, whomhe had met near Grindelwald

Rudy left Bex, and took his way home along the mountain path.The air was fresh, but cold; for here amidst the deep snow, the IceMaiden reigned. He was so high up that the large trees beneath him,with their thick foliage, appeared like garden plants, and the pinesand bushes even less. The Alpine roses grew near the snow, which layin detached stripes, and looked like linen laid out to bleach. Ablue gentian grew in his path, and he crushed it with the butt endof his gun. A little higher up, he espied two chamois. Rudy's eyesglistened, and his thoughts flew at once in a different direction; buthe was not near enough to take a sure aim. He ascended still higher,to a spot where a few rough blades of grass grew between the blocks ofstone and the chamois passed quietly on over the snow-fields. Rudywalked hurriedly, while the clouds of mist gathered round him.Suddenly he found himself on the brink of a precipitous rock. The rainwas falling in torrents. He felt a burning thirst, his head was hot,and his limbs trembled with cold. He seized his hunting-flask, butit was empty; he had not thought of filling it before ascending themountain. He had never been ill in his life, nor ever experienced suchsensations as those he now felt. He was so tired that he couldscarcely resist lying down at his full length to sleep, although theground was flooded with the rain. Yet when he tried to rouse himself alittle, every object around him danced and trembled before his eyes.    Suddenly he observed in the doorway of a hut newly built under therock, a young maiden. He did not remember having seen this hut before,yet there it stood; and he thought, at first, that the young maidenwas Annette, the schoolmaster's daughter, whom he had once kissed inthe dance. The maiden was not Annette; yet it seemed as if he had seenher somewhere before, perhaps near Grindelwald, on the evening ofhis return home from Interlachen, after the shooting-match.    "How did you come here?" he asked.    "I am at home," she replied; "I am watching my flocks."    "Your flocks!" he exclaimed; "where do they find pasture? There isnothing here but snow and rocks."    "Much you know of what grows here," she replied, laughing. "notfar beneath us there is beautiful pasture-land. My goats go there. Itend them carefully; I never miss one. What is once mine remainsmine."    "You are bold," said Rudy.    "And so are you," she answered.    "Have you any milk in the house?" he asked; "if so, give me someto drink; my thirst is intolerable."    "I have something better than milk," she replied, "which I willgive you. Some travellers who were here yesterday with their guideleft behind them a half a flask of wine, such as you have nevertasted. They will not come back to fetch it, I know, and I shall notdrink it; so you shall have it."    Then the maiden went to fetch the wine, poured some into awooden cup, and offered it to Rudy.    "How good it is!" said he; "I have never before tasted suchwarm, invigorating wine." And his eyes sparkled with new life; aglow diffused itself over his frame; it seemed as if every sorrow,every oppression were banished from his mind, and a fresh, free naturewere stirring within him. "You are surely Annette, theschoolmaster's daughter," cried he; "will you give me a kiss?"    "Yes, if you will give me that beautiful ring which you wear onyour finger."    "My betrothal ring?" he replied.    "Yes, just so," said the maiden, as she poured out some more wine,and held it to his lips. Again he drank, and a living joy streamedthrough every vein.    "The whole world is mine, why therefore should I grieve?"thought he. "Everything is created for our enjoyment and happiness.The stream of life is a stream of happiness; let us flow on with it tojoy and felicity."    Rudy gazed on the young maiden; it was Annette, and yet it was notAnnette; still less did he suppose it was the spectral phantom, whomhe had met near Grindelwald. The maiden up here on the mountain wasfresh as the new fallen snow, blooming as an Alpine rose, and asnimble-footed as a young kid. Still, she was one of Adam's race,like Rudy. He flung his arms round the beautiful being, and gazed intoher wonderfully clear eyes,- only for a moment; but in that momentwords cannot express the effect of his gaze. Was it the spirit of lifeor of death that overpowered him? Was he rising higher, or sinkinglower and lower into the deep, deadly abyss? He knew not; but thewalls of ice shone like blue-green glass; innumerable clefts yawnedaround him, and the water-drops tinkled like the chiming of churchbells, and shone clearly as pearls in the light of a pale-blueflame. The Ice Maiden, for she it was, kissed him, and her kiss sent achill as of ice through his whole frame. A cry of agony escaped fromhim; he struggled to get free, and tottered from her. For a moment allwas dark before his eyes, but when he opened them again it waslight, and the Alpine maiden had vanished. The powers of evil hadplayed their game; the sheltering hut was no more to be seen. Thewater trickled down the naked sides of the rocks, and snow lay thicklyall around. Rudy shivered with cold; he was wet through to the skin;and his ring was gone,- the betrothal ring that Babette had given him.His gun lay near him in the snow; he took it up and tried to dischargeit, but it missed fire. Heavy clouds lay on the mountain clefts,like firm masses of snow. Upon one of these Vertigo sat, lurking afterhis powerless prey, and from beneath came a sound as if a piece ofrock had fallen from the cleft, and was crushing everything that stoodin its way or opposed its course.    But, at the miller's, Babette sat alone and wept. Rudy had notbeen to see her for six days. He who was in the wrong, and who oughtto ask her forgiveness; for did she not love him with her whole heart?   

`What did you make of it, Tom?'

Jerry started in his saddle. `That`s a Blazing strange answer, too,' said he, at his hoarsest.

`Take that message back, and they will know that I received this, as well as if I wrote. Make the best of your way. Good night.'

With those words the passenger opened tile coach-door and got in; not at all assisted by his fellow-passengers, who had expeditiously secreted their watches and purses in their boots, and were now making a general pretence of being asleep. With no more definite purpose than to escape the hazard of originating any other kind of action.

The coach lumbered on again, with heavier wreaths of mist closing round it as it began the descent. The guard soon replaced his blunderbuss in his arm-chest, and, having looked to the rest of its contents, and having looked to the supplementary pistols that he wore in his belt, looked to a smaller chest beneath his seat, in which there were a few smith's tools, a couple of torches, and a tinder-box. For he was furnished with that completeness that if the coach-lamps had been blown and stormed out, which did occasionally happen, he had only to shut himself up inside, keep the flint and steel sparks well off the straw, and get a light with tolerable safety and ease (if he were lucky) in five minutes.

`Tom!' softly over the coach-roof.

`Hallo, Joe.'

`Did you hear the message?'

`I did, Joe.'

`Nothing at all, Joe.'

`That's a coincidence, too,' the guard mused, `for I made the same of it myself Jerry, left alone in the mist and darkness, dismounted meanwhile, not only to ease his spent horse, but to wipe the mud from his face, and shake the wet out of his hat-brim, which might be capable of holding about half a gallon. After standing with the bridle over his heavily-splashed arm, until the wheels of the mail were no longer within hearing and the night was quite still again, he turned to walk down the hill.

`After that there gallop from Temple Bar, old lady, I won't trust your fore-legs till I get you on the level,' said this hoarse messenger, glancing at his mare. `"Recalled to life." That's a Blazing strange message. Much of that wouldn't do for you Jerry! I say, Jerry! You'd be in a Blazing bad way, if recalling to life was to come into fashion, Jerry!' 

CHAPTER II

The Mail

It was the Dover road that lay, on a Friday night late in November, before the first of the persons with whom this history has business. The Dover road lay, as to him, beyond the Dover mail, as it lumbered up Shooter's Hill. He walked uphill in the mire by the side of the mail, as the rest of the passengers did; not because they had the least relish for walking exercise, under the circumstances, but because the hill, and the harness, and the mud, and the mail, were all so heavy that the horses had three times already come to a stop, beside once drawing the coach across the road, with the mutinous intent of taking it back to Blackheath. Reins and whip and coachman and guard, however, in combination, had read that article of war which forbad a purpose otherwise strongly in favour of the argument, that some brute animals are endued with Reason; and the team had capitulated and returned to their duty.

With drooping heads and tremulous tails, they mashed their way through the thick mud, floundering and stumbling he between whiles, as if they were falling to pieces at the large joints. As often as the driver rested them and brought them to a stand, with a wary `Wo-ho! so-ho then!' the near leader violently shook his head and everything upon it--like an unusually emphatic horse, denying that the coach could be got up the hill. Whenever the leader made this rattle, the passenger started, as a nervous passenger might, and was disturbed in mind.

There was a steaming mist in all the hollows, and it had roamed in its forlornness up the hill, like an evil spirit, seeking rest and finding none. A clammy and intensely cold mist, made its slow way through the air in ripples that visibly followed and overspread one another, as the waves of an unwholesome sea might do. It was dense enough to shut out everything from the light of the coach-lamps but these its own workings and a few yards of road; and the reek of the labouring horse steamed into it, as if they had made it all.

Two other passengers, besides the one, were plodding up the hill by the side of the mail. All three were wrapped to the cheek-bones and over the ears, and wore jack-boots. Not one of the three could have said, from anything he saw, what either of the other two was like; and each was hidden under almost as many wrappers from the eyes of the mind, as from the eyes of the body, of his two companions. In those days, travellers were very shy of being confidential on short notice, for anybody on the road might be a robber or in league with robbers. As to the latter, when every posting-house and ale-house could produce somebody in `the Captain's' pay, ranging from the landlord to the lowest stable nondescript, it was the likeliest thing upon the cards. So the guard of the Dover mail thought to himself, that Friday night in November, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, lumbering up Shooter's Hill, as he stood on his own particular perch behind the mail, beating his feet, and keeping an eye and a hand on the arm-chest before him, where a loaded blunderbuss lay at the top of six or eight loaded horse-pistols, deposited on a substratum of cutlass.

