Mr. Knightley’s Diary

"Who? You have already discounted Elton, and quite right, too. She is too good for Elton. But who else is there? She will marry no one related to Highbury - unless she marries Weston’s son. He is the right age, and he is a good-looking man, by all accounts."

"She can do better than Frank Churchill! A man who does not know his duty, who writes flowery letters that deliver nothing but promise everything, a weakling who cannot do right when it is under his nose. Such a man will not do for Emma."

"She might not feel as you do. Women are strange creatures. They like a handsome face, and she must have someone, after all. Besides, on reflection, I think you are right. You are too old for Emma."

"I am not yet in my dotage!" I returned.

"Have it your own way!" he said. "You are too old for her, and not too old!"

"Perhaps, before you find a mate for me, you should find one for yourself," I said.

"I might have done."

I was immediately curious, and encouraged him to tell me about Miss Turner, a young lady he met at a soirée six weeks ago. He confided in me that he meant to marry her, if she would have him.

I retired to Brunswick Square at last. After spending an hour with John and Isabella, I retired to bed.

As I went upstairs, I thought again of what Routledge had said. Marry Emma? Ridiculous!

Thursday 18 March

I thought of Routledge’s words again this morning. Marry Emma? Impossible! I am not in love with her, and my dislike of Frank Churchill has nothing to do with jealousy. It is just that I do not think it would be good for her to marry him. Now he is no longer in Highbury, I am sure Emma will think no more about him.

Monday 22 March

Work on the path is at last finished, and I examined it to make sure the work was well done, then went over the costs with William Larkins. We managed to spend more than we had anticipated, but it was well worth doing, and I am looking forward to getting John’s approval of it when he visits us.

Tuesday 23 March

Elton has named his wedding-day at last, and will soon be back among us. I heard it first at the whist club, where it produced a variety of reactions.

"Happy man," said Longridge, blowing his nose. "It is twenty-five years to the day that my dear wife and I were married. It was a beautiful wedding. Everyone said she was the prettiest bride they had ever seen. She was a wonderful woman, always cheerful, and always with some news to bring me. She took a great interest in life, Mr. Knightley, and was a source of much solace to me." He shook his head sadly. "The house is too quiet without her."

Cole was interested in the event in a more practical manner. He told me that Mrs. Cole had offered to find Elton a parlour maid, as Elton would no doubt require more servants, now that he was losing his bachelor status.

Weston said he hoped that Elton would be as happy as he is, but begged leave to doubt it, and then said that he would like to see his son find a good woman and marry, too.

After everyone had ventured his or her opinion on the subject, we settled down to whist. Weston had all the luck tonight, and declared himself blessed, whereupon Longridge offered that his wife had been a keen cribbage player, and had beaten him on many occasions. Cole hoped that Elton would still visit the whist club once he was married, and we parted in perfect amity.

Wednesday 24 March

I called on Miss Bates as I was passing this morning. I found Miss Fairfax trimming a bonnet for her aunt.

"So good, I am sure it is better than anything Ford’s has to offer, or indeed anything from London, Jane has always been so clever - yes, I thank you, well, though growing a little deaf, but Perry says she is remarkable for her age - I was going to trim it myself, some ribbon from Ford’s, but Jane had some in her workbasket, just the right shade…."

I was glad to find her in good spirits, and Mrs. Bates in health. Miss Fairfax still looked pale and ill. I hope that the better weather might bring an improvement. We had sunshine today, and if it continues, perhaps Miss Fairfax will regain her spirits.

Sunday 28 March

We had our first glimpse of Mrs. Elton at church today, and I"ll wager that not one woman in the congregation paid attention to the sermon, they all spent their time looking at the newcomer instead.

Very little of Mrs. Elton could be seen, save the back of her bonnet. It did not look as well as Miss

Bates’s bonnet to me, and Emma was amused when I said so.

"It has come from London, depend upon it," she said.

"It seems as though it could just as well have come from Bath to me," I said.

"As you are so much older and wiser than I am, I must of course defer to your judgement."

"Not so very much older," I said.

"And not so very much wiser," she said saucily.

I smiled, but would not give her the satisfaction of laughing.

"I may be allowed to be a little wiser, I suppose," I said.

"You may. But not where bonnets are concerned."