Emma, by Jane Austen Chapter VIII

 Emma, by Jane Austen

Chapter VIII

Harriet slept at Hartfield that night. For some weeks previous she had been spending extra than 1/2 her time there, and regularly getting to have a bed-room appropriated to herself; and Emma judged it great in each and every respect, most secure and kindest, to preserve her with them as lots as viable simply at present. She used to be obliged to go the next morning for an hour or two to Mrs. Goddard’s, however it used to be then to be settled that she ought to return to Hartfield, to make a normal go to of some days.

While she used to be gone, Mr. Knightley called, and sat some time with Mr. Woodhouse and Emma, until Mr. Woodhouse, who had before made up his idea to stroll out, was once persuaded by using his daughter no longer to defer it, and was once brought about through the entreaties of both, although towards the scruples of his very own civility, to go away Mr. Knightley for that purpose. Mr. Knightley, who had nothing of ceremony about him, was once supplying through his short, determined answers, an fun distinction to the protracted apologies and civil hesitations of the other.

“Well, I believe, if you will excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if you will no longer reflect onconsideration on me as doing a very impolite thing, I shall take Emma’s recommendation and go out for a quarter of an hour. As the solar is out, I accept as true with I had higher take my three turns whilst I can. I deal with you except ceremony, Mr. Knightley. We invalids suppose we are privileged people.”

“My pricey sir, do now not make a stranger of me.”

“I go away an outstanding replacement in my daughter. Emma will be glad to entertain you. And consequently I assume I will beg your excuse and take my three turns — my wintry weather walk.”

“You can't do better, sir.”

“I would ask for the pleasure of your company, Mr. Knightley, however I am a very gradual walker, and my tempo would be tedious to you; and, besides, you have any other lengthy stroll earlier than you, to Donwell Abbey.”

“Thank you, sir, thank you; I am going this second myself; and I suppose the quicker you go the better. I will fetch your greatcoat and open the backyard door for you.”

Mr. Woodhouse at remaining used to be off; however Mr. Knightley, as an alternative of being without delay off likewise, sat down again, apparently inclined for greater chat. He commenced talking of Harriet, and talking of her with greater voluntary reward than Emma had ever heard before.

“I can't fee her splendor as you do,” stated he; “but she is a relatively little creature, and I am inclined to suppose very properly of her disposition. Her personality depends upon these she is with; however in accurate fingers she will flip out a treasured woman.”

“I am happy you assume so; and the right hands, I hope, may also now not be wanting.”

“Come,” stated he, “you are anxious for a compliment, so I will inform you that you have multiplied her. You have cured her of her school-girl’s giggle; she certainly does you credit.”

“Thank you. I need to be mortified certainly if I did no longer consider I had been of some use; however it is now not each and every physique who will bestow reward the place they may. You do now not frequently overpower me with it.”

“You are anticipating her again, you say, this morning?”

“Almost each and every moment. She has been long past longer already than she intended.”

“Something has came about to extend her; some traffic perhaps.”

“Highbury gossips! — Tiresome wretches!”

“Harriet might also now not think about each and every physique tiresome that you would.”

Emma knew this was once too real for contradiction, and consequently stated nothing. He currently added, with a smile,

“I do now not fake to restoration on instances or places, however I have to inform you that I have proper motive to trust your little buddy will quickly hear of some thing to her advantage.”

“Indeed! how so? of what sort?”

“A very serious sort, I guarantee you;” nonetheless smiling.

“Very serious! I can suppose of however one issue — Who is in love with her? Who makes you their confidant?”

Emma used to be extra than 1/2 in hopes of Mr. Elton’s having dropt a hint. Mr. Knightley was once a type of regularly occurring buddy and adviser, and she knew Mr. Elton regarded up to him.

“I have purpose to think,” he replied, “that Harriet Smith will quickly have an provide of marriage, and from a most unexceptionable quarter:— Robert Martin is the man. Her go to to Abbey-Mill, this summer, looks to have executed his business. He is desperately in love and capacity to marry her.”

“He is very obliging,” stated Emma; “but is he certain that Harriet potential to marry him?”

