CHAPTER XI

“Justasitshouldbe,”saidMr.JohnKnightley,“andjustasIhopeditwasfromyourletters.Herwishofshewingyouattentioncouldnotbedoubted,andhisbeingadisengagedandsocialmanmakesitalleasy.Ihavebeenalwaystellingyou,mylove,thatIhadnoideaofthechangebeingsoverymaterialtoHartfieldasyouapprehendedandnowyouhaveEmma’saccount,Ihopeyouwillbesatisfied.” “Why,tobesure,”saidMr.Woodhouse—“yes,certainly—IcannotdenythatMrs.Weston,poorMrs.Weston,doescomeandseeusprettyoften—butthen—sheisalwaysobligedtogoawayagain.” “ItwouldbeveryharduponMr.Westonifshedidnot,papa.—YouquiteforgetpoorMr.Weston.” “Ithink,indeed,”saidJohnKnightleypleasantly,“thatMr.Westonhassomelittleclaim.YouandI,Emma,willventuretotakethepartofthepoorhusband.I,beingahusband,andyounotbeingawife,theclaimsofthemanmayverylikelystrikeuswithequalforce.AsforIsabella,shehasbeenmarriedlongenoughtoseetheconvenienceofputtingalltheMr.Westonsasideasmuchasshecan.” “Me,mylove,”criedhiswife,hearingandunderstandingonlyinpart.—“Areyoutalkingaboutme?—Iamsurenobodyoughttobe,orcanbe,agreateradvocateformatrimonythanIamandifithadnotbeenforthemiseryofherleavingHartfield,IshouldneverhavethoughtofMissTaylorbutasthemostfortunatewomanintheworldandastoslightingMr.Weston,thatexcellentMr.Weston,Ithinkthereisnothinghedoesnotdeserve.Ibelieveheisoneoftheverybest-temperedmenthateverexisted.Exceptingyourselfandyourbrother,Idonotknowhisequalfortemper.IshallneverforgethisflyingHenry’skiteforhimthatverywindydaylastEaster—andeversincehisparticularkindnesslastSeptembertwelvemonthinwritingthatnote,attwelveo’clockatnight,onpurposetoassuremethattherewasnoscarletfeveratCobham,Ihavebeenconvincedtherecouldnotbeamorefeelingheartnorabettermaninexistence.—Ifanybodycandeservehim,itmustbeMissTaylor.” “Whereistheyoungman?”saidJohnKnightley.“Hashebeenhereonthisoccasion—orhashenot?” “Hehasnotbeenhereyet,”repliedEmma.“Therewasastrongexpectationofhiscomingsoonafterthemarriage,butitendedinnothingandIhavenotheardhimmentionedlately.” “Butyoushouldtellthem