August 21, 2025 • 11 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Volume two, chapter ten. The appearance of the little sitting
room as they entered was tranquility itself. Missus Bates, deprived
of her usual employment, slumbering on one side of the fire,
Frank Churchill at a table near her, most deedily occupied
about her spectacles, and Jane Fairfax, standing with her back
to them, intent on her piano. Forte Busy as he was, however,
(00:24):
the young man was yet able to show a most
happy countenance on seeing Emma again. This is a pleasure,
said he in rather a low voice, coming at least
ten minutes earlier than I had calculated. You find me
trying to be useful. Tell me if you think I
shall succeed, what said Missus Weston, Have not you finished
(00:45):
it yet? You would not turn a very good livelihood
as a working silversmith at this rate. I have not
been working uninterruptedly, he replied. I have been assisting miss
Fairfax in trying to make her instrument stand steadily. It
was not quite an uneveness in the floor, I believe
you see we've been wedging one leg with paper. This
(01:06):
was very kind of you to be persuaded to come.
I was almost afraid you would be hurrying home. He
contrived that she should be seated by him, and was
sufficiently employed in looking out the best baked apple for her,
and trying to make her help or advise him in
his work, till Jane Fairfax was quite ready to sit
down to the piano forte. Again, that she was not
immediately ready, Emma did suspect to arise from the state
(01:29):
of her nerves. She had not yet possessed the instrument
long enough to touch it without emotion. She must reason
herself into the power of performance. And Emma could not
but pity such feelings, whatever their origin, and could not
but resolve never to expose them to her neighbor again.
At last Jane began, and though the first bars were
feebly given, the powers of the instrument were gradually done
(01:52):
full justice to missus. Weston had been delighted before, and
was delighted again. Emma joined her in all her prey,
and the pianoforte, with every proper discrimination, was pronounced to
be altogether of the highest promise. Whoever Colonel Campbell might employ,
said Frank Churchill, with a smile at Emma, the person
(02:13):
has not chosen Ill. I had a good deal of
Colonel Campbell's taste in Weymouth and the softness of the
upper notes, I am sure is exactly what he and
all that party would particularly prize. I daresay, Miss Fairfax,
that he either gave his friend very minute directions or
wrote to Broadwood himself. Do not you think so? Jane
(02:33):
did not look round. She was not obliged to hear.
Missus Weston had been speaking to her at the same moment.
It is not fair, said Emma in a whisper. Mine
was a random guess. Do not distress her. He shook
his head with a smile and looked as if he
had very little doubt and very little mercy. Soon afterwards
(02:54):
he began again, how much your friends in Ireland must
be enjoying your pleasure on this occasion, Miss fair Facts.
I daresay they often think of you and wonder which
will be the day, the precise day of the instruments
coming to hand. Do you imagine Colonel Campbell knows the
business to be going forward just at this time? Do
you imagine it to be the consequence of an immediate
commission from him? Or that he may have sent only
(03:16):
a general direction an order indefinite as to time, to
depend upon contingencies and conveniences, he paused. She could not,
but hear she could not avoid answering till I have
a letter from Colonel Campbell, said she, in a voice
of forced calmness. I can imagine nothing with any confidence.
(03:38):
It must be all conjecture conjecture. I sometimes one conjecture's right,
and sometimes one conjecture's wrong. I wish I could conjecture,
how soon I shall make this rivet quite firm? What
nonsense one talks, Miss Woodhouse, when hard at work, If
one talks at all your real workmen, I suppose hold
their tongues. But we gentlemen lays if we get hold
(04:01):
of a word. Miss Fairfax said something about conjecturing. There
it is done. I have the pleasure, madam, to missus
Bates of restoring your spectacles. Healed for the present. He
was very warmly thanked by both mother and daughter. To
escape a little from the latter, he went to the
pianoforte and begged Miss Fairfax, who was still sitting at it,
(04:22):
to play something more. If you are very kind, said he.
It will be one of the waltzes we danced last night.
