 motives which I have
been pressing on you. They are very important - and sorry I am that you cannot
feel them sufficiently to act upon them. My being saved from pain is a very
secondary consideration. I want you to save yourself from greater pain. Perhaps
I may sometimes have felt that Harriet would not forget what was due - or rather
what would be kind by me.«
    This appeal to her affections did more than all the rest. The idea of
wanting gratitude and consideration for Miss Woodhouse, whom she really loved
extremely, made her wretched for a while, and when the violence of grief was
comforted away, still remained powerful enough to prompt to what was right and
support her in it very tolerably.
    »You, who have been the best friend I ever had in my life - Want gratitude
to you! - Nobody is equal to you! - I care for nobody as I do for you! - Oh!
Miss Woodhouse, how ungrateful I have been!«
    Such expressions, assisted as they were by every thing that look and manner
could do, made Emma feel that she had never loved Harriet so well, nor valued
her affection so highly before.
    »There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,« said she afterwards to
herself. »There is nothing to be compared to it. Warmth and tenderness of heart,
with an affectionate, open manner, will beat all the clearness of head in the
world, for attraction. I am sure it will. It is tenderness of heart which makes
my dear father so generally beloved - which gives Isabella all her popularity. -
I have it not - but I know how to prize and respect it. - Harriet is my superior
in all the charm and all the felicity it gives. Dear Harriet! - I would not
change you for the clearest-headed, longest-sighted, best-judging female
breathing. Oh! the coldness of a Jane Fairfax! - Harriet is worth a hundred
such. - And for a wife - a sensible man's wife - it is invaluable. I mention no
names; but happy the man who changes Emma for Harriet!«
 

                                  Chapter XIV.

Mrs. Elton was first seen at church: but though devotion might be interrupted,
curiosity could not be satisfied by a bride in a pew, and it must be left for
the visits in form which were then to be paid, to settle whether she were very
pretty indeed, or only rather pretty, or not pretty at all.
    Emma had feelings, less of curiosity than of pride or propriety, to make
