Frank Churchill placed a word before Miss Fairfax.  She gave a slight glance round the table, and applied herself to it.  Frank was next to Emma, Jane opposite to them—­and Mr. Knightley so placed as to see them all; and it was his object to see as much as he could, with as little apparent observation.  The word was discovered, and with a faint smile pushed away.  If meant to be immediately mixed with the others, and buried from sight, she should have looked on the table instead of looking just across, for it was not mixed; and Harriet, eager after every fresh word, and finding out none, directly took it up, and fell to work.  She was sitting by Mr. Knightley, and turned to him for help.  The word was blunder; and as Harriet exultingly proclaimed it, there was a blush on Jane’s cheek which gave it a meaning not otherwise ostensible.  Mr. Knightley connected it with the dream; but how it could all be, was beyond his comprehension.  How the delicacy, the discretion of his favourite could have been so lain asleep!  He feared there must be some decided involvement.  Disingenuousness and double dealing seemed to meet him at every turn.  These letters were but the vehicle for gallantry and trick.  It was a child’s play, chosen to conceal a deeper game on Frank Churchill’s part.

With great indignation did he continue to observe him; with great alarm and distrust, to observe also his two blinded companions.  He saw a short word prepared for Emma, and given to her with a look sly and demure.  He saw that Emma had soon made it out, and found it highly entertaining, though it was something which she judged it proper to appear to censure; for she said, “Nonsense! for shame!” He heard Frank Churchill next say, with a glance towards Jane, “I will give it to her—­shall I?”—­and as clearly heard Emma opposing it with eager laughing warmth.  “No, no, you must not; you shall not, indeed.”

It was done however.  This gallant young man, who seemed to love without feeling, and to recommend himself without complaisance, directly handed over the word to Miss Fairfax, and with a particular degree of sedate civility entreated her to study it.  Mr. Knightley’s excessive curiosity to know what this word might be, made him seize every possible moment for darting his eye towards it, and it was not long before he saw it to be Dixon.  Jane Fairfax’s perception seemed to accompany his; her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged.  She was evidently displeased; looked up, and seeing herself watched, blushed more deeply than he had ever perceived her, and saying only, “I did not know that proper names were allowed,” pushed away the letters with even an angry spirit, and looked resolved to be engaged by no other word that could be offered.  Her face was averted from those who had made the attack, and turned towards her aunt.

“Aye, very true, my dear,” cried the latter, though Jane had not spoken a word—­“I was just going to say the same thing.  It is time for us to be going indeed.  The evening is closing in, and grandmama will be looking for us.  My dear sir, you are too obliging.  We really must wish you good night.”