Chapter III

Em m a could not forgive her; – but as neither provocation nor resentm ent 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 m orning, being at Hartfield again on business with Mr.

Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole; not so openly as he m ight have done had her father been out of the room , but speaking plain enough to be very intelligible to Em m a. He had been used to think her unj ust to Jane, and had now great pleasure in m arking an im provem ent.

“A very pleasant evening,” he began, as soon as Mr. Woodhouse had been talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers swept away ; – “particularly pleasant. You and Miss Fairfax gave us som e very good m usic. I do not know a m ore luxurious state, sir, than sitting at one’s ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such y oung wom en; som etim es with m usic and som etim es with conversation. I am sure Miss Fairfax m ust have found the evening pleasant, Em m a. You left nothing undone. I was glad y ou m ade her play so m uch, for having no instrum ent at her grandm other’s, it m ust have been a real indulgence.”

“I am happy y ou approved,” said Em m a, sm iling; “but I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield.”

“No, m y dear,” said her father instantly ; “that I am sure y ou are not.

There is nobody half so attentive and civil as y ou are. If any thing, y ou are too attentive. The m uffin last night – if it had been handed round once, I think it would have been enough.”

“No,” said Mr. Knightley, nearly at the sam e tim e; “y ou are not often deficient; not often deficient either in m anner or com prehension. I think y ou understand m e, therefore.”

An arch look expressed – “I understand y ou well enough;” but she said only, “Miss Fairfax is reserved.”

“I alway s told y ou she was – a little; but y ou will soon overcom e all that part of her reserve which ought to be overcom e, all that has its foundation in diffidence. What arises from discretion m ust be honoured.”

“You think her diffident. I do not see it.”

“My dear Em m a,” said he, m oving from his chair into one close by her, “y ou are not going to tell m e, I hope, that y ou had not a pleasant evening.”

“Oh! no; I was pleased with m y own perseverance in asking questions; and am used to think how little inform ation I obtained.”

“I am disappointed,” was his only answer.

“I hope every body had a pleasant evening,” said Mr. Woodhouse, in his quiet way. “I had. Once, I felt the fire rather too m uch; but then I m oved back m y chair a little, a very little, and it did not disturb m e. Miss Bates was very chatty and good-hum oured, as she alway s 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 y oung lady, a very pretty and a very well-behaved y oung lady indeed. She m ust have found the evening agreeable, Mr. Knightley, because she had Em m a.”

“True, sir; and Em m a, because she had Miss Fairfax.”

Em m a saw his anxiety, and wishing to appease it, at least for the present, said, and with a sincerity which no one could question –

“She is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep one’s ey es from .

I am alway s watching her to adm ire; and I do pity her from m y heart.”

Mr. Knightley looked as if he were m ore gratified than he cared to express; and before he could m ake any reply, Mr. Woodhouse, whose thoughts were on the Bates’s, said –

“It is a great pity that their circum stances should be so confined! a great pity indeed! and I have often wished – but it is so little one can venture to do –

sm all, trifling presents, of any thing uncom m on – Now we have killed a porker, and Em m a thinks of sending them a loin or a leg; it is very sm all and delicate –

Hartfield pork is not like any other pork – but still it is pork – and, m y dear Em m a, unless one could be sure of their m aking it into steaks, nicely fried, as ours are fried, without the sm allest grease, and not roast it, for no stom ach can bear roast pork – I think we had better send the leg – do not y ou think so, m y dear?”

“My dear papa, I sent the whole hind-quarter. I knew y ou would wish it.

There will be the leg to be salted, y ou know, which is so very nice, and the loin to be dressed directly in any m anner they like.”

“That’s right, m y dear, very right. I had not thought of it before, but that is the best way. They m ust not over-salt the leg; and then, if it is not over-salted, and if it is very thoroughly boiled, j ust as Serle boils ours, and eaten very m oderately of, with a boiled turnip, and a little carrot or parsnip, I do not consider it unwholesom e.”

“Em m a,” said Mr. Knightley presently, “I have a piece of news for

y ou. You like news – and I heard an article in m y way hither that I think will interest y ou.”

“News! Oh! y es, I alway s like news. What is it? – why do y ou sm ile so?

– where did y ou hear it? – at Randalls?”

He had tim e only to say,

“No, not at Randalls; I have not been near Randalls,” 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 m om ent, and that not another sy llable of com m unication could rest with him .

“Oh! m y dear sir, how are y ou this m orning? My dear Miss Woodhouse

– I com e quite over-powered. Such a beautiful hind-quarter of pork! You are too bountiful! Have y ou heard the news? Mr. Elton is going to be m arried.”

