CHAPTER XII

ntwhichwouldhaveledeitherofthem,ifrequisite,todoeverythingforthegoodoftheother. Theeveningwasquietandconversable,asMr.WoodhousedeclinedcardsentirelyforthesakeofcomfortabletalkwithhisdearIsabella,andthelittlepartymadetwonaturaldivisionsononesideheandhisdaughterontheotherthetwoMr.Knightleystheirsubjectstotallydistinct,orveryrarelymixing—andEmmaonlyoccasionallyjoininginoneortheother. Thebrotherstalkedoftheirownconcernsandpursuits,butprincipallyofthoseoftheelder,whosetemperwasbymuchthemostcommunicative,andwhowasalwaysthegreatertalker.Asamagistrate,hehadgenerallysomepointoflawtoconsultJohnabout,or,atleast,somecuriousanecdotetogiveandasafarmer,askeepinginhandthehome-farmatDonwell,hehadtotellwhateveryfieldwastobearnextyear,andtogiveallsuchlocalinformationascouldnotfailofbeinginterestingtoabrotherwhosehomeithadequallybeenthelongestpartofhislife,andwhoseattachmentswerestrong.Theplanofadrain,thechangeofafence,thefellingofatree,andthedestinationofeveryacreforwheat,turnips,orspringcorn,wasenteredintowithasmuchequalityofinterestbyJohn,ashiscoolermannersrenderedpossibleandifhiswillingbrothereverlefthimanythingtoinquireabout,hisinquiriesevenapproachedatoneofeagerness. Whiletheywerethuscomfortablyoccupied,Mr.Woodhousewasenjoyingafullflowofhappyregretsandfearfulaffectionwithhisdaughter. “MypoordearIsabella,”saidhe,fondlytakingherhand,andinterrupting,forafewmoments,herbusylaboursforsomeoneofherfivechildren—“Howlongitis,howterriblylongsinceyouwerehere!Andhowtiredyoumustbeafteryourjourney!Youmustgotobedearly,mydear—andIrecommendalittlegrueltoyoubeforeyougo.—YouandIwillhaveanicebasinofgrueltogether.MydearEmma,supposeweallhavealittlegruel.” Emmacouldnotsupposeanysuchthing,knowingasshedid,thatboththeMr.Knightleyswereasunpersuadableonthatarticleasherself—andtwobasinsonlywereordered.Afteralittlemorediscourseinpraiseofgruel,withsomewonderingatitsnotbeingtakeneveryeveningbyeverybody,heproceededtosay,withanairofgravereflection, “Itwasanawkwardbusiness,mydear,yourspendingtheautumnatSouthEndinsteadofcominghere.Ineverhadmuchopinionoftheseaair.” “Mr.Wingfieldmoststrenuouslyrecommendedit,sir—orweshouldnothavegone.Herecommendeditforallthechildren,butparticularlyfortheweaknessinlittleBella’sthroat,—bothseaairandbathing.” “Ah!mydear,butPerryhadmanydoubtsabouttheseadoingheranygoodandastomyself,Ihavebeenlongperfectlyconvinced,thoughperhapsInevertoldyousobefore,thattheseaisveryrarelyofusetoanybody.Iamsureitalmostkilledmeonce.” “Come,come,”criedEmma,feelingthistobeanunsafesubject,“Imustbegyounottotalkofthesea.Itmakesmeenviousandmiserable—Iwhohaveneverseenit!SouthEndisprohibited,ifyouplease.MydearIsabella,IhavenotheardyoumakeoneinquiryaboutMr.Perryyetandheneverforgetsyou.” “Oh!goodMr.Perry—howishe,sir?” “Why,prettywellbutnotquitewell.PoorPerryisbilious,andhehasnottimetotakecareofhimself—hetellsmehehasnottimetotakecareofhimself—whichisverysad—butheisalwayswantedallroun