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Emma - Volume 2 - Chapter 12
Episode 3024th May 2022 • Bite at a Time Books • Bree Carlile
00:00:00 00:15:56

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Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the thirtieth chapter of Emma by Jane Austen

Come with us as we release one bite a day of one of your favorite classic novels, plays & short stories. Bree reads these classics like she reads to her daughter, one chapter a day. If you love books or audiobooks and want something to listen to as you're getting ready, driving to work, or as you're getting ready for bed, check out Bite at a Time Books!

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Transcripts

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Welcome to Byte At a Time Books.

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Where we read your favorite classics one.

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Bite at a time.

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My name is Brie Carlyle, and I.

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Love to read and wanted to share.

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My passion with listeners like you.

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All of the links for our show.

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Are in the Show Notes notes.

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Today we will be continuing Emma by Jane Austin, chapter Twelve One thing only.

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Was wanting to make the prospect of.

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The ball completely satisfactory to Emma.

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It's being fixed for a day within the grand term of Frank Churchill's day in Surrey.

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For in spite of Mr.

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Weston's confidence.

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She could not think it so very.

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Impossible that the Churchills might not allow.

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Their nephew to remain a day beyond his fortnight.

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But this was not judged feasible.

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The preparations must take their time.

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Nothing could be properly ready till the.

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Third week were entered on, and for.

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A few days they must be planning.

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Proceeding, and hoping in uncertainty at the risk, in her opinion, the great risk of it being all in vain.

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Enscombe, however, was gracious.

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Gracious, in fact, if not in word.

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His wish of staying longer evidently did.

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Not please, but it was not opposed.

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All was safe and prosperous, and as.

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The removal of one solicitude generally makes.

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Way for another, Emma, being now certain.

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Of her ball, began to adopt as.

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The next vexation Mr.

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Knightley's provoking indifference.

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About it, either because he did not dance himself or because the plan had been formed without his being consulted, he seemed resolved that it should not interest him.

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Determined against his exciting any present curiosity or affording him any future amusement to.

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Her voluntary communications, Emma could get no.

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More approving reply then.

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Very well.

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If the Westons think it worthwhile to.

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Be at all this trouble for a.

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Few hours of noisy entertainment, I have nothing to say against it but that they shall not choose pleasures for me.

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Oh, yes, I must be there.

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I could not refuse, and I will keep as much awake as I can.

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But I would rather be at home.

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Looking over William Larkins'week's account.

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Much rather, I confess, pleasure I see in dancing.

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Not I.

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Indeed, I never look at it.

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I do not know who does.

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Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward.

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Those who are standing by are usually.

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Thinking of something very different.

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This, Emma felt, was aimed at her.

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And it made her quite angry.

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It was not in compliment to Jane.

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Fairfax, however, that he was so indifferent or so indignant.

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He was not guided by her feelings.

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In her probating the ball, for she enjoyed the thought of it to an extraordinary degree.

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It made her animated, open hearted.

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She voluntarily said, oh, Miss Woodhouse, I.

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Hope nothing may happen to prevent the ball.

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What a disappointment it would be.

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I do look forward to it.

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I own with very great pleasure.

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It was not to oblige Jane Fairfax.

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Therefore, that he would have preferred the.

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Society of William Larkins.

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No, she was more and more convinced.

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That Mrs.

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Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise.

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There was a great deal of friendly.

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And of compassionate attachment on his side, but no love.

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Alas, there was soon no leisure for quarrelling with Mr.

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Knightley.

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Two days of joyful security were immediately followed by the overthrow of everything.

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A letter arrived from Mr.

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Churchill to urge his nephew's instant return.

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Mrs.

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Churchill was unwell, far too unwell.

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To do without him.

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She had been in a very suffering state.

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So said her husband when writing to her nephew two days before, though from her usual unwillingness to give pain and constant habit of never thinking of herself.

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She had not mentioned it, but now.

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She was too ill to trifle, and.

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Must entreat him to set off for.

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Inc comb without delay.

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The substance of this letter was forwarded.

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To Emma, and a note from Mrs.

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Westin instantly as to his going.

