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Emma
by Jane Austen
VOLUME II
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.
There was no reason to suppose Mr. Elton thought at all differently
from his wife. He seemed not merely happy with her, but proud. He
had the air of congratulating himself on having brought such a woman
to Highbury, as not even Miss Woodhouse could equal; and the greater
part of her new acquaintance, disposed to commend, or not in the
habit of judging, following the lead of Miss Bates's good-will,
or taking it for granted that the bride must be as clever and as
agreeable as she professed herself, were very well satisfied; so
that Mrs. Elton's praise passed from one mouth to another as it
ought to do, unimpeded by Miss Woodhouse, who readily continued
her first contribution and talked with a good grace of her being
"very pleasant and very elegantly dressed."
In one respect Mrs. Elton grew even worse than she had appeared
at first. Her feelings altered towards Emma.--Offended, probably,
by the little encouragement which her proposals of intimacy met
with, she drew back in her turn and gradually became much more cold
and distant; and though the effect was agreeable, the ill-will which
produced it was necessarily increasing Emma's dislike. Her manners,
too--and Mr. Elton's, were unpleasant towards Harriet. They were
sneering and negligent. Emma hoped it must rapidly work Harriet's
cure; but the sensations which could prompt such behaviour sunk
them both very much.--It was not to be doubted that poor Harriet's
attachment had been an offering to conjugal unreserve, and her own
share in the story, under a colouring the least favourable to her
and the most soothing to him, had in all likelihood been given also.
She was, of course, the object of their joint dislike.-- When they
had nothing else to say, it must be always easy to begin abusing
Miss Woodhouse; and the enmity which they dared not shew in open
disrespect to her, found a broader vent in contemptuous treatment
of Harriet.
Mrs. Elton took a great fancy to Jane Fairfax; and from the first.
Not merely when a state of warfare with one young lady might be
supposed to recommend the other, but from the very first; and she
was not satisfied with expressing a natural and reasonable admiration--
but without solicitation, or plea, or privilege, she must be wanting
to assist and befriend her.--Before Emma had forfeited her confidence,
and about the third time of their meeting, she heard all Mrs. Elton's
knight-errantry on the subject.--
"Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming, Miss Woodhouse.--I quite
rave about Jane Fairfax.--A sweet, interesting creature. So mild
and ladylike--and with such talents!--I assure you I think she has
very extraordinary talents. I do not scruple to say that she plays
extremely well. I know enough of music to speak decidedly on that
point. Oh! she is absolutely charming! You will laugh at my warmth--but,
upon my word, I talk of nothing but Jane Fairfax.-- And her situation
is so calculated to affect one!--Miss Woodhouse, we must exert ourselves
and endeavour to do something for her. We must bring her forward.
Such talent as hers must not be suffered to remain unknown.--I dare
say you have heard those charming lines of the poet,
`Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, `And waste its fragrance
on the desert air.'
We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax."
"I cannot think there is any danger of it," was Emma's
calm answer-- "and when you are better acquainted with Miss
Fairfax's situation and understand what her home has been, with
Colonel and Mrs. Campbell, I have no idea that you will suppose
her talents can be unknown."
"Oh! but dear Miss Woodhouse, she is now in such retirement,
such obscurity, so thrown away.--Whatever advantages she may have
enjoyed with the Campbells are so palpably at an end! And I think
she feels it. I am sure she does. She is very timid and silent.
One can see that she feels the want of encouragement. I like her
the better for it. I must confess it is a recommendation to me.
I am a great advocate for timidity--and I am sure one does not often
meet with it.--But in those who are at all inferior, it is extremely
prepossessing. Oh! I assure you, Jane Fairfax is a very delightful
character, and interests me more than I can express."
"You appear to feel a great deal--but I am not aware how you
or any of Miss Fairfax's acquaintance here, any of those who have
known her longer than yourself, can shew her any other attention
than"--
"My dear Miss Woodhouse, a vast deal may be done by those
who dare to act. You and I need not be afraid. If we set the example,
many will follow it as far as they can; though all have not our
situations. We have carriages to fetch and convey her home, and
we live in a style which could not make the addition of Jane Fairfax,
at any time, the least inconvenient.--I should be extremely displeased
if Wright were to send us up such a dinner, as could make me regret
having asked more than Jane Fairfax to partake of it. I have no
idea of that sort of thing. It is not likely that I should, considering
what I have been used to. My greatest danger, perhaps, in housekeeping,
may be quite the other way, in doing too much, and being too careless
of expense. Maple Grove will probably be my model more than it ought
to be-- for we do not at all affect to equal my brother, Mr. Suckling,
in income.--However, my resolution is taken as to noticing Jane
Fairfax.-- I shall certainly have her very often at my house, shall
introduce her wherever I can, shall have musical parties to draw
out her talents, and shall be constantly on the watch for an eligible
situation. My acquaintance is so very extensive, that I have little
doubt of hearing of something to suit her shortly.--I shall introduce
her, of course, very particularly to my brother and sister when
they come to us. I am sure they will like her extremely; and when
she gets a little acquainted with them, her fears will completely
wear off, for there really is nothing in the manners of either but
what is highly conciliating.--I shall have her very often indeed
while they are with me, and I dare say we shall sometimes find a
seat for her in the barouche-landau in some of our exploring parties."
