CHAPTER XVIII

exceptwhataremerelypersonalthatheiswell-grownandgood-looking,withsmooth,plausiblemanners.” “Well,ifhehavenothingelsetorecommendhim,hewillbeatreasureatHighbury.Wedonotoftenlookuponfineyoungmen,well-bredandagreeable.Wemustnotbeniceandaskforallthevirtuesintothebargain.Cannotyouimagine,Mr.Knightley,whatasensationhiscomingwillproduce?TherewillbebutonesubjectthroughouttheparishesofDonwellandHighburybutoneinterest—oneobjectofcuriosityitwillbeallMr.FrankChurchillweshallthinkandspeakofnobodyelse.” “Youwillexcusemybeingsomuchover-powered.IfIfindhimconversable,Ishallbegladofhisacquaintancebutifheisonlyachatteringcoxcomb,hewillnotoccupymuchofmytimeorthoughts.” “Myideaofhimis,thathecanadapthisconversationtothetasteofeverybody,andhasthepoweraswellasthewishofbeinguniversallyagreeable.Toyou,hewilltalkoffarmingtome,ofdrawingormusicandsoontoeverybody,havingthatgeneralinformationonallsubjectswhichwillenablehimtofollowthelead,ortakethelead,justasproprietymayrequire,andtospeakextremelywelloneachthatismyideaofhim.” “Andmine,”saidMr.Knightleywarmly,“is,thatifheturnoutanythinglikeit,hewillbethemostinsufferablefellowbreathing!What!atthree-and-twentytobethekingofhiscompany—thegreatman—thepractisedpolitician,whoistoreadeverybody’scharacter,andmakeeverybody’stalentsconducetothedisplayofhisownsuperioritytobedispensinghisflatteriesaround,thathemaymakeallappearlikefoolscomparedwithhimself!MydearEmma,yourowngoodsensecouldnotenduresuchapuppywhenitcametothepoint.” “Iwillsaynomoreabouthim,”criedEmma,“youturneverythingtoevil.Wearebothprejudicedyouagainst,Iforhimandwehavenochanceofagreeingtillheisreallyhere.” “Prejudiced!Iamnotprejudiced.” “ButIamverymuch,andwithoutbeingatallashamedofit.MyloveforMr.andMrs.Westongivesmeadecidedprejudiceinhisfavour.” “HeisapersonIneverthinkoffromonemonth’sendtoanother,”saidMr.Knightley,withadegreeofvexation,whichmadeEmmaimmediatelytalkofsomethingelse,thoughshecouldnotcomprehendwhyheshouldbeangry. Totakeadisliketoayoungman,onlybecauseheappearedtobeofadifferentdispositionfromhimself,wasunworthytherealliberalityofmindwhichshewasalwaysusedtoacknowledgeinhimforwithallthehighopinionofhimself,whichshehadoftenlaidtohischarge,shehadneverbeforeforamomentsupposeditcouldmakehimunjusttothemeritofanother.