Emma Read online

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  "but he is no complimenter; and though I well know him to have, likewise, a most brotherly affection for you, he is so far from making flourishes, that any other young woman might think him rather cool in her praise. But I am not afraid of your seeing what he writes. "

  "He writes like a sensible man," replied Emma, when she had read the letter. "I honour his sincerity. It is very plain that he considers the good fortune of the engagement as all on my side, but that he is not without hope of my growing, in time, as worthy of your affection, as you think me already. Had he said any thing to bear a different construction, I should not have believed him. "

  "My Emma, he means no such thing. He only means-"

  "He and I should differ very little in our estimation of the two," interrupted she, with a sort of serious smile-"much less, perhaps, than he is aware of, if we could enter without ceremony or reserve on the subject. "

  "Emma, my dear Emma-"

  "Oh!" she cried with more thorough gaiety, "if you fancy your brother does not do me justice, only wait till my dear father is in the secret, and hear his opinion. Depend upon it, he will be much farther from doing you justice. He will think all the happiness, all the advantage, on your side of the question; all the merit on mine. I wish I may not sink into `poor Emma with him at once. -His tender compassion towards oppressed worth can go no farther. "

  "Ah!" he cried, "I wish your father might be half as easily convinced as John will be, of our having every right that equal worth can give, to be happy together. I am amused by one part of Johns letter-did you notice it?-where he says, that my information did not take him wholly by surprize, that he was rather in expectation of hearing something of the kind. "

  "If I understand your brother, he only means so far as your having some thoughts of marrying. He had no idea of me. He seems perfectly unprepared for that. "

  "Yes, yes-but I am amused that he should have seen so far into my feelings. What has he been judging by?-I am not conscious of any difference in my spirits or conversation that could prepare him at this time for my marrying any more than at another. -But it was so, I suppose. I dare say there was a difference when I was staying with them the other day. I believe I did not play with the children quite so much as usual. I remember one evening the poor boys saying, `Uncle seems always tired now. "

  The time was coming when the news must spread farther, and other persons reception of it tried. As soon as Mrs. Weston was sufficiently recovered to admit Mr. Woodhouses visits, Emma having it in view that her gentle reasonings should be employed in the cause, resolved first to announce it at home, and then at Randalls. -But how to break it to her father at last!-She had bound herself to do it, in such an hour of Mr. Knightleys absence, or when it came to the point her heart would have failed her, and she must have put it off; but Mr. Knightley was to come at such a time, and follow up the beginning she was to make. -She was forced to speak, and to speak cheerfully too. She must not make it a more decided subject of misery to him, by a melancholy tone herself.

  She must not appear to think it a misfortune. -With all the spirits she could command, she prepared him first for something strange, and then, in a few words, said, that if his consent and approbation could be obtained-which, she trusted, would be attended with no difficulty, since it was a plan to promote the happiness of all-she and Mr. Knightley meant to marry; by which means Hartfield would receive the constant addition of that persons company whom she knew he loved, next to his daughters and Mrs. Weston, best in the world.

  Poor man!-it was at first a considerable shock to him, and he tried earnestly to dissuade her from it. She was reminded, more than once, of having always said she would never marry, and assured that it would be a great deal better for her to remain single; and told of poor Isabella, and poor Miss Taylor. -But it would not do. Emma hung about him affectionately, and smiled, and said it must be so; and that he must not class her with Isabella and Mrs. Weston, whose marriages taking them from Hartfield, had, indeed, made a melancholy change: but she was not going from Hartfield; she should be always there; she was introducing no change in their numbers or their comforts but for the better; and she was very sure that he would be a great deal the happier for having Mr. Knightley always at hand, when he were once got used to the idea. -Did he not love Mr. Knightley very much?-He would not deny that he did, she was sure. -Whom did he ever want to consult on business but Mr. Knightley?-Who was so useful to him, who so ready to write his letters, who so glad to assist him?-Who so cheerful, so attentive, so attached to him?-Would not he like to have him always on the spot?-Yes. That was all very true.

