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"I told you yesterday," cried Mr. Weston with exultation, "I told you all that he would be here before
the time named. I remembered what I used to do myself. One cannot creep upon a journey; one cannot
help getting on faster than one has planned; and the pleasure of coming in upon one's friends before the
look-out begins, is worth a great deal more than any little exertion it needs."
"It is a great pleasure where one can indulge in it," said the young man, "though there are not many
houses that I should presume on so far; but in coming home I felt I might do any thing."
The word home made his father look on him with fresh complacency. Emma was directly sure that he
knew how to make himself agreeable; the conviction was strengthened by what followed. He was very
much pleased with Randalls, thought it a most admirably arranged house, would hardly allow it even to
be very small, admired the situation, the walk to Highbury, Highbury itself, Hartfield still more, and
professed himself to have always felt the sort of interest in the country which none but one's own country
gives, and the greatest curiosity to visit it. That he should never have been able to indulge so amiable a
feeling before, passed suspiciously through Emma's brain; but still, if it were a falsehood, it was a pleasant
one, and pleasantly handled. His manner had no air of study or exaggeration. He did really look and
speak as if in a state of no common enjoyment.
Their subjects in general were such as belong to an opening acquaintance. On his side were the
inquiries,--"Was she a horsewoman?--Pleasant rides?-- Pleasant walks?--Had they a large
neighbourhood?--Highbury, perhaps, afforded society enough?--There were several very pretty houses
in and about it.--Balls--had they balls?--Was it a musical society?"
But when satisfied on all these points, and their acquaintance proportionably advanced, he contrived
to find an opportunity, while their two fathers were engaged with each other, of introducing his
mother-in-law, and speaking of her with so much handsome praise, so much warm admiration, so much
gratitude for the happiness she secured to his father, and her very kind reception of himself, as was an
additional proof of his knowing how to please-- and of his certainly thinking it worth while to try to please
her. He did not advance a word of praise beyond what she knew to be thoroughly deserved by Mrs.
Weston; but, undoubtedly he could know very little of the matter. He understood what would be
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welcome; he could be sure of little else. "His father's marriage," he said, "had been the wisest measure,
every friend must rejoice in it; and the family from whom he had received such a blessing must be ever
considered as having conferred the highest obligation on him."
He got as near as he could to thanking her for Miss Taylor's merits, without seeming quite to forget
that in the common course of things it was to be rather supposed that Miss Taylor had formed Miss
Woodhouse's character, than Miss Woodhouse Miss Taylor's. And at last, as if resolved to qualify his
opinion completely for travelling round to its object, he wound it all up with astonishment at the youth and
beauty of her person.
"Elegant, agreeable manners, I was prepared for," said he; "but I confess that, considering every
thing, I had not expected more than a very tolerably well-looking woman of a certain age; I did not know
that I was to find a pretty young woman in Mrs. Weston."
"You cannot see too much perfection in Mrs. Weston for my feelings," said Emma; "were you to
guess her to be eighteen, I should listen with pleasure; but she would be ready to quarrel with you for
using such words. Don't let her imagine that you have spoken of her as a pretty young woman."
"I hope I should know better," he replied; "no, depend upon it, (with a gallant bow,) that in
addressing Mrs. Weston I should understand whom I might praise without any danger of being thought
extravagant in my terms."
Emma wondered whether the same suspicion of what might be expected from their knowing each
other, which had taken strong possession of her mind, had ever crossed his; and whether his compliments
were to be considered as marks of acquiescence, or proofs of defiance. She must see more of him to
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