 Mr.
E. is Knightley's right hand.«
    Emma would not have smiled for the world, and only said, »Is Mr. Elton gone
on foot to Donwell? - He will have a hot walk.«
    »Oh! no, it is a meeting at the Crown, a regular meeting. Weston and Cole
will be there too; but one is apt to speak only of those who lead. - I fancy Mr.
E. and Knightley have every thing their own way.«
    »Have not you mistaken the day?« said Emma. »I am almost certain that the
meeting at the Crown is not till to-morrow. - Mr. Knightley was at Hartfield
yesterday, and spoke of it as for Saturday.«
    »Oh! no; the meeting is certainly to-day,« was the abrupt answer, which
denoted the impossibility of any blunder on Mrs. Elton's side. - »I do believe,«
she continued, »this is the most troublesome parish that ever was. We never
heard of such things at Maple Grove.«
    »Your parish there was small,« said Jane.
    »Upon my word, my dear, I do not know, for I never heard the subject talked
of.«
    »But it is proved by the smallness of the school, which I have heard you
speak of, as under the patronage of your sister and Mrs. Bragge; the only
school, and not more than five-and-twenty children.«
    »Ah! you clever creature, that's very true. What a thinking brain you have!
I say, Jane, what a perfect character you and I should make, if we could be
shaken together. My liveliness and your solidity would produce perfection. - Not
that I presume to insinuate, however, that some people may not think you
perfection already. - But hush! - not a word, if you please.«
    It seemed an unnecessary caution; Jane was wanting to give her words, not to
Mrs. Elton, but to Miss Woodhouse, as the latter plainly saw. The wish of
distinguishing her, as far as civility permitted, was very evident, though it
could not often proceed beyond a look.
    Mr. Elton made his appearance. His lady greeted him with some of her
sparkling vivacity.
    »Very pretty, sir, upon my word; to send me on here, to be an encumbrance to
my friends, so long before you vouchsafe to come! - But you knew what a dutiful
creature you had to deal with
