CHAPTER XVI

ls,andespeciallyforherfather’sbeinggivenamoment’suneasinessaboutit. Thesewereverycheeringthoughtsandthesightofagreatdealofsnowonthegrounddidherfurtherservice,foranythingwaswelcomethatmightjustifytheirallthreebeingquiteasunderatpresent. TheweatherwasmostfavourableforherthoughChristmasDay,shecouldnotgotochurch.Mr.Woodhousewouldhavebeenmiserablehadhisdaughterattemptedit,andshewasthereforesafefromeitherexcitingorreceivingunpleasantandmostunsuitableideas.Thegroundcoveredwithsnow,andtheatmosphereinthatunsettledstatebetweenfrostandthaw,whichisofallothersthemostunfriendlyforexercise,everymorningbeginninginrainorsnow,andeveryeveningsettingintofreeze,shewasformanydaysamosthonourableprisoner.NointercoursewithHarrietpossiblebutbynotenochurchforheronSundayanymorethanonChristmasDayandnoneedtofindexcusesforMr.Elton’sabsentinghimself. Itwasweatherwhichmightfairlyconfineeverybodyathomeandthoughshehopedandbelievedhimtobereallytakingcomfortinsomesocietyorother,itwasverypleasanttohaveherfathersowellsatisfiedwithhisbeingallaloneinhisownhouse,toowisetostiroutandtohearhimsaytoMr.Knightley,whomnoweathercouldkeepentirelyfromthem,— “Ah!Mr.Knightley,whydonotyoustayathomelikepoorMr.Elton?” Thesedaysofconfinementwouldhavebeen,butforherprivateperplexities,remarkablycomfortable,assuchseclusionexactlysuitedherbrother,whosefeelingsmustalwaysbeofgreatimportancetohiscompanionsandhehad,besides,sothoroughlyclearedoffhisill-humouratRandalls,thathisamiablenessneverfailedhimduringtherestofhisstayatHartfield.Hewasalwaysagreeableandobliging,andspeakingpleasantlyofeverybody.Butwithallthehopesofcheerfulness,andallthepresentcomfortofdelay,therewasstillsuchanevilhangingoverherinthehourofexplanationwithHarriet,asmadeitimpossibleforEmmatobeeverperfectlyatease.