Let me live them over again. You did not enjoy
them as I did. You appeared tired the whole time.
I believe you are glad we danced no longer, But
I would have given worlds all the worlds one ever
(04:43):
has to give. For another half hour. She played, what
felicity it is to hear a tune again which has
made one happy? If I mistake not that was danced
at Weymouth. She looked up at him for a moment,
colored deeply, and played something else. He took some music
from a chair near the pianoforte, and, turning to Emma, said,
(05:05):
here is something quite new to me. Do you know it? Cramer?
And here are a new set of Irish melodies that
from such a quarter one might expect. This was all
sent with the instrument. Very thoughtful of Colondall Campbell, was
it not? He knew Miss Fairfax could have no music here.
I honor that part of the attention, particularly it shows
(05:26):
it to have been so thoroughly from the heart. Nothing
hastily done, nothing incomplete true affection only could have prompted it.
Emma wished he would be less pointed, yet could not
help being amused, and when on glancing her eye towards
Jane Fairfax. She caught the remains of a smile when
she saw that, with all the deep blush of consciousness,
(05:48):
there had been a smile of secret delight. She had
less scruple in the amusement, and much less compunction with
respect to her. This amiable, upright perfect Jane Fairfax was
apparently cherishing very reprehensible feelings. He brought all the music
to her, and they looked it over together. Emma took
the opportunity of whispering, you speak too plain. She must
(06:11):
understand you. I hope she does. I would have her
understand me. I am not in the least ashamed of
my meaning, but really I am half ashamed and wish
I had never taken up the idea. I am very
glad you did, and that you communicated it to me.
I have now a key to all her odd looks
and ways. Leave shame to her. If she does wrong,
(06:32):
she ought to feel it. She is not entirely without it.
I think I do not see much sign of it.
She is playing Robin Adair at this moment, his favorite.
Shortly afterwards, Miss Bates, passing near the window, descried mister
Knightley on horseback not far off, mister Knightley, I declare
I must speak to him if possible, just to thank him.
(06:55):
I will not open the window here it will give
you all cold. But I can go into my mother's room.
You know. I daresay he will come in when he
knows who is here. Quite delightful to have you all
meet so our little room, So honored she was in
the adjoining chamber while she still spoke, and opening the
casement there immediately called mister Knightley's attention, and every syllable
of their conversation was as distinctly heard by the others
(07:17):
as if it had passed within the same apartment. How
do you do? How do you do? Oh? Very well?
I thank you so obliged to you for the carriage
last night. We were just in time, my mother just
ready for us. Pray, come in, do come in. You
will find some friends here, So began miss Bates, and
mister Knightley seemed determined to be heard in his turn,
(07:37):
for most resolutely and commandingly did he say, how is
your niece, Miss Bates? I want to inquire after you all,
but particularly your niece. How is miss Fairfax? I hope
she caught no cold last night? How is she to day?
Tell me how Miss Fairfax is? And Miss Bates was
obliged to give a direct answer before he would hear
her in anything else. The listeners were amused, and Missus
(07:59):
Weston gave a look of particular meaning. But Emma still
shook her head in steady skepticism. So obliged to you,
so very much obliged to you. For the carriage, resumed
Miss Bates. He cut her short with I am going
to Kingston. Can I do anything for you? Oh dear Kingston?
Are you missus Cole was saying the other day she
(08:20):
wanted something from Kingston? Missus Cole her servants to send.
Can I do anything for you? No? I thank you?
But do come in? Who do you think is here?
Miss Woodhouse and Miss Smith so kind as to call
to hear the new piano forte? Do put up your
horse at the Crown and come in, well said he,
(08:41):
in a deliberating manner. For five minutes perhaps, And here
is Missus Weston and Frank Churchill too, quite delightful, so
many friends. No not now, I thank you. I could
not stay two minutes. I must get on to Kingston,
as fast as I can. Oh, do come in, they
will be so very happy to see you. No, No,
(09:02):
your room is full enough. I will call another day
and hear the pianoforte. Well. I am so sorry. Oh,
mister Knightley, what a delightful party last night? And how
extremely pleasant did you ever see such dancing? Was not it? Delightful?
