第 二十一 章 · 第21章

Emma could not forgive her;—but 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.

“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 some

very good music. I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than

sitting at one’s 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 grandmother’s, it must have been a real indulgence.”

“I am happy you approved,” said Emma, smiling; “but I hope I am not

often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield.”

“No, my dear,” said her father instantly; “_that_ I am sure you are

not. There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are. If any

thing, you are too attentive. The muffin last night—if it had been

handed round once, I think it would have been enough.”

“No,” said Mr. Knightley, nearly at the same time; “you are not often

deficient; not often deficient either in manner or comprehension. I

think you understand me, therefore.”

An arch look expressed—“I understand you well enough;” but she said

only, “Miss Fairfax is reserved.”

“I always told you she was—a 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.”

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

“My dear Emma,” said he, moving from his chair into one close by her,

“you are not going to tell me, I hope, that you had not a pleasant

evening.”

“Oh! no; I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions;

and amused to think how little information 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 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.”

“True, sir; and Emma, because she had Miss Fairfax.”

Emma 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 eyes

from. I am always watching her to admire; and I do pity her from my

heart.”

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 Bates’s, said—

“It is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined! a

great pity indeed! and I have often wished—but it is so little one can

venture to do—small, trifling presents, of any thing uncommon—Now we

have killed a porker, and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg;

it is very small and delicate—Hartfield pork is not like any other

pork—but still it is pork—and, 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 pork—I think we had better send the leg—do not you think so, my

dear?”

“My dear papa, I sent the whole hind-quarter. 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.”

“That’s 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.”

“Emma,” said Mr. Knightley presently, “I have a piece of news for you.

You like news—and I heard an article in my way hither that I think will

interest you.”

“News! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it?—why do you smile

so?—where did you hear it?—at Randalls?”

He had time 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 moment, and that

not another syllable of communication could rest with him.

“Oh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? My dear Miss Woodhouse—I

come quite over-powered. Such a beautiful hind-quarter of pork! You are

too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr. Elton is going to be

married.”

Emma had not had time even to think of Mr. Elton, and she was so

completely surprized that she could not avoid a little start, and a

little blush, at the sound.

“There is my news:—I thought it would interest you,” said Mr.

Knightley, with a smile which implied a conviction of some part of what

had passed between them.

“But where could _you_ hear it?” cried Miss Bates. “Where could you

possibly hear it, Mr. Knightley? For it is not five minutes since I

received Mrs. Cole’s note—no, it cannot be more than five—or at least

ten—for I had got my bonnet and spencer on, just ready to come out—I

was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork—Jane was

standing in the passage—were not you, Jane?—for 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, ‘Shall I go down instead? for I think you have

a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.’—‘Oh! my dear,’

said I—well, and just then came the note. A Miss Hawkins—that’s 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 Hawkins—”

“I was with Mr. Cole on business an hour and a half ago. He had just

read Elton’s letter as I was shewn in, and handed it to me directly.”

“Well! that is quite—I 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.”

“We consider our Hartfield pork,” replied Mr. Woodhouse—“indeed it

certainly is, so very superior to all other pork, that Emma and I

cannot have a greater pleasure than—”

“Oh! 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 every thing they could wish for, I am sure it is us. We

may well say that ‘our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.’ Well, Mr.

Knightley, and so you actually saw the letter; well—”

“It was short—merely to announce—but cheerful, exulting, of course.”—

Here was a sly glance at Emma. “He had been so fortunate as to—I forget

the precise words—one 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.”

“Mr. Elton going to be married!” said Emma, as soon as she could speak.

“He will have every body’s wishes for his happiness.”

“He is very young to settle,” was Mr. Woodhouse’s observation. “He 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.”

“A new neighbour for us all, Miss Woodhouse!” said Miss Bates,

joyfully; “my mother is so pleased!—she 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!—no wonder that you 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 man?”

“Who shall answer that question?” cried Emma. “My father would say

‘yes,’ Mr. Knightley ‘no;’ 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.”

“Very true, Miss Woodhouse, so she will. He is the very best young

man—But, my dear Jane, if you remember, I told you yesterday he was

precisely the height of Mr. Perry. Miss Hawkins,—I dare say, an

excellent young woman. His extreme attention to my mother—wanting her

to sit in the vicarage pew, that she might hear the better, for my

mother is a little deaf, you know—it 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 it—the warm bath—but 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 together—and they always do.

Now, here will be Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins; and there are the Coles,

such very good people; and the Perrys—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 always say, we are quite blessed in our

neighbours.—My dear sir, if there is one thing my mother 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 Emma, “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 information to give; and, after a few more wonderings,

Emma said,

“You are silent, Miss Fairfax—but 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

Campbell’s account—we shall not excuse your 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 me. And as it is some

months since Miss Campbell married, the impression may be a little worn

off.”

“Yes, he has been gone just four weeks, as you observe, Miss

Woodhouse,” said Miss Bates, “four weeks yesterday.—A Miss

Hawkins!—Well, I had always rather fancied it would be some young lady

hereabouts; not that I ever—Mrs. Cole once whispered to me—but I

immediately said, ‘No, Mr. Elton is a most worthy young man—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 me, I see. At the

same time, nobody could wonder if Mr. Elton should have aspired—Miss

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 person—tall, and with that sort of look—and

not very talkative.”

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

“Very odd! but one never does form a just idea of any body beforehand.

One takes up a notion, and runs away with it. Mr. Dixon, you say, is

not, strictly speaking, handsome?”

“Handsome! Oh! no—far from it—certainly plain. I told you he was

plain.”

“My dear, you said that Miss Campbell would not allow him to be plain,

and that you yourself—”

“Oh! 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.”

“Well, 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.

Cole’s; but I shall not stop three minutes: and, Jane, you had better

go home directly—I would not have you out in a shower!—We 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 any thing 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!—I am sure if Jane is tired, you will

be so kind as to give her your arm.—Mr. Elton, and Miss Hawkins!—Good

morning to you.”

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 marry—and to

marry strangers too—and 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 it—and 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!—and upon its

beginning to rain, Emma 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 minutes,

when in came Harriet, with just the heated, agitated look which

hurrying thither with a full heart was likely to give; and the “Oh!

Miss Woodhouse, what do you think has happened!” which instantly burst

forth, had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation. As the blow

was given, Emma 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

moment—but she thought she might get to Hartfield first—she 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 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 minutes, perhaps—when, all of a

sudden, who should come in—to be sure it was so very odd!—but they

always dealt at Ford’s—who should come 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 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!—Oh! 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.—Oh! dear, Miss Woodhouse—well, 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 me—(do

you think he was, Miss Woodhouse?)—for presently she came forward—came

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 said—I was in such a tremble!—I 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 away—and then—only think!—I found he was coming up towards

me too—slowly you know, and as if he did not quite know what to do; and

so he came and spoke, and I answered—and I stood for a minute, feeling

dreadfully, you know, one can’t 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.

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 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 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

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.”

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 man’s conduct, and his sister’s, 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 connexion? It was folly to be disturbed

by it. Of course, he must be sorry to lose her—they must be all sorry.

Ambition, as well as love, had probably been mortified. They might 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 make her comfortable, by

considering all that had passed as a mere trifle, and quite unworthy of

being dwelt on,

“It might be distressing, for the moment,” said she; “but you seem to

have behaved extremely well; and it is over—and may never—can never, as

a first meeting, occur again, and therefore you 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 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 Harriet—such a

conclusion of Mr. Elton’s importance with her!

Mr. Elton’s 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. Goddard’s; and a

twelvemonth might pass without their being thrown together again, with

any necessity, or even any power of speech.