Chapter 10

           ThoughnowthemiddleofDecember,therehadyetbeennoweathertopreventtheyoungladiesfromtolerablyregularexercise;andonthemorrow,Emmahadacharitablevisittopaytoapoorsickfamily,wholivedalittlewayoutofHighbury.

           TheirroadtothisdetachedcottagewasdownVicarageLane,alaneleadingatrightanglesfromthebroad,thoughirregular,mainstreetoftheplace;and,asmaybeinferred,containingtheblessedabodeofMr.Elton.Afewinferiordwellingswerefirsttobepassed,andthen,aboutaquarterofamiledownthelanerosetheVicarage,anoldandnotverygoodhouse,almostasclosetotheroadasitcouldbe.Ithadnoadvantageofsituation;buthadbeenverymuchsmartenedupbythepresentproprietor;and,suchasitwas,therecouldbenopossibilityofthetwofriendspassingitwithoutaslackenedpaceandobservingeyes.—Emma’sremarkwas—

           "Thereitis.Theregoyouandyourriddle-bookoneofthesedays."—Harriet’swas—

           "Oh,whatasweethouse!—Howverybeautiful!—TherearetheyellowcurtainsthatMissNashadmiressomuch."

           "Idonotoftenwalkthiswaynow,"saidEmma,astheyproceeded,"butthentherewillbeaninducement,andIshallgraduallygetintimatelyacquaintedwithallthehedges,gates,poolsandpollardsofthispartofHighbury.