“My brother and sister have promised us a visit in the spring,or summer at farthest,” continued Mrs. Elton;“and that will be our time for exploring.While they are with us, we shall explore a great deal,I dare say. They will have their barouche-landau,of course, which holds four perfectly; and therefore,without saying any thing of _our_ carriage,we should be able to explore the different beauties extremely well.They would hardly come in their chaise, I think,at that season of the year. Indeed,when the time draws on,I shall decidedly recommend their bringing the barouche-landau;it will be so very much preferable.When people come into a beautiful country of this sort,you know, Miss Woodhouse,one naturally wishes them to see as much as possible;and Mr. Suckling is extremely fond of exploring.We explored to King’s-Weston twice last summer,in that way, most delightfully,just after their first having the barouche-landau.You have many parties of that kind here, I suppose,Miss Woodhouse, every summer?”
“No; not immediately here.We are rather out of distance of the very striking beauties which attract the sort of parties you speak of; and we are a very quiet set of people, I believe; more disposed to stay at home than engage in schemes of pleasure.”
“Ah!there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.Nobody can be more devoted to home than I am.I was quite a proverb for it at Maple Grove.Many a time has Selina said,when she has been going to Bristol,‘I really cannot get this girl to move from the house.I absolutely must go in by myself,though I hate being stuck up in the barouche-landau without a companion;but Augusta, I believe, with her own good-will,would never stir beyond the park paling.’ Many a time has she said so;and yet I am no advocate for entire seclusion. I think,on the contrary, when people shut themselves up entirely from society,it is a very bad thing;and that it is much more advisable to mix in the world in a proper degree,without living in it either too much or too little.I perfectly understand your situation, however,Miss Woodhouse—(looking towards Mr. Woodhouse),Your father’s state of health must be a great drawback.Why does not he try Bath?—Indeed he should. Let me recommend Bath to you.I assure you I have no doubt of its doing Mr. Woodhouse good.”
“My father tried it more than once, formerly;but without receiving any benefit; and Mr. Perry,whose name, I dare say, is not unknown to you,does not conceive it would be at all more likely to be useful now. ”
“Ah!that’s a great pity; for I assure you, Miss Woodhouse,where the waters do agree,it is quite wonderful the relief they give.In my Bath life, I have seen such instances of it!And it is so cheerful a place,that it could not fail of being of use to Mr.Woodhouse’s spirits, which, I understand,are sometimes much depressed.And as to its recommendations to _you_,I fancy I need not take much pains to dwell on them.The advantages of Bath to the young are pretty generally understood.It would be a charming introduction for you,who have lived so secluded a life;and I could immediately secure you some of the best society in the place.A line from me would bring you a little host of acquaintance;and my particular friend, Mrs. Partridge,the lady I have always resided with when in Bath,would be most happy to shew you any attentions,and would be the very person for you to go into public with. ”
It was as much as Emma could bear,without being impolite.The idea of her being indebted to Mrs.Elton for what was called an _introduction_—of her going into public under the auspices of a friend of Mrs. Elton’s—probably some vulgar, dashing widow, who, with the help of a boarder, just made a shift to live!—The dignity of Miss Woodhouse, of Hartfield, was sunk indeed!
She restrained herself, however,from any of the reproofs she could have given,and only thanked Mrs. Elton coolly;“but their going to Bath was quite out of the question;and she was not perfectly convinced that the place might suit her better than her father.” And then, to prevent farther outrage and indignation, changed the subject directly.
“I do not ask whether you are musical, Mrs. Elton.Upon these occasions,a lady’s character generally precedes her;and Highbury has long known that you are a superior performer. ”
“Oh!no, indeed; I must protest against any such idea.A superior performer!—very far from it, I assure you.Consider from how partial a quarter your information came.I am doatingly fond of music—passionately fond;—and my friends say I am not entirely devoid of taste;but as to any thing else,upon my honour my performance is _mediocre_ to the last degree.You, Miss Woodhouse, I well know, play delightfully.I assure you it has been the greatest satisfaction,comfort, and delight to me,to hear what a musical society I am got into.I absolutely cannot do without music.It is a necessary of life to me;and having always been used to a very musical society,both at Maple Grove and in Bath,it would have been a most serious sacrifice.I honestly said as much to Mr. E.when he was speaking of my future home,and expressing his fears lest the retirement of it should be disagreeable;and the inferiority of the house too—knowing what I had been accustomed to—of course he was not wholly without apprehension. When he was speaking of it in that way, I honestly said that _the_ _world_ I could give up—parties, balls, plays—for I had no fear of retirement. Blessed with so many resources within myself, the world was not necessary to _me_. I could do very well without it. To those who had no resources it was a different thing; but my resources made me quite independent. And as to smaller-sized rooms than I had been used to, I really could not give it a thought. I hoped I was perfectly equal to any sacrifice of that description. Certainly I had been accustomed to every luxury at Maple Grove; but I did assure him that two carriages were not necessary to my happiness, nor were spacious apartments. ‘But,’ said I, ‘to be quite honest, I do not think I can live without something of a musical society. I condition for nothing else; but without music, life would be a blank to me.’”
“We cannot suppose,” said Emma, smiling, “that Mr.Elton would hesitate to assure you of there being a _very_ musical society in Highbury; and I hope you will not find he has outstepped the truth more than may be pardoned, in consideration of the motive.”
“No, indeed, I have no doubts at all on that head.I am delighted to find myself in such a circle.I hope we shall have many sweet little concerts together.I think, Miss Woodhouse,you and I must establish a musical club,and have regular weekly meetings at your house,or ours. Will not it be a good plan?If _we_ exert ourselves,I think we shall not be long in want of allies.Something of that nature would be particularly desirable for _me_,as an inducement to keep me in practice;for married women, you know—there is a sad story against them,in general. They are but too apt to give up music.”
“But you, who are so extremely fond of it—there can be no danger, surely?”
“I should hope not; but really when I look around among my acquaintance,I tremble. Selina has entirely given up music—never touches the instrument—though she played sweetly. And the same may be said of Mrs. Jeffereys—Clara Partridge, that was—and of the two Milmans, now Mrs. Bird and Mrs. James Cooper; and of more than I can enumerate. Upon my word it is enough to put one in a fright. I used to be quite angry with Selina; but really I begin now to comprehend that a married woman has many things to call her attention. I believe I was half an hour this morning shut up with my housekeeper.”
“But every thing of that kind,” said Emma,“will soon be in so regular a train—”
“Well,” said Mrs. Elton, laughing, “we shall see.”