CHAPTER X

ts.Well,(smiling,)Ihopeitmaybeallowedthatifcompassionhasproducedexertionandrelieftothesufferers,ithasdoneallthatistrulyimportant.Ifwefeelforthewretched,enoughtodoallwecanforthem,therestisemptysympathy,onlydistressingtoourselves.” Harrietcouldjustanswer,“Oh!dear,yes,”beforethegentlemanjoinedthem.Thewantsandsufferingsofthepoorfamily,however,werethefirstsubjectonmeeting.Hehadbeengoingtocallonthem.Hisvisithewouldnowdeferbuttheyhadaveryinterestingparleyaboutwhatcouldbedoneandshouldbedone.Mr.Eltonthenturnedbacktoaccompanythem. “Tofallinwitheachotheronsuchanerrandasthis,”thoughtEmma“tomeetinacharitableschemethiswillbringagreatincreaseofloveoneachside.Ishouldnotwonderifitweretobringonthedeclaration.Itmust,ifIwerenothere.IwishIwereanywhereelse.” Anxioustoseparateherselffromthemasfarasshecould,shesoonafterwardstookpossessionofanarrowfootpath,alittleraisedononesideofthelane,leavingthemtogetherinthemainroad.ButshehadnotbeentheretwominuteswhenshefoundthatHarriet’shabitsofdependenceandimitationwerebringingheruptoo,andthat,inshort,theywouldbothbesoonafterher.Thiswouldnotdosheimmediatelystopped,underpretenceofhavingsomealterationtomakeinthelacingofherhalf-boot,andstoopingdownincompleteoccupationofthefootpath,beggedthemtohavethegoodnesstowalkon,andshewouldfollowinhalfaminute.Theydidastheyweredesiredandbythetimeshejudgeditreasonabletohavedonewithherboot,shehadthecomfortoffartherdelayinherpower,beingovertakenbyachildfromthecottage,settingout,accordingtoorders,withherpitcher,tofetchbrothfromHartfield.Towalkbythesideofthischild,andtalktoandquestionher,wasthemostnaturalthingintheworld,orwouldhavebeenthemostnatural,hadshebeenactingjustthenwithoutdesignandbythismeanstheotherswerestillabletokeepahead,withoutanyobligationofwaitingforher.Shegainedonthem,however,involuntarily:thechild’spacewasquick,andtheirsratherslowandshewasthemoreconcernedatit,fromtheirbeingevidentlyinaconversationwhichinterestedthem.Mr.Eltonwasspeakingwithanimation,HarrietlisteningwithaverypleasedattentionandEmma,havingsentthechildon,wasbeginningtothinkhowshemightdrawbackalittlemore,whentheybothlookedaround,andshewasobligedtojointhem. Mr.Eltonwasstilltalking,stillengagedinsomeinterestingdetailandEmmaexperiencedsomedisappointmentwhenshefoundthathewasonlygivinghisfaircompanionanaccountoftheyesterday’spartyathisfriendCole’s,andthatshewascomeinherselffortheStiltoncheese,th