Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition, was totally free from conceit, and only desiring to be guided. Her attachment to Emma was very amiable; and her inclination for good company was great. And Emma was quite convinced of Harriet Smiths being exactly the young friend she wanted exactly the something which her home required. Such a friend as Mrs. Weston was out of the question. It was quite a different sort of thing. Harriet would be loved as one to whom she could be useful. For Mrs. Weston there was nothing to be done; for Harriet everything.
The Martins occupied Harriets thoughts a good deal; she had spent two very happy months with them, and now loved to talk of the pleasures of her visit, and describe the many comforts and wonders of the place. Emma encouraged her talkativeness; but when it appeared that the Mr. Martin was a single man; that there was no young Mrs. Martin, no wife in the case; she did suspect danger to her poor little friend from all this hospitality and kindness.
Emma urged Harriet to talk more of Mr. Martin, and Harriet was very ready to speak of the share he had had in their moonlight walks and merry evening games; and mentioned his being so very good-humoured and obliging. He had gone three miles round one day in order to bring her some walnuts, because she had said how fond she was of them, and in everything else he was so very obliging. He had his shepherds son into the parlour one night on purpose to sing to her. She was very fond of singing. He could sing a little himself. She believed he was very clever, and understood everything. She believed everybody spoke well of him. His mother and sisters were very fond of him.
And when she had come away, Mrs. Martin was so very kind as to send Mrs. Goddard a beautiful goose the finest goose Mrs. Goddard had ever seen. Mrs. Goddard had dressed it on a Sunday, and asked all the three teachers, Miss Nash, and Miss Prince, and Miss Richardson, to sup with her.
Mr. Martin, I suppose, is not a man of information beyond the line of his own business? He does not read? asked Emma.
Oh yes! that is, no I do not know but I believe he has read a good deal. He reads the Agricultural Reports[29], and some other books that lay in one of the window seats. But sometimes, before we went to cards, he would read something aloud out of the Elegant Extracts[30], very entertaining. And I know he has read the Vicar of Wakefield[31]. He never read the Romance of the Forest[32], nor The Children of the Abbey. He had never heard of such books before I mentioned them.
The next question was
What sort of looking man is Mr. Martin?
Oh! not handsome not at all handsome. But did you never see him? He comes to Highbury often. He has passed you very often.
That may be, and I may have seen him fifty times, but without having any idea of his name. A young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, is the last person to raise my curiosity. The yeomanry are precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing to do. I have no doubt of his being a very respectable young man. I know, indeed, that he is so, and, as such, wish him well. What do you imagine his age to be?
He was four-and-twenty the 8th of last June, and my birthday is the 23rd just a fortnight and a days difference which is very odd.
Only four-and-twenty. That is too young to marry, I think. Six years after, if he could meet with a young woman in the same rank as his own, with a little money, it might be very desirable.
Six years after! Dear Miss Woodhouse, he would be thirty years old!
Well, and that is as early as most men can afford to marry. Mr. Martin, I imagine, is not rich at all.
To be sure, so it is. But they live very comfortably.
I wish you may not get into a scrape[33], Harriet, whenever he does marry; I mean, as to being acquainted with his wife. The misfortune of your birth ought to make you particularly careful as to your associates. There can be no doubt of your being a gentlemans daughter, and you must support your claim to that station by everything, or there will be plenty of people who would take pleasure in degrading you.
Yes, to be sure, I suppose there are. But while I visit at Hartfield, and you are so kind to me, Miss Woodhouse, I am not afraid of what anybody can do.
Dear Harriet, I would have you so firmly established in good society. I want to see you permanently well connected.
Emma saw no alarming symptoms of love. The young man had been the first admirer and no more, and that there would be no serious difficulty, on Harriets side, to oppose any friendly arrangement of her own.
They met Mr. Martin the very next day, as they were walking on the Donwell road. He was on foot, and after looking very respectfully at her, looked with most unfeigned satisfaction at her companion. Robert Martins appearance was very neat, and he looked like a sensible young man, but his person had no other advantage.
