----------------- [excerpt, Emma, by Jane Austen] ------------- Mrs. Elton was first seen at church: but though devotion might be interrupted, curiosity could not be satisfied by a bride in a pew, and it must be left for the visits in form which were then to be paid, to settle whether she were very pretty indeed, or only rather pretty, or not pretty at all.
Emma had feelings, less of curiosity than of pride or propriety, to make her resolve on not being the last to pay her respects; and she made a point of Harriet's going with her, that the worst of the business might be gone through as soon as possible....
... The visit was of course short; and there was so much embarrassment and occupation of mind to shorten it, that Emma would not allow herself entirely to form an opinion of the lady, and on no account to give one, beyond the nothing-meaning terms of being "elegantly dressed, and very pleasing."
She did not really like her. She would not be in a hurry to find fault, but she suspected that there was no elegance -- ease, but no elegance. -- She was almost sure that for a young woman, a stranger, a bride, there was too much ease. Her person was rather good; her face not unpretty; but neither feature, nor air, nor voice, nor manner, were elegant. Emma thought at least it would turn out so. ------------ [end, excerpt]
Emma wants to get the visit over-with, pay the respects she's obligated by her position in the community to pay, and try to get Harriet "over" some of her disappointed feelings of love and infatuation with Mr. Elton.
So the visit is a little awkward -- in her thoughts Emma is generous: "...when she considered how peculiarly unlucky poor Mr. Elton was in being in the same room at once with the woman he had just married, the woman he had wanted to marry, and the woman whom he had been expected to marry...."
When Emma and Harriet leave the Eltons at the Vicarage and walk toward Hartfield, Harriet, covering her heartbreak, speaks with awe and respect of the new bride and groom.
---------------------- [Emma excerpt] -------------- [Harriet says] -- "I think her beautiful, quite beautiful."
"Very nicely dressed, indeed; a remarkably elegant gown."
"I am not at all surprized that he should have fallen in love."
"Oh! no -- there is nothing to surprize one at all. -- A pretty fortune; and she came in his way."
"I dare say," returned Harriet, sighing again, "I dare say she was very much attached to him."
"Perhaps she might; but it is not every man's fate to marry the woman who loves him best. Miss Hawkins perhaps wanted a home, and thought this the best offer she was likely to have."
"Yes," said Harriet earnestly, "and well she might, nobody could ever have a better. Well, I wish them happy with all my heart...."
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The fun there, in Harriet talking at one level, Emma taking a decidedly more cynical view -- the young ladies' remarks go past the other one, as each stays on-track with her own line of thought: Harriet in a rhapsody about Love (and still believing in Mr. Elton's wonderfulness and perfection) -- Emma pointing out the more practical and probable realities... "A pretty fortune; and she came in his way....the best offer she was likely to have..."
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Mr. and Mrs. Elton visit Hartfield a few days later -- Emma finds -- [excerpt from the novel] --------- that Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert and familiar;
that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good.
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--------------------------- After the Eltons leave, Emma and her father have one of their typical conversations, where he fusses, and she smooths and distracts: he expresses concern that he did not visit the Eltons promptly after their marriage. Emma says, [excerpt] ---------------
"I dare say your apologies were accepted, sir. Mr. Elton knows you."
"Yes: but a young lady -- a bride -- I ought to have paid my respects to her if possible. It was being very deficient."
"But, my dear papa, you are no friend to matrimony; and therefore why should you be so anxious to pay your respects to a bride? It ought to be no recommendation to you. It is encouraging people to marry if you make so much of them." [She's teasing him, because he is always against change, especially marriage...)
"No, my dear, I never encouraged any body to marry, but I would always wish to pay every proper attention to a lady -- and a bride, especially, is never to be neglected. More is avowedly due to her. A bride, you know, my dear, is always the first in company, let the others be who they may."
"Well, papa, if this is not encouragement to marry, I do not know what is. And I should never have expected you to be lending your sanction to such vanity-baits for poor young ladies."
"My dear, you do not understand me. This is a matter of mere common politeness and good-breeding, and has nothing to do with any encouragement to people to marry."
Emma had done. Her father was growing nervous, and could not understand her. Her mind returned to Mrs. Elton's offences, and long, very long, did they occupy her.
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That is the end of the Chapter.
"Emma had done."
Ha
And the reader can love the humorously ominous last sentence:
"Her mind returned to Mrs. Elton's offences, and long, very long, did they occupy her." ...
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As you brush your shoes
Stand before the mirror
And you comb your hair
Grab your coat and hat
And you walk, wet streets
Tryin' to remember
All the wild night breezes
In your mem'ry ever
And ev'rything looks so complete
When you're walkin' out on the street...
Type in on Google:
wild night, van morrison
and the song will come up on YouTube -- Tap screen to Play
-30-
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