The son looked convinced.
“I have heard her speak of the acquaintance,”
said Emma; “she is a very elegant young woman.”
He agreed to it, but with so quiet a “Yes,”
as inclined her almost to doubt his real concurrence;
and yet there must be a very distinct sort of elegance
for the fashionable world, if Jane Fairfax could be
thought only ordinarily gifted with it.
“If you were never particularly struck by her
manners before,” said she, “I think you
will to-day. You will see her to advantage; see
her and hear her—no, I am afraid you will
not hear her at all, for she has an aunt who never
holds her tongue.”
“You are acquainted with Miss Jane Fairfax,
sir, are you?” said Mr. Woodhouse, always the
last to make his way in conversation; “then
give me leave to assure you that you will find her
a very agreeable young lady. She is staying
here on a visit to her grandmama and aunt, very worthy
people; I have known them all my life. They will
be extremely glad to see you, I am sure; and one of
my servants shall go with you to shew you the way.”
“My dear sir, upon no account in the world;
my father can direct me.”
“But your father is not going so far; he is
only going to the Crown, quite on the other side of
the street, and there are a great many houses; you
might be very much at a loss, and it is a very dirty
walk, unless you keep on the footpath; but my coachman
can tell you where you had best cross the street.”
Mr. Frank Churchill still declined it, looking as
serious as he could, and his father gave his hearty
support by calling out, “My good friend, this
is quite unnecessary; Frank knows a puddle of water
when he sees it, and as to Mrs. Bates’s, he
may get there from the Crown in a hop, step, and jump.”
They were permitted to go alone; and with a cordial
nod from one, and a graceful bow from the other, the
two gentlemen took leave. Emma remained very
well pleased with this beginning of the acquaintance,
and could now engage to think of them all at Randalls
any hour of the day, with full confidence in their
comfort.
The next morning brought Mr. Frank Churchill again.
He came with Mrs. Weston, to whom and to Highbury
he seemed to take very cordially. He had been
sitting with her, it appeared, most companionably at
home, till her usual hour of exercise; and on being
desired to chuse their walk, immediately fixed on
Highbury.—“He did not doubt there
being very pleasant walks in every direction, but if
left to him, he should always chuse the same.
Highbury, that airy, cheerful, happy-looking Highbury,
would be his constant attraction.”—
Highbury, with Mrs. Weston, stood for Hartfield; and
she trusted to its bearing the same construction with
him. They walked thither directly.
