Chapter 4

           HarrietSmith’sintimacyatHartfieldwassoonasettledthing.Quickanddecidedinherways,Emmalostnotimeininviting,encouraging,andtellinghertocomeveryoften;andastheiracquaintanceincreased,sodidtheirsatisfactionineachother.Asawalkingcompanion,Emmahadveryearlyforeseenhowusefulshemightfindher.InthatrespectMrs.Weston’slosshadbeenimportant.Herfatherneverwentbeyondtheshrubbery,wheretwodivisionsofthegroundsufficedhimforhislongwalk,orhisshort,astheyearvaried;andsinceMrs.Weston’smarriageherexercisehadbeentoomuchconfined.ShehadventuredoncealonetoRandalls,butitwasnotpleasant;andaHarrietSmith,therefore,onewhomshecouldsummonatanytimetoawalk,wouldbeavaluableadditiontoherprivileges.Butineveryrespect,asshesawmoreofher,sheapprovedher,andwasconfirmedinallherkinddesigns.

           Harrietcertainlywasnotclever,butshehadasweet,docile,gratefuldisposition,wastotallyfreefromconceit,andonlydesiringtobeguidedbyanyoneshelookedupto.Herearlyattachmenttoherselfwasveryamiable;andherinclinationforgoodcompany,andpowerofappreciatingwhatwaselegantandclever,shewedthattherewasnowantoftaste,thoughstrengthofunderstandingmustnotbeexpected.AltogethershewasquiteconvincedofHarrietSmith’sbeingexactlytheyoungfriendshewanted—exactlythesomethingwhichherhomerequired.SuchafriendasMrs.Westonwasoutofthequestion.