a very little, and it did not disturb me. Miss Bates was very chatty and good-humoured, as she always is, though she speaks rather too quick. However, she is very agreeable, and Mrs.¬†Bates too, in a different way. I like old friends; and Miss Jane Fairfax is a very pretty sort of young lady, a very pretty and a very well-behaved young lady indeed. She must have found the evening agreeable, Mr.¬†Knightley, because she had Emma.вАЭ + 

вАЬTrue, sir; and Emma, because she had Miss Fairfax.вАЭ + 

Emma saw his anxiety, and wishing to appease it, at least for the present, said, and with a sincerity which no one could questionвБ†вАФ + 

вАЬShe is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep oneвАЩs eyes from. I am always watching her to admire; and I do pity her from my heart.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†Knightley looked as if he were more gratified than he cared to express; and before he could make any reply, Mr.¬†Woodhouse, whose thoughts were on the BatesвАЩs, saidвБ†вАФ + 

вАЬIt is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined! a great pity indeed! and I have often wishedвБ†вАФbut it is so little one can venture to doвБ†вАФsmall, trifling presents, of anything uncommonвБ†вАФNow we have killed a porker, and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg; it is very small and delicateвБ†вАФHartfield pork is not like any other porkвБ†вАФbut still it is porkвБ†вАФand, my dear Emma, unless one could be sure of their making it into steaks, nicely fried, as ours are fried, without the smallest grease, and not roast it, for no stomach can bear roast porkвБ†вАФI think we had better send the legвБ†вАФdo not you think so, my dear?вАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear papa, I sent the whole hindquarter. I knew you would wish it. There will be the leg to be salted, you know, which is so very nice, and the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like.вАЭ + 

вАЬThatвАЩs right, my dear, very right. I had not thought of it before, but that is the best way. They must not over-salt the leg; and then, if it is not over-salted, and if it is very thoroughly boiled, just as Serle boils ours, and eaten very moderately of, with a boiled turnip, and a little carrot or parsnip, I do not consider it unwholesome.вАЭ + 

вАЬEmma,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Knightley presently, вАЬI have a piece of news for you. You like newsвБ†вАФand I heard an article in my way hither that I think will interest you.вАЭ + 

вАЬNews! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it?вБ†вАФwhy do you smile so?вБ†вАФwhere did you hear it?вБ†вАФat Randalls?вАЭ + 

He had time only to say, + 

вАЬNo, not at Randalls; I have not been near Randalls,вАЭ when the door was thrown open, and Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax walked into the room. Full of thanks, and full of news, Miss Bates knew not which to give quickest. Mr.¬†Knightley soon saw that he had lost his moment, and that not another syllable of communication could rest with him. + 

вАЬOh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? My dear Miss WoodhouseвБ†вАФI come quite overpowered. Such a beautiful hindquarter of pork! You are too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr.¬†Elton is going to be married.вАЭ + 

Emma had not had time even to think of Mr.¬†Elton, and she was so completely surprised that she could not avoid a little start, and a little blush, at the sound. + 

вАЬThere is my news:вБ†вАФI thought it would interest you,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Knightley, with a smile which implied a conviction of some part of what had passed between them. + 

вАЬBut where could you hear it?вАЭ cried Miss Bates. вАЬWhere could you possibly hear it, Mr.¬†Knightley? For it is not five minutes since I received Mrs.¬†ColeвАЩs noteвБ†вАФno, it cannot be more than fiveвБ†вАФor at least tenвБ†вАФfor I had got my bonnet and spencer on, just ready to come outвБ†вАФI was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the porkвБ†вАФJane was standing in the passageвБ†вАФwere not you, Jane?вБ†вАФfor my mother was so afraid that we had not any salting-pan large enough. So I said I would go down and see, and Jane said, вАШShall I go down instead? for I think you have a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.вАЩвБ†вАФвАШOh! my dear,вАЩ said IвБ†вАФwell, and just then came the note. A Miss HawkinsвБ†вАФthatвАЩs all I know. A Miss Hawkins of Bath. But, Mr.¬†Knightley, how could you possibly have heard it? for the very moment Mr.¬†Cole told Mrs.¬†Cole of it, she sat down and wrote to me. A Miss HawkinsвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬI was with Mr.¬†Cole on business an hour and a half ago. He had just read EltonвАЩs letter as I was shown in, and handed it to me directly.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell! that is quiteвБ†вАФI suppose there never was a piece of news more generally interesting. My dear sir, you really are too bountiful. My mother desires her very best compliments and regards, and a thousand thanks, and says you really quite oppress her.вАЭ + 