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It was inevitable.

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He must be gone within a few.

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Hours, though without feeling any real alarm.

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For his aunt to lessen his repugnance.

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He knew her illnesses.

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They never occurred, but for her own.

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Convenience, Mrs.

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Weston added that he could.

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Only allow himself to hurry to Highbury.

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After breakfast and take leave of the few friends there whom he could supposed.

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To feel any interest in him, and.

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That he might be expected at Hartfield very soon.

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This wretched note was the finale of Emma's breakfast.

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When once it had been read, there was no doing anything but lament and exclaim the loss of the ball, the.

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Loss of the young man, and all.

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That the young man might be feeling.

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It was too wretched.

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Such a delightful evening as it would have been, everyone's so happy, and she.

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And her partner, the happiest I said.

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It would be so was the only consolation.

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Her father's feelings were quite distinct.

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He thought principally of Mrs.

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Churchill's illness.

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And wanted to know how she was treated.

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And as for the ball, it was.

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Shocking to have dear Emma disappointed, but.

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They would all be safer at home.

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Emma was ready for her visitors some.

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Time before he appeared, but if this reflected at all upon his impatience, his.

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Sorrowful look and total want of spirits when he did come might redeem him.

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He felt the going away almost too.

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Much to speak of it.

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His dejection was most evident.

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He sat really lost in thought for.

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The first few minutes, and when rousing.

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Himself, it was only to say, of.

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All horrid things, leave taking is the worst.

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But you will come again, said Emma.

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This will not be your only visit.

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To Randall's, shaking his head the uncertainty of when I may be able to.

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Return, I shall try for it with a zeal.

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It will be the object of all my thoughts and cares, and if my uncle and aunt go to town this spring.

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But I am afraid they did not stir last spring.

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I am afraid it is a custom gone forever.

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Our poor ball must be quite given up, that ball.

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Why did we wait for anything?

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Why not seize the pleasure at once?

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How often is happiness destroyed by preparation?

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Foolish preparation.

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You told us it would be so.

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Oh, Miss Woodhouse, why are you always so right?

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Indeed, I am very sorry to be right in this instance.

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I would much rather have been married than wise.

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If I can come again, we are.

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Still to have our ball.

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My father depends on it.

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Do not forget your engagement.

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Emma looked graciously.

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Such a fortnight as it has been, he continued.

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Every day more precious and more delightful than the day before.

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Every day making me less fit to bear any other place happy.

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Those who can remain at Highbury as you do us such ample justice.

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Now, said Emma, laughing, I will venture to ask whether you did not come.

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A little doubtfully at first.

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Do not we rather surpass your expectations?

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I am sure we do.

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I am sure you did not much expect to like us.

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You would not have been so long in coming if you had had a.

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Pleasant idea of Highbury.

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He laughed rather consciously, and though denying.

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The sentiment, Emma was convinced that it had been so.

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And you must be off this very morning?

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Yes.

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My father is to join me here.

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We shall walk back together.

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And I must be off immediately.

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I am almost afraid that every moment will bring him not five minutes to spare.

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Even for your friends, Ms.

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Fairfax and Ms.

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Bates.

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How unlucky.

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Ms.

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Bates powerful argumentative mind might have straightened yours.

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Yes, I have called there, passing the door.

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I thought it better.

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It was the right thing to do.

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I went in for three minutes and was detained by Miss Bates'being absent.

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She was out, and I felt it.

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Impossible not to wait till she came in.

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She is a woman that one must.

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Laugh at, but that one would not wish to slight.

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It was better to pay my visit then.

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He hesitated, got up, walked to a window.

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In short, said he, perhaps, Miss Woodhouse.

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I think you can hardly be quite without suspicion.

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He looked at her as if wanting.

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To read her thoughts.

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She hardly knew what to say.

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It seemed like the forerunner of something.

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Absolutely serious, which she did not wish.

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Forcing herself to speak, therefore, in the.

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Hope of putting it by, she calmly.

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Said, you are quite in the right.

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It was most natural to pay your visit.

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Then he was silent.

