第26章

Shesoonresolved,equallyasadutyandapleasure,toemployhalfanhourofthisholidayofspiritsincallingonMissFairfax-Sheoughttogo-andshewaslongingtoseeher;theresemblanceoftheirpresentsituationsincreasingeveryothermotiveofgoodwill.Itwouldbeasecretsatisfaction;buttheconsciousnessofasimilarityofprospectwouldcertainlyaddtotheinterestwithwhichsheshouldattendtoanythingJanemightcommunicate.

Shewent-shehaddrivenonceunsuccessfullytothedoor,buthadnotbeenintothehousesincethemorningafterBoxHill,whenpoorJanehadbeeninsuchdistressashadfilledherwithcompassion,thoughalltheworstofhersufferingshadbeenunsuspected-Thefearofbeingstillunwelcome,determinedher,thoughassuredoftheirbeingathome,towaitinthepassage,andsenduphername-SheheardPattyannouncingit;butnosuchbustlesucceededaspoorMissBateshadbeforemadesohappilyintelligible-No;sheheardnothingbuttheinstantreplyof,`Beghertowalkup;\'-andamomentafterwardsshewasmetonthestairsbyJaneherself,comingeagerlyforward,asifnootherreceptionofherwerefeltsufficient-Emmahadneverseenherlooksowell,solovely,soengaging.Therewasconsciousness,animation,andwarmth;therewaseverythingwhichhercountenanceormannercouldeverhavewanted-Shecameforwardwithanofferedhand;andsaid,inalow,butveryfeelingtone,

`Thisismostkind,indeed!-MissWoodhouse,itisimpossibleformetoexpress-Ihopeyouwillbelieve-Excusemeforbeingsoentirelywithoutwords.\'

Emmawasgratified,andwouldsoonhaveshewnnowantofwords,ifthesoundofMrs.Elton\'svoicefromthesitting-roomhadnotcheckedher,andmadeitexpedienttocompressallherfriendlyandallhercongratulatorysensationsintoavery,veryearnestshakeofthehand.

Mrs.BatesandMrs.Eltonweretogether.MissBateswasout,whichaccountedfortheprevioustranquillity.EmmacouldhavewishedMrs.Eltonelsewhere;butshewasinahumourtohavepatiencewitheverybody;andasMrs.Eltonmetherwithunusualgraciousness,shehopedtherencontrewoulddothemnoharm.

ShesoonbelievedherselftopenetrateMrs.Elton\'sthoughts,andunderstandwhyshewas,likeherself,inhappyspirits;itwasbeinginMissFairfax\'sconfidence,andfancyingherselfacquaintedwithwhatwasstillasecrettootherpeople.Emmasawsymptomsofitimmediatelyintheexpressionofherface;andwhilepayingherowncomplimentstoMrs.Bates,andappearingtoattendtothegoodoldlady\'sreplies,shesawherwithasortofanxiousparadeofmysteryfoldupaletterwhichshehadapparentlybeenreadingaloudtoMissFairfax,andreturnitintothepurpleandgoldreticulebyherside,saying,withsignificantnods,

`Wecanfinishthissomeothertime,youknow.YouandIshallnotwantopportunities.And,infact,youhaveheardalltheessentialalready.IonlywantedtoprovetoyouthatMrs.S.admitsourapology,andisnotoffended.Youseehowdelightfullyshewrites.Oh!sheisasweetcreature!Youwouldhavedoatedonher,hadyougone-Butnotawordmore.Letusbediscreet-quiteonourgoodbehaviour-Hush!-Yourememberthoselines-Iforgetthepoematthismoment:

`Forwhenalady\'sinthecase,`Youknowallotherthingsgiveplace.\'

NowIsay,mydear,inourcase,forlady,read——mum!awordtothewise-Iaminafineflowofspirits,an\'tI?ButIwanttosetyourheartateaseastoMrs.S-Myrepresentation,yousee,hasquiteappeasedher.\'

Andagain,onEmma\'smerelyturningherheadtolookatMrs.Bates\'sknitting,sheadded,inahalfwhisper,

`Imentionednonames,youwillobserve-Oh!no;cautiousasaministerofstate.Imanageditextremelywell.\'

Emmacouldnotdoubt.Itwasapalpabledisplay,repeatedoneverypossibleoccasion.WhentheyhadalltalkedalittlewhileinharmonyoftheweatherandMrs.Weston,shefoundherselfabruptlyaddressedwith,

`Donotyouthink,MissWoodhouse,oursaucylittlefriendhereischarminglyrecovered?-DonotyouthinkhercuredoesPerrythehighestcredit?-(herewasaside-glanceofgreatmeaningatJane.)Uponmyword,Perryhasrestoredherinawonderfulshorttime!-Oh!ifyouhadseenher,asIdid,whenshewasattheworst!\'-AndwhenMrs.BateswassayingsomethingtoEmma,whisperedfarther,`WedonotsayawordofanyassistancethatPerrymighthave;notawordofacertainyoungphysicianfromWindsor-Oh!no;Perryshallhaveallthecredit.\'

`Ihavescarcehadthepleasureofseeingyou,MissWoodhouse,\'sheshortlyafterwardsbegan,`sincethepartytoBoxHill.Verypleasantparty.ButyetIthinktherewassomethingwanting.Thingsdidnotseem-thatis,thereseemedalittleclouduponthespiritsofsome-Soitappearedtomeatleast,butImightbemistaken.However,Ithinkitansweredsofarastotemptonetogoagain.Whatsayyoubothtoourcollectingthesameparty,andexploringtoBoxHillagain,whilethefineweatherlasts?-Itmustbethesameparty,youknow,quitethesameparty,notoneexception.\'

SoonafterthisMissBatescamein,andEmmacouldnothelpbeingdivertedbytheperplexityofherfirstanswertoherself,resulting,shesupposed,fromdoubtofwhatmightbesaid,andimpatiencetosayeverything.