City tradesman

In England, there was scarcely an amount of order and protection to justify much national boasting. Daring burglaries by armed men, and highway robberies, took place in the capital itself every night; families were publicly cautioned not to go out of town without removing their furniture to upholsterers' warehouses for security; the highwayman in the dark was a City tradesman in the light, and, being recognised and challenged by his fellow-tradesman whom he stopped in his character of `the Captain,
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' gallantly shot him through the head and rode away; the mail was waylaid by seven robbers, and the guard shot three dead, and then got shot dead himself by the other four, `in consequence of the failure of his ammunition:' after which the mail was robbed in Peace; that magnificent potentate, the Lord Mayor of London, was made to stand and deliver on Turnham Green, by one highwayman, who despoiled the illustrious creature insight of all his retinue; prisoners in London gaols fought battles with their turnkeys, and the majesty of the law fired blunderbusses in among them, loaded with rounds of shot and ball; thieves snipped off diamond crosses from the necks of noble lords at Court drawing-rooms; musketeers went into St. Giles's, to search for contraband goods, and the mob fired on the musketeers, and the musketeers fired on the mob, and nobody thought any of these occurrences much out of the common way. In the midst of them, the hangman, ever busy and ever worse than useless, was in constant requisition; now, stringing up long rows of miscellaneous criminals; now, hanging a house-breaker on Saturday who had been taken on Tuesday; now, burning people in the hand at Newgate by the dozen, and now burning pamphlets at the door of Westminster Hall; to-day, taking the life of an atrocious murderer, and to-morrow of a wretched pilferer who had robbed a farmer's boy of sixpence.

direct to Heaven

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.

It was the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. Spiritual revelations were conceded to England at that favoured period, a sat this. Mrs. Southcott had recently attained her five-and-twentieth blessed birthday, of whom a prophetic private in the Life Guards had heralded the sublime appearance by announcing that arrangements were made for the swallowing up of London and Westminster. Even the Cock-lane ghost had been laid only a round dozen of years, after rapping out its messages, as the spirits of this very year last past (supernaturally deficient in originality) rapped out theirs. Mere messages in the earthly order of events had lately come to the English Crown and People, from a congress of British subjects in America: which, strange to relate, have proved more important to the human race than any communications yet received through any of the chickens of the Cock-lane brood.

Pickwick Papers which

Charles Dickens (1812-1870).—Novelist, born at Landport, near Portsmouth, where his father was a clerk in the Navy Pay-Office. The hardships and mortifications of his early life, his want of regular schooling, and his miserable time in the blacking factory, which form the basis of the early chapters of David Copperfield, are largely accounted for by the fact that his father was to a considerable extent the prototype of the immortal Mr. Micawber; but partly by his being a delicate and sensitive child, unusually susceptible to suffering both in body and mind. He had, however, much time for reading, and had access to the older novelists, Fielding, Smollett, and others. A kindly relation also took him frequently to the theatre, where he acquired his life-long interest in, and love of, the stage. After a few years’ residence in Chatham, the family removed to London, and soon thereafter his father became an inmate of the Marshalsea, in which by-and-by the whole family joined him, a passage in his life which furnishes the material for parts of Little Dorrit. This period of family obscuration happily lasted but a short time: the elder D. managed to satisfy his creditors, and soon after retired from his official duties on a pension. About the same time D. had two years of continuous schooling, and shortly afterwards he entered a law office. His leisure he devoted to reading and learning shorthand, in which he became very expert. He then acted as parliamentary reporter, first for The True Sun, and from 1835 for the Morning Chronicle. Meanwhile he had been contributing to the Monthly Magazine and the Evening Chronicle the papers which, in 1836, appeared in a collected form as Sketches by Boz; and he had also produced one or two comic burlettas. In the same year he married Catherine Hogarth; and in the following year occurred the opportunity of his life. He was asked by Chapman and Hall to write the letterpress for a series of sporting plates to be done by Robert Seymour who, however, died shortly after, and was succeeded by Hablot Browne (Phiz), who became the illustrator of most of D.’s novels. In the hands of D. the original plan was entirely altered, and became the Pickwick Papers which, appearing in monthly parts during 1837-39, took the country by storm. Simultaneously Oliver Twist was coming out in Bentley’s Miscellany. Thenceforward D.’s literary career was a continued success, and the almost yearly publication of his works constituted the main events of his life. Nicholas Nickleby appeared in serial form 1838-39. Next year he projected Master Humphrey’s Clock, intended to be a series of miscellaneous stories and sketches. It was, however, soon abandoned, The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge taking its place. The latter, dealing with the Gordon Riots, is, with the partial exception of the Tale of Two Cities, the author’s only excursion into the historical novel. In 1841 D. went to America, and was received with great enthusiasm, which, however, the publication of American Notes considerably damped, and the appearance of Martin Chuzzlewit in 1843, with its caustic criticisms of certain features of American life, converted into extreme, though temporary, unpopularity. The first of the Christmas books—the Christmas Carol—appeared in 1843, and in the following year D. went to Italy, where at Genoa he wrote The Chimes, followed by The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and The Haunted Man. In January, 1846, he was appointed first edition of The Daily News, but resigned in a few weeks. The same year he went to Switzerland, and while there wrote Dombey and Son, which was published in 1848, and was immediately followed by his masterpiece, David Copperfield (1849-50). Shortly before this he had become manager of a theatrical company, which performed in the provinces, and he had in 1849 started his magazine, Household Words. Bleak House appeared in 1852-53, Hard Times in 1854, and Little Dorrit 1856-57. In 1856 he bought Gadshill Place, which, in 1860, became his permanent home. In 1858 he began his public readings 

Your Power Of Real Concentration_63535

I could not concentrate on building my business but now I have the right tools.

Did you ever stop to think what an important part your thoughts, I mean real concentrated thoughts, play in your life?The ability to concentrate all your attention is so important, no matter what task or job you have to get done鈥?as nothing great or significant can be accomplished without proper effort and concentration.And almost all of us have some sort of difficulty in the concentration of our attention. Workers in business and industry, students in high school and college, and even professors in universities, complain of the same difficulty.It is said that the power to concentrate all your attention is vital as it stands at the very centre of most (if not all) mental activity. No matter from what angle we view the mind, its excellence always seems to depend upon the power to concentrate all our attention.Concentration may be defined as being that state of mind in which the entire energies of the individual, physical as well as mental, are focused upon the thing they are doing or thinking. All actions and all thoughts NOT connected with what they are doing or thinking are kept out of the mind鈥f we examine a growing child, one of the first things we will see is the power they have in them to "pay attention or to notice things".When we examine the ability of normal adults we do so by means of tests that require close concentration of attention, and we regard anyone who is able to maintain close focused and concentrated attention for long periods of time as a person of strong mind or will.So real concentration may be broken down into just 2 parts:1. The voluntary focusing of all our power and attention in the selecting of certain objects to be attended to. 2. And the ignoring of other objects which act as distractions.But even in spite of our most careful provisions, there will still be distractions which cannot be eliminated. For example, you cannot stop the noise of planes flying over or cars driving past while you are trying to work, plan or study.And you cannot build a fence around the thoughts and focus of your mind so as to keep out unwanted and irrelevant ideas鈥?the best thing you can do is to accept the inevitable that the presence of some distractions will always exist, and to realise that in order to concentrate and pay attention properly, it is necessary to form the habit of ignoring these distractions.
You can simply start out by making a strong determined effort to ignore all distractions鈥?practise ignoring them, and try your best not to let a slip occur.
Also at the same time, try to develop interest in the object you are concentrating all your attention on, because we tend to pay more attention to those things in which we are most interested.
It鈥檚 easy for any one to say, 鈥渃oncentrate"鈥?but you need to know exactly how to concentrate. Remember that to concentrate is merely the act of applying your entire body and mind, to the task or action in hand.Every effort of the mind, whether it鈥檚 to鈥?鈥?Perceive something 鈥?Recollect something鈥?Associate something鈥?Imagine something鈥?Even to judge somethingMust all involve some concentration of the faculties of the mind upon that particular action, task or act, whatever it may be!As you start to develop a firm interest in your field of work or study, and as you develop the habit of ignoring distractions - you will be able to concentrate your powers of attention with less and less effort. Another important fact to note is that as you develop the power to select objects for the concentration of all your attention, you also develop (at the same time) other mind power processes you will improve the ability to memorize and recall much more, to fine tune and manage better your time and effort.And also the power to control your future thoughts and actions... In short 鈥渄eveloping your power to concentrate and focus all your attention means developing power in all the mental processes鈥? With that being said, we want to finish by giving you, The 2 TOP Keys Of ConcentrationFor every one of us, concentra  

Your Plug-in Profit Site - How To Work Hard And Avoid Insanity_73681

Signing up for the Plug-in Profit Site is something that should take some serious consideration before joining. Many of us join the program on a whim because we want to learn the ropes of making money online by following the 30-day program.

The reason careful thought is necessary is because you do have to work hard at the Plug-in Profit Site program, like you would for any business online or offline. You have to consider your time, energy, and financial situation before jumping in.

No matter how you join the Plug-in Profit Site, though, you will be very excited to get started with the program. It's like an adrenaline rush, and you will want to work crazy hours into the night, and even into the wee hours of the morning!

As excited as you are, I would really recommend not burning yourself out this way because things don't usually happen as quickly as we'd like them to. What you should plan to do with your Plug-in Profit Site is just that ?Plan!

Planning out your strategy to success with the Plug-in Profit Site means carefully choosing a time that you are free and uninterrupted to work on your site. It means setting a budget for yourself so that you don't follow every single recommendation in the 30-days to upgrade or buy into something else. It means knowing your limits and not driving yourself insane by working too hard and too long.

