at the same time, not of any family that could fairly object to the doubtful birth of Harriet.  He had a comfortable home for her, and Emma imagined a very sufficient income; for though the vicarage of Highbury was not large, he was known to have some independent property; and she thought very highly of him as a good-humoured, well-meaning, respectable young man, without any deficiency of useful understanding or knowledge of the world.

She had already satisfied herself that he thought Harriet a beautiful girl, which she trusted, with such frequent meetings at Hartfield, was foundation enough on his side; and on Harriet’s there could be little doubt that the idea of being preferred by him would have all the usual weight and efficacy.  And he was really a very pleasing young man, a young man whom any woman not fastidious might like.  He was reckoned very handsome; his person much admired in general, though not by her, there being a want of elegance of feature which she could not dispense with:—­but the girl who could be gratified by a Robert Martin’s riding about the country to get walnuts for her might very well be conquered by Mr. Elton’s admiration.

CHAPTER V

“I do not know what your opinion may be, Mrs. Weston,” said Mr. Knightley, “of this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I think it a bad thing.”

“A bad thing!  Do you really think it a bad thing?—­why so?”

“I think they will neither of them do the other any good.”

“You surprize me!  Emma must do Harriet good:  and by supplying her with a new object of interest, Harriet may be said to do Emma good.  I have been seeing their intimacy with the greatest pleasure.  How very differently we feel!—­Not think they will do each other any good!  This will certainly be the beginning of one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr. Knightley.”

“Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you, knowing Weston to be out, and that you must still fight your own battle.”

“Mr. Weston would undoubtedly support me, if he were here, for he thinks exactly as I do on the subject.  We were speaking of it only yesterday, and agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma, that there should be such a girl in Highbury for her to associate with.  Mr. Knightley, I shall not allow you to be a fair judge in this case.  You are so much used to live alone, that you do not know the value of a companion; and, perhaps no man can be a good judge of the comfort a woman feels in the society of one of her own sex, after being used to it all her life.  I can imagine your objection to Harriet Smith.  She is not the superior young woman which Emma’s friend ought to be.  But on the other hand, as Emma wants to see her better informed, it will be an inducement to her to read more herself.  They will read together.  She means it, I know.”