CHAPTER XIV

efriend,MissSmith,andmyson—andthenIshouldsaywewerequitecomplete.Ibelieveyoudidnothearmetellingtheothersinthedrawing-roomthatweareexpectingFrank.Ihadaletterfromhimthismorning,andhewillbewithuswithinafortnight.” EmmaspokewithaveryproperdegreeofpleasureandfullyassentedtohispropositionofMr.FrankChurchillandMissSmithmakingtheirpartyquitecomplete. “Hehasbeenwantingtocometous,”continuedMr.Weston,“eversinceSeptember:everyletterhasbeenfullofitbuthecannotcommandhisowntime.Hehasthosetopleasewhomustbepleased,andwho(betweenourselves)aresometimestobepleasedonlybyagoodmanysacrifices.ButnowIhavenodoubtofseeinghimhereaboutthesecondweekinJanuary.” “Whataverygreatpleasureitwillbetoyou!andMrs.Westonissoanxioustobeacquaintedwithhim,thatshemustbealmostashappyasyourself.” “Yes,shewouldbe,butthatshethinkstherewillbeanotherput-off.ShedoesnotdependuponhiscomingsomuchasIdo:butshedoesnotknowthepartiessowellasIdo.Thecase,yousee,is—(butthisisquitebetweenourselves:Ididnotmentionasyllableofitintheotherroom.Therearesecretsinallfamilies,youknow)—Thecaseis,thatapartyoffriendsareinvitedtopayavisitatEnscombeinJanuaryandthatFrank’scomingdependsupontheirbeingputoff.Iftheyarenotputoff,hecannotstir.ButIknowtheywill,becauseitisafamilythatacertainlady,ofsomeconsequence,atEnscombe,hasaparticulardisliketo:andthoughitisthoughtnecessarytoinvitethemonceintwoorthreeyears,theyalwaysareputoffwhenitcomestothepoint.Ihavenotthesmallestdoubtoftheissue.IamasconfidentofseeingFrankherebeforethemiddleofJanuary,asIamofbeingheremyself:butyourgoodfriendthere(noddingtowardstheupperendofthetable)hassofewvagariesherself,andhasbeensolittleusedtothematHartfield,thatshecannotcalculateontheireffects,asIhavebeenlonginthepracticeofdoing.” “Iamsorrythereshouldbeanythinglikedoubtinthecase,”repliedEmma“butamdisposedtosidewithyou,Mr.Weston.Ifyouthinkhewillcome,IshallthinksotooforyouknowEnscombe.” “Yes—IhavesomerighttothatknowledgethoughIhaveneverbeenattheplaceinmylife.—Sheisanoddwoman!—ButIneverallowmyselftospeakillofher,onFrank’saccountforIdobelievehertobeveryfondofhim.Iusedtothinkshewasnotcapableofbeingfondofanybody,exceptherself:butshehasalwaysbeenkindtohim(inherway—allowingforlittlewhimsandca