Mr Knightley’s Diary (11 page)

I could tell from her expression, though, that she was worried.

Various remedies were discussed; and then, seeing that Miss Fairfax looked upset at all this talk of her health, I talked about the Abbey, about John, Isabella and the children; in short, anything that I thought would lift her spirits.

She smiled a little when I spoke of Henry and John skating on the stream, for she met them as very small children, when she visited us two years ago.

'Oh, yes, Jane was so pleased to hear about the children. We had a visit from Miss Woodhouse, and she was so obliging as to tell us all about them,' said Miss Bates.

Her remark pleased me. I had been going to call at Hartfield and suggest that Emma visit Miss Fairfax, but I was glad that her own good sense had already prompted her to call.

I spent a little while longer with the Bateses, then I went on to Hartfield, pleased with my visit. I was eager for Emma's opinion of Miss Fairfax, and I was both surprised and happy to discover that, for once, Emma seemed to be fully aware of Miss Fairfax's merits.

It made me glad of Emma's friendship with Harriet which has, I believe, served as a useful counterpoint in showing Emma how to value Jane Fairfax.

'She is certainly handsome; she is better than handsome!' were Emma's first words to me.

I was very gratified to hear them

'I had forgotten how elegant Miss Fairfax is,' she went on. 'A very pretty height, and a graceful figure, though I thought she looked a little thin.'

'So did I!' I joined in, pleased to know that, for once, we thought alike. 'But then, she has been ill.'

'Yes, so her aunt told me. A cold, I believe. It is strange for a cold to last so long,' she added thoughtfully.

There was something in her eye as she said it, and I feared mischief, but I found it was nothing worse than a desire to be useful, after all, for Emma continued: 'I do not like to think of her going as a governess, for so much elegance and beauty will be wasted in the schoolroom. It is a pity there is no young man in Highbury who could rescue her from that fate.'

'Matchmaking again?' I asked her, but I was not displeased. A husband would be the very answer to Miss Fairfax's situation, and relieve her from the unappetizing life before her--a life which, I believe, is troubling Miss Fairfax, and ruining her health.

Friday 22 January

Today was busy. I rode over to Kingston this morning and visited the bank, and then visited my tenants. The recent heavy rain had caused damage to the roofs in several of the farm labourers' cottages, and repairs were needed. I have arranged for them to be done as soon as there is a dry spell.

So busy was I that I was almost late arriving at Graham's. After exchanging civilities, I sat next to Mr and Mrs Cole, and the conversation turned to Jane Fairfax. We all expressed our sympathy for her fate, our concern for her health and our pleasure in having her amongst us once again.

After dinner, as soon as the ladies had left us, the conversation moved on to business. We spoke of the war, and of Napoleon, and hoped the hostilities would soon be at an end.

When we rejoined the ladies, Mrs Lovage played and I joined her at the pianoforte. We sang together, and then she relinquished her place to Miss Cox, who played a sonata.

I returned to the Abbey, and I found an invitation to dinner at Hartfield waiting for me. I was pleased. I wanted to see Emma and Miss Fairfax, and to see how they got on together.

I cannot marry Miss Fairfax if she does not get on with Emma.

Saturday 23 January

I had high hopes of the dinner party at Hartfield, and I was not disappointed. I wished to see a further intimacy developing between Emma and Jane Fairfax, and I was gratified to see that it was so. Emma was polite, Jane was graceful, and they seemed to enjoy each other's company.

Emma was an excellent hostess. She drew Miss Fairfax out by talking of Miss Fairfax's friend, Miss Campbell, and Miss Campbell's new husband, Mr Dixon. He sounded to be a gentlemanlike man, and it seemed that Miss Campbell had been fortunate in her choice.

Emma also drew forth some information about Frank Churchill. He was at Weymouth in the autumn, at the same time as Miss Fairfax, and so Miss Fairfax had made his acquaintance. This fact was of great interest to our fellow guests, not all of whom had heard of it, and it made the conversation particularly gratifying to the Westons, who were eager to hear further details about him.

Miss Fairfax said little, being still in low spirits, but what she said amounted to the fact that he was a very gentlemanlike man with agreeable manners, and was a general favourite.

I was surprised, but pleased, that Emma did not want to know more about him. She seemed more interested in the Dixons. Indeed, her questions were so pointed that I suspected some mischief but what mischief could there be in her asking about Jane's newly married friend? It was just a woman's curiosity, I suppose, as to how Miss Campbell and Mr Dixon met, and how often Miss Fairfax was with them.

Thursday 28 January

January has proved to be busy both for me and for Highbury. I have had a great deal to do at the Abbey, and when I called in on Cole this morning, I heard that Elton was to marry! Cole showed me the letter. It was short and to the point.

Poor Emma! I had better warn her of it, so that she is prepared when it becomes generally spoken of. It will give her a chance to prepare her little friend as well. If it were not for Harriet, I would be glad that this has happened. It will make intercourse between us all much easier, and smooth over any problems that might have arisen. Otherwise, embarrassment and coldness must have been the result of Emma's misunderstanding. But Elton's forthcoming marriage will provide so much to talk about, that the past will be forgotten. Any change in his habits will be attributed to his new situation. He will no longer be expected to dine at Hartfield so much, which will be a blessing both for him and for Emma.

For Harriet, though, the news must hurt. I comforted myself with the thought that it will hurt her pride only. I do not believe she was ever in love with Elton, or that she would have thought of him at all if Emma had not put the idea into her mind.

Perhaps now she may be allowed to go back to her own life, and to marry Robert Martin, as she should have done in the first place.

As for Emma, there will be some humiliation for her, but she will take no lasting harm from it.

Besides, she has other things to occupy her mind.

