Mr. Knightley’s Diary

"But if I had never married Mr. Weston, I would never have had Anna," she said, smiling at the baby on her knee. "You know you love her. See, she loves you, too, for she is smiling at you."

I could not see the smile, but Mrs. Weston and Emma were certain it was there. Mr. Woodhouse was very happy to believe it, and his cries of "Poor Miss Taylor!" and "Poor Emma!" soon subsided, to be replaced by cries of: "She is a pretty little thing."

"And she will have soon outgrown her first set of caps," Mrs. Weston said.

"I will have to make her some more," said Emma.

And so the evening passed, and by the end of it, I felt we had worn away the worst of Mr. Woodhouse’s resistance.

August

Monday 2 August

Robert Martin called to say he was going to town on business, and he asked if there was anything he could do for me whilst there. I asked him to take charge of some papers for John, which he took very readily.

Thursday 5 August

I was surprised to find Robert Martin at my door as soon as I had breakfasted this morning, but when I saw his face, I guessed what he would say.

He had delivered the papers to John, and had then been invited to join John’s party to Astley’s in the evening. He had accepted the invitation, and had gone with John, Isabella, Henry, little John - and Harriet.

"There was quite a crush, and on quitting our box at Astley’s, Mr. John Knightley took charge of his wife and younger boy, whilst I followed with Harriet and Henry. Harriet was uneasy. I gave her my arm, and steered her safely through the crowd," he told me.

By his recital of this small incident, I could guess what was coming, but I did not interrupt him. I was only too pleased to see him happy.

"Your brother asked me to dine with them the next day," he went on. "Very kind of him it was, and I accepted his invitation. In the course of the visit I had a chance of speaking to Harriet. I asked her to be my wife, Mr. Knightley," he told me, with a smile spreading across his face, "and she said yes."

I was delighted, and told him so, but I was pensive as I walked to Hartfield, not knowing how Emma would react to the news. I greeted her warmly, and then said: "I have something to tell you,

Emma; some news."

"Good or bad?" she asked.

"I do not know which it ought to be called."

For myself, I knew; and for Harriet and Mr. Martin; but for Emma? I did not know how she would regard it. I said as much, and then said: "It concerns Harriet Smith."

She flushed, but said nothing.

"Harriet Smith prepares to marry Robert Martin. I have it from Robert Martin himself. He told me not half an hour ago."

I thought she did not like it, and I said as much, but she replied: "You mistake me. I never was more surprised - but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you. How - how has it been possible?"

I told her everything, and she made no reply.

"Emma, my love, I know you think of his situation as an evil; but you must consider it as what satisfies your friend; and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him as you know him more. His good sense and good principles would delight you. As far as the man is concerned, you could not wish your friend in better hands."

I was relieved to learn that she had been silent only from surprise.

"You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think Harriet is doing extremely well. Her connections may be worse than his. I have been silent from surprise merely, excessive surprise. You cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me! How peculiarly unprepared I was! For I had reason to believe her very lately more determined against him, much more, than she was before."

"You ought to know your friend best," I said, "but I should say she was a good-tempered, soft-hearted girl, not likely to be very, very determined against any young man who told her he loved her."

It is a happy conclusion to the affair, and Emma sees it quite as well as I do.

Friday 6 August

As Emma and I walked in the garden at Hartfield this morning we were talking of Harriet again, and Emma laughed, saying: "Only Harriet could be in love thrice in one year."

"Thrice?" I asked. "Mr. Elton and Mr. Martin are but two men."

She coloured, but then said saucily: "I see I must tell you all. I am very much afraid that, until recently, Harriet was in love with you."

"Me?" I asked, astonished.

"You need not be so surprised. You are a very easy man to fall in love with. I have managed it myself without any difficulty."

I smiled and pulled her hand through my arm.

"But Harriet…I cannot believe it. I gave her no encouragement. I barely spoke to her!" I said.

"You saved her from humiliation when you asked her to dance, and you singled her out at the Abbey, asking her if her affections were engaged."

"The first was an act of charity, the second - she did not think I was asking if she was attached to me?"

"Yes, she did."

"But I was thinking of Robert Martin! I wanted to know if she was still in love with him."