Miss Woodhouse and mister Frank Churchill, I never saw anything
equal to it? Oh, very delightful. Indeed, I can say
(09:24):
nothing less, for I suppose Miss Woodhouse and mister Frank
Churchill are hearing everything that passes, and raising his voice
still more. I do not see why Miss Fairfax should
not be mentioned too. I think Miss Fairfax dances very well,
and missus Weston is the very best country dance player
without exception in England. Now, if your friends have any gratitude,
(09:44):
they will say something pretty loud about you and me
in return. But I cannot stay to hear it. Oh,
mister Knightley, one moment more something of consequence. So shocked.
Jane and I are both so shocked about the apples.
What is the matter now to think of your sending
us all your store apples? You said you had a
great many, and now you have not one left. We
(10:05):
really are so shocked. Missus Hodges may well be angry.
William Larkins mentioned it to hear. You should not have
done it. Indeed you should not. Ah, he is off.
He never can bear to be thanked. But I thought
he would have stayed now, and it would have been
a pity not to have mentioned. Well. Returning to the room,
I have not been able to succeed. Mister Knightley cannot stop.
(10:26):
He is going to Kingston. He asked me if he
could do anything. Yes, said Jane. We heard his kind offers.
We heard everything. Oh yes, my dear, I daresay you might,
because you know the door was open and the window
was open, and mister Knightley spoke loud. You must have
heard everything to be sure. Can I do anything for
you at Kingston? Said he? So I just mentioned, oh
(10:46):
miss Woodhouse, must you be going? You seem but just
come so very obliging of you. Emma found it really
time to be at home. The visit had already lasted long,
and on examining watches, so much of the morning was
for to be gone that Missus Weston and her companion
taking leave also could allow themselves only to walk with
the two young ladies to Hartfield Gates before they set
(11:08):
off for Randalls. End of Chapter ten.
Volume two, chapter ten. The appearance of the little sitting
room as they entered was tranquility itself. Missus Bates, deprived
of her usual employment, slumbering on one side of the fire,
Frank Churchill at a table near her, most deedily occupied
about her spectacles, and Jane Fairfax, standing with her back
to them, intent on her piano. Forte Busy as he was, however,
(00:24):
the young man was yet able to show a most
happy countenance on seeing Emma again. This is a pleasure,
said he in rather a low voice, coming at least
ten minutes earlier than I had calculated. You find me
trying to be useful. Tell me if you think I
shall succeed, what said Missus Weston, Have not you finished
(00:45):
it yet? You would not turn a very good livelihood
as a working silversmith at this rate. I have not
been working uninterruptedly, he replied. I have been assisting miss
Fairfax in trying to make her instrument stand steadily. It
was not quite an uneveness in the floor, I believe
you see we've been wedging one leg with paper. This
(01:06):
was very kind of you to be persuaded to come.
I was almost afraid you would be hurrying home. He
contrived that she should be seated by him, and was
sufficiently employed in looking out the best baked apple for her,
and trying to make her help or advise him in
his work, till Jane Fairfax was quite ready to sit
down to the piano forte. Again, that she was not
immediately ready, Emma did suspect to arise from the state
(01:29):
of her nerves. She had not yet possessed the instrument
long enough to touch it without emotion. She must reason
herself into the power of performance. And Emma could not
but pity such feelings, whatever their origin, and could not
but resolve never to expose them to her neighbor again.
At last Jane began, and though the first bars were
feebly given, the powers of the instrument were gradually done
(01:52):
full justice to missus. Weston had been delighted before, and
was delighted again. Emma joined her in all her prey,
and the pianoforte, with every proper discrimination, was pronounced to
be altogether of the highest promise. Whoever Colonel Campbell might employ,
said Frank Churchill, with a smile at Emma, the person
(02:13):
has not chosen Ill. I had a good deal of
Colonel Campbell's taste in Weymouth and the softness of the
upper notes, I am sure is exactly what he and
all that party would particularly prize. I daresay, Miss Fairfax,
that he either gave his friend very minute directions or
wrote to Broadwood himself. Do not you think so? Jane
(02:33):
did not look round. She was not obliged to hear.
