CHAPTER VII

stronglyandclearly—andwhenhetakesapeninhand,histhoughtsnaturallyfindproperwords.Itissowithsomemen.Yes,Iunderstandthesortofmind.Vigorous,decided,withsentimentstoacertainpoint,notcoarse.Abetterwrittenletter,Harriet(returningit,)thanIhadexpected.” “Well,”saidthestillwaitingHarriet—“well—and—andwhatshallIdo?” “Whatshallyoudo!Inwhatrespect?Doyoumeanwithregardtothisletter?” “Yes.” “Butwhatareyouindoubtof?Youmustansweritofcourse—andspeedily.” “Yes.ButwhatshallIsay?DearMissWoodhouse,doadviseme.” “Ohno,no!theletterhadmuchbetterbeallyourown.Youwillexpressyourselfveryproperly,Iamsure.Thereisnodangerofyournotbeingintelligible,whichisthefirstthing.Yourmeaningmustbeunequivocalnodoubtsordemurs:andsuchexpressionsofgratitudeandconcernforthepainyouareinflictingasproprietyrequires,willpresentthemselvesunbiddentoyourmind,Iampersuaded.Youneednotbepromptedtowritewiththeappearanceofsorrowforhisdisappointment.” “YouthinkIoughttorefusehimthen,”saidHarriet,lookingdown. “Oughttorefusehim!MydearHarriet,whatdoyoumean?Areyouinanydoubtastothat?Ithought—butIbegyourpardon,perhapsIhavebeenunderamistake.Icertainlyhavebeenmisunderstandingyou,ifyoufeelindoubtastothepurportofyouranswer.Ihadimaginedyouwereconsultingmeonlyastothewordingofit.” Harrietwassilent.Withalittlereserveofmanner,Emmacontinued: “Youmeantoreturnafavourableanswer,Icollect.” “No,Idonotthatis,Idonotmean—WhatshallIdo?Whatwouldyouadvisemetodo?Pray,dearMissWoodhouse,tellmewhatIoughttodo.” “Ishallnotgiveyouanyadvice,Harriet.Iwillhavenothingtodowithit.Thisisapointwhichyoumustsettlewithyourfeelings.” “Ihadnonotionthathelikedmesoverymuch,”saidHarriet,contemplatingtheletter.ForalittlewhileEmmaperseveredinhersilencebutbeginningtoapprehendthebewitchingflatteryofthatlettermightbetoopowerful,shethoughtitbesttosay, “Ilayitdownasageneralrule,Harriet,thatifawomandoubtsastowhethersheshouldacceptamanornot,shecertainlyoughttorefusehim.Ifshecanhesitateasto‘Yes,’sheoughttosay‘No’directly.Itisnotastatetobesafelyenteredintowithdoubtfulfeelings,withhalfaheart.Ithoughtitmydutyasafriend,andolderthanyourself,tosaythusmuchtoyou.ButdonotimaginethatIwanttoinfluenceyou.”