CHAPTER XIV

erfectlywarm,wouldbesointerestedaboutherfather,andsodelightedwithMrs.Westonandatlastwouldbeginadmiringherdrawingswithsomuchzealandsolittleknowledgeasseemedterriblylikeawould-belover,andmadeitsomeeffortwithhertopreservehergoodmanners.ForherownsakeshecouldnotberudeandforHarriet’s,inthehopethatallwouldyetturnoutright,shewasevenpositivelycivilbutitwasaneffortespeciallyassomethingwasgoingonamongsttheothers,inthemostoverpoweringperiodofMr.Elton’snonsense,whichsheparticularlywishedtolistento.SheheardenoughtoknowthatMr.Westonwasgivingsomeinformationabouthissonsheheardthewords“myson,”and“Frank,”and“myson,”repeatedseveraltimesoverand,fromafewotherhalf-syllablesverymuchsuspectedthathewasannouncinganearlyvisitfromhissonbutbeforeshecouldquietMr.Elton,thesubjectwassocompletelypastthatanyrevivingquestionfromherwouldhavebeenawkward. Now,itsohappenedthatinspiteofEmma’sresolutionofnevermarrying,therewassomethinginthename,intheideaofMr.FrankChurchill,whichalwaysinterestedher.Shehadfrequentlythought—especiallysincehisfather’smarriagewithMissTaylor—thatifsheweretomarry,hewastheverypersontosuitherinage,characterandcondition.Heseemedbythisconnexionbetweenthefamilies,quitetobelongtoher.Shecouldnotbutsupposeittobeamatchthateverybodywhoknewthemmustthinkof.ThatMr.andMrs.Westondidthinkofit,shewasverystronglypersuadedandthoughnotmeaningtobeinducedbyhim,orbyanybodyelse,togiveupasituationwhichshebelievedmorerepletewithgoodthananyshecouldchangeitfor,shehadagreatcuriositytoseehim,adecidedintentionoffindinghimpleasant,ofbeinglikedbyhimtoacertaindegree,andasortofpleasureintheideaoftheirbeingcoupledintheirfriends’imaginations. Withsuchsensations,Mr.Elton’scivilitiesweredreadfullyill-timedbutshehadthecomfortofappearingverypolite,whilefeelingverycross—andofthinkingthattherestofthevisitcouldnotpossiblypasswithoutbringingforwardthesameinformationagain,orthesubstanceofit,fromtheopen-heartedMr.Weston.—Soitproved—forwhenhappilyreleasedfromMr.Elton,andseatedbyMr.Weston,atdinner,hemadeuseoftheveryfirstintervalinthecaresofhospitality,theveryfirstleisurefromthesaddleofmutton,tosaytoher, “Wewantonlytwomoretobejusttherightnumber.Ishouldliketoseetwomorehere,—yourprettylittl