CHAPTER X
關燈
小
中
大
enorthWiltshire,thebutter,thecelery,thebeet-root,andallthedessert.
“Thiswouldsoonhaveledtosomethingbetter,ofcourse,”washerconsolingreflection“anythinginterestsbetweenthosewholoveandanythingwillserveasintroductiontowhatisneartheheart.IfIcouldbuthavekeptlongeraway!”
Theynowwalkedontogetherquietly,tillwithinviewofthevicaragepales,whenasuddenresolution,ofatleastgettingHarrietintothehouse,madeheragainfindsomethingverymuchamissaboutherboot,andfallbehindtoarrangeitoncemore.Shethenbrokethelaceoffshort,anddexterouslythrowingitintoaditch,waspresentlyobligedtoentreatthemtostop,andacknowledgedherinabilitytoputherselftorightssoastobeabletowalkhomeintolerablecomfort.
“Partofmylaceisgone,”saidshe,“andIdonotknowhowIamtocontrive.Ireallyamamosttroublesomecompaniontoyouboth,butIhopeIamnotoftensoill-equipped.Mr.Elton,Imustbegleavetostopatyourhouse,andaskyourhousekeeperforabitofribbandorstring,oranythingjusttokeepmybooton.”
Mr.Eltonlookedallhappinessatthispropositionandnothingcouldexceedhisalertnessandattentioninconductingthemintohishouseandendeavouringtomakeeverythingappeartoadvantage.Theroomtheyweretakenintowastheonehechieflyoccupied,andlookingforwardsbehinditwasanotherwithwhichitimmediatelycommunicatedthedoorbetweenthemwasopen,andEmmapassedintoitwiththehousekeepertoreceiveherassistanceinthemostcomfortablemanner.ShewasobligedtoleavethedoorajarasshefounditbutshefullyintendedthatMr.Eltonshouldcloseit.Itwasnotclosed,however,itstillremainedajarbutbyengagingthehousekeeperinincessantconversation,shehopedtomakeitpracticableforhimtochusehisownsubjectintheadjoiningroom.Fortenminutesshecouldhearnothingbutherself.Itcouldbeprotractednolonger.Shewasthenobligedtobefinished,andmakeherappearance.
Theloverswerestandingtogetheratoneofthewindows.Ithadamostfavourableaspectand,forhalfaminute,Emmafeltthegloryofhavingschemedsuccessfully.Butitwouldnotdohehadnotcometothepoint.Hehadbeenmostagreeable,mostdelightfulhehadtoldHarrietthathehadseenthemgoby,andhadpurposelyfollowedthemotherlittlegallantriesandallusionshadbeendropt,butnothingserious.
“Cautious,verycautious,”thoughtEmma“headvancesinchbyinch,andwillhazardnothingtillhebelieveshimselfsecure.”
Still,however,thougheverythinghadnotbeenaccomplishedbyheringeniousdevice,shecouldnotbutflatterherselfthatithadbeentheoccasionofmuchpresentenjoymenttoboth,andmustbeleadingthemforwardtothegreatevent.
