“This would soon have led to something better,
of course,” was her consoling reflection; “any
thing interests between those who love; and any thing
will serve as introduction to what is near the heart.
If I could but have kept longer away!”
They now walked on together quietly, till within view
of the vicarage pales, when a sudden resolution, of
at least getting Harriet into the house, made her
again find something very much amiss about her boot,
and fall behind to arrange it once more. She
then broke the lace off short, and dexterously throwing
it into a ditch, was presently obliged to entreat
them to stop, and acknowledged her inability to put
herself to rights so as to be able to walk home in
tolerable comfort.
“Part of my lace is gone,” said she, “and
I do not know how I am to contrive. I really
am a most troublesome companion to you both, but I
hope I am not often so ill-equipped. Mr. Elton,
I must beg leave to stop at your house, and ask your
housekeeper for a bit of ribband or string, or any
thing just to keep my boot on.”
Mr. Elton looked all happiness at this proposition;
and nothing could exceed his alertness and attention
in conducting them into his house and endeavouring
to make every thing appear to advantage. The
room they were taken into was the one he chiefly occupied,
and looking forwards; behind it was another with which
it immediately communicated; the door between them
was open, and Emma passed into it with the housekeeper
to receive her assistance in the most comfortable
manner. She was obliged to leave the door ajar
as she found it; but she fully intended that Mr. Elton
should close it. It was not closed, however,
it still remained ajar; but by engaging the housekeeper
in incessant conversation, she hoped to make it practicable
for him to chuse his own subject in the adjoining room.
For ten minutes she could hear nothing but herself.
It could be protracted no longer. She was then
obliged to be finished, and make her appearance.
The lovers were standing together at one of the windows.
It had a most favourable aspect; and, for half a
minute, Emma felt the glory of having schemed successfully.
But it would not do; he had not come to the point.
He had been most agreeable, most delightful; he had
told Harriet that he had seen them go by, and had purposely
followed them; other little gallantries and allusions
had been dropt, but nothing serious.
“Cautious, very cautious,” thought Emma;
“he advances inch by inch, and will hazard nothing
till he believes himself secure.”
Still, however, though every thing had not been accomplished
by her ingenious device, she could not but flatter
herself that it had been the occasion of much present
enjoyment to both, and must be leading them forward
to the great event.
