CHAPTER XII

nsuchgoodcase.Itrust,atleast,thatyoudonotthinkMr.Knightleylookingill,”turninghereyeswithaffectionateanxietytowardsherhusband. “Middling,mydearIcannotcomplimentyou.IthinkMr.JohnKnightleyveryfarfromlookingwell.” “Whatisthematter,sir?—Didyouspeaktome?”criedMr.JohnKnightley,hearinghisownname. “Iamsorrytofind,mylove,thatmyfatherdoesnotthinkyoulookingwell—butIhopeitisonlyfrombeingalittlefatigued.Icouldhavewished,however,asyouknow,thatyouhadseenMr.Wingfieldbeforeyoulefthome.” “MydearIsabella,”—exclaimedhehastily—“praydonotconcernyourselfaboutmylooks.Besatisfiedwithdoctoringandcoddlingyourselfandthechildren,andletmelookasIchuse.” “Ididnotthoroughlyunderstandwhatyouweretellingyourbrother,”criedEmma,“aboutyourfriendMr.Graham’sintendingtohaveabailifffromScotland,tolookafterhisnewestate.Whatwillitanswer?Willnottheoldprejudicebetoostrong?” Andshetalkedinthiswaysolongandsuccessfullythat,whenforcedtogiveherattentionagaintoherfatherandsister,shehadnothingworsetohearthanIsabella’skindinquiryafterJaneFairfaxandJaneFairfax,thoughnogreatfavouritewithheringeneral,shewasatthatmomentveryhappytoassistinpraising. “Thatsweet,amiableJaneFairfax!”saidMrs.JohnKnightley.—“ItissolongsinceIhaveseenher,exceptnowandthenforamomentaccidentallyintown!Whathappinessitmustbetohergoodoldgrandmotherandexcellentaunt,whenshecomestovisitthem!IalwaysregretexcessivelyondearEmma’saccountthatshecannotbemoreatHighburybutnowtheirdaughterismarried,IsupposeColonelandMrs.Campbellwillnotbeabletopartwithheratall.ShewouldbesuchadelightfulcompanionforEmma.” Mr.Woodhouseagreedtoitall,butadded, “OurlittlefriendHarrietSmith,however,isjustsuchanotherprettykindofyoungperson.YouwilllikeHarriet.EmmacouldnothaveabettercompanionthanHarriet.” “Iammosthappytohearit—butonlyJaneFairfaxoneknowstobesoveryaccomplishedandsuperior!—andexactlyEmma’sage.” Thistopicwasdiscussedveryhappily,andotherssucceededofsimilarmoment,andpassedawaywithsimilarharmonybuttheeveningdidnotclosewithoutalittlereturnofagitation.Thegruelcameandsuppliedagreatdealtobesaid—muchpraiseandmanycomments—undoubtingdecisionofitswholesomenessforeveryconstitution,andprettyseverePhilippicsuponthemanyhouseswhereitwasnevermetwithtolerably—but,unfortunately,amongthefailureswhichthedaughterhadtoinstance,themostrecent,andthereforemostprominent,wasinherowncookatSouthEnd,ayoungwomanhiredforthetime,whoneverhadbeenabletounderstandwhatshemeantbyabasinofnicesmoothgruel,thin,butnottoothin.Oftenasshehadwishedforandorderedit,shehadneverbeenabletogetanythingtolerable.Herewasadangerousopening. “Ah!”saidMr.Woodhouse,shakinghisheadandfixinghiseyesonherwithtenderconcern.—TheejaculationinEmma’searexpressed,“Ah!thereisnoendofthesadconsequencesofyourgoingtoSouthEnd.Itdoesnotbeartalkingof.”Andforalittlewhileshehopedhewouldnottalkofit,andthatasilentruminationmightsufficetorestorehimtotherelishofhisownsmoothgruel.Afteranintervalofsomeminutes,however,hebeganwith