It's easy to think that the harder and longer you work, the quicker you will see the results you want to see with the Plug-in Profit Site. But you really have to accept that it's going to take some time ?maybe even a year or more to build the momentum and respect you need before you will start to see the money rolling in. Each person has different time commitments, so it really does vary.

You want to be careful not to over-do it with your Plug-in Profit Site and over-work yourself. The goal in online businesses is often to free up more of your time to do what you love to do, but the reality is that it takes time for you to get to that point of freedom.

It's important to book a set amount of time, and book a regular time that you will be sitting at your computer working on your Plug-in Profit Site. This may include answering email inquiries about your business, exchanging links with other business owners, looking into a joint venture request, modifying your website, paying for new advertising, or learning new things.

When do you know when to call it quits or cut back on your hours? Most people reach a saturation point where they've worked their buns off only to get frustrating results. If you are at this point of burnout with your Plug-in Profit Site, take several steps back, and re-evaluate your time, energy, and resources. You can only do so much, and the point is not to kill yourself over it.

With the Plug-in Profit Site, you have to devise a plan, which may include a daily to-do list that you are sure you can manage. It's nice to think we have all the time in the world to work on our businesses, but the fact is, many of us also have full-time careers and are doing this on a part-time basis.

Because taking consistent action steps with the Plug-in Profit Site is key to one's success with the program, it's easy to get overwhelmed, but you must cut back on your daily task list if it's just not manageable for you. Re-work your tasks and your schedule, and do at least a tiny bit of work each day. It may take longer than people who have more time, but eventually you will see the results.

One way to manage your tasks and responsibilities is to choose to work on your Plug-in Profit Site with a partner, or paid assistance, and delegate the duties so that you are not doing everything.

It's also important to remember your health, and take a walk outside for some fresh air to get away from the computer screen and clear your mind. Take the dog for a walk, go for a run, a bike, a swim, or whatever activity you fancy. Also remember your friends and family too!

The Plug-in Profit Site will keep you learning for life, as things are always changing in the internet business world, and the program constantly updated. This is a great bonus of the program, but remember that offers will come your way that you just have to refuse.

If you keep in mind your Plug-in Profit Site plan in terms of time, energy, and money, you will avoid burning out and ensure your eventual and continued success!  

Zero Cost Marketing - Planting Stories In The Media To Make Money_62819

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How To Make Money Online Using Mainstream Media

One of the most effective ways to gain publicity is to have your company mentioned in a positive manner by the local or national media. When this happens, potentially millions of people will learn about you, and many will flock to your web site to find out more. A mention in the national media usually spurs others in the media to contact you for follow-up articles, and requests for radio and TV interviews.

Of course, getting a positive story about your product or company in the media isn't always easy. Most media sources are flooded with press releases, all vying for the attention of the writer and editor with hopes of seeing publication. To sort through this flood of press releases, most media writers develop a subconscious 'BS' filter to help them quickly eliminate all but the most interesting press releases. Here's how to get past the 'BS' filter and onto the pages of the press.

Make Money Online: Eight Steps To Getting Media Attention

Pick A Target - Before you start writing your press release (hereinafter referred to as your 'story'), determine where you want the story to appear. Do you want it to appear in your local or regional newspaper or a national publication? The target destination makes a big difference on how you should craft your story.

For example, if you want the story to appear in a local publication, the headline should have a local connection - usually the name of local city or region.

Choose just one target and then choose a writer within the target publication to submit your story to (read recent issues of the publication to find writers who cover your subject area).

Understand What Writers/Editors Want - A writer for a publication wants to impress his editor with an unusual or interesting story, which will make readers of the publication happy.

An editor has the job of reviewing story ideas presented by writers and choosing which of the stories his readers will find so interesting they will buy the next issue. If you can provide the writer with a story that makes him look good to the editor, you increase the odds the story will see print. However, if you provide the standard press release ('XYZ company announces new product'), it is unlikely to be read by the writer or presented to the editor for consideration.

Understand The Mission - Your mission is not to have a long article written about your product or company; that won't happen unless you are involved in some criminal activity (and if that's the case, the publicity won't be positive). Your mission is to have the name of your company (and the address of the website) mentioned in a positive manner in a story that people actually read. Just getting a single mention of your company or product in a well read story is all you want especially if that story is picked up nationally.

Start With An Intriguing Headline - Writers and editors know that headlines sell newspapers. By habit, writers and editors skim the headlines of all submitted press releases and articles to see if anything intrigues them or catches their attention.
Most press releases fail miserably at having an attention getting headline - almost all have the same format �XYZ Company announces a new product�?(see www.prweb.com for examples).

Media writers and editors don't care about XYZ Company and they know their readers don't care either. What they are looking for is a good human-interest story that will cause readers to say 'did you read the story in ABC paper about . . . '. Media editors and writers will probably reject XYZ Company announces a new product', but they will probably be intrigued by a headline like 'Movie producers heading to Port Charlotte'.

Keep in mind that you are writing a headline for a newspaper�not a sales letter. The headline should be similar to headlines you actually see printed in the 'Our Town' section of your newspaper (or the Life section of USA Today).

Follow The Headline With An intriguing Subhead - Right after the headline, have a one or two line subhead that draws the reader into the rest of the story. Often the subhead will be in the form of a question; one so intriguing the reader can't ignore it. (Again, keep in mind that you are not writing a sales letter . . . the subhead needs to feel like a news story).

Follow Up With A Two-Paragraph Summary Of The Story - To keep the 'story' short and appealing to media writers, follow the headline and subhead with two or three paragraphs that summarize the interesting parts of the story. The idea is to make the reader want to find out more. Don't go into too many details, just enough to get the media writer interested.

Example (For A Local Newspaper):

HMS and Reynolds-Burke-Harvey have made a deal with local video producer Bill Myers to be the executive producer of a new video series being produced in Charlotte County, Florida.

This new series will be shot at several locations within Charlotte County and rely on local talent for on and off screen production work.

According to Myers, �Charlotte County is a great location for video production. The weather, the local talent pool and the available facilities all work in our favor. We are finding that instead of having to trek to Hollywood or New York, the major distributors we work with prefer to come here to do business. They sometimes spend a few extra days to enjoy the great fishing and boating available and even scout locations for future productions.�?br />
In addition to producing this latest series of videos, Myers will be hosting a training camp about the business of independent video production. This event, which is being held in Charlotte County, is expected to draw up to 200 video producers who will spend three days filming different assignments in the area.

In the above example, the name of the local community is mentioned in every paragraph of the press release giving a local connection.

Include A Photo - A photo adds tremendous credibility to the article and conveys much more than you can say in just a few paragraphs. The photo should be shot so as to add more credence to the message being conveyed in the article. Again, the idea is to get the attention of the writer/editor who may not read the story but will scan the photo.

Include Contact Info - Always include contact information, your name, phone number, email, phone and fax. Also mention that you are available for interviews.

Send It Out

If I were going to send out the press release example above, I would print it on quality paper with our company letterhead, place it in 9X12 envelope, and send it to specific writers at the local newspapers, specific talk show hosts at the local radio stations and specific reporters at the local TV stations. To add some interest, I'd probably include a copy of one of the recent DVDs I completed.

Don't Cry Wolf
As I mentioned earlier, writers and editors are swamped with press releases. They quickly learn which ones are wastes of time and which have potential. Using the guidelines above, you can definitely catch the interest of the media editor. However, be sure your 'story' is newsworthy. Don't get the editors excited and then shortchange them when they check the facts. If you 'burn' the editors with your story, they are likely to discount all your future stories. So don't cry �wolf�?unless you have an interesting story with a hook to targeted readers. When done correctly, you can

Make your dreams reality

William Street

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Our Vision is simple. Helping our partners create the freedom to choose. We have a passion to see people take personal responsibility & find empowerment to make their own lifestyle choices. We remove the mystery of setting up, and growing your business, focusing instead on helping you grow, your customer base grow, your revenue grow and your profits grow.  

Why Your Business Needs Internet Marketing Services_65907

Nowadays, about 85% of the market will go to the internet FIRST to search for a product or service, before they go to the Yellow Pages or dial a phone directory service. Yes, that is a very large portion of the market and it is a crucial fact to consider.
If you have a business, big or small, having a web presence is now a matter of survival. As the web becomes more and more intimately entwined into our everyday lives, businesses simply must incorporate the internet into their marketing plan in order to reach their prospects and customers and be part of the level playing field. People of all ages are now going online, from their cell phones, laptops, computers, etc. and if you are not there for people to see... Your competitor will be.

As a business owner, you most likely
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do not have the time to learn how to create websites, write and understand computer code, optimize your website for the search engines, get involved in social networking (MySpace, Facebook, etc.), utilize article marketing, set up a Pay Per Click campaign or do anything related to internet marketing! This stuff can be completely confusing, but it needs to be done if you are to stand a fighting chance against your competition. Imagine where your business will be in five years time if if all your competitors are on the web and you aren't.

If you want your business to survive and grow, it is crucial that you look into getting a consultant or a company to handle your internet marketing campaign, or at very least give you a consultation on what you need to do to get more exposure on the internet. It will not only make a substantial difference in your profits, but it will secure the future of your business.

Let's assume you have a website. Did you know that if you're not harvesting your visitor's email addresses on the homepage, you can be missing out on thousands and thousands of dollars each year? By having a mechanism set up where your visitors enter their first name and email address in a little form on your homepage, you can harvest their email addresses with a simple autoresponder program. Over time, you will have thousands of subscribers on your list, and you can send them ALL an email at the same time whenever you're having a sale or a promotion of any kind.  

