CHAPTER IV

HarrietSmith’sintimacyatHartfieldwassoonasettledthing.Quickanddecidedinherways,Emmalostnotimeininviting,encouraging,andtellinghertocomeveryoftenandastheiracquaintanceincreased,sodidtheirsatisfactionineachother.Asawalkingcompanion,Emmahadveryearlyforeseenhowusefulshemightfindher.InthatrespectMrs.Weston’slosshadbeenimportant.Herfatherneverwentbeyondtheshrubbery,wheretwodivisionsofthegroundsufficedhimforhislongwalk,orhisshort,astheyearvariedandsinceMrs.Weston’smarriageherexercisehadbeentoomuchconfined.ShehadventuredoncealonetoRandalls,butitwasnotpleasantandaHarrietSmith,therefore,onewhomshecouldsummonatanytimetoawalk,wouldbeavaluableadditiontoherprivileges.Butineveryrespect,asshesawmoreofher,sheapprovedher,andwasconfirmedinallherkinddesigns. Harrietcertainlywasnotclever,butshehadasweet,docile,gratefuldisposition,wastotallyfreefromconceit,andonlydesiringtobeguidedbyanyoneshelookedupto.Herearlyattachmenttoherselfwasveryamiableandherinclinationforgoodcompany,andpowerofappreciatingwhatwaselegantandclever,shewedthattherewasnowantoftaste,thoughstrengthofunderstandingmustnotbeexpected.AltogethershewasquiteconvincedofHarrietSmith’sbeingexactlytheyoungfriendshewanted—exactlythesomethingwhichherhomerequired.SuchafriendasMrs.Westonwasoutofthequestion.Twosuchcouldneverbegranted.Twosuchshedidnotwant.Itwasquiteadifferentsortofthing,asentimentdistinctandindependent.Mrs.Westonwastheobjectofaregardwhichhaditsbasisingratitudeandesteem.Harrietwouldbelovedasonetowhomshecouldbeuseful.ForMrs.WestontherewasnothingtobedoneforHarrieteverything. Herfirstattemptsatusefulnesswereinanendeavourtofindoutwhoweretheparents,butHarrietcouldnottell.Shewasreadytotelleverythinginherpower,butonthissubjectquestionswerevain.Emmawasobligedtofancywhatsheliked—butshecouldneverbelievethatinthesamesituationsheshouldnothavediscoveredthetruth.Harriethadnopenetration.ShehadbeensatisfiedtohearandbelievejustwhatMrs.Goddardchosetotellherandlookednofarther. Mrs.Goddard,andtheteachers,andthegirlsandtheaffairsoftheschoolingeneral,formednaturallyagreatpartoftheconversation—andbutforheracquaintancewiththeMartinsofAbbey-MillFarm,itmusthavebeenthewhole.ButtheMartinsoccupiedherthoughtsagooddealshehadspenttwoveryhappymonthswiththem,andnowlovedtotalkofthepleasuresofhervisit,anddescribethemanycomfortsandwondersoftheplace.Emmaencouragedhertalkativeness—amusedbysuchapictureofanothersetofbeings,andenjoyingtheyouthfulsimplicitywhichcouldspeakwithsomuchexultationofMrs.Martin’shaving“twoparlours,twoverygoodparlours,indeedoneofthemquiteaslargeasMrs.Goddard’sdrawing-roomandofherhavinganuppermaidwhohadlivedfive-and-twentyyearswithherandoftheirhavingeightcows,twoofthemAlderneys,andonealittleWelchcow,averyprettylittleWelchcowindeedandofMrs.Martin’ssayingasshewassofondofit,itshouldbecalledhercowandoftheirhavingaveryhandsomesummer-houseintheirgarden,wheresomedaynextyeartheywerealltodrinktea:—averyhandsomesummer-house,largeenoughtoholdadozenpeople.” Forsometimeshewasamused,withoutthinkingbeyondtheimmediatecausebutasshecametounderstandthefamilybetter,otherfeelingsarose.Shehadtakenupawrongidea,fancyingitwasamotheranddaughter,asonandson’swi