Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twenty-first 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 Three Emma could not forgive her, but as neither provocation nor resentment were discerned by Mr.

Knightley, who had been at the party and had seen only proper attention and pleasing behavior on each side, he was expressing the next morning, being at Hartfield again on business with Mr.

Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole not so openly as he might have done had her father been out of the room, but speaking plain enough to be very intelligible to Emma, he had been used to think her unjust to Jane, and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement.

A very pleasant evening, he began as soon as Mr.

Woodhouse had been talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers swept away particularly pleasant.

You and Miss Fairfax gave us some very good music, I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting at one's ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women, sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation.

I am sure Miss Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant.

Emma, you left nothing undone.

I was glad you made her play.

So much for having no instrument at her grandmother's.

It must have been a real indulgence.

I'm happy you approved, said Emma, smiling.

But I hope I am not often deficient in what it is due to guests at Hartfield.

Oh, my dear, said her father instantly, that I am sure you are not.

There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are.

If anything, you are too attentive the muffin last night.

If it had been handed around once, I think it would have been enough.

No, said Mr.

Knightley nearly at the same time.

You are not often deficient.

Not often deficient, either in manner or comprehension.

I think you understand me.

Therefore an arch look expressed.

I understand you well enough.

But, she said only Miss Fairfax is reserved.

I always told you she was a little, but you would soon overcome all that part of her reserve which ought to be overcome.

All that has its foundation and dividends, and what arises from discretion must be honored.

You think her dissident?

I do not see it, my dear Emma, said he, moving from his chair into one close by her.

You are not going to tell me, I hope, that you had not a pleasant evening?

Oh, no.

I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions, and amused to think how little information I obtained.

I am disappointed, was his only answer.

I hope everybody had a pleasant evening, said Mr.

Woodhouse in his quiet way.

I had once I felt the fire rather too much, but then I moved back my chair a little, very little, and it did not disturb me.

Ms.

Bates was very chatty and good humored, as she she always is, though she speaks rather too quick.

However, she is very agreeable, and Mrs.

Bates, too, in a different way.

I like old friends, and Miss Jane Fairfax is a very pretty sort of young lady.

A very pretty and very wellbehaved young lady indeed.

She must have found the evening agreeable, Mr.

Knightley, because she had Emma, true sir, and Emma because she had Ms.

Fairfax.

Emma saw his anxiety and wishing to appease it, at least for the present, said and with a sincerity which no one could question, she is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep one's eye from.

I am always watching her to admire, and I do pity her from my heart.

Mr.

Knightley looked as if he were more gratified than he cared to express, and before he could make any reply, Mr.

Woodhouse, whose thoughts were on the bait, said, It is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined.

A great pity indeed, and I have often wished that it is so little one can venture to do small trifling presence of anything uncommon.

Now we have killed a Porker, and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg, and it is very small and delicate.

Hardfilled pork is not like any other pork, but still it is pork.

And my dear Emma, unless one could be sure of their making it into steaks, nicely fried, as ours is fried without the smallest grease and not roast it for no stomach can bear roast pork.

I think we had better send the leg.

Do you not think so, my dear?

My dear Papa, I sent the whole Hind quarter.

I knew you would wish it.

There will be the leg to be salted, you know, which is so very nice, and the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like.

That's right, my dear.

Very right.

I had not thought of it before, but that is the best way.

They must not oversalt the leg, and then if it is not oversalted, and if it is very thoroughly boiled, just as Searle, boils ours, and eaten very moderately of with a boiled turnip and a little carrot or parsnip.

I do not consider it unwholesome.

Emma, said Mr.

Knightley, presently I have a piece of news for you.

You like news?

And I heard an article in my way hither that I think will interest you.

News?

Oh, yes, I always like news.

What is it?

Why do you smile?

So where did you hear it?

At Randall's.

He had time only to say, no, not at Randall's.

I have not been near Randall's when the door was thrown open and Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax walked into the room full of thanks and full of news Miss Bates knew not which to give quickest.

Mr.

Knightley soon saw that he had lost his moment, and that not another syllable of communication could rest with him.

Oh, my dear sir, how are you this morning?

My dear Miss Woodhouse, I come quite overpowered such a beautiful Hind quarter of pork.

You are too bountiful.

Have you heard the news?

Mr.

Elton is going to be married.

Emma had not had time even to think of Mr.

Elton, and she was so completely surprised that she could not afford a little start and a little blush at the sound.