Why You Want A Guarantee When Shopping Online_68888

A guarantee is very important when buying any product. Risk free purchases mean less stress for the consumer, and that's probably the way it should be. Any customer wants to have a guarantee with the product when they make a purchase; because nobody ever knows what could go wrong. The best types of guarantees are unconditional ones and provide for free shipping both ways. Purchasing anything that doesn't have a guarantee is a risk and here are a few good reasons why:
Why do you need a guarantee?
* Defects in any product: defective products can often occur despite your buying from a reputable business. This isn't anyone's fault and has to be expected to happen from time to time. This is why it is best to purchase from a business that has a good guarantee that doesn't try to profit from, or wiggle its way out of a free replacement policy.
* Shows the business cares about its customers: a company that includes a good guarantee with its products shows that it cares about its customers. There is nothing worse than having something go wrong only to realize that the business you're dealing with couldn't give a fig if you don't ever come back. As times get a little tougher these unscrupulous organizations begin to show their true colors.
* You can have confidence in your purchase: There is a lot of inconvenience involved with having to make return trips to businesses because the product is either faulty or not as advertised. Even more so when the product has to be shipped away to be repaired instead of replaced. This is especially the case if the purchase is for business purposes and other jobs or repairs have to wait for the offending product to return.
The advantages of a guarantee for a business:
* Puts them ahead of the competition: Offering an unconditional guarantee puts a company ahead of their competition. The better the refund policy the more sales a business can make.
* A branding feature: Some companies have such a good guarantee that it becomes part of their brand and customers associate it with their company. This is another way to increase sales.
* Build loyalty with customers: when a company has a good guarantee and honors it they will get more customers. Referrals and viral marketing is a powerful way to build a customer database. There is nothing like the power of word of mouth marketing. Your customers will become powerful marketing tools and will not cost any money.
Sometimes, the different types of guarantees offered to consumers can be very confusing. Sometimes a guarantee is nothing more than a guarantee of frustration. A good guarantee will offer no shipping charges (either way) and have a hassle-free unconditional guarantee. Read the fine print carefully on any guarantee to sniff out any problems before they occur.  

The Simplest Way To Generate Traffic Using Only Free Strategies ._59373

The simplest way to Generate traffic Using only Free Strategies .

Putting up a company would of course require plenty of things, to get directly to the point, you want capital. To make money needs money too. Well, you don't have to spend a cent ; all that you need is the proper perspective and a large amount of effort. You must also have the drive and tenacity to do difficult work and research to generate more traffic for your internet site.

How sweet it is to have more traffic for your site without having to spend a single cent. Now it's a sure thing that many sites have articles that offer tips and guidelines in the best way to build traffic using only free methods. Because it is possible, you do not need to speed a single cent, it might take time, to say honestly, I'm not going to beat around the bush with you. You improve possibilities by paying for your advertisements, but at the very least you get a decent chance with a few of these free techniques I'm about to inform you.

Exploit web-based forums and net communities. The great thing about forums and online communities is that you can target a certain group that fits the certain demographic that you are looking for. You can discuss about lots of things about the niche that you represent or offer. Another great advantage is that you know what you are getting into and you will be prepared.

With online communities and forums you can build a name for your company. Show them what you are made of and stun them with your range of expertise about the subject, with you can build a name and increase trust with the folks in your expertise and information.

You may utilize newsletters. Provide people with a catalog of your products and interesting and entertaining articles. If you make it really engaging and entertaining, more people will sign up for your newsletter and endorse it to people. The more people who signs up for your magazine, the more people there will be that may go to your site adding to your traffic.

Another excellent idea is trading links with other sites. You do not have to spend a cent. All you have got to do is reach an understanding with another web master. With exchanging links, the efforts both sites do will benefit both sites. Every traffic that goes to the site could probably click on the link of your internet site and visit your site too.

Write articles that might pique the notice of folks that have interest in your product. Try making articles that will provide tips and guides to other fans. Coming up with articles that provide good service and information to other people would provide the obligatory mileage your traffic flow wishes.

Many sites offer free submission and posting of your articles. When folk find interest in your articles they have a good chance of following the track by finding out where the article originated. Include a link or a quick outline of your company with the work and there's a great probability that they'll go to your website.

Write excellent content for your website. Many search sites track down the keywords and keywords your website uses and how they are used. It isn't an obligation a content should be done by a pro content writer. You could do your on but you have to make content for your site that is entertaining as well as informative. It should provide certain requirements as well as great quality.
Often, internet users use search engines to find what they are hunting for. Search sites in return use keyword searching in assisting their search results. With the right keywords, you might get excellent rankings in search engine results without the costs.

All of these techniques and more will drive more traffic to your website for nothing. All it takes is a little bit of effort and extended man hours. Learn all you can about the techniques showed here and you'll soon have a site with a great traffic flow without the usual costs that come with it.  

Mr. Frank Churchill

In a few minutes the carriage returned. - Somebody talked of rain. - `I will see that there are umbrellas, sir,' said Frank to his father: `Miss Bates must not be forgotten:' and away he went. Mr. Weston was following; but Mrs. Elton detained him, to gratify him by her opinion of his son; and so briskly did she begin, that the young man himself, though by no means moving slowly, could hardly be out of hearing.
`A very fine young man indeed, Mr. Weston. You know I candidly told you I should form my own opinion; and I am happy to say that I am extremely pleased with him. - You may believe me. I never compliment. I think him a very handsome young man, and his manners are precisely what I like and approve - so truly the gentleman, without the least conceit or puppyism. You must know I have a vast dislike to puppies - quite a horror of them. They were never tolerated at Maple Grove. Neither Mr. Suckling nor me had ever any patience with them; and we used sometimes to say very cutting things! Selina, who is mild almost to a fault, bore with them much better.'
While she talked of his son, Mr. Weston's attention was chained; but when she got to Maple Grove, he could recollect that there were ladies just arriving to be attended to, and with happy smiles must hurry away.
Mrs. Elton turned to Mrs. Weston. `I have no doubt of its being our carriage with Miss Bates and Jane. Our coachman and horses are so extremely expeditious! - I believe we drive faster than any body. - What a pleasure it is to send one's carriage for a friend! - I understand you were so kind as to offer, but another time it will be quite unnecessary. You may be very sure I shall always take care of them.'
Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax, escorted by the two gentlemen, walked into the room; and Mrs. Elton seemed to think it as much her duty as Mrs. Weston's to receive them. Her gestures and movements might be understood by any one who looked on like Emma; but her words, every body's words, were soon lost under the incessant flow of Miss Bates, who came in talking, and had not finished her speech under many minutes after her being admitted into the circle at the fire. As the door opened she was heard,
`So very obliging of you! - No rain at all. Nothing to signify. I do not care for myself. Quite thick shoes. And Jane declares - Well! - (as soon as she was within the door) Well! This is brilliant indeed! - This is admirable! - Excellently contrived, upon my word. Nothing wanting. Could not have imagined it. - So well lighted up! - Jane, Jane, look! - did you ever see any thing? Oh! Mr. Weston, you must really have had Aladdin's lamp. Good Mrs. Stokes would not know her own room again. I saw her as I came in; she was standing in the entrance. ``Oh! Mrs. Stokes,'' said I - but I had not time for more.' She was now met by Mrs. Weston. - `Very well, I thank you, ma'am. I hope you are quite well. Very happy to hear it. So afraid you might have a headach! - seeing you pass by so often, and knowing how much trouble you must have. Delighted to hear it indeed. Ah! dear Mrs. Elton, so obliged to you for the carriage! - excellent time. Jane and I quite ready. Did not keep the horses a moment. Most comfortable carriage. - Oh! and I am sure our thanks are due to you, Mrs. Weston, on that score. Mrs. Elton had most kindly sent Jane a note, or we should have been. - But two such offers in one day! - Never were such neighbours. I said to my mother, ``Upon my word, ma'am - .'' Thank you, my mother is remarkably well. Gone to Mr. Woodhouse's. I made her take her shawl - for the evenings are not warm - her large new shawl - Mrs. Dixon's wedding-present. - So kind of her to think of my mother! Bought at Weymouth, you know - Mr. Dixon's choice. There were three others, Jane says, which they hesitated about some time. Colonel Campbell rather preferred an olive. My dear Jane, are you sure you did not wet your feet? - It was but a drop or two, but I am so afraid: - but Mr. Frank Churchill was so extremely - and there was a mat to step upon - I shall never forget his extreme politeness. - Oh! Mr. Frank Churchill, I must tell you my mother's spectacles have never been in fault since; the rivet never came out again. My mother often talks of your good-nature. Does not she, Jane? - Do not we often talk of Mr. Frank Churchill? - Ah! here's Miss Woodhouse. - Dear Miss Woodhouse, how do you do? - Very well I thank you, quite well. This is meeting quite in fairy-land! - Such a transformation! - Must not compliment, I know (eyeing Emma most complacently) - that would be rude - but upon my word, Miss Woodhouse, you do look - how do you like Jane's hair? - You are a judge. - She did it all herself. Quite wonderful how she does her hair! - No hairdresser from London I think could. - Ah! Dr. Hughes I declare - and Mrs. Hughes. Must go and speak to Dr. and Mrs. Hughes for a moment. - How do you do? How do you do? - Very well, I thank you. This is delightful, is not it? - Where's dear Mr. Richard? - Oh! there he is. Don't disturb him. Much better employed talking to the young ladies. How do you do, Mr. Richard? - I saw you the other day as you rode through the town - Mrs. Otway, I protest! - and good Mr. Otway, and Miss Otway and Miss Caroline. - Such a host of friends! - and Mr. George and Mr. Arthur! - How do you do? How do you all do? - Quite well, I am much obliged to you. Never better. - Don't I hear another carriage? - Who can this be? - very likely the worthy Coles. - Upon my word, this is charming to be standing about among such friends! And such a noble fire! - I am quite roasted. No coffee, I thank you, for me - never take coffee. - A little tea if you please, sir, by and bye, - no hurry - Oh! here it comes. Every thing so good!'

