Mr. Knightley’s Diary

"Oh, yes, the very thing," said Emma. "It must be done well. I owe my friend no less."

"Can you not ask Isabella to have it done in London?" asked Mrs. Weston.

This Mr. Woodhouse could not bear.

"She must not stir outside in the fogs of December. She will take cold. I am surprised at your thinking of it," he said to Mrs. Weston reproachfully. "You would never have thought of such a thing if you had stayed here with us at Hartfield."

Mrs. Weston was admonished. I was about to offer my services, as I had to go to London, when Elton stepped in and offered to take it himself.

"You are too good," said Emma, smiling all the while. "I would not think of troubling you."

"It is no trouble."

"If you are sure, then it would be a relief to have someone of superior taste to undertake the commission," she said, and I saw a look of pleasure cross his face. "I would undertake to wrap the picture very well, so that it will not give you too much trouble."

"No trouble is too much. That is to say it is no trouble, no trouble at all," he said. Then finished with a sigh, saying: "What a precious deposit!"

I thought he had gone too far, and I was sure Emma would balk at that, but though she looked rather surprised she said nothing.

I almost said something, but I decided against it, for no doubt the muddle will be cleared up soon.

Harriet will take no hurt from it, for I am sure Emma will not have raised false hopes by mentioning her scheme to her friend - that would be going too far, even for Emma! - but there will be a reckoning with Elton, and I hope Emma will be chastened. Once she stops trying to live Elton’s life, I hope she might put more effort into living her own.

Thursday 3 December

I was more pleased than ever that Emma had given a little polish to Harriet, and that she had removed some of her schoolgirl habits, for I have had a very interesting visit from Robert Martin today. He called at Donwell Abbey this evening and he asked if I could spare him ten minutes. I told him that I could spare him as much time as he needed, thinking he had come to speak to me about the farm. I was much surprised, then, when he stood in front of my desk without any of his usual confidence, indeed much like a schoolboy standing in front of the desk of his master. He turned his hat in his hand as if he did not know where to begin, and I was astonished to see a slight flush spring to his cheek. The cause of his agitation soon became clear.

"I"ve come to ask for your advice, Mr. Knightley," he said.

"I will give you whatever help I can, Robert, you know that," I said.

"Yes, I do."

"What is the matter?" I asked him, to help him on his way.

"It is this way," he said, then added, not very helpfully: "I trust your judgement, Mr. Knightley.

You"ve helped me many a time in the past, and I hope you can help me now." He cleared his throat, and I wondered if he would ever get to the point. "I am beforehand with the world, and doing well with the farm. My mother and sisters want for nothing, I"ve seen to that."

I said nothing, wondering where all this was leading.

"Well, Mr. Knightley, the thing is this. I am of an age to marry, and being so well set up with the farm, and after seeing Harriet - that is, Miss Smith - and her being so pretty and well-spoken, and being a good friend of my sisters, and a favourite with my mother - that is, I am not marrying her for my mother or my sisters but for myself, because a man needs a wife and I am a man..."

He stopped, having tied himself in knots, and I could feel some sympathy for him. I remembered how it was with John, when he proposed to Isabella. He, too, was like a schoolboy when he left the Abbey that morning. His air of address had completely deserted him.

"You do not need my permission to marry, Robert," I said, as he paused.

"No, Mr. Knightley, I know that, I need no man’s permission, but I was just wanting a bit of advice. I was wondering what you would think of me marrying so young, and whether you think I would be wrong to ask Miss Smith, as she is so young, too. And then…" He went as red as a turkey-cock. "The thing is, Mr. Knightley, Miss Smith being a friend of Miss Woodhouse’s, and being so pretty and all, I was wondering if she wasn"t too far above me?"

I was astounded! A penniless girl with no name, being above an honest farmer? A man with a comfortable living and a good name in the neighbourhood?

"Not at all," I told him. I felt I should offer a word of caution. "As long as you are sure you can afford it?"

"Oh, yes, I"ve been into all that, and I"ve talked it over with my mother and sisters, too. They"re as eager for it as I am."

"Then I advise you to marry Miss Smith, with my blessing. She is a pretty young woman with a very sweet nature and, moreover, she seemed to be very contented when I saw her at Abbey Mill Farm.

I am sure you will be very happy together."