Chapter II

No m isfortune occurred, again to prevent the ball. The day approached, the day arrived; and after a m orning of som e anxious watching, Frank Churchill, in all the certainty of his own self, reached Randalls before dinner, and every thing was safe.

No second m eeting had there y et been between him and Em m a. The room at the Crown was to witness it; – but it would be better than a com m on m eeting in a crowd. Mr. Weston had been so very earnest in his entreaties for her arriving there as soon as possible after them selves, for the purpose of taking her opinion as to the propriety and com fort of the room s before any other persons cam e, that she could not refuse him , and m ust therefore spend som e quiet interval in the y oung m an’s com pany. She was to convey Harriet, and they drove to the Crown in good tim e, the Randalls party j ust sufficiently before them .

Frank Churchill seem ed to have been on the watch; and though he did not say m uch, his ey es declared that he m eant to have a delightful evening. They all walked about together, to see that every thing was as it should be; and within a few m inutes were j oined by the contents of another carriage, which Em m a could not hear the sound of at first, without great surprize. “So unreasonably early !” she was going to exclaim ; but she presently found that it was a fam ily of old friends, who were com ing, like herself, by particular desire, to help Mr. Weston’s j udgm ent; and they were so very closely followed by another carriage of cousins, who had been entreated to com e early with the sam e distinguishing earnestness, on the sam e errand, that it seem ed as if half the com pany m ight soon be collected together for the purpose of preparatory inspection.

Em m a perceived that her taste was not the only taste on which Mr.

Weston depended, and felt, that to be the favourite and intim ate of a m an who had so m any intim ates and confidantes, was not the very first distinction in the scale of vanity. She liked his open m anners, but a little less of open-heartedness would have m ade him a higher character. – General benevolence, but not general friendship, m ade a m an what he ought to be. – She could fancy such a m an. The whole party walked about, and looked, and praised again; and then, having nothing else to do, form ed a sort of half-circle round the fire, to observe in their various m odes, till other subj ects were started, that, though May, a fire in the evening was still very pleasant.

Em m a found that it was not Mr. Weston’s fault that the num ber of privy councillors was not y et larger. They had stopped at Mrs. Bates’s door to offer the use of their carriage, but the aunt and niece were to be brought by the Eltons.

Frank was standing by her, but not steadily ; there was a restlessness, which shewed a m ind not at ease. He was looking about, he was going to the door, he was watching for the sound of other carriages, – im patient to begin, or afraid of being alway s near her.

Mrs. Elton was spoken of. “I think she m ust be here soon,” said he. “I have a great curiosity to see Mrs. Elton, I have heard so m uch of her. It cannot be long, I think, before she com es.”

A carriage was heard. He was on the m ove im m ediately ; but com ing back, said,

“I am forgetting that I am not acquainted with her. I have never seen either Mr. or Mrs. Elton. I have no business to put m y self forward.”

Mr. and Mrs. Elton appeared; and all the sm iles and the proprieties passed.

“But Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax!” said Mr. Weston, looking about. “We thought y ou were to bring them .”

The m istake had been slight. The carriage was sent for them now.

Em m a longed to know what Frank’s first opinion of Mrs. Elton m ight be; how he was affected by the studied elegance of her dress, and her sm iles of graciousness. He was im m ediately qualify ing him self to form an opinion, by giving her very proper attention, after the introduction had passed.

In a few m inutes the carriage returned. – Som ebody talked of rain. – “I will see that there are um brellas, sir,” said Frank to his father: “Miss Bates m ust not be forgotten:” and away he went. Mr. Weston was following; but Mrs. Elton detained him , to gratify him by her opinion of his son; and so briskly did she begin, that the y oung m an him self, though by no m eans m oving slowly, could hardly be out of hearing.

“A very fine y oung m an indeed, Mr. Weston. You know I candidly told y ou I should form m y own opinion; and I am happy to say that I am extrem ely pleased with him . – You m ay believe m e. I never com plim ent. I think him a very handsom e y oung m an, and his m anners are precisely what I like and approve –

so truly the gentlem an, without the least conceit or puppy ism . You m ust know I have a vast dislike to puppies – quite a horror of them . They were never tolerated at Maple Grove. Neither Mr. Suckling nor m e had ever any patience with them ; and we used som etim es to say very cutting things! Selina, who is m ild alm ost to a fault, bore with them m uch better.”

While she talked of his son, Mr. Weston’s attention was chained; but

when she got to Maple Grove, he could recollect that there were ladies j ust arriving to be attended to, and with happy sm iles m ust hurry away.