`Thankyou,dearMissWoodhouse,youareallkindness-Itisimpossibletosay-Yes,indeed,Iquiteunderstand-dearestJane\'sprospects-thatis,Idonotmean-Butsheischarminglyrecovered-HowisMr.Woodhouse?-Iamsoglad-Quiteoutofmypower-Suchahappylittlecircleasyoufindushere-Yes,indeed-Charmingyoungman!-thatis-soveryfriendly;ImeangoodMr.Perry!-suchattentiontoJane!\'-Andfromhergreat,hermorethancommonlythankfuldelighttowardsMrs.Eltonforbeingthere,EmmaguessedthattherehadbeenalittleshowofresentmenttowardsJane,fromthevicaragequarter,whichwasnowgraciouslyovercome-Afterafewwhispers,indeed,whichplaceditbeyondaguess,Mrs.Elton,speakinglouder,said,

`Yes,hereIam,mygoodfriend;andhereIhavebeensolong,thatanywhereelseIshouldthinkitnecessarytoapologise;but,thetruthis,thatIamwaitingformylordandmaster.Hepromisedtojoinmehere,andpayhisrespectstoyou.\'

`What!arewetohavethepleasureofacallfromMr.Elton?-Thatwillbeafavourindeed!forIknowgentlemendonotlikemorningvisits,andMr.Elton\'stimeissoengaged.\'

`Uponmyworditis,MissBates-Hereallyisengagedfrommorningtonight-Thereisnoendofpeople\'scomingtohim,onsomepretenceorother-Themagistrates,andoverseers,andchurchwardens,arealwayswantinghisopinion.Theyseemnotabletodoanythingwithouthim-``Uponmyword,Mr.E.,\'\'Ioftensay,``ratheryouthanI-Idonotknowwhatwouldbecomeofmycrayonsandmyinstrument,ifIhadhalfsomanyapplicants.\'\'-Badenoughasitis,forIabsolutelyneglectthembothtoanunpardonabledegree-IbelieveIhavenotplayedabarthisfortnight-However,heiscoming,Iassureyou:yes,indeed,onpurposetowaitonyouall.\'AndputtingupherhandtoscreenherwordsfromEmma-`Acongratulatoryvisit,youknow-Oh!yes,quiteindispensable.\'

MissBateslookedabouther,sohappily!-

`HepromisedtocometomeassoonashecoulddisengagehimselffromKnightley;butheandKnightleyareshutuptogetherindeepconsultation-Mr.E.isKnightley\'srighthand.\'

Emmawouldnothavesmiledfortheworld,andonlysaid,`IsMr.EltongoneonfoottoDonwell?-Hewillhaveahotwalk.\'

`Oh!no,itisameetingattheCrown,aregularmeeting.WestonandColewillbetheretoo;butoneisapttospeakonlyofthosewholead-IfancyMr.E.andKnightleyhaveeverythingtheirownway.\'

`Havenotyoumistakentheday?\'saidEmma.`IamalmostcertainthatthemeetingattheCrownisnottillto-morrow-Mr.KnightleywasatHartfieldyesterday,andspokeofitasforSaturday.\'

`Oh!no,themeetingiscertainlyto-day,\'wastheabruptanswer,whichdenotedtheimpossibilityofanyblunderonMrs.Elton\'sside-`Idobelieve,\'shecontinued,`thisisthemosttroublesomeparishthateverwas.WeneverheardofsuchthingsatMapleGrove.\'

`Yourparishtherewassmall,\'saidJane.

`Uponmyword,mydear,Idonotknow,forIneverheardthesubjecttalkedof.\'

`Butitisprovedbythesmallnessoftheschool,whichIhaveheardyouspeakof,asunderthepatronageofyoursisterandMrs.Bragge;theonlyschool,andnotmorethanfive-and-twentychildren.\'

`Ah!youclevercreature,that\'sverytrue.Whatathinkingbrainyouhave!Isay,Jane,whataperfectcharacteryouandIshouldmake,ifwecouldbeshakentogether.Mylivelinessandyoursoliditywouldproduceperfection-NotthatIpresumetoinsinuate,however,thatsomepeoplemaynotthinkyouperfectionalready-Buthush!-notaword,ifyouplease.\'

Itseemedanunnecessarycaution;Janewaswantingtogiveherwords,nottoMrs.Elton,buttoMissWoodhouse,asthelatterplainlysaw.Thewishofdistinguishingher,asfarascivilitypermitted,wasveryevident,thoughitcouldnotoftenproceedbeyondalook.

Mr.Eltonmadehisappearance.Hisladygreetedhimwithsomeofhersparklingvivacity.

`Verypretty,sir,uponmyword;tosendmeonhere,tobeanencumbrancetomyfriends,solongbeforeyouvouchsafetocome!-Butyouknewwhatadutifulcreatureyouhadtodealwith.YouknewIshouldnotstirtillmylordandmasterappeared-HerehaveIbeensittingthishour,givingtheseyoungladiesasampleoftrueconjugalobedience-forwhocansay,youknow,howsoonitmaybewanted?\'

Mr.Eltonwassohotandtired,thatallthiswitseemedthrownaway.Hiscivilitiestotheotherladiesmustbepaid;buthissubsequentobjectwastolamentoverhimselffortheheathewassuffering,andt