Emma

ed about the lawn the next morning to enjoy.-She was extremely glad that they had come to so good an understanding respecting the Eltons, and tha

e before they quitted the ballroom, she had strong hopes. It seemed as if her eyes were suddenly opened, and she were enabled to see that Mr. Elton was not the superior creature she had believed him. The fever was over, and Emma could harbour little fear of the pulse being quickened again by injur

he could not allow himself the pleasure of stopping at Hartfield, as

n sweep-gate opened, and two persons entered whom she had never less expected to see together-Frank Churchill, with Harriet leaning on his arm-actually Harriet!-A moment sufficed to convince her that something extraordinary had happe

surprizes be explained. Such events are very interesting, but the suspense

tretch very retired; and when the young ladies had advanced some way into it, they had suddenly perceived at a small distance before them, on a broader patch of greensward by the side, a party of gipsies. A child on the watch, came towards them to beg; and Miss Bickerton, excessively frightened, gave a great scream, and calling on Harriet to follow her, ran up a steep

ut woman and a great boy, all clamorous, and impertinent in look, though not absolutely in word.-More and more frightened, she immediately promised them money, and taking out her purse, gave them a shilling, and begged them no

le or two beyond Highbury-and happening to have borrowed a pair of scissors the night before of Miss Bates, and to have forgotten to restore them, he had been obliged to stop at her door, and go in for a few minutes: he was therefore later than he had intended; and being on foot, was unseen by the whole party till almost close to them. The terro

to see her well; these several delays left him not another minute to lose; and Emma engaging to give assurance of her safety to Mrs. Goddard, and notice of ther

. Could a linguist, could a grammarian, could even a mathematician have seen what she did, have witnessed their appearance together, and heard their history of it, without feeling that circumstances had been at work t

e other very person was chancing to pass by to rescue her!-It certainly was very extraordinary!-And knowing, as she did, the favourable state of mind of each at this period, it struck her the more. He was wishing to get the better of his atta

lighted; and just at last, after Harriet's own account had been given, he had expressed his indignation at the abominable folly of Miss Bickerton in the warmest terms. Every thing was to take its natural course, however, neither imp

e last night's ball seemed lost in the gipsies. Poor Mr. Woodhouse trembled as he sat, and, as Emma had foreseen, would scarcely be satisfied without their promising never to go beyond the shrubbery again. It was some comfort to him that many inquiries after himself and Miss Woodhouse (for his neighbours knew that he loved to be inquired after), as well as Miss Smith, were coming in during the rest of the da

began, and the whole history dwindled soon into a matter of little importance but to Emma and her nephews:-in her imagination it maintained its ground, and Henry and John we