CHAPTER XIV

prices,andexpectingeverythingtobeasshelikes).Anditisnosmallcredit,inmyopinion,tohim,thatheshouldexcitesuchanaffectionfor,thoughIwouldnotsayittoanybodyelse,shehasnomoreheartthanastonetopeopleingeneralandthedevilofatemper.” Emmalikedthesubjectsowell,thatshebeganuponit,toMrs.Weston,verysoonaftertheirmovingintothedrawing-room:wishingherjoy—yetobserving,thatsheknewthefirstmeetingmustberatheralarming.—Mrs.Westonagreedtoitbutadded,thatsheshouldbeverygladtobesecureofundergoingtheanxietyofafirstmeetingatthetimetalkedof:“forIcannotdependuponhiscoming.IcannotbesosanguineasMr.Weston.Iamverymuchafraidthatitwillallendinnothing.Mr.Weston,Idaresay,hasbeentellingyouexactlyhowthematterstands?” “Yes—itseemstodependuponnothingbuttheill-humourofMrs.Churchill,whichIimaginetobethemostcertainthingintheworld.” “MyEmma!”repliedMrs.Weston,smiling,“whatisthecertaintyofcaprice?”ThenturningtoIsabella,whohadnotbeenattendingbefore—“Youmustknow,mydearMrs.Knightley,thatwearebynomeanssosureofseeingMr.FrankChurchill,inmyopinion,ashisfatherthinks.Itdependsentirelyuponhisaunt’sspiritsandpleasureinshort,uponhertemper.Toyou—tomytwodaughters—Imayventureonthetruth.Mrs.ChurchillrulesatEnscombe,andisaveryodd-temperedwomanandhiscomingnow,dependsuponherbeingwillingtosparehim.” “Oh,Mrs.ChurchilleverybodyknowsMrs.Churchill,”repliedIsabella:“andIamsureIneverthinkofthatpooryoungmanwithoutthegreatestcompassion.Tobeconstantlylivingwithanill-temperedperson,mustbedreadful.Itiswhatwehappilyhaveneverknownanythingofbutitmustbealifeofmisery.Whatablessing,thatsheneverhadanychildren!Poorlittlecreatures,howunhappyshewouldhavemadethem!” EmmawishedshehadbeenalonewithMrs.Weston.Sheshouldthenhaveheardmore:Mrs.Westonwouldspeaktoher,withadegreeofunreservewhichshewouldnothazardwithIsabellaand,shereallybelieved,wouldscarcelytrytoconcealanythingrelativetotheChurchillsfromher,exceptingthoseviewsontheyoungman,ofwhichherownimaginationhadalreadygivenhersuchinstinctiveknowledge.Butatpresenttherewasnothingmoretobesaid.Mr.Woodhouseverysoonfollowedthemintothedrawing-room.Tobesittinglongafterdinner,wasaconfinementthathecouldnotendure.Neitherwinenorconversationwasanythingtohimandgladlydidhemovetothosewit