Emma, by Jane Austen Chapter XIII

 Emma, by Jane Austen

Chapter XIII

There could hardly be a happier creature within the world than Mrs. John Knightley, during this short visit to Hartfield, going about every morning among her old acquaintance together with her five children, and talking over what she had done every evening together with her father and sister. She had nothing to wish otherwise, but that the times didn't pass so swiftly. it had been a pleasant visit — perfect, in being much too short.

In general their evenings were less engaged with friends than their mornings; but one complete dinner engagement, and out of the house too, there was no avoiding, though at Christmas. Mr. Weston would take no denial; they need to all dine at Randalls at some point — even Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded to think it a possible thing in preference to a division of the party.

How they were all to be conveyed, he would have made an issue if he could, but as his son and daughter’s carriage and horses were actually at Hartfield, he wasn't ready to make quite an easy question thereon head; it hardly amounted to a doubt; nor did it occupy Emma long to convince him that they could in one among the carriages find room for Harriet also.

Harriet, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Knightley, their own especial set, were the sole persons invited to satisfy them — the hours were to be early, also because the numbers few; Mr. Woodhouse’s habits and inclination being consulted in every thing.

The evening before this great event (for it had been a really great event that Mr. Woodhouse should eat out , on the 24th of December) had been spent by Harriet at Hartfield, and she or he had gone home such a lot indisposed with a chilly , that, except for her own earnest wish of being nursed by Mrs. Goddard, Emma couldn't have allowed her to go away the house. Emma called on her subsequent day, and located her doom already signed with reference to Randalls. She was very feverish and had a nasty sore throat: Mrs. Goddard was filled with care and affection, Mr. Perry was talked of, and Harriet herself was too ill and low to resist the authority which excluded her from this delightful engagement, though she couldn't speak of her loss without many tears.

Emma sat together with her as long as she could, to attend her in Mrs. Goddard’s unavoidable absences, and lift her spirits by representing what proportion Mr. Elton’s would be depressed when he knew her state; and left her eventually tolerably comfortable, within the sweet dependence of his having a most comfortless visit, and of their all missing her considerably . She had not advanced many yards from Mrs. Goddard’s door, when she was met by Mr. Elton himself, evidently coming towards it, and as they walked on slowly together in conversation about the invalid — of whom he, on the rumour of considerable illness, had been getting to inquire, that he might carry some report of her to Hartfield — they were overtaken by Mr. John Knightley coming back from the daily visit to Donwell, together with his two eldest boys, whose healthy, glowing faces shewed all the advantage of a rustic run, and appeared to ensure a fast despatch of the roast mutton and rice pudding they were hastening home for. They joined company and proceeded together. Emma was just describing the character of her friend’s complaint — “a throat considerably inflamed, with an excellent deal of warmth about her, a quick, low pulse, &c. and she or he was sorry to seek out from Mrs. Goddard that Harriet was susceptible to very bad sore-throats, and had often alarmed her with them.” Mr. Elton looked all alarm on the occasion, as he exclaimed,

“A sore-throat! — I hope not infectious. I hope not of a putrid infectious sort. Has Perry seen her? Indeed you ought to lookout of yourself also as of your friend. Let me entreat you to run no risks. Why doesn't Perry see her?”

Emma, who wasn't really in the least frightened herself, tranquillised this more than apprehension by assurances of Mrs. Goddard’s experience and care; but as there must still remain a degree of uneasiness which she couldn't wish to reason away, which she would rather feed and assist than not, she added soon afterwards — as if quite another subject,

“It is so cold, so very cold — and appears and feels so considerably like snow, that if it were to the other place or with the other party, I should really try to not leave to-day — and dissuade my father from venturing; but as he has made up his mind, and doesn't seem to feel the cold himself, I don't wish to interfere, as i do know it might be so great a disappointment to Mr. and Mrs. Weston. But, upon my word, Mr. Elton, in your case, I should certainly excuse myself. You appear to me a touch hoarse already, and once you consider what demand of voice and what fatigues to-morrow will bring, i feel it might be no quite common prudence to remain reception and lookout of yourself to-night.”

Mr. Elton looked as if he didn't alright know what answer to make; which was precisely the case; for though considerably gratified by the type care of such a good lady, and not liking to resist any advice of her’s, he had not really the smallest amount inclination to offer up the visit — but Emma, too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to listen to him impartially, or see him with clear vision, was alright satisfied together with his muttering acknowledgment of its being “very cold, certainly very cold,” and walked on, rejoicing in having extricated him from Randalls, and secured him the facility of sending to inquire after Harriet every hour of the evening.

“You do quite right,” said she — ”we will make your apologies to Mr. and Mrs. Weston.”