CHAPTER I

I rather hope to satisfy you both,' said Emma, `for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic.'
`And if you find them troublesome, you must send them home again.'
`That is very likely. You think so, do not you?'
`I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father - or even may be some encumbrance to you, if your visiting engagements continue to increase as much as they have done lately.'
`Increase!'
`Certainly; you must be sensible that the last half-year has made a great difference in your way of life.'
`Difference! No indeed I am not.'
`There can be no doubt of your being much more engaged with company than you used to be. Witness this very time. Here am I come down for only one day, and you are engaged with a dinner-party! - When did it happen before, or any thing like it? Your neighbourhood is increasing, and you mix more with it. A little while ago, every letter to Isabella brought an account of fresh gaieties; dinners at Mr. Cole's, or balls at the Crown. The difference which Randalls, Randalls alone makes in your goings-on, is very great.'
`Yes,' said his brother quickly, `it is Randalls that does it all.'
`Very well - and as Randalls, I suppose, is not likely to have less influence than heretofore, it strikes me as a possible thing, Emma, that Henry and John may be sometimes in the way. And if they are, I only beg you to send them home.'
`No,' cried Mr. Knightley, `that need not be the consequence. Let them be sent to Donwell. I shall certainly be at leisure.'
`Upon my word,' exclaimed Emma, `you amuse me! I should like to know how many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being of the party; and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure to attend to the little boys. These amazing engagements of mine - what have they been? Dining once with the Coles - and having a ball talked of, which never took place. I can understand you - (nodding at Mr. John Knightley) - your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends at once here, delights you too much to pass unnoticed. But you, (turning to Mr. Knightley,) who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I cannot imagine. And as to my dear little boys, I must say, that if Aunt Emma has not time for them, I do not think they would fare much better with Uncle Knightley, who is absent from home about five hours where she is absent one - and who, when he is at home, is either reading to himself or settling his accounts.'
Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton's beginning to talk to him.
VOLUME III
CHAPTER I
A very little quiet reflection was enough to satisfy Emma as to the nature of her agitation on hearing this news of Frank Churchill. She was soon convinced that it was not for herself she was feeling at all apprehensive or embarrassed; it was for him. Her own attachment had really subsided into a mere nothing; it was not worth thinking of; - but if he, who had undoubtedly been always so much the most in love of the two, were to be returning with the same warmth of sentiment which he had taken away, it would be very distressing. If a separation of two months should not have cooled him, there were dangers and evils before her: - caution for him and for herself would be necessary. She did not mean to have her own affections entangled again, and it would be incumbent on her to avoid any encouragement of his.
She wished she might be able to keep him from an absolute declaration. That would be so very painful a conclusion of their present acquaintance! and yet, she could not help rather anticipating something decisive. She felt as if the spring would not pass without bringing a crisis, an event, a something to alter her present composed and tranquil state.

Aye - like Maple Grove, I dare say

The evil of the distance from Enscombe,' said Mr. Weston, `is, that Mrs. Churchill, as we understand, has not been able to leave the sofa for a week together. In Frank's last letter she complained, he said, of being too weak to get into her conservatory without having both his arm and his uncle's! This, you know, speaks a great degree of weakness - but now she is so impatient to be in town, that she means to sleep only two nights on the road. - So Frank writes word. Certainly, delicate ladies have very extraordinary constitutions, Mrs. Elton. You must grant me that.'
`No, indeed, I shall grant you nothing. I Always take the part of my own sex. I do indeed. I give you notice - You will find me a formidable antagonist on that point. I always stand up for women - and I assure you, if you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at an inn, you would not wonder at Mrs. Churchill's making incredible exertions to avoid it. Selina says it is quite horror to her - and I believe I have caught a little of her nicety. She always travels with her own sheets; an excellent precaution. Does Mrs. Churchill do the same?'
`Depend upon it, Mrs. Churchill does every thing that any other fine lady ever did. Mrs. Churchill will not be second to any lady in the land for' -
Mrs. Elton eagerly interposed with,
`Oh! Mr. Weston, do not mistake me. Selina is no fine lady, I assure you. Do not run away with such an idea.'
`Is not she? Then she is no rule for Mrs. Churchill, who is as thorough a fine lady as any body ever beheld.'
Mrs. Elton began to think she had been wrong in disclaiming so warmly. It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was not a fine lady; perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence of it; - and she was considering in what way she had best retract, when Mr. Weston went on.
`Mrs. Churchill is not much in my good graces, as you may suspect - but this is quite between ourselves. She is very fond of Frank, and therefore I would not speak ill of her. Besides, she is out of health now; but that indeed, by her own account, she has always been. I would not say so to every body, Mrs. Elton, but I have not much faith in Mrs. Churchill's illness.'
`If she is really ill, why not go to Bath, Mr. Weston? - To Bath, or to Clifton?' `She has taken it into her head that Enscombe is too cold for her. The fact is, I suppose, that she is tired of Enscombe. She has now been a longer time stationary there, than she ever was before, and she begins to want change. It is a retired place. A fine place, but very retired.'
`Aye - like Maple Grove, I dare say. Nothing can stand more retired from the road than Maple Grove. Such an immense plantation all round it! You seem shut out from every thing - in the most complete retirement. - And Mrs. Churchill probably has not health or spirits like Selina to enjoy that sort of seclusion. Or, perhaps she may not have resources enough in herself to be qualified for a country life. I always say a woman cannot have too many resources - and I feel very thankful that I have so many myself as to be quite independent of society.'
`Frank was here in February for a fortnight.'
`So I remember to have heard. He will find an addition to the society of Highbury when he comes again; that is, if I may presume to call myself an addition. But perhaps he may never have heard of there being such a creature in the world.'
This was too loud a call for a compliment to be passed by, and Mr. Weston, with a very good grace, immediately exclaimed,
`My dear madam! Nobody but yourself could imagine such a thing possible. Not heard of you! - I believe Mrs. Weston's letters lately have been full of very little else than Mrs. Elton.'

Miss Woodhouse

`I do not admire it,' said Mr. Knightley. `It is too small - wants strength. It is like a woman's writing.'
This was not submitted to by either lady. They vindicated him against the base aspersion. `No, it by no means wanted strength - it was not a large hand, but very clear and certainly strong. Had not Mrs. Weston any letter about her to produce?' No, she had heard from him very lately, but having answered the letter, had put it away.
`If we were in the other room,' said Emma, `if I had my writing-desk, I am sure I could produce a specimen. I have a note of his. - Do not you remember, Mrs. Weston, employing him to write for you one day?'
`He chose to say he was employed' -
`Well, well, I have that note; and can shew it after dinner to convince Mr. Knightley.'
`Oh! when a gallant young man, like Mr. Frank Churchill,' said Mr. Knightley dryly, `writes to a fair lady like Miss Woodhouse, he will, of course, put forth his best.'
Dinner was on table. - Mrs. Elton, before she could be spoken to, was ready; and before Mr. Woodhouse had reached her with his request to be allowed to hand her into the dining-parlour, was saying -
`Must I go first? I really am ashamed of always leading the way.'
Jane's solicitude about fetching her own letters had not escaped Emma. She had heard and seen it all; and felt some curiosity to know whether the wet walk of this morning had produced any. She suspected that it had; that it would not have been so resolutely encountered but in full expectation of hearing from some one very dear, and that it had not been in vain. She thought there was an air of greater happiness than usual - a glow both of complexion and spirits.
She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the expense of the Irish mails; - it was at her tongue's end - but she abstained. She was quite determined not to utter a word that should hurt Jane Fairfax's feelings; and they followed the other ladies out of the room, arm in arm, with an appearance of good-will highly becoming to the beauty and grace of each.
CHAPTER XVII
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room after dinner, Emma found it hardly possible to prevent their making two distinct parties; - with so much perseverance in judging and behaving ill did Mrs. Elton engross Jane Fairfax and slight herself. She and Mrs. Weston were obliged to be almost always either talking together or silent together. Mrs. Elton left them no choice. If Jane repressed her for a little time, she soon began again; and though much that passed between them was in a half-whisper, especially on Mrs. Elton's side, there was no avoiding a knowledge of their principal subjects: The post-office - catching cold - fetching letters - and friendship, were long under discussion; and to them succeeded one, which must be at least equally unpleasant to Jane - inquiries whether she had yet heard of any situation likely to suit her, and professions of Mrs. Elton's meditated activity.
`Here is April come!' said she, `I get quite anxious about you. June will soon be here.'
`But I have never fixed on June or any other month - merely looked forward to the summer in general.'
`But have you really heard of nothing?'
`I have not even made any inquiry; I do not wish to make any yet.'
`Oh! my dear, we cannot begin too early; you are not aware of the difficulty of procuring exactly the desirable thing.'
`I not aware!' said Jane, shaking her head; `dear Mrs. Elton, who can have thought of it as I have done?'
`But you have not seen so much of the world as I have. You do not know how many candidates there always are for the first situations. I saw a vast deal of that in the neighbourhood round Maple Grove. A cousin of Mr. Suckling, Mrs. Bragge, had such an infinity of applications; every body was anxious to be in her family, for she moves in the first circle. Wax-candles in the schoolroom! You may imagine how desirable! Of all houses in the kingdom Mrs. Bragge's is the one I would most wish to see you in.'
`Colonel and Mrs. Campbell are to be in town again by midsummer,' said Jane. `I must spend some time with them; I am sure they will want it; - afterwards I may probably be glad to dispose of myself. But I would not wish you to take the trouble of making any inquiries at present.'
`Trouble! aye, I know your scruples. You are afraid of giving me trouble; but I assure you, my dear Jane, the Campbells can hardly be more interested about you than I am. I shall write to Mrs. Partridge in a day or two, and shall give her a strict charge to be on the look-out for any thing eligible.'
`Thank you, but I would rather you did not mention the subject to her; till the time draws nearer, I do not wish to be giving any body trouble.'
`But, my dear child, the time is drawing near; here is April, and June, or say even July, is very near, with such business to accomplish before us. Your inexperience really amuses me! A situation such as you deserve, and your friends would require for you, is no everyday occurrence, is not obtained at a moment's notice; indeed, indeed, we must begin inquiring directly.'

