Mr Woodhouse at last was off;but Mr Knightley,instead of being immediately off likewise,sat down again,seemingly inclined for more chat.He began speaking of Harriet,and speaking of her with more voluntary praise than Emma had ever heard before.
‘I cannot rate her beauty as you do,’said he;‘but she is a pretty little creature,and I am inclined to think very well of her disposition.Her character depends upon those she is with;but in good hands she will turn out a valuable woman.’
‘I am glad you think so;and the good hands,I hope,may not be wanting.’
‘Come,’said he,‘you are anxious for a compliment,so I will tell you that you have improved her.You have cured her of her schoolgirl's giggle;she really does you credit.’
‘Thank you.I should be mortified,indeed,if I did not believe I had been of some use;but it is not everybody who will bestow praise where they may.You do not often overpower me with it.’
‘You are expecting her again,you say,this morning?’
‘Almost every moment.She has been gone longer already than she intended.’
‘Something has happened to delay her;some visitors,perhaps.’
‘Highbury gossips!Tiresome wretches!’
‘Harriet may not consider everybody tiresome that you would.’
Emma knew this was too true for contradiction,and,therefore,said nothing.He presently added,with a smile:
‘I do not pretend to fix on times or places,but I must tell you that I have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of something to her advantage.’
‘Indeed!how so?of what sort?’
‘A very serious sort,I assure you,’still smiling.
‘Very serious!I can think of but one thing-who is in love with her?Who makes you their confidant?’
Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr Elton's having dropped a hint.Mr Knightley was a sort of general friend and adviser,and she knew Mr Elton looked up to him.
‘I have reason to think,’he replied,‘that Harriet Smith will soon have an offer of marriage,and from a most unexceptionable quarter-Robert Martin is the man.Her visit to Abbey Mill,this summer,seems to have done his business.He is desperately in love,and means to marry her.’
‘He is very obliging,’said Emma;‘but is he sure that Harriet means to marry him?’
‘Well,well,means to make her an offer,then.Will that do?He came to the Abbey two evenings ago,on purpose to consult me about it.He knows I have a thorough regard for him and all his family,and,I believe,considers me as one of his best friends.He came to ask me whether I thought it would be imprudent in him to settle so early;whether I thought her too young-in short,whether I approved his choice altogether;having some apprehension,perhaps,of her being considered (especially since your making so much of her)as in a line of society above him.I was very much pleased with all that he said.I never hear better sense from any one than Robert Martin.He always speaks to the purpose;open,straightforward,and very well judging.He told me everything;his circumstances and plans,and what they all proposed doing in the event of his marriage.He is an excellent young man,both as son and brother.I had no hesitation in advising him to marry.He proved to me that he could afford it,and that being the case,I was convinced he could not do better.I praised the fair lady too,and altogether sent him away very happy.If he had never esteemed my opinion before,he would have thought highly of me then;and I dare say,left the house thinking me the best friend and counsellor man ever had.This happened the night before last.Now,as we may fairly suppose,he would not allow much time to pass before he spoke to the lady,and as he does not appear to have spoken yesterday,it is not unlikely that he should be at Mrs Goddard's today;and she may be detained by a visitor,without thinking him at all a tiresome wretch.’
‘Pray,Mr Knightley,’said Emma,who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech,‘how do you know that Mr Martin did not speak yesterday?’
‘Certainly,’replied he,surprised,‘I do not absolutely know it,but it may be inferred.Was not she the whole day with you?’
‘Come,’said she,‘I will tell you something in return for what you have told me.He did speak yesterday-that is,he wrote,and was refused.’
This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed;and Mr Knightley actually looked red with surprise and displeasure,as he stood up,in tall indignation,and said:
‘Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her.What is the foolish girl about?’
‘Oh,to be sure,’cried Emma,‘it is always incomprehensible to a man,that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage.A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anybody who asks her.’
‘Nonsense!a man does not imagine any such thing.But what is the meaning of this?Harriet Smith refuse Robert Martin!Madness,if it is so;but I hope you are mistaken.’
‘I saw her answer!-nothing could be clearer.’
‘You saw her answer!-you wrote her answer too.Emma,this is your doing.You persuaded her to refuse him.’
‘And if I did(which,however,I am far from allowing),I should not feel that I had done wrong.Mr Martin is a very respectable young man,but I cannot admit him to be Harriet's equal;and am rather surprised,indeed,that he should have ventured to address her.By your account he does seem to have had some scruples.It is a pity that they were ever got over.’
