Read Online Mr Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange - Free Book Online

with his sister, Mrs Lovage, who had joined him again from Bath.
    I thought of what Weston had said, and I made sure I was no more than polite when greeting her, as I did not want to raise hopes that I had no intention of satisfying.
    After exchanging civilities, I was, however, heartened by something Mrs Lovage said.
    'I saw a young friend of yours yesterday. She is very good. She was taking relief to the poor.'
    'What young friend do you mean?'
    'I mean Miss Woodhouse, and Miss Smith was with her.'
    'Oh, yes, Miss Woodhouse is always so good,' said Miss Bates.
    'How did you come across her?' I asked.
    'I happened to be walking along Vicarage Lane and I passed them going in the opposite direction. Miss Woodhouse was walking along with a little girl from one of the cottages. The child was carrying a pitcher for soup, and Miss Woodhouse was bearing her company. I thought it very good of her, for it must have been much pleasanter for her if she had walked ahead with Miss Smith and Mr Elton.'
    'Mr Elton!' I exclaimed.
    'Such a good man,' said Miss Bates. 'Always so helpful!'
    'Yes,' said Mrs Lovage, smiling at Miss Bates. Then she turned again to me. 'Whether he had joined them in their charitable venture, or whether he had met them by chance, I do not know. He seemed very attentive. He slowed his pace as he tried to wait for Miss Woodhouse, but she remained behind with the child.'
    'Did she indeed?' I asked.
    My good humour left me. So Emma had still not abandoned her plan of throwing Harriet and Elton together. But perhaps I am misjudging her. Perhaps her charity had been prompted by a desire to do good, and not by a desire to show her friend in an amiable light.
    'And what of you, Mr Knightley? How have you been spending your time since I last visited Highbury?'
    'Looking after the Abbey,' I said.
    'You must have had some pleasure as well.'
    'Oh, yes, Mr Knightley, you must have some pleasure,' said Miss Bates. 'So good to everyone else, and never thinking of yourself.'
    'I think of myself a great deal. I have my whist and my visiting, and when I am at home I have my books. A man must be very hard to please if he wants more.'
    'But have you never longed to go to Bath?' asked Mrs Lovage.
    'I have already been, and found nothing there that was so very extraordinary.'
    'But the people...' she said.
    'I like the people here,' I said. To my dismay, she appeared to take my remark as a compliment, and so I quickly disabused her of the notion by adding: 'The Bateses, the Westons and your brother are my oldest friends.'
    'Ah, good, I am glad you like my brother,' she said satirically.
    She smiled at me invitingly, but I did not prolong the conversation.
    Many men would have found her attentions flattering, but as I knew I could not return them, they made me uncomfortable, and I found myself wishing to resume my evenings at Hartfield instead.
    Sunday 13 December
    I watched Emma closely at church this morning, and from the looks that passed between her and Harriet, I was convinced that she had told Harriet of her plans for a marriage with Elton. I found myself growing angry, for it will only lead to disappointment and humiliation for the girl.
    Emma caught my eye as we waited for the service to begin, and she turned away hastily. As well she might!
    I gave my attention to the rest of the congregation. Graham was there with his sister and Mr Longridge. The Coles and the Otways were there, and the Westons, of course. There was still no sign of Frank Churchill, and I found myself beginning to wonder if we would ever see him in Highbury.
    Elton had not forgotten his duty as vicar of Highbury, even if he had forgotten his sense, for he led Mrs Bates and her daughter to the vicarage pew when they arrived. Miss Bates was overcome by the kindness.
    'So kind!--Mother finds it hard to hear, a sore trial to her, as well as to the rest of us, and dear Jane has even mentioned it several times--a letter? Yes, yesterday, not so well, I thank you, she