Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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.'

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