Mrs. Elton turned to Mrs. Weston. “I have no doubt of its being our carriage with Miss Bates and Jane. Our coachm an and horses are so extrem ely expeditious! – I believe we drive faster than any body. – What a pleasure it is to send one’s carriage for a friend! – I understand y ou were so kind as to offer, but another tim e it will be quite unnecessary. You m ay be very sure I shall alway s take care of them .”

Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax, escorted by the two gentlem en, walked into the room ; and Mrs. Elton seem ed to think it as m uch her duty as Mrs.

Weston’s to receive them . Her gestures and m ovem ents m ight be understood by any one who looked on like Em m a; but her words, every body ’s words, were soon lost under the incessant flow of Miss Bates, who cam e in talking, and had not finished her speech under m any m inutes after her being adm itted into the circle at the fire. As the door opened she was heard,

“So very obliging of y ou! – No rain at all. Nothing to signify. I do not care for m y self. Quite thick shoes. And Jane declares – Well! – (as soon as she was within the door) Well! This is brilliant indeed! – This is adm irable! –

Excellently contrived, upon m y word. Nothing wanting. Could not have im agined it. – So well lighted up! – Jane, Jane, look! – did y ou ever see any thing? Oh! Mr.

Weston, y ou m ust really have had Aladdin’s lam p. Good Mrs. Stokes would not know her own room again. I saw her as I cam e in; she was standing in the entrance. ‘Oh! Mrs. Stokes,’ said I – but I had not tim e for m ore.” She was now m et by Mrs. Weston. – “Very well, I thank y ou, m a’am . I hope y ou are quite well. Very happy to hear it. So afraid y ou m ight have a headache! – seeing y ou pass by so often, and knowing how m uch trouble y ou m ust have. Delighted to hear it indeed. Ah! dear Mrs. Elton, so obliged to y ou for the carriage! – excellent tim e. Jane and I quite ready. Did not keep the horses a m om ent. Most com fortable carriage. – Oh! and I am sure our thanks are due to y ou, Mrs.

Weston, on that score. Mrs. Elton had m ost kindly sent Jane a note, or we should have been. – But two such offers in one day ! – Never were such neighbours. I said to m y m other, ‘Upon m y word, m a’am – .’ Thank y ou, m y m other is rem arkably well. Gone to Mr. Woodhouse’s. I m ade her take her shawl – for the evenings are not warm – her large new shawl – Mrs. Dixon’s wedding-present. –

So kind of her to think of m y m other! Bought at Wey m outh, y ou know – Mr.

Dixon’s choice. There were three others, Jane say s, which they hesitated about som e tim e. Colonel Cam pbell rather preferred an olive. My dear Jane, are y ou sure y ou did not wet y our feet? – It was but a drop or two, but I am so afraid: –

but Mr. Frank Churchill was so extrem ely – and there was a m at to step upon – I shall never forget his extrem e politeness. – Oh! Mr. Frank Churchill, I m ust tell

y ou m y m other’s spectacles have never been in fault since; the rivet never cam e out again. My m other often talks of y our good-nature. Does not she, Jane? – Do not we often talk of Mr. Frank Churchill? – Ah! here’s Miss Woodhouse. – Dear Miss Woodhouse, how do y ou do? – Very well I thank y ou, quite well. This is m eeting quite in fairy -land! – Such a transform ation! – Must not com plim ent, I know (ey eing Em m a m ost com placently ) – that would be rude – but upon m y word, Miss Woodhouse, y ou do look – how do y ou like Jane’s hair? – You are a j udge. – She did it all herself. Quite wonderful how she does her hair! – No hairdresser from London I think could. – Ah! Dr. Hughes I declare – and Mrs.

Hughes. Must go and speak to Dr. and Mrs. Hughes for a m om ent. – How do y ou do? How do y ou do? – Very well, I thank y ou. This is delightful, is not it? –

Where’s dear Mr. Richard? – Oh! there he is. Don’t disturb him . Much better em ploy ed talking to the y oung ladies. How do y ou do, Mr. Richard? – I saw y ou the other day as y ou rode through the town – Mrs. Otway, I protest! – and good Mr. Otway, and Miss Otway and Miss Caroline. – Such a host of friends! – and Mr. George and Mr. Arthur! – How do y ou do? How do y ou all do? – Quite well, I am m uch obliged to y ou. Never better. – Don’t I hear another carriage? – Who can this be? – very likely the worthy Coles. – Upon m y word, this is charm ing to be standing about am ong such friends! And such a noble fire! – I am quite roasted. No coffee, I thank y ou, for m e – never take coffee. – A little tea if y ou please, sir, by and by e, – no hurry – Oh! here it com es. Every thing so good!”