  Mr. Knightley could not be there too often; he should be glad to see him every day;-but they did see him every day as it was. -Why could not they go on as they had done?

  Mr. Woodhouse could not be soon reconciled; but the worst was overcome, the idea was given; time and continual repetition must do the rest. -To Emmas entreaties and assurances succeeded Mr. Knightleys, whose fond praise of her gave the subject even a kind of welcome; and he was soon used to be talked to by each, on every fair occasion. -They had all the assistance which Isabella could give, by letters of the strongest approbation; and Mrs. Weston was ready, on the first meeting, to consider the subject in the most serviceable light-first, as a settled, and, secondly, as a good one-well aware of the nearly equal importance of the two recommendations to Mr. Woodhouses mind. -It was agreed upon, as what was to be; and every body by whom he was used to be guided assuring him that it would be for his happiness; and having some feelings himself which almost admitted it, he began to think that some time or other-in another year or two, perhaps-it might not be so very bad if the marriage did take place.

  Mrs. Weston was acting no part, feigning no feelings in all that she said to him in favour of the event. -She had been extremely surprized, never more so, than when Emma first opened the affair to her; but she saw in it only increase of happiness to all, and had no scruple in urging him to the utmost. -She had such a regard for Mr. Knightley, as to think he deserved even her dearest Emma; and it was in every respect so proper, suitable, and unexceptionable a connexion, and in one respect, one point of the highest importance, so peculiarly eligible, so singularly fortunate, that now it seemed as if Emma could not safely have attached herself to any other creature, and that she had herself been the stupidest of beings in not having thought of it, and wished it long ago. -How very few of those men in a rank of life to address Emma would have renounced their own home for Hartfield! And who but Mr. Knightley could know and bear with Mr. Woodhouse, so as to make such an arrangement desirable!-The difficulty of disposing of poor Mr. Woodhouse had been always felt in her husbands plans and her own, for a marriage between Frank and Emma. How to settle the claims of Enscombe and Hartfield had been a continual impediment-less acknowledged by Mr. Weston than by herself-but even he had never been able to finish the subject better than by saying-"Those matters will take care of themselves; the young people will find a way. " But here there was nothing to be shifted off in a wild speculation on the future. It was all right, all open, all equal. No sacrifice on any side worth the name.

  It was a union of the highest promise of felicity in itself, and without one real, rational difficulty to oppose or delay it.

  Mrs. Weston, with her baby on her knee, indulging in such reflections as these, was one of the happiest women in the world. If any thing could increase her delight, it was perceiving that the baby would soon have outgrown its first set of caps.

  The news was universally a surprize wherever it spread; and Mr. Weston had his five minutes share of it; but five minutes were enough to familiarise the idea to his quickness of mind. -He saw the advantages of the match, and rejoiced in them with all the constancy of his wife; but the wonder of it was very soon nothing; and by the end of an hour he was not far from believing that he had always foreseen it.

  "It is to be a secret, I conclude," said he. "These matters are always a secret, till it is foun
d out that every body knows them.

  Only let me be told when I may speak out. -I wonder whether Jane has any suspicion. "

  He went to Highbury the next morning, and satisfied himself on that point. He told her the news. Was not she like a daughter, his eldest daughter?-he must tell her; and Miss Bates being present, it passed, of course, to Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. Elton, immediately afterwards. It was no more than the principals were prepared for; they had calculated from the time of its being known at Randalls, how soon it would be over Highbury; and were thinking of themselves, as the evening wonder in many a family circle, with great sagacity.

  In general, it was a very well approved match. Some might think him, and others might think her, the most in luck. One set might recommend their all removing to Donwell, and leaving Hartfield for the John Knightleys; and another might predict disagreements among their servants; but yet, upon the whole, there was no serious objection raised, except in one habitation, the Vicarage. -There, the surprize was not softened by any satisfaction. Mr. Elton cared little about it, compared with his wife; he only hoped "the young ladys pride would now be contented;" and supposed "she had always meant to catch Knightley if she could;" and, on the point of living at Hartfield, could daringly exclaim, "Rather he than I!"-But Mrs. Elton was very much discomposed indeed. -"Poor Knightley! poor fellow!-sad business for him. -She was extremely concerned; for, though very eccentric, he had a thousand good qualities. -How could he be so taken in?-Did not think him at all in love-not in the least. -Poor Knightley!-There would be an end of all pleasant intercourse with him. -How happy he had been to come and dine with them whenever they asked him! But that would be all over now. -Poor fellow!-No more exploring parties to Donwell made for her.

