CHAPTER XVI

issuperior.HemustknowthattheWoodhouseshadbeensettledforseveralgenerationsatHartfield,theyoungerbranchofaveryancientfamily—andthattheEltonswerenobody.ThelandedpropertyofHartfieldcertainlywasinconsiderable,beingbutasortofnotchintheDonwellAbbeyestate,towhichalltherestofHighburybelongedbuttheirfortune,fromothersources,wassuchastomakethemscarcelysecondarytoDonwellAbbeyitself,ineveryotherkindofconsequenceandtheWoodhouseshadlongheldahighplaceintheconsiderationoftheneighbourhoodwhichMr.Eltonhadfirstenterednottwoyearsago,tomakehiswayashecould,withoutanyalliancesbutintrade,oranythingtorecommendhimtonoticebuthissituationandhiscivility.—Buthehadfanciedherinlovewithhimthatevidentlymusthavebeenhisdependenceandafterravingalittleabouttheseemingincongruityofgentlemannersandaconceitedhead,Emmawasobligedincommonhonestytostopandadmitthatherownbehaviourtohimhadbeensocomplaisantandobliging,sofullofcourtesyandattention,as(supposingherrealmotiveunperceived)mightwarrantamanofordinaryobservationanddelicacy,likeMr.Elton,infancyinghimselfaverydecidedfavourite.Ifshehadsomisinterpretedhisfeelings,shehadlittlerighttowonderthathe,withself-interesttoblindhim,shouldhavemistakenhers. Thefirsterrorandtheworstlayatherdoor.Itwasfoolish,itwaswrong,totakesoactiveapartinbringinganytwopeopletogether.Itwasadventuringtoofar,assumingtoomuch,makinglightofwhatoughttobeserious,atrickofwhatoughttobesimple.Shewasquiteconcernedandashamed,andresolvedtodosuchthingsnomore. “HerehaveI,”saidshe,“actuallytalkedpoorHarrietintobeingverymuchattachedtothisman.Shemightneverhavethoughtofhimbutformeandcertainlyneverwouldhavethoughtofhimwithhope,ifIhadnotassuredherofhisattachment,forsheisasmodestandhumbleasIusedtothinkhim.Oh!thatIhadbeensatisfiedwithpersuadinghernottoacceptyoung