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1One morning, about ten days after Mrs. Churchill's decease, Emma was called downstairs to Mr. Weston, who "could not
2stay five minutes, and wanted particularly to speak with her."--He met her at the parlour-door, and hardly asking her
3how she did, in the natural key of his voice, sunk it immediately, to say, unheard by her father, "Can you come to
4Randalls at any time this morning?--Do, if it be possible. Mrs. Weston wants to see you. She must see you." "Is she
5unwell?" "No, no, not at all--only a little agitated. She would have ordered the carriage, and come to you, but she must
6see you alone, and that you know--(nodding towards her father)--Humph!--Can you come?" "Certainly. This moment, if you
7please. It is impossible to refuse what you ask in such a way. But what can be the matter?--Is she really not ill?"
8"Depend upon me--but ask no more questions. You will know it all in time. The most unaccountable business! But hush,
9hush!" To guess what all this meant, was impossible even for Emma. Something really important seemed announced by his
10looks; but, as her friend was well, she endeavoured not to be uneasy, and settling it with her father, that she would
11take her walk now, she and Mr. Weston were soon out of the house together and on their way at a quick pace for Randalls.
12"Now,"--said Emma, when they were fairly beyond the sweep gates,--"now Mr. Weston, do let me know what has happened."
13"No, no,"--he gravely replied.--"Don't ask me. I promised my wife to leave it all to her. She will break it to you
14better than I can. Do not be impatient, Emma; it will all come out too soon." "Break it to me," cried Emma, standing
15still with terror.--"Good God!--Mr. Weston, tell me at once.--Something has happened in Brunswick Square. I know it has.
16Tell me, I charge you tell me this moment what it is." "No, indeed you are mistaken."-- "Mr. Weston do not trifle with
17me.--Consider how many of my dearest friends are now in Brunswick Square. Which of them is it?--I charge you by all that
18is sacred, not to attempt concealment." "Upon my word, Emma."-- "Your word!--why not your honour!--why not say upon your
19honour, that it has nothing to do with any of them? Good Heavens!--What can be to be broke to me, that does not relate
20to one of that family?" "Upon my honour," said he very seriously, "it does not. It is not in the smallest degree
21connected with any human being of the name of Knightley." Emma's courage returned, and she walked on. "I was wrong," he
22continued, "in talking of its being broke to you. I should not have used the expression. In fact, it does not concern
23you--it concerns only myself,--that is, we hope.--Humph!--In short, my dear Emma, there is no occasion to be so uneasy
24about it. I don't say that it is not a disagreeable business--but things might be much worse.--If we walk fast, we shall
25soon be at Randalls." Emma found that she must wait; and now it required little effort. She asked no more questions
26therefore, merely employed her own fancy, and that soon pointed out to her the probability of its being some money
27concern--something just come to light, of a disagreeable nature in the circumstances of the family,--something which the
28late event at Richmond had brought forward. Her fancy was very active. Half a dozen natural children, perhaps--and poor
29Frank cut off!--This, though very undesirable, would be no matter of agony to her. It inspired little more than an
30animating curiosity. "Who is that gentleman on horseback?" said she, as they proceeded--speaking more to assist Mr.
31Weston in keeping his secret, than with any other view. "I do not know.--One of the Otways.--Not Frank;--it is not
32Frank, I assure you. You will not see him. He is half way to Windsor by this time." "Has your son been with you, then?"
33"Oh! yes--did not you know?--Well, well, never mind." For a moment he was silent; and then added, in a tone much more
34guarded and demure, "Yes, Frank came over this morning, just to ask us how we did." They hurried on, and were speedily
35at Randalls.--"Well, my dear," said he, as they entered the room--"I have brought her, and now I hope you will soon be
36better. I shall leave you together. There is no use in delay. I shall not be far off, if you want me."--And Emma
37distinctly heard him add, in a lower tone, before he quitted the room,--"I have been as good as my word. She has not the
38least idea." Mrs. Weston was looking so ill, and had an air of so much perturbation, that Emma's uneasiness increased;
39and the moment they were alone, she eagerly said, "What is it my dear friend? Something of a very unpleasant nature, I
40find, has occurred;--do let me know directly what it is. I have been walking all this way in complete suspense. We both
41abhor suspense. Do not let mine continue longer. It will do you good to speak of your distress, whatever it may be."
42"Have you indeed no idea?" said Mrs. Weston in a trembling voice. "Cannot you, my dear Emma--cannot you form a guess as
43to what you are to hear?" "So far as that it relates to Mr. Frank Churchill, I do guess." "You are right. It does relate
44to him, and I will tell you directly;" (resuming her work, and seeming resolved against looking up.) "He has been here
45this very morning, on a most extraordinary errand. It is impossible to express our surprize. He came to speak to his
46father on a subject,--to announce an attachment--" She stopped to breathe. Emma thought first of herself, and then of
47Harriet. "More than an attachment, indeed," resumed Mrs. Weston; "an engagement--a positive engagement.--What will you
48say, Emma--what will any body say, when it is known that Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are engaged;--nay, that they
49have been long engaged!" Emma even jumped with surprize;--and, horror-struck, exclaimed, "Jane Fairfax!--Good God! You
50are not serious? You do not mean it?" "You may well be amazed," returned Mrs. Weston, still averting her eyes, and
51talking on with eagerness, that Emma might have time to recover-- "You may well be amazed. But it is even so. There has
52been a solemn engagement between them ever since October--formed at Weymouth, and kept a secret from every body. Not a
53creature knowing it but themselves--neither the Campbells, nor her family, nor his.--It is so wonderful, that though
54perfectly convinced of the fact, it is yet almost incredible to myself. I can hardly believe it.--I thought I knew him."
55Emma scarcely heard what was said.--Her mind was divided between two ideas--her own former conversations with him about
56Miss Fairfax; and poor Harriet;--and for some time she could only exclaim, and require confirmation, repeated
57confirmation. "Well," said she at last, trying to recover herself; "this is a circumstance which I must think of at
58least half a day, before I can at all comprehend it. What!--engaged to her all the winter--before either of them came to
59Highbury?" "Engaged since October,--secretly engaged.--It has hurt me, Emma, very much. It has hurt his father equally.
60Some part of his conduct we cannot excuse." Emma pondered a moment, and then replied, "I will not pretend not to
61understand you; and to give you all the relief in my power, be assured that no such effect has followed his attentions
62to me, as you are apprehensive of." Mrs. Weston looked up, afraid to believe; but Emma's countenance was as steady as
63her words. "That you may have less difficulty in believing this boast, of my present perfect indifference," she
64continued, "I will farther tell you, that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I did like him,
65when I was very much disposed to be attached to him--nay, was attached--and how it came to cease, is perhaps the wonder.
66Fortunately, however, it did cease. I have really for some time past, for at least these three months, cared nothing
67about him. You may believe me, Mrs. Weston. This is the simple truth." Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and
68when she could find utterance, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good than any thing else in the
69world could do.
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