Chapter 18

           Timepassedon.Afewmoreto-morrows,andthepartyfromLondonwouldbearriving.Itwasanalarmingchange;andEmmawasthinkingofitonemorning,aswhatmustbringagreatdealtoagitateandgrieveher,whenMr.Knightleycamein,anddistressingthoughtswereputby.Afterthefirstchatofpleasurehewassilent;andthen,inagravertone,beganwith,

           "Ihavesomethingtotellyou,Emma;somenews."

           "Goodorbad?"saidshe,quickly,lookingupinhisface.

           "Idonotknowwhichitoughttobecalled."

           "Oh!goodIamsure.—Iseeitinyourcountenance.Youaretryingnottosmile."

           "Iamafraid,"saidhe,composinghisfeatures,"Iamverymuchafraid,mydearEmma,thatyouwillnotsmilewhenyouhearit."

           "Indeed!butwhyso?—Icanhardlyimaginethatanythingwhichpleasesoramusesyou,shouldnotpleaseandamusemetoo."

           "Thereisonesubject,"hereplied,"Ihopebutone,onwhichwedonotthinkalike."Hepausedamoment,againsmiling,withhiseyesfixedonherface."Doesnothingoccurtoyou?—Donotyourecollect?—HarrietSmith."

           Hercheeksflushedatthename,andshefeltafraidofsomething,thoughsheknewnotwhat.

           "Haveyouheardfromheryourselfthismorning?"criedhe."Youhave,Ibelieve,andknowthewhole."

           "No,Ihavenot;Iknownothing;praytellme.