Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/144

 admirer in a neighbouring young farmer, whom Emma considers quite beneath her; and she directs much of her energy to quell this rising attachment on Harriet's part, honestly believing it to be a very bad connection for her. Harriet herself has never aspired higher than Mr. Robert Martin, and, but for Emma's interference, his course of true love would have run exceedingly smooth. An unexpected meeting with him out walking gives Emma an opportunity for lowering him in Harriett's eyes. "They remained but a few minutes together, as Miss Woodhouse must not be kept waiting; and Harriet then came running to her with a smiling face, and in a flutter of spirits, which Miss Woodhouse hoped very soon to compose.

Only think of our happening to meet him! how very odd! It was quite a chance, he said, that he had not gone round by Randalls; he did not think we ever walked this road. He thought we walked towards Randalls most days. He has not been able to get The Romance of the Forest yet. He was so busy the last time he was at Kingston that he quite forgot it, but he goes again to-morrow. So very odd we should happen to meet! Well, Miss Woodhouse, is he like what you expected? What do you think of him? Do you think him so very plain?'

He is very plain, undoubtedly, remarkably plain; but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air. I had imagined, him, I confess, a degree or two nearer gentility.'

To be sure,' said Harriet, in a mortified voice, 'he is not so genteel as real gentlemen.'