вАЬWe consider our Hartfield pork,вАЭ replied Mr.¬†WoodhouseвБ†вАФвАЬindeed it certainly is, so very superior to all other pork, that Emma and I cannot have a greater pleasure thanвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬOh! my dear sir, as my mother says, our friends are only too good to us. If ever there were people who, without having great wealth themselves, had everything they could wish for, I am sure it is us. We may well say that вАШour lot is cast in a goodly heritage.вАЩ Well, Mr.¬†Knightley, and so you actually saw the letter; wellвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬIt was shortвБ†вАФmerely to announceвБ†вАФbut cheerful, exulting, of course.вАЭвБ†вАФHere was a sly glance at Emma. вАЬHe had been so fortunate as toвБ†вАФI forget the precise wordsвБ†вАФone has no business to remember them. The information was, as you state, that he was going to be married to a Miss Hawkins. By his style, I should imagine it just settled.вАЭ + 

вАЬMr.¬†Elton going to be married!вАЭ said Emma, as soon as she could speak. вАЬHe will have everybodyвАЩs wishes for his happiness.вАЭ + 

вАЬHe is very young to settle,вАЭ was Mr.¬†WoodhouseвАЩs observation. вАЬHe had better not be in a hurry. He seemed to me very well off as he was. We were always glad to see him at Hartfield.вАЭ + 

вАЬA new neighbour for us all, Miss Woodhouse!вАЭ said Miss Bates, joyfully; вАЬmy mother is so pleased!вБ†вАФshe says she cannot bear to have the poor old Vicarage without a mistress. This is great news, indeed. Jane, you have never seen Mr.¬†Elton!вБ†вАФno wonder that you have such a curiosity to see him.вАЭ + 

JaneвАЩs curiosity did not appear of that absorbing nature as wholly to occupy her. + 

вАЬNoвБ†вАФI have never seen Mr.¬†Elton,вАЭ she replied, starting on this appeal; вАЬis heвБ†вАФis he a tall man?вАЭ + 

вАЬWho shall answer that question?вАЭ cried Emma. вАЬMy father would say вАШyes,вАЩ Mr.¬†Knightley вАШno;вАЩ and Miss Bates and I that he is just the happy medium. When you have been here a little longer, Miss Fairfax, you will understand that Mr.¬†Elton is the standard of perfection in Highbury, both in person and mind.вАЭ + 

вАЬVery true, Miss Woodhouse, so she will. He is the very best young manвБ†вАФBut, my dear Jane, if you remember, I told you yesterday he was precisely the height of Mr.¬†Perry. Miss HawkinsвБ†вАФI dare say, an excellent young woman. His extreme attention to my motherвБ†вАФwanting her to sit in the vicarage pew, that she might hear the better, for my mother is a little deaf, you knowвБ†вАФit is not much, but she does not hear quite quick. Jane says that Colonel Campbell is a little deaf. He fancied bathing might be good for itвБ†вАФthe warm bathвБ†вАФbut she says it did him no lasting benefit. Colonel Campbell, you know, is quite our angel. And Mr.¬†Dixon seems a very charming young man, quite worthy of him. It is such a happiness when good people get togetherвБ†вАФand they always do. Now, here will be Mr.¬†Elton and Miss Hawkins; and there are the Coles, such very good people; and the PerrysвБ†вАФI suppose there never was a happier or a better couple than Mr.¬†and Mrs.¬†Perry. I say, sir,вАЭ turning to Mr.¬†Woodhouse, вАЬI think there are few places with such society as Highbury. I always say, we are quite blessed in our neighbours.вБ†вАФMy dear sir, if there is one thing my mother loves better than another, it is porkвБ†вАФa roast loin of porkвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬAs to who, or what Miss Hawkins is, or how long he has been acquainted with her,вАЭ said Emma, вАЬnothing I suppose can be known. One feels that it cannot be a very long acquaintance. He has been gone only four weeks.вАЭ + 

Nobody had any information to give; and, after a few more wonderings, Emma said, + 

вАЬYou are silent, Miss FairfaxвБ†вАФbut I hope you mean to take an interest in this news. You, who have been hearing and seeing so much of late on these subjects, who must have been so deep in the business on Miss CampbellвАЩs accountвБ†вАФwe shall not excuse your being indifferent about Mr.¬†Elton and Miss Hawkins.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhen I have seen Mr.¬†Elton,вАЭ replied Jane, вАЬI dare say I shall be interestedвБ†вАФbut I believe it requires that with me. And as it is some months since Miss Campbell married, the impression may be a little worn off.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, he has been gone just four weeks, as you observe, Miss Woodhouse,вАЭ said Miss Bates, вАЬfour weeks yesterday.вБ†вАФA Miss Hawkins!вБ†вАФWell, I had always rather fancied it would be some young lady hereabouts; not that I everвБ†вАФMrs.¬†Cole once whispered to meвБ†вАФbut I immediately said, вАШNo, Mr.¬†Elton is a most worthy young manвБ†вАФbutвАЩвБ†вАФIn short, I do not think I am particularly quick at those sort of discoveries. I do not pretend to it. What is before me, I see. At the same time, nobody could wonder if Mr.¬†Elton should have aspiredвБ†вАФMiss Woodhouse lets me chatter on, so good-humouredly. She knows I would not offend for the world. How does Miss Smith do? She seems quite recovered now. Have you heard from Mrs.¬†John Knightley lately? Oh! those dear little children. Jane, do you know I always fancy Mr.¬†Dixon like Mr.¬†John Knightley. I mean in personвБ†вАФtall, and with that sort of lookвБ†вАФand not very talkative.вАЭ + 