But hardly had she so spoken, when she found her brother was civilly offering a seat in his carriage, if the weather were Mr. Elton’s only objection, and Mr. Elton actually accepting the offer with much prompt satisfaction. it had been a done thing; Mr. Elton was to travel , and never had his broad handsome face expressed more pleasure than at this moment; never had his smile been stronger, nor his eyes more exulting than when he next checked out her.

“Well,” said she to herself, “this is most strange! — After I had got him off so well, to chuse to travel into company, and leave Harriet ill behind! — Most strange indeed! — But there's , I believe, in many men, especially single men, such an inclination — such a passion for dining out — a dinner engagement is so high within the class of their pleasures, their employments, their dignities, almost their duties, that any thing gives thanks to it — and this must be the case with Mr. Elton; a most precious , amiable, pleasing young man undoubtedly, and really much crazy with Harriet; but still, he cannot refuse a call for participation , he must eat out wherever he's asked. What a wierd thing love is! he can see ready wit in Harriet, but won't dine alone for her.”

Soon afterwards Mr. Elton quitted them, and she or he couldn't but do him the justice of feeling that there was an excellent deal of sentiment in his manner of naming Harriet at parting; within the tone of his voice while assuring her that he should out in Mrs. Goddard’s for news of her fair friend, the last item before he prepared for the happiness of meeting her again, when he hoped to be ready to provides a better report; and he sighed and smiled himself off during a way that left the balance of approbation much in his favour.

After a couple of minutes of entire silence between them, John Knightley began with —

“I never in my life saw a person more bent being agreeable than Mr. Elton. it's downright labour to him where ladies are concerned. With men he are often rational and unaffected, but when he has ladies to please, every feature works.”

“Mr. Elton’s manners aren't perfect,” replied Emma; “but where there's a wish to please, one need to overlook, and one does overlook an excellent deal. Where a person does his best with only moderate powers, he will have the advantage over negligent superiority. there's such perfect good-temper and good-will in Mr. Elton together cannot but value.”

“Yes,” said Mr. John Knightley presently, with some slyness, “he seems to possess an excellent deal of good-will towards you.”

“Me!” she replied with a smile of astonishment, “are you imagining me to be Mr. Elton’s object?”

“Such an imagination has crossed me, I own, Emma; and if it never occurred to you before, you'll also take it into consideration now.”

“Mr. Elton crazy with me! — What an idea!”

“I don't say it's so; but you'll had best to think about whether it's so or not, and to manage your behaviour accordingly. i feel your manners to him encouraging. I speak as a lover , Emma. You had better look about you, and ascertain what you are doing , and what you mean to try to to .”

“I thank you; but I assure you you're quite mistaken. Mr. Elton and that i are excellent friends, and zip more;” and she or he walked on, amusing herself within the consideration of the blunders which frequently arise from a partial knowledge of circumstances, of the mistakes which individuals of high pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into; and not alright pleased together with her brother for imagining her blind and ignorant, and in want of counsel. He said no more.

Mr. Woodhouse had so completely made up his mind to the visit, that in spite of the increasing coldness, he appeared to haven't any idea of shrinking from it, and set forward eventually most punctually together with his eldest daughter in his own carriage, with less apparent consciousness of the weather than either of the others; too filled with the wonder of his own going, and therefore the pleasure it had been to afford at Randalls to ascertain that it had been cold, and too well wrapt up to feel it. The cold, however, was severe; and by the time the second carriage was in motion, a couple of flakes of snow were finding their way down, and therefore the sky had the looks of being so overcharged on want only a milder air to supply a really white world during a very short time.

Emma soon saw that her companion wasn't within the happiest humour. The preparing and therefore the going abroad in such weather, with the sacrifice of his children after dinner, were evils, were disagreeables a minimum of , which Mr. John Knightley didn't by any means like; he anticipated nothing within the visit that would be in the least well worth the purchase; and therefore the whole of their drive to the vicarage was spent by him in expressing his discontent.

“A man,” said he, “must have a really good opinion of himself when he asks people to go away their own fireside, and encounter such each day as this, for the sake of coming to ascertain him. He must think himself a most agreeable fellow; I couldn't do such a thing. it's the best absurdity — Actually snowing at this moment! — The folly of not allowing people to be comfortable reception — and therefore the folly of people’s not staying comfortably reception once they can! If we were obliged to travel out such a night as this, by any call of duty or business, what a hardship we should always deem it — and here are we, probably with rather thinner clothing than usual, setting forward voluntarily, without excuse, in defiance of the voice of nature, which tells man, in every thing given to his view or his feelings, to remain reception himself, and keep all under shelter that he can — here are we setting forward to spend five dull hours in another man’s house, with nothing to mention or to listen to that wasn't said and heard yesterday, and should not be said and heard again to-morrow. getting into dismal weather, to return probably in worse — four horses and 4 servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle, shivering creatures into colder rooms and worse company than they could have had reception .”

