Chapter 9

           EmmadidnotrepenthercondescensioningoingtotheColes.Thevisitaffordedhermanypleasantrecollectionsthenextday;andallthatshemightbesupposedtohavelostonthesideofdignifiedseclusion,mustbeamplyrepaidinthesplendourofpopularity.ShemusthavedelightedtheColes—worthypeople,whodeservedtobemadehappy!—Andleftanamebehindherthatwouldnotsoondieaway.

           Perfecthappiness,eveninmemory,isnotcommon;andthereweretwopointsonwhichshewasnotquiteeasy.Shedoubtedwhethershehadnottransgressedthedutyofwomanbywoman,inbetrayinghersuspicionsofJaneFairfax’sfeelingstoFrankChurchill.Itwashardlyright;butithadbeensostronganidea,thatitwouldescapeher,andhissubmissiontoallthatshetold,wasacomplimenttoherpenetration,whichmadeitdifficultforhertobequitecertainthatsheoughttohaveheldhertongue.

           TheothercircumstanceofregretrelatedalsotoJaneFairfax;andthereshehadnodoubt.Shedidunfeignedlyandunequivocallyregrettheinferiorityofherownplayingandsinging.Shedidmostheartilygrieveovertheidlenessofherchildhood—andsatdownandpractisedvigorouslyanhourandahalf.

           ShewastheninterruptedbyHarriet’scomingin;andifHarriet’spraisecouldhavesatisfiedher,shemightsoonhavebeencomforted.

           "Oh!ifIcouldbutplayaswellasyouandMissFairfax!"

           "Don’tclassustogether,Harriet.