Frank Churchill returned to his station by Em m a; and as soon as Miss Bates was quiet, she found herself necessarily overhearing the discourse of Mrs.

Elton and Miss Fairfax, who were standing a little way behind her. – He was thoughtful. Whether he were overhearing too, she could not determ ine. After a good m any com plim ents to Jane on her dress and look, com plim ents very quietly and properly taken, Mrs. Elton was evidently wanting to be com plim ented herself

– and it was, “How do y ou like m y gown? – How do y ou like m y trim m ing? –

How has Wright done m y hair?” – with m any other relative questions, all answered with patient politeness. Mrs. Elton then said, “Nobody can think less of dress in general than I do – but upon such an occasion as this, when every body ’s ey es are so m uch upon m e, and in com plim ent to the Westons – who I have no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do m e honour – I would not wish to be inferior to others. And I see very few pearls in the room except m ine. – So Frank Churchill is a capital dancer, I understand. – We shall see if our sty les suit. – A fine y oung m an certainly is Frank Churchill. I like him very well.”

At this m om ent Frank began talking so vigorously, that Em m a could not but im agine he had overheard his own praises, and did not want to hear m ore; –

and the voices of the ladies were drowned for a while, till another suspension brought Mrs. Elton’s tones again distinctly forward. – Mr. Elton had j ust j oined

them , and his wife was exclaim ing, “Oh! y ou have found us out at last, have y ou, in our seclusion? – I was this m om ent telling Jane, I thought y ou would begin to be im patient for tidings of us.”

“Jane!” – repeated Frank Churchill, with a look of surprize and displeasure. – “That is easy – but Miss Fairfax does not disapprove it, I suppose.”

“How do y ou like Mrs. Elton?” said Em m a in a whisper.

“Not at all.”

“You are ungrateful.”

“Ungrateful! – What do y ou m ean?” Then changing from a frown to a sm ile – “No, do not tell m e – I do not want to know what y ou m ean. – Where is m y father? – When are we to begin dancing?”

Em m a could hardly understand him ; he seem ed in an odd hum our. He walked off to find his father, but was quickly back again with both Mr. and Mrs.

Weston. He had m et with them in a little perplexity, which m ust be laid before Em m a. It had j ust occurred to Mrs. Weston that Mrs. Elton m ust be asked to begin the ball; that she would expect it; which interfered with all their wishes of giving Em m a that distinction. – Em m a heard the sad truth with fortitude.

“And what are we to do for a proper partner for her?” said Mr. Weston.

“She will think Frank ought to ask her.”

Frank turned instantly to Em m a, to claim her form er prom ise; and boasted him self an engaged m an, which his father looked his m ost perfect approbation of – and it then appeared that Mrs. Weston was wanting him to dance with Mrs. Elton him self, and that their business was to help to persuade him into it, which was done pretty soon. – Mr. Weston and Mrs. Elton led the way, Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse followed. Em m a m ust subm it to stand second to Mrs. Elton, though she had alway s considered the ball as peculiarly for her. It was alm ost enough to m ake her think of m arry ing. Mrs. Elton had undoubtedly the advantage, at this tim e, in vanity com pletely gratified; for though she had intended to begin with Frank Churchill, she could not lose by the change. Mr.

Weston m ight be his son’s superior. – In spite of this little rub, however, Em m a was sm iling with enj oy m ent, delighted to see the respectable length of the set as it was form ing, and to feel that she had so m any hours of unusual festivity before her. – She was m ore disturbed by Mr. Knightley ’s not dancing than by any thing else. – There he was, am ong the standers-by, where he ought not to be; he ought to be dancing, – not classing him self with the husbands, and fathers, and whist-

play ers, who were pretending to feel an interest in the dance till their rubbers were m ade up, – so y oung as he looked! – He could not have appeared to greater advantage perhaps any where, than where he had placed him self. His tall, firm , upright figure, am ong the bulky form s and stooping shoulders of the elderly m en, was such as Em m a felt m ust draw every body ’s ey es; and, excepting her own partner, there was not one am ong the whole row of y oung m en who could be com pared with him . – He m oved a few steps nearer, and those few steps were enough to prove in how gentlem anlike a m anner, with what natural grace, he m ust have danced, would he but take the trouble. – Whenever she caught his ey e, she forced him to sm ile; but in general he was looking grave. She wished he could love a ballroom better, and could like Frank Churchill better. – He seem ed often observing her. She m ust not flatter herself that he thought of her dancing, but if he were criticising her behaviour, she did not feel afraid. There was nothing like flirtation between her and her partner. They seem ed m ore like cheerful, easy friends, than lovers. That Frank Churchill thought less of her than he had done, was indubitable.

