Chapter 14

           SomechangeofcountenancewasnecessaryforeachgentlemanastheywalkedintoMrs.Weston’sdrawing-room—Mr.Eltonmustcomposehisjoyouslooks,andMr.JohnKnightleydispersehisill-humour.Mr.Eltonmustsmileless,andMr.JohnKnightleymore,tofitthemfortheplace.—Emmaonlymightbeasnatureprompted,andshewherselfjustashappyasshewas.ToheritwasrealenjoymenttobewiththeWestons.Mr.Westonwasagreatfavourite,andtherewasnotacreatureintheworldtowhomshespokewithsuchunreserve,astohiswife;notanyone,towhomsherelatedwithsuchconvictionofbeinglistenedtoandunderstood,ofbeingalwaysinterestingandalwaysintelligible,thelittleaffairs,arrangements,perplexities,andpleasuresofherfatherandherself.ShecouldtellnothingofHartfield,inwhichMrs.Westonhadnotalivelyconcern;andhalfanhour’suninterruptedcommunicationofallthoselittlemattersonwhichthedailyhappinessofprivatelifedepends,wasoneofthefirstgratificationsofeach.

           Thiswasapleasurewhichperhapsthewholeday’svisitmightnotafford,whichcertainlydidnotbelongtothepresenthalf-hour;buttheverysightofMrs.Weston,hersmile,hertouch,hervoicewasgratefultoEmma,andshedeterminedtothinkaslittleaspossibleofMr.Elton’soddities,orofanythingelseunpleasant,andenjoyallthatwasenjoyabletotheutmost.

           ThemisfortuneofHarriet’scoldhadbeenprettywellgonethroughbeforeherarrival.Mr.