August 23, 2025 • 12 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Volume two, chapter twelve. One thing only was wanting to
make the prospect of the ball completely satisfactory to Emma,
its being fixed for a day within the granted term
of Frank Churchill's stay in Surrey. For in spite of
mister Weston's confidence, she could not think it so very
impossible that the Churchills might not allow their nephew to
(00:21):
remain a day beyond his fortnight. But this was not
judged feasible. The preparations must take their time. Nothing could
be properly ready till the third week were entered on,
and for a few days they must be planning, proceeding,
and hoping an uncertainty at the risk, in her opinion,
the great risk of its being all in vain Enscombe, however,
(00:43):
was gracious, gracious in fact, if not in word. His
wish of staying longer evidently did not please, but it
was not opposed. All was safe and prosperous, And as
the removal of one solicitude generally makes way for another, Emma,
being now certain of her ball, began to adopt as
the next vexation mister Knightley's provoking indifference about it, either
(01:07):
because he did not dance himself, or because the plan
had been formed without his being consulted. He seemed resolved
that it should not interest him, determined against its exciting
any present curiosity or affording him any future amusement. To
her voluntary communications, Emma could get no more approving reply
than very well, if the Westons think it worth while
(01:29):
to be all this trouble for a few hours of
noisy entertainment. I have nothing to say against it, but
that they shall not choose pleasures for me. Oh yes,
I must be there. I could not refuse, and I
will keep as much awake as I can. But I
would rather be at home looking over William Knarkins's weak
account much rather. I confess pleasure in seeing dancing, not
(01:51):
I Indeed I never look at it. I do not
know who does fine dancing. I believe like virtue must
be its own reward. Those who were standing by are
usually thinking of something very different. This Emma felt was
aimed at her, and it made her quite angry. It
was not in compliment to Jane Fairfax, however, that he
was so indifferent or so indignant. He was not guided
(02:14):
by her feelings in reprobating the ball, for she enjoyed
the thought of it to an extraordinary degree. It made
her animated, open hearted. She voluntarily said, oh, miss Woodhouse,
I hope nothing may happen to prevent the bull. What
a disappointment it would be. I do look forward to it,
I own with very great pleasure. It was not to
(02:37):
oblige Jane Fairfax therefore, that he would have preferred the
Society of William Larkin's. No, she was more and more
convinced that Missus Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise.
There was a great deal of friendly and of compassionate
attachment on his side, but no love alas there was
soon no leisure for quarreling with mister Knightley. Two days
(02:59):
of joyful scre curity were immediately followed by the overthrow
of everything. A letter arrived from mister Churchill to urge
his nephew's instant return. Missus Churchill was unwell, far too
unwell to do without him. She had been in a
very suffering state, so said her husband when writing to
her nephew two days before, though from her usual unwillingness
(03:19):
to give pain and constant habit of never thinking of herself,
she had not mentioned it, but now she was too
ill to trifle, and must entreat him to set off
for Enscombe without delay. The substance of this letter was
forwarded to Emma in a note from Missus Weston instantly.
As to his going, it was inevitable he must be
gone within a few hours, though without feeling any real alarm.
(03:42):
For his aunt. To lessen his repugnance, he knew her
illnesses they never occurred, but for her own convenience, Missus
Weston added that he could only allow himself time to
hurry to Highbury, off to breakfast, and take leave of
the few friends there whom he could suppose to feel
any interest in him. And yet he might be expected
at tout feel very soon. This wretched note was the
(04:04):
finale of Emma's breakfast, when once it had been read,
there was no doing anything but lament and exclaim the
loss of the ball, the loss of the young man,
and all that the young man might be feeling. It
was too wretched. Such a delightful evening as it would
have been, everybody so happy, and she and her partner
the happiest I said it would be. So was the
(04:26):
only consolation. Her father's feelings were quite distinct. He thought
principally of missus Churchill's illness, and wanted to know how
she was treated. And as for the ball, it was
shocking to have dear Emma disappointed, but they would all
be safer at home. Emma was ready for her visitor
some time before he appeared. But if this reflected at
(04:46):
all upon his impatience, his sorrowful look and total want
of spirits when he did come might redeem him. He
felt the going away almost too much to speak of it.
