Volume II: Chapter XV

by Jane Austen

　　Emma was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her illopinion of Mrs. Elton. Her observation had been pretty correct.Such as Mrs. Elton appeared to her on this second interview,such she appeared whenever they met again,--self-important, presuming,familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred. She had a little beauty and alittle accomplishment, but so little judgment that she thought herselfcoming with superior knowledge of the world, to enliven and improvea country neighbourhood; and conceived Miss Hawkins to have heldsuch a place in society as Mrs. Elton's consequence only could surpass.

　　There was no reason to suppose Mr. Elton thought at all differentlyfrom his wife. He seemed not merely happy with her, but proud.He had the air of congratulating himself on having brought sucha woman to Highbury, as not even Miss Woodhouse could equal;and the greater part of her new acquaintance, disposed to commend,or not in the habit of judging, following the lead of Miss Bates'sgood-will, or taking it for granted that the bride must be as cleverand as agreeable as she professed herself, were very well satisfied;so that Mrs. Elton's praise passed from one mouth to another as itought to do, unimpeded by Miss Woodhouse, who readily continued herfirst contribution and talked with a good grace of her being "verypleasant and very elegantly dressed."

　　In one respect Mrs. Elton grew even worse than she had appearedat first. Her feelings altered towards Emma.--Offended, probably,by the little encouragement which her proposals of intimacy met with,she drew back in her turn and gradually became much more coldand distant; and though the effect was agreeable, the ill-willwhich produced it was necessarily increasing Emma's dislike.Her manners, too--and Mr. Elton's, were unpleasant towards Harriet.They were sneering and negligent. Emma hoped it must rapidly workHarriet's cure; but the sensations which could prompt such behavioursunk them both very much.--It was not to be doubted that poorHarriet's attachment had been an offering to conjugal unreserve,and her own share in the story, under a colouring the least favourableto her and the most soothing to him, had in all likelihood beengiven also. She was, of course, the object of their joint dislike.--When they had nothing else to say, it must be always easy to beginabusing Miss Woodhouse; and the enmity which they dared not shewin open disrespect to her, found a broader vent in contemptuoustreatment of Harriet.

　　Mrs. Elton took a great fancy to Jane Fairfax; and from the first.Not merely when a state of warfare with one young lady might besupposed to recommend the other, but from the very first; and shewas not satisfied with expressing a natural and reasonable admiration--but without solicitation, or plea, or privilege, she must be wantingto assist and befriend her.--Before Emma had forfeited her confidence,and about the third time of their meeting, she heard all Mrs. Elton'sknight-errantry on the subject.--

　　"Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming, Miss Woodhouse.--I quiterave about Jane Fairfax.--A sweet, interesting creature. So mildand ladylike--and with such talents!--I assure you I think shehas very extraordinary talents. I do not scruple to say that sheplays extremely well. I know enough of music to speak decidedlyon that point. Oh! she is absolutely charming! You will laugh atmy warmth--but, upon my word, I talk of nothing but Jane Fairfax.--And her situation is so calculated to affect one!--Miss Woodhouse,we must exert ourselves and endeavour to do something for her.We must bring her forward. Such talent as hers must not be sufferedto remain unknown.--I dare say you have heard those charming lines ofthe poet,

　　`Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, `And waste its fragrance on the desert air.'We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax."

　　"I cannot think there is any danger of it," was Emma's calm answer--"and when you are better acquainted with Miss Fairfax's situationand understand what her home has been, with Colonel and Mrs. Campbell,I have no idea that you will suppose her talents can be unknown."

　　"Oh! but dear Miss Woodhouse, she is now in such retirement,such obscurity, so thrown away.--Whatever advantages she may haveenjoyed with the Campbells are so palpably at an end! And I thinkshe feels it. I am sure she does. She is very timid and silent.One can see that she feels the want of encouragement. I like herthe better for it. I must confess it is a recommendation to me.I am a great advocate for timidity--and I am sure one doesnot often meet with it.--But in those who are at all inferior,it is extremely prepossessing. Oh! I assure you, Jane Fairfaxis a very delightful character, and interests me more than Ican express."

　　"You appear to feel a great deal--but I am not aware how you or anyof Miss Fairfax's acquaintance here, any of those who have knownher longer than yourself, can shew her any other attention than"--

