August 22, 2025 • 17 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Volume two, chapter eleven. It may be possible to do
without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people
passing many many months successively without being at any ball
of any description, and no material injury accrue either to
body or mind. But when a beginning is made, when
(00:21):
the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly felt,
it must be a very heavy set that does not
ask for more. Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury,
and longed to dance again, And the last half hour
of an evening which mister Woodhouse was persuaded to spend
with his daughter at Randall's, was passed by the two
young people in schemes on the subject. Frank's was the
(00:44):
first idea, and his the greatest zeal in pursuing it.
For the lady was the best judge of the difficulties,
and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance. But still
she had inclination enough for showing people again how delightfully
mister Frank Churchill and miss Woodhouse danced, for doing that
in which she need not blush to compare herself with
Jane Fairfax, and even for simple dancing itself, without any
(01:08):
of the wicked aids of vanity to assist him, first
in pacing out the room where they were in, to
see what it be made to hold, and then in
taking the dimensions of the other parlor, in the hope
of discovering, in spite of all that mister Weston could
say of their exactly equal size, that it was a
little the largest. His first proposition and request that the
dance begun at mister Cole should be finished there, that
(01:30):
the same party should be collected and the same musician engaged,
met with the readiest acquiescence. Mister Weston entered into the
idea with thorough enjoyment, and missus Weston most willingly undertook
to play as long as they could wish to dance.
And the interesting employment had followed of reckoning up exactly
who there would be, and of portioning out the indispensable
division of space to every couple. You and miss Smith
(01:54):
and Miss Fairfax will be three, and the two miss
Coxes five had been repeated many times, and there will
be the two Gilberts, young Cox, my father and myself
besides mister Knightley. Yes, that will be quite enough for pleasure.
You and Miss Smith and Miss Fairfax will be three,
and the two miss Coxes five, And for five couple
there will be plenty of room. But soon it came
(02:17):
to be on one side. But will there be good
room for five couple? I really do not think their
will on another. And after all, five couple are not
enough to make it worth while to stand up. Five
couple are nothing. When one thinks seriously about it, it
will not do to invite five couple. It can be
allowable only as the thought of the moment. Somebody said
(02:39):
that Miss Gilbert was expected at her brother's and must
be invited with the rest. Somebody else believed missus Gilbert
would have danced the other evening if she had been asked.
A word was put in for a second young Cox,
and at last mister Weston naming one family of cousins
who must be included, and another of very old acquaintance
who could not be left out. It became a certainty
(03:00):
that the five couple would be at least ten, and
a very interesting speculation in what possible manner they could
be disposed of. The doors of the two rooms were
just opposite each other. Might not they use both rooms
and dance across the passage. It seemed the best scheme,
and yet it was not so good, but that many
of them wanted a better. Emma said it would be awkward.
(03:22):
Missus Weston was in distress about the supper, and mister
Woodhouse opposed it earnestly on the score of health. It
made him so very unhappy, indeed, that it could not
be persevered in. Oh no, said he. It would be
the extreme of imprudence. I could not bear it for Emma.
Emma is not strong. She would catch a dreadful cold,
(03:43):
so would poor little Harriet. So would you all, missus
Western you would be quite laid up. Do not let
them talk of such a wild thing. Pray, do not
let them talk of it. That young man speaking lower
is very thoughtless. Do not tell his father, But that
young man is not quite the thing. He has been
(04:04):
opening the doors very often this evening, and keeping them
open very inconsiderately. He does not think of the draft.
I do not mean to set you against him, but
indeed he is not quite the thing. Missus Weston was
sorry for such a charge. She knew the importance of it,
and said everything in her power to do it away.
(04:25):
Every door was now closed, the passage plan given up,
and the first scheme of dancing only in the room
they were in resorted to again, and with such good
will on Frank Churchill's part, that the space, which a
quarter of an hour before had been deemed barely sufficient
for five couple, was now endeavored to be made out
quite enough for ten. We were too magnificent, said he,
(04:47):
We allowed unnecessary room. Ten couple may stand here very well.
Emma demurred, it would be a crowd, a sad crowd,
and what could be worse than dancing without space to
turn in? The very true? He gravely replied, it was
very bad. But still he went on measuring, and still
he ended with I think they will be very tolerable
(05:09):
room for ten couple. No, no, said she, You are
quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful to be standing so close.
Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be dancing
in a crowd, and a crowd and a little room.
There is no denying it, he replied, I agree with
you exactly a crowd and little room, Miss Woodhouse. You
(05:29):
have the art of giving pictures, in a few words, exquisite,
quite exquisite. Still, however, having proceeded so far, one is
unwilling to give the matter up. It would be a
disappointment to my father. And altogether I do not know that.
I am rather of opinion that ten couple might stand
here very well. Emma perceived that the nature of his
(05:51):
gallantry was a little self willed, and that he would
rather oppose than lose the pleasure of dancing with her.
But she took the compliment and forgave the rest. Had
she ever intended to marry him, it might have been
worth while to pause and consider and try to understand
the value of his preference and the character of his temper.
But for all the purposes of their acquaintance, he was
quite amiable enough. Before the middle of the next day
(06:15):
he was at Hartfield, and he entered the room with
such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of the scheme.
It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement. Well,
Miss Woodhouse, he almost immediately began. Your inclination for dancing
has not been quite frightened away. I hope, by the
terrors of my father's little rooms, I bring a new
proposal on that subject. A thought of my father's which
(06:37):
waits only your approbation to be acted upon. May I
hope for the honor of your hand for the first
two dances of this little projected ball to be given
not at Randall's but at the Crown Inn. The Crown Yes,
And if you and mister Woodhouse see no objection, and
I trust you cannot. My father hopes his friends will
(06:57):
be so kind as to visit him. There better a commone,
he can promise them, and not a less grateful welcome
than at Randal's. It is his own idea. Missus Weston
sees no objection in it, provided you are satisfied. This
is what we all feel. Oh, you were perfectly right.
Ten couple in either of the Randall's rooms would have
been insufferable, dreadful. I felt how right you were the
(07:19):
whole time, but was too anxious for securing anything to
like to yield. Is it not a good exchange? You consent?
I hope you consent. It appears to me a plan
that nobody can object to. If mister and Missus Weston
do not, I think it admirable, and as far as
I can answer for myself, shall be most happy. It
seems the only improvement that could be, Papa. Do you
(07:41):
not think it an excellent improvement? She was obliged to
repeat and explain it before it was fully comprehended, and then,
being quite new farther representations were necessary to make it acceptable. No,
he thought it very far from an improvement, A very
bad plan, much worse than the other. A room at
(08:02):
an inn was always damp and dangerous, never properly aired
or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they
had better dance at Randal's. He had never been in
the room at the Crown in his life, did not
know the people who kept it by sight. Oh, No,
a very bad plan. They would catch worse cold to
the Crown than anywhere I was going to observe. Sir,
(08:24):
said Frank Churchill, that one of the great recommendations of
this change would be the very little danger of anybody's
catching cold, So much less danger at the Crown than
at Randall's. Mister Perry might have reason to regret the alteration,
but nobody else could, Sir, said mister Woodhouse rather warmly.
You are very much mistaken if you suppose mister Perry
(08:45):
to be that sort of character. Mister Perry is extremely
concerned when any of us are ill. But I do
not understand how the room at the Crown can be
safer for you than your father's house, from the very
circumstance of its being larger. Sir, we shall have no
occasion to where the windows at all, not once the
whole evening. And it is that dreadful habit of opening
the windows, letting in cold air upon heated bodies, which,
(09:08):
as you well know, Sir, does the mischief open the windows.
But surely, mister Churchill, nobody would think of opening the
windows at Randall's. Nobody could be so imprudent. I never
heard of such a thing dancing with open windows. I
am sure neither your father nor missus Weston, poor Miss
Taylor that was would suffer it, Ah, Sir, But a
(09:30):
thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a window curtain
and throw up a sash without its being suspected. I
have often known it done myself, have you, indeed, sir,
bless me. I never could have supposed it, but I
live out of the world and am often astonished at
what I hear. However, this does make a difference, and
(09:51):
perhaps when we come to talk it over. But these
sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One
cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If mister and
Missus Western will be so obliging as to call here
one morning, we may talk it over and see what
can be done. But unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited.