There is my news.

I thought it would interest you, said Mr.

Knightley with a smile which implied a conviction of some part of what had passed between them.

But where could you hear it?

Cried Miss Bates.

Where could you possibly hear it, Mr.

Knightley?

For it is not five minutes since I received Mrs.

Cole's note.

No, it cannot be more than five, or at least ten, for I had got my bonnet and Spencer on just ready to come out.

I was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork.

Jane was standing in the passage.

Were you not, Jane?

For my mother was so afraid that we had not any salting pan large enough, so I thought I would go down and see.

And Jane said, Shall I go down instead?

For I think you have a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.

Oh my dear, said I.

Well.

And just then came the note.

A Ms.

Hawkins, that's all I know.

A Ms.

Hawkins of Bath.

But Mr.

Knightley, how could you possibly have heard it?

For the very moment Mr.

Cole told Mrs.

Cole of it, she sat down and wrote to me.

A Ms.

Hawkins.

I was with Mr.

Cole on business an hour and a half ago.

He had just read Elton's letter, as I was shown in, and handed it to me directly.

Well, that is quite.

I suppose there never was a piece of news more generally interesting.

My dear sir, you really are too bountiful.

My mother desires her very best compliments and regards and a thousand thanks, and says you really quite oppress her.

We consider it our heartfelt pork, replied Mr.

Woodhouse.

Indeed, it certainly is so very superior to all other pork that Emma and I cannot have a greater pleasure then.

Oh, my dear sir, as my mother says, our friends are only too good to us.

If ever there were people who, without having great wealth themselves, had everything they could wish for, I am sure it is us.

We may well say that our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.

Well, Mr.

Knightley.

And so you actually saw the letter?

Well, it was short merely to announce, but cheerful exulting, of course.

Here was a sly glance at Emma.

He had been so fortunate as to, I forget the precise words, one has no business to remember them.

The information was, as you state, that he was going to be married to a Miss Hawkins.

By his style, I should imagine it just settled.

Mr.

Elton going to be married, said Emma as soon as she could speak.

He will have everybody's wishes for his happiness.

He is very young to settle with Mr.

Woodhouse's observation.

He had better not be in a hurry.

He seemed to me very welloff as he was.

We were always glad to see him at Hartfield.

A new neighbor for us all, Miss Woodhouse, said Ms.

Bates joyfully.

My mother is so pleased.

She says she cannot bear to have the poor old vikerage without a mistress.

This is great news indeed, Jane.

You've never seen Mr.

Elton.

No wonder that you have such a curiosity to see him.

Jane's curiosity did not appear of that absorbing nature as wholly to occupy her.

No, I have never seen Mr.

Alton, she replied, starting on this appeal.

Is he a tall man?

Who shall answer that question, cried Emma.

My father would say yes, Mr.

Knightley, no, and Ms.

Bates and I that he is just a happy medium.

When you have been here a little longer, Ms.

Fairfax, you will understand that Mr.

Elton is the standard of perfection in Highbury, both in person and mind.

Very true, Miss Woodhouse.

So she will.

He is the very best young man.

But my dear Jane, if you remember, I told you yesterday he was precisely the height of Mr.

Perry.

Ms.

Hawkins, I dare say, an excellent young woman.

His extreme attention to my mother, wanting her to sit in the Vike Ridge Pew, that she might hear the better.

For my mother is a little deaf, you know.

It is not much, but she does not hear quite quick.

Jane says that Colonel Campbell is a little deaf.

He fancied bathing might be good for it, the warm bath, but she says it did him no lasting benefit.

Colonel Campbell, you know, is quite our angel, and Mr.

Dixon seems a very charming young man, quite worthy of him.

It is such a happiness when good people get together, and they always do.

Now here will be Mr.

Elton and Ms.

Hawkins, and there are the Coles, such very good people, and the Perrys.

I suppose there never was a happier or better couple than Mr.

And Mrs.

Perry.

I say, sir, turning to Mr.

Woodhouse, I think there are a few places with such society as Highbury.

I always say we are quite blessed in our neighbors.

My dear sir, if there is one thing my mother loves better than another, it is pork, a roast loin of pork.

As to who or what Ms.

Hawkins is, or how long he has been acquainted with her, said Emma, nothing, I suppose, can be known.

One feels that it cannot be a very long acquaintance.

He has been gone only four weeks.

Nobody had any information to give, and after a few more wonderings.

Emma said, you are silent, Ms.

