5 Emma By Jane Austen - Guided Reading

This guided reading is of Emma, the fourth major novel penned by Jane Austen.

In this episode, we meet Miss Ward. The Woodhouses’ inner circle consists of people who share either comparable levels of wealth and familial prestige or who have long-standing ties of affection. The Wards are compromised in this regard, much to Emma's delight.

Voice on this audiobook is registered as a trademark and is protected with an invisible watermark.
All rights reserved for this and every audio track available by Stephanie Poppins. Copyright Neworldbooks.
This product is licensed for individual use only. Duplication, redistribution, or resale is prohibited.

Transcript

By Jane Austen This story set in the village of Highbury. Follows Emma Woodhouse, A privileged young woman. Who fancies herself a matchmaker. Meddling in the romantic lives of those around her. Particularly her new friend Harriet Smith. Emma finds her misguided interventions. Lead to hurt feelings. And unexpected revelations. Happy listening! Chapter 5 I do not know what your opinion may be, Mrs Weston. Said Mr Knightley, Of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith. But I think the bad thing. Bad thing? Do you really think it's a bad thing? Why so? I think they will neither of them do the other any good. You surprise me. Emma must do Harriet good, And by supplying her with a new object of interest, Harriet may be said to do Emma good too. I've been seeing your intimacy with the greatest pleasure. How very differently we feel. No, Do not think they would not do each other any good. This will certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr Knightley. Perhaps you think I've come on purpose to quarrel with you, Knowing Weston to be out. And that you must still fight your own battle. Mr Weston would undoubtedly support me if he were here. He thinks exactly as I do on the subject. We were speaking of it only yesterday, And agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma there should be such a girl in Highbury for her to associate with. Mr Knightley, I shall not allow you to be a fair judge in this case. You are so much used to live alone that you do not know the value of a companion. And perhaps no man can be a good judge of the comfort a woman feels in the society of one of her own sex, After having been used to it all her life. I can imagine your objection to Harriet Smith. She's not the superior young woman which Emma's friend ought to be. But on the other hand, As Emma wants to see her better informed, It will be an inducement to her to read more herself. They will read together. She means two, I know. Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was 12 years old. I've seen a great many lists of her, Drawing up at various times of books she meant to read thoroughly. And good list they were too. Very well chosen. The list she drew up when only 14, I remember thinking it did her judgement so much credit. I preserved it some time. But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma. She will never submit to anything requiring industry impatience and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding. Where Miss Taylor failed to stimulate, I may safely affirm, Harriet Smith will do nothing. You never could persuade her to read half as much as you wished. You know you could not. I dare say, " replied Mrs. Weston, Smiling, I thought so then, But since we've parted I never remember Emma's admitting to do anything I wished. Was hardly any desiring to refresh such a memory as that, " said Mr Knightley, Feelingly. For a moment or two he had done. But I, As he soon added, Who have no such charm thrown over my senses, Must still hear and remember. Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family. At 10 years old, She had the misfortune of being able to answer questions which puzzled her sister at 17. She was always quick and assured. And ever since she was 12, Emma has been a mistress of the house and of you all. In her mother she lost the only person able to cope with her. She inherits her mother's talents, And must have been under subjection to her. I should have been sorry, Mr Knightley, To be dependent upon your recommendation, Had I quit Mr Woodhouse's family and wanted another situation. I do not think you would have spoken a good word for me to anybody. I'm sure you always thought me unfit for the office I held. Yes, Said Mr Knightley, Smiling. You are better placed here. Very fit for a wife, But not at all for a governess. But you were preparing yourself to be an excellent wife all the time you were at Hartfield. You might not give Emma such a complete education as your powers would seem to promise. But you were receiving a very good education from her. But Harriet Smith. . . I have not half done about Harriet Smith. I think her the very worst sort of companion Emma could possibly have. She knows nothing herself and looks upon Emera as knowing everything. She is a flatterer in all her ways, And so much the worse because