“Well, well, potential to make her an provide then. Will that do? He got here to the Abbey two evenings ago, on reason to seek advice from me about it. He knows I have a thorough regard for him and all his family, and, I believe, considers me as one of his first-class friends. He got here to ask me whether or not I idea it would be imprudent in him to settle so early; whether or not I concept her too young: in short, whether or not I accepted his desire altogether; having some apprehension possibly of her being viewed (especially given that your making so a lot of her) as in a line of society above him. I used to be very lots thrilled with all that he said. I in no way hear higher feel from any one than Robert Martin. He usually speaks to the purpose; open, straightforward, and very properly judging. He instructed me each and every thing; his instances and plans, and what they all proposed doing in the tournament of his marriage. He is an super younger man, each as son and brother. I had no hesitation in advising him to marry. He proved to me that he ought to have the funds for it; and that being the case, I used to be satisfied he may want to no longer do better. I praised the truthful girl too, and altogether despatched him away very happy. If he had in no way esteemed my opinion before, he would have idea extraordinarily of me then; and, I dare say, left the residence questioning me the high-quality buddy and counsellor man ever had. This occurred the night time earlier than last. Now, as we may also pretty suppose, he would no longer permit a great deal time to bypass earlier than he spoke to the lady, and as he does no longer show up to have spoken yesterday, it is no longer not going that he have to be at Mrs. Goddard’s to-day; and she may also be detained through a visitor, besides questioning him at all a tiresome wretch.”

“Pray, Mr. Knightley,” stated Emma, who had been smiling to herself thru a high-quality phase of this speech, “how do you be aware of that Mr. Martin did now not communicate yesterday?”

“Certainly,” answered he, surprized, “I do no longer truely comprehend it; however it may also be inferred. Was now not she the entire day with you?”

“Come,” stated she, “I will inform you something, in return for what you have advised me. He did communicate the day prior to this — that is, he wrote, and used to be refused.”

This was once obliged to be repeated earlier than it may want to be believed; and Mr. Knightley truly seemed pink with surprize and displeasure, as he stood up, in tall indignation, and said,

“Then she is a larger simpleton than I ever believed her. What is the silly woman about?”

“Oh! to be sure,” cried Emma, “it is constantly incomprehensible to a man that a female have to ever refuse an provide of marriage. A man continually imagines a lady to be prepared for any physique who asks her.”

“Nonsense! a man does no longer think about any such thing. But what is the that means of this? Harriet Smith refuse Robert Martin? madness, if it is so; however I hope you are mistaken.”

“I noticed her answer! — nothing may want to be clearer.”

“You noticed her answer! — you wrote her reply too. Emma, this is your doing. You persuaded her to refuse him.”

“And if I did, (which, however, I am a ways from allowing) I ought to no longer experience that I had executed wrong. Mr. Martin is a very decent younger man, however I can't admit him to be Harriet’s equal; and am as a substitute surprized certainly that he must have ventured to tackle her. By your account, he does appear to have had some scruples. It is a pity that they have been ever received over.”

“Not Harriet’s equal!” exclaimed Mr. Knightley loudly and warmly; and with calmer asperity, added, a few moments afterwards, “No, he is now not her equal indeed, for he is as a good deal her optimum in feel as in situation. Emma, your infatuation about that woman blinds you. What are Harriet Smith’s claims, both of birth, nature or education, to any connexion greater than Robert Martin? She is the herbal daughter of no person is aware of whom, with in all likelihood no settled provision at all, and clearly no decent relations. She is recognised only as parlour-boarder at a frequent school. She is now not a smart girl, nor a female of any information. She has been taught nothing useful, and is too younger and too easy to have obtained any aspect herself. At her age she can have no experience, and with her little wit, is now not very possibly ever to have any that can avail her. She is pretty, and she is proper tempered, and that is all. My solely scruple in advising the healthy was once on his account, as being under his deserts, and a horrific connexion for him. I felt that, as to fortune, in all likelihood he may do tons better; and that as to a rational associate or beneficial helpmate, he may want to no longer do worse. But I ought to now not cause so to a man in love, and used to be inclined to have faith to there being no damage in her, to her having that type of disposition, which, in correct hands, like his, may be without problems led aright and flip out very well. The benefit of the healthy I felt to be all on her side; and had now not the smallest doubt (nor have I now) that there would be a accepted cry-out upon her intense properly luck. Even your delight I made positive of. It crossed my thought without delay that you would no longer be apologetic about your friend’s leaving Highbury, for the sake of her being settled so well. I consider saying to myself, ‘Even Emma, with all her partiality for Harriet, will assume this a precise match.’”

