CHAPTER XVII

ndunderstanding—reallyforthetimeconvincedthatHarrietwasthesuperiorcreatureofthetwo—andthattoresembleherwouldbemoreforherownwelfareandhappinessthanallthatgeniusorintelligencecoulddo. Itwasrathertoolateinthedaytosetaboutbeingsimple-mindedandignorantbutsheleftherwitheverypreviousresolutionconfirmedofbeinghumbleanddiscreet,andrepressingimaginationalltherestofherlife.Herseconddutynow,inferioronlytoherfather’sclaims,wastopromoteHarriet’scomfort,andendeavourtoproveherownaffectioninsomebettermethodthanbymatch-making.ShegothertoHartfield,andshewedherthemostunvaryingkindness,strivingtooccupyandamuseher,andbybooksandconversation,todriveMr.Eltonfromherthoughts. Time,sheknew,mustbeallowedforthisbeingthoroughlydoneandshecouldsupposeherselfbutanindifferentjudgeofsuchmattersingeneral,andveryinadequatetosympathiseinanattachmenttoMr.EltoninparticularbutitseemedtoherreasonablethatatHarriet’sage,andwiththeentireextinctionofallhope,suchaprogressmightbemadetowardsastateofcomposurebythetimeofMr.Elton’sreturn,astoallowthemalltomeetagaininthecommonroutineofacquaintance,withoutanydangerofbetrayingsentimentsorincreasin