Oh interrupted, Emma, there will be plenty of time for
(10:14):
talking everything over. There is no hurry at all. If
it can be contrived to be at the Crown, Papa,
it will be very convenient for the horses. They will
be so near their own stable, and so they will,
my dear, that is a great thing, Not that James
ever complains, But it is right to spare our horses
when we can. If I could be sure of the
(10:35):
rooms being thoroughly aired. But is Missus Stokes to be trusted,
I doubt it. I do not know her even by sight.
I can answer for everything of that nature, sir, because
it will be under Missus Weston's care. Missus Weston undertakes
to direct the whole there, Papa, now you must be
satisfied our own dear Missus Weston, who is carefulness itself.
(10:57):
Do not you remember what mister Perry said so many
years ago when I had the measles. If Miss Taylor
undertakes to wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have
any fears. Sir, How often have I heard you speak
of it as such a compliment to her? Ay, very true,
mister Perry did say, so, I shall never forget it.
Poor little Emma, you were very bad with the measles.
(11:21):
That is, you would have been very bad but for
Perry's great attention. He came four times a day for
a week. He said, from the first it was a
very good sort, which was our great comfort. But the
measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope whenever poor Isabella's
little ones have the measles, she will send for Perry.
(11:42):
My father and missus Western are at the Crown at
this moment, said Frank Churchill, examining the capabilities of the house.
I left them there and came on to Hartfield, impatient
for your opinion, and hoping you might be persuaded to
join them and give your advice on the spot. I
was desired to say so from both it would be
the greatest pleasure to them if you could allow me
to attend you there. They can do nothing satisfactorily without you.
(12:04):
Emma was most happy to be called to such a council,
and her father engaging to think it all over while
she was gone. The two young people set off together
without delay for the crown. There were missr and Missus Weston,
delighted to see her and receive her approbation, very busy
and very happy in their different way. She in some
little distress, and he finding everything perfect, Emma said she
(12:28):
this paper is worse than I expected. Look in places
you see it is dreadfully dirty, and the wainskit is
more yellow and forlorn than anything I could have imagined.
My dear, you are too particular, said her husband. What
does all that signify? You will see nothing of it
by candlelight. It will be as clean as Randall's by candlelight.
(12:48):
We never see anything of it on our club nights.
The ladies here probably exchanged looks, which meant men never
know when things are dirty or not, and the gentleman
perhaps thought each to himself. Women will have their little
nonsenses and needless cares. One perplexity, however, arose which the
gentlemen did not disdain. It regarded a supper room at
(13:10):
the time of the ball rooms being built suppers had
not been in question, and a small card room adjoining
was the only addition. What was to be done This
card room would be wanted as a card room now,
or if cards were conveniently voted unnecessary by their foreselves. Still,
was it not too small for any comfortable supper? Another
room of much better size might be secured for the purpose,
(13:33):
but it was at the other end of the house,
and a long, awkward passage must be gone through to
get at it. This made a difficulty. Missus Weston was
afraid of drafts for the young people in that passage,
and neither Emma nor the gentlemen could tolerate the prospect
of being miserably crowded at supper. Missus Weston proposed having
no regular supper, merely sandwiches, et cetera, set out in
(13:54):
the little room, but that was scouted as a wretched suggestion.
A private dance without sitting down to supper was pronounced
an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women,
and Missus Weston must not speak of it again. She
then took another line of expediency, and, looking into the
doubtful room, observed, I do not think it is so
very small. We shall not be many, you know. And
(14:16):
mister Weston, at the same time, walking briskly with long
steps through the passage, was calling out, you talk a
great deal of the length of this passage, my dear.
It is a mere nothing after all, and not the
least draw from the stairs. I wish, said Missus Weston,
one could know which arrangement our guests in general would
like best to do, What would be most generally pleasing,
(14:37):
must be our object. If one could but tell what
that would be. Yes, very true, cried Frank, Very true.
You want your neighbor's opinions. I do not wonder at
you if one could ascertain what the chief of them
the coals, for instance, they are not far off. Shall
I call upon them? Or Miss Bates? She is still nearer,
(14:58):
and I do not know where the Miss Bates is
not likely to understand the inclinations of the rest of
the people as anybody. I think we do want a
larger council. Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to
join us, well, if you please, said Missus Weston, rather hesitating.
If you think she'll be of any use, you will
get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates. Said Emma.
(15:21):
She will be all delight and gratitude, but she will
tell you nothing. She will not even listen to your questions.