His dejection was most evident. He sat really lost thought
for the first few minutes, and when rousing himself, it
was only to say, of all horrid things, leave taking
(05:07):
is the worst. But you will come again, said Emma.
This will not be your only visit to Randall's Ah,
shaking his head the uncertainty of when I may be
able to return, I shall try for it with a zeal.
It will be the object of all my thoughts and cares.
And if my uncle and aunt go to town this spring,
(05:28):
but I am afraid they did not stir last spring.
I am afraid it is a custom gone. For ever.
Our poor ball must be quite keeping up. Ah, that ball,
Why did we wait for anything. Why not seize the
pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation,
foolish preparation. You told us it would be so, Oh,
(05:51):
miss Woodhouse, Why are you always so right? Indeed? I
am very sorry to be right in this instance. I
would much rather have been merry than wise. If I
can come again, we are still to have our ball.
My father depends on it. Do not forget your engagement,
Emma looked graciously. Such a fortnight as it has been,
(06:14):
he continued, every day more precious and more delightful than
the day before, every day making me less fit to
bear any other place happy. Those who can remain at
Highbury as you do us. Such ample justice, now, said Emma, laughing,
I will venture to ask whether you did not come
a little doubtfully at first. Do not we rather surpass
(06:37):
your expectations? I am sure we do. I am sure
you did not much expect to like us. You would
not have been so long in coming if you had
had a pleasant idea of Highbury, he laughed rather consciously,
and though denying the sentiment, Emma was convinced that it
had been so, and you must be off this very morning. Yes,
(06:59):
my father's to join me. Here. We shall walk back together,
and I must be off immediately. I am almost afraid
that every moment will bring him. Not five minutes to spare,
even for your friends, Miss Fairfax and Miss Bates. How
unlucky Miss Bates's powerful argumentative mind might have strengthened yours. Yes,
(07:20):
I have called there, passing the door, I thought it better.
It was a right thing to do. I went in
for three minutes and was detained by Miss Bates's being absent.
She was out, and I felt it impossible not to
wait till she came in. She is a woman that
one may that one must laugh at, but that one
would not wish to slight. It was better to pay
my visit. Then he hesitated, got up, walked to a window.
(07:45):
In short, said he perhaps, Miss Woodhouse, I think you
can hardly be quite without suspicion. He looked at her
as if wanting to read her thoughts. She hardly knew
what to say. It seemed like the forerunner of something
absolutely serious, which she did not wish forcing herself to speak. Therefore,
(08:06):
in the hope of putting it by, she calmly said,
you are quite in the right it was most natural
to pay your visit. Then he was silent. She believed
he was looking at her, probably reflecting on what she
had said, and trying to understand the manner she heard
him sigh. It was natural for him to feel that
he had cause to sigh. He could not believe her
(08:27):
to be encouraging him. A few awkward moments passed, and
he sat down again, and, in a more determined manner, said,
it was something to feel that all the rest of
my time might be given to Hartfield. My regard for
Hatfield is most warm. He stopped again, rose again, and
seemed quite embarrassed. He was more in love with her
(08:47):
than Emma had supposed, And who can say how it
might have ended if his father had not made his appearance.
Mister Woodhouse soon followed, and the necessity of exertion made
him composed. A very few minutes more, however, completed the
present trial. Mister Weston, always alert when business was to
be done, and as incapable of procrastinating any evil that
was inevitable, as if foreseeing any that was doubtful, said
(09:10):
it was time to go. And the young man, though
he might and did sigh, could not but agree to
take leave. I shall hear about you, all, said he.
