Althoughinoneinstancethebearersofnotgoodtidings,Mr.andMrs.Weston\'svisitthismorningwasinanotherrespectparticularlyopportune.SomethingoccurredwhiletheywereatHartfield,tomakeEmmawanttheiradvice;and,whichwasstillmorelucky,shewantedexactlytheadvicetheygave.
Thiswastheoccurrence:-TheColeshadbeensettledsomeyearsinHighbury,andwereverygoodsortofpeople-friendly,liberal,andunpretending;but,ontheotherhand,theywereofloworigin,intrade,andonlymoderatelygenteel.Ontheirfirstcomingintothecountry,theyhadlivedinproportiontotheirincome,quietly,keepinglittlecompany,andthatlittleunexpensively;butthelastyearortwohadbroughtthemaconsiderableincreaseofmeans-thehouseintownhadyieldedgreaterprofits,andfortuneingeneralhadsmiledonthem.Withtheirwealth,theirviewsincreased;theirwantofalargerhouse,theirinclinationformorecompany.Theyaddedtotheirhouse,totheirnumberofservants,totheirexpensesofeverysort;andbythistimewere,infortuneandstyleofliving,secondonlytothefamilyatHartfield.Theirloveofsociety,andtheirnewdining-room,preparedeverybodyfortheirkeepingdinner-company;andafewparties,chieflyamongthesinglemen,hadalreadytakenplace.TheregularandbestfamiliesEmmacouldhardlysupposetheywouldpresumetoinvite-neitherDonwell,norHartfield,norRandalls.Nothingshouldtempthertogo,iftheydid;andsheregrettedthatherfather\'sknownhabitswouldbegivingherrefusallessmeaningthanshecouldwish.TheColeswereveryrespectableintheirway,buttheyoughttobetaughtthatitwasnotforthemtoarrangethetermsonwhichthesuperiorfamilieswouldvisitthem.Thislesson,sheverymuchfeared,theywouldreceiveonlyfromherself;shehadlittlehopeofMr.Knightley,noneofMr.Weston.
Butshehadmadeuphermindhowtomeetthispresumptionsomanyweeksbeforeitappeared,thatwhentheinsultcameatlast,itfoundherverydifferentlyaffected.DonwellandRandallshadreceivedtheirinvitation,andnonehadcomeforherfatherandherself;andMrs.Weston\'saccountingforitwith`Isupposetheywillnottakethelibertywithyou;theyknowyoudonotdineout,\'wasnotquitesufficient.Shefeltthatsheshouldliketohavehadthepowerofrefusal;andafterwards,astheideaofthepartytobeassembledthere,consistingpreciselyofthosewhosesocietywasdearesttoher,occurredagainandagain,shedidnotknowthatshemightnothavebeentemptedtoaccept.Harrietwastobethereintheevening,andtheBateses.TheyhadbeenspeakingofitastheywalkedaboutHighburythedaybefore,andFrankChurchillhadmostearnestlylamentedherabsence.Mightnottheeveningendinadance?hadbeenaquestionofhis.Thebarepossibilityofitactedasafartherirritationonherspirits;andherbeingleftinsolitarygrandeur,evensupposingtheomissiontobeintendedasacompliment,wasbutpoorcomfort.
ItwasthearrivalofthisveryinvitationwhiletheWestonswereatHartfield,whichmadetheirpresencesoacceptable;forthoughherfirstremark,onreadingit,wasthat`ofcourseitmustbedeclined,\'shesoverysoonproceededtoaskthemwhattheyadvisedhertodo,thattheiradviceforhergoingwasmostpromptandsuccessful.
Sheownedthat,consideringeverything,shewasnotabsolutelywithoutinclinationfortheparty.TheColesexpressedthemselvessoproperly-therewassomuchrealattentioninthemannerofit-somuchconsiderationforherfather.`Theywouldhavesolicitedthehonourearlier,buthadbeenwaitingthearrivalofafolding-screenfromLondon,whichtheyhopedmightkeepMr.Woodhousefromanydraughtofair,andthereforeinducehimthemorereadilytogivethemthehonourofhiscompany.`Uponthewhole,shewasverypersuadable;anditbeingbrieflysettledamongthemselveshowitmightbedonewithoutneglectinghiscomfort-howcertainlyMrs.Goddard,ifnotMrs.Bates,mightbedependedonforbearinghimcompany-Mr.Woodhousewastobetalkedintoanacquiescenceofhisdaughter\'sgoingouttodinneronadaynownearathand,andspendingthewholeeveningawayfromhim.Asforhisgoing,Emmadidnotwishhimtothinkitpossible,thehourswouldbetoolate,andthepartytoonumerous.Hewassoonprettywellresigned.