Emma

the autumn. No such importation of novelties could enrich their intellectual stores at present. In the daily interchange of news, they must be again restricted to the other topics with w

ually be as much increased by the arrival of a child,

ll though the Sucklings did not come? They could go there again with them in the autumn. It was settled that they should go to Box Hill. That there was to be such a party had been long generally known: it had even given the idea of another. Emma had never been to Box Hill; she wished to see what every body found so well worth seeing, and s

if she had no objection. Now, as her objection was nothing but her very great dislike of Mrs. Elton, of which Mr. Weston must already be perfectly aware, it was not worth bringing forward again:-it could not be done without a reproof to him, which would be giving pain to his wife; and she found herself therefore obliged to consent to an arrangement

uch schemes as these are nothing without numbers. One cannot have too large a party. A large party

aloud, and agreed to

s and cold lamb, when a lame carriage-horse threw every thing into sad uncertainty. It might be weeks, it might be only a few days, before the horse w

ointments are quite odious. What are we to do?-The year will wear away at this rate, and nothing done. Befor

Knightley. "That may be done without horses. Come

r. Donwell was famous for its strawberry-beds, which seemed a plea for the invitation: but no plea was necessary; cabbage-beds would have been enough to tempt the lady, who only wanted to be going s

inly will come. Name your day, and I will co

"till I have spoken to some othe

rte-blanche.-I am Lady Patroness, you know.

id he: "but I will not trouble yo

g power to me. I am no young lady on her preferment. Married women, you know, may b

woman in the world whom I can ever allow to invite

se," interrupted Mrs.

l she is in being, I will m

may say what you like. Quite a humourist. Well, I shall bring Jane with me-Jane and her aunt.-The rest I leave to

f I can prevail; and I shall ca

ere,-probably this basket with pink ribbon. Nothing can be more simple, you see. And Jane will have such another. There is to be no form or parade-a sort of gipsy party. We are to walk about your gardens, and gather the str

e and the simplicity of gentlemen and ladies, with their servants and furniture, I think is best observed by mea

I or my housekeeper be of any use to you with our opinion?-Pray be sincere,

least wish for i

ies should arise, my house

hinks herself full as clever, and

talk to him about purchasing a donkey. In a country life I conceive it to be a sort of necessary; for, let a woman have ever so many resources

, and now it is perfectly dry. Come on a donkey, however, if you prefer it. You can

I know you have the warmest heart. As I tell Mr. E., you are a thorough humourist.-Yes, believe me, Knightley, I am

in the party; and he knew that to have any of them sitting down out of doors to eat would inevitably make him ill. Mr. Woodhous

ston, while the dear girls walked about the gardens. He did not suppose they could be damp now, in the middle of the day. He should like to see the old house again exceedingly, and should be very happy to meet Mr. and Mrs. Elton, and any other of his neighbo

liment to themselves.-Emma and Harriet professed very high expectations of pleasure from it; and Mr. Weston, unasked, promised to get Frank over to join them, if possible; a proof of approbation and gratitud

ill was again under happy consideration; and at last Donwell was settled f

, especially prepared for him by a fire all the morning, he was happily placed, quite at his ease, ready to talk with pleasure of what had been achieved, and advise every body to come and sit down, and not to he

was glad to leave him, and look around her; eager to refresh and correct her memory with more particular observa

the residence of a family of such true gentility, untainted in blood and understanding.-Some faults of temper John Knightley had; but Isabella had connected herself unexceptionably. She had given them neither men, nor names, nor places, that could raise a blush. These were pleasant feelings, and she walked about and indulged them till it was necessary to do as the others did, and collect round the strawberry-beds.-The whole party were assembled, excepting Frank Churchill, who was expected every moment from Richmond; and Mrs. Elton, in all her apparatus of happiness, her large bonnet and her basket, was very ready to lead the way in gathering, accepting, or talking-strawberries, and only strawberries, could now be thought or spoken of.-"The best fruit in England-every

