CHAPTER X

ThoughnowthemiddleofDecember,therehadyetbeennoweathertopreventtheyoungladiesfromtolerablyregularexerciseandonthemorrow,Emmahadacharitablevisittopaytoapoorsickfamily,wholivedalittlewayoutofHighbury. TheirroadtothisdetachedcottagewasdownVicarageLane,alaneleadingatrightanglesfromthebroad,thoughirregular,mainstreetoftheplaceand,asmaybeinferred,containingtheblessedabodeofMr.Elton.Afewinferiordwellingswerefirsttobepassed,andthen,aboutaquarterofamiledownthelanerosetheVicarage,anoldandnotverygoodhouse,almostasclosetotheroadasitcouldbe.Ithadnoadvantageofsituationbuthadbeenverymuchsmartenedupbythepresentproprietorand,suchasitwas,therecouldbenopossibilityofthetwofriendspassingitwithoutaslackenedpaceandobservingeyes.—Emma’sremarkwas— “Thereitis.Theregoyouandyourriddle-bookoneofthesedays.”—Harriet’swas— “Oh,whatasweethouse!—Howverybeautiful!—TherearetheyellowcurtainsthatMissNashadmiressomuch.” “Idonotoftenwalkthiswaynow,”saidEmma,astheyproceeded,“butthentherewillbeaninducement,andIshallgraduallygetintimatelyacquaintedwithallthehedges,gates,poolsandpollardsofthispartofHighbury.” Harriet,shefound,hadneverinherlifebeeninsidetheVicarage,andhercuriositytoseeitwassoextreme,that,consideringexteriorsandprobabilities,Emmacouldonlyclassit,asaproofoflove,withMr.Elton’sseeingreadywitinher. “Iwishwecouldcontriveit,”saidshe“butIcannotthinkofanytolerablepretenceforgoingin—noservantthatIwanttoinquireaboutofhishousekeeper—nomessagefrommyfather.” Shepondered,butcouldthinkofnothing.Afteramutualsilenceofsomeminutes,Harrietthusbeganagain— “Idosowonder,MissWoodhouse,thatyoushouldnotbemarried,orgoingtobemarried!socharmingasyouare!”— Emmalaughed,andreplied, “Mybeingcharming,Harriet,isnotquiteenoughtoinducemetomarryImustfindotherpeoplecharming—oneotherpersonatleast.AndIamnotonly,notgoingtobemarried,atpresent,buthaveverylittleintentionofevermarryingatall.” “Ah!—soyousaybutIcannotbelieveit.” “ImustseesomebodyverysuperiortoanyoneIhaveseenyet,tobetemptedMr.Elton,youknow,(recollectingherself,)isoutofthequestion:andIdonotwishtoseeanysuchperson.Iwouldrathernotbetempted.Icannotreallychangeforthebetter.IfIweretomarry,Imustexpecttorepentit.” “Dearme!—itissooddtohearawomantalkso!”— “Ihavenoneoftheusualinducementsofwomentomarry.WereItofallinlove,indeed,itwouldbeadifferentthing!butIneverhavebeeninloveitisnotmywa