Emma, in the meanwhile, could not be satisfied without a dinner at Hartfield for the Eltons

Emma, in the meanwhile, could not be satisfied without a dinner at Hartfield for the Eltons. They must not do less than others, or she should be exposed to odious suspicions, and imagined capable of pitiful resentment. A dinner there must be. After Emma had talked about it for ten minutes, Mr. Woodhouse felt no unwillingness, and only made the usual stipulation of not sitting at the bottom of the table himself, with the usual regular difficulty of deciding who should do it for him.
The persons to be invited, required little thought. Besides the Eltons, it must be the Westons and Mr. Knightley; so far it was all of course - and it was hardly less inevitable that poor little Harriet must be asked to make the eighth: - but this invitation was not given with equal satisfaction, and on many accounts Emma was particularly pleased by Harriet's begging to be allowed to decline it. `She would rather not be in his company more than she could help. She was not yet quite able to see him and his charming happy wife together, without feeling uncomfortable. If Miss Woodhouse would not be displeased, she would rather stay at home.' It was precisely what Emma would have wished, had she deemed it possible enough for wishing. She was delighted with the fortitude of her little friend - for fortitude she knew it was in her to give up being in company and stay at home; and she could now invite the very person whom she really wanted to make the eighth, Jane Fairfax. - Since her last conversation with Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley, she was more conscience-stricken about Jane Fairfax than she had often been. - Mr. Knightley's words dwelt with her. He had said that Jane Fairfax received attentions from Mrs. Elton which nobody else paid her.
`This is very true,' said she, `at least as far as relates to me, which was all that was meant - and it is very shameful. - Of the same age - and always knowing her - I ought to have been more her friend. - She will never like me now. I have neglected her too long. But I will shew her greater attention than I have done.'
Every invitation was successful. They were all disengaged and all happy. - The preparatory interest of this dinner, however, was not yet over. A circumstance rather unlucky occurred. The two eldest little Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some weeks in the spring, and their papa now proposed bringing them, and staying one whole day at Hartfield - which one day would be the very day of this party. - His professional engagements did not allow of his being put off, but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening so. Mr. Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the utmost that his nerves could bear - and here would be a ninth - and Emma apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not being able to come even to Hartfield for forty-eight hours without falling in with a dinner-party.
She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself, by representing that though he certainly would make them nine, yet he always said so little, that the increase of noise would be very immaterial. She thought it in reality a sad exchange for herself, to have him with his grave looks and reluctant conversation opposed to her instead of his brother.
The event was more favourable to Mr. Woodhouse than to Emma. John Knightley came; but Mr. Weston was unexpectedly summoned to town and must be absent on the very day. He might be able to join them in the evening, but certainly not to dinner. Mr. Woodhouse was quite at ease; and the seeing him so, with the arrival of the little boys and the philosophic composure of her brother on hearing his fate, removed the chief of even Emma's vexation.
The day came, the party were punctually assembled, and Mr. John Knightley seemed early to devote himself to the business of being agreeable. Instead of drawing his brother off to a window while they waited for dinner, he was talking to Miss Fairfax. Mrs. Elton, as elegant as lace and pearls could make her, he looked at in silence - wanting only to observe enough for Isabella's information - but Miss Fairfax was an old acquaintance and a quiet girl, and he could talk to her. He had met her before breakfast as he was returning from a walk with his little boys, when it had been just beginning to rain. It was natural to have some civil hopes on the subject, and he said,
`I hope you did not venture far, Miss Fairfax, this morning, or I am sure you must have been wet. - We scarcely got home in time. I hope you turned directly.'
`I went only to the post-office,' said she, `and reached home before the rain was much. It is my daily errand. I always fetch the letters when I am here. It saves trouble, and is a something to get me out. A walk before breakfast does me good.'
`Not a walk in the rain, I should imagine.'
`No, but it did not absolutely rain when I set out.'
Mr. John Knightley smiled, and replied,
`That is to say, you chose to have your walk, for you were not six yards from your own door when I had the pleasure of meeting you; and Henry and John had seen more drops than they could count long before. The post-office has a great charm at one period of our lives. When you have lived to my age, you will begin to think letters are never worth going through the rain for.'

Jane Fairfax

`Jane Fairfax is absolutely charming, Miss Woodhouse. - I quite rave about Jane Fairfax. - A sweet, interesting creature. So mild and ladylike - and with such talents! - I assure you I think she has very extraordinary talents. I do not scruple to say that she plays extremely well. I know enough of music to speak decidedly on that point. Oh! she is absolutely charming! You will laugh at my warmth - but, upon my word, I talk of nothing but Jane Fairfax. - And her situation is so calculated to affect one! - Miss Woodhouse, we must exert ourselves and endeavour to do something for her. We must bring her forward. Such talent as hers must not be suffered to remain unknown. - I dare say you have heard those charming lines of the poet,
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its fragrance on the desert air.
We must not allow them to be verified in sweet Jane Fairfax.'
`I cannot think there is any danger of it,' was Emma's calm answer - `and when you are better acquainted with Miss Fairfax's situation and understand what her home has been, with Colonel and Mrs. Campbell, I have no idea that you will suppose her talents can be unknown.'
`Oh! but dear Miss Woodhouse, she is now in such retirement, such obscurity, so thrown away. - Whatever advantages she may have enjoyed with the Campbells are so palpably at an end! And I think she feels it. I am sure she does. She is very timid and silent. One can see that she feels the want of encouragement. I like her the better for it. I must confess it is a recommendation to me. I am a great advocate for timidity - and I am sure one does not often meet with it. - But in those who are at all inferior, it is extremely prepossessing. Oh! I assure you, Jane Fairfax is a very delightful character, and interests me more than I can express.'
`You appear to feel a great deal - but I am not aware how you or any of Miss Fairfax's acquaintance here, any of those who have known her longer than yourself, can shew her any other attention than' -
`My dear Miss Woodhouse, a vast deal may be done by those who dare to act. You and I need not be afraid. If we set the example, many will follow it as far as they can; though all have not our situations. We have carriages to fetch and convey her home, and we live in a style which could not make the addition of Jane Fairfax, at any time, the least inconvenient. - I should be extremely displeased if Wright were to send us up such a dinner, as could make me regret having asked more than Jane Fairfax to partake of it. I have no idea of that sort of thing. It is not likely that I should, considering what I have been used to. My greatest danger, perhaps, in housekeeping, may be quite the other way, in doing too much, and being too careless of expense. Maple Grove will probably be my model more than it ought to be - for we do not at all affect to equal my brother, Mr. Suckling, in income. - However, my resolution is taken as to noticing Jane Fairfax. - I shall certainly have her very often at my house, shall introduce her wherever I can, shall have musical parties to draw out her talents, and shall be constantly on the watch for an eligible situation. My acquaintance is so very extensive, that I have little doubt of hearing of something to suit her shortly. - I shall introduce her, of course, very particularly to my brother and sister when they come to us. I am sure they will like her extremely; and when she gets a little acquainted with them, her fears will completely wear off, for there really is nothing in the manners of either but what is highly conciliating. - I shall have her very often indeed while they are with me, and I dare say we shall sometimes find a seat for her in the barouche-landau in some of our exploring parties.'
`Poor Jane Fairfax!' - thought Emma. - `You have not deserved this. You may have done wrong with regard to Mr. Dixon, but this is a punishment beyond what you can have merited! - The kindness and protection of Mrs. Elton! - ``Jane Fairfax and Jane Fairfax.'' Heavens! Let me not suppose that she dares go about, Emma Woodhouse-ing me! - But upon my honour, there seems no limits to the licentiousness of that woman's tongue!'
Emma had not to listen to such paradings again - to any so exclusively addressed to herself - so disgustingly decorated with a `dear Miss Woodhouse.' The change on Mrs. Elton's side soon afterwards appeared, and she was left in peace - neither forced to be the very particular friend of Mrs. Elton, nor, under Mrs. Elton's guidance, the very active patroness of Jane Fairfax, and only sharing with others in a general way, in knowing what was felt, what was meditated, what was done.
She looked on with some amusement. - Miss Bates's gratitude for Mrs. Elton's attentions to Jane was in the first style of guileless simplicity and warmth. She was quite one of her worthies - the most amiable, affable, delightful woman - just as accomplished and condescending as Mrs. Elton meant to be considered. Emma's only surprize was that Jane Fairfax should accept those attentions and tolerate Mrs. Elton as she seemed to do. She heard of her walking with the Eltons, sitting with the Eltons, spending a day with the Eltons! This was astonishing! - She could not have believed it possible that the taste or the pride of Miss Fairfax could endure such society and friendship as the Vicarage had to offer.

