CHAPTER IX

n.Hesatmusingalittlewhile,andthensaid, “ButIdonotseewhypoorIsabellashouldbeobligedtogobacksosoon,thoughhedoes.Ithink,Emma,Ishalltryandpersuadehertostaylongerwithus.Sheandthechildrenmightstayverywell.” “Ah!papa—thatiswhatyouneverhavebeenabletoaccomplish,andIdonotthinkyoueverwill.Isabellacannotbeartostaybehindherhusband.” Thiswastootrueforcontradiction.Unwelcomeasitwas,Mr.WoodhousecouldonlygiveasubmissivesighandasEmmasawhisspiritsaffectedbytheideaofhisdaughter’sattachmenttoherhusband,sheimmediatelyledtosuchabranchofthesubjectasmustraisethem. “Harrietmustgiveusasmuchofhercompanyasshecanwhilemybrotherandsisterarehere.Iamsureshewillbepleasedwiththechildren.Weareveryproudofthechildren,arenotwe,papa?Iwonderwhichshewillthinkthehandsomest,HenryorJohn?” “Aye,Iwonderwhichshewill.Poorlittledears,howgladtheywillbetocome.TheyareveryfondofbeingatHartfield,Harriet.” “Idaresaytheyare,sir.IamsureIdonotknowwhoisnot.” “Henryisafineboy,butJohnisverylikehismama.Henryistheeldest,hewasnamedafterme,notafterhisfather.John,thesecond,isnamedafterhisfather.Somepeoplearesurprized,Ibelieve,thattheeldestwasnot,butIsabellawouldhavehimcalledHenry,whichIthoughtveryprettyofher.Andheisaverycleverboy,indeed.Theyareallremarkablycleverandtheyhavesomanyprettyways.Theywillcomeandstandbymychair,andsay,‘Grandpapa,canyougivemeabitofstring?’andonceHenryaskedmeforaknife,butItoldhimkniveswereonlymadeforgrandpapas.Ithinktheirfatheristooroughwiththemveryoften.” “Heappearsroughtoyou,”saidEmma,“becauseyouaresoverygentleyourselfbutifyoucouldcomparehimwithotherpapas,youwouldnotthinkhimrough.Hewisheshisboystobeactiveandhardyandiftheymisbehave,cangivethemasharpwordnowandthenbutheisanaffectionatefather—certainlyMr.JohnKnightleyisanaffectionatefather.Thechildrenareallfondofhim.” “Andthentheirunclecomesin,andtossesthemuptotheceilinginaveryfrightfulway!” “Buttheylikeit,papathereisnothingtheylikesomuch.Itissuchenjoymenttothem,thatiftheiruncledidnotlaydowntheruleoftheirtakingturns,whicheverbeganwouldnevergivewaytotheother.” “Well,Icannotunderstandit.” “Thatisthecasewithusall,papa.Onehalfoftheworldcannotunderstandthepleasuresoftheother.” Laterinthemorning,andjustasthegirlsweregoingtoseparateinpreparationfortheregularfouro’clockdinner,theheroofthisinimitablecharadewalkedinagain.HarrietturnedawaybutEmmacouldreceivehimwiththeusualsmile,andherquickeyesoondiscernedinhistheconsciousnessofhavingmadeapush—ofhavingthrownadieandsheimaginedhewascometoseehowitmightturnup.Hisostensiblereason,however,wastoaskwhetherMr.Woodhouse’spartycouldbemadeupintheeveningwithouthim,orwhetherheshouldbeinthesmallestdegreenecessaryatHartfield.Ifhewere,everythingelsemustgivewaybutotherwisehisfriendColehadbeensayingsomuchabouthisdiningwithhim—hadmadesuchapointofit,thathehadpromisedhimconditionallytocome. Emmathankedhim,butcouldnotallowofhisdisappointinghisfriendontheiraccountherfatherwassureofhisrubber.Here-urged—shere-declinedandheseemedthenabouttomakehisbow,whentakingthepaperfromthetable,shereturnedit— “Oh!hereisthecharadeyouweresoobligingastoleavewithusthankyouforthesightofit.Weadmireditsomuch,thatIhaveventuredtowriteitintoMissSmith’scollection.YourfriendwillnottakeitamissIhope.OfcourseIhavenottranscribedbeyondthefirsteightlines.” Mr.Eltoncertainlydidnotverywellknowwhattosay.Helookedratherdoubtingly—ratherconfusedsaidsomethingabout“honour,”—glancedatEmmaandatHarriet,andthenseeingthebookopenonthetable,tookitup,andexamineditveryattentively.Withtheviewofpassingoffanawkwardmoment,Emmasmilinglysaid, “Youmustmakemyapologiestoyourfriendbutsogoodacharademustnotbeconfinedtooneortwo.Hemaybesureofeverywoman’sapprobationwhilehewriteswithsuchgallantry.” “Ihavenohesitationinsaying,”repliedMr.Elton,thoughhesitatingagooddealwhilehespoke“Ihavenohesitationinsaying—atleastifmyfriendfeelsatallasIdo—Ihavenotthesmallestdoubtthat,couldheseehislittleeffusionhonouredasIseeit,(lookingatthebookagain,andreplacingitonthetable),hewouldconsideritastheproudestmomentofhislife.” Afterthisspeechhewasgoneassoonaspossible.Emmacouldnotthinkittoosoonforwithallhisgoodandagreeablequalities,therewasasortofparadeinhisspeecheswhichwasveryapttoinclinehertolaugh.Sheranawaytoindulgetheinclination,leavingthetenderandthesublimeofpleasuretoHarriet’sshare.