Emma, by Jane Austen Chapter IX

 Emma, by Jane Austen

Chapter IX

Mr. Knightley might quarrel together with her , but Emma couldn't quarrel with herself. He was such a lot displeased, that it had been longer than usual before he came to Hartfield again; and once they did meet, his grave looks shewed that she wasn't forgiven. She was sorry, but couldn't repent. On the contrary, her plans and proceedings were more and more justified and endeared to her by the overall appearances of subsequent few days.

The Picture, elegantly framed, came safely handy soon after Mr. Elton’s return, and being hung over the mantelpiece of the common sitting-room, he got up to seem at it, and sighed out his half sentences of admiration even as he ought; and as for Harriet’s feelings, they were visibly forming themselves into as strong and steady an attachment as her youth and type of mind admitted. Emma was soon perfectly satisfied of Mr. Martin’s being no otherwise remembered, than as he furnished a contrast with Mr. Elton, of the utmost advantage to the latter.

Her views of improving her little friend’s mind, by an excellent deal of useful reading and conversation, had never yet led to quite a couple of first chapters, and therefore the intention of happening to-morrow. it had been much easier to talk than to study; much pleasanter to let her imagination range and work on Harriet’s fortune, than to be labouring to enlarge her comprehension or exercise it on sober facts; and therefore the only literary pursuit which engaged Harriet at the present , the sole mental provision she was making for the evening of life, was the collecting and transcribing all the riddles of each sort that she could meet with, into a skinny quarto of hot-pressed paper, made up by her friend, and ornamented with ciphers and trophies.

In this age of literature, such collections on a really grand scale aren't uncommon. Miss Nash, head-teacher at Mrs. Goddard’s, had written out a minimum of three hundred; and Harriet, who had taken the primary hint of it from her, hoped, with Miss Woodhouse’s help, to urge an excellent more . Emma assisted together with her invention, memory and taste; and as Harriet wrote a really pretty hand, it had been likely to be an appointment of the primary order, in form also as quantity.

Mr. Woodhouse was almost the maximum amount curious about the business because the girls, and tried fairly often to remember something worth their fixing . “So many clever riddles as there wont to be when he was young — he wondered he couldn't remember them! but he hoped he should in time.” And it always led to “Kitty, a good but frozen maid.”

His good friend Perry, too, whom he had spoken to on the topic , didn't at the present recollect any thing of the riddle kind; but he had desired Perry to be upon the watch, and as he went about such a lot , something, he thought, might come from that quarter.

It was by no means his daughter’s wish that the intellects of Highbury generally should be anesthetize requisition. Mr. Elton was the sole one whose assistance she asked. He was invited to contribute any specialized enigmas, charades, or conundrums that he might recollect; and she or he had the pleasure of seeing him most intently at work together with his recollections; and at an equivalent time, as she could perceive, most earnestly careful that nothing ungallant, nothing that didn't breathe a compliment to the sex should pass his lips. They owed to him their two or three politest puzzles; and therefore the joy and exultation with which eventually he recalled, and rather sentimentally recited, that well-known charade,

My first doth affliction denote,

Which my second is destin’d to feel

And my whole is that the best antidote

That affliction to melt and heal. —

made her quite sorry to acknowledge that that they had transcribed it some pages ago already.

“Why won't you write one yourself for us, Mr. Elton?” said she; “that is that the only security for its freshness; and zip might be easier to you.”

“Oh no! he had never written, rarely , any thing of the type in his life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse”— he stopt a flash — “or Miss Smith could inspire him.”

The very next day however produced some proof of inspiration. He involved a couple of moments, just to go away a bit of paper on the table containing, as he said, a charade, which a lover of his had addressed to a girl , the thing of his admiration, but which, from his manner, Emma was immediately convinced must be his own.

“I don't offer it for Miss Smith’s collection,” said he. “Being my friend’s, I even have no right to show it in any degree to the general public eye, but perhaps you'll not dislike watching it.”

The speech was more to Emma than to Harriet, which Emma could understand. There was deep consciousness about him, and he found it easier to satisfy her eye than her friend’s. He was gone subsequent moment:— after another moment’s pause,

“Take it,” said Emma, smiling, and pushing the paper towards Harriet —”it is for you. Take your own.”

But Harriet was during a tremor, and will not touch it; and Emma, never loth to be first, was obliged to look at it herself.

To Miss —

CHARADE.

My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,

Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.

Another view of man, my second brings,

Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!

But ah! united, what reverse we have!

Man’s boasted power and freedom, all are flown;

Lord of the world and sea, he bends a slave,

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.