That is my chief consolation. I shall hear of everything
that is going on among you. I have engaged missus
Weston to correspond with me. She has been so kind
as to promise it. Oh the blessing of a female correspondent,
(09:33):
when one is really interested in the absent. She will
tell me everything in her letters. I shall be at
dear Highbury again. A very friendly shake of the hand,
a very earnest good bye closed the speech, and the
door had soon shut out. Frank Churchill short had been
the notice short their meeting. He was gone, and Emma
(09:54):
felt so sorry to part, and foresaw so great a
loss to their little society from his absence as to
begin to be afraid of being too sorry and feeling
it too much. It was a sad change. They had
been meeting almost every day since his arrival. Certainly, his
being at Randall's had given great spirit to the last
two weeks, indescribable spirit, the idea, the expectation of seeing him,
(10:18):
which every morning had brought the assurance of his attentions,
his liveliness, his manners. It had been a very happy
fortnight and forlorn must be the sinking from it into
the common course of Hartfield days to complete every other recommendation.
He had almost told her that he loved her. What
strength or what constancy of affection he might be subject
(10:39):
to was another point. But at present she could not
doubt his having a decidedly warm admiration, a conscious preference
of herself. And this persuasion, joined to all the rest,
made her think that she must be a little in
love with him, in spite of every previous determination against it.
I certainly must, said she this sensation of listlessness, weariness, stupidity,
(11:05):
this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, this feeling
of everything's being dull and insipid about the house, I
must be in love. I should be the oddest creature
in the world if I were not, for a few
weeks at least. Well, evil to some is always good
to others. I shall have many fellow mourners for the ball,
(11:26):
if not for Frank Churchill. But mister Knightley will be happy.
He may spend the evening with his dear William Larkins
now if he likes mister Knightley, however, showed no triumphant
happiness he could not say that he was sorry on
his own account. His very cheerful look would have contradicted
him if he had. But he said, and very steadily,
that he was sorry for the disappointment of the others,
(11:48):
and with considerable kindness, added, you, Emma, who have so
few opportunities of dancing, you are really out of luck.
You are very much out of luck. It was some
days before she saw Jane Fairfax to judge of her
honest regret in this woeful change, But when they did meet,
her composure was odious. She had been particularly unwell, however,
(12:09):
suffering from headache to a degree which made her aunt
declare that had the ball taken place, she did not
think Jane could have attended it, And it was charity
to impute some for unbecoming indifference to the languor of
ill health. End of Chapter twelve.
Volume two, chapter twelve. One thing only was wanting to
make the prospect of the ball completely satisfactory to Emma,
its being fixed for a day within the granted term
of Frank Churchill's stay in Surrey. For in spite of
mister Weston's confidence, she could not think it so very
impossible that the Churchills might not allow their nephew to
(00:21):
remain a day beyond his fortnight. But this was not
judged feasible. The preparations must take their time. Nothing could
be properly ready till the third week were entered on,
and for a few days they must be planning, proceeding,
and hoping an uncertainty at the risk, in her opinion,
the great risk of its being all in vain Enscombe, however,
(00:43):
was gracious, gracious in fact, if not in word. His
wish of staying longer evidently did not please, but it
was not opposed. All was safe and prosperous, And as
the removal of one solicitude generally makes way for another, Emma,
being now certain of her ball, began to adopt as
the next vexation mister Knightley's provoking indifference about it, either
(01:07):
because he did not dance himself, or because the plan
had been formed without his being consulted. He seemed resolved
that it should not interest him, determined against its exciting
any present curiosity or affording him any future amusement. To
her voluntary communications, Emma could get no more approving reply
than very well, if the Westons think it worth while
(01:29):
to be all this trouble for a few hours of
noisy entertainment. I have nothing to say against it, but
that they shall not choose pleasures for me. Oh yes,
I must be there. I could not refuse, and I
will keep as much awake as I can. But I
would rather be at home looking over William Knarkins's weak
account much rather. I confess pleasure in seeing dancing, not
(01:51):
I Indeed I never look at it. I do not
know who does fine dancing. I believe like virtue must
be its own reward. Those who were standing by are
usually thinking of something very different. This Emma felt was
aimed at her, and it made her quite angry. It
was not in compliment to Jane Fairfax, however, that he
was so indifferent or so indignant. He was not guided
(02:14):
by her feelings in reprobating the ball, for she enjoyed
the thought of it to an extraordinary degree. It made
her animated, open hearted. She voluntarily said, oh, miss Woodhouse,
I hope nothing may happen to prevent the bull. What
a disappointment it would be. I do look forward to it,
I own with very great pleasure. It was not to
(02:37):
oblige Jane Fairfax therefore, that he would have preferred the
Society of William Larkin's. No, she was more and more
convinced that Missus Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise.