　　"My dear Miss Woodhouse, a vast deal may be done by those who dareto act. You and I need not be afraid. If we set the example,many will follow it as far as they can; though all have notour situations. We have carriages to fetch and convey her home,and we live in a style which could not make the addition ofJane Fairfax, at any time, the least inconvenient.--I should beextremely displeased if Wright were to send us up such a dinner,as could make me regret having asked more than Jane Fairfaxto partake of it. I have no idea of that sort of thing. It isnot likely that I should, considering what I have been used to.My greatest danger, perhaps, in housekeeping, may be quite theother way, in doing too much, and being too careless of expense.Maple Grove will probably be my model more than it ought to be--for we do not at all affect to equal my brother, Mr. Suckling,in income.--However, my resolution is taken as to noticing Jane Fairfax.--I shall certainly have her very often at my house, shall introduceher wherever I can, shall have musical parties to draw out her talents,and shall be constantly on the watch for an eligible situation.My acquaintance is so very extensive, that I have little doubtof hearing of something to suit her shortly.--I shall introduce her,of course, very particularly to my brother and sister when they cometo us. I am sure they will like her extremely; and when she getsa little acquainted with them, her fears will completely wear off,for there really is nothing in the manners of either but what ishighly conciliating.--I shall have her very often indeed while theyare with me, and I dare say we shall sometimes find a seat for her inthe barouche-landau in some of our exploring parties."

　　"Poor Jane Fairfax!"--thought Emma.--"You have not deserved this.You may have done wrong with regard to Mr. Dixon, but this is apunishment beyond what you can have merited!--The kindness and protectionof Mrs. Elton!--`Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.' Heavens! Let menot suppose that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing me!--But upon my honour, there seems no limits to the licentiousnessof that woman's tongue!"

　　Emma had not to listen to such paradings again--to any so exclusivelyaddressed to herself--so disgustingly decorated with a "dear MissWoodhouse." The change on Mrs. Elton's side soon afterwards appeared,and she was left in peace--neither forced to be the very particularfriend of Mrs. Elton, nor, under Mrs. Elton's guidance, the veryactive patroness of Jane Fairfax, and only sharing with others in ageneral way, in knowing what was felt, what was meditated, what was done.

　　She looked on with some amusement.--Miss Bates's gratitude forMrs. Elton's attentions to Jane was in the first style of guilelesssimplicity and warmth. She was quite one of her worthies--the most amiable, affable, delightful woman--just as accomplishedand condescending as Mrs. Elton meant to be considered.Emma's only surprize was that Jane Fairfax should acceptthose attentions and tolerate Mrs. Elton as she seemed to do.She heard of her walking with the Eltons, sitting with the Eltons,spending a day with the Eltons! This was astonishing!--She could nothave believed it possible that the taste or the pride of Miss Fairfaxcould endure such society and friendship as the Vicarage had to offer.

　　"She is a riddle, quite a riddle!" said she.--"To chuse to remainhere month after month, under privations of every sort! And nowto chuse the mortification of Mrs. Elton's notice and the penuryof her conversation, rather than return to the superior companionswho have always loved her with such real, generous affection."

　　Jane had come to Highbury professedly for three months; the Campbellswere gone to Ireland for three months; but now the Campbellshad promised their daughter to stay at least till Midsummer,and fresh invitations had arrived for her to join them there.According to Miss Bates--it all came from her--Mrs. Dixon hadwritten most pressingly. Would Jane but go, means were to be found,servants sent, friends contrived--no travelling difficulty allowedto exist; but still she had declined it!

　　"She must have some motive, more powerful than appears, for refusingthis invitation," was Emma's conclusion. "She must be under somesort of penance, inflicted either by the Campbells or herself.There is great fear, great caution, great resolution somewhere.--She is not to be with the Dixons. The decree is issued by somebody.But why must she consent to be with the Eltons?--Here is quite aseparate puzzle."

　　Upon her speaking her wonder aloud on that part of the subject,before the few who knew her opinion of Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Westonventured this apology for Jane.

　　"We cannot suppose that she has any great enjoyment at the Vicarage,my dear Emma--but it is better than being always at home.Her aunt is a good creature, but, as a constant companion,must be very tiresome. We must consider what Miss Fairfax quits,before we condemn her taste for what she goes to."

　　"You are right, Mrs. Weston," said Mr. Knightley warmly, "Miss Fairfaxis as capable as any of us of forming a just opinion of Mrs. Elton.Could she have chosen with whom to associate, she would not havechosen her. But (with a reproachful smile at Emma) she receivesattentions from Mrs. Elton, which nobody else pays her."

　　Emma felt that Mrs. Weston was giving her a momentary glance;and she was herself struck by his warmth. With a faint blush,she presently replied,

　　"Such attentions as Mrs. Elton's, I should have imagined,would rather disgust than gratify Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton'sinvitations I should have imagined any thing but inviting."

　　"I should not wonder," said Mrs. Weston, "if Miss Fairfax were to havebeen drawn on beyond her own inclination, by her aunt's eagernessin accepting Mrs. Elton's civilities for her. Poor Miss Bates mayvery likely have committed her niece and hurried her into a greaterappearance of intimacy than her own good sense would have dictated,in spite of the very natural wish of a little change."

