Austen Said:

"Was he agreeable?"—

"He was generally thought so."

"Did he appear a sensible young man; a young man of information?"—

"At a watering-place, or in a common London acquaintance, it was difficult to decide on such points. Manners were all that could be safely judged of, under a much longer knowledge than they had yet had of Mr. Churchill. She believed every body found his manners pleasing."

Emma could not forgive her.

"I am happy you approved,"

"but I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield."

"Miss Fairfax is reserved."

"You think her diffident. I do not see it."

"Oh! no; I was pleased with my own perseverance in asking questions; and amused to think how little information I obtained."

"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."

"My dear papa, I sent the whole hind-quarter. I knew you would wish it. There will be the leg to be salted, you know, which is so very nice, and the loin to be dressed directly in any manner they like."

"News! Oh! yes, I always like news. What is it?—why do you smile so?—where did you hear it?—at Randalls?"

"Oh! my dear sir, how are you this morning? My dear Miss Woodhouse— I come quite over-powered. Such a beautiful hind-quarter of pork! You are too bountiful! Have you heard the news? Mr. Elton is going to be married."

"But where could you hear it?"

"Where could you possibly hear it, Mr. Knightley? For it is not five minutes since I received Mrs. Cole's note— no, it cannot be more than five—or at least ten —for I had got my bonnet and spencer on, just ready to come out —I was only gone down to speak to Patty again about the pork —Jane was standing in the passage— were not you, Jane?—for

my mother was so afraid that

we had not any salting-pan large enough.

So I said I would go down and see, and Jane said,

'Shall I go down instead? for I think you have a little cold, and Patty has been washing the kitchen.'—

'Oh! my dear,' said I—well, and just then came the note. A Miss Hawkins— that's all I know. A Miss Hawkins of Bath. But, Mr. Knightley, how could you possibly have heard it? for the very moment Mr. Cole told Mrs. Cole of it, she sat down and wrote to me. A Miss Hawkins—"

"Well! that is quite —I suppose there never was a piece of news more generally interesting. My dear sir, you really are too bountiful.

My mother desires

her very best compliments and regards, and a thousand thanks, and

says

you really quite oppress her."

"Oh! my dear sir,

as my mother says,

our friends are only too good to us.

If ever there were people who, without having great wealth themselves, had every thing they could wish for, I am sure it is us. We may well say that 'our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.' Well, Mr. Knightley, and so you actually saw the letter; well—"

"Mr. Elton going to be married!"

"He will have every body's wishes for his happiness."

"A new neighbour for us all, Miss Woodhouse!"

"my mother is so pleased!—

she says

she cannot bear to have the poor old Vicarage without a mistress.

This is great news, indeed. Jane, you have never seen Mr. Elton!—no wonder that you have such a curiosity to see him."

"No —I have never seen Mr. Elton,"

"is he— is he a tall man?"

"Who shall answer that question?"

"My father would say 'yes,' Mr. Knightley 'no;' and Miss Bates and I that he is just the happy medium. When you have been here a little longer, Miss Fairfax, you will understand that Mr. Elton is the standard of perfection in Highbury, both in person and mind."

"Very true, Miss Woodhouse, so she will. He is the very best young man —But, my dear Jane, if you remember, I told you yesterday he was precisely the height of Mr. Perry. Miss Hawkins,—I dare say, an excellent young woman. His extreme attention to my mother — —wanting her to sit in the vicarage pew, that she might hear the better, for my mother is a little deaf, you know—it is not much, but she does not hear quite quick. Jane says that Colonel Campbell is a little deaf. He fancied bathing might be good for it— the warm bath —but

she says

it did him no lasting benefit.

Colonel Campbell, you know, is quite our angel. And Mr. Dixon seems a very charming young man, quite worthy of him. It is such a happiness when good people get together —and they always do. Now, here will be Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins; and there are the Coles, such very good people; and the Perrys —I suppose there never was a happier or a better couple than Mr. and Mrs. Perry. I say, sir,"

"I think there are few places with such society as Highbury. I always say, we are quite blessed in our neighbours.—My dear sir, if there is one thing my mother loves better than another, it is pork —a roast loin of pork—"

"As to who, or what Miss Hawkins is, or how long he has been acquainted with her,"

"nothing I suppose can be known. One feels that it cannot be a very long acquaintance. He has been gone only four weeks."

"You are silent, Miss Fairfax— but I hope you mean to take an interest in this news. You, who have been hearing and seeing so much of late on these subjects, who must have been so deep in the business on Miss Campbell's account —we shall not excuse your being indifferent about Mr. Elton and Miss Hawkins."

"When I have seen Mr. Elton,"