The first to bring up the possibility was Mrs. Weston...

"In short, I have made a match between Mr. Knightley and Jane Fairfax. See the consequence of keeping you company! - What do you say to it?"

"Mr. Knightley and Jane Fairfax!" exclaimed Emma. "Dear Mrs. Weston, how could you think of such a thing? - Mr. Knightley! - Mr. Knightley must not marry!... I cannot at all consent to Mr. Knightley’s marrying; and I am sure it is not at all likely. I am amazed that you should think of such a thing."

But truly, Emma's resistance to the idea is quite trivial. After all, Mr. Knightley has sheep. ;)

"I see no probability in it, unless you have better foundation than what you mention. His good nature, his humanity, as I tell you, would be quite enough to account for the horses. He has a great regard for the Bateses, you know, independent of Jane Fairfax -- and is always glad to shew them attention. My dear Mrs. Weston, do not take to matchmaking. You do it very ill. Jane Fairfax mistress of the Abbey! - Oh! no, no; - every feeling revolts. For his own sake, I would not have him do so mad a thing."

"Imprudent, if you please -- but not mad. Excepting inequality of fortune, and perhaps a little disparity of age, I can see nothing unsuitable."

"But Mr. Knightley does not want to marry. I am sure he has not the least idea of it. Do not put it into his head. Why should he marry? - He is happy as possible by himself; with his farm, and his sheep, and his library, and all the parish to manage; and he is extremely fond of his brother’s children. He has not occasion to marry, either to fill up his time or his heart."

And if those reasons weren't enough...

Her objections to Mr. Knightley’s marrying did not in the least subside. She could see nothing but evil in it. It would be a great disappointment to Mr. John Knightley; consequently to Isabella. A real injury to the children -- a most mortifying change, and material loss to them all; - a very great deduction from her father’s daily comfort -- and, as to herself, she could not at all endure the idea of Jane Fairfax at Donwell Abbey. A Mrs. Knightley for them all to give way to! - No - Mr. Knightley must never marry. Little Henry must remain the heir of Donwell.

But there's no use wasting valuable time theorizing on the subject.

"I know how highly you think of Jane Fairfax," said Emma. Little Henry was in her thoughts, and a mixture of alarm and delicacy made her irresolute what else to say.

"Yes," he replied, "any body may know how highly I think of her."

"And yet," said Emma, beginning hastily and with an arch look, but soon stopping -- it was better, however, to know the worst at once -- she hurried on -- "And yet, perhaps, you may hardly be aware yourself how highly it is. The extent of your admiration may take you by surprize some day or other."

Mr. Knightley was hard at work upon the lower buttons of his thick leather gaithers, and either the exertion of getting them together, or some other cause, brought the colour into his face, as he answered,

"Oh! are you there? -- But you are miserably behindhand. Mr. Cole gave me a hint of it six weeks ago."

He stopped. -- Emma felt her foot pressed by Mrs. Weston and did not herself know what to think. In a moment he went on --

"That will never be, however, I can assure you. Miss Fairfax, I dare say, would not have me if I were to ask her -- and I am very sure I shall never ask her."

Emma returned her friend’s pressure with interest; and was pleased enough to exclaim,

"You are not vain, Mr. Knightley. I will say that for you."

He seemed hardly to hear her; he was thoughtful -- and in a matter which shewed him not pleased, soon afterwards said,

"So you have been settling that I should marry Jane Fairfax."

"No indeed I have not. You have scolded me too much for match-making, for me to presume to take such a liberty with you. What I said just now, meant nothing. One says those sort of things, of course, without any idea of a serious meaning. Oh! no, upon my word I have not the smallest wish for your marrying Jane Fairfax or Jane any body. You would not come in and sit with us in this comfortable way, if you were married."

Mr. Knightley was thoughtful again. The result of his reverie was, "No, Emma, I do not think the extent of my admiration for her will ever take me by surprize. -- I never had a thought of her in that way, I assure you."

And soon afterwards, "Jane Fairfax is a very charming young woman -- but not even Jane Fairfax is perfect. She has a fault. She has not the open temper which a man would wish for in a wife."

Emma could not but rejoice to hear that she had a fault.

And yet, Mrs. Weston was not convinced. If I didn't know better, I'd venture to declare that there might be an ulterior motive involved.

"Jane Fairfax has feeling," said Mr. Knightley -- "I do not accuse her of want of feeling. Her sensibilities, I suspect, are strong -- and her temper excellent in its power of forbearance, patience, self-control; but it wants openness. She is reserved, more reserved, I think, than she used to be -- And I love an open temper. No -- till Cole alluded to my supposed attachment, it had never entered my head. I saw Jane Fairfax and conversed with her, with admiration and pleasure always -- but with no thought beyond."

"Well, Mrs. Weston," said Emma triumphantly when he left them, "what do you say now to Mr. Knightley’s marrying Jane Fairfax?"

"Why really, dear Emma, I say that he is so very much occupied by the idea of not being in love with her, that I should not wonder if it were to end in his being so at last. Do not beat me."

	"Emma" Quotes Main Page