Chapter 19

           IfEmmahadstill,atintervals,ananxiousfeelingforHarriet,amomentarydoubtofitsbeingpossibleforhertobereallycuredofherattachmenttoMr.Knightley,andreallyabletoacceptanothermanfromunbiasedinclination,itwasnotlongthatshehadtosufferfromtherecurrenceofanysuchuncertainty.AveryfewdaysbroughtthepartyfromLondon,andshehadnosooneranopportunityofbeingonehouralonewithHarriet,thanshebecameperfectlysatisfied—unaccountableasitwas!—thatRobertMartinhadthoroughlysupplantedMr.Knightley,andwasnowformingallherviewsofhappiness.

           Harrietwasalittledistressed—didlookalittlefoolishatfirst:buthavingonceownedthatshehadbeenpresumptuousandsilly,andself-deceived,before,herpainandconfusionseemedtodieawaywiththewords,andleaveherwithoutacareforthepast,andwiththefullestexultationinthepresentandfuture;for,astoherfriend’sapprobation,Emmahadinstantlyremovedeveryfearofthatnature,bymeetingherwiththemostunqualifiedcongratulations.—HarrietwasmosthappytogiveeveryparticularoftheeveningatAstley’s,andthedinnerthenextday;shecoulddwellonitallwiththeutmostdelight.Butwhatdidsuchparticularsexplain?—Thefactwas,asEmmacouldnowacknowledge,thatHarriethadalwayslikedRobertMartin;andthathiscontinuingtoloveherhadbeenirresistible.—Beyondthis,itmusteverbeunintelligibletoEmma.