“I do not understand what you mean by ‘success,’” said Mr. Knightley. “Success supposes endeavour. Why do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You made a lucky guess; and that is all that can be said.”
“And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess? – I pity you. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston’s visits here, and given many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might not have come to anything after all[16].”
“Emma, my dear,” said Mr. Woodhouse, “pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one’s family circle grievously.”
“Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton[17]. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa, – I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in Highbury who deserves him. I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service.”
“Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young man, and I have a great regard for him. But if you want to show him any attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will be a much better thing.”
Chapter II
Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, which for the last two or three generations had been rising into gentility and property. When the chances of his military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill[18], of a great Yorkshire[19] family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were full of pride and importance.
Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her fortune, was not to be dissuaded from the marriage, and it took place, to the infinite mortification of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with due decorum. It was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much happiness. Mrs. Weston did not cease to love her husband, but she wanted at once to be the wife of Captain Weston, and Miss Churchill.
When Captain Weston’s wife died, after a three years’ marriage, he was rather a poorer man than at first, and with a child to maintain. From the expense of the child, however, he was soon relieved. Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, having no children of their own, offered to take the whole charge of the little Frank[20] soon after his mother’s decease.
A complete change of life became desirable. Mr. Weston engaged in trade. He had a small house in Highbury, where most of his leisure days were spent; and between useful occupation and the pleasures of society, the next eighteen or twenty years of his life passed cheerfully away. He had, by that time, purchased a little estate adjoining Highbury, enough to marry a woman as Miss Taylor, and to live happily.
As to Frank, he took name of Churchill. It was most unlikely, therefore, that he should ever want his father’s assistance. The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her husband entirely. Mr. Weston saw his son every year in London, and was proud of him.
Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury. His coming to visit his father had been often talked of but never achieved. Now, upon his father’s marriage, it was very generally proposed, that the visit should take place.
Chapter III
Mr. Woodhouse was fond of society in his own way. He liked to command the visits of his own little circle, in a great measure, as he liked. He had not much intercourse with any families beyond that circle. Real regard brought the Westons and Mr. Knightley; after these came Mrs. and Miss Bates[21], and Mrs. Goddard[22], three ladies almost always at the service of an invitation from Hartfield; and Mrs. Bates, the widow of a former vicar of Highbury. She was a very old lady, she lived with her single daughter in a very small way[23]. Her daughter was neither young, handsome, rich, nor married. She had never boasted either beauty or cleverness. And yet she was a happy woman. She loved everybody, was interested in everybody’s happiness. The simplicity and cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a recommendation to everybody.
These were the ladies whom Emma found herself very frequently able to collect; but it was no remedy for the absence of Mrs. Weston. As she sat one morning, a note was brought from Mrs. Goddard, requesting, in most respectful terms, to be allowed to bring Miss Smith with her; a most welcome request: for Miss Smith was a girl of seventeen, whom Emma knew very well by sight[24].
Harriet Smith[25] was the natural daughter[26] of somebody. Somebody had placed her, several years back, at Mrs. Goddard’s school. This was all that was generally known of her history. She had no visible friends, and was now just returned from a long visit in the country to some young ladies who had been at school there with her.
She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness, and Emma was much pleased with her manners as her person, and quite determined to continue the acquaintance. And the acquaintance she had already formed were unworthy of her. The friends from whom she had just parted, though very good sort of people, must be doing her harm. They were a family of the name of Martin, whom Emma well knew by character[27], as renting a large farm of Mr. Knightley, and residing in the parish of Donwell[28] – very creditably, she believed – she knew Mr. Knightley thought highly of them – but they must be coarse and unpolished, and very unfit to be the intimates of a girl who wanted only a little more knowledge and elegance to be quite perfect. Yes, she would improve her; she would detach her from her bad acquaintance, and introduce her into good society; she would form her opinions and her manners. It would be an interesting, and certainly a very kind undertaking.
Chapter IV
Quick and decided in her ways, Emma lost no time in inviting, encouraging, and telling Harriet Smith to come very often; and as their acquaintance increased, so did their satisfaction in each other. As a walking companion, Emma had very early foreseen how useful she might find her. Her father never went beyond the shrubbery; and Harriet Smith, therefore, could be a valuable friend for Emma. In every respect, as she saw more of her, she approved her.
Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition, was totally free from conceit, and only desiring to be guided. Her attachment to Emma was very amiable; and her inclination for good company was great. And Emma was quite convinced of Harriet Smith’s being exactly the young friend she wanted – exactly the something which her home required. Such a friend as Mrs. Weston was out of the question. It was quite a different sort of thing. Harriet would be loved as one to whom she could be useful. For Mrs. Weston there was nothing to be done; for Harriet everything.