CHAPTER V

dsobrilliant!regularfeatures,opencountenance,withacomplexion!oh!whatabloomoffullhealth,andsuchaprettyheightandsizesuchafirmanduprightfigure!Thereishealth,notmerelyinherbloom,butinherair,herhead,herglance.Onehearssometimesofachildbeing‘thepictureofhealth’now,Emmaalwaysgivesmetheideaofbeingthecompletepictureofgrown-uphealth.Sheislovelinessitself.Mr.Knightley,isnotshe?” “Ihavenotafaulttofindwithherperson,”hereplied.“Ithinkherallyoudescribe.IlovetolookatherandIwilladdthispraise,thatIdonotthinkherpersonallyvain.Consideringhowveryhandsomesheis,sheappearstobelittleoccupiedwithithervanityliesanotherway.Mrs.Weston,IamnottobetalkedoutofmydislikeofHarrietSmith,ormydreadofitsdoingthembothharm.” “AndI,Mr.Knightley,amequallystoutinmyconfidenceofitsnotdoingthemanyharm.WithalldearEmma’slittlefaults,sheisanexcellentcreature.Whereshallweseeabetterdaughter,orakindersister,oratruerfriend?No,noshehasqualitieswhichmaybetrustedshewillneverleadanyonereallywrongshewillmakenolastingblunderwhereEmmaerrsonce,sheisintherightahundredtimes.” “VerywellIwillnotplagueyouanymore.Emmashallbeanangel,andIwillkeepmyspleentomyselftillChristmasbringsJohnandIsabella.JohnlovesEmmawithareasonableandthereforenotablindaffection,andIsabellaalwaysthinksashedoesexceptwhenheisnotquitefrightenedenoughaboutthechildren.Iamsureofhavingtheiropinionswithme.” “Iknowthatyouallloveherreallytoowelltobeunjustorunkindbutexcuseme,Mr.Knightley,ifItaketheliberty(Iconsidermyself,youknow,ashavingsomewhatoftheprivilegeofspeechthatEmma’smothermighthavehad)thelibertyofhintingthatIdonotthinkanypossiblegoodcanarisefromHarrietSmith’sintimacybeingmadeamatterofmuchdiscussionamongyou.Prayexcusemebutsupposinganylittleinconveniencemaybeapprehendedfromtheintimacy,itcannotbeexpectedthatEmma,accountable