“I can't assist thinking at your understanding so little of Emma as to say any such thing. What! assume a farmer, (and with all his feel and all his benefit Mr. Martin is nothing more,) a excellent fit for my intimate friend! Not be apologetic about her leaving Highbury for the sake of marrying a man whom I may want to in no way admit as an acquaintance of my own! I marvel you ought to suppose it viable for me to have such feelings. I guarantee you mine are very different. I need to assume your assertion by means of no capacity fair. You are no longer simply to Harriet’s claims. They would be estimated very in a different way with the aid of others as properly as myself; Mr. Martin may additionally be the richest of the two, however he is without doubt her inferior as to rank in society. — The sphere in which she strikes is an awful lot above his. — It would be a degradation.”

“A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance, to be married to a respectable, shrewd gentleman-farmer!”

“As to the situations of her birth, although in a criminal feel she may additionally be referred to as Nobody, it will no longer keep in frequent sense. She is no longer to pay for the offence of others, through being held under the stage of these with whom she is introduced up. — There can scarcely be a doubt that her father is a gentleman — and a gentleman of fortune. — Her allowance is very liberal; nothing has ever been grudged for her enchancment or comfort. — That she is a gentleman’s daughter, is indubitable to me; that she friends with gentlemen’s daughters, no one, I apprehend, will deny. — She is top-quality to Mr. Robert Martin.”

“Whoever would possibly be her parents,” stated Mr. Knightley, “whoever might also have had the cost of her, it does now not show up to have been any phase of their format to introduce her into what you would name exact society. After receiving a very detached training she is left in Mrs. Goddard’s palms to shift as she can — to move, in short, in Mrs. Goddard’s line, to have Mrs. Goddard’s acquaintance. Her buddies certainly concept this properly sufficient for her; and it was once right enough. She favored nothing higher herself. Till you selected to flip her into a friend, her thought had no distaste for her very own set, nor any ambition past it. She was once as pleased as feasible with the Martins in the summer. She had no experience of superiority then. If she has it now, you have given it. You have been no pal to Harriet Smith, Emma. Robert Martin would in no way have proceeded so far, if he had no longer felt persuaded of her no longer being disinclined to him. I comprehend him well. He has too a whole lot actual feeling to tackle any girl on the haphazard of egocentric passion. And as to conceit, he is the farthest from it of any man I know. Depend upon it he had encouragement.”

It used to be most handy to Emma no longer to make a direct reply to this assertion; she selected alternatively to take up her personal line of the concern again.

“You are a very heat buddy to Mr. Martin; but, as I stated before, are unjust to Harriet. Harriet’s claims to marry properly are no longer so contemptible as you symbolize them. She is no longer a sensible girl, however she has higher feel than you are conscious of, and does no longer deserve to have her grasp spoken of so slightingly. Waiving that point, however, and supposing her to be, as you describe her, solely tremendously and good-natured, let me inform you, that in the diploma she possesses them, they are no longer trivial suggestions to the world in general, for she is, in fact, a lovely girl, and have to be idea so by using ninety-nine human beings out of an hundred; and until it seems that guys are a whole lot extra philosophic on the problem of splendor than they are usually supposed; until they do fall in love with well-informed minds rather of good-looking faces, a girl, with such loveliness as Harriet, has a simple task of being admired and sought after, of having the electricity of chusing from amongst many, for this reason a declare to be nice. Her good-nature, too, is now not so very mild a claim, comprehending, as it does, real, thorough sweetness of mood and manner, a very humble opinion of herself, and a excellent readiness to be thrilled with different people. I am very a good deal improper if your intercourse in standard would now not suppose such beauty, and such temper, the best possible claims a lady ought to possess.”

“Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the cause you have, is nearly ample to make me assume so too. Better be barring sense, than misapply it as you do.”

“To be sure!” cried she playfully. “I be aware of that is the feeling of you all. I understand that such a female as Harriet is precisely what each man delights in — what at as soon as bewitches his senses and satisfies his judgment. Oh! Harriet may additionally select and chuse. Were you, yourself, ever to marry, she is the very girl for you. And is she, at seventeen, simply coming into into life, simply establishing to be known, to be puzzled at due to the fact she does no longer be given the first provide she receives? No — pray let her have time to seem to be about her.”

