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1The very day of Mr. Elton's going to London produced a fresh occasion for Emma's services towards her friend. Harriet
2had been at Hartfield, as usual, soon after breakfast; and, after a time, had gone home to return again to dinner: she
3returned, and sooner than had been talked of, and with an agitated, hurried look, announcing something extraordinary to
4have happened which she was longing to tell. Half a minute brought it all out. She had heard, as soon as she got back to
5Mrs. Goddard's, that Mr. Martin had been there an hour before, and finding she was not at home, nor particularly
6expected, had left a little parcel for her from one of his sisters, and gone away; and on opening this parcel, she had
7actually found, besides the two songs which she had lent Elizabeth to copy, a letter to herself; and this letter was
8from him, from Mr. Martin, and contained a direct proposal of marriage. "Who could have thought it? She was so surprized
9she did not know what to do. Yes, quite a proposal of marriage; and a very good letter, at least she thought so. And he
10wrote as if he really loved her very much--but she did not know--and so, she was come as fast as she could to ask Miss
11Woodhouse what she should do.--" Emma was half-ashamed of her friend for seeming so pleased and so doubtful. "Upon my
12word," she cried, "the young man is determined not to lose any thing for want of asking. He will connect himself well if
13he can." "Will you read the letter?" cried Harriet. "Pray do. I'd rather you would." Emma was not sorry to be pressed.
14She read, and was surprized. The style of the letter was much above her expectation. There were not merely no
15grammatical errors, but as a composition it would not have disgraced a gentleman; the language, though plain, was strong
16and unaffected, and the sentiments it conveyed very much to the credit of the writer. It was short, but expressed good
17sense, warm attachment, liberality, propriety, even delicacy of feeling. She paused over it, while Harriet stood
18anxiously watching for her opinion, with a "Well, well," and was at last forced to add, "Is it a good letter? or is it
19too short?" "Yes, indeed, a very good letter," replied Emma rather slowly--"so good a letter, Harriet, that every thing
20considered, I think one of his sisters must have helped him. I can hardly imagine the young man whom I saw talking with
21you the other day could express himself so well, if left quite to his own powers, and yet it is not the style of a
22woman; no, certainly, it is too strong and concise; not diffuse enough for a woman. No doubt he is a sensible man, and I
23suppose may have a natural talent for--thinks strongly and clearly--and when he takes a pen in hand, his thoughts
24naturally find proper words. It is so with some men. Yes, I understand the sort of mind. Vigorous, decided, with
25sentiments to a certain point, not coarse. A better written letter, Harriet (returning it,) than I had expected."
26"Well," said the still waiting Harriet;--"well--and--and what shall I do?" "What shall you do! In what respect? Do you
27mean with regard to this letter?" "Yes." "But what are you in doubt of? You must answer it of course--and speedily."
28"Yes. But what shall I say? Dear Miss Woodhouse, do advise me." "Oh no, no! the letter had much better be all your own.
29You will express yourself very properly, I am sure. There is no danger of your not being intelligible, which is the
30first thing. Your meaning must be unequivocal; no doubts or demurs: and such expressions of gratitude and concern for
31the pain you are inflicting as propriety requires, will present themselves unbidden to your mind, I am persuaded. You
32need not be prompted to write with the appearance of sorrow for his disappointment." "You think I ought to refuse him
33then," said Harriet, looking down. "Ought to refuse him! My dear Harriet, what do you mean? Are you in any doubt as to
34that? I thought--but I beg your pardon, perhaps I have been under a mistake. I certainly have been misunderstanding you,
35if you feel in doubt as to the purport of your answer. I had imagined you were consulting me only as to the wording of
36it." Harriet was silent. With a little reserve of manner, Emma continued: "You mean to return a favourable answer, I
37collect." "No, I do not; that is, I do not mean--What shall I do? What would you advise me to do? Pray, dear Miss
38Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do." "I shall not give you any advice, Harriet. I will have nothing to do with it.
39This is a point which you must settle with your feelings." "I had no notion that he liked me so very much," said
40Harriet, contemplating the letter. For a little while Emma persevered in her silence; but beginning to apprehend the
41bewitching flattery of that letter might be too powerful, she thought it best to say, "I lay it down as a general rule,
42Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she
43can hesitate as to 'Yes,' she ought to say 'No' directly. It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful
44feelings, with half a heart. I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than yourself, to say thus much to you. But do
45not imagine that I want to influence you." "Oh! no, I am sure you are a great deal too kind to--but if you would just
46advise me what I had best do--No, no, I do not mean that--As you say, one's mind ought to be quite made up--One should
47not be hesitating--It is a very serious thing.--It will be safer to say 'No,' perhaps.--Do you think I had better say
48'No?'" "Not for the world," said Emma, smiling graciously, "would I advise you either way. You must be the best judge of
49your own happiness. If you prefer Mr. Martin to every other person; if you think him the most agreeable man you have
50ever been in company with, why should you hesitate? You blush, Harriet.--Does any body else occur to you at this moment
51under such a definition? Harriet, Harriet, do not deceive yourself; do not be run away with by gratitude and compassion.
52At this moment whom are you thinking of?" The symptoms were favourable.--Instead of answering, Harriet turned away
53confused, and stood thoughtfully by the fire; and though the letter was still in her hand, it was now mechanically
54twisted about without regard. Emma waited the result with impatience, but not without strong hopes. At last, with some
55hesitation, Harriet said-- "Miss Woodhouse, as you will not give me your opinion, I must do as well as I can by myself;
56and I have now quite determined, and really almost made up my mind--to refuse Mr. Martin. Do you think I am right?"
57"Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just what you ought. While you were at all in suspense I
58kept my feelings to myself, but now that you are so completely decided I have no hesitation in approving. Dear Harriet,
59I give myself joy of this. It would have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the consequence of
60your marrying Mr. Martin. While you were in the smallest degree wavering, I said nothing about it, because I would not
61influence; but it would have been the loss of a friend to me. I could not have visited Mrs. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill
62Farm. Now I am secure of you for ever." Harriet had not surmised her own danger, but the idea of it struck her forcibly.
63"You could not have visited me!" she cried, looking aghast. "No, to be sure you could not; but I never thought of that
64before. That would have been too dreadful!--What an escape!--Dear Miss Woodhouse, I would not give up the pleasure and
65honour of being intimate with you for any thing in the world." "Indeed, Harriet, it would have been a severe pang to
66lose you; but it must have been. You would have thrown yourself out of all good society. I must have given you up."
67"Dear me!--How should I ever have borne it! It would have killed me never to come to Hartfield any more!" "Dear
68affectionate creature!--You banished to Abbey-Mill Farm!--You confined to the society of the illiterate and vulgar all
69your life! I wonder how the young man could have the assurance to ask it. He must have a pretty good opinion of
70himself."
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