CHAPTER XI

rationalremonstranceorsharpretortequallyill-bestowed.ItdidnotoftenhappenforMr.JohnKnightleyhadreallyagreatregardforhisfather-in-law,andgenerallyastrongsenseofwhatwasduetohimbutitwastoooftenforEmma’scharity,especiallyastherewasallthepainofapprehensionfrequentlytobeendured,thoughtheoffencecamenot.Thebeginning,however,ofeveryvisitdisplayednonebuttheproperestfeelings,andthisbeingofnecessitysoshortmightbehopedtopassawayinunsulliedcordiality.TheyhadnotbeenlongseatedandcomposedwhenMr.Woodhouse,withamelancholyshakeoftheheadandasigh,calledhisdaughter’sattentiontothesadchangeatHartfieldsinceshehadbeentherelast. “Ah,mydear,”saidhe,“poorMissTaylor—Itisagrievousbusiness.” “Ohyes,sir,”criedshewithreadysympathy,“howyoumustmissher!AnddearEmma,too!—Whatadreadfullosstoyouboth!—Ihavebeensogrievedforyou.—Icouldnotimaginehowyoucouldpossiblydowithouther.—Itisasadchangeindeed.—ButIhopesheisprettywell,sir.” “Prettywell,mydear—Ihope—prettywell.—Idonotknowbutthattheplaceagreeswithhertolerably.” Mr.JohnKnightleyhereaskedEmmaquietlywhethertherewereanydoubtsoftheairofRandalls. “Oh!no—noneintheleast.IneversawMrs.Westonbetterinmylife—neverlookingsowell.Papaisonlyspeakinghisownregret.” “Verymuchtothehonourofboth,”wasthehandsomereply. “Anddoyouseeher,sir,tolerablyoften?”askedIsabellaintheplaintivetonewhichjustsuitedherfather. Mr.Woodhousehesitated.—“Notnearsooften,mydear,asIcouldwish.” “Oh!papa,wehavemissedseeingthembutoneentiredaysincetheymarried.Eitherinthemorningoreveningofeveryday,exceptingone,haveweseeneitherMr.WestonorMrs.Weston,andgenerallyboth,eitheratRandallsorhere—andasyoumaysuppose,Isabella,mostfrequentlyhere.Theyarevery,verykindintheirvisits.Mr.Westonisreallyaskindasherself.Papa,ifyouspeakinthatmelancholyway,youwillbegivingIsabellaafalseideaofusall.EverybodymustbeawarethatMissTaylormustbemissed,buteverybodyoughtalsotobeassuredthatMr.andMrs.Westondoreallypreventourmissingherbyanymeanstotheextentweourselvesanticipated—whichistheexacttruth.”