I see no advantage in consulting Miss Bates. But she
is so amusing, so extremely amusing. I am very fond
of hearing Miss Bates talk, and I need not bring
the whole family you know here. Mister Weston joined them,
(15:41):
and on hearing what was proposed, gave it his decided approbation.
I do, Frank, go and fetch Miss Bates and let
us end the matter at once. She will enjoy the scheme,
I am sure, and I do not know a proper
a person for showing us how to do away difficulties.
Fetch miss Bates. We are growing a little too nice.
She is. There's a standing lesson of how to be happy.
(16:02):
But fetch them both. Invite them both both, sir, Can
the old lady, the old lady, no, the young lady.
To be sure, I shall think you a great blockhead, Frank,
if you bring the aunt without the niece, oh, I
beg your pardon, Sir, I did not immediately recollect. Undoubtedly,
if you wish it, I will endeavor to persuade them
(16:23):
both and away he ran. Long before he reappeared attending
the short, neat, brisk, moving aunt and her elegant niece.
Missus Weston, like a sweet tempered woman and a good wife,
had examined the passage again and found the evils of
it much less than she had supposed before, indeed very trifling,
And here ended the difficulties of decision. All the rest
(16:46):
in speculation, at least, was perfectly smooth. All the minor
arrangements of table and chair, lights and music, tea and
supper made themselves, or were left as mere trifles to
be settled at any time. Between Missus Weston and miss
his Stokes, everybody invited was certainly to come. Frank had
already written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days
(17:06):
beyond his fortnight, which could not possibly be refused, And
a delightful dance it was to be most cordially. When
Miss Bates arrived, did she agree that it must. As
a counselor she was not wanted, But as an approver,
a much safer character, she was truly welcome. Her approbation
at once general and minute, warm and incessant, could not
(17:27):
but please, And for another half hour They were all
walking to and fro between the different rooms, some suggesting,
some attending, and all in happy enjoyment of the future.
The party did not break up without Emma's being positively
secured for the first two dances by the hero of
the evening, nor without her overhearing mister Weston whisper to
(17:47):
his wife, he has asked him, my dear, that's right.
I knew he would. End of Chapter eleven.
Volume two, chapter eleven. It may be possible to do
without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people
passing many many months successively without being at any ball
of any description, and no material injury accrue either to
body or mind. But when a beginning is made, when
(00:21):
the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly felt,
it must be a very heavy set that does not
ask for more. Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury,
and longed to dance again, And the last half hour
of an evening which mister Woodhouse was persuaded to spend
with his daughter at Randall's, was passed by the two
young people in schemes on the subject. Frank's was the
(00:44):
first idea, and his the greatest zeal in pursuing it.
For the lady was the best judge of the difficulties,
and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance. But still
she had inclination enough for showing people again how delightfully
mister Frank Churchill and miss Woodhouse danced, for doing that
in which she need not blush to compare herself with
Jane Fairfax, and even for simple dancing itself, without any
(01:08):
of the wicked aids of vanity to assist him, first
in pacing out the room where they were in, to
see what it be made to hold, and then in
taking the dimensions of the other parlor, in the hope
of discovering, in spite of all that mister Weston could
say of their exactly equal size, that it was a
little the largest. His first proposition and request that the
dance begun at mister Cole should be finished there, that
(01:30):
the same party should be collected and the same musician engaged,
met with the readiest acquiescence. Mister Weston entered into the
idea with thorough enjoyment, and missus Weston most willingly undertook
to play as long as they could wish to dance.
And the interesting employment had followed of reckoning up exactly
who there would be, and of portioning out the indispensable
division of space to every couple. You and miss Smith
(01:54):
and Miss Fairfax will be three, and the two miss
Coxes five had been repeated many times, and there will
be the two Gilberts, young Cox, my father and myself
besides mister Knightley. Yes, that will be quite enough for pleasure.
You and Miss Smith and Miss Fairfax will be three,
and the two miss Coxes five, And for five couple
there will be plenty of room. But soon it came
(02:17):
to be on one side. But will there be good
room for five couple? I really do not think their
will on another. And after all, five couple are not
enough to make it worth while to stand up. Five
couple are nothing. When one thinks seriously about it, it
will not do to invite five couple. It can be
allowable only as the thought of the moment. Somebody said
(02:39):
that Miss Gilbert was expected at her brother's and must
be invited with the rest. Somebody else believed missus Gilbert
would have danced the other evening if she had been asked.
