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

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Welcome to Bite at a Time Books, where we read you 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 Twelve Till now that she was threatened with its loss, Emma had never known how much of her happiness depended on being first with Mr.

Knightley, first in interest and affection.

Satisfied that it was so and feeling it was her due, she had enjoyed.

It without reflection and only in the.

Dread of being supplanted found how inexpressibly important it had been.

Long, very long.

She felt she had been first for having no female connections of his own.

There had been only Isabella, whose claims.

Could be compared with hers, and she.

Had always known exactly how far he.

Loved and esteemed Isabella.

She had herself been first with him.

For many years past.

She had not deserved it.

She had often been negligent or perverse, sliding his advice or even willfully opposing.

Him insensible of half his merits and.

Quarreling with him because he would not acknowledge her false and insolent estimate of her own.

But still from family attachment and habit.

And thorough excellence of mind, he had loved her and watched over her from.

A girl with an endeavor to improve her and an anxiety for her doing.

Right which no other creature had at all shared.

In spite of all her faults, she knew she was dear to him.

Might she not say very dear when.

The suggestions of hope, however, which must follow here presented themselves?

She could not presume to indulge them.

Harriet Smith might think herself not unworthy of being peculiarly exclusively passionately loved by Mr.

Knightley.

She could not.

She could not flatter herself with any.

Idea of blindness and his attachment to her.

She had received a very recent proof of its impartiality.

How shocked had he been by her.

Behavior to Miss Bates, how directly how.

Strongly he had expressed himself to her on the subject, not too strongly for the offense, but far, far too strongly to issue from any feeling softer than upright justice and clear sighted goodwill.

She had no hope, nothing to deserve.

The name of hope that he could have that sort of affection for herself which was now in question.

But there was a hope, at times a slight one, at times much stronger.

That Harriet might have deceived herself and be overrating his regard for her wish.

That she must, for his sake be.

The consequence, nothing to herself but his remaining single all his life.

Could she be secure if that indeed.

Of his never marrying at all?

She believed she should be perfectly satisfied.

Let him but continue the same Mr.

Knightley to her and her father, the same Mr.

Knightley to all the world.

Let done well and Hartfield lose none of their precious intercourse of friendship and.

Confidence, and her peace would be fully secured.

Marriage, in fact, would not do for her.

It would be incompatible with what she owed to her father, and with what.

She felt for him.

Nothing should separate her from her father.

She would not marry even if she were asked by Mr.

Knightley.

It must be her ardent wish that.

Harriet might be disappointed, and she hoped.

That when able to see them together again, she might at least be able to ascertain what the chances for it were.

She should see them henceforward with the.

Closest observance and wretchedly as she had hitherto misunderstood.

Even though she was watching, she did.

Not know how to admit that she could be blinded.

Here he was expected back every day.

The power of observation would be soon.

Given frightfully soon, it appeared, when her thoughts were in one course.

In the Meanwhile she resolved against seeing Harriet.

It would do neither of them good.

It would do the subject no good.

To be talking of it further.

She was resolved not to be convinced.

As long as she could doubt, and yet had no authority for opposing Harriet's confidence.

To talk would be only to irritate.

She wrote to her, therefore kindly but.

Decisively, to beg that she would not.

At present come to Hartfield, acknowledging it.

To be her conviction that all farther, confidential discussion of one topic had to.

Be avoided, and hoping that if a.

Few days were allowed to pass before.

They met again, except in the company.

Of others, she objected only to a Tete, a Tete that might be able to act as if they had forgotten the conversation of yesterday.

Harriet submitted and approved, and was grateful.

The point was just arranged when a.

Visitor arrived to tear Emma's thoughts a.

Little from the one subject which had engrossed them.

Sleeping or waking the last 24 hours.

Mrs.

Weston, who had been calling on.

Her daughterinlaw elect and took Hartfield on.

Her way home, almost as much in.

Duty to Emma as in pleasure to herself to relate all the particulars of so interesting an interview.

Mr.

Weston had accompanied her to Mrs.

Bates and gone through his share of.

This essential attention most handsomely, but she.

Having been induced Ms.

Fairfax to join.

Her in an airing, was now returned.

With much more to say, and much.

More to say with satisfaction than a.

Quarter of an hour spent in Mrs.

Bates parlor, with all the encumbrance of.

Awkward feelings, could have afforded a little curiosity.

Emma had, and she made the most of it.

While her friend related, Mrs.

Weston had.

Set off to pay the visit in a good deal of agitation herself, and in the first place had wished not.

To go at all at present, to.

Be allowed merely to write to Ms.

Fairfax instead, and to defer the ceremonious call to a little time had passed, and Mr.

Churchill could be reconciled to.

The engagements becoming known as considering everything, she thought, such a visit could not.

Be paid without leading to reports.

But Mr.

Weston had thought differently.

He was extremely anxious to show his.

