Emma by Jane Austen(10)

She had hoped for an answer here—for a few words to
say that her conduct was at least intelligible; but he was
silent; and, as far as she could judge, deep in thought. At
last, and tolerably in his usual tone, he said,
‘I have never had a high opinion of Frank Churchill.—
I can suppose, however, that I may have underrated him.
My acquaintance with him has been but trifling.—And
even if I have not underrated him hitherto, he may yet
turn out well.—With such a woman he has a chance.—I
have no motive for wishing him ill—and for her sake,
whose happiness will be involved in his good character
and conduct, I shall certainly wish him well.’
‘I have no doubt of their being happy together,’ said
Emma; ‘I believe them to be very mutually and very
sincerely attached.’
‘He is a most fortunate man!’ returned Mr. Knightley,
with energy. ‘So early in life—at three-and-twenty—a
period when, if a man chuses a wife, he generally chuses
ill. At three-and-twenty to have drawn such a prize! What
years of felicity that man, in all human calculation, has
before him!—Assured of the love of such a woman—the
disinterested love, for Jane Fairfax’s character vouches for
her disinterestedness; every thing in his favour,— equality
of situation—I mean, as far as regards society, and all the
Emma
656 of 745

Emma by Jane Austen(9)

‘I am glad I have done being in love with him. I should
not like a man who is so soon discomposed by a hot
morning. Harriet’s sweet easy temper will not mind it.’
He was gone long enough to have had a very
comfortable meal, and came back all the better—grown
quite cool—and, with good manners, like himself—able to
draw a chair close to them, take an interest in their
employment; and regret, in a reasonable way, that he
should be so late. He was not in his best spirits, but
seemed trying to improve them; and, at last, made himself
talk nonsense very agreeably. They were looking over
views in Swisserland.
‘As soon as my aunt gets well, I shall go abroad,’ said
he. ‘I shall never be easy till I have seen some of these
places. You will have my sketches, some time or other, to
look at—or my tour to read—or my poem. I shall do
something to expose myself.’
‘That may be—but not by sketches in Swisserland. You

Emma by Jane Austen(8)

‘You may well class the delight, the honour, and the
comfort of such a situation together,’ said Jane, ‘they are
pretty sure to be equal; however, I am very serious in not
wishing any thing to be attempted at present for me. I am
exceedingly obliged to you, Mrs. Elton, I am obliged to
any body who feels for me, but I am quite serious in
wishing nothing to be done till the summer. For two or
three months longer I shall remain where I am, and as I
am.’
‘And I am quite serious too, I assure you,’ replied Mrs.
Elton gaily, ‘in resolving to be always on the watch, and
Emma
459 of 745
employing my friends to watch also, that nothing really
unexceptionable may pass us.’
In this style she ran on; never thoroughly stopped by
any thing till Mr. Woodhouse came into the room; her
vanity had then a change of object, and Emma heard her
saying in the same half-whisper to Jane,

Emma by Jane Austen(7)

know, thinks more of his master’s profit than any thing;
but Mrs. Hodges, he said, was quite displeased at their
being all sent away. She could not bear that her master
should not be able to have another apple-tart this spring.
He told Patty this, but bid her not mind it, and be sure
not to say any thing to us about it, for Mrs. Hodges would
be cross sometimes, and as long as so many sacks were
sold, it did not signify who ate the remainder. And so
Patty told me, and I was excessively shocked indeed! I
would not have Mr. Knightley know any thing about it
for the world! He would be so very…. I wanted to keep it
from Jane’s knowledge; but, unluckily, I had mentioned it
before I was aware.’
Miss Bates had just done as Patty opened the door; and
her visitors walked upstairs without having any regular
narration to attend to, pursued only by the sounds of her
desultory good-will.
‘Pray take care, Mrs. Weston, there is a step at the
turning. Pray take care, Miss Woodhouse, ours is rather a
dark staircase— rather darker and narrower than one could
wish. Miss Smith, pray take care. Miss Woodhouse, I am
quite concerned, I am sure you hit your foot. Miss Smith,

Emma by Jane Austen(6)

279 of 745
if they had understanding, should convince them that it
was to be only a formal acquaintance. She meant to take
her in the carriage, leave her at the Abbey Mill, while she
drove a little farther, and call for her again so soon, as to
allow no time for insidious applications or dangerous
recurrences to the past, and give the most decided proof of
what degree of intimacy was chosen for the future.
She could think of nothing better: and though there
was something in it which her own heart could not
approve—something of ingratitude, merely glossed over—
it must be done, or what would become of Harriet?
eBook brought to you by
Create, view, and edit PDF. Download the free trial version.
Emma
280 of 745

