Volume I: Chapter XIII

by Jane Austen

　　There could hardly be a happier creature in the world than Mrs. JohnKnightley, in this short visit to Hartfield, going about every morningamong her old acquaintance with her five children, and talkingover what she had done every evening with her father and sister.She had nothing to wish otherwise, but that the days did not passso swiftly. It was a delightful visit;--perfect, in being much too short.

　　In general their evenings were less engaged with friends thantheir mornings; but one complete dinner engagement, and outof the house too, there was no avoiding, though at Christmas.Mr. Weston would take no denial; they must all dine at Randallsone day;--even Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded to think it a possiblething in preference to a division of the party.

　　How they were all to be conveyed, he would have made a difficultyif he could, but as his son and daughter's carriage and horseswere actually at Hartfield, he was not able to make more thana simple question on that head; it hardly amounted to a doubt;nor did it occupy Emma long to convince him that they might in oneof the carriages find room for Harriet also.

　　Harriet, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Knightley, their own especial set,were the only persons invited to meet them;--the hours were to be early,as well as the numbers few; Mr. Woodhouse's habits and inclinationbeing consulted in every thing.

　　The evening before this great event (for it was a very great eventthat Mr. Woodhouse should dine out, on the 24th of December) had beenspent by Harriet at Hartfield, and she had gone home so much indisposedwith a cold, that, but for her own earnest wish of being nursedby Mrs. Goddard, Emma could not have allowed her to leave the house.Emma called on her the next day, and found her doom already signedwith regard to Randalls. She was very feverish and had a badsore throat: Mrs. Goddard was full of care and affection, Mr. Perrywas talked of, and Harriet herself was too ill and low to resistthe authority which excluded her from this delightful engagement,though she could not speak of her loss without many tears.

　　Emma sat with her as long as she could, to attend her in Mrs. Goddard'sunavoidable absences, and raise her spirits by representing how muchMr. Elton's would be depressed when he knew her state; and left herat last tolerably comfortable, in the sweet dependence of his havinga most comfortless visit, and of their all missing her very much.She had not advanced many yards from Mrs. Goddard's door, when shewas met by Mr. Elton himself, evidently coming towards it, and asthey walked on slowly together in conversation about the invalid--of whom he, on the rumour of considerable illness, had been goingto inquire, that he might carry some report of her to Hartfield--they were overtaken by Mr. John Knightley returning from thedaily visit to Donwell, with his two eldest boys, whose healthy,glowing faces shewed all the benefit of a country run, and seemedto ensure a quick despatch of the roast mutton and rice pudding theywere hastening home for. They joined company and proceeded together.Emma was just describing the nature of her friend's complaint;--"a throat very much inflamed, with a great deal of heat about her,a quick, low pulse, &c. and she was sorry to find from Mrs. Goddardthat Harriet was liable to very bad sore-throats, and had oftenalarmed 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 putridinfectious sort. Has Perry seen her? Indeed you should take careof yourself as well as of your friend. Let me entreat you to runno risks. Why does not Perry see her?"

　　Emma, who was not really at all frightened herself, tranquillised thisexcess of apprehension by assurances of Mrs. Goddard's experienceand care; but as there must still remain a degree of uneasinesswhich she could not wish to reason away, which she would ratherfeed and assist than not, she added soon afterwards--as if quiteanother subject,

　　"It is so cold, so very cold--and looks and feels so very muchlike snow, that if it were to any other place or with any other party,I should really try not to go out to-day--and dissuade my fatherfrom venturing; but as he has made up his mind, and does not seemto feel the cold himself, I do not like to interfere, as I know itwould be so great a disappointment to Mr. and Mrs. Weston. But, uponmy word, Mr. Elton, in your case, I should certainly excuse myself.You appear to me a little hoarse already, and when you considerwhat demand of voice and what fatigues to-morrow will bring,I think it would be no more than common prudence to stay at homeand take care of yourself to-night."

　　Mr. Elton looked as if he did not very well know what answer to make;which was exactly the case; for though very much gratified by the kindcare of such a fair lady, and not liking to resist any advice ofher's, he had not really the least inclination to give up the visit;--but Emma, too eager and busy in her own previous conceptionsand views to hear him impartially, or see him with clear vision,was very well satisfied with his muttering acknowledgment of itsbeing "very cold, certainly very cold," and walked on, rejoicing inhaving extricated him from Randalls, and secured him the powerof sending to inquire after Harriet every hour of the evening.

　　"You do quite right," said she;--"we will make your apologiesto Mr. and Mrs. Weston."

