CHAPTER XVII

Mr.andMrs.JohnKnightleywerenotdetainedlongatHartfield.TheweathersoonimprovedenoughforthosetomovewhomustmoveandMr.Woodhousehaving,asusual,triedtopersuadehisdaughtertostaybehindwithallherchildren,wasobligedtoseethewholepartysetoff,andreturntohislamentationsoverthedestinyofpoorIsabella—whichpoorIsabella,passingherlifewiththoseshedoatedon,fulloftheirmerits,blindtotheirfaults,andalwaysinnocentlybusy,mighthavebeenamodelofrightfemininehappiness. TheeveningoftheverydayonwhichtheywentbroughtanotefromMr.EltontoMr.Woodhouse,along,civil,ceremoniousnote,tosay,withMr.Elton’sbestcompliments,“thathewasproposingtoleaveHighburythefollowingmorninginhiswaytoBathwhere,incompliancewiththepressingentreatiesofsomefriends,hehadengagedtospendafewweeks,andverymuchregrettedtheimpossibilityhewasunder,fromvariouscircumstancesofweatherandbusiness,oftakingapersonalleaveofMr.Woodhouse,ofwhosefriendlycivilitiesheshouldeverretainagratefulsense—andhadMr.Woodhouseanycommands,shouldbehappytoattendtothem.” Emmawasmostagreeablysurprized.—Mr.Elton’sabsencejustatthistimewastheverythingtobedesired.Sheadmiredhimforcontrivingit,thoughno