undesigned. How can Emma imagine she has anything to learn herself while Harriet is presenting such a delightful inferiority? And as for Harriet, I will venture to say she cannot gain by the acquaintance. Hartfield will only put her out of conceit with all the other places she belongs to. She will grow just refined enough to be uncomfortable with those among whom birth and circumstances have placed her home. I am much mistaken if Emma's doctrines give any strength of mind or tend at all to make a girl adapt herself rationally. To the varieties of her situation in life. They only give little polish. I either depend more upon Emma's good sense than you do. Said Mrs Weston. Or am more anxious for her present comfort, For I cannot lament the acquaintance. How well she looked last night! You would rather talk of her person than her mind, Would you? Very well, I shall not attempt to deny Emma's being pretty. Pretty, Say beautiful rather. Can you imagine anything nearer perfect beauty than Emma altogether, Face and figure? I do not know what I could imagine, But I confess I have seldom seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than Emma's. But I am a partial old friend. Such an eye, The true hazel eye, And so brilliant! Regular features, Open countenance with a complexion. What a bloom of full health. And such a pretty height and size. Such a firm and upright figure. There is health, Not merely in her bloom, But in her air, Her head, Her glance. She is loveliness itself, Mr Knightley, Is not she? I have not a fault to find with her in person. Apply. I think her all you described. I do love to look at her, And I will add this praise that I do not think her personally vain. Considering how very handsome she is, She appears to be little occupied with it. Her vanity lies in another way. Mrs. Weston, I am not to be talked out of my dislike of Harriet Smith, Or my dread of its doing them both harm. And I, Mr Knightley, Am equally stout in my confidence of its not doing them any harm. With all dear Emma's little faults, She is an excellent creature. Where shall we see a better daughter, A kinder sister or a true friend? No, No, She has qualities which may be trusted. She will never lead anyone really wrong. She will make no lasting blunder. Where Emma errs once, She is in the right a hundred times. Very well, " said Mr Knightley. I will not plague you anymore. Emma shall be an angel and I will keep my spleen to myself till Christmas brings John and Isabella. John loves Emma with reasonable and therefore not a blind affection, And Isabella always thinks as he does, Except when he's not frightened enough about the children. I'm sure of their having opinions with me. I know you love her really too well to be unjust or kind, " said Mrs Weston, But excuse me, Mr Knightley, If I take the liberty. Of hinting I do not think any possible good can arise from Harriet Smith's intimacy being made a matter of much discussion among you. Pray excuse me, But supposing any little inconvenience may be apprehended from the intimacy? It cannot be expected that Emma, Accountable to nobody but her father, Who perfectly approved the acquaintance, Should put an end to it. So long as it is a source of pleasure to herself. It has been so many years in my province to give advice that you cannot be surprised, Mr Knightley, At this little remains of office. Not at all, Cried he. I'm much obliged to you for it. It's very good advice. And it shall have a better fate than your advice is often found, For it shall be attended to. Mrs John Knightley is easily alarmed and might be made unhappy about her sister. Be satisfied, " said he. I will not raise any outcry. I will keep my ill-humour to myself. I have a very sincere interest in Emma. Isabella does not seem more my sister has never excited a greater interest Perhaps hardly so great. There is an anxiety, A curiosity in what one feels for Emma. I wonder what will become of her? So do I, " said Mrs. Whiston gently. Very much. She always declares she'll never marry, Which of course means nothing at all. But I have no idea she has yet ever seen the man she cared for. Said Mr Knightley. It would not be a very bad thing. For her to be in love with a proper object. But there is nobody hereabouts to attach her and she goes so seldom from home. There does indeed seem as little to tempt her as to break her resolution, " said Mrs. Weston. While she is so happy at Hartfield, I cannot wish her to be forming any attachment, Which would be creating such difficulties on poor Mr. Woodhouse's account. I do not recommend matrimony at present to Emma. Though I mean no slight to the state, I assure you. Part of this meaning was to conceal some favourite thoughts of Mrs Weston's own. There were wishes and randles respecting Emma's destiny. But it was not desirable to have them suspect. And the quiet transition which Mr Knightley soon afterward made to What does Weston think of the weather? Shall we have rain? Convinced Mrs. Weston he had nothing more to say or surmise. About heart failure.