　　But hardly had she so spoken, when she found her brother was civillyoffering a seat in his carriage, if the weather were Mr. Elton'sonly objection, and Mr. Elton actually accepting the offer with muchprompt satisfaction. It was a done thing; Mr. Elton was to go,and never had his broad handsome face expressed more pleasure thanat this moment; never had his smile been stronger, nor his eyesmore exulting than when he next looked at her.

　　"Well," said she to herself, "this is most strange!--After Ihad got him off so well, to chuse to go into company, and leaveHarriet ill behindBut there is, I believe,in many men, especially single men, such an inclination--such a passion for dining out--a dinner engagement is so high inthe class of their pleasures, their employments, their dignities,almost their duties, that any thing gives way to it--and this mustbe the case with Mr. Elton; a most valuable, amiable, pleasing youngman undoubtedly, and very much in love with Harriet; but still,he cannot refuse an invitation, he must dine out wherever he is asked.What a strange thing love is! he can see ready wit in Harriet,but will not dine alone for her."

　　Soon afterwards Mr. Elton quitted them, and she could not but do himthe justice of feeling that there was a great deal of sentimentin his manner of naming Harriet at parting; in the tone of hisvoice while assuring her that he should call at Mrs. Goddard'sfor news of her fair friend, the last thing before he preparedfor the happiness of meeting her again, when he hoped to beable to give a better report; and he sighed and smiled himselfoff in a way that left the balance of approbation much in his favour.

　　After a few minutes of entire silence between them, John Knightleybegan with--

　　"I never in my life saw a man more intent on being agreeable thanMr. Elton. It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned.With men he can be rational and unaffected, but when he has ladiesto please, every feature works."

　　"Mr. Elton's manners are not perfect," replied Emma; "but where thereis a wish to please, one ought to overlook, and one does overlooka great deal. Where a man does his best with only moderate powers,he will have the advantage over negligent superiority. There issuch perfect good-temper and good-will in Mr. Elton as one cannotbut value."

　　"Yes," said Mr. John Knightley presently, with some slyness,"he seems to have a great deal of good-will towards you."

　　"Me!" she replied with a smile of astonishment, "are you imaginingme to be Mr. Elton's object?"

　　"Such an imagination has crossed me, I own, Emma; and if it neveroccurred to you before, you may as well take it into consideration now."

　　"Mr. Elton in love with me!--What an idea!"

　　"I do not say it is so; but you will do well to consider whetherit is so or not, and to regulate your behaviour accordingly.I think your manners to him encouraging. I speak as a friend,Emma. You had better look about you, and ascertain what you do,and what you mean to do."

　　"I thank you; but I assure you you are quite mistaken. Mr. Eltonand I are very good friends, and nothing more;" and she walked on,amusing herself in the consideration of the blunders which oftenarise from a partial knowledge of circumstances, of the mistakeswhich people of high pretensions to judgment are for ever falling into;and not very well pleased with her brother for imagining her blindand 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 seemed to have no ideaof shrinking from it, and set forward at last most punctuallywith his eldest daughter in his own carriage, with less apparentconsciousness of the weather than either of the others; too fullof the wonder of his own going, and the pleasure it was to afford atRandalls to see that it was cold, and too well wrapt up to feel it.The cold, however, was severe; and by the time the second carriagewas in motion, a few flakes of snow were finding their way down,and the sky had the appearance of being so overcharged as to want onlya milder air to produce a very white world in a very short time.

　　Emma soon saw that her companion was not in the happiest humour.The preparing and the going abroad in such weather, with the sacrificeof his children after dinner, were evils, were disagreeables at least,which Mr. John Knightley did not by any means like; he anticipatednothing in the visit that could be at all worth the purchase;and the whole of their drive to the vicarage was spent by him inexpressing his discontent.

　　"A man," said he, "must have a very good opinion of himself whenhe asks people to leave their own fireside, and encounter sucha day as this, for the sake of coming to see him. He must thinkhimself a most agreeable fellow; I could not do such a thing.It is the greatest absurdity--Actually snowing at this moment!--The folly of not allowing people to be comfortable at home--and thefolly of people's not staying comfortably at home when they can!If we were obliged to go out such an evening as this, by any call ofduty or business, what a hardship we should deem it;--and here are we,probably with rather thinner clothing than usual, setting forwardvoluntarily, without excuse, in defiance of the voice of nature,which tells man, in every thing given to his view or his feelings,to stay at home himself, and keep all under shelter that he can;--here are we setting forward to spend five dull hours in anotherman's house, with nothing to say or to hear that was not saidand heard yesterday, and may not be said and heard again to-morrow.Going in dismal weather, to return probably in worse;--four horsesand four servants taken out for nothing but to convey five idle,shivering creatures into colder rooms and worse company than theymight have had at home."