Weston, who came out, in her solicitude after her son-in-law, to inquire if

lady known at Maple Grove. Delightful, charming, superior, first circles, spheres, lines, ranks, every thing-and Mrs. Elton was wild to have the offer closed with immediately.-On her side, all was warmth, energy, and triumph-and she positively refused to take her friend's negative, though Miss Fairfax continued to assure her that she would not at present engage in any thing, repeating the same motives which she had been heard to urge before.-Sti

ew at the end over a low stone wall with high pillars, which seemed intended, in their erection, to give the appearance of an approach to the house, which never had been there. Disputable, however, as might be the taste of such a termination, it was in itself a charming walk, and the view which closed it extremely pretty.-The considerable slope, at nearly the

English verdure, English culture, English comfort

en a time also when Emma would have been sorry to see Harriet in a spot so favourable for the Abbey Mill Farm; but now she feared it not. It might be safely viewed with all its appendages of prosperity and beauty, its rich pastures, spreading flocks, orchard in blossom, and light column of smoke ascending.-She joined them at the wall, and found them more engaged in talking than in looking around. He was giving Harriet information a

art with his black mare. He had expressed himself as to coming, with more than common certainty. "His aunt was so much better, that he had not a doubt of getting over to them."-Mrs. Churchill's state, however, as many were ready to remind her, was liable to such sudden variation as might disappoin

ow, or, at any rate, have the pleasure of being hot, and growing cool again.-Mr. Woodhouse, who had already taken his little round in the highest part of the gardens, where no damps from the river were

ly well amused. Mrs. Weston had been shewing them all to him, and now he would shew them all to Emma;-fortunate in having no other resemblance to a child, than in a total want of taste for what he saw, for he was slow, constant, and methodical.-Before this second looking over was begun, however, Emma walked into the hall for the s

en absent-but I am sure we shall be wanted, and I am determined to go directly.-I have said nothing about it to any body. It would only be giving trouble and distress.

t;-but you are not going

-I walk fast. I shall be

e alone. Let my father's servant go with you.-Let me

rather walk.-And for me to be afraid of walking

can be no reason for your being exposed to danger now. I must order t

dhouse, we all know at times what it is to be wearied in spirits. Mine, I confess, are exhausted. The greatest

ff with the zeal of a friend. Her parting look was grateful-and her parting words, "Oh! Miss Woodhouse, the comfort of being sometimes alone!"-seemed to b

ack into the hall again. "I do pity you. And the more sensibili

o had named Mrs. Churchill as the cause. He had been detained by a temporary increase of illness in her; a nervous seizure, which had lasted some hours-and he had quite given up every thought of coming, till very late;-and had he known how hot a ride he should have, and how late, with all his hurry, he must be, he believed he should n

cooler, if you sit

a point had been made of my coming! You will all be going soon I suppose; the whole

ople were always cross when they were hot. Such might be his constitution; and as she knew that eating and drinking were often the cure of such incidenta

nutes, however, he relented in his own favour; and muttering something about spruce

d not like a man who is so soon discomposed by a hot m

to draw a chair close to them, take an interest in their employment; and regret, in a reasonable way, that he should be so late. He was not in his

till I have seen some of these places. You will have my sketches, some time or othe

. You will never go to Swisserland. Your uncle

re you I have. I feel a strong persuasion, this morning, that I shall soon be abroad. I ought to travel. I am tired of doing nothing. I want a

nce. Cannot you invent a few hardships

look upon myself as either prosperous or indulged. I am thwarted in eve

rink a little more, and you will do very well. Another slice of cold meat, anothe

I shall sit by you.

s not Swisserland, but it will be something for a young man

shall go home in the

gain in the cool of

orth while. If I com

y stay at

r still. I can never bear to th

ttle for yourself. Chuse your own degree

here was a very general distress and disturbance on Miss Fairfax's disappearance being explained. That it was time for every body to go, concluded the subject; and with a

me to stay and join

ss than a summons from Richmond was to ta