The ball proceeded pleasantly. The anxious cares, the incessant attentions of Mrs. Weston, were not thrown away. Every body seem ed happy ; and the praise of being a delightful ball, which is seldom bestowed till after a ball has ceased to be, was repeatedly given in the very beginning of the existence of this. Of very im portant, very recordable events, it was not m ore productive than such m eetings usually are. There was one, however, which Em m a thought som ething of. – The two last dances before supper were begun, and Harriet had no partner; – the only y oung lady sitting down; – and so equal had been hitherto the num ber of dancers, that how there could be any one disengaged was the wonder! – But Em m a’s wonder lessened soon afterwards, on seeing Mr. Elton sauntering about. He would not ask Harriet to dance if it were possible to be avoided: she was sure he would not – and she was expecting him every m om ent to escape into the card-room .

Escape, however, was not his plan. He cam e to the part of the room where the sitters-by were collected, spoke to som e, and walked about in front of them , as if to shew his liberty, and his resolution of m aintaining it. He did not om it being som etim es directly before Miss Sm ith, or speaking to those who were close to her. – Em m a saw it. She was not y et dancing; she was working her way up from the bottom , and had therefore leisure to look around, and by only turning her head a little she saw it all. When she was half-way up the set, the whole group were exactly behind her, and she would no longer allow her ey es to watch; but Mr. Elton was so near, that she heard every sy llable of a dialogue which j ust then took place between him and Mrs. Weston; and she perceived that his wife, who was standing im m ediately above her, was not only listening also, but even

encouraging him by significant glances. – The kind-hearted, gentle Mrs. Weston had left her seat to j oin him and say, “Do not y ou dance, Mr. Elton?” to which his prom pt reply was, “Most readily, Mrs. Weston, if y ou will dance with m e.”

“Me! – oh! no – I would get y ou a better partner than m y self. I am no dancer.”

“If Mrs. Gilbert wishes to dance,” said he, “I shall have great pleasure, I am sure – for, though beginning to feel m y self rather an old m arried m an, and that m y dancing day s are over, it would give m e very great pleasure at any tim e to stand up with an old friend like Mrs. Gilbert.”

“Mrs. Gilbert does not m ean to dance, but there is a y oung lady disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing – Miss Sm ith.” “Miss Sm ith! – oh! – I had not observed. – You are extrem ely obliging – and if I were not an old m arried m an. – But m y dancing day s are over, Mrs. Weston. You will excuse m e. Any thing else I should be m ost happy to do, at y our com m and – but m y dancing day s are over.”

Mrs. Weston said no m ore; and Em m a could im agine with what surprize and m ortification she m ust be returning to her seat. This was Mr. Elton! the am iable, obliging, gentle Mr. Elton. – She looked round for a m om ent; he had j oined Mr. Knightley at a little distance, and was arranging him self for settled conversation, while sm iles of high glee passed between him and his wife.

She would not look again. Her heart was in a glow, and she feared her face m ight be as hot.

In another m om ent a happier sight caught her; – Mr. Knightley leading Harriet to the set! – Never had she been m ore surprized, seldom m ore delighted, than at that instant. She was all pleasure and gratitude, both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him ; and though too distant for speech, her countenance said m uch, as soon as she could catch his ey e again.

His dancing proved to be j ust what she had believed it, extrem ely good; and Harriet would have seem ed alm ost too lucky, if it had not been for the cruel state of things before, and for the very com plete enj oy m ent and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features announced. It was not thrown away on her, she bounded higher than ever, flew farther down the m iddle, and was in a continual course of sm iles.

Mr. Elton had retreated into the card-room , looking (Em m a trusted) very foolish. She did not think he was quite so hardened as his wife, though growing very like her; – she spoke som e of her feelings, by observing audibly to her partner,

“Knightley has taken pity on poor little Miss Sm ith! – Very good-natured, I declare.”

Supper was announced. The m ove began; and Miss Bates m ight be heard from that m om ent, without interruption, till her being seated at table and taking up her spoon.

“Jane, Jane, m y dear Jane, where are y ou? – Here is y our tippet. Mrs.

