“I am ready,” said Emma, “whenever
I am wanted.”
“Whom are you going to dance with?” asked
Mr. Knightley.
She hesitated a moment, and then replied, “With
you, if you will ask me.”
“Will you?” said he, offering his hand.
“Indeed I will. You have shewn that you
can dance, and you know we are not really so much
brother and sister as to make it at all improper.”
“Brother and sister! no, indeed.”
This little explanation with Mr. Knightley gave Emma
considerable pleasure. It was one of the agreeable
recollections of the ball, which she walked about
the lawn the next morning to enjoy.—She
was extremely glad that they had come to so good an
understanding respecting the Eltons, and that their
opinions of both husband and wife were so much alike;
and his praise of Harriet, his concession in her favour,
was peculiarly gratifying. The impertinence of
the Eltons, which for a few minutes had threatened
to ruin the rest of her evening, had been the occasion
of some of its highest satisfactions; and she looked
forward to another happy result—the cure
of Harriet’s infatuation.— From Harriet’s
manner of speaking of the circumstance before they
quitted the ballroom, she had strong hopes. It
seemed as if her eyes were suddenly opened, and she
were enabled to see that Mr. Elton was not the superior
creature she had believed him. The fever was
over, and Emma could harbour little fear of the pulse
being quickened again by injurious courtesy.
She depended on the evil feelings of the Eltons for
supplying all the discipline of pointed neglect that
could be farther requisite.—Harriet rational,
Frank Churchill not too much in love, and Mr. Knightley
not wanting to quarrel with her, how very happy a
summer must be before her!
She was not to see Frank Churchill this morning.
He had told her that he could not allow himself the
pleasure of stopping at Hartfield, as he was to be
at home by the middle of the day. She did not
regret it.
Having arranged all these matters, looked them through,
and put them all to rights, she was just turning to
the house with spirits freshened up for the demands
of the two little boys, as well as of their grandpapa,
when the great iron sweep-gate opened, and two persons
entered whom she had never less expected to see together—Frank
Churchill, with Harriet leaning on his arm—actually
Harriet!—A moment sufficed to convince
her that something extraordinary had happened.
Harriet looked white and frightened, and he was trying
to cheer her.— The iron gates and the front-door
were not twenty yards asunder;— they were
all three soon in the hall, and Harriet immediately
sinking into a chair fainted away.
A young lady who faints, must be recovered; questions
must be answered, and surprizes be explained.
Such events are very interesting, but the suspense
of them cannot last long. A few minutes made
Emma acquainted with the whole.
