8 Emma By Jane Austen

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...

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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 8 Harriet slept it hard that night. For some weeks past, She'd been spending more than half her time there, And gradually getting to have a bedroom appropriated to herself. And Emma judged it best in every respect, Safest and kindest to keep her with them as much as possible, Just at present. She was obliged to go the next morning for half an hour or two to Mrs Goddard's, But it was then to be settled she should return to Hartfield to make a regular visit of some days. While she was gone, Mr Knightley called, And sat some time with Mr Woodhouse and Emma, Till Mr Woodhouse, Who had previously made up his mind to walk out, Was persuaded by his daughter not to defer it, And was induced by the entreaties of both, Though against the scruples of his own civility, To leave Mr Knightley for that purpose. Mr Knightley, Who had nothing of ceremony about him, Was offering by his short-decided answers an amusing contrast to the protracted apologies and civil hesitations of the other. Well, I believe if you will excuse me, Mr Knightley, If you will not consider me as doing a very rude thing, I shall take Emma's advice and go for a quarter of an hour. As the sun is out, I believe I'd better take three turns while I can. I treat you without ceremony, Mr Knightley. We invalids think we are privileged people. My dear sir, Do not make a stranger of me. I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter, Emma will be happy to entertain you, And therefore I think I will beg your excuse and take my three turns, My winter wolf. You cannot do better, Sir. I would ask for the pleasure of your company, Mr Knightley. But I'm a very slow walker and my pace would be tedious. And besides, You have another long walk before you to Donnell Abbey. Thank you. I am going this moment myself and I think the sooner you go the better. I will fetch your greatcoat and open the garden door for you. Mr Woodhouse at last was off, But Mr Knightley, Instead of being immediately off likewise, Sat down again, Seemingly inclined for more chat. He began speaking of Harriet. I cannot rate her beauty, You do. Said he, But she is a pretty little creature and I am inclined to think well of her disposition. Her character depends on those she's with, But in good hands she will turn out a valuable woman. I'm glad you think so, " said Emma. And the good hands, I hope. May not be wanting. Come, " said Mr Knightley. You are anxious for a compliment, So I will tell you you have improved her. You have cured her of her schoolgirl's giggle. She really does you credit. Thank you. I should be mortified indeed if I did not believe I had been some use. But it's not everybody who will bestow praise where they may. You do not often overpower me with it. You were expecting her again, You say this morning? Almost every moment. She's been gone longer already than she intended. Something is happening to delay her perhaps, Some visitors? Hybrid gossips, Said Emma. Ties and wretches. Harriet may not consider everybody tiresome that you would, " said Mr Knightley. Emma knew this was too true for contradiction and therefore said nothing. Mr Knightley meanwhile added with a smile. I do not pretend to fix on time or places, But I must tell you I have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of something to her advantage. Indeed? How so? What's so. . . ? Sedema. A very serious sort, I assure you. Said Mr Knightley, Still smiling. I can think of but one thing, Said Emma. Who is in love with her? What makes you their confidante? Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr Elton's having dropped a hint. Mr Knightley was a sort of general friend and advisor, And she knew Mr Elton looked up to him. I have reason to think. Mr Knightley replied. That Harriet Smith will soon have an offer of marriage from a most unexceptional quarter. Robert Martin is the man. Her visit to Abbey Mill this summer seems to have done his business. He is desperately in love with her and means to marry her. He is very obliging, Said Emma, But is he sure that Harriet means to marry him? Well, Well, Means to make her an offer then, Will that do? He came to the Abbey two evenings ago, On purpose to consult me about it. He knows I have a thorough regard for him and all his family. He came to ask me whether I thought it would be imprudent in him. To settle so early, Whether I thought her too young. In short, Whether I approved his choice altogether. He is an excellent young man, Both a son and brother. He told me everything. His circumstances and plans and what they all proposed doing in the event of his marriage. I never hear better sense from anyone other than Robert Martin. If he had ever esteemed my opinion before, He would have thought highly of me then, And I dare say left the house thinking me the best friend and counsellor man ever had. Now, As we may fairly suppose, He would not allow much time to pass before he spoke to the lady, And as he does not appear to have spoken yesterday, It is not unlikely he should be at Mrs. Goddard's today. And she may be detained by a visitor without thinking him at all a tiresome wretch. Pray Mr Knightley, Said Emma, Who'd been smiling to herself for a great part of this speech, How do you know Mr Martin did not speak yesterday? I absolutely do not know it. But it may be inferred. Was she not the whole day with you? I will tell you something, " said Emma, In return for what you have told me. He did speak yesterday. He wrote in fact. And was refused. This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed, And Mr Knightley actually looked red with surprise and displeasure as he stood up. Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her. What is the foolish girl about? To be sure, Cried Emma. It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anyone who asks her. Nonsense! A man does not imagine any such thing. But what is the meaning of this? Harriet Smith refused Robert Martin? Madness if it's so, But I hope you are mistaken. I saw her answer, Said Emma calmly. Nothing could be clearer. You saw her answer, Said Mr Knightley. You wrote her answer too. Emma, This is your doing. You persuaded her to refuse him. And I. D. I should not feel I had done wrong. If, However, I am far from allowing. Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man, But I cannot admit him to be Harriet's equal. I'm rather surprised indeed he should have ventured to address her by your account. Does seem to have had some scruples. It's a pity they were ever got over. Not Harriet's equal exclaimed Mr Knightley loudly and warmly No, He is not her equal indeed. He is very much her superior in sense as in situation. Emma, Your infatuation about that girl blinds you. What are Harriet Smith's claims, Either of birth, Nature or education, To any connection higher than Robert Martin? She is the natural daughter of who knows who with probably no settled provision at all and certainly no respectable relations. She is known only as Pala Borda at a common school. She is not a sensible girl nor a girl of any information. She has been taught nothing useful and is too young and too simple. To have acquired anything herself. At her age she can have no experience and with a little wit is not very likely ever to have any that can avail her. She is pretty and she is good-tempered, That is all. My only scruple in advising the match was on his account as being beneath his desserts and a bad connection. I felt that as to fortune in all probability, He might do much better. And that as to a rational companion or useful helpmate. He could do no worse. But I could not reason so to a man in love and was willing to trust to there being no harm in her. To her having that sort of disposition which, In good hands like his, Might be easily led aright and turn out very well. The advantage of the match, I felt to be all on her side. I had not the smallest doubt there would be a general cry out upon her extreme good luck. Even your satisfaction, Emma, I made sure of. It crossed my mind immediately you would not regret your friends leaving Highbury for the sake of her being settled so well. I remember saying to myself, Even Emma, With all her partiality for Harriet, Will think this a good match. I cannot help wondering at your knowing so little of Emma to say such a thing. Sedema. A farm. A good match for my intimate friend. Not to regret her leaving Highbury for the sake of marrying a man whom I could never admit as acquaintance of my own. I wonder you should think it possible for me to have such feelings. I assure you mine are very different. I must think your statement by no means fair. You are not just to Harriet's claims. They would be estimated very differently by others as well as myself. Mr. Martin may be the richer of the two, But he's undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society. The sphere in which he moves is much above his. It would be a degradation. A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance to be married to a respectable, Intelligent gentleman farmer, " said Mr Knightley. To the circumstances of her birth, Though in a legal sense she may be called nobody. Insisted Emma. But it will not hold in common sense. She's not to pay for the offence of others by being held below the level of those with whom she's brought up. There can scarcely be a doubt her father is a gentleman, And a gentleman of fortune. Her allowance is very liberal. Nothing has ever been grudged for her improvement or comfort. That she is a gentleman's daughter is indubitable to me. That she associates with gentlemen's daughters, No one, I apprehend, Will deny. She. Is superior to Mr Robert Martin. Mr Knightley continued. Whoever might be her parents, Whoever may have had the charge of her, It does not appear to have had any part of their plan to introduce her into what you would call good society. After receiving a very indifferent education, She's left in Mrs. Goddard's hands to shift as she can, To move, In short, In Mrs. Goddard's line, To have Mrs. Goddard's acquaintance. Her friends evidently thought this good enough for her, And it was good enough. She desired nothing better herself. Until you chose to turn her into a friend. Her mind had no distaste for her own set. Nor any ambition beyond it.