Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen -------- Few people in the world were happier on this visit to Hartfield than Mrs. John Knightley.He took all five children to visit old acquaintances every morning, and in the evening he told his father and sister what he had seen and heard during the day.Other than that, he didn't wish for any more than that the days would go by more slowly.It was a very pleasant visit, although the time was too short, it was perfect. In general, there were fewer meetings with friends in the evening than in the morning, and there was only one invitation to a dinner party, and that was somewhere else, which they could not refuse, even though it was Christmas Eve.Mr. Weston would have absolutely no room for their refusal.The whole family was obliged to go, and dine all day at Landaus House, and even Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded that it was better to join the party than to divide it.

It was a question of how the people would go, and he would have made a hindrance had it been possible, but his son-in-law and his daughter's horses and carriages were at Hartfield, and he had nothing to say about it except a simple question.The question did not arouse even the slightest doubt.Emma hadn't much trouble convincing him that some of their cars were even available for Harriet to ride in. Hallett, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Knightley had been specially invited to accompany them.The hours should be early, the numbers should be small, and the habits and inclinations of Mr. Woodhouse should be attended to in every respect.

It was a great event—for Mr. Woodhouse should agree to attend an out party on the evening of the 24th of December—the evening before which Harriet had spent at Hartfield House, suffering from She had a bad cold, and Emma would never have let her leave the house had he not really insisted on going back to Mrs. Goddard's care.Emma went to see her the next day, and found it impossible for her to attend the party at Landaus House.She had a high fever and a bad sore throat.Mrs. Goddard tended her with loving care, and talked to Mr. Perry.Harriet was too ill and depressed to resist the specialist's instructions to attend the pleasant gathering, but she spoke of her tragic loss with tears in her eyes.

Emma stayed with her as long as she could, to attend to her in Mrs. Goddard's inevitable absence, and to refresh her spirits, she spoke of how much distress and grief Mr. Elton would be if he knew of her condition.When he finally left, he felt more comforted at least, sweetly thinking that he would feel better without her.It will be a most uninteresting visit, and I am sure she will be greatly missed.Emma had not advanced a few yards from Mrs. Goddard's door, when she suddenly met Mr. Elton, who was evidently making his way towards that door, and they walked slowly side by side, talking of the patient, whom he had heard She was seriously ill, and had intended to go to see her, and report her condition to Hartfield.Mr. John Knightley caught up with him, returning from his daily visit to Downwall House with his two older sons.The two children appeared perfectly healthy, with glowing red cheeks, evidently benefiting from a free run in the country, and also seemed guaranteed to quickly eliminate the roast lamb and rice pudding they hurried home for.They got together and walked side by side.Emma was describing her friend's principal symptoms: "throat burning like fire, fever all over, rapid pulse, but feebleness," and so on.She also learned from Mrs. Goddard that Harriet was likely to suffer from a very serious throat disease, which often frightened her.Mr. Elton was already panicked when he heard this, and exclaimed:

"Throat disease! I hope it's not contagious. Has Perry seen it? You really shouldn't be concerned only with your friends, but with yourself. I beg you not to be in danger. Why, Perry?" Aren't you going to see her?" Emma herself was not at all alarmed, and she did her best to assuage the anxiety of this transition, assuring that Mrs. Goddard had experience to take care of it.But, since he still had a degree of uneasiness, he didn't want to assuage it, and in fact, she'd rather fuel it than eliminate it.Presently she added, as if speaking of something else entirely:

"It's so cold, it's very cold. Looks like it's going to snow, and if I'm going to another party in another place tonight, I'm really going to find an excuse to stay home and try to dissuade my father from going too. But Well, now that he's made up his mind, he doesn't seem to feel the cold himself. I can't interfere. Otherwise, I know Mr. and Mrs. Weston will be very disappointed. But listen to me, Mr. Elton, if It is your treat, and I will definitely decline. You have already made me feel a little rash, considering that tomorrow will be non-stop talking, it will make people feel exhausted, I think it is prudent to stay at home tonight and take care of yourself."

Mr. Elton looked embarrassed, as if he didn't know how to answer.And so it was, for though he should have been grateful for the care of such a good lady, rather than objecting to any of her advice, he had not the slightest intention of giving up the visit.However, Emma's preconceived prejudices were too deep, and she was busy using her brain at this time, so she couldn't listen to him from an impartial standpoint, and she naturally seemed to wear colored glasses when observing him.It was very comforting to hear his daughter repeat her words, "It's so cold, it's very cold at this time."She walked on with great joy, thinking it had succeeded in rescuing him from Landaus House, and had assured him that he would hear of Harriet every hour of his late life.

