CHAPTER XI

Mr.Eltonmustnowbelefttohimself.ItwasnolongerinEmma’spowertosuperintendhishappinessorquickenhismeasures.Thecomingofhersister’sfamilywassoverynearathand,thatfirstinanticipation,andtheninreality,itbecamehenceforthherprimeobjectofinterestandduringthetendaysoftheirstayatHartfielditwasnottobeexpected—shedidnotherselfexpect—thatanythingbeyondoccasional,fortuitousassistancecouldbeaffordedbyhertothelovers.Theymightadvancerapidlyiftheywould,howevertheymustadvancesomehoworotherwhethertheywouldorno.Shehardlywishedtohavemoreleisureforthem.Therearepeople,whothemoreyoudoforthem,thelesstheywilldoforthemselves. Mr.andMrs.JohnKnightley,fromhavingbeenlongerthanusualabsentfromSurry,wereexcitingofcourserathermorethantheusualinterest.Tillthisyear,everylongvacationsincetheirmarriagehadbeendividedbetweenHartfieldandDonwellAbbeybutalltheholidaysofthisautumnhadbeengiventosea-bathingforthechildren,anditwasthereforemanymonthssincetheyhadbeenseeninaregularwaybytheirSurryconnexions,orseenatallbyMr.Woodhouse,whocouldnotbeinducedtogetsofarasLondon,evenforpoorIsabella’ssakeandwhoconsequentlywasnowmostnervouslyandapprehensivelyhappyinforestallingthistooshortvisit. Hethoughtmuchoftheevilsofthejourneyforher,andnotalittleofthefatiguesofhisownhorsesandcoachmanwhoweretobringsomeofthepartythelasthalfofthewaybuthisalarmswereneedlessthesixteenmilesbeinghappilyaccomplished,andMr.andMrs.JohnKnightley,theirfivechildren,andacompetentnumberofnursery-maids,allreachingHartfieldinsafety.Thebustleandjoyofsuchanarrival,themanytobetalkedto,welcomed,encouraged,andvariouslydispersedanddisposedof,producedanoiseandconfusionwhichhisnervescouldnothaveborneunderanyothercause,norhaveenduredmuchlongerevenforthisbutthewaysofHartfieldandthefeelingsofherfatherweresorespectedbyMrs.JohnKnightley,thatinspiteofmaternalsolicitudefortheimmediateenjoymentofherlittleones,andfortheirhavinginstantlyallthelibertyandattendance,alltheeatinganddrinking,andsleepingandplaying,whichtheycouldpossiblywishfor,withoutthesmall