Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twenty-eighth chapter of Emma by Jane Austen

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Welcome to Bite at a Time Books, where we read your favorite classics one Bite at a Time.

My name is Brie Carlyle and I love to read and wanted to share my passion with listeners like you.

All of the links for our show are in the show notes.

Today we will be continuing Emma by Jane Austin chapter Ten The appearance of the little sitting room as they entered was tranquillity itself.

Mrs.

Bates, deprived of her usual employment, slumbered 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, the young man was yet able to show a most happy countenance on seeing Emma again.

This is a pleasure, said he in a rather 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 Mrs.

Weston.

Have you not finished it yet?

You would not earn a very good livelihood as a working silversmith at this rate.

I have not been working uninterruptedly, he replied.

I have been assisting Ms.

Fairfax and trying to make her instrument stand steadily.

It was not quite firm, an unevenness in the floor, I believe.

You see, we have been wedging one leg with paper.

This 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 seeded 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 at the piano forte again.

That she was not immediately ready, Emma did suspect to arise from the state 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 full justice to Mrs.

Weston, had been delighted before, and was delighted again.

Emma joined her in all her praise and the piano forte, with every proper discrimination that was pronounced to be altogether of the highest promise.

Whoever Colonel Campbell might employ, said Frank Churchill, with a smile at Emma, the person has not chosen ill.

I heard a good deal of Colonel Campbell's taste at Waymouth and the softness of the upper notes.

I am sure it's exactly what he and all that party would particularly prize.

I dare say, Ms.

Fairfax, that he either gave his friend very minute directions or wrote to Broadwood himself.

Do not you think so?

Jane did not look round she was not obliged to hear.

Mrs.

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 he began again.

How much your friends in Ireland must be enjoying your pleasure on this occasion, Ms.

Fairfax.

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 a general direction in order indefinite as to time to depend upon contingencies and conveniences?

He paused.

She could not, but here 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.

It must all be conjecture.

Conjecture, I.

Sometimes one conjecture is right, and sometimes one conjecture is 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 laborers.

If we get hold of a word.

Ms.

Fairfax said something about conjecturing.

There it is done.

I have the pleasure, Madame, to Mrs.

Bates, of restoring your spectacles.

Healed for the present.

He was very warmly thanked both by mother and daughter.

To escape a little from the latter, he went to the piano forte and begged Ms.

Fairfax, who was still sitting at it, to play something more.

If you are very kind, said he, it will be one of the walls as 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 were glad we danced no longer.

But I would have given worlds, all the worlds one ever 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 Waymouth.

She looked up at him for a moment, colored deeply, and played something else.

He took some music from a chair near the piano forte and turning to Emma, said, Here is something quite new to me.

Do you know it, Kramer?

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 Colonel Campbell, was not it?

He knew Miss Fairfax could have no music here.

I honor that part of the attention particularly.

It shows 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 went 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 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 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'm 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, 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 the moment, his favorite.

Shortly afterwards, Ms.

Bates, passing near the window, described Mr.

Knightley on a horseback not far off.

Mr.

Knightley, I declare I must speak to him if possible, just to thank him.

I will not open the window here.

It would give you all cold, but I can go into my mother's room, you know.

I dare say 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 Mr.

Knightley's attention, and every syllable of their conversation was as distinctly heard by the others as if it had passed within the same apartment.

How do you do?

How do you do?

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 Mr.

Knightley seemed determined to be heard in his turn, 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 Ms.

Fairfax?

I hope she caught no cold last night.

How is she today?

Tell me how Ms.

Fairfax is.

And Ms.

Bates was obliged to give a direct answer before he would hear her in anything else.

The listeners were amused, and Mrs.

Weston gave Emma 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'm going to Kingston.

Can I do anything for you?

Oh, dear.

Kingston, are you?

Mrs.

Cole was saying the other day she wanted something from Kingston.

Mrs.

Cole has 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 Ms.

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 in a deliberating manner.

For five minutes perhaps.

And here is Mrs.

Weston and Mr.

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, your room is full enough.

I will call another day and hear the piano forte.

Well, I am so sorry.

Oh, Mr.

Knightley, what a delightful party last night.

How extremely pleasant.

Did you ever see such dancing?

Was it not delightful, Miss Woodhouse and Mr.

Frank Churchill?

I never saw anything equal to it.

Oh, very delightful indeed.

I can say nothing less for I suppose Mr.

Woodhouse and Mr.

Frank Churchill are hearing everything that passes and raising his voice still more.

I do not see why Ms.

Fairfax should not be mentioned too.

I think Ms.

Fairfax dances very well.

And Mrs.

Weston is the very best country dance player, without exception in England.

Now, if your friends have any gratitude, they will say something pretty loud about you and me in return.

But I cannot stand to hear it.

Oh, Mr.

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 are really so shocked.

Mrs.

Hodges may be well angry.

William Larkins mentioned it here.

You should not have done it.

Indeed you should not.

He is off.

He can never bear to be thanked.

But I thought he would have stayed now.

And it would have been a pity not to have him mentioned.

Well, returning to the room, I have not been able to succeed.

Mr.

Knightley cannot stop.

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 dare say you might, because you know, the door was open and the window was open and Mr.

Knightley spoke loud.

He must have heard everything to be sure.

Can I do anything for you at Kingston?

Said he.

So I just mentioned.

Oh, 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 perceived to be gone that Mrs.

Weston and her companion taking leave also could allow themselves only to walk with the two young ladies to Hartfield gates before they set off for Randalls.

Thank you for joining Bite at a Time books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics, all of the links for our show are in the show notes.

We are part of the Bite At a Time Books Productions network.

If you ever wondered what inspired your favorite classic novelist to write their stories, what was happening in their lives or the world at the time, check out Byte At the Time books behind the Stories Tuesdays wherever you listen to podcasts again.