A word was put in for a second young Cox,
and at last mister Weston naming one family of cousins
who must be included, and another of very old acquaintance
who could not be left out. It became a certainty
(03:00):
that the five couple would be at least ten, and
a very interesting speculation in what possible manner they could
be disposed of. The doors of the two rooms were
just opposite each other. Might not they use both rooms
and dance across the passage. It seemed the best scheme,
and yet it was not so good, but that many
of them wanted a better. Emma said it would be awkward.
(03:22):
Missus Weston was in distress about the supper, and mister
Woodhouse opposed it earnestly on the score of health. It
made him so very unhappy, indeed, that it could not
be persevered in. Oh no, said he. It would be
the extreme of imprudence. I could not bear it for Emma.
Emma is not strong. She would catch a dreadful cold,
(03:43):
so would poor little Harriet. So would you all, missus
Western you would be quite laid up. Do not let
them talk of such a wild thing. Pray, do not
let them talk of it. That young man speaking lower
is very thoughtless. Do not tell his father, But that
young man is not quite the thing. He has been
(04:04):
opening the doors very often this evening, and keeping them
open very inconsiderately. He does not think of the draft.
I do not mean to set you against him, but
indeed he is not quite the thing. Missus Weston was
sorry for such a charge. She knew the importance of it,
and said everything in her power to do it away.
(04:25):
Every door was now closed, the passage plan given up,
and the first scheme of dancing only in the room
they were in resorted to again, and with such good
will on Frank Churchill's part, that the space, which a
quarter of an hour before had been deemed barely sufficient
for five couple, was now endeavored to be made out
quite enough for ten. We were too magnificent, said he,
(04:47):
We allowed unnecessary room. Ten couple may stand here very well.
Emma demurred, it would be a crowd, a sad crowd,
and what could be worse than dancing without space to
turn in? The very true? He gravely replied, it was
very bad. But still he went on measuring, and still
he ended with I think they will be very tolerable
(05:09):
room for ten couple. No, no, said she, You are
quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful to be standing so close.
Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be dancing
in a crowd, and a crowd and a little room.
There is no denying it, he replied, I agree with
you exactly a crowd and little room, Miss Woodhouse. You
(05:29):
have the art of giving pictures, in a few words, exquisite,
quite exquisite. Still, however, having proceeded so far, one is
unwilling to give the matter up. It would be a
disappointment to my father. And altogether I do not know that.
I am rather of opinion that ten couple might stand
here very well. Emma perceived that the nature of his
(05:51):
gallantry was a little self willed, and that he would
rather oppose than lose the pleasure of dancing with her.
But she took the compliment and forgave the rest. Had
she ever intended to marry him, it might have been
worth while to pause and consider and try to understand
the value of his preference and the character of his temper.
But for all the purposes of their acquaintance, he was
quite amiable enough. Before the middle of the next day
(06:15):
he was at Hartfield, and he entered the room with
such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of the scheme.
It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement. Well,
Miss Woodhouse, he almost immediately began. Your inclination for dancing
has not been quite frightened away. I hope, by the
terrors of my father's little rooms, I bring a new
proposal on that subject. A thought of my father's which
(06:37):
waits only your approbation to be acted upon. May I
hope for the honor of your hand for the first
two dances of this little projected ball to be given
not at Randall's but at the Crown Inn. The Crown Yes,
And if you and mister Woodhouse see no objection, and
I trust you cannot. My father hopes his friends will
(06:57):
be so kind as to visit him. There better a commone,
he can promise them, and not a less grateful welcome
than at Randal's. It is his own idea. Missus Weston
sees no objection in it, provided you are satisfied. This
is what we all feel. Oh, you were perfectly right.
Ten couple in either of the Randall's rooms would have
been insufferable, dreadful. I felt how right you were the
(07:19):
whole time, but was too anxious for securing anything to
like to yield. Is it not a good exchange? You consent?
