 must, as a friend - an anxious friend - give Emma some
hint, ask her some question. He could not see her in a situation of such danger,
without trying to preserve her. It was his duty.
    »Pray, Emma,« said he, »may I ask in what lay the great amusement, the
poignant sting of the last word given to you and Miss Fairfax? I saw the word,
and am curious to know how it could be so very entertaining to the one, and so
very distressing to the other.«
    Emma was extremely confused. She could not endure to give him the true
explanation; for though her suspicions were by no means removed, she was really
ashamed of having ever imparted them.
    »Oh!« she cried in evident embarrassment, »it all meant nothing; a mere joke
among ourselves.«
    »The joke,« he replied gravely, »seemed confined to you and Mr. Churchill.«
    He had hoped she would speak again, but she did not. She would rather busy
herself about any thing than speak. He sat a little while in doubt. A variety of
evils crossed his mind. Interference - fruitless interference. Emma's confusion,
and the acknowledged intimacy, seemed to declare her affection engaged. Yet he
would speak. He owed it to her, to risk any thing that might be involved in an
unwelcome interference, rather than her welfare; to encounter any thing, rather
than the remembrance of neglect in such a cause.
    »My dear Emma,« said he at last, with earnest kindness, »do you think you
perfectly understand the degree of acquaintance between the gentleman and lady
we have been speaking of?«
    »Between Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax? Oh! yes, perfectly. - Why do
you make a doubt of it?«
    »Have you never at any time had reason to think that he admired her, or that
she admired him?«
    »Never, never!« - she cried with a most open eagerness - »Never, for the
twentieth part of a moment, did such an idea occur to me. And how could it
possibly come into your head?«
    »I have lately imagined that I saw symptoms of attachment between them -
certain expressive looks, which I did not believe meant to be public.«
    »Oh! you amuse me excessively. I am delighted to find that you can vouchsafe
to let your imagination wander - but it will not do - very sorry to check you in
your first essay - but indeed it will not do