There was a great deal of friendly and of compassionate
attachment on his side, but no love alas there was
soon no leisure for quarreling with mister Knightley. Two days
(02:59):
of joyful scre curity were immediately followed by the overthrow
of everything. A letter arrived from mister Churchill to urge
his nephew's instant return. Missus Churchill was unwell, far too
unwell to do without him. She had been in a
very suffering state, so said her husband when writing to
her nephew two days before, though from her usual unwillingness
(03:19):
to give pain and constant habit of never thinking of herself,
she had not mentioned it, but now she was too
ill to trifle, and must entreat him to set off
for Enscombe without delay. The substance of this letter was
forwarded to Emma in a note from Missus Weston instantly.
As to his going, it was inevitable he must be
gone within a few hours, though without feeling any real alarm.
(03:42):
For his aunt. To lessen his repugnance, he knew her
illnesses they never occurred, but for her own convenience, Missus
Weston added that he could only allow himself time to
hurry to Highbury, off to breakfast, and take leave of
the few friends there whom he could suppose to feel
any interest in him. And yet he might be expected
at tout feel very soon. This wretched note was the
(04:04):
finale of Emma's breakfast, when once it had been read,
there was no doing anything but lament and exclaim the
loss of the ball, the loss of the young man,
and all that the young man might be feeling. It
was too wretched. Such a delightful evening as it would
have been, everybody so happy, and she and her partner
the happiest I said it would be. So was the
(04:26):
only consolation. Her father's feelings were quite distinct. He thought
principally of missus Churchill's illness, and wanted to know how
she was treated. And as for the ball, it was
shocking to have dear Emma disappointed, but they would all
be safer at home. Emma was ready for her visitor
some time before he appeared. But if this reflected at
(04:46):
all upon his impatience, his sorrowful look and total want
of spirits when he did come might redeem him. He
felt the going away almost too much to speak of it.
His dejection was most evident. He sat really lost thought
for the first few minutes, and when rousing himself, it
was only to say, of all horrid things, leave taking
(05:07):
is the worst. But you will come again, said Emma.
This will not be your only visit to Randall's Ah,
shaking his head the uncertainty of when I may be
able to return, I shall try for it with a zeal.
It will be the object of all my thoughts and cares.
And if my uncle and aunt go to town this spring,
(05:28):
but I am afraid they did not stir last spring.
I am afraid it is a custom gone. For ever.
Our poor ball must be quite keeping up. Ah, that ball,
Why did we wait for anything. Why not seize the
pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation,
foolish preparation. You told us it would be so, Oh,
(05:51):
miss Woodhouse, Why are you always so right? Indeed? I
am very sorry to be right in this instance. I
would much rather have been merry than wise. If I
can come again, we are still to have our ball.
My father depends on it. Do not forget your engagement,
Emma looked graciously. Such a fortnight as it has been,
(06:14):
he continued, every day more precious and more delightful than
the day before, every day making me less fit to
bear any other place happy. Those who can remain at
Highbury as you do us. Such ample justice, now, said Emma, laughing,
I will venture to ask whether you did not come
a little doubtfully at first. Do not we rather surpass
(06:37):
your expectations? I am sure we do. I am sure
you did not much expect to like us. You would
not have been so long in coming if you had
had a pleasant idea of Highbury, he laughed rather consciously,
and though denying the sentiment, Emma was convinced that it
had been so, and you must be off this very morning. Yes,
(06:59):
my father's to join me. Here. We shall walk back together,
and I must be off immediately. I am almost afraid
that every moment will bring him. Not five minutes to spare,
even for your friends, Miss Fairfax and Miss Bates. How
unlucky Miss Bates's powerful argumentative mind might have strengthened yours. Yes,
(07:20):
I have called there, passing the door, I thought it better.
It was a right thing to do. I went in
for three minutes and was detained by Miss Bates's being absent.
