 a Robert Martin's riding
about the country to get walnuts for her, might very well be conquered by Mr.
Elton's admiration.
 

                                   Chapter V.

»I do not know what your opinion may be, Mrs. Weston,« said Mr. Knightley, »of
this great intimacy between Emma and Harriet Smith, but I think it a bad thing.«
    »A bad thing! Do you really think it a bad thing? - why so?«
    »I think they will neither of them do the other any good.«
    »You surprize me! Emma must do Harriet good: and by supplying her with a new
object of interest, Harriet may be said to do Emma good. I have been seeing
their intimacy with the greatest pleasure. How very differently we feel! - Not
think they will do each other any good! This will certainly be the beginning of
one of our quarrels about Emma, Mr. Knightley.«
    »Perhaps you think I am come on purpose to quarrel with you, knowing Weston
to be out, and that you must still fight your own battle.«
    »Mr. Weston would undoubtedly support me, if he were here, for he thinks
exactly as I do on the subject. We were speaking of it only yesterday, and
agreeing how fortunate it was for Emma, that there should be such a girl in
Highbury for her to associate with. Mr. Knightley, I shall not allow you to be a
fair judge in this case. You are so much used to live alone, that you do not
know the value of a companion; and perhaps no man can be a good judge of the
comfort a woman feels in the society of one of her own sex, after being used to
it all her life. I can imagine your objection to Harriet Smith. She is not the
superior young woman which Emma's friend ought to be. But on the other hand, as
Emma wants to see her better informed, it will be an inducement to her to read
more herself. They will read together. She means it, I know.«
    »Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I
have seen a great many lists of her drawing up at various times of books that
she meant to read regularly through - and very good lists they were - very well
chosen, and very neatly arranged - sometimes alphabetically, and sometimes by
some other rule. The list she drew up when only fourteen - I remember thinking
it did her judgment so much credit, that I preserved it some