Missus Weston had been speaking to her at the same moment.
It is not fair, said Emma in a whisper. Mine
was a random guess. Do not distress her. He shook
his head with a smile and looked as if he
had very little doubt and very little mercy. Soon afterwards
(02:54):
he began again, how much your friends in Ireland must
be enjoying your pleasure on this occasion, Miss fair Facts.
I daresay they often think of you and wonder which
will be the day, the precise day of the instruments
coming to hand. Do you imagine Colonel Campbell knows the
business to be going forward just at this time? Do
you imagine it to be the consequence of an immediate
commission from him? Or that he may have sent only
(03:16):
a general direction an order indefinite as to time, to
depend upon contingencies and conveniences, he paused. She could not,
but hear she could not avoid answering till I have
a letter from Colonel Campbell, said she, in a voice
of forced calmness. I can imagine nothing with any confidence.
(03:38):
It must be all conjecture conjecture. I sometimes one conjecture's right,
and sometimes one conjecture's wrong. I wish I could conjecture,
how soon I shall make this rivet quite firm? What
nonsense one talks, Miss Woodhouse, when hard at work, If
one talks at all your real workmen, I suppose hold
their tongues. But we gentlemen lays if we get hold
(04:01):
of a word. Miss Fairfax said something about conjecturing. There
it is done. I have the pleasure, madam, to missus
Bates of restoring your spectacles. Healed for the present. He
was very warmly thanked by both mother and daughter. To
escape a little from the latter, he went to the
pianoforte and begged Miss Fairfax, who was still sitting at it,
(04:22):
to play something more. If you are very kind, said he.
It will be one of the waltzes we danced last night.
Let me live them over again. You did not enjoy
them as I did. You appeared tired the whole time.
I believe you are glad we danced no longer, But
I would have given worlds all the worlds one ever
(04:43):
has to give. For another half hour. She played, what
felicity it is to hear a tune again which has
made one happy? If I mistake not that was danced
at Weymouth. She looked up at him for a moment,
colored deeply, and played something else. He took some music
from a chair near the pianoforte, and, turning to Emma, said,
(05:05):
here is something quite new to me. Do you know it? Cramer?
And here are a new set of Irish melodies that
from such a quarter one might expect. This was all
sent with the instrument. Very thoughtful of Colondall Campbell, was
it not? He knew Miss Fairfax could have no music here.
I honor that part of the attention, particularly it shows
(05:26):
it to have been so thoroughly from the heart. Nothing
hastily done, nothing incomplete true affection only could have prompted it.
Emma wished he would be less pointed, yet could not
help being amused, and when on glancing her eye towards
Jane Fairfax. She caught the remains of a smile when
she saw that, with all the deep blush of consciousness,
(05:48):
there had been a smile of secret delight. She had
less scruple in the amusement, and much less compunction with
respect to her. This amiable, upright perfect Jane Fairfax was
apparently cherishing very reprehensible feelings. He brought all the music
to her, and they looked it over together. Emma took
the opportunity of whispering, you speak too plain. She must
(06:11):
understand you. I hope she does. I would have her
understand me. I am not in the least ashamed of
my meaning, but really I am half ashamed and wish
I had never taken up the idea. I am very
glad you did, and that you communicated it to me.
I have now a key to all her odd looks
and ways. Leave shame to her. If she does wrong,
(06:32):
she ought to feel it. She is not entirely without it.
I think I do not see much sign of it.
She is playing Robin Adair at this moment, his favorite.
Shortly afterwards, Miss Bates, passing near the window, descried mister
Knightley on horseback not far off, mister Knightley, I declare
I must speak to him if possible, just to thank him.
