“Well, my dear,” he deliberately began, “considering we never saw her before, she seems a very pretty sort of young lady; and I dare say she was very much pleased with you.  She speaks a little too quick.  A little quickness of voice there is which rather hurts the ear.  But I believe I am nice; I do not like strange voices; and nobody speaks like you and poor Miss Taylor.  However, she seems a very obliging, pretty-behaved young lady, and no doubt will make him a very good wife.  Though I think he had better not have married.  I made the best excuses I could for not having been able to wait on him and Mrs. Elton on this happy occasion; I said that I hoped I should in the course of the summer.  But I ought to have gone before.  Not to wait upon a bride is very remiss.  Ah! it shews what a sad invalid I am!  But I do not like the corner into Vicarage Lane.”

“I dare say your apologies were accepted, sir.  Mr. Elton knows you.”

“Yes:  but a young lady—­a bride—­I ought to have paid my respects to her if possible.  It was being very deficient.”

“But, my dear papa, you are no friend to matrimony; and therefore why should you be so anxious to pay your respects to a bride?  It ought to be no recommendation to you.  It is encouraging people to marry if you make so much of them.”

“No, my dear, I never encouraged any body to marry, but I would always wish to pay every proper attention to a lady—­and a bride, especially, is never to be neglected.  More is avowedly due to her.  A bride, you know, my dear, is always the first in company, let the others be who they may.”

“Well, papa, if this is not encouragement to marry, I do not know what is.  And I should never have expected you to be lending your sanction to such vanity-baits for poor young ladies.”

“My dear, you do not understand me.  This is a matter of mere common politeness and good-breeding, and has nothing to do with any encouragement to people to marry.”

Emma had done.  Her father was growing nervous, and could not understand her.  Her mind returned to Mrs. Elton’s offences, and long, very long, did they occupy her.

CHAPTER XV

Emma was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her ill opinion of Mrs. Elton.  Her observation had been pretty correct.  Such as Mrs. Elton appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared whenever they met again,—­self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred.  She had a little beauty and a little accomplishment, but so little judgment that she thought herself coming with superior knowledge of the world, to enliven and improve a country neighbourhood; and conceived Miss Hawkins to have held such a place in society as Mrs. Elton’s consequence only could surpass.