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She believed he was looking at her properly, reflecting on what she had said and trying to understand the manner.

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She heard him sigh.

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It was natural for him to feel that he had caused to sigh.

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He could not believe her to be encouraging him.

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A few awkward moments passed, and he sat down again, and in a more.

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Determined manner said it was something to.

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Feel that all the rest of my time might be given to Hartfield.

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My regard for Hartfield is most warm.

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He stopped again, rose again, and seemed quite embarrassed.

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He was more in love with her.

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Than Emma had supposed, and who can say how it might have ended if.

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His father had not made his appearance?

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Mr.

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Woodhouse soon followed, and the necessity of exertion made him composed.

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A few minutes more, however, completed the present trial.

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Mr.

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Weston, always alert when business was.

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To be done, and as incapable of procrastinating any evil that was inevitable as.

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Of foreseeing any that was doubtful, said.

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It was time to go, and the.

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Young man, though he might and did.

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Sigh, could not but agree to take leave.

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I shall hear about you all, said he.

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That is my chief consolation.

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I shall hear of everything that is.

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Going on among you.

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I have engaged Mrs.

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Weston to correspond with me.

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She has been so kind as to promise it.

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Oh, the blessing of a female correspondent.

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When one is really interested in the absent.

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She will tell me everything in her letters.

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I shall be at Deer Highbury again.

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A very friendly shake of the hand.

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A very earnest goodbye.

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Closed the speech, and the door had soon shut out.

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Frank Churchill short had been the notice short their meeting.

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He was gone, and Emma felt so.

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Sorry to part and foresaw so great.

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A loss to their little society from his absence as to begin to be afraid of being too sorry and feeling it too much.

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It was a sad change.

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They had been meeting almost every day since his arrival.

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Certainly his being at Randalls had given.

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Great spirit to the last two weeks.

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Indescribable spirit.

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The idea, the expectation of seeing him.

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Which every morning had brought the assurance of his attentions, his liveliness, his manners.

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It had been a very happy fortnight.

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And forlorn must be the sinking from it into the common course of Hartfield days to complete every other recommendation.

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He had almost told her that he loved her.

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What strength or what constancy of affection he might be subject to, was another point.

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But at present she could not doubt.

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His having a decidedly warm admiration.

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A conscience preference of herself.

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And this persuasion, joined to all the.

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Rest, made her think that she must.

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Be a little in love with him, in spite of every previous determination against it.

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I certainly must, said she.

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This sensation of listlessness, weariness stupidity, this.

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Disinclination to sit down and employ myself.

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This feeling of everything's being dull and.

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Insipid about the house.

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I must be in love.

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I should be the oddest creature in the world if I were not for a few weeks at least.

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Well, evil to some is always good to others.

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I shall have many fellow mourners for.

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The ball, if not for Frank Churchill.

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But Mr.

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Knightley will be happy.

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He may spend the evening with his dear William Larkins.

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Now, if he likes.

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Mr.

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Knightley, however, showed no triumphant happiness.

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He could not say that he was sorry on his own account.

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His very cheerful look would have contradicted.

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Him if he had.

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But he said and very steadily that.

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He was sorry for the disappointment of the others.

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And with considerable kindness added, you, Emma.

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Who have so few opportunities of dancing.

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You'Re really out of luck.

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You are very much out of luck.

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It was some days before she saw.

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Jane Fairfax to judge of her honest.

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Regret in this woeful change.

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But when they did meet, her composure was odious.

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She had been particularly unwell, however, suffering.

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From headache to a degree which made.

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Her aunt declare that had the ball.

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Taking place, she did not think Jane.

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Could have attended it.

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And it was charity to impute some.

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Of her unbecoming indifference to the languor of ill health.

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Thank you for joining Bite At A.

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Time books today while we read A.

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Bite of one of your favorite classics, all of the links for our show.

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Are in the show notes.

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We are part of the Bite At A Time Books Productions Network.

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If you ever wondered what inspired your favorite classic novelist to write their stories, what was happening in their lives or.

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The world at the time, check out Bite At A Time books behind the.

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Story Tuesdays wherever you listen to podcasts.

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

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