Mr. Knightley’s Diary

"Ah, that is how it was with me and my dear wife," said Mr. Longridge, wiping a tear from his eye.

"As soon as I saw her in that blue satin frock, I thought, that’s the girl for me."

"Oh, I have always thought blue satin most becoming," said Miss Bates. "I remember Jane had a blue satin gown once, did you not, my love? Colonel Campbell bought it for her. He has always been very good to Jane."

"I am sure he was not the loser by it," said Mr. Longridge with courtly manners. "My dear wife always loved a pretty young girl. We hoped for a daughter ourselves, but it was not to be."

He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief again.

"But come, Mr. Elton, tell us all about your fair Augusta," said Mrs. Cole. "Is she very beautiful?"

Mr. Elton smiled.

"It is not for me to say. You must pay no attention to me. I am a man in love, after all. But I think she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he said.

"Has she any brothers or sisters?" asked Mrs. Cole.

"One sister."

"And do they live in Bath?"

"No, and there is the wonder of it. They live in Bristol. But Augusta visits Bath every winter. A most agreeable place at that season, I might say. There is so much to do, and the people are of the first elegance. I am very fond of Bath."

"Her parents, no doubt are delighted?"

"Alas, her parents are dead. She lives with an uncle, a very respectable man in the law line."

"And when will we see her?" asked Mr. Cole.

"I have persuaded her to name the day, and I am to return to Bath for the wedding. Just as soon as all the arrangements can be made, Augusta will be mine."

"And then you will be bringing her back to Highbury?"

"I will indeed. I wish I had something better to offer her than the Vicarage - she has been used to very fine things at her brother-in-law, Mr. Suckling’s seat, at Maple Grove - but she is not interested in finery. She is a woman who knows how to value the real things of life."

"Ay, my wife was just such a woman," said Mr. Longridge.

There was more in this vein, and it was a relief when the evening was over. Poor Emma! I wonder how she will endure it, having to listen to nothing but Elton and his betrothal, and then Elton and his wedding, and then Elton and his bride.

Wednesday 17 February

Mrs. Weston gave a dinner party this evening for Elton. His betrothal has excited much interest, and I had to listen to his further recitals of Augusta’s perfections.

Emma was one of the party, and I watched her as Elton poured forth the details of his happy love affair. He could not refrain from several triumphant glances in Emma’s direction, and I believe she had an uncomfortable time of it.

"We met by accident - quite by accident," Elton was saying. "I shudder to think what might have become of me had I not come across my dear Augusta quite by chance. It was a happy fate that took me to Bath. I was much taken with Augusta, and I could not forget her, so you can imagine my delight when we met, again by chance. It was at Mr. Green’s - Green is an estimable fellow, who keeps a very fine table. I was looking forward to my evening, but for one thing: I could not forget the face of the lady I had encountered by accident the day before. And then, who should be announced but Miss

Hawkins, and she was the lady I had seen!"

There was a murmur of surprise and approval.

"Not such an unlikely coincidence, considering you were both in the same town," said Weston good-naturedly.

"But to be there on the same day?" said Elton. "When I think that I might have missed her by one evening - the whole course of my life would have been different."

And so he went on.

"And what do you think of this betrothal of Elton’s?" I asked Emma, when I could find her alone.

I wondered if she would admit to trying to catch him for little Harriet. She has never told me so. Indeed, when I mentioned it, she declared quite the opposite. But I am convinced it was so. I wondered, too, if she would admit that he made love to her in the carriage on Christmas Eve.

But she admitted nothing. She said only: "From all he says, Miss Hawkins seems to be a handsome and accomplished woman. I wish them both very well."

Well done, Emma! I thought with admiration.

Elton’s triumphant glances in her direction, his dwelling on his beloved’s dowry and her connections at Maple Grove, had all been intended to humiliate her, but they had not done so. She had risen above them, and behaved perfectly. Not even such a shameful display on Elton’s part had been enough to make her petty-minded, or to prompt her to say something rude about Augusta Hawkins.

And that is why, though I am frequently exasperated by her, and often despair of her, I always find Emma endearing.

Saturday 20 February

Elton has at last departed for Bath, and we are left in peace. It is a busy time of year at the Abbey with the sheep. The weather is not propitious, as we have had more snow, but my shepherds know their job, and I hope we will have a good number of lambs this year.