Эмма / Emma

While she was gone, Mr. Knightley came, and sat some time with Emma. He began speaking of Harriet, and speaking of her with more voluntary praise than Emma had ever heard before.

“I cannot rate her beauty as you do,” said he; “but she is a pretty little creature. Her character depends upon those she is with; but in good hands she will turn out a valuable woman.”

“I am glad you think so.”

“You are anxious for a compliment, so I will tell you that you have improved her. You have cured her of her school-girl’s giggle.

You are expecting her again, you say, this morning?”

“Almost every moment. She has been gone longer already than she intended.”

“Something has happened to delay her; some visitors perhaps.”

“Highbury gossips! – Tiresome wretches!”

“I must tell you that I have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of something to her advantage,” Mr. Knightley added with a smile.

“Indeed! how so? of what sort?”

“A very serious sort, I assure you;” still smiling.

“Very serious! I can think of but one thing – Who is in love with her? I have reason to think, that Harriet Smith will soon have an offer of marriage, Robert Martin is the man. He is desperately in love and means to marry her.”

“Is he sure,” said Emma; “that Harriet means to marry him?”

“Well, well, means to make her an offer then. Robert Martin came to the Abbey two evenings ago, on purpose to consult me about it.

He came to ask me whether I approved his choice. I was very much pleased with all that he said. He told me everything; his circumstances and plans, and what they all proposed doing in the event of his marriage. He is an excellent young man, both as son and brother. I had no hesitation in advising him to marry.”

“Pray, Mr. Knightley,” said Emma, who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech, “he wrote a letter, and was refused.

”

Mr. Knightley looked red with surprize and displeasure. He stood up and said,

“Then she is more stupid than I ever believed her. What does the foolish girl think about?”

“Oh!” 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 anybody who asks her.”

“Nonsense! a man does not imagine any such thing.