Chapter 3

           Mr.Woodhousewasfondofsocietyinhisownway.Helikedverymuchtohavehisfriendscomeandseehim;andfromvariousunitedcauses,fromhislongresidenceatHartfield,andhisgoodnature,fromhisfortune,hishouse,andhisdaughter,hecouldcommandthevisitsofhisownlittlecircle,inagreatmeasure,asheliked.Hehadnotmuchintercoursewithanyfamiliesbeyondthatcircle;hishorroroflatehours,andlargedinner-parties,madehimunfitforanyacquaintancebutsuchaswouldvisithimonhisownterms.Fortunatelyforhim,Highbury,includingRandallsinthesameparish,andDonwellAbbeyintheparishadjoining,theseatofMr.Knightley,comprehendedmanysuch.Notunfrequently,throughEmma’spersuasion,hehadsomeofthechosenandthebesttodinewithhim:buteveningpartieswerewhathepreferred;and,unlesshefanciedhimselfatanytimeunequaltocompany,therewasscarcelyaneveningintheweekinwhichEmmacouldnotmakeupacard-tableforhim.

           Real,long-standingregardbroughttheWestonsandMr.Knightley;andbyMr.Elton,ayoungmanlivingalonewithoutlikingit,theprivilegeofexchanginganyvacanteveningofhisownblanksolitudefortheeleganciesandsocietyofMr.Woodhouse’sdrawing-room,andthesmilesofhislovelydaughter,wasinnodangerofbeingthrownaway.

           Afterthesecameasecondset;amongthemostcome-at-ableofwhomwereMrs.andMissBates,andMrs.