Fairfax, but I hope you mean to take an interest in this news.

You, who have been hearing and seeing so much of late on these subjects, who must have been so deep in the business on Ms.

Campbell's account.

We shall not excuse you being indifferent about Mr.

Elton and Ms.

Hawkins.

When I have seen Mr.

Elton, replied Jane, I dare say I shall be interested, but I believe it requires that with me.

And as it is some months since Ms.

Campbell married, the impression may be a little worn off.

Yes, he has been gone just four weeks, as you observe, Miss Woodhouse, said Miss Bates.

Four weeks?

Yesterday, a Ms.

Hawkins.

Well, I had always rather fancied it would be some young lady hereabouts.

Not that I ever Mrs.

Cole once whispered to me, but I immediately said no, Mr.

Elton is a most worthy young man.

But in short, I do not think I am particularly quick at those sort of discoveries.

I do not pretend to.

It what is before me.

I see.

At the same time, nobody could wonder if Mr.

Elton should have.

Aspired Miss Woodhouse lets me chatter on so good humoredly she knows I would not offend for the world.

How does Miss Smith do?

She seems quite recovered now.

Have you heard from Mrs.

John Knightley lately?

Oh, those dear little children.

Jane, do you know I always fancy Mr.

Dixon like Mr.

John Knightley.

I mean in person.

Tall and with that sort of look and not very talkative.

Quite wrong.

My dear aunt, there is no likeness at all.

Very odd, but one never does form a just idea of anybody beforehand.

One takes up a notion and runs away with it.

Mr.

Dixon, you say, is not strictly speaking, handsome.

Handsome?

No, far from it.

Certainly plain.

I told you he was plain.

My dear.

You said that Miss Campbell would not allow him to be plain and that you yourself.

As for me, my judgment is worth nothing where I have a regard.

I always think a person well looking, but I gave what I believed the general opinion when I called him plain.

Well, my dear Jane, I believe we must be running away.

The weather does not look well, and Grandma will be uneasy.

You are too obliging, my dear Miss Woodhouse, but we really must take leave.

This has been a most agreeable piece of news.

Indeed.

I shall just go round by Mrs.

Coles, but I shall not stop three minutes and Jane, you had better go home directly.

I would not have you out in a shower.

We think she is the better for Highbury already.

Thank you.

We do indeed.

I shall not attempt calling on Mrs.

Goddard, for I really do not think she cares for anything but boiled pork.

When we dress the leg, it will be another thing.

Good morning to you, my dear sir.

Oh, Mr.

Knightley is coming too.

Well, that is so very.

I am sure if Jane is tired, you will be so kind as to give her your arm.

Mr.

Elton and Ms.

Hawkins, good morning to you.

Emma, alone with her father, had half her attention wanted by him, while he lamented that young people would be in such a hurry to marry, and to marry strangers, too, and the other half she could give to her own view of the subject.

It was to herself an amusing and a very welcome piece of news, as proving that Mr.

Elton could not have suffered long.

But she was sorry for Harriet.

Harriet must feel it, and all that she could hope was by giving the first information herself to save her from hearing it abruptly from others.

It was now about the time that she was likely to call if she were to meet Ms.

Bates in her way, and upon its beginning to rain, Emma was obliged to expect that the weather would be detaining her at Mrs.

Goddard's, and that the intelligence would undoubtedly rush upon her without preparation.

The shower was heavy but short, and it had not been over five minutes when in came Harriet, with just a heated, agitated look, which hurrying thither with a full heart, was likely to give, and the Omnis Woodhouse, what do you think has happened?

Which instantly burst forth, had all the evidence of corresponding perturbation as the blow was given.

Emma felt that she could not now show greater kindness than in listening, and Harriet unchecked ran eagerly through what she had to tell.

She had set out for Mrs.

Goddards half an hour ago.

She had been afraid it would rain.

She had been afraid it would pour down every moment, but she thought she might get to Hartfield.

First she had hurried on as fast as possible, but then, as she was passing by the house where a young woman was making up a gown for her, she thought she would just step in and see how it went on, and though she did not seem to stay half a moment there, soon after she came out it began to rain, and she did not know what to do, so she ran on directly as fast as she could, and took shelter at Ford's.

Ford's was the principal Woolland Draper, linen Draper, and Haberdasher's shop United the shop first in size and fashion in the place, and so there she had set without an idea of anything in the world full ten minutes, perhaps, when all of a sudden who should come in to be sure?

