happy circumstance

------------ [excerpt] --------- He had returned to a late dinner, after some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were well in Brunswick Square.  It was a happy circumstance, and animated Mr. Woodhouse for some time.  Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and her children were answered most satisfactorily.  When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed, "It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, to come out at this late hour to call upon us.  I am afraid you must have had a shocking walk."


"Not at all, sir.  It is a beautiful moonlight night; and so mild that I must draw back from your great fire."

"But you must have found it very damp and dirty.  I wish you may not catch cold."

"Dirty, sir!  Look at my shoes.  Not a speck on them."

"Well! that is quite surprising, for we have had a vast deal of rain here.  It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at breakfast.  I wanted them to put off the wedding."

     "By the bye -- I have not wished you joy.  Being pretty well aware of what sort of joy you must both be feeling, I have been in no hurry with my congratulations; but I hope it all went off tolerably well.  How did you all behave?  Who cried most?"

"Ah! poor Miss Taylor!  'Tis a sad business."

"Poor Mr. and Miss Woodhouse, if you please; but I cannot possibly say 'poor Miss Taylor.'  I have a great regard for you and Emma; but when it comes to the question of dependence or independence! -- At any rate, it must be better to have only one to please than two."

---------------------- [Emma, by Jane Austen]

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