scoundrel!' - And in a louder, steadier tone, he concluded with, `He will soon be gone. They will soon be in Yorkshire. I am sorry for her. She deserves a better fate.'

Emma understood him; and as soon as she could recover from the flutter of pleasure, excited by such tender consideration, replied,

`You are very kind - but you are mistaken - and I must set you right. - I am not in want of that sort of compassion. My blindness to what was going on, led me to act by them in a way that I must always be ashamed of, and I was very foolishly tempted to say and do many things which may well lay me open to unpleasant conjectures, but I have no other reason to regret that I was not in the secret earlier.'

`Emma!' cried he, looking eagerly at her, `are you, indeed?' - but checking himself - `No, no, I understand you - forgive me - I am pleased that you can say even so much. - He is no object of regret, indeed! and it will not be very long, I hope, before that becomes the acknowledgment of more than your reason. - Fortunate that your affections were not farther entangled! - I could never, I confess, from your manners, assure myself as to the degree of what you felt - I could only be certain that there was a preference - and a preference which I never believed him to deserve. - He is a disgrace to the name of man. - And is he to be rewarded with that sweet young woman? - Jane, Jane, you will be a miserable creature.'

`Mr. Knightley,' said Emma, trying to be lively, but really confused - `I am in a very extraordinary situation. I cannot let you continue in your error; and yet, perhaps, since my manners gave such an impression, I have as much reason to be ashamed of confessing that I never have been at all attached to the person we are speaking of, as it might be natural for a woman to feel in confessing exactly the reverse. - But I never have.'

He listened in perfect silence. She wished him to speak, but he would not. She supposed she must say more before she were entitled to his clemency; but it was a hard case to be obliged still to lower herself in his opinion. She went on, however.

`I have very little to say for my own conduct. - I was tempted by his attentions, and allowed myself to appear pleased. - An old story, probably - a common case - and no more than has happened to hundreds of my sex before; and yet it may not be the more excusable in one who sets up as I do for Understanding. Many circumstances assisted the temptation. He was the son of Mr. Weston - he was continually here - I always found him very pleasant - and, in short, for (with a sigh) let me swell out the causes ever so ingeniously, they all centre in this at last - my vanity was flattered, and I allowed his attentions. Latterly, however - for some time, indeed - I have had no idea of their meaning any thing. - I thought them a habit, a trick, nothing that called for seriousness on my side. He has imposed on me, but he has not injured me. I have never been attached to him. And now I can tolerably comprehend his behaviour. He never wished to attach me. It was merely a blind to conceal his real situation with another. - It was his object to blind all about him; and no one, I am sure, could be more effectually blinded than myself - except that I was not blinded - that it was my good fortune - that, in short, I was somehow or other safe from him.'

She had hoped for an answer here - for a few words to say that her conduct was at least intelligible; but he was silent; and, as far as she could judge, deep in thought. At last, and tolerably in his usual tone, he said,

`I have never had a high opinion of Frank Churchill. - I can suppose, however, that I may have underrated him. My acquaintance with him has been but trifling. - And even if I have not underrated him hitherto, he may yet turn out well. - With such a woman he has a chance. - I have no motive for wishing him ill - and for her sake, whose happiness will be involved in his good character and conduct, I shall certainly wish him well.'

`I have no doubt of their being happy together,' said Emma; `I believe them to be very mutually and very sincerely attached.'


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