Emma didn't find herself adequate to give the pleased assent, which little question he was within the habit of receiving, to emulate the “Very true, my love,” which must are usually administered by his travelling companion; but she had resolution enough to refrain from making any answer in the least . She couldn't be complying, she dreaded being quarrelsome; her heroism reached only to silence. She allowed him to speak , and arranged the glasses, and wrapped herself up, without opening her lips.

They arrived, the carriage turned, the step was disappointed , and Mr. Elton, spruce, black, and smiling, was with them instantly. Emma thought with pleasure of some change of subject. Mr. Elton was all obligation and cheerfulness; he was so very cheerful in his civilities indeed, that she began to think he must have received a special account of Harriet from what had reached her. She had sent while dressing, and therefore the answer had been, “Much an equivalent — not better.”

“My report from Mrs. Goddard’s,” said she presently, “was not so pleasant as I had hoped —‘Not better’ was my answer.”

His face lengthened immediately; and his voice was the voice of sentiment as he answered.

“Oh! no — i'm grieved to seek out — i used to be on the purpose of telling you that once I called at Mrs. Goddard’s door, which I did the previous thing before I returned to decorate , i used to be told that Miss Smith wasn't better, by no means better, rather worse. considerably grieved and anxious — I had flattered myself that she must be better after such a cordial as I knew had been given her within the morning.”

Emma smiled and answered —”My visit was of use to the nervous a part of her complaint, I hope; but not even I can charm away a sore throat; it's a most severe cold indeed. Mr. Perry has been together with her , as you almost certainly heard.”

“Yes — I imagined — that's — I didn't —”

“He has been wont to her in these complaints, and that i hope to-morrow morning will bring us both a easier report. But it's impossible to not feel uneasiness. Such a tragic loss to our party to-day!”

“Dreadful! — Exactly so, indeed. — she is going to be missed every moment.”

This was very proper; the sigh which accompanied it had been really estimable; but it should have lasted longer. Emma was rather in dismay when only half a moment afterwards he began to talk of other things, and during a voice of the best alacrity and delight .

“What a superb device,” said he, “the use of a sheepskin for carriages. How very comfortable they create it — impossible to feel cold with such precautions. The contrivances of recent days indeed have rendered a gentleman’s carriage perfectly complete. One is so fenced and guarded from the weather, that not a breath of air can find its way unpermitted. Weather becomes absolutely of no consequence. it's a really cold afternoon — but during this carriage we all know nothing of the matter. — Ha! snows a touch I see.”

“Yes,” said John Knightley, “and i feel we shall have an honest deal of it.”

“Christmas weather,” observed Mr. Elton. “Quite seasonable; and very fortunate we might imagine ourselves that it didn't begin yesterday, and stop this day’s party, which it'd very possibly have done, for Mr. Woodhouse would hardly have ventured had there been much snow on the ground; but now it's of no consequence. this is often quite the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmas every one invites their friends about them, and other people think little of even the worst weather. i used to be snowed up at a friend’s house once for every week . Nothing might be pleasanter. I went for less than one night, and will not escape till that very day se’nnight.”

Mr. John Knightley looked as if he didn't comprehend the pleasure, but said only, coolly,

“I cannot wish to be snowed up every week at Randalls.”

At once more Emma may need been amused, but she was an excessive amount of astonished now at Mr. Elton’s spirits for other feelings. Harriet seemed quite forgotten within the expectation of a pleasing party.

“We are sure of fantastic fires,” continued he, “and every thing within the greatest comfort. Charming people, Mr. and Mrs. Weston — Mrs. Weston indeed is far beyond praise, and he's exactly what one values, so hospitable, then keen on society — it'll be alittle party, but where small parties are select, they're perhaps the foremost agreeable of any. Mr. Weston’s dining-room doesn't accommodate quite ten comfortably; and for my part, i might rather, under such circumstances, come short by two than exceed by two. i feel you'll accept as true with me, (turning with a soft air to Emma,) i feel I shall certainly have your approbation, though Mr. Knightley perhaps, from getting used to the massive parties of London, might not quite enter into our feelings.”

“I ignoramus of the massive parties of London, sir — I never dine with any body.”

“Indeed! (in a tone of wonder and pity,) I had no concept the law had been so great a slavery. Well, sir, the time must come once you are going to be purchased all this, once you will have little labour and great enjoyment.”

“My first enjoyment,” replied John Knightley, as they skilled the sweep-gate, “will be to seek out myself safe at Hartfield again.”