"Poor Jane Fairfax!"--thought Emma.--"You have not
deserved this. You may have done wrong with regard to Mr. Dixon,
but this is a punishment beyond what you can have merited!--The
kindness and protection of Mrs. Elton!--`Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.'
Heavens! Let me not suppose that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing
me!-- But upon my honour, there seems no limits to the licentiousness
of that woman's tongue!"
Emma had not to listen to such paradings again--to any so exclusively
addressed to herself--so disgustingly decorated with a "dear
Miss Woodhouse." The change on Mrs. Elton's side soon afterwards
appeared, and she was left in peace--neither forced to be the very
particular friend of Mrs. Elton, nor, under Mrs. Elton's guidance,
the very active patroness of Jane Fairfax, and only sharing with
others in a general way, in knowing what was felt, what was meditated,
what was done.
She looked on with some amusement.--Miss Bates's gratitude for
Mrs. Elton's attentions to Jane was in the first style of guileless
simplicity and warmth. She was quite one of her worthies-- the most
amiable, affable, delightful woman--just as accomplished and condescending
as Mrs. Elton meant to be considered. Emma's only surprize was that
Jane Fairfax should accept those attentions and tolerate Mrs. Elton
as she seemed to do. She heard of her walking with the Eltons, sitting
with the Eltons, spending a day with the Eltons! This was astonishing!--She
could not have believed it possible that the taste or the pride
of Miss Fairfax could endure such society and friendship as the
Vicarage had to offer.
"She is a riddle, quite a riddle!" said she.--"To
chuse to remain here month after month, under privations of every
sort! And now to chuse the mortification of Mrs. Elton's notice
and the penury of her conversation, rather than return to the superior
companions who have always loved her with such real, generous affection."
Jane had come to Highbury professedly for three months; the Campbells
were gone to Ireland for three months; but now the Campbells had
promised their daughter to stay at least till Midsummer, and fresh
invitations had arrived for her to join them there. According to
Miss Bates--it all came from her--Mrs. Dixon had written most pressingly.
Would Jane but go, means were to be found, servants sent, friends
contrived--no travelling difficulty allowed to exist; but still
she had declined it!
"She must have some motive, more powerful than appears, for
refusing this invitation," was Emma's conclusion. "She
must be under some sort of penance, inflicted either by the Campbells
or herself. There is great fear, great caution, great resolution
somewhere.-- She is not to be with the Dixons. The decree is issued
by somebody. But why must she consent to be with the Eltons?--Here
is quite a separate puzzle."
Upon her speaking her wonder aloud on that part of the subject,
before the few who knew her opinion of Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Weston ventured
this apology for Jane.
"We cannot suppose that she has any great enjoyment at the
Vicarage, my dear Emma--but it is better than being always at home.
Her aunt is a good creature, but, as a constant companion, must
be very tiresome. We must consider what Miss Fairfax quits, before
we condemn her taste for what she goes to."
"You are right, Mrs. Weston," said Mr. Knightley warmly,
"Miss Fairfax is as capable as any of us of forming a just
opinion of Mrs. Elton. Could she have chosen with whom to associate,
she would not have chosen her. But (with a reproachful smile at
Emma) she receives attentions from Mrs. Elton, which nobody else
pays her."
Emma felt that Mrs. Weston was giving her a momentary glance; and
she was herself struck by his warmth. With a faint blush, she presently
replied,
"Such attentions as Mrs. Elton's, I should have imagined,
would rather disgust than gratify Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton's invitations
I should have imagined any thing but inviting."
"I should not wonder," said Mrs. Weston, "if Miss
Fairfax were to have been drawn on beyond her own inclination, by
her aunt's eagerness in accepting Mrs. Elton's civilities for her.
Poor Miss Bates may very likely have committed her niece and hurried
her into a greater appearance of intimacy than her own good sense
would have dictated, in spite of the very natural wish of a little
change."
Both felt rather anxious to hear him speak again; and after a few
minutes silence, he said,
"Another thing must be taken into consideration too--Mrs.