вАЬQuite wrong, my dear aunt; there is no likeness at all.вАЭ + 

вАЬVery odd! but one never does form a just idea of anybody beforehand. One takes up a notion, and runs away with it. Mr.¬†Dixon, you say, is not, strictly speaking, handsome?вАЭ + 

вАЬHandsome! Oh! noвБ†вАФfar from itвБ†вАФcertainly plain. I told you he was plain.вАЭ + 

вАЬMy dear, you said that Miss Campbell would not allow him to be plain, and that you yourselfвБ†вАФвАЭ + 

вАЬOh! as for me, my judgment is worth nothing. Where I have a regard, I always think a person well-looking. But I gave what I believed the general opinion, when I called him plain.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, my dear Jane, I believe we must be running away. The weather does not look well, and grandmama will be uneasy. You are too obliging, my dear Miss Woodhouse; but we really must take leave. This has been a most agreeable piece of news indeed. I shall just go round by Mrs.¬†ColeвАЩs; but I shall not stop three minutes: and, Jane, you had better go home directlyвБ†вАФI would not have you out in a shower!вБ†вАФWe think she is the better for Highbury already. Thank you, we do indeed. I shall not attempt calling on Mrs.¬†Goddard, for I really do not think she cares for anything but boiled pork: when we dress the leg it will be another thing. Good morning to you, my dear sir. Oh! Mr.¬†Knightley is coming too. Well, that is so very!вБ†вАФI am sure if Jane is tired, you will be so kind as to give her your arm.вБ†вАФMr.¬†Elton, and Miss Hawkins!вБ†вАФGood morning to you.вАЭ + 

Emma, alone with her father, had half her attention wanted by him while he lamented that young people would be in such a hurry to marryвБ†вАФand to marry strangers tooвБ†вАФand the other half she could give to her own view of the subject. It was to herself an amusing and a very welcome piece of news, as proving that Mr.¬†Elton could not have suffered long; but she was sorry for Harriet: Harriet must feel itвБ†вАФand all that she could hope was, by giving the first information herself, to save her from hearing it abruptly from others. It was now about the time that she was likely to call. If she were to meet Miss Bates in her way!вБ†вАФand upon its beginning to rain, Emma was obliged to expect that the weather would be detaining her at Mrs.¬†GoddardвАЩs, and that the intelligence would undoubtedly rush upon her without preparation. + 