Em m a had not had tim e even to think of Mr. Elton, and she was so com pletely surprized that she could not avoid a little start, and a little blush, at the sound.

“There is m y news: – I thought it would interest y ou,” said Mr.

Knightley, with a sm ile which im plied a conviction of som e part of what had passed between them .

“But where could y ou hear it?” cried Miss Bates. “Where could y ou possibly hear it, Mr. Knightley ? For it is not five m inutes since I received Mrs.

Cole’s note – no, it cannot be m ore than five – or at least ten – for I had got m y bonnet and spencer on, j ust ready to com e out – I was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork – Jane was standing in the passage – were not y ou, Jane? – for m y m other was so afraid that we had not any salting-pan large enough. So I said I would go down and see, and Jane said, ‘Shall I go down instead? for I think y ou have a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.’

– ‘Oh! m y dear,’ said I – well, and j ust then cam e the note. A Miss Hawkins –

that’s all I know. A Miss Hawkins of Bath. But, Mr. Knightley, how could y ou possibly have heard it? for the very m om ent Mr. Cole told Mrs. Cole of it, she sat down and wrote to m e. A Miss Hawkins – “

“I was with Mr. Cole on business an hour and a half ago. He had j ust read Elton’s letter as I was shewn in, and handed it to m e directly.”

“Well! that is quite – I suppose there never was a piece of news m ore generally interesting. My dear sir, y ou really are too bountiful. My m other desires her very best com plim ents and regards, and a thousand thanks, and say s

y ou really quite oppress her.”

“We consider our Hartfield pork,” replied Mr. Woodhouse – “indeed it certainly is, so very superior to all other pork, that Em m a and I cannot have a greater pleasure than – “

“Oh! m y dear sir, as m y m other say s, our friends are only too good to us. If ever there were people who, without having great wealth them selves, had every thing they could wish for, I am sure it is us. We m ay well say that ‘our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.’ Well, Mr. Knightley, and so y ou actually saw the letter; well – “

“It was short – m erely to announce – but cheerful, exulting, of course.”

– Here was a sly glance at Em m a. “He had been so fortunate as to – I forget the precise words – one has no business to rem em ber them . The inform ation was, as y ou state, that he was going to be m arried to a Miss Hawkins. By his sty le, I should im agine it j ust settled.”

“Mr. Elton going to be m arried!” said Em m a, as soon as she could speak. “He will have every body ’s wishes for his happiness.”

“He is very y oung to settle,” was Mr. Woodhouse’s observation. “He had better not be in a hurry. He seem ed to m e very well off as he was. We were alway s glad to see him at Hartfield.”

“A new neighbour for us all, Miss Woodhouse!” said Miss Bates, j oy fully ; “m y m other is so pleased! – she say s she cannot bear to have the poor old Vicarage without a m istress. This is great news, indeed. Jane, y ou have never seen Mr. Elton! – no wonder that y ou have such a curiosity to see him .”

Jane’s curiosity did not appear of that absorbing nature as wholly to occupy her.

“No – I have never seen Mr. Elton,” she replied, starting on this appeal;

“is he – is he a tall m an?”

“Who shall answer that question?” cried Em m a. “My father would say

‘y es,’ Mr. Knightley ‘no;’ and Miss Bates and I that he is j ust the happy m edium .

When y ou have been here a little longer, Miss Fairfax, y ou will understand that Mr. Elton is the standard of perfection in Highbury, both in person and m ind.”

“Very true, Miss Woodhouse, so she will. He is the very best y oung m an – But, m y dear Jane, if y ou rem em ber, I told y ou y esterday he was precisely the height of Mr. Perry. Miss Hawkins, – I dare say, an excellent y oung wom an. His extrem e attention to m y m other – wanting her to sit in the vicarage pew, that she m ight hear the better, for m y m other is a little deaf, y ou know – it is

not m uch, but she does not hear quite quick. Jane say s that Colonel Cam pbell is a little deaf. He fancied bathing m ight be good for it – the warm bath – but she say s it did him no lasting benefit. Colonel Cam pbell, y ou know, is quite our angel. And Mr. Dixon seem s a very charm ing y oung m an, quite worthy of him . It is such a happiness when good people get together – and they alway s do. Now, here will be Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins; and there are the Coles, such very good people; and the Perry s – I suppose there never was a happier or a better couple than Mr. and Mrs. Perry. I say, sir,” turning to Mr. Woodhouse, “I think there are few places with such society as Highbury. I alway s say, we are quite blessed in our neighbours. – My dear sir, if there is one thing m y m other loves better than another, it is pork – a roast loin of pork – “

“As to who, or what Miss Hawkins is, or how long he has been acquainted with her,” said Em m a, “nothing I suppose can be known. One feels that it cannot be a very long acquaintance. He has been gone only four weeks.”

