CHAPTER I

stgointhecarriage,tobesure.” “Thecarriage!ButJameswillnotliketoputthehorsestoforsuchalittleway—andwherearethepoorhorsestobewhilewearepayingourvisit?” “TheyaretobeputintoMr.Weston’sstable,papa.Youknowwehavesettledallthatalready.WetalkeditalloverwithMr.Westonlastnight.AndasforJames,youmaybeverysurehewillalwayslikegoingtoRandalls,becauseofhisdaughter’sbeinghousemaidthere.Ionlydoubtwhetherhewillevertakeusanywhereelse.Thatwasyourdoing,papa.YougotHannahthatgoodplace.NobodythoughtofHannahtillyoumentionedher—Jamesissoobligedtoyou!” “IamverygladIdidthinkofher.Itwasverylucky,forIwouldnothavehadpoorJamesthinkhimselfslighteduponanyaccountandIamsureshewillmakeaverygoodservant:sheisacivil,pretty-spokengirlIhaveagreatopinionofher.WheneverIseeher,shealwayscurtseysandasksmehowIdo,inaveryprettymannerandwhenyouhavehadherheretodoneedlework,Iobserveshealwaysturnsthelockofthedoortherightwayandneverbangsit.IamsureshewillbeanexcellentservantanditwillbeagreatcomforttopoorMissTaylortohavesomebodyaboutherthatsheisusedtosee.WheneverJamesgoesovertoseehisdaughter,youknow,shewillbehearingofus.Hewillbeabletotellherhowweallare.” Emmasparednoexertionstomaintainthishappierflowofideas,andhoped,bythehelpofbackgammon,togetherfathertolerablythroughtheevening,andbeattackedbynoregretsbutherown.Thebackgammon-tablewasplacedbutavisitorimmediatelyafterwardswalkedinandmadeitunnecessary. Mr.Knightley,asensiblemanaboutsevenoreight-and-thirty,wasnotonlyaveryoldandintimatefriendofthefamily,butparticularlyconnectedwithit,astheelderbrotherofIsabella’shusband.HelivedaboutamilefromHighbury,wasafrequentvisitor,andalwayswelcome,andatthistimemorewelcomethanusual,ascomingdirectlyfromtheirmutualconnexionsinLondon.Hehadreturnedtoalatedinner,aftersomedays’absence,andnowwalkeduptoHartfieldtosaythatallwerewellinBrunswickSquare.Itwasahappycircumstance,andanimatedMr.Woodhouseforsometime.Mr.Knightleyhadacheerfulmanner,whichalwaysdidhimgoodandhismanyinquiriesafter“poorIsabella”andherchildrenwereansweredmostsatisfactorily.Whenthiswasover,Mr.Woodhousegratefullyobserved,“Itisverykindofyou,Mr.Knightley,tocomeoutatthislatehourtocalluponus.Iamafraidyoumusthavehadashockingwalk.” “Notatall,sir.ItisabeautifulmoonlightnightandsomildthatImustdrawbackfromyourgreatfire.” “Butyoumusthavefounditverydampanddirty.Iwishyoumaynotcatchcold.” “Dirty,sir!Lookatmyshoes.Notaspeckonthem.” “Well!thatisquitesurprising,forwehavehadavastdealofrainhere.Itraineddreadfullyhardforhalfanhourwhilewewereatbreakfast.Iwantedthemtoputoffthewedding.” “Bythebye—Ihavenotwishedyoujoy.Beingprettywellawareofwhatsortofjoyyoumustbothbefeeling,IhavebeeninnohurrywithmycongratulationsbutIhopeitallwentofftolerablywell.Howdidyouallbehave?Whocriedmost?” “Ah!poorMissTaylor!’Tisasadbusiness.” “PoorMr.andMissWoodhouse,ifyoupleasebutIcannotpossiblysay‘poorMissTaylor.’IhaveagreatregardforyouandEmmabutwhenitcomestothequestionofdependenceorindependence!—Atanyrate,itmustbebett