Thy ready wit the word will soon supply,

May its approval beam therein soft eye!

She cast her eye over it, pondered, caught the meaning, read it through again to be quite certain, and quite mistress of the lines, then passing it to Harriet, sat happily smiling, and saying to herself, while Harriet was puzzling over the paper altogether the confusion of hope and dulness, “Very well, Mr. Elton, alright indeed. I even have read worse charades. Courtship — a really good hint. I offer you credit for it. this is often feeling your way. this is often saying very plainly — ‘Pray, Miss Smith, give me leave to pay my addresses to you. Approve my charade and my intentions within the same glance.’

May its approval beam therein soft eye!

Harriet exactly. Soft is that the very word for her eye — of all epithets, the justest that would tend .

Thy ready wit the word will soon supply.

Humph — Harriet’s ready wit! All the higher . a person must be considerably crazy , indeed, to explain her so. Ah! Mr. Knightley, I wish you had the advantage of this; i feel this is able to convince you. For once in your life you'd be obliged to have yourself mistaken. a superb charade indeed! and really much to the aim . Things must come to a crisis soon now.”

She was obliged to interrupt faraway from these very pleasant observations, which were otherwise of a kind to run into great length, by the eagerness of Harriet’s wondering questions.

“What can it's , Miss Woodhouse? — what can it be? I even have not a thought — I cannot guess it within the least. What can it possibly be? Do attempt to find it out, Miss Woodhouse. Do help me. I never saw any thing so hard. Is it kingdom? i'm wondering who the friend was — and who might be the girl . does one think it's an honest one? Can it's woman?

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.

Can it's Neptune?

Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!

Or a trident? or a mermaid? or a shark? Oh, no! shark is merely one syllable. It must be very clever, or he wouldn't have brought it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, does one think we shall ever find it out?”

“Mermaids and sharks! Nonsense! My dear Harriet, what are you thinking of? Where would be the utilization of his bringing us a charade made by a lover upon a mermaid or a shark? Give me the paper and listen.

For Miss ————— read Miss Smith.

My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,

Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.

That is court.

Another view of man, my second brings;

Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!

That is ship — plain because it are often . — Now for the cream.

But ah! united, (courtship, you know,) what reverse we have!

Man’s boasted power and freedom, all are flown.

Lord of the world and sea, he bends a slave,

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.

A very proper compliment! — then follows the appliance , which i feel , my dear Harriet, you can't find much difficulty in comprehending. Read it in comfort to yourself. There are often little question of its being written for you and to you.”

Harriet couldn't long resist so delightful a persuasion. She read the concluding lines, and was all flutter and happiness. She couldn't speak. But she wasn't wanted to talk . it had been enough for her to feel. Emma spoke for her.

“There is so pointed, then particular a meaning during this compliment,” said she, “that I cannot have a doubt on Mr. Elton’s intentions. you're his object — and you'll soon receive the completest proof of it. i assumed it must be so. i assumed I couldn't be so deceived; but now, it's clear; the state of his mind is as clear and decided, as my wishes on the topic are ever since I knew you. Yes, Harriet, with great care long have I been wanting the very circumstance to happen what went on . I could never tell whether an attachment between you and Mr. Elton were most desirable or most natural. Its probability and its eligibility have really so equalled each other! i'm very happy. I congratulate you, my dear Harriet, with all my heart. this is often an attachment which a lady could feel pride in creating. this is often a connexion which offers nothing but good. it'll offer you every thing that you simply want — consideration, independence, a correct home — it'll fix you within the centre of all of your real friends, on the brink of Hartfield and to me, and ensure our intimacy for ever. This, Harriet, is an alliance which may never raise a blush in either folks .”

“Dear Miss Woodhouse!”— and “Dear Miss Woodhouse,” used to be all that Harriet, with many gentle embraces may want to articulate at first; however when they did arrive at some thing extra like conversation, it was once sufficiently clear to her buddy that she saw, felt, anticipated, and remembered simply as she ought. Mr. Elton’s superiority had very sufficient acknowledgment.

“Whatever you say is constantly right,” cried Harriet, “and consequently I suppose, and believe, and hope it ought to be so; however in any other case I ought to no longer have imagined it. It is so an awful lot past any issue I deserve. Mr. Elton, who may marry any body! There can't be two opinions about him. He is so very superior. Only suppose of these candy verses —”To Miss ————.” Dear me, how clever! — Could it truly be intended for me?”

“I can't make a question, or hear to a query about that. It is a certainty. Receive it on my judgment. It is a type of prologue to the play, a motto to the chapter; and will be quickly accompanied by means of matter-of-fact prose.”

