CHAPTER XIII

likeheanticipatednothinginthevisitthatcouldbeatallworththepurchaseandthewholeoftheirdrivetothevicaragewasspentbyhiminexpressinghisdiscontent. “Aman,”saidhe,“musthaveaverygoodopinionofhimselfwhenheaskspeopletoleavetheirownfireside,andencountersuchadayasthis,forthesakeofcomingtoseehim.HemustthinkhimselfamostagreeablefellowIcouldnotdosuchathing.Itisthegreatestabsurdity—Actuallysnowingatthismoment!—Thefollyofnotallowingpeopletobecomfortableathome—andthefollyofpeople’snotstayingcomfortablyathomewhentheycan!Ifwewereobligedtogooutsuchaneveningasthis,byanycallofdutyorbusiness,whatahardshipweshoulddeemit—andherearewe,probablywithratherthinnerclothingthanusual,settingforwardvoluntarily,withoutexcuse,indefianceofthevoiceofnature,whichtellsman,ineverythinggiventohisvieworhisfeelings,tostayathomehimself,andkeepallundershelterthathecan—herearewesettingforwardtospendfivedullhoursinanotherman’shouse,withnothingtosayortohearthatwasnotsaidandheardyesterday,andmaynotbesaidandheardagainto-morrow.Goingindismalweather,toreturnprobablyinworse—fourhorsesandfourservantstakenoutfornothingbuttoconveyfiveidle,shiveringcreaturesintocolderroomsandworsecompanythantheymighthavehadathome.” Emmadidnotfindherselfequaltogivethepleasedassent,whichnodoubthewasinthehabitofreceiving,toemulatethe“Verytrue,mylove,”whichmusthavebeenusuallyadministeredbyhistravellingcompanionbutshehadresolutionenoughtorefrainfrommakinganyansweratall.Shecouldnotbecomplying,shedreadedbeingquarrelsomeherheroismreachedonlytosilence.Sheallowedhimtotalk,andarrangedtheglasses,andwrappedherselfup,withoutopeningherlips. Theyarrived,thecarriageturned,thestepwasletdown,andMr.Elton,spruce,black,andsmiling,waswiththeminstantly.Emmathoughtwithpleasureofsomechangeofsubject.Mr.Eltonwasallobligationandcheerfulnesshewassoverycheerfulinhiscivilitiesindeed,thatshebegantothinkhemusthavereceivedadifferentaccountofHarrietfromwhathadreachedher.Shehadsentwhiledressing,andtheanswerhadbeen,“Muchthesame—notbetter.” “MyreportfromMrs.Goddard’s,”saidshepresently,“wasnotsopleasantasIhadhoped—‘Notbetter’wasmyanswer.” Hisfacelengthenedimmediatelyandhisvoicewasthevoiceofsentimentasheanswered. “Oh!no—Iamgrievedtofind—IwasonthepointoftellingyouthatwhenIcalledatMrs.Goddard’sdoor,whichIdidtheverylastthingbeforeIreturnedtodress,IwastoldthatMissSmithwasnotbetter,bynomeansbetter,ratherworse.Verymuchgrievedandconcerned—IhadflatteredmyselfthatshemustbebetteraftersuchacordialasIknewhadbeengivenherinthemorning.” Emmasmiledandanswered—“Myvisitwasofusetothenervouspartofhercomplaint,IhopebutnotevenIcancharmawayasorethroatitisamostseverecoldindeed.Mr.Perryhasbeenwithher,asyouprobablyheard.” “Yes—Iimagined—thatis—Ididnot—” “Hehasbeenusedtoherinthesecompla