Mrs. Weston's manners

Oh! no, indeed; I must protest against any such idea. A superior performer! - very far from it, I assure you. Consider from how partial a quarter your information came. I am doatingly fond of music - passionately fond; - and my friends say I am not entirely devoid of taste; but as to any thing else, upon my honour my performance is mediocre to the last degree. You, Miss Woodhouse, I well know, play delightfully. I assure you it has been the greatest satisfaction, comfort, and delight to me, to hear what a musical society I am got into. I absolutely cannot do without music. It is a necessary of life to me; and having always been used to a very musical society, both at Maple Grove and in Bath, it would have been a most serious sacrifice. I honestly said as much to Mr. E. when he was speaking of my future home, and expressing his fears lest the retirement of it should be disagreeable; and the inferiority of the house too - knowing what I had been accustomed to - of course he was not wholly without apprehension. When he was speaking of it in that way, I honestly said that the world I could give up - parties, balls, plays - for I had no fear of retirement. Blessed with so many resources within myself, the world was not necessary to me. I could do very well without it. To those who had no resources it was a different thing; but my resources made me quite independent. And as to smaller-sized rooms than I had been used to, I really could not give it a thought. I hoped I was perfectly equal to any sacrifice of that description. Certainly I had been accustomed to every luxury at Maple Grove; but I did assure him that two carriages were not necessary to my happiness, nor were spacious apartments. ``But,'' said I, ``to be quite honest, I do not think I can live without something of a musical society. I condition for nothing else; but without music, life would be a blank to me.'''
`We cannot suppose,' said Emma, smiling, `that Mr. Elton would hesitate to assure you of there being a very musical society in Highbury; and I hope you will not find he has outstepped the truth more than may be pardoned, in consideration of the motive.'
`No, indeed, I have no doubts at all on that head. I am delighted to find myself in such a circle. I hope we shall have many sweet little concerts together. I think, Miss Woodhouse, you and I must establish a musical club, and have regular weekly meetings at your house, or ours. Will not it be a good plan? If we exert ourselves, I think we shall not be long in want of allies. Something of that nature would be particularly desirable for me, as an inducement to keep me in practice; for married women, you know - there is a sad story against them, in general. They are but too apt to give up music.'
`But you, who are so extremely fond of it - there can be no danger, surely?'
`I should hope not; but really when I look around among my acquaintance, I tremble. Selina has entirely given up music - never touches the instrument - though she played sweetly. And the same may be said of Mrs. Jeffereys - Clara Partridge, that was - and of the two Milmans, now Mrs. Bird and Mrs. James Cooper; and of more than I can enumerate. Upon my word it is enough to put one in a fright. I used to be quite angry with Selina; but really I begin now to comprehend that a married woman has many things to call her attention. I believe I was half an hour this morning shut up with my housekeeper.'
`But every thing of that kind,' said Emma, `will soon be in so regular a train - '
`Well,' said Mrs. Elton, laughing, `we shall see.'
Emma, finding her so determined upon neglecting her music, had nothing more to say; and, after a moment's pause, Mrs. Elton chose another subject.
`We have been calling at Randalls,' said she, `and found them both at home; and very pleasant people they seem to be. I like them extremely. Mr. Weston seems an excellent creature - quite a first-rate favourite with me already, I assure you. And she appears so truly good - there is something so motherly and kind-hearted about her, that it wins upon one directly. She was your governess, I think?'
Emma was almost too much astonished to answer; but Mrs. Elton hardly waited for the affirmative before she went on.
`Having understood as much, I was rather astonished to find her so very lady-like! But she is really quite the gentlewoman.'
`Mrs. Weston's manners,' said Emma, `were always particularly good. Their propriety, simplicity, and elegance, would make them the safest model for any young woman.'
`And who do you think came in while we were there?'

Yes,' said Harriet earnestly, `and well she might, nobody could ever have a better. Well, I wish them happy with all my heart. And now, Miss Woodhouse, I do not think I shall mind seeing them again. He is just as superior as ever; - but being married, you know, it is quite a different thing. No, indeed, Miss Woodhouse, you need not be afraid; I can sit and admire him now without any great misery. To know that he has not thrown himself away, is such a comfort! - She does seem a charming young woman, just what he deserves. Happy creature! He called her ``Augusta.'' How delightful!' When the visit was returned, Emma made up her mind. She could then see more and judge better. From Harriet's happening not to be at Hartfield, and her father's being present to engage Mr. Elton, she had a quarter of an hour of the lady's conversation to herself, and could composedly attend to her; and the quarter of an hour quite convinced her that Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert and familiar; that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good. Harriet would have been a better match. If not wise or refined herself, she would have connected him with those who were; but Miss Hawkins, it might be fairly supposed from her easy conceit, had been the best of her own set. The rich brother-in-law near Bristol was the pride of the alliance, and his place and his carriages were the pride of him. The very first subject after being seated was Maple Grove, `My brother Mr. Suckling's seat;' - a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove. The grounds of Hartfield were small, but neat and pretty; and the house was modern and well-built. Mrs. Elton seemed most favourably impressed by the size of the room, the entrance, and all that she could see or imagine. `Very like Maple Grove indeed! - She was quite struck by the likeness! - That room was the very shape and size of the morning-room at Maple Grove; her sister's favourite room.' - Mr. Elton was appealed to. - `Was not it astonishingly like? - She could really almost fancy herself at Maple Grove.' `And the staircase - You know, as I came in, I observed how very like the staircase was; placed exactly in the same part of the house. I really could not help exclaiming! I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, it is very delightful to me, to be reminded of a place I am so extremely partial to as Maple Grove. I have spent so many happy months there! (with a little sigh of sentiment). A charming place, undoubtedly. Every body who sees it is struck by its beauty; but to me, it has been quite a home. Whenever you are transplanted, like me, Miss Woodhouse, you will understand how very delightful it is to meet with any thing at all like what one has left behind. I always say this is quite one of the evils of matrimony.' Emma made as slight a reply as she could; but it was fully sufficient for Mrs. Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself. `So extremely like Maple Grove! And it is not merely the house - the grounds, I assure you, as far as I could observe, are strikingly like. The laurels at Maple Grove are in the same profusion as here, and stand very much in the same way - just across the lawn; and I had a glimpse of a fine large tree, with a bench round it, which put me so exactly in mind! My brother and sister will be enchanted with this place. People who have extensive grounds themselves are always pleased with any thing in the same style.'

Yes,' said Harriet earnestly, `and well she might, nobody could ever have a better. Well, I wish them happy with all my heart. And now, Miss Woodhouse, I do not think I shall mind seeing them again. He is just as superior as ever; - but being married, you know, it is quite a different thing. No, indeed, Miss Woodhouse, you need not be afraid; I can sit and admire him now without any great misery. To know that he has not thrown himself away, is such a comfort! - She does seem a charming young woman, just what he deserves. Happy creature! He called her ``Augusta.'' How delightful!'
When the visit was returned, Emma made up her mind. She could then see more and judge better. From Harriet's happening not to be at Hartfield, and her father's being present to engage Mr. Elton, she had a quarter of an hour of the lady's conversation to herself, and could composedly attend to her; and the quarter of an hour quite convinced her that Mrs. Elton was a vain woman, extremely well satisfied with herself, and thinking much of her own importance; that she meant to shine and be very superior, but with manners which had been formed in a bad school, pert and familiar; that all her notions were drawn from one set of people, and one style of living; that if not foolish she was ignorant, and that her society would certainly do Mr. Elton no good.
Harriet would have been a better match. If not wise or refined herself, she would have connected him with those who were; but Miss Hawkins, it might be fairly supposed from her easy conceit, had been the best of her own set. The rich brother-in-law near Bristol was the pride of the alliance, and his place and his carriages were the pride of him.
The very first subject after being seated was Maple Grove, `My brother Mr. Suckling's seat;' - a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove. The grounds of Hartfield were small, but neat and pretty; and the house was modern and well-built. Mrs. Elton seemed most favourably impressed by the size of the room, the entrance, and all that she could see or imagine. `Very like Maple Grove indeed! - She was quite struck by the likeness! - That room was the very shape and size of the morning-room at Maple Grove; her sister's favourite room.' - Mr. Elton was appealed to. - `Was not it astonishingly like? - She could really almost fancy herself at Maple Grove.'
`And the staircase - You know, as I came in, I observed how very like the staircase was; placed exactly in the same part of the house. I really could not help exclaiming! I assure you, Miss Woodhouse, it is very delightful to me, to be reminded of a place I am so extremely partial to as Maple Grove. I have spent so many happy months there! (with a little sigh of sentiment). A charming place, undoubtedly. Every body who sees it is struck by its beauty; but to me, it has been quite a home. Whenever you are transplanted, like me, Miss Woodhouse, you will understand how very delightful it is to meet with any thing at all like what one has left behind. I always say this is quite one of the evils of matrimony.'
Emma made as slight a reply as she could; but it was fully sufficient for Mrs. Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself.
`So extremely like Maple Grove! And it is not merely the house - the grounds, I assure you, as far as I could observe, are strikingly like. The laurels at Maple Grove are in the same profusion as here, and stand very much in the same way - just across the lawn; and I had a glimpse of a fine large tree, with a bench round it, which put me so exactly in mind! My brother and sister will be enchanted with this place. People who have extensive grounds themselves are always pleased with any thing in the same style.'

