Austen Said:

"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—"

"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?—

And then fly off, through half a sentence, to her mother's old petticoat.

"Then it can be no argument to prove that he is in love. But I do not think it is at all a likely thing for him to do. Mr. Knightley does nothing mysteriously."

"Very well; and if he had intended to give her one, he would have told her so."

"You take up an idea, Mrs. Weston, and run away with it; as you have many a time reproached me with doing. I see no sign of attachment —I believe nothing of the pianoforte—and proof only shall convince me that Mr. Knightley has any thought of marrying Jane Fairfax."

She could see nothing but evil in it.

It would be a great disappointment to Mr. John Knightley; consequently to Isabella. A real injury to the children— a most mortifying change, and material loss to them all;—a very great deduction from her father's daily comfort—and, as to herself, she could not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey. A Mrs. Knightley for them all to give way to!—No —Mr. Knightley must never marry. Little Henry must remain the heir of Donwell.

"I often feel concern,"

"that I dare not make our carriage more useful on such occasions. It is not that I am without the wish; but you know how impossible my father would deem it that James should put-to for such a purpose."

"This present from the Campbells,"

"this pianoforte is very kindly given."

This would be a trial. He was no dancer in general. If he were to be very alert in engaging Jane Fairfax now, it might augur something. There was no immediate appearance. No; he was talking to Mrs. Cole— he was looking on unconcerned; Jane was asked by somebody else, and he was still talking to Mrs. Cole.

She must have delighted the Coles— worthy people, who deserved to be made happy!—And left a name behind her that would not soon die away.

It was hardly right; but it had been so strong an idea, that it would escape her, and his submission to all that she told, was a compliment to her penetration, which made it difficult for her to be quite certain that she ought to have held her tongue.

"Don't class us together, Harriet. My playing is no more like her's, than a lamp is like sunshine."

"Those who knew any thing about it, must have felt the difference. The truth is, Harriet, that my playing is just good enough to be praised, but Jane Fairfax's is much beyond it."

"Ah! but Jane Fairfax has them both, Harriet."

"Just as they always do— very vulgar."

what they had told her,

"Oh!"

"Oh!"

"She meant to be impertinently curious, just as such an Anne Cox should be."

"Very likely.—I think they are, without exception, the most vulgar girls in Highbury."

"I am here on no business of my own,"

"I am only waiting for my friend. She will probably have soon done, and then we shall go home. But you had better go with Mrs. Weston and hear the instrument."

"I do not believe any such thing,"

"I am persuaded that you can be as insincere as your neighbours, when it is necessary; but there is no reason to suppose the instrument is indifferent. Quite otherwise indeed, if I understood Miss Fairfax's opinion last night."

if she wanted plain muslin it was of no use to look at figured; and

a blue ribbon, be it ever so beautiful, would still never match her yellow pattern.

"It is not worth while, Harriet, to give Mrs. Ford the trouble of two parcels."

"That you do not give another half-second to the subject. To Hartfield, if you please, Mrs. Ford."

"very happy to wait on Mrs. Bates, &c.,"

she had not yet possessed the instrument long enough to touch it without emotion; she must reason herself into the power of performance;

"It is not fair,"

"mine was a random guess. Do not distress her."

"Till I have a letter from Colonel Campbell,"

"I can imagine nothing with any confidence. It must be all conjecture."

This amiable, upright, perfect Jane Fairfax was apparently cherishing very reprehensible feelings.

"You speak too plain. She must understand you."

"But really, I am half ashamed, and wish I had never taken up the idea."

"She is not entirely without it, I think."

"Yes,"

"we heard his kind offers, we heard every thing."

it really time to be at home; the visit had already lasted long;

"It would be a crowd —a sad crowd; and what could be worse than dancing without space to turn in?"

"No, no,"

"you are quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful to be standing so close! Nothing can be farther from pleasure than to be dancing in a crowd— and a crowd in a little room!"

Had she intended ever to marry him, it might have been worth while to pause and consider, and try to understand the value of his preference, and the character of his temper; but for all the purposes of their acquaintance, he was quite amiable enough.

"The Crown!"