Nobody had any inform ation to give; and, after a few m ore wonderings, Em m a said,

“You are silent, Miss Fairfax – but I hope y ou m ean to take an interest in this news. You, who have been hearing and seeing so m uch of late on these subj ects, who m ust have been so deep in the business on Miss Cam pbell’s account

– we shall not excuse y our being indifferent about Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins.”

“When I have seen Mr. Elton,” replied Jane, “I dare say I shall be interested – but I believe it requires that with m e. And as it is som e m onths since Miss Cam pbell m arried, the im pression m ay be a little worn off.”

“Yes, he has been gone j ust four weeks, as y ou observe, Miss Woodhouse,” said Miss Bates, “four weeks y esterday. – A Miss Hawkins! – Well, I had alway s rather fancied it would be som e y oung lady hereabouts; not that I ever – Mrs. Cole once whispered to m e – but I im m ediately said, ‘No, Mr. Elton is a m ost worthy y oung m an – but’ – In short, I do not think I am particularly quick at those sort of discoveries. I do not pretend to it. What is before m e, I see. At the sam e tim e, nobody could wonder if Mr. Elton should have aspired – Miss Woodhouse lets m e chatter on, so good-hum ouredly. She knows I would not offend for the world. How does Miss Sm ith do? She seem s quite recovered now.

Have y ou heard from Mrs. John Knightley lately ? Oh! those dear little children.

Jane, do y ou know I alway s fancy Mr. Dixon like Mr. John Knightley. I m ean in person – tall, and with that sort of look – and not very talkative.”

“Quite wrong, m y dear aunt; there is no likeness at all.”

“Very odd! but one never does form a j ust idea of any body

beforehand. One takes up a notion, and runs away with it. Mr. Dixon, y ou say, is not, strictly speaking, handsom e?”

“Handsom e! Oh! no – far from it – certainly plain. I told y ou he was plain.”

“My dear, y ou said that Miss Cam pbell would not allow him to be plain, and that y ou y ourself – “

“Oh! as for m e, m y j udgm ent is worth nothing. Where I have a regard, I alway s think a person well-looking. But I gave what I believed the general opinion, when I called him plain.”

“Well, m y dear Jane, I believe we m ust be running away. The weather does not look well, and grandm am a will be uneasy. You are too obliging, m y dear Miss Woodhouse; but we really m ust take leave. This has been a m ost agreeable piece of news indeed. I shall j ust go round by Mrs. Cole’s; but I shall not stop three m inutes: and, Jane, y ou had better go hom e directly – I would not have y ou out in a shower! – We think she is the better for Highbury already. Thank y ou, we do indeed. I shall not attem pt calling on Mrs. Goddard, for I really do not think she cares for any thing but boiled pork: when we dress the leg it will be another thing.

Good m orning to y ou, m y dear sir. Oh! Mr. Knightley is com ing too. Well, that is so very ! – I am sure if Jane is tired, y ou will be so kind as to give her y our arm . –

Mr. Elton, and Miss Hawkins! – Good m orning to y ou.”

Em m a, alone with her father, had half her attention wanted by him while he lam ented that y oung people would be in such a hurry to m arry – and to m arry strangers too – and the other half she could give to her own view of the subj ect. It was to herself an am using and a very welcom e piece of news, as proving that Mr. Elton could not have suffered long; but she was sorry for Harriet: Harriet m ust feel it – and all that she could hope was, by giving the first inform ation herself, to save her from hearing it abruptly from others. It was now about the tim e that she was likely to call. If she were to m eet Miss Bates in her way ! – and upon its beginning to rain, Em m a was obliged to expect that the weather would be detaining her at Mrs. Goddard’s, and that the intelligence would undoubtedly rush upon her without preparation.

