CHAPTER XV

allywasso.Withoutscruple—withoutapology—withoutmuchapparentdiffidence,Mr.Elton,theloverofHarriet,wasprofessinghimselfherlover.Shetriedtostophimbutvainlyhewouldgoon,andsayitall.Angryasshewas,thethoughtofthemomentmadeherresolvetorestrainherselfwhenshedidspeak.Shefeltthathalfthisfollymustbedrunkenness,andthereforecouldhopethatitmightbelongonlytothepassinghour.Accordingly,withamixtureoftheseriousandtheplayful,whichshehopedwouldbestsuithishalfandhalfstate,shereplied, “Iamverymuchastonished,Mr.Elton.Thistome!youforgetyourself—youtakemeformyfriend—anymessagetoMissSmithIshallbehappytodeliverbutnomoreofthistome,ifyouplease.” “MissSmith!—messagetoMissSmith!—Whatcouldshepossiblymean!”—Andherepeatedherwordswithsuchassuranceofaccent,suchboastfulpretenceofamazement,thatshecouldnothelpreplyingwithquickness, “Mr.Elton,thisisthemostextraordinaryconduct!andIcanaccountforitonlyinonewayyouarenotyourself,oryoucouldnotspeakeithertome,orofHarriet,insuchamanner.Commandyourselfenoughtosaynomore,andIwillendeavourtoforgetit.” ButMr.Eltonhadonlydrunkwineenoughtoelevatehisspirits,notatalltoconfusehisintellects.Heperfectlyknewhisownmeaningandhavingwarmlyprotestedagainsthersuspicionasmostinjurious,andslightlytoucheduponhisrespectforMissSmithasherfriend,—butacknowledginghiswonderthatMissSmithshouldbementionedatall,—heresumedthesubjectofhisownpassion,andwasveryurgentforafavourableanswer. Asshethoughtlessofhisinebriety,shethoughtmoreofhisinconstancyandpresumptionandwithfewerstrugglesforpoliteness,replied, “Itisimpossibleformetodoubtanylonger.Youhavemadeyourselftooclear.Mr.Elton,myastonishmentismuchbeyondanythingIcanexpress.Aftersuchbehaviour,asIhavewitnessedduringthelastmonth,toMissSmith—suchattentionsasIhavebeeninthedailyhabitofobserving—tobeaddressingmeinthismanner—thisisanunsteadinessofcharacter,indeed,whichIhadnotsupposedpossible!Believeme,sir,Iamfar,veryfar,fromgratifiedinbeingtheobjectofsuchprofessions.” “GoodHeaven!”criedMr.Elton,“whatcanbethemeaningofthis?—MissSmith!—IneverthoughtofMissSmithinthewholecourseofmyexistence—neverpaidheranyattentions,butasyourfriend:nevercaredwhethersheweredeadoralive,butasyourfriend.Ifshehasfanciedotherwise,herownwisheshavemisledher,andIamverysorry—extremelysorry—But,MissSmith,indeed!—Oh!MissWoodhouse!whocanthinkofMissSmith,whenMissWoodhouseisnear!No,uponmyhonour,thereisnounsteadinessofcharacter.Ihavethoughtonlyofyou.Iprotestagainsthavingpaidthesmallestattentiontoanyoneelse.EverythingthatIhavesaidordone,formanyweekspast,hasbeenwiththesoleviewofmarkingmyadorationofyourself.Youcannotreally,seriously,doubtit.No!—(inanaccentmeanttobeinsinuating)—Iamsureyouhaveseenandunderstoodme.” ItwouldbeimpossibletosaywhatEmmafelt,onhearingthis—whichofallherunpleasantsensationswasuppermost.Shewastoocompletelyoverpoweredtobeimmediatelyabletoreply:andtwomomentsofsilencebeingampleencouragementforMr.Elton’ssanguinestateofmind,hetriedtotakeherhandagain,ashejoyouslyexclaimed— “CharmingMissWoodhouse!allowmetointerpretthisinterestingsilence.Itconfessesthatyouhavelongundersto