Austen Said:

"if I had my writing-desk, I am sure I could produce a specimen. I have a note of his.—Do not you remember, Mrs. Weston, employing him to write for you one day?"

he was employed"—

"Well, well, I have that note; and can shew it after dinner to convince Mr. Knightley."

"Oh! when a gallant young man, like Mr. Frank Churchill,"

"writes to a fair lady like Miss Woodhouse, he will, of course, put forth his best."

about fetching her own letters

to know whether the wet walk of this morning had produced any.

it had;

it would not have been so resolutely encountered but in full expectation of hearing from some one very dear, and

it had not been in vain.

there was an air of greater happiness than usual —a glow both of complexion and spirits.

She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the expense of the Irish mails;—it was at her tongue's end—

not to utter a word that should hurt Jane Fairfax's feelings;

to prevent their making two distinct parties;—with so much perseverance in judging and behaving ill did Mrs. Elton engross Jane Fairfax and slight herself. She and Mrs. Weston were obliged to be almost always either talking together or silent together. Mrs. Elton left them no choice. If Jane repressed her for a little time, she soon began again; and though much that passed between them was in a half-whisper, especially on Mrs. Elton's side, there was no avoiding a knowledge of their principal subjects:

"But I have never fixed on June or any other month —merely looked forward to the summer in general."

"I have not even made any inquiry; I do not wish to make any yet."

"I not aware!"

"dear Mrs. Elton, who can have thought of it as I have done?"

"Colonel and Mrs. Campbell are to be in town again by midsummer,"

"I must spend some time with them; I am sure they will want it;—afterwards I may probably be glad to dispose of myself. But I would not wish you to take the trouble of making any inquiries at present."

"Thank you, but I would rather you did not mention the subject to her; till the time draws nearer, I do not wish to be giving any body trouble."

"Excuse me, ma'am, but this is by no means my intention; I make no inquiry myself, and should be sorry to have any made by my friends. When I am quite determined as to the time, I am not at all afraid of being long unemployed. There are places in town, offices, where inquiry would soon produce something— Offices for the sale— not quite of human flesh— but of human intellect."

"I did not mean, I was not thinking of the slave-trade,"

"governess-trade, I assure you, was all that I had in view; widely different certainly as to the guilt of those who carry it on; but as to the greater misery of the victims, I do not know where it lies. But I only mean to say that there are advertising offices, and that by applying to them I should have no doubt of very soon meeting with something that would do."

"You are very obliging; but as to all that, I am very indifferent; it would be no object to me to be with the rich; my mortifications, I think, would only be the greater; I should suffer more from comparison. A gentleman's family is all that I should condition for."

"You may well class the delight, the honour, and the comfort of such a situation together,"

"they are pretty sure to be equal; however, I am very serious in not wishing any thing to be attempted at present for me. I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mrs. Elton, I am obliged to any body who feels for me, but I am quite serious in wishing nothing to be done till the summer. For two or three months longer I shall remain where I am, and as I am."

they are all coming up to town directly, on Mrs. Churchill's account —she has not been well the whole winter, and thinks Enscombe too cold for her—so they are all to move southward without loss of time."

Mrs. Churchill,

has not been able to leave the sofa for a week together.

she complained,

of being too weak to get into her conservatory without having both his arm and his uncle's!

"I rather hope to satisfy you both,"

"for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic."

"That is very likely. You think so, do not you?"

"Increase!"

"Difference! No indeed I am not."

"Yes,"

"it is Randalls that does it all."

"No,"

"that need not be the consequence. Let them be sent to Donwell. I shall certainly be at leisure."

"Upon my word,"

"you amuse me! I should like to know how many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being of the party; and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure to attend to the little boys. These amazing engagements of mine—what have they been? Dining once with the Coles—and having a ball talked of, which never took place. I can understand you—

your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends at once here, delights you too much to pass unnoticed. But you,

who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I cannot imagine. And as to my dear little boys, I must say, that if Aunt Emma has not time for them, I do not think they would fare much better with Uncle Knightley, who is absent from home about five hours where she is absent one—and who, when he is at home, is either reading to himself or settling his accounts."

it was not for herself she was feeling at all apprehensive or embarrassed; it was for him. Her own attachment had really subsided into a mere nothing; it was not worth thinking of;—but if he, who had undoubtedly been always so much the most in love of the two, were to be returning with the same warmth of sentiment which he had taken away, it would be very distressing. If a separation of two months should not have cooled him, there were dangers and evils before her:—caution for him and for herself would be necessary. She did not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his.

she might be able to keep him from an absolute declaration. That would be so very painful a conclusion of their present acquaintance!

It was a clear thing he was less in love than he had been. Absence, with the conviction probably of her indifference, had produced this very natural and very desirable effect.

"He had seen a group of old acquaintance in the street as he passed —he had not stopped, he would not stop for more than a word—but he had the vanity to think they would be disappointed if he did not call, and much as he wished to stay longer at Hartfield, he must hurry off."

She had no doubt as to his being less in love—but neither his agitated spirits, nor his hurrying away, seemed like a perfect cure; and she was rather inclined to think it implied a dread of her returning power, and a discreet resolution of not trusting himself with her long.