She was out, and I felt it impossible not to
wait till she came in. She is a woman that
one may that one must laugh at, but that one
would not wish to slight. It was better to pay
my visit. Then he hesitated, got up, walked to a window.
(07:45):
In short, said he perhaps, Miss Woodhouse, I think you
can hardly be quite without suspicion. He looked at her
as if wanting to read her thoughts. She hardly knew
what to say. It seemed like the forerunner of something
absolutely serious, which she did not wish forcing herself to speak. Therefore,
(08:06):
in the hope of putting it by, she calmly said,
you are quite in the right it was most natural
to pay your visit. Then he was silent. She believed
he was looking at her, probably reflecting on what she
had said, and trying to understand the manner she heard
him sigh. It was natural for him to feel that
he had cause to sigh. He could not believe her
(08:27):
to be encouraging him. A few awkward moments passed, and
he sat down again, and, in a more determined manner, said,
it was something to feel that all the rest of
my time might be given to Hartfield. My regard for
Hatfield is most warm. He stopped again, rose again, and
seemed quite embarrassed. He was more in love with her
(08:47):
than Emma had supposed, And who can say how it
might have ended if his father had not made his appearance.
Mister Woodhouse soon followed, and the necessity of exertion made
him composed. A very few minutes more, however, completed the
present trial. Mister Weston, always alert when business was to
be done, and as incapable of procrastinating any evil that
was inevitable, as if foreseeing any that was doubtful, said
(09:10):
it was time to go. And the young man, though
he might and did sigh, could not but agree to
take leave. I shall hear about you, all, said he.
That is my chief consolation. I shall hear of everything
that is going on among you. I have engaged missus
Weston to correspond with me. She has been so kind
as to promise it. Oh the blessing of a female correspondent,
(09:33):
when one is really interested in the absent. She will
tell me everything in her letters. I shall be at
dear Highbury again. A very friendly shake of the hand,
a very earnest good bye closed the speech, and the
door had soon shut out. Frank Churchill short had been
the notice short their meeting. He was gone, and Emma
(09:54):
felt so sorry to part, and foresaw so great a
loss to their little society from his absence as to
begin to be afraid of being too sorry and feeling
it too much. It was a sad change. They had
been meeting almost every day since his arrival. Certainly, his
being at Randall's had given great spirit to the last
two weeks, indescribable spirit, the idea, the expectation of seeing him,
(10:18):
which every morning had brought the assurance of his attentions,
his liveliness, his manners. It had been a very happy
fortnight and forlorn must be the sinking from it into
the common course of Hartfield days to complete every other recommendation.
He had almost told her that he loved her. What
strength or what constancy of affection he might be subject
(10:39):
to was another point. But at present she could not
doubt his having a decidedly warm admiration, a conscious preference
of herself. And this persuasion, joined to all the rest,
made her think that she must be a little in
love with him, in spite of every previous determination against it.
I certainly must, said she this sensation of listlessness, weariness, stupidity,
(11:05):
this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, this feeling
of everything's being dull and insipid about the house, I
must be in love. I should be the oddest creature
in the world if I were not, for a few
weeks at least. Well, evil to some is always good
to others. I shall have many fellow mourners for the ball,
(11:26):
if not for Frank Churchill. But mister Knightley will be happy.
He may spend the evening with his dear William Larkins
now if he likes mister Knightley, however, showed no triumphant
happiness he could not say that he was sorry on
his own account. His very cheerful look would have contradicted
him if he had. But he said, and very steadily,
that he was sorry for the disappointment of the others,
(11:48):
and with considerable kindness, added, you, Emma, who have so
few opportunities of dancing, you are really out of luck.
You are very much out of luck. It was some
days before she saw Jane Fairfax to judge of her
honest regret in this woeful change, But when they did meet,
her composure was odious. She had been particularly unwell, however,
(12:09):
suffering from headache to a degree which made her aunt
declare that had the ball taken place, she did not
think Jane could have attended it, And it was charity
to impute some for unbecoming indifference to the languor of
ill health. End of Chapter twelve.
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