Poor Harriet

It was well to have a comfort in store on Harriet's behalf, though it might be wise to let the fancy touch it seldom; for evil in that quarter was at hand. As Frank Churchill's arrival had succeeded Mr. Elton's engagement in the conversation of Highbury, as the latest interest had entirely borne down the first, so now upon Frank Churchill's disappearance, Mr. Elton's concerns were assuming the most irresistible form. - His wedding-day was named. He would soon be among them again; Mr. Elton and his bride. There was hardly time to talk over the first letter from Enscombe before `Mr. Elton and his bride' was in every body's mouth, and Frank Churchill was forgotten. Emma grew sick at the sound. She had had three weeks of happy exemption from Mr. Elton; and Harriet's mind, she had been willing to hope, had been lately gaining strength. With Mr. Weston's ball in view at least, there had been a great deal of insensibility to other things; but it was now too evident that she had not attained such a state of composure as could stand against the actual approach - new carriage, bell-ringing, and all.
Poor Harriet was in a flutter of spirits which required all the reasonings and soothings and attentions of every kind that Emma could give. Emma felt that she could not do too much for her, that Harriet had a right to all her ingenuity and all her patience; but it was heavy work to be for ever convincing without producing any effect, for ever agreed to, without being able to make their opinions the same. Harriet listened submissively, and said `it was very true - it was just as Miss Woodhouse described - it was not worth while to think about them - and she would not think about them any longer' but no change of subject could avail, and the next half-hour saw her as anxious and restless about the Eltons as before. At last Emma attacked her on another ground.
`Your allowing yourself to be so occupied and so unhappy about Mr. Elton's marrying, Harriet, is the strongest reproach you can make me. You could not give me a greater reproof for the mistake I fell into. It was all my doing, I know. I have not forgotten it, I assure you. - Deceived myself, I did very miserably deceive you - and it will be a painful reflection to me for ever. Do not imagine me in danger of forgetting it.'
Harriet felt this too much to utter more than a few words of eager exclamation. Emma continued,
`I have not said, exert yourself Harriet for my sake; think less, talk less of Mr. Elton for my sake; because for your own sake rather, I would wish it to be done, for the sake of what is more important than my comfort, a habit of self-command in you, a consideration of what is your duty, an attention to propriety, an endeavour to avoid the suspicions of others, to save your health and credit, and restore your tranquillity. These are the motives which I have been pressing on you. They are very important - and sorry I am that you cannot feel them sufficiently to act upon them. My being saved from pain is a very secondary consideration. I want you to save yourself from greater pain. Perhaps I may sometimes have felt that Harriet would not forget what was due - or rather what would be kind by me.'
This appeal to her affections did more than all the rest. The idea of wanting gratitude and consideration for Miss Woodhouse, whom she really loved extremely, made her wretched for a while, and when the violence of grief was comforted away, still remained powerful enough to prompt to what was right and support her in it very tolerably.

CHAPTER XIII

`It was something to feel that all the rest of my time might be given to Hartfield. My regard for Hartfield is most warm' -
He stopt again, rose again, and seemed quite embarrassed. - He was more in love with her than Emma had supposed; and who can say how it might have ended, if his father had not made his appearance? Mr. Woodhouse soon followed; and the necessity of exertion made him composed.
A very few minutes more, however, completed the present trial. Mr. Weston, always alert when business was to be done, and as incapable of procrastinating any evil that was inevitable, as of foreseeing any that was doubtful, said, `It was time to go;' and the young man, though he might and did sigh, could not but agree, to take leave.
`I shall hear about you all,' said he; that is my chief consolation. I shall hear of every thing that is going on among you. I have engaged Mrs. Weston to correspond with me. She has been so kind as to promise it. Oh! the blessing of a female correspondent, when one is really interested in the absent! - she will tell me every thing. In her letters I shall be at dear Highbury again.'
A very friendly shake of the hand, a very earnest `Good-bye,' closed the speech, and the door had soon shut out Frank Churchill. Short had been the notice - short their meeting; he was gone; and Emma felt so sorry to part, and foresaw so great a loss to their little society from his absence as to begin to be afraid of being too sorry, and feeling it too much.
It was a sad change. They had been meeting almost every day since his arrival. Certainly his being at Randalls had given great spirit to the last two weeks - indescribable spirit; the idea, the expectation of seeing him which every morning had brought, the assurance of his attentions, his liveliness, his manners! It had been a very happy fortnight, and forlorn must be the sinking from it into the common course of Hartfield days. To complete every other recommendation, he had almost told her that he loved her. What strength, or what constancy of affection he might be subject to, was another point; but at present she could not doubt his having a decidedly warm admiration, a conscious preference of herself; and this persuasion, joined to all the rest, made her think that she must be a little in love with him, in spite of every previous determination against it.
`I certainly must,' said she. `This sensation of listlessness, weariness, stupidity, this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, this feeling of every thing's being dull and insipid about the house! - I must be in love; I should be the oddest creature in the world if I were not - for a few weeks at least. Well! evil to some is always good to others. I shall have many fellow-mourners for the ball, if not for Frank Churchill; but Mr. Knightley will be happy. He may spend the evening with his dear William Larkins now if he likes.'
Mr. Knightley, however, shewed no triumphant happiness. He could not say that he was sorry on his own account; his very cheerful look would have contradicted him if he had; but he said, and very steadily, that he was sorry for the disappointment of the others, and with considerable kindness added,
`You, Emma, who have so few opportunities of dancing, you are really out of luck; you are very much out of luck!'
It was some days before she saw Jane Fairfax, to judge of her honest regret in this woeful change; but when they did meet, her composure was odious. She had been particularly unwell, however, suffering from headache to a degree, which made her aunt declare, that had the ball taken place, she did not think Jane could have attended it; and it was charity to impute some of her unbecoming indifference to the languor of ill-health.
CHAPTER XIII

It appears to me a plan that nobody can object to, if Mr. and Mrs

Yes; if you and Mr. Woodhouse see no objection, and I trust you cannot, my father hopes his friends will be so kind as to visit him there. Better accommodations, he can promise them, and not a less grateful welcome than at Randalls. It is his own idea. Mrs. Weston sees no objection to it, provided you are satisfied. This is what we all feel. Oh! you were perfectly right! Ten couple, in either of the Randalls rooms, would have been insufferable! - Dreadful! - I felt how right you were the whole time, but was too anxious for securing any thing to like to yield. Is not it a good exchange? - You consent - I hope you consent?'
`It appears to me a plan that nobody can object to, if Mr. and Mrs. Weston do not. I think it admirable; and, as far as I can answer for myself, shall be most happy - It seems the only improvement that could be. Papa, do you not think it an excellent improvement?'
She was obliged to repeat and explain it, before it was fully comprehended; and then, being quite new, farther representations were necessary to make it acceptable.
`No; he thought it very far from an improvement - a very bad plan - much worse than the other. A room at an inn was always damp and dangerous; never properly aired, or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they had better dance at Randalls. He had never been in the room at the Crown in his life - did not know the people who kept it by sight. - Oh! no - a very bad plan. They would catch worse colds at the Crown than anywhere.'
`I was going to observe, sir,' said Frank Churchill, `that one of the great recommendations of this change would be the very little danger of any body's catching cold - so much less danger at the Crown than at Randalls! Mr. Perry might have reason to regret the alteration, but nobody else could.'
`Sir,' said Mr. Woodhouse, rather warmly, `you are very much mistaken if you suppose Mr. Perry to be that sort of character. Mr. Perry is extremely concerned when any of us are ill. But I do not understand how the room at the Crown can be safer for you than your father's house.'
`From the very circumstance of its being larger, sir. We shall have no occasion to open the windows at all - not once the whole evening; and it is that dreadful habit of opening the windows, letting in cold air upon heated bodies, which (as you well know, sir) does the mischief.'
`Open the windows! - but surely, Mr. Churchill, nobody would think of opening the windows at Randalls. Nobody could be so imprudent! I never heard of such a thing. Dancing with open windows! - I am sure, neither your father nor Mrs. Weston (poor Miss Taylor that was) would suffer it.'
`Ah! sir - but a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a window-curtain, and throw up a sash, without its being suspected. I have often known it done myself.'
`Have you indeed, sir? - Bless me! I never could have supposed it. But I live out of the world, and am often astonished at what I hear. However, this does make a difference; and, perhaps, when we come to talk it over - but these sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If Mr. and Mrs. Weston will be so obliging as to call here one morning, we may talk it over, and see what can be done.'
`But, unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited - '
`Oh!' interrupted Emma, `there will be plenty of time for talking every thing over. There is no hurry at all. If it can be contrived to be at the Crown, papa, it will be very convenient for the horses. They will be so near their own stable.'
`So they will, my dear. That is a great thing. Not that James ever complains; but it is right to spare our horses when we can. If I could be sure of the rooms being thoroughly aired - but is Mrs. Stokes to be trusted? I doubt it. I do not know her, even by sight.'
`I can answer for every thing of that nature, sir, because it will be under Mrs. Weston's care. Mrs. Weston undertakes to direct the whole.'
`There, papa! - Now you must be satisfied - Our own dear Mrs. Weston, who is carefulness itself. Do not you remember what Mr. Perry said, so many years ago, when I had the measles? ``If Miss Taylor undertakes to wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have any fears, sir.'' How often have I heard you speak of it as such a compliment to her!'
`Aye, very true. Mr. Perry did say so. I shall never forget it. Poor little Emma! You were very bad with the measles; that is, you would have been very bad, but for Perry's great attention. He came four times a day for a week. He said, from the first, it was a very good sort - which was our great comfort; but the measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope whenever poor Isabella's little ones have the measles, she will send for Perry.'
`My father and Mrs. Weston are at the Crown at this moment,' said Frank Churchill, `examining the capabilities of the house. I left them there and came on to Hartfield, impatient for your opinion, and hoping you might be persuaded to join them and give your advice on the spot. I was desired to say so from both. It would be the greatest pleasure to them, if you could allow me to attend you there. They can do nothing satisfactorily without you.'
Emma was most happy to be called to such a council; and her father, engaging to think it all over while she was gone, the two young people set off together without delay for the Crown. There were Mr. and Mrs. Weston; delighted to see her and receive her approbation, very busy and very happy in their different way; she, in some little distress; and he, finding every thing perfect.
`Emma,' said she, `this paper is worse than I expected. Look! in places you see it is dreadfully dirty; and the wainscot is more yellow and forlorn than any thing I could have imagined.'