“I have constantly notion it a very silly intimacy,” stated Mr. Knightley presently, “though I have saved my ideas to myself; however I now become aware of that it will be a very unlucky one for Harriet. You will puff her up with such thoughts of her personal beauty, and of what she has a declare to, that, in a little while, no one inside her attain will be desirable sufficient for her. Vanity working on a vulnerable head, produces each kind of mischief. Nothing so effortless as for a younger female to increase her expectations too high. Miss Harriet Smith may additionally now not locate affords of marriage float in so fast, even though she is a very especially girl. Men of sense, anything you may also chuse to say, do no longer desire stupid wives. Men of household would no longer be very fond of connecting themselves with a female of such obscurity — and most prudent guys would be afraid of the inconvenience and shame they may be concerned in, when the thriller of her parentage got here to be revealed. Let her marry Robert Martin, and she is safe, respectable, and blissful for ever; however if you motivate her to count on to marry greatly, and instruct her to be cozy with nothing much less than a man of end result and massive fortune, she may additionally be a parlour-boarder at Mrs. Goddard’s all the relaxation of her lifestyles — or, at least, (for Harriet Smith is a female who will marry any individual or other,) until she develop desperate, and is satisfied to capture at the historic writing-master’s son.”

“We suppose so very otherwise on this point, Mr. Knightley, that there can be no use in canvassing it. We shall solely be making every different extra angry. But as to my letting her marry Robert Martin, it is impossible; she has refused him, and so decidedly, I think, as have to forestall any 2nd application. She ought to abide by way of the evil of having refused him, anything it might also be; and as to the refusal itself, I will no longer faux to say that I may now not have an impact on her a little; however I guarantee you there was once very little for me or for any physique to do. His look is so a good deal in opposition to him, and his manner so bad, that if she ever have been disposed to favour him, she is no longer now. I can imagine, that earlier than she had viewed any physique superior, she may tolerate him. He was once the brother of her friends, and he took pains to please her; and altogether, having considered no person higher (that should have been his remarkable assistant) she would possibly not, whilst she was once at Abbey-Mill, discover him disagreeable. But the case is altered now. She is aware of now what gents are; and nothing however a gentleman in training and manner has any hazard with Harriet.”

“Nonsense, errant nonsense, as ever was once talked!” cried Mr. Knightley. —”Robert Martin’s manners have sense, sincerity, and good-humour to propose them; and his thought has greater authentic gentility than Harriet Smith ought to understand.”

Emma made no answer, and tried to appear cheerfully unconcerned, however used to be genuinely feeling uncomfortable and looking him very a lot to be gone. She did now not repent what she had done; she nonetheless idea herself a higher decide of such a factor of woman proper and refinement than he should be; however but she had a type of recurring appreciate for his judgment in general, which made her dislike having it so loudly in opposition to her; and to have him sitting simply contrary to her in irritated state, used to be very disagreeable. Some minutes handed in this disagreeable silence, with solely one strive on Emma’s aspect to discuss of the weather, however he made no answer. He used to be thinking. The end result of his ideas regarded at closing in these words.

“Robert Martin has no amazing loss — if he can however suppose so; and I hope it will no longer be lengthy earlier than he does. Your views for Harriet are quality acknowledged to yourself; however as you make no secret of your love of match-making, it is honest to consider that views, and plans, and initiatives you have — and as a buddy I shall just trace to you that if Elton is the man, I assume it will be all labour in vain.”

Emma laughed and disclaimed. He continued,

“Depend upon it, Elton will now not do. Elton is a very proper kind of man, and a very first rate vicar of Highbury, however now not at all possibly to make an imprudent match. He is aware of the fee of a true earnings as nicely as any body. Elton may additionally speak sentimentally, however he will act rationally. He is as properly acquainted with his very own claims, as you can be with Harriet’s. He is aware of that he is a very good-looking younger man, and a magnificent favorite anywhere he goes; and from his universal way of speakme in unreserved moments, when there are solely guys present, I am satisfied that he does now not suggest to throw himself away. I have heard him talk with wonderful animation of a massive household of younger female that his sisters are intimate with, who have all twenty thousand kilos apiece.”

