The like reserve prevailed on other topics.  She and Mr. Frank Churchill had been at Weymouth at the same time.  It was known that they were a little acquainted; but not a syllable of real information could Emma procure as to what he truly was.  “Was he handsome?”—­“She believed he was reckoned a very fine young man.”  “Was he agreeable?”—­ “He was generally thought so.”  “Did he appear a sensible young man; a young man of information?”—­“At a watering-place, or in a common London acquaintance, it was difficult to decide on such points.  Manners were all that could be safely judged of, under a much longer knowledge than they had yet had of Mr. Churchill.  She believed every body found his manners pleasing.”  Emma could not forgive her.

CHAPTER III

Emma could not forgive her;—­but as neither provocation nor resentment were discerned by Mr. Knightley, who had been of the party, and had seen only proper attention and pleasing behaviour on each side, he was expressing the next morning, being at Hartfield again on business with Mr. Woodhouse, his approbation of the whole; not so openly as he might have done had her father been out of the room, but speaking plain enough to be very intelligible to Emma.  He had been used to think her unjust to Jane, and had now great pleasure in marking an improvement.

“A very pleasant evening,” he began, as soon as Mr. Woodhouse had been talked into what was necessary, told that he understood, and the papers swept away;—­“particularly pleasant.  You and Miss Fairfax gave us some very good music.  I do not know a more luxurious state, sir, than sitting at one’s ease to be entertained a whole evening by two such young women; sometimes with music and sometimes with conversation.  I am sure Miss Fairfax must have found the evening pleasant, Emma.  You left nothing undone.  I was glad you made her play so much, for having no instrument at her grandmother’s, it must have been a real indulgence.”

“I am happy you approved,” said Emma, smiling; “but I hope I am not often deficient in what is due to guests at Hartfield.”

“No, my dear,” said her father instantly; “that I am sure you are not.  There is nobody half so attentive and civil as you are.  If any thing, you are too attentive.  The muffin last night—­if it had been handed round once, I think it would have been enough.”

“No,” said Mr. Knightley, nearly at the same time; “you are not often deficient; not often deficient either in manner or comprehension.  I think you understand me, therefore.”

An arch look expressed—­“I understand you well enough;” but she said only, “Miss Fairfax is reserved.”

“I always told you she was—­a little; but you will soon overcome all that part of her reserve which ought to be overcome, all that has its foundation in diffidence.  What arises from discretion must be honoured.”