The persons to be invited, required little thought.  Besides the Eltons, it must be the Westons and Mr. Knightley; so far it was all of course—­ and it was hardly less inevitable that poor little Harriet must be asked to make the eighth:—­but this invitation was not given with equal satisfaction, and on many accounts Emma was particularly pleased by Harriet’s begging to be allowed to decline it.  “She would rather not be in his company more than she could help.  She was not yet quite able to see him and his charming happy wife together, without feeling uncomfortable.  If Miss Woodhouse would not be displeased, she would rather stay at home.”  It was precisely what Emma would have wished, had she deemed it possible enough for wishing.  She was delighted with the fortitude of her little friend—­for fortitude she knew it was in her to give up being in company and stay at home; and she could now invite the very person whom she really wanted to make the eighth, Jane Fairfax.—­ Since her last conversation with Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley, she was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she had often been.—­Mr. Knightley’s words dwelt with her.  He had said that Jane Fairfax received attentions from Mrs. Elton which nobody else paid her.

“This is very true,” said she, “at least as far as relates to me, which was all that was meant—­and it is very shameful.—­Of the same age—­ and always knowing her—­I ought to have been more her friend.—­ She will never like me now.  I have neglected her too long.  But I will shew her greater attention than I have done.”

Every invitation was successful.  They were all disengaged and all happy.—­ The preparatory interest of this dinner, however, was not yet over.  A circumstance rather unlucky occurred.  The two eldest little Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some weeks in the spring, and their papa now proposed bringing them, and staying one whole day at Hartfield—­which one day would be the very day of this party.—­His professional engagements did not allow of his being put off, but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening so.  Mr. Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the utmost that his nerves could bear—­ and here would be a ninth—­and Emma apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not being able to come even to Hartfield for forty-eight hours without falling in with a dinner-party.

She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself, by representing that though he certainly would make them nine, yet he always said so little, that the increase of noise would be very immaterial.  She thought it in reality a sad exchange for herself, to have him with his grave looks and reluctant conversation opposed to her instead of his brother.

The event was more favourable to Mr. Woodhouse than to Emma.  John Knightley came; but Mr. Weston was unexpectedly summoned to town and must be absent on the very day.  He might be able to join them in the evening, but certainly not to dinner.  Mr. Woodhouse was quite at ease; and the seeing him so, with the arrival of the little boys and the philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate, removed the chief of even Emma’s vexation.