CHAPTER I

ertohaveonlyonetopleasethantwo.” “Especiallywhenoneofthosetwoissuchafanciful,troublesomecreature!”saidEmmaplayfully.“Thatiswhatyouhaveinyourhead,Iknow—andwhatyouwouldcertainlysayifmyfatherwerenotby.” “Ibelieveitisverytrue,mydear,indeed,”saidMr.Woodhouse,withasigh.“IamafraidIamsometimesveryfancifulandtroublesome.” “Mydearestpapa!YoudonotthinkIcouldmeanyou,orsupposeMr.Knightleytomeanyou.Whatahorribleidea!Ohno!Imeantonlymyself.Mr.Knightleylovestofindfaultwithme,youknow—inajoke—itisallajoke.Wealwayssaywhatweliketooneanother.” Mr.Knightley,infact,wasoneofthefewpeoplewhocouldseefaultsinEmmaWoodhouse,andtheonlyonewhoevertoldherofthem:andthoughthiswasnotparticularlyagreeabletoEmmaherself,sheknewitwouldbesomuchlesssotoherfather,thatshewouldnothavehimreallysuspectsuchacircumstanceashernotbeingthoughtperfectbyeverybody. “EmmaknowsIneverflatterher,”saidMr.Knightley,“butImeantnoreflectiononanybody.MissTaylorhasbeenusedtohavetwopersonstopleaseshewillnowhavebutone.Thechancesarethatshemustbeagainer.” “Well,”saidEmma,willingtoletitpass—“youwanttohearabouttheweddingandIshallbehappytotellyou,forweallbehavedcharmingly.Everybodywaspunctual,everybodyintheirbestlooks:notatear,andhardlyalongfacetobeseen.Ohnoweallfeltthatweweregoingtobeonlyhalfamileapart,andweresureofmeetingeveryday.” “DearEmmabearseverythingsowell,”saidherfather.“But,Mr.Knightley,sheisreallyverysorrytolosepoorMissTaylor,andIamsureshewillmisshermorethanshethinksfor.” Emmaturnedawayherhead,dividedbetweentearsandsmiles.“ItisimpossiblethatEmmashouldnotmisssuchacompanion,”saidMr.Knightley.“Weshouldnotlikehersowellaswedo,sir,ifwecouldsupposeitbutsheknowshowmuchthemarriageistoMissTaylor’sadvantagesheknowshowveryacceptableitmustbe,atMissTaylor’stimeoflife,tobesettledinahomeofherown,andhowimportanttohertobesecureofacomfortableprovision,andthereforecannotallowherselftofeelsomuchpainaspleasure.EveryfriendofMissTaylormustbegladtohavehersohappilymarried.” “Andyouhaveforgottenonematterofjoytome,”saidEmma,“andaveryconsiderableone—thatImadethematchmyself.Imadethematch,youknow,fouryearsagoandtohaveittakeplace,andbeprovedintheright,whensomanypeoplesaidMr.Westonwouldnevermarryagain,maycomfortmeforanything.” Mr.Knightleyshookhisheadather.Herfatherfondlyreplied,“Ah!mydear,Iwishyouwouldnotmakematchesandforetellthings,forwhateveryousayalwayscomestopass.Praydonotmakeanymorematches.” “Ipromiseyoutomakenoneformyself,papabutImust,indeed,forotherpeople.Itisthegreatestamusementintheworld!Andaftersuchsuccess,youknow!—EverybodysaidthatMr.Westonwouldnevermarryagain.Ohdear,no!Mr.Weston,whohadbeenawidowersolong,andwhoseemedsoperfectlycomfortablewithoutawife,soconstantlyoccupiedeitherinhisbusinessintownoramonghisfriendshere,alwaysacceptablewhereverhewent,alwayscheerful—Mr.Westonneednotspendasingleeveningintheyearaloneifhedidnotlikeit.Ohno!Mr.Westoncertainlywouldnevermarryagain.Somepeopleeventalkedofapromisetohiswifeon