CHAPTER V

tonobodybutherfather,whoperfectlyapprovestheacquaintance,shouldputanendtoit,solongasitisasourceofpleasuretoherself.Ithasbeensomanyyearsmyprovincetogiveadvice,thatyoucannotbesurprized,Mr.Knightley,atthislittleremainsofoffice.” “Notatall,”criedhe“Iammuchobligedtoyouforit.Itisverygoodadvice,anditshallhaveabetterfatethanyouradvicehasoftenfoundforitshallbeattendedto.” “Mrs.JohnKnightleyiseasilyalarmed,andmightbemadeunhappyabouthersister.” “Besatisfied,”saidhe,“Iwillnotraiseanyoutcry.Iwillkeepmyill-humourtomyself.IhaveaverysincereinterestinEmma.Isabelladoesnotseemmoremysisterhasneverexcitedagreaterinterestperhapshardlysogreat.Thereisananxiety,acuriosityinwhatonefeelsforEmma.Iwonderwhatwillbecomeofher!” “SodoI,”saidMrs.Westongently,“verymuch.” “Shealwaysdeclaresshewillnevermarry,which,ofcourse,meansjustnothingatall.ButIhavenoideathatshehasyeteverseenamanshecaredfor.Itwouldnotbeabadthingforhertobeverymuchinlovewithaproperobject.IshouldliketoseeEmmainlove,andinsomedoubtofareturnitwoulddohergood.Butthereisnobodyhereaboutstoattachherandshegoessoseldomfromhome.” “Theredoes,indeed,seemaslittletotempthertobreakherresolutionatpresent,”saidMrs.Weston,“ascanwellbeandwhilesheissohappyatHartfield,IcannotwishhertobeforminganyattachmentwhichwouldbecreatingsuchdifficultiesonpoorMr.Woodhouse’saccount.IdonotrecommendmatrimonyatpresenttoEmma,thoughImeannoslighttothestate,Iassureyou.” PartofhermeaningwastoconcealsomefavouritethoughtsofherownandMr.Weston’sonthesubject,asmuchaspossible.TherewerewishesatRandallsrespectingEmma’sdestiny,butitwasnotdesirabletohavethemsuspectedandthequiettransitionwhichMr.Knightleysoonafterwardsmadeto“WhatdoesWestonthinkoftheweathershallwehaverain?”convincedherthathehadnothingmoretosayorsurmiseaboutHartfield.