  Oh! no; there would be a Mrs. Knightley to throw cold water on every thing. -Extremely disagreeable! But she was not at all sorry that she had abused the housekeeper the other day. -Shocking plan, living together. It would never do. She knew a family near Maple Grove who had tried it, and been obliged to separate before the end of the first quarter.

  CHAPTER XVIII

  Time passed on. A few more to-morrows, and the party from London would be arriving. It was an alarming change; and Emma was thinking of it one morning, as what must bring a great deal to agitate and grieve her, when Mr. Knightley came in, and distressing thoughts were put by. After the first chat of pleasure he was silent; and then, in a graver tone, began with,

  "I have something to tell you, Emma; some news. "

  "Good or bad?" said she, quickly, looking up in his face.

  "I do not know which it ought to be called. "

  "Oh! good I am sure. -I see it in your countenance. You are trying not to smile. "

  "I am afraid," said he, composing his features, "I am very much afraid, my dear Emma, that you will not smile when you hear it. "

  "Indeed! but why so?-I can hardly imagine that any thing which pleases or amuses you, should not please and amuse me too. "

  "There is one subject," he replied, "I hope but one, on which we do not think alike. " He paused a moment, again smiling, with his eyes fixed on her face. "Does nothing occur to you?-Do not you recollect?-Harriet Smith. "

  Her cheeks flushed at the name, and she felt afraid of something, though she knew not what.

  "Have you heard from her yourself this morning?" cried he.

  "You have, I believe, and know the whole. "

  "No, I have not; I know nothing; pray tell me. "

  "You are prepared for the worst, I see-and very bad it is.

  Harriet Smith marries Robert Martin. "

  Emma gave a start, which did not seem like being prepared-and her eyes, in eager gaze, said, "No, this is impossible!" but her lips were closed.

  "It is so, indeed," continued Mr. Knightley; "I have it from Robert Martin himself. He left me not half an hour ago. "

  She was still looking at him with the most speaking amazement.

  "You like it, my Emma, as little as I feared. -I wish our opinions were the same. But in time they will. Time, you may be sure, will make one or the other of us think differently; and, in the meanwhile, we need not talk much on the subject. "

  "You mistake me, you quite mistake me," she replied, exerting herself.

  "It is not that such a circumstance would now make me unhappy, but I cannot believe it. It seems an impossibility!-You cannot mean to say, that Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin. You cannot mean that he has even proposed to her again-yet. You only mean, that he intends it. "

  "I mean that he has done it," answered Mr. Knightley, with smiling but determined decision, "and been accepted. "

  "Good God!" she cried. -"Well!"-Then having recourse to her workbasket, in excuse for leaning down her face, and concealing all the exquisite feelings of delight and entertainment which she knew she must be expressing, she added, "Well, now tell me every thing; make this intelligible to me. How, where, when?-Let me know it all.

  I never was more surprized-but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you. -How-how has it been possible?"

  "It is a very simple story. He went to town on business three days ago, and I got him to take charge of some papers which I was wanting to send to John. -He delivered these papers to John, at his chambers, and was asked by him to join their party the same evening to Astleys.

  They were going to take the two eldest boys to Astleys. The party was to be our brother and sister, Henry, John-and Miss Smith.

  My friend Robert could not resist. They called for him in their way; were all extremely amused; and my brother asked him to dine with them the next day-which he did-and in the course of that visit (as I understand) he found an opportunity of speaking to Harriet; and certainly did not speak in vain. -She made him, by her acceptance, as happy even as he is deserving. He came down by yesterdays coach, and was with me this morning immediately after breakfast, to report his proceedings, first on my affairs, and then on his own.