They remained but a few minutes together; and Harriet then came running to Emma with a smiling face.
How very odd! It was quite a chance, he said, that he had not gone round by Randalls. He did not think we ever walked this road. He thought we walked towards Randalls most days. He has not been able to get the Romance of the Forest yet. Well, Miss Woodhouse, what do you think of him?
He is very plain, undoubtedly remarkably plain: but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility[34]. I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish.
To be sure, said Harriet, he is not so genteel as real gentlemen.
I think, Harriet, at Hartfield, you have seen well educated, well bred[35] men. I should be surprized if, after seeing them, you could be in company with Mr. Martin again without perceiving him to be a very inferior creature. I am sure you must have been struck by his awkward look and abrupt manner.
Certainly, he is not like Mr. Knightley. I see the difference plain enough.
Mr. Knightleys air is so remarkably good that it is not fair to compare Mr. Martin with him. But he is not the only gentleman you have been lately used to. What about Mr. Weston and Mr. Elton? Compare Mr. Martin with either of them. Compare their manner of carrying themselves; of walking; of speaking; of being silent. You must see the difference.
Oh yes! there is a great difference. But Mr. Weston is almost an old man. Mr. Weston must be between forty and fifty.
Which makes his good manners the more valuable. The older a person grows, Harriet, the more important it is that their manners should not be bad. What is passable in youth is detestable in later age. Mr. Martin is now awkward and abrupt; what will he be at Mr. Westons time of life?
There is no saying, indeed, replied Harriet rather solemnly.
But there may be pretty good guessing. He will be a completely gross, vulgar farmer, totally inattentive to appearances, and thinking of nothing but profit and loss.
Will he, indeed? That will be very bad.
I think his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb us. But, perhaps, Mr. Eltons manners are superior to Mr. Knightleys or Mr. Westons. They have more gentleness. There is an openness, a quickness, almost a bluntness in Mr. Weston, which everybody likes in him. I think a young man might be very safely recommended to take Mr. Elton as a model. Mr. Elton is good-humoured, cheerful, obliging, and gentle. It strikes me that his manners are softer than they used to be. If he means anything, it must be to please you. Did not I tell you what he said of you the other day?
Will he, indeed? That will be very bad.
I think his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb us. But, perhaps, Mr. Eltons manners are superior to Mr. Knightleys or Mr. Westons. They have more gentleness. There is an openness, a quickness, almost a bluntness in Mr. Weston, which everybody likes in him. I think a young man might be very safely recommended to take Mr. Elton as a model. Mr. Elton is good-humoured, cheerful, obliging, and gentle. It strikes me that his manners are softer than they used to be. If he means anything, it must be to please you. Did not I tell you what he said of you the other day?
She then repeated some warm personal praise which she had drawn from Mr. Elton; and Harriet blushed and smiled, and said she had always thought Mr. Elton very agreeable.
Emma thought that Mr. Elton was the very person for driving the young farmer out of Harriets head. She thought it would be an excellent match desirable, natural, and probable. The longer she considered it, the greater was her sense of its expediency. Mr. Eltons situation was most suitable, quite the gentleman himself, and without low connexions. He had a comfortable home for her, and Emma imagined a very sufficient income; for though the vicarage of Highbury was not large, he was known to have some independent property; and she thought very highly of him as a good-humoured, well-meaning, respectable young man, without any deficiency of useful understanding or knowledge of the world.
Chapter V
I do not know what your opinion may be, Mrs. Weston, said Mr. Knightley, of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I think it a bad thing.
A bad thing! Do you really think it a bad thing? why so?
I think they will neither of them do the other any good.
You surprize me! Emma must do Harriet good, Harriet may be said to do Emma good. I have been seeing their intimacy with the greatest pleasure. This will certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr. Knightley.
Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you.
Mr. Weston would undoubtedly support me, if he were here. We were speaking of it only yesterday, and agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma, that there should be such a girl in Highbury for her to associate with. Mr. Knightley, you are so much used to live alone, that you do not know the value of a companion. I can imagine your objection to Harriet Smith. She is not the superior young woman which Emmas friend ought to be. But on the other hand, Emma will undoubtedly read more. They will read together, I know.
Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. So what? You never could persuade her to read half so much as you wished. You know you could not.
I dare say, replied Mrs. Weston, smiling, since we have parted, I can never remember Emmas omitting to do anything I wished.
Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family. At ten years old, she had the misfortune of being able to answer questions which puzzled her sister at seventeen. She was always quick and assured: Isabella slow and diffident. And ever since she was twelve, Emma has been mistress of the house. She inherits her mothers talents.
I should have been sorry, Mr. Knightley, to be dependent on your recommendation, had I quitted Mr. Woodhouses family and wanted another situation; I do not think you would have spoken a good word for me to anybody. I am sure you always thought me unfit for the office I held[36].
Yes, said he, smiling. You are better placed here; very fit for a wife, but not at all for a governess. But you were preparing yourself to be an excellent wife all the time you were at Hartfield. You might not give Emma such a complete education as your powers would seem to promise; but you were receiving a very good education from her; and if Weston had asked me to recommend him a wife, I should certainly have named Miss Taylor.
Thank you. There will be very little merit in making a good wife to such a man as Mr. Weston.
But about Harriet Smith. I think her the very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have. She knows nothing herself, and looks upon Emma as knowing everything. She is a flatterer. Her ignorance is flattery. And as for Harriet, I will venture to say that she cannot gain by the acquaintance. She will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances have placed her home.
Mr. Knightley, with all dear Emmas little faults, she is an excellent creature. Where shall we see a better daughter, or a kinder sister, or a truer friend? No, no; she has qualities which may be trusted; she will never lead anyone really wrong.
Very well; I will not plague you any more. Emma shall be an angel.
I know that you all love her really too well to be unjust or unkind; but excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if I take the liberty of hinting, its better not to speak about Harriet Smiths intimacy.
Yes, of course, it is very good advice, but I have a very sincere interest in Emma. There is an anxiety, a curiosity in what one feels for Emma. I wonder what will become of her!
So do I, said Mrs. Weston gently, very much.
She always declares she will never marry, which, of course, means just nothing at all. But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she cared for. It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love with a proper man. I should like to see Emma in love, and it would do her good. But there is nobody hereabouts to attach her; and she goes so seldom from home.
Chapter VI
Emma was quite convinced of Mr. Eltons being in the fairest way of falling in love, if not in love already. He talked of Harriet, and praised her warmly. His perception of the striking improvement of Harriets manner, since her introduction at Hartfield, was one of the proofs of his growing attachment.
You have given Miss Smith all that she required, said he; you have made her graceful and easy. She was a beautiful creature when she came to you, but, in my opinion, the attractions you have added are infinitely superior to what she received from nature.
I am glad you think I have been useful to her; but Harriet had all the natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness in herself. I have done very little. I have perhaps given her a little more decision of character.
Exactly so; so much superadded decision of character!
Emma was not less pleased another day with the manner in which he seconded a sudden wish of hers, to have Harriets picture.
Did you ever sit for your picture, Harriet? said she.
Oh! dear, no, never, answered Harriet. Why should my picture be drawn?
No sooner was she out of sight, than Emma exclaimed,
What an excellent picture of her would be! I would give any money for it. You do not know it I dare say, but two or three years ago I had a great passion for painting. And I could almost venture, if Harriet would sit to me. It would be such a delight to have her picture!
Oh, yes, cried Mr. Elton; it would indeed be a delight, Miss Woodhouse, to exercise so charming a talent in favour of your friend.
But I am afraid, Mr. Elton, Harriet will not like to sit. She thinks so little of her own beauty. Did not you observe her manner of answering me? Why should my picture be drawn?
Oh! yes, I observed it, I assure you. But still I cannot imagine she would not be persuaded.
Harriet was soon back again, and the proposal almost immediately made. Emma wished to go to work directly. She had soon fixed on the size and sort of portrait. It was to be a whole-length in water-colours.