 Martin.«
    He wanted her to look up and smile; and having now brought herself not to
smile too broadly - she did - cheerfully answering,
    »You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think Harriet
is doing extremely well. Her connexions may be worse than his. In respectability
of character, there can be no doubt that they are. I have been silent from
surprise merely, excessive surprise. You cannot imagine how suddenly it has come
on me! how peculiarly unprepared I was! - for I had reason to believe her very
lately more determined against him, much more, than she was before.«
    »You ought to know your friend best,« replied Mr. Knightley; »but I should
say she was a good-tempered, soft-hearted girl, not likely to be very, very
determined against any young man who told her he loved her.«
    Emma could not help laughing as she answered, »Upon my word, I believe you
know her quite as well as I do. - But, Mr. Knightley, are you perfectly sure
that she has absolutely and downright accepted him. - I could suppose she might
in time - but can she already? - Did not you misunderstand him? - You were both
talking of other things; of business, shows of cattle, or new drills - and might
not you, in the confusion of so many subjects, mistake him? - It was not
Harriet's hand that he was certain of - it was the dimensions of some famous
ox.«
    The contrast between the countenance and air of Mr. Knightley and Robert
Martin was, at this moment, so strong to Emma's feelings, and so strong was the
recollection of all that had so recently passed on Harriet's side, so fresh the
sound of those words, spoken with such emphasis, »No, I hope I know better than
to think of Robert Martin,« that she was really expecting the intelligence to
prove, in some measure, premature. It could not be otherwise.
    »Do you dare say this?« cried Mr. Knightley. »Do you dare to suppose me so
great a blockhead, as not to know what a man is talking of? - What do you
deserve?«
    »Oh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any
other; and, therefore, you must give me a plain, direct answer. Are you quite
sure that you understand the terms on which Mr. Martin and Harriet now are?«
    »
