Mr. Knightley’s Diary

Everywhere I go I hear of no one but Frank Churchill. I called on Miss Bates this morning, thinking I would find a respite, only to discover that he had called on her, and that she could talk of nothing else.

I could not think what he was doing at the Bateses so early in his stay. It was his father’s doing, I suppose. Knowing Miss Bates to be in difficult circumstances, he had made sure his son paid a visit at once, as a mark of respect, and I commended him for it. If it had been left to his son, the visit would probably never have been made.

"Such a handsome young man!" said Miss Bates. "With such an air! Mother was saying we have never seen such a fine young man - a credit to Mr. Weston - Mrs. Weston so pleased - stayed with us for three-quarters of an hour - sure I do not know what we have done to deserve such a distinction. We were all very pleased with him, were we not, Jane?"

Thus appealed to, Miss Fairfax said that he was a very pleasing young man, but her words were not heartfelt. As she is a woman of discernment and taste, if she has found something lacking in him, then something lacking there must be. I tried to encourage her to say more, but she would not be drawn.

"He called to pay his respects to Jane. He met her at Weymouth. You remember I told you that Jane went to Weymouth? That is where she caught her shocking cold. It was when she was nearly swept overboard, I am sure."

"No," Jane murmured, but her aunt would not be silenced.

"You wrote to us not long afterwards, Jane, my dear, and that was when you mentioned you were not feeling well. Mrs. Campbell had commented on it, you said. You told us you were in low spirits, and had been glad to leave Weymouth behind."

I found myself wondering again if Frank Churchill had offended her there. That would account for her low spirits, her relief at leaving Weymouth behind, and it would fit in with my belief of him. Finding her to be elegant and accomplished, he had perhaps mistaken her for a woman of fashion and behaved charmingly towards her, but had then ignored her when he had discovered that she was destined to become a governess. Perhaps he had even flirted with her, or made love to her, before learning his mistake. Seeing her in Highbury must have been a shock to him, and his feelings of guilt probably accounted for his early call.

"It is my belief that that is where she caught such a shocking cold. Mr. Perry is in agreement with me," said Miss Bates.

Miss Fairfax protested that she was well, and I did not add to her distress by saying that she did not look well, but even so, I resolved to send Miss Bates some chickens, in the hope they might tempt Miss Fairfax to eat. More than that I could not do, without arousing the suspicions that Cole had entertained of my being in love with her.

I begin to think such a sentiment impossible. She is graceful and charming, but there is a lack of warmth in her that I am finding it hard to ignore.

Thursday 4 March

I found the Westons at Hartfield this morning, talking about Frank. I did not want to speak of him, but I could not very well leave, so I took up a newspaper and studied it intently.

"I told you he would come!" said Mr. Weston. "Did I not say that he would be with us in the spring? I knew how it would be. As soon as Mrs. Churchill could spare him, he came straight away, and he is very glad he did. He told me so himself."

Weston turned to Emma.

"He admires you greatly," he said.

So! He had seen Emma. I gave a harrumph behind my newspaper. It was a remark which could not fail to please her - or to add to her vanity.

"He thinks you very beautiful and charming," said Mrs. Weston.

If anything was destined to make Emma even more conceited than usual, it was the arrival of Frank Churchill! What hope is there for her better nature to develop if she is constantly surrounded by flattery? I am sure the Westons mean Emma to marry him. That was where all these remarks about her beauty and her charming nature tended.

If Mr. Woodhouse could have understood the treachery being conducted under his very nose, he would have immediately sent for Perry!

Friday 5 March

I returned to Hartfield this morning, drawn there by a desire to find out what Emma thought of Frank Churchill. She could not speak freely in front of the Westons yesterday, but I hoped that today she would tell me the truth: that he was well enough, in a frivolous sort of way, but not the kind of man to appeal to a woman of sense.

"And what do you make of Frank Churchill?" I asked, as Emma sat down opposite me, adding: "I half expected to find him here."

"He has gone to London," she said.

"To London?" I asked in surprise. "There is nothing wrong, I hope? No accident that requires his presence?"

"No." She had the goodness to look a little ashamed. "He has gone to have his hair cut."

I was much gratified.

"Hum! Just the trifling, silly fellow I took him for," I said, retiring behind my newspaper.