CHAPTER XVII

tabletogivehimmuchcreditforthemannerinwhichitwasannounced.Resentmentcouldnothavebeenmoreplainlyspokenthaninacivilitytoherfather,fromwhichshewassopointedlyexcluded.Shehadnotevenashareinhisopeningcompliments.—Hernamewasnotmentioned—andtherewassostrikingachangeinallthis,andsuchanill-judgedsolemnityofleave-takinginhisgracefulacknowledgments,asshethought,atfirst,couldnotescapeherfather’ssuspicion. Itdid,however.—Herfatherwasquitetakenupwiththesurprizeofsosuddenajourney,andhisfearsthatMr.Eltonmightnevergetsafelytotheendofit,andsawnothingextraordinaryinhislanguage.Itwasaveryusefulnote,foritsuppliedthemwithfreshmatterforthoughtandconversationduringtherestoftheirlonelyevening.Mr.Woodhousetalkedoverhisalarms,andEmmawasinspiritstopersuadethemawaywithallherusualpromptitude. ShenowresolvedtokeepHarrietnolongerinthedark.Shehadreasontobelievehernearlyrecoveredfromhercold,anditwasdesirablethatsheshouldhaveasmuchtimeaspossibleforgettingthebetterofherothercomplaintbeforethegentleman’sreturn.ShewenttoMrs.Goddard’saccordinglytheverynextday,toundergothenecessarypenanceofcommunicationandasevereoneitwas.—Shehadtode