Chapter 7

           TheyhadaveryfinedayforBoxHill;andalltheotheroutwardcircumstancesofarrangement,accommodation,andpunctuality,wereinfavourofapleasantparty.Mr.Westondirectedthewhole,officiatingsafelybetweenHartfieldandtheVicarage,andeverybodywasingoodtime.EmmaandHarrietwenttogether;MissBatesandherniece,withtheEltons;thegentlemenonhorseback.Mrs.WestonremainedwithMr.Woodhouse.Nothingwaswantingbuttobehappywhentheygotthere.Sevenmilesweretravelledinexpectationofenjoyment,andeverybodyhadaburstofadmirationonfirstarriving;butinthegeneralamountofthedaytherewasdeficiency.Therewasalanguor,awantofspirits,awantofunion,whichcouldnotbegotover.Theyseparatedtoomuchintoparties.TheEltonswalkedtogether;Mr.KnightleytookchargeofMissBatesandJane;andEmmaandHarrietbelongedtoFrankChurchill.AndMr.Westontried,invain,tomakethemharmonisebetter.Itseemedatfirstanaccidentaldivision,butitnevermateriallyvaried.Mr.andMrs.Elton,indeed,shewednounwillingnesstomix,andbeasagreeableastheycould;butduringthetwowholehoursthatwerespentonthehill,thereseemedaprincipleofseparation,betweentheotherparties,toostrongforanyfineprospects,oranycoldcollation,oranycheerfulMr.Weston,toremove.

           AtfirstitwasdownrightdulnesstoEmma.ShehadneverseenFrankChurchillsosilentandstupid.