It was so very odd, but they always dealt at Fords.

Who should come in but Elizabeth Martin and her brother.

Dear Miss Woodhouse, only think I thought I should have fainted.

I did not know what to do.

I was sitting near the door.

Elizabeth saw me directly, but he did not.

He was busy with the umbrella.

I am sure she saw me, but she looked away directly and took no notice.

And they both went to quite the further end of the shop.

And I kept sitting near the door.

Oh, dear, I was so miserable.

I'm sure I must have been as wide as my gown.

I could not go away, you know, because of the rain.

But I did so wish myself anywhere in the world but there.

Oh, dear Miss Woodhouse.

Well, at last, I fancy he looked around and saw me.

For instead of going on with her buying, they began whispering to one another.

I'm sure they were talking of me, and I could not help thinking that he was persuading her to speak to me.

Do you think he was, Miss Woodhouse?

For presently she came forward, came quite up to me and asked me how I did, and seemed ready to shake hands if I would.

She did not do any of it in the same way that she used.

And I could see that she was altered.

But, however, she seemed to try to be friendly, and we shook hands and stood talking some time.

But I know no more what I said.

I was in such a tremble.

I remember she said she was sorry we never met now, which I thought almost too kind.

Dear Miss Woodhouse, I was absolutely miserable by that time.

It was beginning to hold up, and I was determined that nothing should stop me from getting away.

And then only think I found he was coming up towards me too slowly, you know, as if he did not quite know what to do.

And so he came and spoke, and I answered, and I stood for a minute feeling dreadfully, you know, one can't tell how.

And then I took courage and said it did not rain, and I must go.

And so off I sat.

And I had not got three yards from the door when he came after me, only to say, if I was going to Hartfield, he thought it much better I go round by Mr.

Cole stables, for I should find the nearby quite floated by this rain.

Oh, dear.

I thought it would have been the death of me.

So I said I was very much obliged to him, you know, I could not do less.

And then he went back to Elizabeth, and I came round by the stables.

I believe I did, but I hardly knew where I was or anything about it.

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, I would rather do anything than have it happen.

And yet, you know, there was a sort of satisfaction in seeing him behave so pleasantly and kindly.

And Elizabeth too.

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, do talk to me and make me comfortable again.

Very sincerely did Emma wish to do so.

But it was not immediately in her power she was obliged to stop and think she was not thoroughly comfortable herself.

The young man's conduct and her sisters seemed the result of real feeling, and she could not but pity them.

As Harriet described it, there had been an interesting mixture of wounded affection and genuine delicacy in their behavior, but she had believed them to be wellmeaning, worthy people before.

And what difference did this make in the evils of the connection?

It was folly to be disturbed by it, of course.

He must be sorry to lose her.

They must all be sorry.

Ambition as well as love had probably been mortified.

They might all have hoped to rise by Harriet's acquaintance, and Besides, what was the value of Harriet's description so easily pleased, so little discerning?

What signified her praise?

She inserted herself, and did try to make her comfortable by considering all that had passed as a mere trifle, and quite unworthy of being dwelt on.

It might be distressing for the moment, said she, but you seem to have behaved extremely well, and it is over, and may never can never, as a first meeting occur again, and therefore you need not think about it, Harriet said.

Very true, and she would not think about it.

But she talked of it still.

She could talk of nothing else, and Emma, at last, in order to put the Martins out of her head, was obliged to hurry on the news, which she admitted to give with so much tender caution, hardly knowing herself whether to rejoice or be angry, ashamed, or only amused at such a state of mind in poor Harriet, such a conclusion of Mr.

Elton's importance with her.

Mr.

Elton's rights, however, gradually revived, though she did not feel the first intelligence, as she might have done the day before, or an hour before, its interest soon increased, and before their first conversation was over, she had talked herself into all the sensations of curiosity, wonder, and regret, pain and pleasure.

As to this fortunate Miss Hawkins, which could conduce to place the Martins under proper subordination in her fancy, Emma learned to be rather glad that there had been such a meeting.

It had been serviceable in deadening the first shock without retaining any influence to alarm.

As Harriet now lived, the Martins could not get at her without seeking her where hitherto they had wanted either the courage or the condescension to seek her, for since her refusal of the brother, the sisters never had been at Mrs.

Goddards, and a twelve month might pass without there being thrown together again with any necessity or even any power of speech.

Thank you for joining Byte At A Time Books today while reread a bite of one of your favorite classics.

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My name is Brie, Carlyle.