Approbation to Ms.

Fairfax and her family.

And did not conceive that any suspicion could be excited by it, or, if it were, that it would be of any consequence.

For such things, he observed, always got about Emma smiled, and felt that Mr.

Weston had very good reason for saying so.

They had gone in short and very great, had been the evident distress and confusion of the lady.

She had hardly been able to speak.

A word, and every look and action had shown how deeply she was suffering from consciousness.

The quiet, heartfelt satisfaction of the old.

Lady and the rapturous delight of her daughter, who proved even too joyous to.

Talk as usual, had been a gratifying.

Yet almost an affecting scene.

They were both so truly respectable in.

Their happiness, so disinterested in every sensation.

Not so much of Jane, so much.

Of everybody, and so little of themselves.

That every kindly feeling was at work for them.

Ms.

Fairfax's recent illness had offered a.

Fair plea for Mrs.

Weston to invite her to an airing.

She had drawn back and declined at.

First, but on being pressed had yielded.

And in the course of their drive.

Mrs.

Weston had by gentle encouragement overcome so much of her embarrassment as to.

Bring her to converse on the important subject, apologies for her seemingly ungracious silence.

In their first reception, and the warmest expressions of the gratitude she was always feeling towards herself and Mr.

Westin must necessarily open the cause.

But when these effusions were put by.

They had talked a good deal of the present and of the future state of the engagement.

Mrs.

Weston was convinced that such conversation must be the greatest relief to her.

Companion, pent up within her own mind.

As everything had so long been, and.

Was very much pleased with all that.

She had said on the subject.

On the mystery of what she had suffered during the concealment of so many.

Months, continued Mrs.

Weston.

She was energetic.

This was one of her expressions.

I will not say that since I entered into this engagement I have not.

Had some happy moments, but I can.

Say that I have never known the.

Blessing of one tranquil hour, and the quivering lip Emma which uttered it, was.

An attestation that I felt at my heart.

Poor girl, said Emma.

She thinks herself wrong, then, for having consented to a private engagement.

Wrong.

No one, I believe, can blame her more than she is disposed to blame herself.

The consequence, said she has been a.

State of perpetual suffering to me, and so it ought.

But after all the punishment that misconduct.

Can bring, it is still not less misconduct.

Pain is no expatiation.

I never can be blameless.

I have been acting contrary to all my sense of right and the fortunate.

Turn that everything has taken, and the.

Kindness I am now receiving is what.

My conscience tells me ought not to be.

Do not imagine, Madam, she continued, that.

I was taught wrong.

Do not let any reflection fall on the principles or the care of the.

Friends who brought me up.

The error has been on my own.

And I do assure you, with all the excuse that present circumstances may appear to give, I shall yet dread making the story known to Colonel Campbell.

Poor girl, said Emma again.

She loves him then excessively.

I suppose it must have been from attachment only that she could be led to form the engagement.

Her affection must have overpowered her judgment.

Yes, I have no doubt of her.

Being extremely attached to him.

I am afraid, returned Emma, sighing, that.

I must often have contributed to make her unhappy.

On your side, my love.

It was very innocently done, but she probably had something of that in her thoughts when alluding to the misunderstandings which had given us hints of before.

One natural consequence of the evil she.

Had involved herself in, she said, was.

That of making her unreasonable.

The consciousness of having done amiss had.

Exposed her to a thousand inquietudes and made her capacious and irritable to a.

Degree that must have been that had.

Been hard for him to bear.

I did not make the allowances, said she, which I ought to have done for his temper and spirits, his delightful spirits, and that Gaiety, that playfulness of disposition which under any other circumstances would, I am sure, have been as constantly bewitching to me as they were at first.

She then began to speak of you.

And of the great kindness you had.

Shown her during her illness, and with.

A blush which showed me how it was all connected desired me whenever I had an opportunity to thank you.

I could not thank you too much.

For every wish and every endeavor to do her good.

She was sensible that she had never received any proper acknowledgement from herself.

If I did not know her to be happy.

Now, said Emma seriously, which, in spite.

Of every little drawback from her scrupulous.

Conscience, she must be, I could not bear these thanks for.

Oh, Mrs.

Weston, if there were an.

Account drawn up of the evil and the good, I have done Ms.

Fairfax.

Well, checking herself and trying to be more lively.

This is all to be forgotten.

You are very kind to bring me these interesting particulars.

They show her to the greatest advantage.

I am sure she is very good.

I hope she will be very happy.

It is fit that the fortune should be on his side, for I think the merit will be all hers.

Such a conclusion could not pass unanswered by Mrs.

Weston.

She thought well of Frank in almost every respect.

And what was more, she loved him.

Very much, and her defense was therefore earnest.

She talked with a great deal of.

Reason and at least equal affection, but she had too much to urge for Emma's attention.

It was soon gone to Brunswick Square or to Donwell.