"Your team," she said, "I will apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Weston on your behalf." She had hardly finished saying this when she found her brother-in-law politely asking him to come into the car, since Emily The only thing Mr. Leon hated was the weather.Mr. Elton immediately accepted the invitation with the utmost satisfaction.This can no longer be changed.Mr. Elton was going, and never had his broad, fair face expressed such joy, never had his smile been so vivid, nor had his eyes expressed such ecstasy as they met her again. . "Oh," she thought strangely, "it can't be more strange than that! I managed to get him out, and then he chooses to be company again, leaving Harriet alone and sick! It is indeed very strange But I believe that for many people, especially single men, going out to eat is not only their pleasure, but even their passion, and eating with others seems to be their profession, obligation, and dignity, so everything must give way. That must have been the case with Mr. Leon. She was undoubtedly a very kind, very pleasant young man, and must have been deeply in love with Harriet. He could not, however, refuse an invitation, and was always present when he was invited to dinner. Love What a monster, he can see through Harriet's cleverness, but he would not stay home and eat alone for her."

Mr. Elton parted with them shortly afterwards, and she had reason to feel that the mention of Harriet's name at parting made his manner appear much sentimental.He sounded affectionate as he assured her that he was going to Mrs. Goddard's to inquire about her handsome friend.She hoped that the chance to meet Qian again would give her better news.She talked, smiled and said goodbye.The balance in Emma's heart tilted, and her evaluation of him turned into praise. After some minutes of perfect silence between Mr. John Knightley and her, he began: "Never in my life have I seen such a warm and pleasant gentleman as Mr. Elton. He is so attentive to the ladies. With the gentlemen he can be reasonable and unaffected." , but in order to please the ladies, all his talents are at work."

"Mr. Elton's manners are not perfect," replied Emma. "When a wish needs to be fulfilled, it is often ignored, and mostly ignored. In such a case, a person of moderate ability who does his best will outperform a person of high ability who does not care. Mr Elton's perfect character and goodwill cannot but be highly regarded." "Yes," said Mr. John Knightley at once, with some strangeness in his tone, "he seems to be particularly friendly to you." "To me!" she said with a surprised smile. "Don't you think I'm Mr. Elton's target?"

