CHAPTER XV

　　`Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, `And waste its fragrance on the desert air.’
　We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax."

　　"I cannot think there is any danger of it," was Emma’s calm answer—— "and when you are better acquainted with Miss Fairfax’s situation and understand what her home has been, with Colonel and Mrs. Campbell, I have no idea that you will suppose her talents can be unknown."

　　"Oh! but dear Miss Woodhouse, she is now in such retirement, such obscurity, so thrown away.——Whatever advantages she may have enjoyed with the Campbells are so palpably at an end! And I think she feels it. I am sure she does. She is very timid and silent. One can see that she feels the want of encouragement. I like her the better for it. I must confess it is a recommendation to me. I am a great advocate for timidity——and I am sure one does not often meet with it.——But in those who are at all inferior, it is extremely prepossessing. Oh! I assure you, Jane Fairfax is a very delightful character, and interests me more than I can express." 　"You appear to feel a great deal——but I am not aware how you or any of Miss Fairfax’s acquaintance here, any of those who have known her longer than yourself, can shew her any other attention than"——

I shall introduce her, of course, very particularly to my brother and sister when they come to us. I am sure they will like her extremely; and when she gets a little acquainted with them, her fears will completely wear off, for there really is nothing in the manners of either but what is highly conciliating.——I shall have her very often indeed while they are with me, and I dare say we shall sometimes find a seat for her in the barouche-landau in some of our exploring parties."

　　"Poor Jane Fairfax!"——thought Emma.——"You have not deserved this. You may have done wrong with regard to Mr. Dixon, but this is a punishment beyond what you can have merited!——The kindness and protection of Mrs. Elton!——`Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.’ Heavens! Let me not suppose that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing me!—— But upon my honour, there seems no limits to the licentiousness of that woman’s tongue!"
Emma had not to listen to such paradings again——to any so exclusively addressed to herself——so disgustingly decorated with a "dear Miss Woodhouse." The change on Mrs. Elton’s side soon afterwards appeared, and she was left in peace——neither forced to be the very particular friend of Mrs. Elton, nor, under Mrs. Elton’s guidance, the very active patroness of Jane Fairfax, and only sharing with others in a general way, in knowing what was felt, what was meditated, what was done.

　　"She is a riddle, quite a riddle!" said she.——"To chuse to remain here month after month, under privations of every sort! And now to chuse the mortification of Mrs. Elton’s notice and the penury of her conversation, rather than return to the superior companions who have always loved her with such real, generous affection."

　　Upon her speaking her wonder aloud on that part of the subject, before the few who knew her opinion of Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Weston ventured this apology for Jane.

　　Emma felt that Mrs. Weston was giving her a momentary glance; and she was herself struck by his warmth. With a faint blush, she presently replied,