She forgot to attempt to listen, and.

When Mrs.

Weston ended with we have.

Not yet had the letter we are so anxious for, you know, but I hope it will come soon.

She was obliged to pause before she.

Answered, and at last obliged to answer at random, before she could at all recollect what letter it was which they were so anxious for.

Are you well, my Emma?

Was Mrs.

Weston's parting question?

Oh, perfectly.

I'm always well, you know, be sure to give the intelligence of the letter as soon as possible.

Mrs.

Weston's communications furnished Emma with more.

Food for unpleasant reflection.

By increasing her esteem and compassion and her sense of past injustice towards Miss Fairfax.

She bitterly regretted not having sought a.

Closer acquaintance with her, and blushed for the envious feelings which had certainly been in some measure the cause.

Had she followed Mr.

Knightley's known wishes.

And paying that attention to Miss Fairfax, which was every way her due?

Had she tried to know her better?

Had she done her part towards intimacy?

Had she endeavored to find a friend.

There instead of in Harriet Smith?

She must in all probability have been spared from every pain which pressed on her now.

Birth, abilities, and education had been equally marking, one as an associate for her.

To be received with gratitude, and the.

Other what was she supposing even, that.

They had never become intimate friends?

That she had never been admitted into Ms.

Fairfax's confidence on this important matter.

Which was most probable?

Still, in knowing her as she ought.

And as she might, she must have been preserved from the abominable suspicions of an improper attachment to Mr.

Dixon, which.

She had not only so foolishly fashioned.

And harbored herself, but had so unpardonably imparted an idea which she greatly feared had been made a subject of material distress to the delicacy of Jane's feelings by the levity of carelessness, of Frank Churchill's, of all the sources of evil.

Surrounding the former since her coming to.

Highbury, she was persuaded that she must herself have been the worst.

She must have been a perpetual enemy.

They never could have been all three.

Together without her having stabbed Jane Fairfax's peace in a thousand instances.

And on Box Hill perhaps it had been the agony of a mind that would bear no more.

The evening of this day was very long and melancholy.

At Hartfield the weather added what it could of gloom.

A cold, stormy rain set in, and.

Nothing of July appeared but in the.

Trees and shrubs which the wind was.

Despoiling, and the length of the day which only made such cruel sights the longer visible.

The weather affected Mr.

Woodhouse, and he.

Could only be kept tolerably comfortable by.

Almost ceaseless attention on his daughter's side.

And by exertions which had never cost.

Her half so much before.

It reminded her of their first forlorn Tete a Tete on the evening of.

Mrs.

Weston's wedding day.

Mr.

Knightley had walked in then soon.

After tea, and dissipated every melancholy fancy.

Alas, such delightful proofs of Hartfield's attraction.

As those sort of visits conveyed might shortly be over.

The picture which she had been drawn.

Of the privations of the approaching winter had proved erroneous.

No friends had deserted them, no pleasures.

Had been lost, but her present forebodings, she feared, would experience no similar contradiction.

The prospect before her now was threatening.

To a degree that could not be.

Entirely dispelled, that might not be even partially brightened.

If all took place that might take.

Place among her circle of friends, Hartfield.

Must be comparatively deserted, and she left to cheer her father with the spirits.

Only of ruined happiness.

The child to be born at Randalls.

Must be a tie there even dearer.

Than herself, and Mrs.

Weston's heart and.

Time would be occupied by it.

They should lose her, and probably in.

Great measure her husband, also Frank Churchill.

Would return among them no more, and Ms.

Fairfax, it was reasonable to suppose.

Would soon cease to belong to Highbury.

They would be married and settled either.

At or near enscombe.

All that were good would be withdrawn.

And if to these losses the loss.

Of Don well were to be added, what would remain a cheerful or of rational society within their reach?

Mr.

Knightley to be no longer coming.

There for his evening comfort, no longer walking in at all hours, as if ever willing to change his own home for theirs?

How was it to be endured?

And if he were to be lost to them for Harriet's sake, if he.

Were to be thought of hereafter as.

Finding in Harriet society all that he.

Wanted, if Harriet were to be the.

Chosen, the first, the dearest, the friend, the wife to whom he looked for all the best blessings of existence, what could be increasing Emma's wretchedness, but the.

Reflection never far distant from her mind.

That it had been all her own work when it came to such a.

Pitch as this, she was not able.

To refrain from a start or a.

Heavy sigh, or even from walking about.

The room for a few seconds, and.

The only source, whence anything like consolation.

Or composure could be drawn was in.

This resolution of her own better conduct.

And the hope that, however inferior in.

Spirit and Gaiety might be the following and every future winter of her life.

To the past, it would yet find.

Her more rational, more acquainted with herself.

And leave her less to regret when it were gone.

Thank you for joining Bite at a Time books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.

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At the time, check out Byte At.

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