"The fancy makes me sad, Emma, ​​I admit it. If you have never thought of it before, you might as well begin to think of it now." "Mr. Elton loved me! How could you have such an idea!" "I did not say so, but you may consider it, and adjust your conduct accordingly. I take your manner to him as encouragement. I speak to you as a friend, Emma. Yes. You'd better watch yourself left and right to figure out what you should do and what you want." "I thank you. But I assure you, you are quite mistaken. Mr. Elton and I are very good friends, that's all," she said, and went on, feeling sorry for the mistake. The idea feels funny, this kind of error is often based on incomplete appearances, and those pretentious people often fall into this wrong situation.She was not very happy that her brother-in-law imagined her to be blind and ignorant, needing help.He didn't say anything more. Mr. Woodhouse was so completely determined about the visit that, in spite of the growing cold, he seemed in no way to back down, and ended up sharing his own carriage with his eldest daughter, arriving punctually, less mindful of the weather than the others. Case.He was full of novelty about this trip.He was full of hope for the activities of the Landaus house, so he didn't pay attention to whether the weather was cold. Besides, his clothes were too thick, so he didn't feel anything.It was, however, a bitterly cold day.By the time the second carriage was dispatched, several snowflakes had already fallen.The sky is extremely heavy, as long as the air is slightly stagnant, a very pure white silver world will be created in the shortest time. Emma soon discovered that her companion was not in the happiest of moods.To be ready to go out in this weather, and to make the sacrifices of the children after dinner, is a crime, at least unpleasant, which Mr. John Knightley would not have liked in any case.He could not foresee anything in this visit that would be worth such a great price.The entire drive to the parsonage in the suburbs was spent in the process of expressing his displeasure. "A man," said he, "must have good self-knowledge in asking others to leave their fire to come and see him, especially in such bad weather. He must think himself a very Pleasant man. I would not dare to do it myself. Look, it is snowing, and it has become a very absurd thing. It is foolish not to let people stay at home comfortably. It would be foolish to run out! If we had to go out in this weather for some calling or business, we would think that we had to suffer. But now, perhaps with thinner clothes than usual, we set out willingly, There is no excuse to fight against nature, but this climate makes people think in no way that they should stay at home. Stay in hiding as much as possible. Now we are going to another person's house Spend five tedious hours, say and hear the same thing as what you said and heard yesterday, and there is no sentence that will not be repeated tomorrow and listen again. Leave in this weather, come back Worse times, perhaps. Four horses and four servants take out five wretched wretches, shivering with cold, into rooms colder than at home, with the company of wretched fellows." Emma found herself incapable of agreeing cheerfully, but she was no doubt used to flattery.Emma would not have said, "That's right, my dear." His partner must have usually agreed in this way.But she made up her mind based on the scriptures that she would never answer.Unable to submit, and afraid of a dispute, her heroism went so far as to keep silent.She let him continue, adjusted her glasses, wrapped her clothes tightly around her body, but didn't speak. When they arrived, the carriage began to turn, the ladder was let down, and Mr. Elton appeared beside them at once, dressed in black suit, moving very smartly, and smiling.Emma was pleased that the conversation had at last changed.Mr. Elton was very receptive to his responsibilities and had a great deal of joy in him.There was such civility and gaiety in his manner that she began to think that he must have had quite a different version of Harriet than she had received.She had sent for inquiries while she was dressing, and was answered: "Nothing changed—no better." "The report I got from Mrs. Goddard," she said as soon as she got out of the car, "was not as pleasant as I'd hoped—'Not getting better.' That's the answer I got." Immediately his face elongated.His voice became sad as he answered. "Ah! I was about to tell you that I knocked at Mrs. Goddard's door before I came back to dress, and was given a very sad report. Miss Smith was not getting better, and I was extremely worried. I was secretly hoping that, He's sure to get better after being looked at so sincerely and warmly in the morning." Emma smiled: "I hope my visit will be a relief to her strained nerves. But not even I can make her sore throat any less. She has a really bad cold. You may hear Say, Mr. Perry went to see her." "Yeah... I guess... that is to say... I haven't heard of..." "He's got her complaints, and I hope tomorrow morning we'll have a more reassuring report. It's impossible, though, to be free from anxiety. Our party tonight has been so disturbed." Sad loss!" "It was horrible! It was really uplifting. She will be missed all the time." This is quite normal and the signs that follow are predictable.However, the duration should be longer.Emma was rather dismayed, however, when half a minute later he began to talk of other things, and with such gaiety and interest. "What a marvelous design," he said, "using sheepskin for a coach-cover. What a comfortable arrangement. With such a defense, it is impossible to get cold. Modern inventions have made gentlemen's carriages as comfortable as possible." Perfect. The occupants of the car are completely cut off from the outside weather, and not a breath of air can get in. Changes in the weather can be completely ignored.--ha! I see a little snow." "That's right," said Mr. John Knightley, "and there's more to come." "Christmas weather," remarked Mr. Elton. "It fits the season very well. We may also consider it very lucky that the snow did not begin yesterday, which would have hindered today's party. In that case, the party must have been hindered, for Mr. Woodhouse saw such accumulations on the ground." Snow makes it hard to venture outside. But it doesn't matter now. It's the time for formal friendly meetings. When Christmas comes, everyone invites friends to get together, and even if the weather is worse than it is now, people rarely think about it. I remember once, The snow kept me at a friend's house for a week. It couldn't have been more pleasant. I was going to be there for one night, but I didn't leave until after the seventh night." Mr. John Knightley, as if unable to comprehend the pleasure, said only dryly: "I don't want to be snowed in at Landaus House for a week." On any other occasion Emma might have thought it funny, but she was too surprised by Mr. Elton's state of mind to feel any other emotion.Harriet seemed to be left behind in the midst of waiting for a pleasant party. "There must be a warm and roaring fire," he went on, "and everything is very comfortable. The people are charming—Mr. and Mrs. Weston. Mrs. All respect, he was so hospitable, so social, and it was a small party, small but carefully chosen, and perhaps the most pleasant of all. In the dining-room of the Weston's If there are more than one person seated, it will be uncomfortable. In this case, I would rather invite two less than two more. I think you will agree with me," said his attitude Turning to Emma gently, "I think you will definitely agree. However, Mr. Knightley may not necessarily feel the same as me because he is used to large evening parties in London." "Sir, I don't go to big parties in London. I never dine with anybody." "Really!" said the words in a tone of surprise and regret, "I didn't expect the law to be a cruel slavery. But, sir, it will pay you for it very soon, and you will only have to Great enjoyment for little labor." "My first pleasure," replied John Knightley, passing through the open door, "will be a safe return to Hartfield House." --------