CHAPTER V

　　"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 it a bad thing."

　　"A bad thing! Do you really think it a bad thing?—— why so?"

　　"I think they will neither of them do the other any good."
"You surprize me! Emma must do Harriet good: and by supplying her with a new object of interest, Harriet may be said to do Emma good. I have been seeing their intimacy with the greatest pleasure. How very differently we feel!——Not think they will do each other any good! This will certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr. Knightley."

　　"Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you, knowing Weston to be out, and that you must still fight your own battle."

　　"Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of her drawing-up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through——and very good lists they were——very well chosen, and very neatly arranged——

　　"I dare say," replied Mrs. Weston, smiling, "that I thought so then;——but since we have parted, I can never remember Emma’s omitting to do any thing I wished."

　　"Thank you. There will be very little merit in making a good wife to such a man as Mr. Weston."
"Why, to own the truth, I am afraid you are rather thrown away, and that with every disposition to bear, there will be nothing to be borne. We will not despair, however. Weston may grow cross from the wantonness of comfort, or his son may plague him."

　　"I hope not that.——It is not likely. No, Mr. Knightley, do not foretell vexation from that quarter."

　　"I either depend more upon Emma’s good sense than you do, or am more anxious for her present comfort; for I cannot lament the acquaintance. How well she looked last night!"

　　"Oh! 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 any thing nearer perfect beauty than Emma altogether—— face and figure?"

　　"I do not know what I could imagine, but I confess that I have seldom seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers. But I am a partial old friend."

　　"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. Weston gently, "very much."

　　"She always declares she will never marry, which, of course, means just nothing at all. But I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she cared for. It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love with a proper object. I should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of a return; it would do her good. But there is nobody hereabouts to attach her; and she goes so seldom from home."