CHAPTER XVIII
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standwhatanamiableyoungmanmaybelikelytofeelindirectlyopposingthose,whomaschildandboyhehasbeenlookinguptoallhislife.”
“Ouramiableyoungmanisaveryweakyoungman,ifthisbethefirstoccasionofhiscarryingthrougharesolutiontodorightagainstthewillofothers.Itoughttohavebeenahabitwithhimbythistime,offollowinghisduty,insteadofconsultingexpediency.Icanallowforthefearsofthechild,butnotoftheman.Ashebecamerational,heoughttohaverousedhimselfandshakenoffallthatwasunworthyintheirauthority.Heoughttohaveopposedthefirstattemptontheirsidetomakehimslighthisfather.Hadhebegunasheought,therewouldhavebeennodifficultynow.”
“Weshallneveragreeabouthim,”criedEmma“butthatisnothingextraordinary.Ihavenottheleastideaofhisbeingaweakyoungman:Ifeelsurethatheisnot.Mr.Westonwouldnotbeblindtofolly,thoughinhisownsonbutheisverylikelytohaveamoreyielding,complying,milddispositionthanwouldsuityournotionsofman’sperfection.Idaresayhehasandthoughitmaycuthimofffromsomeadvantages,itwillsecurehimmanyothers.”
“Yesalltheadvantagesofsittingstillwhenheoughttomove,andofleadingalifeofmereidlepleasure,andfancyinghimselfextremelyexpertinfindingexcusesforit.Hecansitdownandwriteafineflourishingletter,fullofprofessionsandfalsehoods,andpersuadehimselfthathehashitupontheverybestmethodintheworldofpreservingpeaceathomeandpreventinghisfather’shavinganyrighttocomplain.Hislettersdisgustme.”
“Yourfeelingsaresingular.Theyseemtosatisfyeverybodyelse.”
“IsuspecttheydonotsatisfyMrs.Weston.Theyhardlycansatisfyawomanofhergoodsenseandquickfeelings:standinginamother’splace,butwithoutamother’saffectiontoblindher.ItisonheraccountthatattentiontoRandallsisdoublydue,andshemustdoublyfeeltheomission.Hadshebeenapersonofconsequenceherself,hewouldhavecomeIdaresayanditwouldnothavesignifiedwhetherhedidorno.Canyouthinkyourfriendbehindhandinthesesortofconsiderations?Doyousupposeshedoesnotoftensayallthistoherself?No,Emma,youramiableyoungmancanbeamiableonlyinFrench,notinEnglish.Hemaybevery‘amiable,’haveverygoodmanners,andbeveryagreeablebuthecanhavenoEnglishdelicacytowardsthefeelingsofotherpeople:nothingreallyamiableabouthim.”
“Youseemdeterminedtothinkillofhim.”
“Me!—notatall,”repliedMr.Knightley,ratherdispleased“Idonotwanttothinkillofhim.IshouldbeasreadytoacknowledgehismeritsasanyothermanbutIhearofnone,