“It is a type of factor which no person ought to have expected. I am sure, a month ago, I had no greater thinking myself! — The strangest matters do take place!”

“When Miss Smiths and Mr. Eltons get acquainted — they do certainly — and honestly it is strange; it is out of the frequent route that what is so evidently, so palpably acceptable — what courts the pre-arrangement of different people, ought to so right away form itself into the applicable form. You and Mr. Elton are by means of state of affairs known as together; you belong to one every other with the aid of each circumstance of your respective homes. Your marrying will be equal to the fit at Randalls. There does appear to be a some thing in the air of Hartfield which offers love precisely the proper direction, and sends it into the very channel the place it ought to flow.

The path of proper love by no means did run smooth —

A Hartfield version of Shakespeare would have a lengthy word on that passage.”

“That Mr. Elton ought to actually be in love with me — me, of all people, who did now not understand him, to communicate to him, at Michaelmas! And he, the very handsomest man that ever was, and a man that each and every physique appears up to, pretty like Mr. Knightley! His business enterprise so sought after, that each and every physique says he want now not devour a single meal by using himself if he does now not chuse it; that he has greater invites than there are days in the week. And so high-quality in the Church! Miss Nash has put down all the texts he has ever preached from in view that he got here to Highbury. Dear me! When I appear returned to the first time I noticed him! How little did I think! — The two Abbots and I ran into the the front room and peeped via the blind when we heard he was once going by, and Miss Nash got here and scolded us away, and staid to seem to be thru herself; however, she referred to as me returned presently, and let me seem too, which was once very good-natured. And how lovely we idea he looked! He was once arm-in-arm with Mr. Cole.”

“This is an alliance which, whoever — anything your pals may additionally be, ought to be agreeable to them, supplied at least they have frequent sense; and we are no longer to be addressing our habits to fools. If they are anxious to see you fortunately married, right here is a man whose amiable persona offers each assurance of it — if they desire to have you settled in the identical united states and circle which they have chosen to area you in, right here it will be accomplished; and if their solely object is that you should, in the frequent phrase, be nicely married, right here is the at ease fortune, the first rate establishment, the upward shove in the world which need to fulfill them.”

“Yes, very true. How properly you talk; I love to hear you. You recognize each thing. You and Mr. Elton are one as wise as the other. This charade! — If I had studied a twelvemonth, I may want to in no way have made any element like it.”

“I thinking he intended to strive his skill, with the aid of his manner of declining it yesterday.”

“I do assume it is, barring exception, the exceptional charade I ever read.”

“I in no way examine one greater to the purpose, certainly.”

“It is as lengthy once more as nearly all we have had before.”

“I do now not think about its size as specifically in its favour. Such matters in everyday can't be too short.”

Harriet was once too intent on the strains to hear. The most quality comparisons have been rising in her mind.

“It is one thing,” stated she, at present — her cheeks in a glow —”to have very top experience in a frequent way, like each physique else, and if there is any element to say, to take a seat down and write a letter, and say simply what you must, in a quick way; and another, to write verses and charades like this.”

Emma ought to now not have preferred a extra spirited rejection of Mr. Martin’s prose.

“Such candy lines!” endured Harriet —”these two last! — But how shall I ever be capable to return the paper, or say I have determined it out? — Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what can we do about that?”

“Leave it to me. You do nothing. He will be right here this evening, I dare say, and then I will provide it him back, and some nonsense or different will omit between us, and you shall no longer be committed. — Your tender eyes shall chuse their very own time for beaming. Trust to me.”

“Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what a pity that I need to no longer write this lovely charade into my book! I am positive I have no longer obtained one half of so good.”

“Leave out the two closing lines, and there is no cause why you have to now not write it into your book.”

“Oh! however these two strains are”—

—”The quality of all. Granted — for personal enjoyment; and for non-public enjoyment preserve them. They are now not at all the much less written you know, due to the fact you divide them. The couplet does no longer stop to be, nor does its that means change. But take it away, and all appropriation ceases, and a very fantastically gallant charade remains, in shape for any collection. Depend upon it, he would now not like to have his charade slighted, a great deal higher than his passion. A poet in love ought to be prompted in each capacities, or neither. Give me the book, I will write it down, and then there can be no feasible reflection on you.”

Harriet submitted, although her thought may want to infrequently separate the parts, so as to experience pretty certain that her buddy had been no longer writing down a assertion of love. It regarded too valuable an supplying for any diploma of publicity.