Elton does not talk to Miss Fairfax as she speaks of her. We all
know the difference between the pronouns he or she and thou, the
plainest spoken amongst us; we all feel the influence of a something
beyond common civility in our personal intercourse with each other--
a something more early implanted. We cannot give any body the disagreeable
hints that we may have been very full of the hour before. We feel
things differently. And besides the operation of this, as a general
principle, you may be sure that Miss Fairfax awes Mrs. Elton by
her superiority both of mind and manner; and that, face to face,
Mrs. Elton treats her with all the respect which she has a claim
to. Such a woman as Jane Fairfax probably never fell in Mrs. Elton's
way before--and no degree of vanity can prevent her acknowledging
her own comparative littleness in action, if not in consciousness."
"I know how highly you think of Jane Fairfax," said Emma.
Little Henry was in her thoughts, and a mixture of alarm and delicacy
made her irresolute what else to say.
"Yes," he replied, "any body may know how highly
I think of her."
"And yet," said Emma, beginning hastily and with an arch
look, but soon stopping--it was better, however, to know the worst
at once-- she hurried on--"And yet, perhaps, you may hardly
be aware yourself how highly it is. The extent of your admiration
may take you by surprize some day or other."
Mr. Knightley was hard at work upon the lower buttons of his thick
leather gaiters, and either the exertion of getting them together,
or some other cause, brought the colour into his face, as he answered,
"Oh! are you there?--But you are miserably behindhand. Mr.
Cole gave me a hint of it six weeks ago."
He stopped.--Emma felt her foot pressed by Mrs. Weston, and did
not herself know what to think. In a moment he went on--
"That will never be, however, I can assure you. Miss Fairfax,
I dare say, would not have me if I were to ask her--and I am very
sure I shall never ask her."
Emma returned her friend's pressure with interest; and was pleased
enough to exclaim,
"You are not vain, Mr. Knightley. I will say that for you."
He seemed hardly to hear her; he was thoughtful--and in a manner
which shewed him not pleased, soon afterwards said,
"So you have been settling that I should marry Jane Fairfax?"
"No indeed I have not. You have scolded me too much for match-making,
for me to presume to take such a liberty with you. What I said just
now, meant nothing. One says those sort of things, of course, without
any idea of a serious meaning. Oh! no, upon my word I have not the
smallest wish for your marrying Jane Fairfax or Jane any body. You
would not come in and sit with us in this comfortable way, if you
were married."
Mr. Knightley was thoughtful again. The result of his reverie was,
"No, Emma, I do not think the extent of my admiration for her
will ever take me by surprize.--I never had a thought of her in
that way, I assure you." And soon afterwards, "Jane Fairfax
is a very charming young woman--but not even Jane Fairfax is perfect.
She has a fault. She has not the open temper which a man would wish
for in a wife."
Emma could not but rejoice to hear that she had a fault. "Well,"
said she, "and you soon silenced Mr. Cole, I suppose?"
"Yes, very soon. He gave me a quiet hint; I told him he was
mistaken; he asked my pardon and said no more. Cole does not want
to be wiser or wittier than his neighbours."
"In that respect how unlike dear Mrs. Elton, who wants to
be wiser and wittier than all the world! I wonder how she speaks
of the Coles-- what she calls them! How can she find any appellation
for them, deep enough in familiar vulgarity? She calls you, Knightley--what
can she do for Mr. Cole? And so I am not to be surprized that Jane
Fairfax accepts her civilities and consents to be with her. Mrs.
Weston, your argument weighs most with me. I can much more readily
enter into the temptation of getting away from Miss Bates, than
I can believe in the triumph of Miss Fairfax's mind over Mrs. Elton.
I have no faith in Mrs. Elton's acknowledging herself the inferior
in thought, word, or deed; or in her being under any restraint beyond
her own scanty rule of good-breeding. I cannot imagine that she
will not be continually insulting her visitor with praise, encouragement,
and offers of service; that she will not be continually detailing
her magnificent intentions, from the procuring her a permanent situation
to the including her in those delightful exploring parties which
are to take place in the barouche-landau."
"Jane Fairfax has feeling," said Mr. Knightley--"I
do not accuse her of want of feeling. Her sensibilities, I suspect,
are strong--and her temper excellent in its power of forbearance,
patience, self-controul; but it wants openness. She is reserved,
more reserved, I think, than she used to be--And I love an open
temper. No--till Cole alluded to my supposed attachment, it had
never entered my head. I saw Jane Fairfax and conversed with her,
with admiration and pleasure always--but with no thought beyond."
"Well, Mrs. Weston," said Emma triumphantly when he left
them, "what do you say now to Mr. Knightley's marrying Jane
Fairfax?"
"Why, really, dear Emma, I say that he is so very much occupied
by the idea of not being in love with her, that I should not wonder
if it were to end in his being so at last. Do not beat me."
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