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
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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)

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‘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.