I hope you consent. It appears to me a plan
that nobody can object to. If mister and Missus Weston
do not, I think it admirable, and as far as
I can answer for myself, shall be most happy. It
seems the only improvement that could be, Papa. Do you
(07:41):
not think it an excellent improvement? She was obliged to
repeat and explain it before it was fully comprehended, and then,
being quite new farther representations were necessary to make it acceptable. No,
he thought it very far from an improvement, A very
bad plan, much worse than the other. A room at
(08:02):
an inn was always damp and dangerous, never properly aired
or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they
had better dance at Randal's. He had never been in
the room at the Crown in his life, did not
know the people who kept it by sight. Oh, No,
a very bad plan. They would catch worse cold to
the Crown than anywhere I was going to observe. Sir,
(08:24):
said Frank Churchill, that one of the great recommendations of
this change would be the very little danger of anybody's
catching cold, So much less danger at the Crown than
at Randall's. Mister Perry might have reason to regret the alteration,
but nobody else could, Sir, said mister Woodhouse rather warmly.
You are very much mistaken if you suppose mister Perry
(08:45):
to be that sort of character. Mister Perry is extremely
concerned when any of us are ill. But I do
not understand how the room at the Crown can be
safer for you than your father's house, from the very
circumstance of its being larger. Sir, we shall have no
occasion to where the windows at all, not once the
whole evening. And it is that dreadful habit of opening
the windows, letting in cold air upon heated bodies, which,
(09:08):
as you well know, Sir, does the mischief open the windows.
But surely, mister Churchill, nobody would think of opening the
windows at Randall's. Nobody could be so imprudent. I never
heard of such a thing dancing with open windows. I
am sure neither your father nor missus Weston, poor Miss
Taylor that was would suffer it, Ah, Sir, But a
(09:30):
thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a window curtain
and throw up a sash without its being suspected. I
have often known it done myself, have you, indeed, sir,
bless me. I never could have supposed it, but I
live out of the world and am often astonished at
what I hear. However, this does make a difference, and
(09:51):
perhaps when we come to talk it over. But these
sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One
cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If mister and
Missus Western will be so obliging as to call here
one morning, we may talk it over and see what
can be done. But unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited.
Oh interrupted, Emma, there will be plenty of time for
(10:14):
talking everything over. There is no hurry at all. If
it can be contrived to be at the Crown, Papa,
it will be very convenient for the horses. They will
be so near their own stable, and so they will,
my dear, that is a great thing, Not that James
ever complains, But it is right to spare our horses
when we can. If I could be sure of the
(10:35):
rooms being thoroughly aired. But is Missus Stokes to be trusted,
I doubt it. I do not know her even by sight.
I can answer for everything of that nature, sir, because
it will be under Missus Weston's care. Missus Weston undertakes
to direct the whole there, Papa, now you must be
satisfied our own dear Missus Weston, who is carefulness itself.
(10:57):
Do not you remember what mister Perry said so many
years ago when I had the measles. If Miss Taylor
undertakes to wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have
any fears. Sir, How often have I heard you speak
of it as such a compliment to her? Ay, very true,
mister Perry did say, so, I shall never forget it.
Poor little Emma, you were very bad with the measles.
(11:21):
That is, you would have been very bad but for
Perry's great attention. He came four times a day for
a week. He said, from the first it was a
very good sort, which was our great comfort. But the
measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope whenever poor Isabella's
little ones have the measles, she will send for Perry.
(11:42):
My father and missus Western are at the Crown at
this moment, said Frank Churchill, examining the capabilities of the house.
I left them there and came on to Hartfield, impatient
for your opinion, and hoping you might be persuaded to
join them and give your advice on the spot. I
was desired to say so from both it would be
the greatest pleasure to them if you could allow me
to attend you there. They can do nothing satisfactorily without you.
(12:04):
Emma was most happy to be called to such a council,
and her father engaging to think it all over while
she was gone. The two young people set off together
without delay for the crown. There were missr and Missus Weston,
delighted to see her and receive her approbation, very busy
and very happy in their different way. She in some
little distress, and he finding everything perfect, Emma said she
(12:28):
this paper is worse than I expected. Look in places
you see it is dreadfully dirty, and the wainskit is
more yellow and forlorn than anything I could have imagined.
My dear, you are too particular, said her husband. What
does all that signify? You will see nothing of it
by candlelight. It will be as clean as Randall's by candlelight.
(12:48):
We never see anything of it on our club nights.