“I am very a whole lot obliged to you,” stated Emma, laughing again. “If I had set my coronary heart on Mr. Elton’s marrying Harriet, it would have been very form to open my eyes; however at existing I solely prefer to maintain Harriet to myself. I have performed with match-making indeed. I ought to in no way hope to equal my personal doings at Randalls. I shall depart off whilst I am well.”

“Good morning to you,”— stated he, rising and on foot off abruptly. He was once very a whole lot vexed. He felt the disappointment of the younger man, and was once mortified to have been the ability of merchandising it, via the sanction he had given; and the section which he used to be persuaded Emma had taken in the affair, was once scary him exceedingly.

Emma remained in a kingdom of vexation too; however there used to be greater indistinctness in the reasons of her’s, than in his. She did no longer continually sense so genuinely at ease with herself, so absolutely satisfied that her opinions had been proper and her adversary’s wrong, as Mr. Knightley. He walked off in extra whole self-approbation than he left for her. She used to be no longer so materially solid down, however, however that a little time and the return of Harriet have been very sufficient restoratives. Harriet’s staying away so lengthy used to be starting to make her uneasy. The opportunity of the younger man’s coming to Mrs. Goddard’s that morning, and assembly with Harriet and pleading his very own cause, gave alarming ideas. The dread of such a failure after all grew to become the outstanding uneasiness; and when Harriet appeared, and in very top spirits, and besides having any such purpose to supply for her lengthy absence, she felt a pride which settled her with her very own mind, and satisfied her, that let Mr. Knightley suppose or say what he would, she had finished nothing which woman’s friendship and woman’s emotions would no longer justify.

He had worried her a little about Mr. Elton; however when she viewed that Mr. Knightley ought to now not have found him as she had done, neither with the interest, nor (she need to be allowed to inform herself, in spite of Mr. Knightley’s pretensions) with the talent of such an observer on such a query as herself, that he had spoken it unexpectedly and in anger, she used to be in a position to believe, that he had instead stated what he wished resentfully to be true, than what he knew any factor about. He without a doubt may have heard Mr. Elton communicate with extra unreserve than she had ever done, and Mr. Elton would possibly now not be of an imprudent, thoughtless disposition as to cash matters; he would possibly naturally be alternatively attentive than in any other case to them; however then, Mr. Knightley did no longer make due allowance for the impact of a sturdy ardour at conflict with all fascinated motives. Mr. Knightley noticed no such passion, and of route concept nothing of its effects; however she noticed too tons of it to experience a doubt of its overcoming any hesitations that a lifelike prudence would possibly at the beginning suggest; and extra than a reasonable, turning into diploma of prudence, she was once very positive did now not belong to Mr. Elton.

Harriet’s cheerful seem and manner installed hers: she got here back, now not to assume of Mr. Martin, however to discuss of Mr. Elton. Miss Nash had been telling her something, which she repeated right away with gorgeous delight. Mr. Perry had been to Mrs. Goddard’s to attend a ill child, and Miss Nash had considered him, and he had informed Miss Nash, that as he was once coming returned the day prior to this from Clayton Park, he had met Mr. Elton, and determined to his magnificent surprize, that Mr. Elton was once virtually on his street to London, and no longer which means to return until the morrow, even though it used to be the whist-club night, which he had been in no way recognised to leave out before; and Mr. Perry had remonstrated with him about it, and advised him how shabby it was once in him, their nice player, to absent himself, and tried very an awful lot to persuade him to put off his experience solely one day; however it would now not do; Mr. Elton had been decided to go on, and had stated in a very precise way indeed, that he was once going on commercial enterprise which he would no longer put off for any inducement in the world; and some thing about a very enviable commission, and being the bearer of some thing particularly precious. Mr. Perry may want to now not pretty apprehend him, however he was once very certain there should be a female in the case, and he advised him so; and Mr. Elton solely regarded very aware and smiling, and rode off in incredible spirits. Miss Nash had informed her all this, and had talked a top notch deal extra about Mr. Elton; and said, searching so very considerably at her, “that she did now not faux to recognize what his enterprise would possibly be, however she solely knew that any girl whom Mr. Elton ought to prefer, she have to suppose the luckiest lady in the world; for, past a doubt, Mr. Elton had now not his equal for splendor or agreeableness.”