Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/158

 "Emma was almost too much astonished to answer; but Mrs. Elton hardly waited for the affirmative before she went on.

Having understood as much, I was rather astonished to find her so very lady-like. But she is really quite the gentlewoman.'

Mrs. Weston's manners,' said Emma, 'were always particularly good; their propriety, simplicity, and elegance would make them the safest model for any young woman.'

And who do you think came in while we were there?'

"Emma was quite at a loss. The tone implied some old acquaintance, and how could she possibly guess?

Knightley,' continued Mrs. Elton; 'Knightley himself. Was it not lucky? For not being within when he called the other day, I had never seen him before; and, of course, as so particular a friend of Mr. E.'s, I had a great curiosity. "My friend Knightley" had been so often mentioned that I was really impatient to see him; and I must do my caro sposo the justice to say that he need not be ashamed of his friend. Knightley is quite the gentleman; I like him very much. Decidedly, I think, a very gentlemanlike man.'

"Happily it was now time to be gone. They were off, and Emma could breathe."

Mrs. Elton and Miss Bates are well contrasted; both are great talkers, but the conversation of the one is all vulgar egotism, while the other merely talks from inability to hold her tongue, and her chatter is always simple-minded and kind-hearted.

A ball is given by the Westons, to which, of course, everyone is invited, and Miss Bates is there to chaperon