CHAPTER VII
關燈
小
中
大
theevening,butEmmacouldallowforheramiableregrets,andsometimesrelievedthembyspeakingofherownaffection,sometimesbybringingforwardtheideaofMr.Elton.
“IshallneverbeinvitedtoAbbey-Millagain,”wassaidinratherasorrowfultone.
“Nor,ifyouwere,couldIeverbeartopartwithyou,myHarriet.YouareagreatdealtoonecessaryatHartfieldtobesparedtoAbbey-Mill.”
“AndIamsureIshouldneverwanttogothereforIamneverhappybutatHartfield.”
Sometimeafterwardsitwas,“IthinkMrs.Goddardwouldbeverymuchsurprizedifsheknewwhathadhappened.IamsureMissNashwould—forMissNashthinksherownsisterverywellmarried,anditisonlyalinen-draper.”
“Oneshouldbesorrytoseegreaterprideorrefinementintheteacherofaschool,Harriet.IdaresayMissNashwouldenvyyousuchanopportunityasthisofbeingmarried.Eventhisconquestwouldappearvaluableinhereyes.Astoanythingsuperiorforyou,Isupposesheisquiteinthedark.Theattentionsofacertainpersoncanhardlybeamongthetittle-tattleofHighburyyet.HithertoIfancyyouandIaretheonlypeopletowhomhislooksandmannershaveexplainedthemselves.”
Harrietblushedandsmiled,andsaidsomethingaboutwonderingthatpeopleshouldlikehersomuch.TheideaofMr.Eltonwascertainlycheeringbutstill,afteratime,shewastender-heartedagaintowardstherejectedMr.Martin.
“Nowhehasgotmyletter,”saidshesoftly.“Iwonderwhattheyarealldoing—whetherhissistersknow—ifheisunhappy,theywillbeunhappytoo.Ihopehewillnotminditsoverymuch.”
“Letusthinkofthoseamongourabsentfriendswhoaremorecheerfullyemployed,”criedEmma.“Atthismoment,perhaps,Mr.Eltonisshewingyourpicturetohismotherandsisters,tellinghowmuchmorebeautifulistheoriginal,andafterbeingaskedforitfiveorsixtimes,allowingthemtohearyourname,yourowndearname.”
“Mypicture!—ButhehasleftmypictureinBond-street.”
“Hasheso!—ThenIknownothingofMr.Elton.No,mydearlittlemodestHarriet,dependuponitthepicturewillnotbeinBond-streettilljustbeforehemountshishorseto-morrow.Itishiscompanionallthisevening,hissolace,hisdelight.Itopenshisdesignstohisfamily,itintroducesyouamongthem,itdiffusesthroughthepartythosepleasantestfeelingsofournature,eagercuriosityandwarmprepossession.Howcheerful,howanimated,howsuspicious,howbusytheirimaginationsallare!”
Harrietsmiledagain,andhersmilesgrewstronger.
