What's a novel without a tragic plot twist?

"Had you any idea," cried Harriet, "of his being in love with her? -- You, perhaps, might. -- You (blushing as she spoke) who can see into everybody's heart; but nobody else --"

"Upon my word," said Emma, "I begin to doubt my having any such talent. Can you seriously ask me, Harriet, whether I imagined him attached to another woman at the very time that I was -- tacitly, if not openly -- encouraging you to give way to your own feelings? -- I never had the slightest suspicion, till within the last hour, of Mr. Frank Churchill's having the least regard for Jane Fairfax. You may be very sure that if I did, I should have cautioned you accordingly."

"Me!" cried Harriet, colouring, and astonished. "Why should you caution me? -- You do not think that I care about Mr. Frank Churchill."

"I am delighted to hear you speak so stoutly on the subject," replied Emma, smiling; "but you do not mean to deny that there was a time -- and not so very distant either -- when you gave me reason to understand that you did care about him?"

"Him! -- never, never. Dear Miss Woodhouse, how could you so mistake me?" turning away distressed.

"Harriet!" cried Emma, after a moment's pause -- "What do you mean? -- Good Heaven! what do you mean? -- Mistake you! -- Am I to suppose then? --"

She could not speak another word. -- Her voice was lost; and she sat down, waiting in great terror till Harriet should answer.

Breathe in, breathe out...

"Harriet!" cried Emma, collecting herself resolutely -- "Let us understand each other now, without the possibility of farther mistake. Are you speaking of -- Mr. Knightley?"

"To be sure I am. I never could have an idea of any body else -- and so I thought you knew. When we talked about him, it was clear as possible."

"Not quite," returned Emma, with forced calmness, "for all that you then said, appeared to me to relate to a different person. I could almost assert that you have named Mr. Frank Churchill. I am sure the service Mr. Frank Churchill had rendered you, in protecting you from the gipsies, was spoken of."

"Oh! Miss Woodhouse, how do you forget!"

"My dear Harriet, I perfectly remember the substance of what I said on the occasion. I told you that I did not wonder at your attachment; that considering the service he had rendered you, it was extremely natural: -- and you agreed to it, expressing yourself very warmly as to your sense of that service, and mentioning even what your sensations had been in seeing him come forward to your rescue. -- The impression of it is strong on my memory."

"Oh, dear," cried Harriet, "now I recollect what you mean; but I was thinking of something very different at the time. It was not the gipsies -- it was not Mr. Frank Churchill that I meant. No! (with some elevation) I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance -- of Mr. Knightley's coming and asking me to dance, when Mr. Elton would not stand up with me; and when there was not other partner in the room. That was the kind action; that was the noble benevolence and generosity; that was the service which made me begin to feel how superior he was to every other being upon earth."

"Good God!" cried Emma, "this has been a most unfortunate -- most deplorable mistake! -- What is to be done?"

"You would not have encouraged me, then, if you had understood me. At least, however, I cannot be worse off than I should have been, if the other had been the person; and now -- it is possible --"

She paused a few moments, Emma could not speak.

	"Emma" Quotes Main Page