‘Pretty!say beautiful rather.Can you imagine anything nearer perfect beauty than Emma altogether-face and figure?’
‘I don't know what I could imagine,but I confess that I have seldom seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers.But I am a partial old friend.’
‘Such an eye!-the true hazel eye-and so brilliant!regular features,open countenance,with a complexion-oh,what a bloom of full health,and such a pretty height and size!such a firm and upright figure!There is health not merely in her bloom,but in her air,her head,her glance.One hears sometimes of a child being “the picture of health;”now,Emma always gives me the idea of being the complete picture of grown-up health.She is loveliness itself.Mr Knightley,is not she?’
‘I have not a fault to find with her person,’he replied.‘I think her all you describe.I love to look at her;and I will add this praise,that I do not think her personally vain.Considering how very handsome she is,she appears to be little occupied with it;her vanity lies another way.Mrs Weston,I am not to be talked out of my dislike of her intimacy with Harriet Smith,or my dread of its doing them both harm.’
‘And I,Mr Knightley,am equally stout in my confidence of its not doing them any harm.With all dear Emma's little faults,she is an excellent creature.Where shall we see a better daughter,or a kinder sister,or a truer friend?No,no;she has qualities which may be trusted;she will never lead any one really wrong;she will make no lasting blunder;where Emma errs once,she is in the right a hundred times.’
‘Very well;I will not plague you any more.Emma shall be an angel,and I will keep my spleen to myself till Christmas brings John and Isabella.John loves Emma with a reasonable and therefore not a blind affection,and Isabella always thinks as he does,except when he is not quite frightened enough about the children.I am sure of having their opinions with me.’
‘I know that you all love her really too well to be unjust or unkind;but excuse me,Mr Knightley,if I take the liberty (I consider myself,you know,as having somewhat of the privilege of speech that Emma's mother might have had)the liberty of hinting that I do not think any possible good can arise from Harriet Smith's intimacy being made a matter of much discussion among you.Pray excuse me;our supposing any little inconvenience may be apprehended from the intimacy,it cannot be expected that Emma,accountable to nobody but her father,who perfectly approves the acquaintance,should put an end to it,so long as it is a source of pleasure to herself.It has been so many years my province to give advice,that you cannot be surprised,Mr Knightley,at this little remains of office.’
‘Not at all,’cried he;‘I am much obliged to you for it.It is very good advice,and it shall have a better fate than your advice has often found;for it shall be attended to.’
‘Mrs John Knightley is easily alarmed,and might be made unhappy about her sister.’
‘Be satisfied,’said he,‘I will not raise any outcry.I will keep my ill humour to myself.I have a very sincere interest in Emma.Isabella does not seem more my sister;has never excited a greater interest;perhaps,hardly so great.There is an anxiety,a curiosity in what one feels for Emma.I wonder what will become of her.’
‘So do I,’said Mrs Weston gently,‘very much.’
‘She always declares she will never marry,which,of course,means just nothing at all.But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she cared for.It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love with a proper object.I should like to see Emma in love,and in some doubt of a return;it would do her good.But there is nobody hereabouts to attach her;and she goes so seldom from home.’
‘There does,indeed,seem as little to tempt her to break her resolution at present,’said Mrs Weston,‘as can well be;and while she is so happy at Hartfield,I cannot wish her to be forming any attachment which would be creating such difficulties on poor Mr Woodhouse's account.I do not recommend matrimony at present to Emma,though I mean no slight to the estate,I assure you.’
Part of her meaning was to conceal some favourite thoughts of her own and Mr Weston's on the subject as much as possible.There were wishes at Randalls respecting Emma's destiny,but it was not desirable to have them suspected;and the quiet transition which Mr Knightley soon afterwards made to ‘What does Weston think of the weather?-shall we have rain?’-convinced her that he had nothing more to say or surmise about Hartfield.
Chapter 6
Emma could not feel a doubt of having given Harriet's fancy a proper direction,and raised the gratitude of her young vanity to a very good purpose;for she found her decidedly more sensible than before of Mr Elton's being a remarkably handsome man,with most agreeable manners;and as she had no hesitation in following up the assurance of his admiration by agreeable hints,she was soon pretty confident of creating as much liking on Harriet's side as there could be any occasion for.She was quite convinced of Mr Elton's being in the fairest way of falling in love,if not in love already.She had no scruple with regard to him.He talked of Harriet;and praised her so warmly that she could not suppose anything wanting which a little time would not add.His perception of the striking improvement of Harriet's manner,since her introduction at Hartfield,was not one of the least agreeable proofs of his growing attachment.
‘You have given Miss Smith all that she required,’said he;‘you have made her graceful and easy.She was a beautiful creature when she came to you;but,in my opinion,the attractions you have added are infinitely superior to what she received from nature.’
‘I am glad you think I have been useful to her;but Harriet only wanted drawing out,and receiving a few,very few hints.She had all the natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness in herself.I have done very little.’
‘If it were admissible to contradict a lady-’said the gallant Mr Elton.
