CHAPTER XVI

Martin.ThereIwasquiteright.ThatwaswelldoneofmebutthereIshouldhavestopped,andlefttheresttotimeandchance.Iwasintroducingherintogoodcompany,andgivinghertheopportunityofpleasingsomeoneworthhavingIoughtnottohaveattemptedmore.Butnow,poorgirl,herpeaceiscutupforsometime.Ihavebeenbuthalfafriendtoherandifshewerenottofeelthisdisappointmentsoverymuch,IamsureIhavenotanideaofanybodyelsewhowouldbeatalldesirableforher—WilliamCoxe—Oh!no,IcouldnotendureWilliamCoxe—apertyounglawyer.” Shestopttoblushandlaughatherownrelapse,andthenresumedamoreserious,moredispiritingcogitationuponwhathadbeen,andmightbe,andmustbe.ThedistressingexplanationshehadtomaketoHarriet,andallthatpoorHarrietwouldbesuffering,withtheawkwardnessoffuturemeetings,thedifficultiesofcontinuingordiscontinuingtheacquaintance,ofsubduingfeelings,concealingresentment,andavoidingeclat,wereenoughtooccupyherinmostunmirthfulreflectionssometimelonger,andshewenttobedatlastwithnothingsettledbuttheconvictionofherhavingblunderedmostdreadfully. ToyouthandnaturalcheerfulnesslikeEmma’s,thoughundertemporarygloomatnight,thereturnofdaywillhardlyfailtobringreturnofspirits.Theyouthandcheerfulnessofmorningareinhappyanalogy,andofpowerfuloperationandifthedistressbenotpoignantenoughtokeeptheeyesunclosed,theywillbesuretoopentosensationsofsoftenedpainandbrighterhope. Emmagotuponthemorrowmoredisposedforcomfortthanshehadgonetobed,morereadytoseealleviationsoftheevilbeforeher,andtodependongettingtolerablyoutofit. ItwasagreatconsolationthatMr.Eltonshouldnotbereallyinlovewithher,orsoparticularlyamiableastomakeitshockingtodisappointhim—thatHarriet’snatureshouldnotbeofthatsuperiorsortinwhichthefeelingsaremostacuteandretentive—andthattherecouldbenonecessityforanybody’sknowingwhathadpassedexceptthethreeprincipa