CHAPTER XVIII
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Icannotbelievethathehasnotthepowerofcoming,ifhemadeapointofit.Itistoounlikely,formetobelieveitwithoutproof.”
“Howoddyouare!WhathasMr.FrankChurchilldone,tomakeyousupposehimsuchanunnaturalcreature?”
“Iamnotsupposinghimatallanunnaturalcreature,insuspectingthathemayhavelearnttobeabovehisconnexions,andtocareverylittleforanythingbuthisownpleasure,fromlivingwiththosewhohavealwayssethimtheexampleofit.Itisagreatdealmorenaturalthanonecouldwish,thatayoungman,broughtupbythosewhoareproud,luxurious,andselfish,shouldbeproud,luxurious,andselfishtoo.IfFrankChurchillhadwantedtoseehisfather,hewouldhavecontriveditbetweenSeptemberandJanuary.Amanathisage—whatishe?—threeorfour-and-twenty—cannotbewithoutthemeansofdoingasmuchasthat.Itisimpossible.”
“That’seasilysaid,andeasilyfeltbyyou,whohavealwaysbeenyourownmaster.Youaretheworstjudgeintheworld,Mr.Knightley,ofthedifficultiesofdependence.Youdonotknowwhatitistohavetemperstomanage.”
“Itisnottobeconceivedthatamanofthreeorfour-and-twentyshouldnothavelibertyofmindorlimbtothatamount.Hecannotwantmoney—hecannotwantleisure.Weknow,onthecontrary,thathehassomuchofboth,thatheisgladtogetridofthemattheidlesthauntsinthekingdom.Wehearofhimforeveratsomewatering-placeorother.Alittlewhileago,hewasatWeymouth.ThisprovesthathecanleavetheChurchills.”
“Yes,sometimeshecan.”
“Andthosetimesarewheneverhethinksitworthhiswhilewheneverthereisanytemptationofpleasure.”
“Itisveryunfairtojudgeofanybody’sconduct,withoutanintimateknowledgeoftheirsituation.Nobody,whohasnotbeenintheinteriorofafamily,cansaywhatthedifficultiesofanyindividualofthatfamilymaybe.WeoughttobeacquaintedwithEnscombe,andwithMrs.Churchill’stemper,beforewepretendtodecideuponwhathernephewcando.Hemay,attimes,beabletodoagreatdealmorethanhecanatothers.”
“Thereisonething,Emma,whichamancanalwaysdo,ifhechuses,andthatis,hisdutynotbymanoeuvringandfinessing,butbyvigourandresolution.ItisFrankChurchill’sdutytopaythisattentiontohisfather.Heknowsittobeso,byhispromisesandmessagesbutifhewishedtodoit,itmightbedone.Amanwhofeltrightlywouldsayatonce,simplyandresolutely,toMrs.Churchill—‘EverysacrificeofmerepleasureyouwillalwaysfindmereadytomaketoyourconveniencebutImustgoandseemyfatherimmediately.Iknowhewouldbehurtbymyfailinginsuchamarkofrespecttohimonthepresentoccas