The shower was heavy, but short; and it had not been over five m inutes, when in cam e Harriet, with j ust the heated, agitated look which hurry ing thither with a full heart was likely to give; and the “Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what do y ou think has happened!” which instantly burst forth, had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation. As the blow was given, Em m a felt that she could not now shew greater kindness than in listening; and Harriet, unchecked, ran eagerly through what she had to tell. “She had set out from Mrs. Goddard’s half an hour

ago – she had been afraid it would rain – she had been afraid it would pour down every m om ent – but she thought she m ight get to Hartfield first – she had hurried on as fast as possible; but then, as she was passing by the house where a y oung wom an was m aking up a gown for her, she thought she would j ust step in and see how it went on; and though she did not seem to stay half a m om ent there, soon after she cam e 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 Ford’s.” – Ford’s was the principal woollen-draper, linen-draper, and haberdasher’s shop united; the shop first in size and fashion in the place. – “And so, there she had set, without an idea of any thing in the world, full ten m inutes, perhaps – when, all of a sudden, who should com e in – to be sure it was so very odd! – but they alway s dealt at Ford’s – who should com e in, but Elizabeth Martin and her brother! – Dear Miss Woodhouse! only think. I thought I should have fainted. I did not know what to do. I was sitting near the door – Elizabeth saw m e directly ; but he did not; he was busy with the um brella. I am sure she saw m e, 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! – Oh! dear; I was so m iserable! I am sure I m ust have been as white as m y gown. I could not go away y ou know, because of the rain; but I did so wish m y self any where in the world but there. – Oh! dear, Miss Woodhouse – well, at last, I fancy, he looked round and saw m e; for instead of going on with her buy ings, they began whispering to one another. I am sure they were talking of m e; and I could not help thinking that he was persuading her to speak to m e – (do y ou think he was, Miss Woodhouse?) – for presently she cam e forward – cam e quite up to m e, and asked m e how I did, and seem ed ready to shake hands, if I would. She did not do any of it in the sam e way that she used; I could see she was altered; but, however, she seem ed to try to be very friendly, and we shook hands, and stood talking som e tim e; but I know no m ore what I said – I was in such a trem ble! – I rem em ber she said she was sorry we never m et now; which I thought alm ost too kind! Dear, Miss Woodhouse, I was absolutely m iserable! By that tim e, it was beginning to hold up, and I was determ ined that nothing should stop m e from getting away – and then – only think! – I found he was com ing up towards m e too – slowly y ou know, and as if he did not quite know what to do; and so he cam e and spoke, and I answered – and I stood for a m inute, feeling dreadfully, y ou know, one can’t tell how; and then I took courage, and said it did not rain, and I m ust go; and so off I set; and I had not got three y ards from the door, when he cam e after m e, only to say, if I was going to Hartfield, he thought I had m uch better go round by Mr. Cole’s stables, for I should find the near way quite floated by this rain. Oh! dear, I thought it would have been the death of m e!

So I said, I was very m uch obliged to him : y ou know I could not do less; and then he went back to Elizabeth, and I cam e round by the stables – I believe I did – but I hardly knew where I was, or any thing about it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, I would

rather done any thing than have it happen: and y et, y ou 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 m e and m ake m e com fortable again.”

Very sincerely did Em m a wish to do so; but it was not im m ediately in her power. She was obliged to stop and think. She was not thoroughly com fortable herself. The y oung m an’s conduct, and his sister’s, seem ed the result of real feeling, and she could not but pity them . As Harriet described it, there had been an interesting m ixture of wounded affection and genuine delicacy in their behaviour. But she had believed them to be well-m eaning, worthy people before; and what difference did this m ake in the evils of the connexion? It was folly to be disturbed by it. Of course, he m ust be sorry to lose her – they m ust be all sorry.

Am bition, as well as love, had probably been m ortified. They m ight all have hoped to rise by Harriet’s acquaintance: and besides, what was the value of Harriet’s description? – So easily pleased – so little discerning; – what signified her praise?

She exerted herself, and did try to m ake her com fortable, by considering all that had passed as a m ere trifle, and quite unworthy of being dwelt on,

“It m ight be distressing, for the m om ent,” said she; “but y ou seem to have behaved extrem ely well; and it is over – and m ay never – can never, as a first m eeting, occur again, and therefore y ou need not think about it.”

Harriet said, “very true,” and she “would not think about it;” but still she talked of it – still she could talk of nothing else; and Em m a, at last, in order to put the Martins out of her head, was obliged to hurry on the news, which she had m eant to give with so m uch tender caution; hardly knowing herself whether to rej oice or be angry, asham ed or only am used, at such a state of m ind in poor Harriet – such a conclusion of Mr. Elton’s im portance with her!

Mr. Elton’s rights, however, gradually revived. Though she did not feel the first intelligence as she m ight 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.

Em m a learned to be rather glad that there had been such a m eeting. 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.