`AndifIdid,which,however,IamfarfromallowingIshouldnotfeelthatIhaddonewrong.Mr.Martinisaveryrespectableyoungman,butIcannotadmithimtobeHarriet\'sequal;andamrathersurprizedindeedthatheshouldhaveventuredtoaddressher.Byyouraccount,hedoesseemtohavehadsomescruples.Itisapitythattheywereevergotover.\'
`NotHarriet\'sequal!\'exclaimedMr.Knightleyloudlyandwarmly;andwithcalmerasperity,added,afewmomentsafterwards,`No,heisnotherequalindeed,forheisasmuchhersuperiorinsenseasinsituation.Emma,yourinfatuationaboutthatgirlblindsyou.WhatareHarrietSmith\'sclaims,eitherofbirth,natureoreducation,toanyconnexionhigherthanRobertMartin?Sheisthenaturaldaughterofnobodyknowswhom,withprobablynosettledprovisionatall,andcertainlynorespectablerelations.Sheisknownonlyasparlour-boarderatacommonschool.Sheisnotasensiblegirl,noragirlofanyinformation.Shehasbeentaughtnothinguseful,andistooyoungandtoosimpletohaveacquiredanythingherself.Atherageshecanhavenoexperience,andwithherlittlewit,isnotverylikelyevertohaveanythatcanavailher.Sheispretty,andsheisgoodtempered,andthatisall.Myonlyscrupleinadvisingthematchwasonhisaccount,asbeingbeneathhisdeserts,andabadconnexionforhim.Ifeltthat,astofortune,inallprobabilityhemightdomuchbetter;andthatastoarationalcompanionorusefulhelpmate,hecouldnotdoworse.ButIcouldnotreasonsotoamaninlove,andwaswillingtotrusttotherebeingnoharminher,toherhavingthatsortofdisposition,which,ingoodhands,likehis,mightbeeasilyledarightandturnoutverywell.TheadvantageofthematchIfelttobeallonherside;andhadnotthesmallestdoubtnorhaveInowthattherewouldbeageneralcry-outuponherextremegoodluck.EvenyoursatisfactionImadesureof.Itcrossedmymindimmediatelythatyouwouldnotregretyourfriend\'sleavingHighbury,forthesakeofherbeingsettledsowell.Iremembersayingtomyself,``EvenEmma,withallherpartialityforHarriet,willthinkthisagoodmatch.\'\'\'
`IcannothelpwonderingatyourknowingsolittleofEmmaastosayanysuchthing.What!thinkafarmer,andwithallhissenseandallhismeritMr.Martinisnothingmore,agoodmatchformyintimatefriend!NotregretherleavingHighburyforthesakeofmarryingamanwhomIcouldneveradmitasanacquaintanceofmyown!Iwonderyoushouldthinkitpossibleformetohavesuchfeelings.Iassureyoumineareverydifferent.Imustthinkyourstatementbynomeansfair.YouarenotjusttoHarriet\'sclaims.Theywouldbeestimatedverydifferentlybyothersaswellasmyself;Mr.Martinmaybetherichestofthetwo,butheisundoubtedlyherinferiorastorankinsociety-Thesphereinwhichshemovesismuchabovehis-Itwouldbeadegradation.\'
`Adegradationtoillegitimacyandignorance,tobemarriedtoarespectable,intelligentgentleman-farmer!\'
`Astothecircumstancesofherbirth,thoughinalegalsenseshemaybecalledNobody,itwillnotholdincommonsense.Sheisnottopayfortheoffenceofothers,bybeingheldbelowthelevelofthosewithwhomsheisbroughtup-Therecanscarcelybeadoubtthatherfatherisagentleman-andagentlemanoffortune-Herallowanceisveryliberal;nothinghaseverbeengrudgedforherimprovementorcomfort-Thatsheisagentleman\'sdaughter,isindubitabletome;thatsheassociateswithgentlemen\'sdaughters,noone,Iapprehend,willdeny-SheissuperiortoMr.RobertMartin.\'