"Improvement is a good thing, in general, but it should not be allowed to interfere with real life, and real prospects."

We were back to Robert Martin.

I said no more, for I believe she is capable of continuing with her misguided notions to prove that she is right, whereas if I leave her to herself, in time I hope she will admit that she is wrong.

I am less worried about Harriet than I was. I am beginning to think she and Robert Martin will make a match of it, despite Emma’s best efforts to keep them apart.

February

Friday 5 February

My attentions to Miss Fairfax have produced an unforeseen complication. As I was dining at Otway’s this evening, he said to me: "This seems to be a season of marriages. There must be something in the air. First Weston, then Elton, and if I do not miss my guess, you will be next."

"I?" I exclaimed, surprised.

"You are very attentive to Miss Fairfax," he said.

I coloured.

"I am sensitive to her situation, and having known her since her childhood, I feel an interest in her welfare. I mean to do everything I can to assist her, but marry her? - no," I returned.

It may be that I will marry her, but until I am certain, I must be careful of her reputation, and make it clear that I intend no such thing.

"I beg your pardon," said he, colouring slightly also. "I meant no offence."

"None taken. Indeed, you have done me a service. If you have misinterpreted my actions, then others might have misinterpreted them as well. I must be more circumspect."

I would not damage Miss Fairfax for anything. She is a beautiful young woman, elegant, refined and cultured. In short, she is the kind of woman any man would be proud to marry. But there is something reserved about her, and I am not sure if I could ever feel towards her as a man should feel towards his wife. I could imagine her very well as a guest at the Abbey, but I am not certain I could see her as its mistress. She would greet my guests politely, but there would not be the warm welcome for them that there is at Hartfield, where Emma makes everyone feel at home.

I am very willing to fall in love with Jane Fairfax, but so far, love eludes me.


Friday 12 February

I dined with Graham this evening. Miss Bates was there with her mother and Jane. Mr. and Mrs.

Cole were also there, as well as the Otways. Mrs. Lovage, however was not there.

"She has gone to Bath to visit a cousin," said Graham. Graham’s friend, Mr. Longridge, was also there.

"A wonderful party," said Mr. Longridge. "Just the sort of party my wife would have liked. So much good friendship and good cheer." He blew his nose.

"There is nothing like good friendship," said Miss Bates. "I do not know where mother and I would be without it. I often say to her, “Mother, where would we be without such friends?” "

"Very true," said Mr. Longridge, with much feeling.

"We lack for nothing," went on Miss Bates. "I do believe if we were the richest people in the kingdom, we could not be better off than we are. Mr. Woodhouse sent us such a piece of pork, mother and I could not stop talking about it. “Why, this is the finest piece of pork I"ve ever seen,” said Mother. And so it was, for we had some nice cutlets fried, and I do not know when I have tasted better. And Mr. Knightley can never pass our door without asking if we have enough apples, or if we need any more logs for the fire…"

As Miss Bates and Mr. Longridge continued to talk, my attention was claimed by Mrs. Cole, who wanted to talk to me about Elton’s engagement. I knew I could not escape the subject, but it was wearing thin. He seems to have rushed into an engagement in an effort to show that he can do better than Emma’s Harriet. I doubt if there is any true feeling there, on either side. He and his fiancée cannot have known each other more than four weeks, and very possibly less.

"It seems like a great match," Mrs. Coles said. "Miss Augusta Hawkins is an heiress with a dowry of ten thousand pounds. She is very beautiful, and the most accomplished woman Mr. Elton has ever met. I had a letter from Mr. Elton this morning, telling me so."

"It must be very agreeable for him to be marrying such a paragon," I remarked.

"Indeed it must. She is very well-connected. Her brother-in-law, Mr. Suckling, lives at Maple Grove." She seemed to have a moment of doubt, and asked: "Have you heard of Maple Grove?"

"I have not had that pleasure," I said.

"Oh, well it is a long way away, to be sure, so I am not surprised. He - Mr. Elton - will be returning soon to tell us all about it. I am expecting him any day. Mr. Cole and I will be holding a dinner party in his honour. Do say you will come."

