CHAPTER XIII

asliabletoverybadsore-throats,andhadoftenalarmedherwiththem.”Mr.Eltonlookedallalarmontheoccasion,asheexclaimed, “Asore-throat!—Ihopenotinfectious.Ihopenotofaputridinfectioussort.HasPerryseenher?Indeedyoushouldtakecareofyourselfaswellasofyourfriend.Letmeentreatyoutorunnorisks.WhydoesnotPerryseeher?” Emma,whowasnotreallyatallfrightenedherself,tranquillisedthisexcessofapprehensionbyassurancesofMrs.Goddard’sexperienceandcarebutastheremuststillremainadegreeofuneasinesswhichshecouldnotwishtoreasonaway,whichshewouldratherfeedandassistthannot,sheaddedsoonafterwards—asifquiteanothersubject, “Itissocold,soverycold—andlooksandfeelssoverymuchlikesnow,thatifitweretoanyotherplaceorwithanyotherparty,Ishouldreallytrynottogooutto-day—anddissuademyfatherfromventuringbutashehasmadeuphismind,anddoesnotseemtofeelthecoldhimself,Idonotliketointerfere,asIknowitwouldbesogreatadisappointmenttoMr.andMrs.Weston.But,uponmyword,Mr.Elton,inyourcase,Ishouldcertainlyexcusemyself.Youappeartomealittlehoarsealready,andwhenyouconsiderwhatdemandofvoiceandwhatfatiguesto-morrowwillbring,Ithinkitwouldbenomorethancommonprudencetostayathomeandtakecareofyourselfto-night.” Mr.Eltonlookedasifhedidnotverywellknowwhatanswertomakewhichwasexactlythecaseforthoughverymuchgratifiedbythekindcareofsuchafairlady,andnotlikingtoresistanyadviceofher’s,hehadnotreallytheleastinclinationtogiveupthevisit—butEmma,tooeagerandbusyinherownpreviousconceptionsandviewstohearhimimpartially,orseehimwithclearvision,wasverywellsatisfiedwithhismutteringacknowledgmentofitsbeing“verycold,certainlyverycold,”andwalkedon,rejoicinginhavingextricatedhimfromRandalls,andsecuredhimthepowerofsendingtoinquireafterHarrieteveryhouroftheevening. “Youdoquiteright,”saidshe—“wewillmakeyourapologiestoMr.andMrs.Weston.” Buthardlyhadshesospoken,whenshefoundherbrotherwascivillyofferingaseatinhiscarriage,iftheweatherwereMr.Elton’sonlyobjection,andMr.Eltonactuallyacceptingtheofferwithmuchpromptsatisfaction.ItwasadonethingMr.Eltonwastogo,andneverhadhisbroadhandsomefaceexpressedmorepleasurethanatthismomentneverhadhissmilebeenstronger,norhiseyesmoreexultingthanwhenhenextlookedather. “Well,”saidshetoherself,“thisismoststrange!—AfterIhadgothimoffsowell,tochusetogointocompany,andleaveHarrietillbehind!—Moststrangeindeed!—Butthereis,Ibelieve,inmanymen,especiallysinglemen,suchaninclination—suchapassionfordiningout—adinnerengagementissohighintheclassoftheirpleasures,theiremployments,theirdignities,almosttheirduties,thatanythinggiveswaytoit—andthismustbethecasewithMr.Eltonamostvaluable,amiable,pleasingyoungmanundoubtedly,andverymuchinlovewithHarrietbutstill,hecannotrefuseaninvitation,hemustdineoutwhereverheisasked.Whatastrangethingloveis!hecanseereadywitinHarriet,butwillno