The ladies here probably exchanged looks, which meant men never
know when things are dirty or not, and the gentleman
perhaps thought each to himself. Women will have their little
nonsenses and needless cares. One perplexity, however, arose which the
gentlemen did not disdain. It regarded a supper room at
(13:10):
the time of the ball rooms being built suppers had
not been in question, and a small card room adjoining
was the only addition. What was to be done This
card room would be wanted as a card room now,
or if cards were conveniently voted unnecessary by their foreselves. Still,
was it not too small for any comfortable supper? Another
room of much better size might be secured for the purpose,
(13:33):
but it was at the other end of the house,
and a long, awkward passage must be gone through to
get at it. This made a difficulty. Missus Weston was
afraid of drafts for the young people in that passage,
and neither Emma nor the gentlemen could tolerate the prospect
of being miserably crowded at supper. Missus Weston proposed having
no regular supper, merely sandwiches, et cetera, set out in
(13:54):
the little room, but that was scouted as a wretched suggestion.
A private dance without sitting down to supper was pronounced
an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women,
and Missus Weston must not speak of it again. She
then took another line of expediency, and, looking into the
doubtful room, observed, I do not think it is so
very small. We shall not be many, you know. And
(14:16):
mister Weston, at the same time, walking briskly with long
steps through the passage, was calling out, you talk a
great deal of the length of this passage, my dear.
It is a mere nothing after all, and not the
least draw from the stairs. I wish, said Missus Weston,
one could know which arrangement our guests in general would
like best to do, What would be most generally pleasing,
(14:37):
must be our object. If one could but tell what
that would be. Yes, very true, cried Frank, Very true.
You want your neighbor's opinions. I do not wonder at
you if one could ascertain what the chief of them
the coals, for instance, they are not far off. Shall
I call upon them? Or Miss Bates? She is still nearer,
(14:58):
and I do not know where the Miss Bates is
not likely to understand the inclinations of the rest of
the people as anybody. I think we do want a
larger council. Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to
join us, well, if you please, said Missus Weston, rather hesitating.
If you think she'll be of any use, you will
get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates. Said Emma.
(15:21):
She will be all delight and gratitude, but she will
tell you nothing. She will not even listen to your questions.
I see no advantage in consulting Miss Bates. But she
is so amusing, so extremely amusing. I am very fond
of hearing Miss Bates talk, and I need not bring
the whole family you know here. Mister Weston joined them,
(15:41):
and on hearing what was proposed, gave it his decided approbation.
I do, Frank, go and fetch Miss Bates and let
us end the matter at once. She will enjoy the scheme,
I am sure, and I do not know a proper
a person for showing us how to do away difficulties.
Fetch miss Bates. We are growing a little too nice.
She is. There's a standing lesson of how to be happy.
(16:02):
But fetch them both. Invite them both both, sir, Can
the old lady, the old lady, no, the young lady.
To be sure, I shall think you a great blockhead, Frank,
if you bring the aunt without the niece, oh, I
beg your pardon, Sir, I did not immediately recollect. Undoubtedly,
if you wish it, I will endeavor to persuade them
(16:23):
both and away he ran. Long before he reappeared attending
the short, neat, brisk, moving aunt and her elegant niece.
Missus Weston, like a sweet tempered woman and a good wife,
had examined the passage again and found the evils of
it much less than she had supposed before, indeed very trifling,
And here ended the difficulties of decision. All the rest
(16:46):
in speculation, at least, was perfectly smooth. All the minor
arrangements of table and chair, lights and music, tea and
supper made themselves, or were left as mere trifles to
be settled at any time. Between Missus Weston and miss
his Stokes, everybody invited was certainly to come. Frank had
already written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days
(17:06):
beyond his fortnight, which could not possibly be refused, And
a delightful dance it was to be most cordially. When
Miss Bates arrived, did she agree that it must. As
a counselor she was not wanted, But as an approver,
a much safer character, she was truly welcome. Her approbation
at once general and minute, warm and incessant, could not
(17:27):
but please, And for another half hour They were all
walking to and fro between the different rooms, some suggesting,
some attending, and all in happy enjoyment of the future.
The party did not break up without Emma's being positively
secured for the first two dances by the hero of
the evening, nor without her overhearing mister Weston whisper to
(17:47):
his wife, he has asked him, my dear, that's right.
I knew he would. End of Chapter eleven.
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