　　Both felt rather anxious to hear him speak again; and after a fewminutes silence, he said,

　　"Another thing must be taken into consideration too--Mrs. Eltondoes not talk to Miss Fairfax as she speaks of her. We all knowthe difference between the pronouns he or she and thou, the plainestspoken amongst us; we all feel the influence of a something beyondcommon civility in our personal intercourse with each other--a something more early implanted. We cannot give any body thedisagreeable hints that we may have been very full of the hour before.We feel things differently. And besides the operation of this,as a general principle, you may be sure that Miss Fairfax awesMrs. Elton by her superiority both of mind and manner; and that,face to face, Mrs. Elton treats her with all the respect which shehas a claim to. Such a woman as Jane Fairfax probably never fellin Mrs. Elton's way before--and no degree of vanity can preventher acknowledging her own comparative littleness in action, if notin consciousness."

　　"I know how highly you think of Jane Fairfax," said Emma.Little Henry was in her thoughts, and a mixture of alarm and delicacymade her irresolute what else to say.

　　"Yes," he replied, "any body may know how highly I think of her."

　　"And yet," said Emma, beginning hastily and with an arch look,but soon stopping--it was better, however, to know the worst at once--she hurried on--"And yet, perhaps, you may hardly be aware yourselfhow highly it is. The extent of your admiration may take you bysurprize some day or other."

　　Mr. Knightley was hard at work upon the lower buttons of his thickleather gaiters, and either the exertion of getting them together,or some other cause, brought the colour into his face, as he answered,

　　"Oh! are you there?--But you are miserably behindhand. Mr. Colegave me a hint of it six weeks ago."

　　He stopped.--Emma felt her foot pressed by Mrs. Weston, and didnot herself know what to think. In a moment he went on--

　　"That will never be, however, I can assure you. Miss Fairfax,I dare say, would not have me if I were to ask her--and I am verysure I shall never ask her."

　　Emma returned her friend's pressure with interest; and was pleasedenough to exclaim,

　　"You are not vain, Mr. Knightley. I will say that for you."

　　He seemed hardly to hear her; he was thoughtful--and in a mannerwhich shewed him not pleased, soon afterwards said,

　　"So you have been settling that I should marry Jane Fairfax?"

　　"No indeed I have not. You have scolded me too much for match-making,for me to presume to take such a liberty with you. What I saidjust now, meant nothing. One says those sort of things, of course,without any idea of a serious meaning. Oh! no, upon my word I have notthe smallest wish for your marrying Jane Fairfax or Jane any body.You would not come in and sit with us in this comfortable way,if you were married."

　　Mr. Knightley was thoughtful again. The result of his reverie was,"No, Emma, I do not think the extent of my admiration for her willever take me by surprize.--I never had a thought of her in that way,I assure you." And soon afterwards, "Jane Fairfax is a very charmingyoung woman--but not even Jane Fairfax is perfect. She has a fault.She has not the open temper which a man would wish for in a wife."

　　Emma could not but rejoice to hear that she had a fault."Well," said she, "and you soon silenced Mr. Cole, I suppose?"

　　"Yes, very soon. He gave me a quiet hint; I told him he was mistaken;he asked my pardon and said no more. Cole does not want to be wiseror wittier than his neighbours."

　　"In that respect how unlike dear Mrs. Elton, who wants to be wiserand wittier than all the world! I wonder how she speaks of the Coles--what she calls them! How can she find any appellation for them,deep enough in familiar vulgarity? She calls you, Knightley--what canshe do for Mr. Cole? And so I am not to be surprized that JaneFairfax accepts her civilities and consents to be with her.Mrs. Weston, your argument weighs most with me. I can much morereadily enter into the temptation of getting away from Miss Bates,than I can believe in the triumph of Miss Fairfax's mind overMrs. Elton. I have no faith in Mrs. Elton's acknowledging herselfthe inferior in thought, word, or deed; or in her being under anyrestraint beyond her own scanty rule of good-breeding. I cannotimagine that she will not be continually insulting her visitorwith praise, encouragement, and offers of service; that she will not becontinually detailing her magnificent intentions, from the procuringher a permanent situation to the including her in those delightfulexploring parties which are to take place in the barouche-landau."

　　"Jane Fairfax has feeling," said Mr. Knightley--"I do notaccuse her of want of feeling. Her sensibilities, I suspect,are strong--and her temper excellent in its power of forbearance,patience, self-controul; but it wants openness. She is reserved,more reserved, I think, than she used to be--And I love anopen temper. No--till Cole alluded to my supposed attachment,it had never entered my head. I saw Jane Fairfax and conversed withher, with admiration and pleasure always--but with no thought beyond."

　　"Well, Mrs. Weston," said Emma triumphantly when he left them,"what do you say now to Mr. Knightley's marrying Jane Fairfax?"

　　"Why, really, dear Emma, I say that he is so very much occupiedby the idea of not being in love with her, that I should not wonderif it were to end in his being so at last. Do not beat me."