CHAPTER XI

　　It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind;——but when a beginning is made—— when the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt——it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more.

　　But soon it came to be on one side,

　　"But will there be good room for five couple?——I really do not think there will."

　　On another,

　　"We were too magnificent," said he. "We allowed unnecessary room. Ten couple may stand here very well."

　　"Very true," he gravely replied; "it was very bad." But still he went on measuring, and still he ended with,
　　"I think there will be very tolerable room for ten couple."

"No, no," said she, "you are quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful to be standing so close! Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be dancing in a crowd——and a crowd in a little room!"

　　"There is no denying it," he replied. "I agree with you exactly. A crowd in a little room——Miss Woodhouse, you have the art of giving pictures in a few words. Exquisite, quite exquisite!——Still, however, having proceeded so far, one is unwilling to give the matter up. It would be a disappointment to my father——and altogether——I do not know that——I am rather of opinion that ten couple might stand here very well."

　　Before the middle of the next day, he was at Hartfield; and he entered the room with such an agreeable smile as certified the continuance of the scheme. It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement.

　　"The Crown!"

　　She was obliged to repeat and explain it, before it was fully comprehended; and then, being quite new, farther representations were necessary to make it acceptable.
　"No; he thought it very far from an improvement——a very bad plan—— much worse than the other. A room at an inn was always damp and dangerous; never properly aired, or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they had better dance at Randalls. He had never been in the room at the Crown in his life——did not know the people who kept it by sight.——Oh! no——a very bad plan. They would catch worse colds at the Crown than anywhere."

"I was going to observe, sir," said Frank Churchill, "that one of the great recommendations of this change would be the very little danger of any body’s catching cold—— so much less danger at the Crown than at Randalls! Mr. Perry might have reason to regret the alteration, but nobody else could."

　　"Sir," said Mr. Woodhouse, rather warmly, "you are very much mistaken if you suppose Mr. Perry to be that sort of character. Mr. Perry is extremely concerned when any of us are ill. But I do not understand how the room at the Crown can be safer for you than your father’s house."
From the very circumstance of its being larger, sir. We shall have no occasion to open the windows at all——not once the whole evening; and it is that dreadful habit of opening the windows, letting in cold air upon heated bodies, which (as you well know, sir) does the mischief."

　　"Open the windows!——but surely, Mr. Churchill, nobody would think of opening the windows at Randalls. Nobody could be so imprudent! I never heard of such a thing. Dancing with open windows!——I am sure, neither your father nor Mrs. Weston (poor Miss Taylor that was) would suffer it."

　　"Ah! sir——but a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a window-curtain, and throw up a sash, without its being suspected. I have often known it done myself."

　　"But, unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited——"

　　"Oh!" interrupted Emma, "there will be plenty of time for talking every thing over. There is no hurry at all. If it can be contrived to be at the Crown, papa, it will be very convenient for the horses. They will be so near their own stable."
"So they will, my dear. That is a great thing. Not that James ever complains; but it is right to spare our horses when we can. If I could be sure of the rooms being thoroughly aired——but is Mrs. Stokes to be trusted? I doubt it. I do not know her, even by sight."