“I shall by no means let that e book go out of my personal hands,” stated she.

“Very well,” spoke back Emma; “a most herbal feeling; and the longer it lasts, the higher I shall be pleased. But right here is my father coming: you will now not object to my studying the charade to him. It will be giving him so an awful lot pleasure! He loves any aspect of the sort, and in particular any element that can pay female a compliment. He has the tenderest spirit of gallantry toward us all! — You ought to let me study it to him.”

Harriet appeared grave.

“My pricey Harriet, you ought to no longer refine too a good deal upon this charade. — You will betray your emotions improperly, if you are too aware and too quick, and show up to affix greater meaning, or even pretty all the which means which may additionally be affixed to it. Do no longer be overpowered by means of such a little tribute of admiration. If he had been anxious for secrecy, he would no longer have left the paper whilst I used to be by; however he alternatively pushed it closer to me than toward you. Do no longer let us be too solemn on the business. He has encouragement ample to proceed, barring our sighing out our souls over this charade.”

“Oh! no — I hope I shall now not be ridiculous about it. Do as you please.”

Mr. Woodhouse got here in, and very quickly led to the challenge again, via the recurrence of his very everyday inquiry of “Well, my dears, how does your e book go on? — Have you obtained any factor fresh?”

“Yes, papa; we have some thing to study you, some thing pretty fresh. A piece of paper was once observed on the desk this morning —(dropt, we suppose, with the aid of a fairy)— containing a very exceptionally charade, and we have simply copied it in.”

She study it to him, simply as he favored to have any element read, slowly and distinctly, and two or three instances over, with explanations of each section as she proceeded — and he used to be very tons pleased, and, as she had foreseen, specially struck with the complimentary conclusion.

“Aye, that’s very just, indeed, that’s very true said. Very true. ‘Woman, beautiful woman.’ It is such a exceedingly charade, my dear, that I can effortlessly wager what fairy added it. — Nobody may want to have written so prettily, however you, Emma.”

Emma solely nodded, and smiled. — After a little thinking, and a very soft sigh, he added,

“Ah! it is no problem to see who you take after! Your expensive mom used to be so sensible at all these things! If I had however her memory! But I can take note nothing — now not even that unique riddle which you have heard me mention; I can solely recollect the first stanza; and there are several.

Kitty, a honest however frozen maid,

Kindled a flame I but deplore,

The hood-wink’d boy I known as to aid,

Though of his close to strategy afraid,

So deadly to my swimsuit before.

And that is all that I can recollect of it — however it is very smart all the way through. But I think, my dear, you stated you had received it.”

“Yes, papa, it is written out in our 2d page. We copied it from the Elegant Extracts. It was once Garrick’s, you know.”

“Aye, very true. — I desire I may want to recollect extra of it.

Kitty, a truthful however frozen maid.

The title makes me suppose of terrible Isabella; for she used to be very close to being christened Catherine after her grandmama. I hope we shall have her right here subsequent week. Have you thought, my dear, the place you shall put her — and what room there will be for the children?”

“Oh! sure — she will have her personal room, of course; the room she constantly has — and there is the nursery for the adolescents — simply as usual, you know. Why have to there be any change?”

“I do no longer know, my expensive — however it is so lengthy when you consider that she was once here! — now not on account that final Easter, and then solely for a few days. — Mr. John Knightley’s being a legal professional is very inconvenient. — Poor Isabella! — she is alas taken away from us all! — and how sorry she will be when she comes, no longer to see Miss Taylor here!”

“She will now not be surprized, papa, at least.”

“I do now not know, my dear. I am certain I used to be very a great deal surprized when I first heard she was once going to be married.”

“We should ask Mr. and Mrs. Weston to dine with us, whilst Isabella is here.”

“Yes, my dear, if there is time. — But —(in a very depressed tone)— she is coming for solely one week. There will no longer be time for any thing.”

“It is unlucky that they can't continue to be longer — however it appears a case of necessity. Mr. John Knightley need to be in city once more on the 28th, and we ought to be thankful, papa, that we are to have the entire of the time they can supply to the country, that two or three days are no longer to be taken out for the Abbey. Mr. Knightley guarantees to provide up his declare this Christmas — although you be aware of it is longer seeing that they have been with him, than with us.”

“It would be very hard, indeed, my dear, if negative Isabella have been to be somewhere however at Hartfield.”

Mr. Woodhouse should in no way permit for Mr. Knightley’s claims on his brother, or any body’s claims on Isabella, barring his own. He sat musing a little while, and then said,

“But I do no longer see why negative Isabella must be obliged to go returned so soon, even though he does. I think, Emma, I shall attempt and persuade her to remain longer with us. She and the teenagers would possibly continue to be very well.”

