Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twenty-third 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 Five Small Heart had Harriet for visiting only half an hour before her friend called for her at Mrs.

Goddard's.

Her evil stars had led her to the very spot where at that moment a trunk directed to the Reverend Philip Elton Whiteheart Bath was to be seen under the operation of being lifted into the butcher's cart, which was to convey it to where the coaches passed and everything in this world accepting that trunk and the direction was Consequently a blank.

She went, however, and when they reached the farm and she was to be put down at the end of the broad, neat gravel walk which led between espalier Apple trees to the front door, the sight of everything which had given her so much pleasure the autumn before was beginning to revive a little local agitation, and when they parted Emma observed her to be looking around with a sort of fearful curiosity which determined her not to allow the visit to exceed the proposed quarter of an hour.

She went on herself to give that portion of time to an old servant who was married and settled in dawnwell.

The quarter of an hour brought her punctually to the white gate again, and Miss Smith, receiving her summons, was with her without delay and unattended by any alarming young man.

She came solitarily down the gravel walk, a Miss Martin just appearing at the door and parting with her, seemingly with ceremonious civility.

Harriet could not very soon give an intelligible account.

She was feeling too much, but at last Emma collected from her enough to understand the sort of meeting and the sort of pain it was creating.

She had seen only Mrs.

Martin and the two girls.

They had received her doubtingly if not coolly, and nothing beyond the merest commonplace had been talked almost all the time till just at last, when Mrs.

Martin sang.

All of a sudden that she thought Ms.

Smith was grown had brought on a more interesting subject and a warmer manner in that very room.

She had been measured last September with her two friends.

There were the pencil marks and memorandums on the wainscot by the window.

He had done it.

They all seemed to remember the day, the hour, the party, the occasion to feel the same consciousness, the same regrets, to be ready to return to the same good understanding, and they were just growing again like themselves, Harriet, as Emma must suspect, as ready as the best of them to be cordial and happy when the carriage reappeared and all was over.

The style of the visit and the shortness of it were then felt to be decisive 14 minutes to be given to those with whom she had thankfully passed six weeks, not six months ago.

Emma could not picture at all and feel how justly they might resent, how naturally Harriet must suffer.

It was a bad business.

She would have given a great deal, or endured a great deal to have had the Martens in a higher rank of life.

They were so deserving that a little higher should have been enough.

But as it was, how could she have done otherwise?

Impossible, she could not repent.

They must be separated.

But there was a great deal of pain in the process, so much to herself at this time that she soon felt the necessity of a little consolation, and resolved on going home by way of Randalls to procure it.

Her mind was quite sick of Mr.

Elton and the Martins.

The refreshment of Randall's was absolutely necessary.

It was a good scheme, but on driving to the door they heard that neither master nor mistress was at home.

They had both been out some time.

The man believed they were going to Hartfield.

This is too bad, cried Emma as they turned away.

And now we shall just miss them too, provoking.

I do not know when I have been so disappointed.

And she leaned back in the corner to indulge her murmurs, or to reason them away, probably a little of both, such being the commonest process of a not ill disposed mind.

Presently the carriage stopped.

She looked up.

It was stopped by Mr.

And Mrs.

Weston, who were standing to speak to her.

There was an instant pleasure in the sight of them, and still greater pleasure was conveyed in sound, for Mr.

Weston immediately accosted her with how do you do?

How do you do?

We have been sitting with your father.

Glad to see him so well.

Frank comes tomorrow.

I had a letter this morning.

We see him tomorrow by dinnertime.

To a certainty.

He is at Oxford today, and he comes for a whole fortnight.

I knew it would be so if he had come at Christmas.

He could not have stayed three days.

I was always glad he did not come at Christmas.

Now we are going to have just the right weather for him.

Fine, dry, settled weather.

We shall enjoy him completely.

Everything has turned out exactly as we could wish.

There was no resisting such news, no possibility of avoiding the influence of such a happy face as Mr.

Weston's, confirming, as it all was by the words and accountenance of his wife, fewer and quieter, but not less to the purpose to know that she thought his coming certain was enough to make Emma consider it so, and sincerely did she rejoice in their joy.

It was a most delightful reanimation of exhausted spirits.

The worn out past was sunk in the freshness of what was coming, and in the rapidity of half a moment's thought she hoped Mr.

Elton would now be talked of no more.

Mr.

Weston gave her the history of the engagements at Enscombe, which allowed his son to answer for having an entire fortnight at his command, as well as the route and the method of his journey, and she listened and smiled and congratulated.

I shall soon bring him over to Hartfield, said he at the conclusion.

Emma could imagine she saw a touch of the arm at this speech from his wife.

We had better move on, Mr.

Weston, said she.

We are detaining the girls.

Well, I am ready, and turning again to Emma.

But you must not be expecting such a very fine young man.

You have only had my account, you know.

I daresay he is really nothing extraordinary, though his own sparkling eyes at the moment were speaking of very different conviction, Emma could look perfectly unconscious and innocent and answer in a manner that appropriated nothing.