I said I would be delighted, though I fear the evening will not interest me. But Elton must be congratulated, and I may as well do it sooner as later.


Monday 15 February

I met Elton at the Coles" dinner party tonight. He was looking very pleased with himself, and could speak of nothing but his dear Augusta.

"My dear Mr. Elton - so propitious for you to return to us the day after St Valentine’s day," said

Miss Bates. "I declare it is so romantic, is it not, Jane? I was just saying to mother this morning, what a coincidence it was that Mr. Elton should return to tell us of his happy suit so close to St Valentine’s day."

"A very happy suit," said Elton, all smiles. "Little did I think, when I quit you all shortly after Christmas, that I would be returning as an affianced man. But as soon as I saw my dear Augusta, I knew she must be mine."

"Ah, that is how it was with me and my dear wife," said Mr. Longridge, wiping a tear from his eye.

"As soon as I saw her in that blue satin frock, I thought, that’s the girl for me."

"Oh, I have always thought blue satin most becoming," said Miss Bates. "I remember Jane had a blue satin gown once, did you not, my love? Colonel Campbell bought it for her. He has always been very good to Jane."

"I am sure he was not the loser by it," said Mr. Longridge with courtly manners. "My dear wife always loved a pretty young girl. We hoped for a daughter ourselves, but it was not to be."

He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief again.

"But come, Mr. Elton, tell us all about your fair Augusta," said Mrs. Cole. "Is she very beautiful?"

Mr. Elton smiled.

"It is not for me to say. You must pay no attention to me. I am a man in love, after all. But I think she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he said.

"Has she any brothers or sisters?" asked Mrs. Cole.

"One sister."

"And do they live in Bath?"

"No, and there is the wonder of it. They live in Bristol. But Augusta visits Bath every winter. A most agreeable place at that season, I might say. There is so much to do, and the people are of the first elegance. I am very fond of Bath."

"Her parents, no doubt are delighted?"

"Alas, her parents are dead. She lives with an uncle, a very respectable man in the law line."

"And when will we see her?" asked Mr. Cole.

"I have persuaded her to name the day, and I am to return to Bath for the wedding. Just as soon as all the arrangements can be made, Augusta will be mine."

"And then you will be bringing her back to Highbury?"

"I will indeed. I wish I had something better to offer her than the Vicarage - she has been used to very fine things at her brother-in-law, Mr. Suckling’s seat, at Maple Grove - but she is not interested in finery. She is a woman who knows how to value the real things of life."

"Ay, my wife was just such a woman," said Mr. Longridge.

There was more in this vein, and it was a relief when the evening was over. Poor Emma! I wonder how she will endure it, having to listen to nothing but Elton and his betrothal, and then Elton and his wedding, and then Elton and his bride.


Wednesday 17 February

Mrs. Weston gave a dinner party this evening for Elton. His betrothal has excited much interest, and I had to listen to his further recitals of Augusta’s perfections.

Emma was one of the party, and I watched her as Elton poured forth the details of his happy love affair. He could not refrain from several triumphant glances in Emma’s direction, and I believe she had an uncomfortable time of it.

"We met by accident - quite by accident," Elton was saying. "I shudder to think what might have become of me had I not come across my dear Augusta quite by chance. It was a happy fate that took me to Bath. I was much taken with Augusta, and I could not forget her, so you can imagine my delight when we met, again by chance. It was at Mr. Green’s - Green is an estimable fellow, who keeps a very fine table. I was looking forward to my evening, but for one thing: I could not forget the face of the lady I had encountered by accident the day before. And then, who should be announced but Miss

Hawkins, and she was the lady I had seen!"

There was a murmur of surprise and approval.

"Not such an unlikely coincidence, considering you were both in the same town," said Weston good-naturedly.

"But to be there on the same day?" said Elton. "When I think that I might have missed her by one evening - the whole course of my life would have been different."

And so he went on.

"And what do you think of this betrothal of Elton’s?" I asked Emma, when I could find her alone.

I wondered if she would admit to trying to catch him for little Harriet. She has never told me so. Indeed, when I mentioned it, she declared quite the opposite. But I am convinced it was so. I wondered, too, if she would admit that he made love to her in the carriage on Christmas Eve.