CHAPTER V

.Weston.” “Why,toownthetruth,Iamafraidyouareratherthrownaway,andthatwitheverydispositiontobear,therewillbenothingtobeborne.Wewillnotdespair,however.Westonmaygrowcrossfromthewantonnessofcomfort,orhissonmayplaguehim.” “Ihopenotthat.—Itisnotlikely.No,Mr.Knightley,donotforetellvexationfromthatquarter.” “NotI,indeed.Ionlynamepossibilities.IdonotpretendtoEmma’sgeniusforforetellingandguessing.Ihope,withallmyheart,theyoungmanmaybeaWestoninmerit,andaChurchillinfortune.—ButHarrietSmith—IhavenothalfdoneaboutHarrietSmith.IthinkhertheveryworstsortofcompanionthatEmmacouldpossiblyhave.Sheknowsnothingherself,andlooksuponEmmaasknowingeverything.Sheisaflattererinallherwaysandsomuchtheworse,becauseundesigned.Herignoranceishourlyflattery.HowcanEmmaimagineshehasanythingtolearnherself,whileHarrietispresentingsuchadelightfulinferiority?AndasforHarriet,Iwillventuretosaythatshecannotgainbytheacquaintance.Hartfieldwillonlyputheroutofconceitwithalltheotherplacesshebelongsto.Shewillgrowjustrefinedenoughtobeuncomfortablewiththoseamongwhombirthandcircumstanceshaveplacedherhome.IammuchmistakenifEmma’sdoctrinesgiveanystrengthofmind,ortendatalltomakeagirladaptherselfrationallytothevarietiesofhersituationinlife.—Theyonlygivealittlepolish.” “IeitherdependmoreuponEmma’sgoodsensethanyoudo,orammoreanxiousforherpresentcomfortforIcannotlamenttheacquaintance.Howwellshelookedlastnight!” “Oh!youwouldrathertalkofherpersonthanhermind,wouldyou?VerywellIshallnotattempttodenyEmma’sbeingpretty.” “Pretty!saybeautifulrather.CanyouimagineanythingnearerperfectbeautythanEmmaaltogether—faceandfigure?” “IdonotknowwhatIcouldimagine,butIconfessthatIhaveseldomseenafaceorfiguremorepleasingtomethanhers.ButIamapartialoldfriend.” “Suchaneye!—thetruehazleeye—an