Chapter VIII

She was as determined when the morrow came, and went early, that nothing might prevent her. She went to Miss Bates.

“The ladies are all at home.” She had never rejoiced at such words before. She heard Miss Bates’s voice, something was to be done in a hurry. She heard Miss Bates saying, “Well, my dear, I shall say you are in bed, and I am sure you are ill enough.”

Poor old Mrs. Bates, civil and humble as usual, looked as if she did not quite understand what was going on.

“I am afraid Jane is not very well,” said she, “but I do not know; they tell me she is well. I dare say my daughter will be here presently, Miss Woodhouse. I hope you find a chair. Have you a chair, ma’am? Do you sit where you like? I am sure she will be here presently.”

Emma seriously hoped she would. Miss Bates soon came.

“Ah! Miss Woodhouse, how kind you are! You will excuse Jane’s not coming to you – she is not able – she is gone into her own room. ‘My dear,’ said I, ‘I shall say you are in bed:’ but, however, she is not; she is walking about the room. But, now that she has written her letters, she says she shall soon be well. She will be extremely sorry to miss seeing you, Miss Woodhouse, but your kindness will excuse her. ‘I can see nobody,’ said she. ‘If you must go, my dear,’ said I, ‘you must, and I will say you are in bed.’ And Miss Woodhouse will leave us soon, so she needs some rest.”

Emma was sincerely interested.

“Where – may I ask? – is Miss Fairfax going?”

“To a Mrs. Smallridge – charming woman – most superior – to have the charge of her three little girls – delightful children.”

“Mrs. Elton, I suppose, has been the person to whom Miss Fairfax owes – ”

“Yes, our good Mrs. Elton. The most indefatigable, true friend. Yesterday evening it was all settled that Jane should go. Quite a surprize to me! I had not the least idea! I did not know a word of it till it was all settled.”

“You spent the evening with Mrs. Elton?”

“Yes, all of us. ‘You must all spend your evening with us,’ said she.”

“Mr. Knightley was there too, was he?”

“No, not Mr. Knightley; he declined it from the first.”

“Miss Fairfax, I suppose, had been making up her mind the whole day?”

“I dare say she had. Mrs. Smallridge, a most delightful woman! Jane will be treated with regard and kindness! It will be nothing but pleasure, a life of pleasure. And her salary! Miss Woodhouse, even you, would hardly believe that so much could be given to a young person like Jane.”

“And when is Miss Fairfax to leave you?”

“Very soon, very soon, indeed; that’s the worst of it. Within a fortnight. Mrs. Smallridge is in a great hurry. My poor mother does not know how to bear it.”

“Her friends must all be sorry to lose her – Colonel and Mrs. Campbell – before their return?”

“Yes; Jane says she is sure they will; but she cannot decline his offer. Aye, I see what you are thinking of, the pianoforte. What is to become of that? Very true. Poor dear Jane was talking of it just now. And to this day, I believe, she does not know whether it was his present or his daughter’s.”

Emma believed her visit had been long enough; and took leave.

Chapter IX

Entering the parlour, Emma found that Mr. Knightley and Harriet had arrived during her absence, and were sitting with her father. Mr. Knightley immediately got up, and said,

“I would not go away without seeing you, but I have no time to spare, and therefore must now be gone directly. I am going to London, to spend a few days with John and Isabella. Have you anything to send or say?”

“Nothing at all.”

Emma was sure he had not forgiven her. Time, however, she thought, would tell him that they ought to be friends again. While he stood, as if meaning to go, but not going – her father began his inquiries.

“Well, my dear, how did you find my worthy old friend and her daughter? I dare say they must have been very much obliged to you for coming. Dear Emma has visited Mrs. and Miss Bates, Mr. Knightley, as I told you before. She is always so attentive to them!”

Emma looked at Mr. Knightley. – It seemed as if there were an instantaneous impression in her favour, as if his eyes received the truth from hers. – He looked at her with a glow of regard. She was warmly gratified.

