While he spoke, Emma’s mind was most busy, and, with all the wonderful velocity of thought, had been able—­and yet without losing a word—­ to catch and comprehend the exact truth of the whole; to see that Harriet’s hopes had been entirely groundless, a mistake, a delusion, as complete a delusion as any of her own—­that Harriet was nothing; that she was every thing herself; that what she had been saying relative to Harriet had been all taken as the language of her own feelings; and that her agitation, her doubts, her reluctance, her discouragement, had been all received as discouragement from herself.—­And not only was there time for these convictions, with all their glow of attendant happiness; there was time also to rejoice that Harriet’s secret had not escaped her, and to resolve that it need not, and should not.—­It was all the service she could now render her poor friend; for as to any of that heroism of sentiment which might have prompted her to entreat him to transfer his affection from herself to Harriet, as infinitely the most worthy of the two—­ or even the more simple sublimity of resolving to refuse him at once and for ever, without vouchsafing any motive, because he could not marry them both, Emma had it not.  She felt for Harriet, with pain and with contrition; but no flight of generosity run mad, opposing all that could be probable or reasonable, entered her brain.  She had led her friend astray, and it would be a reproach to her for ever; but her judgment was as strong as her feelings, and as strong as it had ever been before, in reprobating any such alliance for him, as most unequal and degrading.  Her way was clear, though not quite smooth.—­She spoke then, on being so entreated.—­ What did she say?—­Just what she ought, of course.  A lady always does.—­ She said enough to shew there need not be despair—­and to invite him to say more himself.  He had despaired at one period; he had received such an injunction to caution and silence, as for the time crushed every hope;—­she had begun by refusing to hear him.—­The change had perhaps been somewhat sudden;—­her proposal of taking another turn, her renewing the conversation which she had just put an end to, might be a little extraordinary!—­She felt its inconsistency; but Mr. Knightley was so obliging as to put up with it, and seek no farther explanation.

Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken; but where, as in this case, though the conduct is mistaken, the feelings are not, it may not be very material.—­ Mr. Knightley could not impute to Emma a more relenting heart than she possessed, or a heart more disposed to accept of his.