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speaking plain enough to be very intelligible to Emma. He had been used to think her unjust to Jane, and
had now great pleasure in marking an improvement.
"A very pleasant evening," he began, as soon as Mr. Woodhouse had been talked into what was
necessary, told that he understood, and the papers swept away;--"particularly pleasant. You and Miss
Fairfax gave us some very good music. I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting at one's
ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women; sometimes with music and sometimes
with conversation. I am sure Miss Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant, Emma. You left nothing
undone. I was glad you made her play so much, for having no instrument at her grandmother's, it must
have been a real indulgence."
"I am happy you approved," said Emma, smiling; "but I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to
guests at Hartfield."
"No, my dear," said her father instantly; "that I am sure you are not. There is nobody half so attentive
and civil as you are. If any thing, you are too attentive. The muffin last night--if it had been handed round
once, I think it would have been enough."
"No," said Mr. Knightley, nearly at the same time; "you are not often deficient; not often deficient
either in manner or comprehension. I think you understand me, therefore."
An arch look expressed--"I understand you well enough;" but she said only, "Miss Fairfax is
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reserved."
"I always told you she was--a little; but you will soon overcome all that part of her reserve which
ought to be overcome, all that has its foundation in diffidence. What arises from discretion must be
honoured."
"You think her diffident. I do not see it."
"My dear Emma," said he, moving from his chair into one close by her, "you are not going to tell me,
I hope, that you had not a pleasant evening."
"Oh! no; I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions; and amused to think how little
information I obtained."
"I am disappointed," was his only answer.
"I hope every body had a pleasant evening," said Mr. Woodhouse, in his quiet way. "I had. Once, I
felt the fire rather too much; but then I moved back my chair a little, a very little, and it did not disturb me.
Miss Bates was very chatty and good-humoured, as she always is, though she speaks rather too quick.
However, she is very agreeable, and Mrs. Bates too, in a different way. I like old friends; and Miss Jane
Fairfax is a very pretty sort of young lady, a very pretty and a very well-behaved young lady indeed. She
must have found the evening agreeable, Mr. Knightley, because she had Emma."
"True, sir; and Emma, because she had Miss Fairfax."
Emma saw his anxiety, and wishing to appease it, at least for the present, said, and with a sincerity
which no one could question--
"She is a sort of elegant creature that one cannot keep one's eyes from. I am always watching her to
admire; and I do pity her from my heart."
Mr. Knightley looked as if he were more gratified than he cared to express; and before he could
make any reply, Mr. Woodhouse, whose thoughts were on the Bates's, said--
"It is a great pity that their circumstances should be so confined! a great pity indeed! and I have often
wished--but it is so little one can venture to do--small, trifling presents, of any thing uncommon-- Now
we have killed a porker, and Emma thinks of sending them a loin or a leg; it is very small and
delicate--Hartfield pork is not like any other pork--but still it is pork--and, my dear Emma, unless one
could be sure of their making it into steaks, nicely fried, as ours are fried, without the smallest grease, and
not roast it, for no stomach can bear roast pork--I think we had better send the leg-- do not you think
so, my dear?"
"My dear papa, I sent the whole hind-quarter. I knew you would wish it. There will be the leg to be
salted, you know, which is so very nice, and the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like."
"That's right, my dear, very right. I had not thought of it before, but that is the best way. They must
not over-salt the leg; and then, if it is not over-salted, and if it is very thoroughly boiled, just as Serle boils
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