`My dear Emma, I have told you what led me to think of it. I do not want the match - I do not want to injure dear little Henry - but the idea has been given me by circumstances; and if Mr. Knightley really wished to marry, you would not have him refrain on Henry's account, a boy of six years old, who knows nothing of the matter?'

`Yes, I would. I could not bear to have Henry supplanted. - Mr. Knightley marry! - No, I have never had such an idea, and I cannot adopt it now. And Jane Fairfax, too, of all women!'

`Nay, she has always been a first favourite with him, as you very well know.'

`But the imprudence of such a match!'

`I am not speaking of its prudence; merely its probability.'

`I see no probability in it, unless you have any better foundation than what you mention. His good-nature, his humanity, as I tell you, would be quite enough to account for the horses. He has a great regard for the Bateses, you know, independent of Jane Fairfax - and is always glad to shew them attention. My dear Mrs. Weston, do not take to match-making. You do it very ill. Jane Fairfax mistress of the Abbey! - Oh! no, no; - every feeling revolts. For his own sake, I would not have him do so mad a thing.'

`Imprudent, if you please - but not mad. Excepting inequality of fortune, and perhaps a little disparity of age, I can see nothing unsuitable.'

`But Mr. Knightley does not want to marry. I am sure he has not the least idea of it. Do not put it into his head. Why should he marry? - He is as happy as possible by himself; with his farm, and his sheep, and his library, and all the parish to manage; and he is extremely fond of his brother's children. He has no occasion to marry, either to fill up his time or his heart.'

`My dear Emma, as long as he thinks so, it is so; but if he really loves Jane Fairfax - '

`Nonsense! He does not care about Jane Fairfax. In the way of love, I am sure he does not. He would do any good to her, or her family; but - '

`Well,' said Mrs. Weston, laughing, `perhaps the greatest good he could do them, would be to give Jane such a respectable home.'

`If it would be good to her, I am sure it would be evil to himself; a very shameful and degrading connexion. How would he bear to have Miss Bates belonging to him? - To have her haunting the Abbey, and thanking him all day long for his great kindness in marrying Jane? - ``So very kind and obliging! - But he always had been such a very kind neighbour!'' And then fly off, through half a sentence, to her mother's old petticoat. ``Not that it was such a very old petticoat either - for still it would last a great while - and, indeed, she must thankfully say that their petticoats were all very strong.'''

`For shame, Emma! Do not mimic her. You divert me against my conscience. And, upon my word, I do not think Mr. Knightley would be much disturbed by Miss Bates. Little things do not irritate him. She might talk on; and if he wanted to say any thing himself, he would only talk louder, and drown her voice. But the question is not, whether it would be a bad connexion for him, but whether he wishes it; and I think he does. I have heard him speak, and so must you, so very highly of Jane Fairfax! The interest he takes in her - his anxiety about her health - his concern that she should have no happier prospect! I have heard him express himself so warmly on those points! - Such an admirer of her performance on the pianoforte, and of her voice! I have heard him say that he could listen to her for ever. Oh! and I had almost forgotten one idea that occurred to me - this pianoforte that has been sent here by somebody - though we have all been so well satisfied to consider it a present from the Campbells, may it not be from Mr. Knightley? I cannot help suspecting him. I think he is just the person to do it, even without being in love.'