let the others be who they may.«
    »Well, papa, if this is not encouragement to marry, I do not know what is.
And I should never have expected you to be lending your sanction to such vanity
- baits for poor young ladies.«
    »My dear, you do not understand me. This is a matter of mere common
politeness and good-breeding, and has nothing to do with any encouragement to
people to marry.«
    Emma had done. Her father was growing nervous, and could not understand her.
Her mind returned to Mrs. Elton's offences, and long, very long, did they occupy
her.
 

                                  Chapter XV.

Emma was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her ill opinion
of Mrs. Elton. Her observation had been pretty correct. Such as Mrs. Elton
appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared whenever they met
again, - self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred. She had a
little beauty and a little accomplishment, but so little judgment that she
thought herself coming with superior knowledge of the world, to enliven and
improve a country neighbourhood; and conceived Miss Hawkins to have held such a
place in society as Mrs. Elton's consequence only could surpass.
    There was no reason to suppose Mr. Elton thought at all differently from his
wife. He seemed not merely happy with her, but proud. He had the air of
congratulating himself on having brought such a woman to Highbury, as not even
Miss Woodhouse could equal; and the greater part of her new acquaintance,
disposed to commend, or not in the habit of judging, following the lead of Miss
Bates's good-will or taking it for granted that the bride must be as clever and
as agreeable as she professed herself, were very well satisfied; so that Mrs.
Elton's praise passed from one mouth to another as it ought to do, unimpeded by
Miss Woodhouse, who readily continued her first contribution and talked with a
good grace of her being very pleasant and very elegantly dressed.
    In one respect Mrs. Elton grew even worse than she had appeared at first.
Her feelings altered towards Emma. - Offended, probably, by the little
encouragement which her proposals of intimacy met with, she drew back in her
turn and gradually became much more cold and distant; and though the effect was
agreeable, the ill-will which produced it was necessarily increasing Emma's
dislike. Her manners too - and Mr. Elton's, were unpleasant towards Harriet.
They