Emma could not regret her having gone to Miss Bates, but she wished she had left her ten minutes earlier; it would have been a great pleasure to talk over Jane Fairfax’s situation with Mr. Knightley. Emma told the news of Jane Fairfax.

“I am very glad, indeed, my dear, to hear she is to be so comfortably settled,” said her father. “Mrs. Elton is very good-natured and agreeable, and I dare say her friends are just what they ought to be. You know, my dear, Miss Fairfax is going to be to this new lady what Miss Taylor was to us.”

The following day brought news from Richmond to throw everything else into the background. An express arrived at Randalls to announce the death of Mrs. Churchill! The great Mrs. Churchill was no more.

Chapter X

One morning, about ten days after Mrs. Churchill’s decease, Emma was called downstairs to Mr. Weston, who “wanted particularly to speak with her.” He met her at the parlour-door, and said, unheard by her father,

“Can you come to Randalls at any time this morning? Mrs. Weston wants to see you. She must see you.”

“Is she unwell?”

“No, no, not at all – only a little agitated. She would have ordered the carriage, and come to you, but she must see you alone. Can you come?”

“Certainly. This moment, if you please. But what can be the matter? Is she really not ill?”

“Please, ask no more questions. You will know it all in time. But hush, hush!”

“Now,” said Emma, when they were beyond the sweep gates, “now Mr. Weston, let me know what has happened.”

“No, no,” he gravely replied. “Don’t ask me. I promised my wife not to tell you. She will talk to you better than I can. Do not be impatient, Emma.”

For a moment he was silent; they hurried on, and were speedily at Randalls.

“Well, my dear,” said he, as they entered the room, “I have brought her, and now I hope you will soon be better. I shall leave you together.”

Mrs. Weston was looking so ill, that Emma eagerly said,

“What is it, my dear friend? Something of a very unpleasant nature, I find, has occurred!”

“Have you indeed no idea?” said Mrs. Weston in a trembling voice. “Cannot you, my dear Emma – cannot you form a guess as to what you are to hear?”

“Does it relate to Mr. Frank Churchill?”

“You are right. It relates to him, and I will tell you directly. He has been here this morning. It is impossible to express our surprize. He came to speak to his father, to announce an engagement. What will you say, Emma, what will anybody say? Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are engaged! they have been long engaged!”

Emma even jumped with surprize; and exclaimed,

“Jane Fairfax! Good God! You are not serious? You do not mean it?”

“You may be amazed,” returned Mrs. Weston, “but it is so. There has been a solemn engagement between them ever since October – and kept a secret from everybody. Nobody knew it but themselves – neither the Campbells, nor her family, nor his. It is so incredible. I can hardly believe it. I thought I knew him.”

Emma scarcely heard what was said. Her mind was divided between two ideas – her own former conversations with him, and poor Harriet; and for some time she could only exclaim, and require confirmation.

“Well,” said she at last, trying to recover herself; “this is a circumstance which I must think of at least half a day, before I can at all comprehend it. What! Engaged to her all the winter!”

“Engaged since October, secretly engaged. It has hurt me, Emma, very much. It has hurt his father equally. Some part of his conduct we cannot excuse.”

Emma replied,

“I will not pretend not to understand you. Yes, there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I liked him, when I was attached to him. Fortunately, however, it ceased. You may believe me, Mrs. Weston. This is the simple truth.”

Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy.

“I shall hear from him soon,” said Mrs. Weston. “He told me, that he would soon write. Let us wait, therefore, for this letter.”

“Well,” replied Emma dryly, “how did Mr. Churchill take it?”

“Most favourably for his nephew – gave his consent. He gave his consent with very little persuasion.”

“And do you really believe that nobody knew of the engagement?”

“None; not one.”

“Well,” said Emma, “I wish them happy. But his hypocrisy and deceit, espionage, and treachery?”

“Dearest Emma, it is not a connexion to gratify; but if Mr. Churchill does not feel that, why should we?”

Emma met Mr. Weston on his entrance, with a smile, exclaiming,

“A very pretty trick you have been playing me, upon my word! But you really frightened me. I thought you had lost half your property, at least. So, I congratulate you, Mr. Weston, with all my heart!”