Emma by Jane Austen(5)

Emma’s project of forgetting Mr. Elton for a while
made her rather sorry to find, when they had all taken
their places, that he was close to her. The difficulty was
great of driving his strange insensibility towards Harriet,
from her mind, while he not only sat at her elbow, but
was continually obtruding his happy countenance on her
notice, and solicitously addressing her upon every
occasion. Instead of forgetting him, his behaviour was such
that she could not avoid the internal suggestion of ‘Can it
Emma
179 of 745
really be as my brother imagined? can it be possible for this
man to be beginning to transfer his affections from Harriet
to me?—Absurd and insufferable!’— Yet he would be so
anxious for her being perfectly warm, would be so
interested about her father, and so delighted with Mrs.
Weston; and at last would begin admiring her drawings
with so much zeal and so little knowledge as seemed
terribly like a would-be lover, and made it some effort

Emma by Jane Austen(4)

Emma
128 of 745
‘My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to
induce me to marry; I must find other people charming—
one other person at least. And I am not only, not going to
be married, at present, but have very little intention of
ever marrying at all.’
‘Ah!—so you say; but I cannot believe it.’
‘I must see somebody very superior to any one I have
seen yet, to be tempted; Mr. Elton, you know,
(recollecting herself,) is out of the question: and I do not
wish to see any such person. I would rather not be
tempted. I cannot really change for the better. If I were to
marry, I must expect to repent it.’
‘Dear me!—it is so odd to hear a woman talk so!’—
‘I have none of the usual inducements of women to
marry. Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a
different thing! but I never have been in love; it is not my
way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And,

Emma by Jane Austen(3)

of her disposition. Her character depends upon those she is
with; but in good hands she will turn out a valuable
woman.’
‘I am glad you think so; and the good hands, I hope,
may not be wanting.’
‘Come,’ said he, ‘you are anxious for a compliment, so
I will tell you that you have improved her. You have
cured her of her school-girl’s giggle; she really does you
credit.’
‘Thank you. I should be mortified indeed if I did not
believe I had been of some use; but it is not every body
who will bestow praise where they may. You do not often
overpower me with it.’
‘You are expecting her again, you say, this morning?’
‘Almost every moment. She has been gone longer
already than she intended.’
‘Something has happened to delay her; some visitors
perhaps.’
‘Highbury gossips!—Tiresome wretches!’
‘Harriet may not consider every body tiresome that you
would.’
Emma knew this was too true for contradiction, and
therefore said nothing. He presently added, with a smile,

Emma by Jane Austen(2)

serious difficulty, on Harriet’s side, to oppose any friendly
arrangement of her own.
They met Mr. Martin the very next day, as they were
walking on the Donwell road. He was on foot, and after
looking very respectfully at her, looked with most
unfeigned satisfaction at her companion. Emma was not
sorry to have such an opportunity of survey; and walking a
few yards forward, while they talked together, soon made
her quick eye sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Robert
Martin. His appearance was very neat, and he looked like
a sensible young man, but his person had no other
advantage; and when he came to be contrasted with
gentlemen, she thought he must lose all the ground he had
gained in Harriet’s inclination. Harriet was not insensible
of manner; she had voluntarily noticed her father’s
gentleness with admiration as well as wonder. Mr. Martin
looked as if he did not know what manner was.
They remained but a few minutes together, as Miss
Woodhouse must not be kept waiting; and Harriet then
came running to her with a smiling face, and in a flutter of
spirits, which Miss Woodhouse hoped very soon to
compose.

Emma by Jane Austen(1)

Emma
2 of 745
Volume I
Emma
3 of 745
Chapter I
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a
comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite
some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived
nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to
distress or vex her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most
affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of
her sister’s marriage, been mistress of his house from a very
early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to
have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses;
and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as
governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in
affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr.
Woodhouse’s family, less as a governess than a friend, very
fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma.
Between them it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even
before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office
of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly
allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of
authority being now long passed away, they had been
living together as friend and friend very mutually attached,
eBook brought to you by
Create, view, and edit PDF. Download the free trial version.
Emma
4 of 745