(06:55):
I will not open the window here it will give
you all cold. But I can go into my mother's room.
You know. I daresay he will come in when he
knows who is here. Quite delightful to have you all
meet so our little room, So honored she was in
the adjoining chamber while she still spoke, and opening the
casement there immediately called mister Knightley's attention, and every syllable
of their conversation was as distinctly heard by the others
(07:17):
as if it had passed within the same apartment. How
do you do? How do you do? Oh? Very well?
I thank you so obliged to you for the carriage
last night. We were just in time, my mother just
ready for us. Pray, come in, do come in. You
will find some friends here, So began miss Bates, and
mister Knightley seemed determined to be heard in his turn,
(07:37):
for most resolutely and commandingly did he say, how is
your niece, Miss Bates? I want to inquire after you all,
but particularly your niece. How is miss Fairfax? I hope
she caught no cold last night? How is she to day?
Tell me how Miss Fairfax is? And Miss Bates was
obliged to give a direct answer before he would hear
her in anything else. The listeners were amused, and Missus
(07:59):
Weston gave a look of particular meaning. But Emma still
shook her head in steady skepticism. So obliged to you,
so very much obliged to you. For the carriage, resumed
Miss Bates. He cut her short with I am going
to Kingston. Can I do anything for you? Oh dear Kingston?
Are you missus Cole was saying the other day she
(08:20):
wanted something from Kingston? Missus Cole her servants to send.
Can I do anything for you? No? I thank you?
But do come in? Who do you think is here?
Miss Woodhouse and Miss Smith so kind as to call
to hear the new piano forte? Do put up your
horse at the Crown and come in, well said he,
(08:41):
in a deliberating manner. For five minutes perhaps, And here
is Missus Weston and Frank Churchill too, quite delightful, so
many friends. No not now, I thank you. I could
not stay two minutes. I must get on to Kingston,
as fast as I can. Oh, do come in, they
will be so very happy to see you. No, No,
(09:02):
your room is full enough. I will call another day
and hear the pianoforte. Well. I am so sorry. Oh,
mister Knightley, what a delightful party last night? And how
extremely pleasant did you ever see such dancing? Was not it? Delightful?
Miss Woodhouse and mister Frank Churchill, I never saw anything
equal to it? Oh, very delightful. Indeed, I can say
(09:24):
nothing less, for I suppose Miss Woodhouse and mister Frank
Churchill are hearing everything that passes, and raising his voice
still more. I do not see why Miss Fairfax should
not be mentioned too. I think Miss Fairfax dances very well,
and missus Weston is the very best country dance player
without exception in England. Now, if your friends have any gratitude,
(09:44):
they will say something pretty loud about you and me
in return. But I cannot stay to hear it. Oh,
mister Knightley, one moment more something of consequence. So shocked.
Jane and I are both so shocked about the apples.
What is the matter now to think of your sending
us all your store apples? You said you had a
great many, and now you have not one left. We
(10:05):
really are so shocked. Missus Hodges may well be angry.
William Larkins mentioned it to hear. You should not have
done it. Indeed you should not. Ah, he is off.
He never can bear to be thanked. But I thought
he would have stayed now, and it would have been
a pity not to have mentioned. Well. Returning to the room,
I have not been able to succeed. Mister Knightley cannot stop.
(10:26):
He is going to Kingston. He asked me if he
could do anything. Yes, said Jane. We heard his kind offers.
We heard everything. Oh yes, my dear, I daresay you might,
because you know the door was open and the window
was open, and mister Knightley spoke loud. You must have
heard everything to be sure. Can I do anything for
you at Kingston? Said he? So I just mentioned, oh
(10:46):
miss Woodhouse, must you be going? You seem but just
come so very obliging of you. Emma found it really
time to be at home. The visit had already lasted long,
and on examining watches, so much of the morning was
for to be gone that Missus Weston and her companion
taking leave also could allow themselves only to walk with
the two young ladies to Hartfield Gates before they set
(11:08):
off for Randalls. End of Chapter ten.
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