
than would suit your notions of man's perfection. I dare say he has; and though
it may cut him off from some advantages, it will secure him many others.«
    »Yes; all the advantages of sitting still when he ought to move, and of
leading a life of mere idle pleasure, and fancying himself extremely expert in
finding excuses for it. He can sit down and write a fine flourishing letter,
full of professions and falsehoods, and persuade himself that he has hit upon
the very best method in the world of preserving peace at home and preventing his
father's having any right to complain. His letters disgust me.«
    »Your feelings are singular. They seem to satisfy every body else.«
    »I suspect they do not satisfy Mrs. Weston. They hardly can satisfy a woman
of her good sense and quick feelings: standing in a mother's place, but without
a mother's affection to blind her. It is on her account that attention to
Randalls is doubly due, and she must doubly feel the omission. Had she been a
person of consequence herself, he would have come I dare say; and it would not
have signified whether he did or no. Can you think your friend behind-hand in
these sort of considerations? Do you suppose she does not often say all this to
herself? No, Emma, your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, not in
English. He may be very aimable, have very good manners, and be very agreeable;
but he can have no English delicacy towards the feelings of other people:
nothing really amiable about him.«
    »You seem determined to think ill of him.«
    »Me! - not at all,« replied Mr. Knightley, rather displeased; »I do not want
to think ill of him. I should be as ready to acknowledge his merits as any other
man; but I hear of none, except what are merely personal; that he is well grown
and good-looking, with smooth, plausible manners.«
    »Well, if he have nothing else to recommend him, he will be a treasure at
Highbury. We do not often look upon fine young men, well-bred and agreeable. We
must not be nice and ask for all the virtues into the bargain. Cannot you
imagine, Mr. Knightley, what a sensation his coming will produce? There will be
but one subject throughout the parishes of Donwell and Highbury; but one
interest - one object of curiosity; it will be all Mr. Frank Churchill;
