Austen Said:

The gipsies did not wait for the operations of justice; they took themselves off in a hurry. The young ladies of Highbury might have walked again in safety before their panic began, and the whole history dwindled soon into a matter of little importance but to Emma and her nephews:—in her imagination it maintained its ground, and

and still tenaciously setting her right if she varied in the slightest particular from the original recital.

A very few days had passed after this adventure, when Harriet came one morning to Emma with a small parcel in her hand, and after sitting down and hesitating, thus began:

Emma was a good deal surprized; but begged her to speak. There was a seriousness in Harriet's manner which prepared her, quite as much as her words, for something more than ordinary.

she continued,

said Emma,

cried Harriet, warmly.

(blushing as she spoke).—

said she, with a conscious look.

She held the parcel towards her, and Emma read the words Most precious treasures on the top. Her curiosity was greatly excited. Harriet unfolded the parcel, and she looked on with impatience. Within abundance of silver paper was a pretty little Tunbridge-ware box, which Harriet opened: it was well lined with the softest cotton; but, excepting the cotton, Emma saw only a small piece of court-plaister.

said Harriet,

cried Emma, putting her hand before her face, and jumping up,

(sitting down again)—

said Emma, recovering from her state of shame and feeling divided between wonder and amusement. And secretly she added to herself,

resumed Harriet, turning to her box again,

Emma was quite eager to see this superior treasure. It was the end of an old pencil,—the part without any lead.

said Harriet.—

cried Emma;

replied Harriet.

thought Emma,

She

had soon afterwards reason to believe that the beginning was already made, and

could not but hope that

About a fortnight after the alarm, they came to a sufficient explanation, and quite undesignedly. Emma was not thinking of it at the moment, which made the information she received more valuable. She merely said, in the course of some trivial chat,

and thought no more of it, till after a minute's silence she heard Harriet say in a very serious tone,

Emma then looked up, and immediately saw how it was; and after a moment's debate, as to whether it should pass unnoticed or not, replied,

After another short hesitation,

cried Harriet indignantly.—

and Emma could just catch the words,

She then took a longer time for consideration.

and against any thing like such an unreserve as had been, such an open and frequent discussion of hopes and chances, she was perfectly resolved.—She believed it would be wiser for her to say and know at once, all that she meant to say and know.

She had previously determined how far she would proceed, on any application of the sort; and it would be safer for both, to have the judicious law of her own brain laid down with speed.—She was decided, and thus spoke—

Harriet kissed her hand in silent and submissive gratitude. Emma was very decided in thinking such an attachment no bad thing for her friend.

In this state of schemes, and hopes, and connivance, June opened upon Hartfield. To Highbury in general it brought no material change. The Eltons were still talking of a visit from the Sucklings, and of the use to be made of their barouche-landau; and Jane Fairfax was still at her grandmother's; and as the return of the Campbells from Ireland was again delayed, and August, instead of Midsummer, fixed for it, she was likely to remain there full two months longer, provided at least she were able to defeat Mrs. Elton's activity in her service, and save herself from being hurried into a delightful situation against her will.

Mr. Knightley, who, for some reason best known to himself, had certainly taken an early dislike to Frank Churchill, was only growing to dislike him more.

He began to suspect

him of some double dealing in his pursuit of Emma.

But while so many were devoting him to Emma, and Emma herself making him over to Harriet,

Mr. Knightley began to

She was not present when the suspicion first arose. He was dining with the Randalls family, and Jane, at the Eltons'; and he had seen a look, more than a single look, at Miss Fairfax, which, from the admirer of Miss Woodhouse, seemed somewhat out of place. When he was again in their company, he could not help remembering what he had seen; nor could he avoid observations which, unless it were like Cowper and his fire at twilight,

brought him yet stronger suspicion of

He had walked up one day after dinner, as he very often did, to spend his evening at Hartfield. Emma and Harriet were going to walk; he joined them; and, on returning, they fell in with a larger party, who, like themselves, judged it wisest to take their exercise early, as the weather threatened rain; Mr. and Mrs. Weston and their son, Miss Bates and her niece, who had accidentally met. They all united; and, on reaching Hartfield gates, Emma, who knew it was exactly the sort of visiting that would be welcome to her father,

pressed them all

The Randalls party agreed to it immediately; and after a pretty long speech from Miss Bates, which few persons listened to, she also found it possible to accept

As they were turning into the grounds, Mr. Perry passed by on horseback. The gentlemen spoke of his horse.

said Frank Churchill to Mrs. Weston presently,

Mrs. Weston looked surprized, and said,

cried Mr. Weston,

replied his son, laughing,

observed his father,