“Ah! papa — that is what you by no means have been capable to accomplish, and I do no longer assume you ever will. Isabella can't undergo to continue to be at the back of her husband.”

This used to be too proper for contradiction. Unwelcome as it was, Mr. Woodhouse may want to solely supply a submissive sigh; and as Emma noticed his spirits affected by way of the thinking of his daughter’s attachment to her husband, she without delay led to such a department of the problem as have to elevate them.

“Harriet ought to provide us as plenty of her enterprise as she can whilst my brother and sister are here. I am certain she will be thrilled with the children. We are very proud of the children, are no longer we, papa? I marvel which she will assume the handsomest, Henry or John?”

“Aye, I marvel which she will. Poor little dears, how satisfied they will be to come. They are very fond of being at Hartfield, Harriet.”

“I dare say they are, sir. I am positive I do now not comprehend who is not.”

“Henry is a best boy, however John is very like his mama. Henry is the eldest, he used to be named after me, no longer after his father. John, the second, is named after his father. Some humans are surprized, I believe, that the eldest used to be not, however Isabella would have him referred to as Henry, which I idea very fantastically of her. And he is a very smart boy, indeed. They are all remarkably clever; and they have so many incredibly ways. They will come and stand via my chair, and say, ‘Grandpapa, can you supply me a bit of string?’ and as soon as Henry requested me for a knife, however I informed him knives have been solely made for grandpapas. I assume their father is too difficult with them very often.”

“He seems hard to you,” stated Emma, “because you are so very mild yourself; however if you may want to evaluate him with different papas, you would now not suppose him rough. He desires his boys to be lively and hardy; and if they misbehave, can supply them a sharp phrase now and then; however he is an affectionate father — honestly Mr. John Knightley is an affectionate father. The youngsters are all fond of him.”

“And then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a very frightful way!”

“But they like it, papa; there is nothing they like so much. It is such enjoyment to them, that if their uncle did no longer lay down the rule of their taking turns, whichever started would in no way supply way to the other.”

“Well, I can't recognize it.”

“That is the case with us all, papa. One 1/2 of the world can't apprehend the pleasures of the other.”

Later in the morning, and simply as the ladies have been going to separate in education for the everyday 4 o’clock dinner, the hero of this inimitable charade walked in again. Harriet became away; however Emma should acquire him with the regular smile, and her speedy eye quickly discerned in his the focus of having made a push — of having thrown a die; and she imagined he used to be come to see how it may flip up. His ostensible reason, however, used to be to ask whether or not Mr. Woodhouse’s birthday party ought to be made up in the nighttime barring him, or whether or not he ought to be in the smallest diploma critical at Hartfield. If he were, each and every component else need to supply way; however in any other case his pal Cole had been announcing so a good deal about his eating with him — had made such a factor of it, that he had promised him conditionally to come.

Emma thanked him, however may want to no longer enable of his disappointing his pal on their account; her father used to be certain of his rubber. He re-urged — she re-declined; and he appeared then about to make his bow, when taking the paper from the table, she again it —

“Oh! right here is the charade you had been so obliging as to depart with us; thank you for the sight of it. We admired it so much, that I have ventured to write it into Miss Smith’s collection. Your buddy will now not take it amiss I hope. Of path I have no longer transcribed past the first eight lines.”

Mr. Elton honestly did now not very properly recognize what to say. He regarded alternatively doubtingly — as an alternative confused; stated some thing about “honour,”— glanced at Emma and at Harriet, and then seeing the e book open on the table, took it up, and examined it very attentively. With the view of passing off an awkward moment, Emma smilingly said,

“You ought to make my apologies to your friend; however so excellent a charade ought to no longer be limited to one or two. He may additionally be certain of each woman’s approbation whilst he writes with such gallantry.”

“I have no hesitation in saying,” spoke back Mr. Elton, even though hesitating a right deal whilst he spoke; “I have no hesitation in pronouncing — at least if my buddy feels at all as I do — I have now not the smallest doubt that, should he see his little effusion honoured as I see it, (looking at the e book again, and changing it on the table), he would think about it as the proudest second of his life.”

After this speech he used to be long past as quickly as possible. Emma may want to no longer assume it too soon; for with all his desirable and agreeable qualities, there used to be a kind of parade in his speeches which used to be very apt to incline her to laugh. She ran away to indulge the inclination, leaving the gentle and the elegant of pleasure to Harriet’s share.