[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

have been very earnestly wishing you success: but had I supposed that she were not your attraction to
Hartfield, I should certainly have thought you judged ill in making your visits so frequent. Am I to believe
that you have never sought to recommend yourself particularly to Miss Smith?--that you have never
thought seriously of her?"
"Never, madam," cried he, affronted in his turn: "never, I assure you. I think seriously of Miss
Smith!--Miss Smith is a very good sort of girl; and I should be happy to see her respectably settled. I
wish her extremely well: and, no doubt, there are men who might not object to--Every body has their
level: but as for myself, I am not, I think, quite so much at a loss. I need not so totally despair of an equal
alliance, as to be addressing myself to Miss Smith!-- No, madam, my visits to Hartfield have been for
yourself only; and the encouragement I received--"
"Encouragement!--I give you encouragement!--Sir, you have been entirely mistaken in supposing it. I
have seen you only as the admirer of my friend. In no other light could you have been more to me than a
common acquaintance. I am exceedingly sorry: but it is well that the mistake ends where it does. Had the
same behaviour continued, Miss Smith might have been led into a misconception of your views; not being
aware, probably, any more than myself, of the very great inequality which you are so sensible of. But, as
it is, the disappointment is single, and, I trust, will not be lasting. I have no thoughts of matrimony at
present."
He was too angry to say another word; her manner too decided to invite supplication; and in this
state of swelling resentment, and mutually deep mortification, they had to continue together a few minutes
longer, for the fears of Mr. Woodhouse had confined them to a foot-pace. If there had not been so much
anger, there would have been desperate awkwardness; but their straightforward emotions left no room
for the little zigzags of embarrassment. Without knowing when the carriage turned into Vicarage Lane, or
when it stopped, they found themselves, all at once, at the door of his house; and he was out before
another syllable passed.--Emma then felt it indispensable to wish him a good night. The compliment was
just returned, coldly and proudly; and, under indescribable irritation of spirits, she was then conveyed to
Hartfield.
There she was welcomed, with the utmost delight, by her father, who had been trembling for the
dangers of a solitary drive from Vicarage Lane--turning a corner which he could never bear to think of--
and in strange hands--a mere common coachman--no James; and there it seemed as if her return only
were wanted to make every thing go well: for Mr. John Knightley, ashamed of his ill-humour, was now all
kindness and attention; and so particularly solicitous for the comfort of her father, as to seem--if not quite
ready to join him in a basin of gruel--perfectly sensible of its being exceedingly wholesome; and the day
was concluding in peace and comfort to all their little party, except herself.--But her mind had never been
in such perturbation; and it needed a very strong effort to appear attentive and cheerful till the usual hour
Page 34
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
of separating allowed her the relief of quiet reflection.
CHAPTER XVI
he hair was curled, and the maid sent away, and Emma sat down to think and be miserable.--It
T
was a wretched business indeed!--Such an overthrow of every thing she had been wishing for!--Such a
development of every thing most unwelcome!--Such a blow for Harriet!--that was the worst of all. Every
part of it brought pain and humiliation, of some sort or other; but, compared with the evil to Harriet, all
was light; and she would gladly have submitted to feel yet more mistaken-- more in error--more
disgraced by mis-judgment, than she actually was, could the effects of her blunders have been confined
to herself.
"If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have borne any thing. He might have
doubled his presumption to me-- but poor Harriet!"
How she could have been so deceived!--He protested that he had never thought seriously of
Harriet--never! She looked back as well as she could; but it was all confusion. She had taken up the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]