CHAPTER XIII

tdinealoneforher.” SoonafterwardsMr.Eltonquittedthem,andshecouldnotbutdohimthejusticeoffeelingthattherewasagreatdealofsentimentinhismannerofnamingHarrietatpartinginthetoneofhisvoicewhileassuringherthatheshouldcallatMrs.Goddard’sfornewsofherfairfriend,thelastthingbeforehepreparedforthehappinessofmeetingheragain,whenhehopedtobeabletogiveabetterreportandhesighedandsmiledhimselfoffinawaythatleftthebalanceofapprobationmuchinhisfavour. Afterafewminutesofentiresilencebetweenthem,JohnKnightleybeganwith— “IneverinmylifesawamanmoreintentonbeingagreeablethanMr.Elton.Itisdownrightlabourtohimwhereladiesareconcerned.Withmenhecanberationalandunaffected,butwhenhehasladiestoplease,everyfeatureworks.” “Mr.Elton’smannersarenotperfect,”repliedEmma“butwherethereisawishtoplease,oneoughttooverlook,andonedoesoverlookagreatdeal.Whereamandoeshisbestwithonlymoderatepowers,hewillhavetheadvantageovernegligentsuperiority.Thereissuchperfectgood-temperandgood-willinMr.Eltonasonecannotbutvalue.” “Yes,”saidMr.JohnKnightleypresently,withsomeslyness,“heseemstohaveagreatdealofgood-willtowardsyou.” “Me!”sherepliedwithasmileofastonishment,“areyouimaginingmetobeMr.Elton’sobject?” “Suchanimaginationhascrossedme,Iown,Emmaandifitneveroccurredtoyoubefore,youmayaswelltakeitintoconsiderationnow.” “Mr.Eltoninlovewithme!—Whatanidea!” “Idonotsayitissobutyouwilldowelltoconsiderwhetheritissoornot,andtoregulateyourbehaviouraccordingly.Ithinkyourmannerstohimencouraging.Ispeakasafriend,Emma.Youhadbetterlookaboutyou,andascertainwhatyoudo,andwhatyoumeantodo.” “IthankyoubutIassureyouyouarequitemistaken.Mr.EltonandIareverygoodfriends,andnothingmore”andshewalkedon,amusingherselfintheconsiderationoftheblunderswhichoftenarisefromapartialknowledgeofcircumstances,ofthemistakeswhichpeopleofhighpretensionstojudgmentareforeverfallingintoandnotverywellpleasedwithherbrotherforimaginingherblindandignorant,andinwantofcounsel.Hesaidnomore. Mr.Woodhousehadsocompletelymadeuphismindtothevisit,thatinspiteoftheincreasingcoldness,heseemedtohavenoideaofshrinkingfromit,andsetforwardatlastmostpunctuallywithhiseldestdaughterinhisowncarriage,withlessapparentconsciousnessoftheweatherthaneitheroftheotherstoofullofthewonderofhisowngoing,andthepleasureitwastoaffordatRandallstoseethatitwascold,andtoowellwraptuptofeelit.Thecold,however,wassevereandbythetimethesecondcarriagewasinmotion,afewflakesofsnowwerefindingtheirwaydown,andtheskyhadtheappearanceofbeingsooverchargedastowantonlyamilderairtoproduceaverywhiteworldinaveryshorttime. Emmasoonsawthathercompanionwasnotinthehappiesthumour.Thepreparingandthegoingabroadinsuchweather,withthesacrificeofhischildrenafterdinner,wereevils,weredisagreeablesatleast,whichMr.JohnKnightleydidnotbyanymeans