Chapter 16

           Thehairwascurled,andthemaidsentaway,andEmmasatdowntothinkandbemiserable.—Itwasawretchedbusinessindeed!—Suchanoverthrowofeverythingshehadbeenwishingfor!—Suchadevelopmentofeverythingmostunwelcome!—SuchablowforHarriet!—thatwastheworstofall.Everypartofitbroughtpainandhumiliation,ofsomesortorother;but,comparedwiththeeviltoHarriet,allwaslight;andshewouldgladlyhavesubmittedtofeelyetmoremistaken—moreinerror—moredisgracedbymis-judgment,thansheactuallywas,couldtheeffectsofherblundershavebeenconfinedtoherself.

           "IfIhadnotpersuadedHarrietintolikingtheman,Icouldhaveborneanything.Hemighthavedoubledhispresumptiontome—butpoorHarriet!"

           Howshecouldhavebeensodeceived!—HeprotestedthathehadneverthoughtseriouslyofHarriet—never!Shelookedbackaswellasshecould;butitwasallconfusion.Shehadtakenuptheidea,shesupposed,andmadeeverythingbendtoit.Hismanners,however,musthavebeenunmarked,wavering,dubious,orshecouldnothavebeensomisled.

           Thepicture!—Howeagerhehadbeenaboutthepicture!—andthecharade!—andanhundredothercircumstances—howclearlytheyhadseemedtopointatHarriet.Tobesure,thecharade,withits"readywit"—butthenthe"softeyes"—infactitsuitedneither;itwasajumblewithouttasteortruth.