I was pleased to see her being so friendly to Jane Fairfax yesterday. If I do not mistake my guess, the two of them are well on the way to becoming friends, and a far more suitable friendship it will be than the ones Emma has so far indulged in.

I went round to Hartfield after leaving Cole, to persuade Mr Woodhouse that he really must build a new hen-house, and then I was free to talk to Emma.

'It was a very pleasant evening yesterday,' I said. 'I think everyone thought so.'

'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,' said Mr Woodhouse. '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.'

I was pleased to have the subject of Jane Fairfax introduced, and I could not agree more with Mr Woodhouse. Jane Fairfax is very pretty indeed.

'You and Miss Fairfax gave us some very good music,' I said to Emma. '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, but I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield,' she said, rebuking me.

I let it pass. I encouraged her to talk of Jane Fairfax, saying that she had seemed pleased with Miss Fairfax.

'I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions, and amused to think how little information I obtained,' she returned saucily.

I was disappointed she had not liked Jane more.

'She must have found the evening agreeable, Mr Knightley,' said Mr Woodhouse, 'because she had Emma.'

'And Emma because she had Miss Fairfax.'

I was gratified to hear Emma say: '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.'

I was so warmed by this generous tribute that I was reminded of my news, and I resolved to speak at once, so that I could prepare Emma for the shock, but at that minute Miss Bates and her niece were announced and my chance was lost.

I had to listen as Miss Bates said: 'Oh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? Yes, very well, I thank you. My dear Miss Woodhouse--I come quite overpowered. Such a beautiful hindquarter of pork! You are too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr Elton is going to be married.'

And so Emma heard about the death of her schemes, along with Miss Bates's health and a discussion of a hindquarter of pork. She was surprised; she blushed; but she took it well.

'There is my news: I thought it would interest you,' I said to her.

The subject furnished our talk for the rest of the morning. Elton was described to Miss Fairfax, who said very little, and I began to realize why Emma thought her reserved. But I think her merely quiet. It is a result, no doubt, of her present unsettled situation. Her poor health can, I am sure, be attributed to the same cause.

Fortunately, Emma did not appear unduly distressed, and this led me to believe that news of Elton's marriage was not wholly unexpected. She must have already known that he would never marry Harriet, and I found myself wondering again what exactly had happened in the carriage on Christmas Eve. Had he said so? Had he been horrified at the suggestion? Had he proposed to Emma? I wished I knew.

Meanwhile, Miss Bates was still talking of Elton.

'I always fancied he would marry a local young lady, some young lady hereabouts; not that I ever--Mrs Cole once whispered to me--but I immediately said, "No, Mr Elton is a most worthy young man--but"--In short, I do not think I am particularly quick at those sorts of discoveries. I do not pretend to it. What is before me, I see. At the same time, nobody could wonder if Mr Elton should have aspired--'

Emma was growing more and more uncomfortable, and at last Miss Bates perceived it.

'Miss Woodhouse lets me chatter on, so good-humouredly. She knows I would not offend for the world.'

And indeed she would not, but her tongue is so rapid, she blunders before she knows what she is saying.

I looked at Emma, but she merely smiled, as though nothing untoward had been said.

It cannot have been easy for her to listen to Miss Bates suggesting, in her artless way, that Mr Elton had aspired to her hand. It must have been even harder for her to think that the whole village knew of it. But she bore it well. Bravo, Emma!

Miss Bates herself realized the conversation was not well-chosen and started another thread, only this one was unfortunately no more happy than the last.

'How does Harriet do?' she asked. 'She seems quite recovered now.'

Emma said that she was, but I pitied her, as I saw from her blush that she remembered her folly with regard to her friend.

And then at last Miss Bates hit on a topic that could not fail to please everyone in the room.

'Have you heard from Mrs John Knightley lately? Oh! those dear little children. Jane, do you know I always fancy Mr Dixon like Mr John Knightley? I mean in person--tall, and with that sort of look--and not very talkative.'

Elton was forgotten, and before long Miss Bates was rising to leave. I encouraged her. I felt that Emma had suffered enough for one morning.

Miss Fairfax being tired, I offered her my arm, as I, too, was leaving. She took it gladly.

I barely felt her weight, she is grown so thin. I am glad that Perry has seen her, to make sure there is nothing more seriously wrong with her than a cold. I must redouble my efforts to help her. I would not see her fade away for the want of a friend, and, perhaps one day, I might be something more.

I escorted her and her aunt back to their home, which we reached just as it was coming on to rain, and Miss Bates pressed me to come inside until it stopped. I was happy to do so.

I took the opportunity of talking to Miss Fairfax about books, about music, about her friends the Campbells, in short about anything and everything, but she said very little. It was much more difficult for me to converse with her than it was for me to converse with Emma, but allowances must be made for shyness. She has only just returned to Highbury, after all.

Once the weather improved I set off for the Abbey, and having some business at Ford's, I passed through Highbury. I had almost reached the shop when I saw an interesting thing. Harriet Smith emerged from the door and set off towards Hartfield. Not a moment later, Robert Martin appeared and ran after her. They talked for a minute, and then Harriet set off in a different direction, taking the road past Mr Cole's stables. From the hesitations and embarrassment apparent on both sides, it seemed they were not comfortable with each other, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they were not comfortable with the situation. With each other, if left to their own devices, I think they could be very comfortable indeed.

Friday 29 January

I called at Abbey Mill Farm today. Robert Martin was not at home, but Mrs Martin made me welcome and asked me if I would wait. I said I would, and after the usual pleasantries and comments on the farm, I remarked that it had been fortunate for Miss Smith to see Robert the previous day, as he had been able to warn her away from the flooded path. Mrs Martin was at first rather cold, saying she hoped her son always remembered his manners, but she soon warmed to her theme and it became clear that she was still very fond of Miss Smith.