While waiting till the other young people
could pair themselves off, Emma found time, in spite of the compliments she was
receiving on her voice and her taste, to look about, and see what became of Mr.
Knightley. This would be a trial. He was no dancer in general. If he were to be
very alert in engaging Jane Fairfax now, it might augur something. There was no
immediate appearance. No; he was talking to Mrs. Cole - he was looking on
unconcerned; Jane was asked by somebody else, and he was still talking to Mrs.
Cole.
Emma had no longer an alarm for Henry; his
interest was yet safe; and she led off the dance with genuine spirit and
enjoyment. Not more than five couple could be mustered; but the rarity and the
suddenness of it made it very delightful, and she found herself well matched in
a partner. They were a couple worth looking at.
Two dances, unfortunately, were all that
could be allowed. It was growing late, and Miss Bates became anxious to get
home, on her mother's account. After some attempts, therefore, to be permitted
to begin again, they were obliged to thank Mrs. Weston, look sorrowful, and
have done.
`Perhaps it is as well,' said Frank
Churchill, as he attended Emma to her carriage. `I must have asked Miss
Fairfax, and her languid dancing would not have agreed with me, after your's.'
CHAPTER IX
Emma did not repent her condescension in
going to the Coles. The visit afforded her many pleasant recollections the next
day; and all that she might be supposed to have lost on the side of dignified
seclusion, must be amply repaid in the splendour of popularity. She must have
delighted the Coles - worthy people, who deserved to be made happy! - And left
a name behind her that would not soon die away.
Perfect happiness, even in memory, is not
common; and there were two points on which she was not quite easy. She doubted
whether she had not transgressed the duty of woman by woman, in betraying her
suspicions of Jane Fairfax's feelings to Frank Churchill. It was hardly right;
but it had been so strong an idea, that it would escape her, and his submission
to all that she told, was a compliment to her penetration, which made it
difficult for her to be quite certain that she ought to have held her tongue.
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