Weston begs y ou to put on y our tippet. She say s she is afraid there will be draughts in the passage, though every thing has been done – One door nailed up –

Quantities of m atting – My dear Jane, indeed y ou m ust. Mr. Churchill, oh! y ou are too obliging! How well y ou put it on! – so gratified! Excellent dancing indeed!

– Yes, m y dear, I ran hom e, as I said I should, to help grandm am a to bed, and got back again, and nobody m issed m e. – I set off without say ing a word, j ust as I told y ou. Grandm am a was quite well, had a charm ing evening with Mr.

Woodhouse, a vast deal of chat, and backgam m on. – Tea was m ade downstairs, biscuits and baked apples and wine before she cam e away : am azing luck in som e of her throws: and she inquired a great deal about y ou, how y ou were am used, and who were y our partners. ‘Oh!’ said I, ‘I shall not forestall Jane; I left her dancing with Mr. George Otway ; she will love to tell y ou all about it herself to-m orrow: her first partner was Mr. Elton, I do not know who will ask her next, perhaps Mr. William Cox.’ My dear sir, y ou are too obliging. – Is there nobody y ou would not rather? – I am not helpless. Sir, y ou are m ost kind. Upon m y word, Jane on one arm , and m e on the other! – Stop, stop, let us stand a little back, Mrs.

Elton is going; dear Mrs. Elton, how elegant she looks! – Beautiful lace! – Now we all follow in her train. Quite the queen of the evening! – Well, here we are at the passage. Two steps, Jane, take care of the two steps. Oh! no, there is but one. Well, I was persuaded there were two. How very odd! I was convinced there were two, and there is but one. I never saw any thing equal to the com fort and sty le –

Candles every where. – I was telling y ou of y our grandm am a, Jane, – There was a little disappointm ent. – The baked apples and biscuits, excellent in their way, y ou know; but there was a delicate fricassee of sweetbread and som e asparagus brought in at first, and good Mr. Woodhouse, not thinking the asparagus quite boiled enough, sent it all out again. Now there is nothing grandm am a loves better than sweetbread and asparagus – so she was rather disappointed, but we agreed we would not speak of it to any body, for fear of its getting round to dear Miss Woodhouse, who would be so very m uch concerned! – Well, this is brilliant! I am all am azem ent! could not have supposed any thing! – Such elegance and profusion! – I have seen nothing like it since – Well, where shall we sit? where shall we sit? Any where, so that Jane is not in a draught. Where I sit is of no consequence. Oh! do y ou recom m end this side? – Well, I am sure, Mr. Churchill

– only it seem s too good – but j ust as y ou please. What y ou direct in this house

cannot be wrong. Dear Jane, how shall we ever recollect half the dishes for grandm am a? Soup too! Bless m e! I should not be helped so soon, but it sm ells m ost excellent, and I cannot help beginning.”

Em m a had no opportunity of speaking to Mr. Knightley till after supper; but, when they were all in the ballroom again, her ey es invited him irresistibly to com e to her and be thanked. He was warm in his reprobation of Mr. Elton’s conduct; it had been unpardonable rudeness; and Mrs. Elton’s looks also received the due share of censure.

“They aim ed at wounding m ore than Harriet,” said he. “Em m a, why is it that they are y our enem ies?”

He looked with sm iling penetration; and, on receiving no answer, added,

“She ought not to be angry with y ou, I suspect, whatever he m ay be. – To that surm ise, y ou say nothing, of course; but confess, Em m a, that y ou did want him to m arry Harriet.”

“I did,” replied Em m a, “and they cannot forgive m e.”

He shook his head; but there was a sm ile of indulgence with it, and he only said,

“I shall not scold y ou. I leave y ou to y our own reflections.”

“Can y ou trust m e with such flatterers? – Does m y vain spirit ever tell m e I am wrong?”

“Not y our vain spirit, but y our serious spirit. – If one leads y ou wrong, I am sure the other tells y ou of it.”

“I do own m y self to have been com pletely m istaken in Mr. Elton. There is a littleness about him which y ou discovered, and which I did not: and I was fully convinced of his being in love with Harriet. It was through a series of strange blunders!”

“And, in return for y our acknowledging so m uch, I will do y ou the j ustice to say, that y ou would have chosen for him better than he has chosen for him self. – Harriet Sm ith has som e first-rate qualities, which Mrs. Elton is totally without. An unpretending, single-m inded, artless girl – infinitely to be preferred by any m an of sense and taste to such a wom an as Mrs. Elton. I found Harriet m ore conversable than I expected.”