«
    »Something has happened to delay her; some visitors perhaps.«
    »Highbury gossips! - Tiresome wretches!«
    »Harriet may not consider every body tiresome that you would.«
    Emma knew this was too true for contradiction, and therefore said nothing.
He presently added, with a smile,
    »I do not pretend to fix on times or places, but I must tell you that I have
good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of something to her
advantage.«
    »Indeed! how so? of what sort?«
    »A very serious sort, I assure you;« still smiling.
    »Very serious! I can think of but one thing - Who is in love with her? Who
makes you their confidant?«
    Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr. Elton's having dropt a hint. Mr.
Knightley was a sort of general friend and adviser, and she knew Mr. Elton
looked up to him.
    »I have reason to think,« he replied, »that Harriet Smith will soon have an
offer of marriage, and from a most unexceptionable quarter: - Robert Martin is
the man. Her visit to Abbey-Mill, this summer, seems to have done his business.
He is desperately in love and means to marry her.«
    »He is very obliging,« said Emma; »but is he sure that Harriet means to
marry him?«
    »Well, well, means to make her an offer then. Will that do? He came to the
Abbey two evenings ago, on purpose to consult me about it. He knows I have a
thorough regard for him and all his family, and, I believe, considers me as one
of his best friends. He came to ask me whether I thought it would be imprudent
in him to settle so early; whether I thought her too young: in short, whether I
approved his choice altogether; having some apprehension perhaps of her being
considered (especially since your making so much of her) as in a line of society
above him. I was very much pleased with all that he said. I never hear better
sense from any one than Robert Martin. He always speaks to the purpose; open,
straight forward, and very well judging. He told me every thing; his
circumstances and plans, and what they all proposed doing in the event of his
marriage. He is an excellent young man, both as son and brother. I had no
hesitation in advising him to marry. He proved to me that he could afford it;
and that