Think of me tomorrow, my dear Emma.

About 04:00 was Mrs.

Weston's parting injunction, spoken with some anxiety and meant only for her.

04:00 depend upon it.

He will be here by three was Mr.

Weston's quick amendment, and so ended a most satisfactory meeting, and the spirits were mounted quite up to happiness.

Everything wore a different air.

James and his horses seemed not half so sluggish as before.

When she looked at the hedges, she thought the elder at least must soon be coming out, and when she turned round to Harriet, she saw something like a look of spring, a tender smile even there.

Will Mr.

Frank Churchill pass through Bath as well as Oxford?

Was a question, however, which did not Auger much, but neither geography nor tranquillity could come all at once, and Emma was now in a humor to resolve that they should both come in time.

The morning of the interesting day arrived, and Mrs.

Weston's faithful pupil did not forget, either at ten or eleven or 12:00, that she was to think of her at four.

My dear, dear anxious friend, said she, and mental soliloquy while walking downstairs from her own room, always overcareful for everybody's comfort but your own.

I see you now in all your little fidgets, going again and again into this room to be sure that all is right.

The clock struck twelve as she passed through the hall.

Tis twelve.

I shall not forget to think of you 4 hours hence, and by this time tomorrow perhaps, or a little later, I may be thinking of the possibility of all they're calling here.

I am sure they will bring him soon.

She opened the parlor door and saw two gentlemen sitting with her father, Mr.

Weston, and his son.

They had been arrived only a few minutes, and Mr.

Weston had scarcely finished his explanation of Frank's being a day before his time, and her father was yet in the midst of his very civil welcome and Congratulations when she appeared to have her share of surprise, introduction, and pleasure.

The Frank Churchill, so long talked of so high an interest was actually before her.

He was presented to her, and she did not think too much had been said in his praise.

He was a very goodlooking young man, height, air, address.

All were unexceptionable, and his countenance had a great deal of the spirit and liveliness of his father's.

He looked quick and sensible.

She felt immediately that she should like him, and there was a wellbred ease of manner and a readiness to talk, which convinced her that he came intending to be acquainted with her, and that acquainted they soon must be.

He had reached Randall's the evening before.

She was pleased with the eagerness to arrive, which had made him alter his plan and travel earlier, later, and quicker that he might gain half a day.

I told you yesterday, cried Mr.

Weston, with exultation, I told you all that he would be here before the time named.

I remembered what I used to do myself.

One cannot creep upon a journey.

One cannot help getting on faster than one has planned.

And the pleasure of coming in upon one's friends before the lookout begins is worth a great deal more than any little exertion it needs.

It is a great pleasure where one can indulge it, said the young man, though there are not many houses that I should presume on so far, but in coming home I felt I might do anything.

The word home made his father look on him with fresh complacency.

Emma was directly sure that he knew how to make himself agreeable.

The conviction was strengthened by what followed.

He was very much pleased with Randall's, thought it a most admirably arranged house, would hardly allow it even to be very small.

Admired the situation, the walk to Highbury Highbury itself.

Hartfield still more and professed himself to have always felt the sort of interest in the country which none but one's own country gives, and the greatest curiosity to visit it, that he should never have been able to indulge so amiable.

A feeling before passed suspiciously through Emma's brain.

But still, if it were a falsehood, it was a pleasant one, and pleasantly handled.

His manner had no air of study or exaggeration.

He did really look and speak, as if in a state of no common enjoyment.

Their subjects in general were such as belonging to an opening acquaintance.

On his side were the inquiries.

Was she a horsewoman?

Pleasant rides, pleasant walks.

Had they a large neighborhood, Highbury perhaps afforded society enough.

There were several very pretty houses in and about it.

Balls, had they?

Balls?

Was it a musical society?

But when satisfied on all these points, and their acquaintance proportionably advanced, he contrived to find an opportunity.

While their two fathers were engaged with each other, of introducing his motherinlaw, and speaking of her with so much handsome praise, so much warm admiration, so much gratitude for the happiness she secured to his father, and her very kind reception of himself was an additional proof of his knowing how to please, and of his certainly thinking it worthwhile to try to please her.

He did not advance a word of praise beyond what she knew to be thoroughly deserved by Mrs.

Weston.

But undoubtedly he could know very little of the matter.

He understood what would be welcome.

He could be sure of little else.

His father's marriage, he said, had been the wisest measure.

Every friend must rejoice in it, and the family from whom he had received such a blessing must be ever considered as having conferred the highest obligation on him.

He got as near as he could to thanking her for Ms.

Taylor's merits, without seeming quite to forget that in the common course of things it was to be rather supposed that Ms.

Taylor had formed Ms.

Woodhouse's character.

Then Ms.

Woodhouse, Ms.

Taylor's.

And at last, as if resolved to qualify his opinion completely for traveling round to its object, he wound it all up with astonishment at the youth and beauty of her person elegant, agreeable manners.

I was prepared for, said he, but I confess that considering everything, I had not expected more than a very tolerably welllooking woman of a certain age.

