Enscombe however was gracious, gracious in fact, if not in word.  His wish of staying longer evidently did not please; but it was not opposed.  All was safe and prosperous; and as the removal of one solicitude generally makes way for another, Emma, being now certain of her ball, began to adopt as the next vexation Mr. Knightley’s provoking indifference about it.  Either because he did not dance himself, or because the plan had been formed without his being consulted, he seemed resolved that it should not interest him, determined against its exciting any present curiosity, or affording him any future amusement.  To her voluntary communications Emma could get no more approving reply, than,

“Very well.  If the Westons think it worth while to be at all this trouble for a few hours of noisy entertainment, I have nothing to say against it, but that they shall not chuse pleasures for me.—­ Oh! yes, I must be there; I could not refuse; and I will keep as much awake as I can; but I would rather be at home, looking over William Larkins’s week’s account; much rather, I confess.—­ Pleasure in seeing dancing!—­not I, indeed—­I never look at it—­ I do not know who does.—­Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward.  Those who are standing by are usually thinking of something very different.”

This Emma felt was aimed at her; and it made her quite angry.  It was not in compliment to Jane Fairfax however that he was so indifferent, or so indignant; he was not guided by her feelings in reprobating the ball, for she enjoyed the thought of it to an extraordinary degree.  It made her animated—­open hearted—­ she voluntarily said;—­

“Oh!  Miss Woodhouse, I hope nothing may happen to prevent the ball.  What a disappointment it would be!  I do look forward to it, I own, with very great pleasure.”

It was not to oblige Jane Fairfax therefore that he would have preferred the society of William Larkins.  No!—­she was more and more convinced that Mrs. Weston was quite mistaken in that surmise.  There was a great deal of friendly and of compassionate attachment on his side—­but no love.

Alas! there was soon no leisure for quarrelling with Mr. Knightley.  Two days of joyful security were immediately followed by the over-throw of every thing.  A letter arrived from Mr. Churchill to urge his nephew’s instant return.  Mrs. Churchill was unwell—­ far too unwell to do without him; she had been in a very suffering state (so said her husband) when writing to her nephew two days before, though from her usual unwillingness to give pain, and constant habit of never thinking of herself, she had not mentioned it; but now she was too ill to trifle, and must entreat him to set off for Enscombe without delay.

The substance of this letter was forwarded to Emma, in a note from Mrs. Weston, instantly.  As to his going, it was inevitable.  He must be gone within a few hours, though without feeling any real alarm for his aunt, to lessen his repugnance.  He knew her illnesses; they never occurred but for her own convenience.