CHAPTER XVII
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gthem.
Harrietdidthinkhimallperfection,andmaintainedthenon-existenceofanybodyequaltohiminpersonorgoodness—anddid,intruth,proveherselfmoreresolutelyinlovethanEmmahadforeseenbutyetitappearedtohersonatural,soinevitabletostriveagainstaninclinationofthatsortunrequited,thatshecouldnotcomprehenditscontinuingverylonginequalforce.
IfMr.Elton,onhisreturn,madehisownindifferenceasevidentandindubitableasshecouldnotdoubthewouldanxiouslydo,shecouldnotimagineHarriet’spersistingtoplaceherhappinessinthesightortherecollectionofhim.
Theirbeingfixed,soabsolutelyfixed,inthesameplace,wasbadforeach,forallthree.Notoneofthemhadthepowerofremoval,orofeffectinganymaterialchangeofsociety.Theymustencountereachother,andmakethebestofit.
HarrietwasfartherunfortunateinthetoneofhercompanionsatMrs.Goddard’sMr.EltonbeingtheadorationofalltheteachersandgreatgirlsintheschoolanditmustbeatHartfieldonlythatshecouldhaveanychanceofhearinghimspokenofwithcoolingmoderationorrepellenttruth.Wherethewoundhadbeengiven,theremustthecurebefoundifanywhereandEmmafeltthat,tillshesawherinthewayofcure,therecouldbenotruepeaceforherself.
