 we shall meet them in London, and continue there, I trust, till we may
carry her northward. - But now, I am at such a distance from her - is not it
hard, Miss Woodhouse? - Till this morning, we have not once met since the day of
reconciliation. Do not you pity me?«
    Emma spoke her pity so very kindly, that, with a sudden accession of gay
thought, he cried,
    »Ah! by the bye,« - then sinking his voice, and looking demure for the
moment - »I hope Mr. Knightley is well?« He paused. - She coloured and laughed.
- »I know you saw my letter, and think you may remember my wish in your favour.
Let me return your congratulations. - I assure you that I have heard the news
with the warmest interest and satisfaction. - He is a man whom I cannot presume
to praise.«
    Emma was delighted, and only wanted him to go on in the same style; but his
mind was the next moment in his own concerns and with his own Jane, and his next
words were,
    »Did you ever see such a skin? - such smoothness! such delicacy! - and yet
without being actually fair. - One cannot call her fair. It is a most uncommon
complexion, with her dark eye-lashes and hair - a most distinguishing
complexion! - So peculiarly the lady in it. - Just colour enough for beauty.«
    »I have always admired her complexion,« replied Emma, archly; »but do not I
remember the time when you found fault with her for being so pale? - When we
first began to talk of her. - Have you quite forgotten?«
    »Oh! no - what an impudent dog I was! - How could I dare -«
    But he laughed so heartily at the recollection, that Emma could not help
saying,
    »I do suspect that in the midst of your perplexities at that time, you had
very great amusement in tricking us all. - I am sure you had. - I am sure it was
a consolation to you.«
    »Oh! no, no, no - how can you suspect me of such a thing? - I was the most
miserable wretch!«
    »Not quite so miserable as to be insensible to mirth. I am sure it was a
source of high entertainment to you, to feel that you were taking us all in. -
Perhaps I am the readier to suspect, because, to tell you the truth, I think