　　Emma did not find herself equal to give the pleased assent, which no doubthe was in the habit of receiving, to emulate the "Very true, my love,"which must have been usually administered by his travelling companion;but she had resolution enough to refrain from making any answerat all. She could not be complying, she dreaded being quarrelsome;her heroism reached only to silence. She allowed him to talk,and arranged the glasses, and wrapped herself up, without openingher lips.

　　They arrived, the carriage turned, the step was let down,and Mr. Elton, spruce, black, and smiling, was with them instantly.Emma thought with pleasure of some change of subject. Mr. Eltonwas all obligation and cheerfulness; he was so very cheerfulin his civilities indeed, that she began to think he must havereceived a different account of Harriet from what had reached her.She had sent while dressing, and the answer had been, "Much the same--not better."

　　"My report from Mrs. Goddard's," said she presently, "was notso pleasant as I had hoped--`Not better' was my answer."

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

　　"Oh! no--I am grieved to find--I was on the point of telling you thatwhen I called at Mrs. Goddard's door, which I did the very last thingbefore I returned to dress, I was told that Miss Smith was not better,by no means better, rather worse. Very much grieved and concerned--I had flattered myself that she must be better after such a cordialas I knew had been given her in the morning."

　　Emma smiled and answered--"My visit was of use to the nervous partof her complaint, I hope; but not even I can charm away a sore throat;it is a most severe cold indeed. Mr. Perry has been with her,as you probably heard."

　　"Yes--I imagined--that is--I did not--"

　　"He has been used to her in these complaints, and I hope to-morrowmorning will bring us both a more comfortable report. But it isimpossible not to feel uneasiness. Such a sad loss to our party to-day!"

　　"DreadfulShe will be missed every moment."

　　This was very proper; the sigh which accompanied it was really estimable;but it should have lasted longer. Emma was rather in dismay whenonly half a minute afterwards he began to speak of other things,and in a voice of the greatest alacrity and enjoyment.

　　"What an excellent device," said he, "the use of a sheepskinfor carriages. How very comfortable they make it;--impossible tofeel cold with such precautions. The contrivances of modern daysindeed have rendered a gentleman's carriage perfectly complete.One is so fenced and guarded from the weather, that not a breathof air can find its way unpermitted. Weather becomes absolutelyof no consequence. It is a very cold afternoon--but in this carriagewe know nothing of the matter.--Ha! snows a little I see."

　　"Yes," said John Knightley, "and I think we shall have a good dealof it."

　　"Christmas weather," observed Mr. Elton. "Quite seasonable;and extremely fortunate we may think ourselves that it did notbegin yesterday, and prevent this day's party, which it might verypossibly have done, for Mr. Woodhouse would hardly have ventured hadthere been much snow on the ground; but now it is of no consequence.This is quite the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmasevery body invites their friends about them, and people think littleof even the worst weather. I was snowed up at a friend's house oncefor a week. Nothing could be pleasanter. I went for only one night,and could not get away till that very day se'nnight."

　　Mr. John Knightley looked as if he did not comprehend the pleasure,but said only, coolly,

　　"I cannot wish to be snowed up a week at Randalls."

　　At another time Emma might have been amused, but she was toomuch astonished now at Mr. Elton's spirits for other feelings.Harriet seemed quite forgotten in the expectation of a pleasant party.

　　"We are sure of excellent fires," continued he, "and every thingin the greatest comfort. Charming people, Mr. and Mrs. Weston;--Mrs. Weston indeed is much beyond praise, and he is exactlywhat one values, so hospitable, and so fond of society;--it will be a small party, but where small parties are select,they are perhaps the most agreeable of any. Mr. Weston's dining-roomdoes not accommodate more than ten comfortably; and for my part,I would rather, under such circumstances, fall short by two thanexceed by two. I think you will agree with me, (turning with a softair to Emma,) I think I shall certainly have your approbation,though Mr. Knightley perhaps, from being used to the large partiesof London, may not quite enter into our feelings."

　　"I know nothing of the large parties of London, sir--I never dinewith any body."

　　"Indeed! (in a tone of wonder and pity,) I had no idea that thelaw had been so great a slavery. Well, sir, the time must comewhen you will be paid for all this, when you will have littlelabour and great enjoyment."

　　"My first enjoyment," replied John Knightley, as they passed throughthe sweep-gate, "will be to find myself safe at Hartfield again."