Chapter 7

           TheverydayofMr.Elton’sgoingtoLondonproducedafreshoccasionforEmma’sservicestowardsherfriend.HarriethadbeenatHartfield,asusual,soonafterbreakfast;and,afteratime,hadgonehometoreturnagaintodinner:shereturned,andsoonerthanhadbeentalkedof,andwithanagitated,hurriedlook,announcingsomethingextraordinarytohavehappenedwhichshewaslongingtotell.Halfaminutebroughtitallout.Shehadheard,assoonasshegotbacktoMrs.Goddard’s,thatMr.Martinhadbeenthereanhourbefore,andfindingshewasnotathome,norparticularlyexpected,hadleftalittleparcelforherfromoneofhissisters,andgoneaway;andonopeningthisparcel,shehadactuallyfound,besidesthetwosongswhichshehadlentElizabethtocopy,alettertoherself;andthisletterwasfromhim,fromMr.Martin,andcontainedadirectproposalofmarriage."Whocouldhavethoughtit?Shewassosurprizedshedidnotknowwhattodo.Yes,quiteaproposalofmarriage;andaverygoodletter,atleastshethoughtso.Andhewroteasifhereallylovedherverymuch—butshedidnotknow—andso,shewascomeasfastasshecouldtoaskMissWoodhousewhatsheshoulddo.—"Emmawashalf-ashamedofherfriendforseemingsopleasedandsodoubtful.

           "Uponmyword,"shecried,"theyoungmanisdeterminednottoloseanythingforwantofasking.Hewillconnecthimselfwellifhecan."

           "Willyoureadtheletter?"criedHarriet."Praydo.