CHAPTER XI

oftheletter,mydear,”saidherfather.“HewrotealettertopoorMrs.Weston,tocongratulateher,andaveryproper,handsomeletteritwas.Sheshewedittome.Ithoughtitverywelldoneofhimindeed.Whetheritwashisownideayouknow,onecannottell.Heisbutyoung,andhisuncle,perhaps—” “Mydearpapa,heisthree-and-twenty.Youforgethowtimepasses.” “Three-and-twenty!—isheindeed?—Well,Icouldnothavethoughtit—andhewasbuttwoyearsoldwhenhelosthispoormother!Well,timedoesflyindeed!—andmymemoryisverybad.However,itwasanexceedinggood,prettyletter,andgaveMr.andMrs.Westonagreatdealofpleasure.IrememberitwaswrittenfromWeymouth,anddatedSept.28th—andbegan,‘MydearMadam,’butIforgethowitwentonanditwassigned‘F.C.WestonChurchill.’—Irememberthatperfectly.” “Howverypleasingandproperofhim!”criedthegood-heartedMrs.JohnKnightley.“Ihavenodoubtofhisbeingamostamiableyoungman.Buthowsaditisthatheshouldnotliveathomewithhisfather!Thereissomethingsoshockinginachild’sbeingtakenawayfromhisparentsandnaturalhome!InevercouldcomprehendhowMr.Westoncouldpartwithhim.Togiveupone’schild!Ireallynevercouldthinkwellofanybodywhoproposedsuchathingtoanybodyelse.” “NobodyeverdidthinkwelloftheChurchills,Ifancy,”observedMr.JohnKnightleycoolly.“ButyouneednotimagineMr.WestontohavefeltwhatyouwouldfeelingivingupHenryorJohn.Mr.Westonisratheraneasy,cheerful-temperedman,thanamanofstrongfeelingshetakesthingsashefindsthem,andmakesenjoymentofthemsomehoworother,depending,Isuspect,muchmoreuponwhatiscalledsocietyforhiscomforts,thatis,uponthepowerofeatinganddrinking,andplayingwhistwithhisneighboursfivetimesaweek,thanuponfamilyaffection,oranythingthathomeaffords.” EmmacouldnotlikewhatborderedonareflectiononMr.Weston,andhadhalfamindtotakeitupbutshestruggled,andletitpass.Shewouldkeepthepeaceifpossibleandtherewassomethinghonourableandvaluableinthestrongdomestichabits,theall-sufficiencyofhometohimself,whenceresultedherbrother’sdispositiontolookdownonthecommonrateofsocialintercourse,andthosetowhomitwasimportant.—Ithadahighclaimtoforbearance.