CHAPTER XIV

SomechangeofcountenancewasnecessaryforeachgentlemanastheywalkedintoMrs.Weston’sdrawing-room—Mr.Eltonmustcomposehisjoyouslooks,andMr.JohnKnightleydispersehisill-humour.Mr.Eltonmustsmileless,andMr.JohnKnightleymore,tofitthemfortheplace.—Emmaonlymightbeasnatureprompted,andshewherselfjustashappyasshewas.ToheritwasrealenjoymenttobewiththeWestons.Mr.Westonwasagreatfavourite,andtherewasnotacreatureintheworldtowhomshespokewithsuchunreserve,astohiswifenotanyone,towhomsherelatedwithsuchconvictionofbeinglistenedtoandunderstood,ofbeingalwaysinterestingandalwaysintelligible,thelittleaffairs,arrangements,perplexities,andpleasuresofherfatherandherself.ShecouldtellnothingofHartfield,inwhichMrs.Westonhadnotalivelyconcernandhalfanhour’suninterruptedcommunicationofallthoselittlemattersonwhichthedailyhappinessofprivatelifedepends,wasoneofthefirstgratificationsofeach. Thiswasapleasurewhichperhapsthewholeday’svisitmightnotafford,whichcertainlydidnotbelongtothepresenthalf-hourbuttheverysightofMrs.Weston,hersmile,hertouch,hervoicewasgratefultoEmma,andshedeterminedtothinkaslittleaspossibleofMr.Elton’soddities,orofanythingelseunpleasant,andenjoyallthatwasenjoyabletotheutmost. ThemisfortuneofHarriet’scoldhadbeenprettywellgonethroughbeforeherarrival.Mr.Woodhousehadbeensafelyseatedlongenoughtogivethehistoryofit,besidesallthehistoryofhisownandIsabella’scoming,andofEmma’sbeingtofollow,andhadindeedjustgottotheendofhissatisfactionthatJamesshouldcomeandseehisdaughter,whentheothersappeared,andMrs.Weston,whohadbeenalmostwhollyengrossedbyherattentionstohim,wasabletoturnawayandwelcomeherdearEmma. Emma’sprojectofforgettingMr.Eltonforawhilemadeherrathersorrytofind,whentheyhadalltakentheirplaces,thathewasclosetoher.ThedifficultywasgreatofdrivinghisstrangeinsensibilitytowardsHarriet,fromhermind,whilehenotonlysatatherelbow,butwascontinuallyobtrudinghishappycountenanceonhernotice,andsolicitouslyaddressingheruponeveryoccasion.Insteadofforgettinghim,hisbehaviourwassuchthatshecouldnotavoidtheinternalsuggestionof“Canitreallybeasmybrotherimagined?canitbepossibleforthismantobebeginningtotransferhisaffectionsfromHarriettome?—Absurdandinsufferable!”—Yethewouldbesoanxiousforherbeingp