CHAPTER III

Mr.Woodhousewasfondofsocietyinhisownway.Helikedverymuchtohavehisfriendscomeandseehimandfromvariousunitedcauses,fromhislongresidenceatHartfield,andhisgoodnature,fromhisfortune,hishouse,andhisdaughter,hecouldcommandthevisitsofhisownlittlecircle,inagreatmeasure,asheliked.Hehadnotmuchintercoursewithanyfamiliesbeyondthatcirclehishorroroflatehours,andlargedinner-parties,madehimunfitforanyacquaintancebutsuchaswouldvisithimonhisownterms.Fortunatelyforhim,Highbury,includingRandallsinthesameparish,andDonwellAbbeyintheparishadjoining,theseatofMr.Knightley,comprehendedmanysuch.Notunfrequently,throughEmma’spersuasion,hehadsomeofthechosenandthebesttodinewithhim:buteveningpartieswerewhathepreferredand,unlesshefanciedhimselfatanytimeunequaltocompany,therewasscarcelyaneveningintheweekinwhichEmmacouldnotmakeupacard-tableforhim. Real,long-standingregardbroughttheWestonsandMr.KnightleyandbyMr.Elton,ayoungmanlivingalonewithoutlikingit,theprivilegeofexchanginganyvacanteveningofhisownblanksolitudefortheeleganciesandsocietyofMr.Woodhouse’sdrawing-room,andthesmilesofhislovelydaughter,wasinnodangerofbeingthrownaway. Afterthesecameasecondsetamongthemostcome-at-ableofwhomwereMrs.andMissBates,andMrs.Goddard,threeladiesalmostalwaysattheserviceofaninvitationfromHartfield,andwhowerefetchedandcarriedhomesooften,thatMr.WoodhousethoughtitnohardshipforeitherJamesorthehorses.Hadittakenplaceonlyonceayear,itwouldhavebeenagrievance. Mrs.Bates,thewidowofaformervicarofHighbury,wasaveryoldlady,almostpasteverythingbutteaandquadrille.Shelivedwithhersingledaughterinaverysmallway,andwasconsideredwithalltheregardandrespectwhichaharmlessoldlady,undersuchuntowardcircumstances,canexcite.Herdaughterenjoyedamostuncommondegreeofpopularityforawomanneitheryoung,handsome,rich,normarri