Emma, Jane Austen [best romance novels of all time .TXT] 📗

“You will not find either, between Donwell and Highbury. Donwell Lane is never dusty, and now it is perfectly dry. Come on a donkey, however, if you prefer it. You can borrow Mrs. Cole’s. I would wish everything to be as much to your taste as possible.”

“That I am sure you would. Indeed I do you justice, my good friend. Under that peculiar sort of dry, blunt manner, I know you have the warmest heart. As I tell Mr. E., you are a thorough humourist.⁠—Yes, believe me, Knightley, I am fully sensible of your attention to me in the whole of this scheme. You have hit upon the very thing to please me.”

Mr. Knightley had another reason for avoiding a table in the shade. He wished to persuade Mr. Woodhouse, as well as Emma, to join the party; and he knew that to have any of them sitting down out of doors to eat would inevitably make him ill. Mr. Woodhouse must not, under the specious pretence of a morning drive, and an hour or two spent at Donwell, be tempted away to his misery.

He was invited on good faith. No lurking horrors were to upbraid him for his easy credulity. He did consent. He had not been at Donwell for two years. “Some very fine morning, he, and Emma, and Harriet, could go very well; and he could sit still with Mrs. Weston, while the dear girls walked about the gardens. He did not suppose they could be damp now, in the middle of the day. He should like to see the old house again exceedingly, and should be very happy to meet Mr. and Mrs. Elton, and any other of his neighbours.⁠—He could not see any objection at all to his, and Emma’s, and Harriet’s going there some very fine morning. He thought it very well done of Mr. Knightley to invite them⁠—very kind and sensible⁠—much cleverer than dining out.⁠—He was not fond of dining out.”

Mr. Knightley was fortunate in everybody’s most ready concurrence. The invitation was everywhere so well received, that it seemed as if, like Mrs. Elton, they were all taking the scheme as a particular compliment to themselves.⁠—Emma and Harriet professed very high expectations of pleasure from it; and Mr. Weston, unasked, promised to get Frank over to join them, if possible; a proof of approbation and gratitude which could have been dispensed with.⁠—Mr. Knightley was then obliged to say that he should be glad to see him; and Mr. Weston engaged to lose no time in writing, and spare no arguments to induce him to come.

In the meanwhile the lame horse recovered so fast, that the party to Box Hill was again under happy consideration; and at last Donwell was settled for one day, and Box Hill for the next⁠—the weather appearing exactly right.

Under a bright midday sun, at almost midsummer, Mr. Woodhouse was safely conveyed in his carriage, with one window down, to partake of this alfresco party; and in one of the most comfortable rooms in the Abbey, especially prepared for him by a fire all the morning, he was happily placed, quite at his ease, ready to talk with pleasure of what had been achieved, and advise everybody to come and sit down, and not to heat themselves.⁠—Mrs. Weston, who seemed to have walked there on purpose to be tired, and sit all the time with him, remained, when all the others were invited or persuaded out, his patient listener and sympathiser.

It was so long since Emma had been at the Abbey, that as soon as she was satisfied of her father’s comfort, she was glad to leave him, and look around her; eager to refresh and correct her memory with more particular observation, more exact understanding of a house and grounds which must ever be so interesting to her and all her family.

She felt all the honest pride and complacency which her alliance with the present and future proprietor could fairly warrant, as she viewed the respectable size and style of the building, its suitable, becoming, characteristic situation, low and sheltered⁠—its ample gardens stretching down to meadows washed by a stream, of which the Abbey, with all the old neglect of prospect, had scarcely a sight⁠—and its abundance of timber in rows and avenues, which neither fashion nor extravagance had rooted up.⁠—The house was larger than Hartfield, and totally unlike it, covering a good deal of ground, rambling and irregular, with many comfortable, and one or two handsome rooms.⁠—It was just what it ought to be, and it looked what it was⁠—and Emma felt an increasing respect for it, as the residence of a family of such true gentility, untainted in blood and understanding.⁠—Some faults of temper John Knightley had; but Isabella had connected herself unexceptionably. She had given them neither men, nor names, nor places, that could raise a blush. These were pleasant feelings, and she walked about and indulged them till it was necessary to do as the others did, and collect round the strawberry-beds.⁠—The whole party were assembled, excepting Frank Churchill, who was expected every moment from Richmond; and Mrs. Elton, in all her apparatus of happiness, her large bonnet and her basket, was very ready to lead the way in gathering, accepting, or talking⁠—strawberries, and only strawberries, could now be thought or spoken of.⁠—“The best fruit in England⁠—everybody’s favourite⁠—always wholesome.⁠—These the finest beds and finest sorts.⁠—Delightful to gather for one’s self⁠—the only way of really enjoying them.⁠—Morning decidedly the best time⁠—never tired⁠—every sort good⁠—hautboy infinitely superior⁠—no comparison⁠—the others hardly eatable⁠—hautboys very scarce⁠—Chili preferred⁠—white wood finest flavour of all⁠—price of strawberries in London⁠—abundance about Bristol⁠—Maple Grove⁠—cultivation⁠—beds when to be renewed⁠—gardeners thinking exactly different⁠—no general rule⁠—gardeners never to be put out of their way⁠—delicious fruit⁠—only too rich to be eaten much of⁠—inferior to cherries⁠—currants more refreshing⁠—only objection to gathering strawberries the stooping⁠—glaring sun⁠—tired to death⁠—could bear it no longer⁠—must go and sit in the shade.”

Such, for half an hour, was the conversation⁠—interrupted only once by Mrs. Weston, who came out, in her solicitude after her son-in-law, to inquire if he were come⁠—and she