The shower was heavy, but short; and it had not been over five minutes, when in came Harriet, with just the heated, agitated look which hurrying thither with a full heart was likely to give; and the вАЬOh! Miss Woodhouse, what do you think has happened!вАЭ which instantly burst forth, had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation. As the blow was given, Emma felt that she could not now show greater kindness than in listening; and Harriet, unchecked, ran eagerly through what she had to tell. вАЬShe had set out from Mrs.¬†GoddardвАЩs half an hour agoвБ†вАФshe had been afraid it would rainвБ†вАФshe had been afraid it would pour down every momentвБ†вАФbut she thought she might get to Hartfield firstвБ†вАФshe had hurried on as fast as possible; but then, as she was passing by the house where a young woman was making up a gown for her, she thought she would just step in and see how it went on; and though she did not seem to stay half a moment there, soon after she came out it began to rain, and she did not know what to do; so she ran on directly, as fast as she could, and took shelter at FordвАЩs.вАЭвБ†вАФFordвАЩs was the principal woollen-draper, linen-draper, and haberdasherвАЩs shop united; the shop first in size and fashion in the place.вБ†вАФвАЬAnd so, there she had set, without an idea of anything in the world, full ten minutes, perhapsвБ†вАФwhen, all of a sudden, who should come inвБ†вАФto be sure it was so very odd!вБ†вАФbut they always dealt at FordвАЩsвБ†вАФwho should come in, but Elizabeth Martin and her brother!вБ†вАФDear Miss Woodhouse! only think. I thought I should have fainted. I did not know what to do. I was sitting near the doorвБ†вАФElizabeth saw me directly; but he did not; he was busy with the umbrella. I am sure she saw me, but she looked away directly, and took no notice; and they both went to quite the farther end of the shop; and I kept sitting near the door!вБ†вАФOh! dear; I was so miserable! I am sure I must have been as white as my gown. I could not go away you know, because of the rain; but I did so wish myself anywhere in the world but there.вБ†вАФOh! dear, Miss WoodhouseвБ†вАФwell, at last, I fancy, he looked round and saw me; for instead of going on with her buyings, they began whispering to one another. I am sure they were talking of me; and I could not help thinking that he was persuading her to speak to meвБ†вАФ(do you think he was, Miss Woodhouse?)вБ†вАФfor presently she came forwardвБ†вАФcame quite up to me, and asked me how I did, and seemed ready to shake hands, if I would. She did not do any of it in the same way that she used; I could see she was altered; but, however, she seemed to try to be very friendly, and we shook hands, and stood talking some time; but I know no more what I saidвБ†вАФI was in such a tremble!вБ†вАФI remember she said she was sorry we never met now; which I thought almost too kind! Dear, Miss Woodhouse, I was absolutely miserable! By that time, it was beginning to hold up, and I was determined that nothing should stop me from getting awayвБ†вАФand thenвБ†вАФonly think!вБ†вАФI found he was coming up towards me tooвБ†вАФslowly you know, and as if he did not quite know what to do; and so he came and spoke, and I answeredвБ†вАФand I stood for a minute, feeling dreadfully, you know, one canвАЩt tell how; and then I took courage, and said it did not rain, and I must go; and so off I set; and I had not got three yards from the door, when he came after me, only to say, if I was going to Hartfield, he thought I had much better go round by Mr.¬†ColeвАЩs stables, for I should find the near way quite floated by this rain. Oh! dear, I thought it would have been the death of me! So I said, I was very much obliged to him: you know I could not do less; and then he went back to Elizabeth, and I came round by the stablesвБ†вАФI believe I didвБ†вАФbut I hardly knew where I was, or anything about it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, I would rather done anything than have it happen: and yet, you know, there was a sort of satisfaction in seeing him behave so pleasantly and so kindly. And Elizabeth, too. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, do talk to me and make me comfortable again.вАЭ + 

Very sincerely did Emma wish to do so; but it was not immediately in her power. She was obliged to stop and think. She was not thoroughly comfortable herself. The young manвАЩs conduct, and his sisterвАЩs, seemed the result of real feeling, and she could not but pity them. As Harriet described it, there had been an interesting mixture of wounded affection and genuine delicacy in their behaviour. But she had believed them to be well-meaning, worthy people before; and what difference did this make in the evils of the connection? It was folly to be disturbed by it. Of course, he must be sorry to lose herвБ†вАФthey must be all sorry. Ambition, as well as love, had probably been mortified. They might all have hoped to rise by HarrietвАЩs acquaintance: and besides, what was the value of HarrietвАЩs description?вБ†вАФSo easily pleasedвБ†вАФso little discerning;вБ†вАФwhat signified her praise? + 

She exerted herself, and did try to make her comfortable, by considering all that had passed as a mere trifle, and quite unworthy of being dwelt on, + 

вАЬIt might be distressing, for the moment,вАЭ said she; вАЬbut you seem to have behaved extremely well; and it is overвБ†вАФand may neverвБ†вАФcan never, as a first meeting, occur again, and therefore you need not think about it.вАЭ + 

Harriet said, вАЬvery true,вАЭ and she вАЬwould not think about it;вАЭ but still she talked of itвБ†вАФstill she could talk of nothing else; and Emma, at last, in order to put the Martins out of her head, was obliged to hurry on the news, which she had meant to give with so much tender caution; hardly knowing herself whether to rejoice or be angry, ashamed or only amused, at such a state of mind in poor HarrietвБ†вАФsuch a conclusion of Mr.¬†EltonвАЩs importance with her! + 

Mr.¬†EltonвАЩs rights, however, gradually revived. Though she did not feel the first intelligence as she might have done the day before, or an hour before, its interest soon increased; and before their first conversation was over, she had talked herself into all the sensations of curiosity, wonder and regret, pain and pleasure, as to this fortunate Miss Hawkins, which could conduce to place the Martins under proper subordination in her fancy. + 

Emma learned to be rather glad that there had been such a meeting. It had been serviceable in deadening the first shock, without retaining any influence to alarm. As Harriet now lived, the Martins could not get at her, without seeking her, where hitherto they had wanted either the courage or the condescension to seek her; for since her refusal of the brother, the sisters never had been at Mrs.¬†GoddardвАЩs; and a twelvemonth might pass without their being thrown together again, with any necessity, or even any power of speech. + 