I did not know that I was to find a pretty young woman in Mrs.

Weston.

You cannot see too much perfection in Mrs.

Weston for my feelings, said Emma.

Were you to guess her to be 18, I should listen with pleasure, but she would be ready to quarrel with you for using such words.

Don't let her imagine that you have spoken of her as a pretty young woman.

I hope I should know better, he replied.

No, depend upon it with a galliant bow that in addressing Mrs.

Westin, I should understand whom I praised without any danger of being thought extravagant in my terms.

Emma wondered whether the same suspicion of what might be expected from their knowing each other, which had taken strong possession of her mind, had ever crossed his, and whether his compliments were to be considered as marks of acquiescence or proofs of defiance, she must see more of him to understand his ways.

At present she only felt they were agreeable.

She had no doubt of what Mr.

Weston was often thinking about.

His quick eye she detected again and again glancing towards them with a happy expression, and even when he might have determined not to look, she was confident that he was often listening.

Her own father's perfect exemption from any thought of the kind.

The entire deficiency in him of all such sort of penetration or suspicion, was a most comfortable circumstance.

Happily, he was not farther from approving matrimony than from foreseeing it.

Though always objecting to every marriage that was arranged, he never suffered beforehand from the apprehension of any.

It seemed as if he could not think so ill of any two persons understanding as to suppose that they meant to marry till it were proved against them.

She blessed the favoring blindness he could now, without the drawback of a single unpleasant surmise, without a glance forward at any possible treachery in his guest, give way to all his natural kindhearted, civility and solicitous inquiries after Mr.

Frank Churchill's accommodation on his journey through the sad evils of sleeping two nights on the road, and expressed very genuine, unmixed anxiety to know that he had certainly escaped catching cold which, however, he could not allow him to feel quite assured of himself till after another night a reasonable visit paid.

Mr.

Weston began to move.

He must be going.

He had business at the Crown about his hay, and a great many errands for Mrs.

Weston at Ford's, but he need not hurry anybody else.

His son, too well bred to hear the hint, rose immediately, also saying, as you are going farther on business, Sir, I will take the opportunity of paying a visit which must be paid some day or other, and therefore may as well be paid.

Now I have the honor of being acquainted with a neighbor of yours, turning to Emma, a lady residing in or near Highbury, a family of the name of Fairfax.

I shall have no difficulty, I suppose, in finding the house, though Fairfax, I believe, is not the proper name.

I should rather say Barnes or Bates.

Do you know any family of that name?

To be sure we do, cried his father.

Mrs.

Bates.

We passed her house.

I saw Miss Bates at the window.

True, true.

You are acquainted with Miss Fairfax.

I remember you knew her at Waymouth, and a fine girl.

She is call upon her by all means.

There is no necessity for my calling this morning, said the young man.

Another day would do as well.

But there was that degree of acquaintance at Waymouth, which, oh, go today, go today.

Do not defer it.

What is right to be done cannot be done too soon.

And Besides, I must give you a hint, Frank.

Any want of attention to her here should be carefully avoided.

You saw her with the Campbells when she was equal of everybody she mixed with.

But here she is with the poor old grandmother who was barely enough to live on.

If you do not call early, it will be a flight.

The sun looked convinced.

I have heard her speak of the acquaintance, said Emma.

She is a very elegant young woman.

He agreed to it, but with so quiet a yes, I've inclined her almost to doubt his real concurrence.

And yet there must be a very distinct sort of elegance for the fashionable world.

If Jane Fairfax could be thought only ordinarily gifted with it.

If you were never particularly struck by her manners before, said she, I think you will today.

You will see her to advantage.

See her and hear her.

No, I am afraid you will not hear her at all for she has an aunt who never holds her tongue.

You are acquainted with Miss Jane Fairfax, Sir?

Are you?

Said Mr.

Woodhouse always the last to make his way in conversation.

Then give me leave to assure you that you will find her a very agreeable young lady.

She is staying here on a visit to her Grandmama and aunt.

Very worthy people.

I've known them all my life.

They will be extremely glad to see you, I am sure.

And one of my servants shall go with you to show you the way.

My dear sir.

Upon no account in the world my father can direct me.

But your father is not going so far.

He's only going to the Crown quite on the other side of the street.

And there are great many houses.

You might be very much at a loss.

And it is a very dirty walk unless you keep on the footpath.

But my Coachman can tell you where you had best cross the street.

Mr.

Frank Churchill still declined it looking as serious as he could.

And his father gave his hearty support by calling out my good friend.

This is quite unnecessary.

Frank knows a puddle of water when he sees it.

And as to Mrs.

Bates, he may get there from the Crown in a hop, step and jump.

They were permitted to go alone.

And with a cordial nod from one and a graceful bow from the other, the two gentlemen took leave.

Emma remained very well pleased with this beginning of the acquaintance and could now engage to think of them all at Randall's any hour of the day with full confidence in their comfort.

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 Bite at A Time Books Behind the Story Tuesdays.

Wherever you listen to podcasts again.

My name is Brie Carlyle and I hope you come back tomorrow.