other, he suddenly let it go.—­Why he should feel such a scruple, why he should change his mind when it was all but done, she could not perceive.—­He would have judged better, she thought, if he had not stopped.—­The intention, however, was indubitable; and whether it was that his manners had in general so little gallantry, or however else it happened, but she thought nothing became him more.—­ It was with him, of so simple, yet so dignified a nature.—­ She could not but recall the attempt with great satisfaction.  It spoke such perfect amity.—­He left them immediately afterwards—­ gone in a moment.  He always moved with the alertness of a mind which could neither be undecided nor dilatory, but now he seemed more sudden than usual in his disappearance.

Emma could not regret her having gone to Miss Bates, but she wished she had left her ten minutes earlier;—­it would have been a great pleasure to talk over Jane Fairfax’s situation with Mr. Knightley.—­ Neither would she regret that he should be going to Brunswick Square, for she knew how much his visit would be enjoyed—­but it might have happened at a better time—­and to have had longer notice of it, would have been pleasanter.—­They parted thorough friends, however; she could not be deceived as to the meaning of his countenance, and his unfinished gallantry;—­it was all done to assure her that she had fully recovered his good opinion.—­He had been sitting with them half an hour, she found.  It was a pity that she had not come back earlier!

In the hope of diverting her father’s thoughts from the disagreeableness of Mr. Knightley’s going to London; and going so suddenly; and going on horseback, which she knew would be all very bad; Emma communicated her news of Jane Fairfax, and her dependence on the effect was justified; it supplied a very useful check,—­ interested, without disturbing him.  He had long made up his mind to Jane Fairfax’s going out as governess, and could talk of it cheerfully, but Mr. Knightley’s going to London had been an unexpected blow.

“I am very glad, indeed, my dear, to hear she is to be so comfortably settled.  Mrs. Elton is very good-natured and agreeable, and I dare say her acquaintance are just what they ought to be.  I hope it is a dry situation, and that her health will be taken good care of.  It ought to be a first object, as I am sure poor Miss Taylor’s always was with me.  You know, my dear, she is going to be to this new lady what Miss Taylor was to us.  And I hope she will be better off in one respect, and not be induced to go away after it has been her home so long.”

The following day brought news from Richmond to throw every thing else into the background.  An express arrived at Randalls to announce the death of Mrs. Churchill!  Though her nephew had had no particular reason to hasten back on her account, she had not lived above six-and-thirty hours after his return.  A sudden seizure of a different nature from any thing foreboded by her general state, had carried her off after a short struggle.  The great Mrs. Churchill was no more.