 better. It was a
right thing to do. I went in for three minutes, and was detained by Miss Bates's
being absent. She was out; and I felt it impossible not to wait till she came
in. She is a woman that one may, that one must laugh at; but that one would not
wish to slight. It was better to pay my visit, then« -
    He hesitated, got up, walked to a window.
    »In short,« said he, »perhaps, Miss Woodhouse -- I think you can hardly be
quite without suspicion« -
    He looked at her, as if wanting to read her thoughts. She hardly knew what
to say. It seemed like the forerunner of something absolutely serious, which she
did not wish. Forcing herself to speak, therefore, in the hope of putting it by,
she calmly said,
    »You were quite in the right; it was most natural to pay your visit, then« -
    He was silent. She believed he was looking at her; probably reflecting on
what she had said, and trying to understand the manner. She heard him sigh. It
was natural for him to feel that he had cause to sigh. He could not believe her
to be encouraging him. A few awkward moments passed, and he sat down again; and
in a more determined manner said,
    »It was something to feel that all the rest of my time might be given to
Hartfield. My regard for Hartfield is most warm« -
    He stopt again, rose again, and seemed quite embarrassed. - He was more in
love with her than Emma had supposed; and who can say how it might have ended,
if his father had not made his appearance? Mr. Woodhouse soon followed; and the
necessity of exertion made him composed.
    A very few minutes more, however, completed the present trial. Mr. Weston,
always alert when business was to be done, and as incapable of procrastinating
any evil that was inevitable, as of foreseeing any that was doubtful, said, »It
was time to go;« and the young man, though he might and did sigh, could not but
agree, and rise to take leave.
    »I shall hear about you all,« said he; »that is my chief consolation. I
shall hear of every thing that is going on among you. I have engaged Mrs. Weston
to correspond with me. She has been so kind as to promise it. Oh! the blessing
of a female correspondent, when one is really interested in
