Emma Page #9

EMMA:

Harriet is all alone.

MRS WESTON:

Do you not dance, Mr Elton?

MR ELTON:

Most readily, Mrs Weston if you will be my partner.

MRS WESTON:

Oh, dear me, I'm no dancer, let me find a better partner for you.

MR ELTON:

Though I am an old married man, I would enjoy dancing with Mrs Gilbert.

MRS WESTON:

Mrs Gilbert told me she does not mean to dance this evening, but I do see a

young lady whom I should like to see dancing. Miss Smith.

MR ELTON:

Miss Smith. I had not observed her there. Well, you are most obliging to

have pointed her out to me, and were I not an old married man, I should

gladly do the job, but my dancing days are over.

(later)

EMMA:

I can only say that at the moment you took good to the form I was glad to

call you my friend.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

The Eltons are unpardonable. I must say they aim at wounding more than just

Harriet. They seem to want to snub you too, Emma! Why? Certainly, Mrs Elton

has no reason to dislike you. Confess now, old friend, you did want to him

to marry Harriet.

EMMA:

I did, and they cannot forgive me. Oh, dear. How could I have made such a

misjudgment! What is the point of me being almost twenty-two when there is

still so much for me to learn?

MR KNIGHTLEY:

You know more than you realize!

EMMA:

I know I must own to you to be completely wrong about Mr Elton. There is a

littleness to him which you discovered that I did not.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

In return for your acknowledging so much, I say that you chose for him

better than he chose for himself. But Harriet Smith has some first rate

qualities about her that Mrs Elton is entirely without. Your friend

surprised me, most pleasantly.

MR WESTON:

Emma, dear, it's the last dance. Will you please come and set an example

for your companions?

EMMA:

Gladly.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Whom are you going to dance with?

EMMA:

With you, if you will ask me. You have shown yourself to be a fine dancer,

despite all your protests, and it would not be improper for us to dance.

After all, we are not brother and sister!

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Brother and sister! No, no, indeed we are not.

SCENE 40-ROAD TO HARTFIELD

EMMA:

What of your news?

HARRIET:

We must wait until we are at your house in front of the fireplace. It must

happen there.

EMMA:

Very well. Wasn't the ball lovely?

HARRIET:

Oh, I had the most wonderful time! It was out of a dream---

EMMA:

Don't worry, dear. Let's move a touch more quickly. Tell me more about the

ball.

HARRIET:

I had such...It was very...

GYPSIES:

Quick! Get her purse! Get around them, damnit! Pull, damn you, pull!

FRANK:

Stand aside!

SCENE 41-HARTFIELD

HARRIET:

Oh, how can I ever thank you! How brave you were! I owe you everything!

FRANK:

Miss Woodhouse will make things right. If I am no longer needed, I must go

and meet my father.

HARRIET:

Of course. Bless you for your help! Bless you again and again!

EMMA:

Goodness! What an afternoon!

HARRIET:

All this trouble to do something which I should have done long ago. I have

come to a decision about Mr Elton. I shall never forget him or his wife at

the ball. To prove my sincerity, I shall now destroy something which I had

thought to cherish always. You know what this is, of course. Can you have

forgotten? Mr Elton cut his finger, and you urged me to bind the wound. I

cut too much bandage, and he played with the extra little bit while I

finished it up. He left it by his chair, and I, in my nonsense, made a

treasure of it.

EMMA:

Dear Harriet.

HARRIET:

But let me see. Here is something which truly was his. He left it here

once, and I took it. I used to take it, and hold it, but no more. I want to

be rid of these things with you as my witness. I think I should burn them.

EMMA:

I think it would be a wise and relieving thing to do.

HARRIET:

Goodbye, Mr Elton

EMMA (thinking)

Hello, Mr Churchill.

SCENE 42-BOX HILL PARTY

EMMA:

When you get married, you must eat strawberries at your wedding.

HARRIET:

I shall never marry.

EMMA:

Really? I was certain you were developing feelings for someone. The service

he rendered you would endear him, naturally!

HARRIET:

Oh, I cannot tell you what I felt when I saw him coming to my rescue! I

went from agony to utter happiness at the sight of him.

EMMA:

He is a fine choice for you, but do not let your feelings go until you are

sure of his. I give you this caution now because I am determined never to

interfere. I will not even say his name to you, only that raising your

thoughts to him is a mark of your very good taste.

(later)

MRS ELTON:

I have some wonderful news. I have found a position for you. It is with a

choice family in Bath, and the position is in--

JANE:

I'm most obliged, but I would not consider leaving Highbury.

MRS ELTON:

As your protector, I cannot allow you to feel that way. I'm sure everyone

agrees with me. What are your options? After all, Jane.

FRANK:

These sandwiches are delicious, Mrs Elton. You really are a gourmet!

MRS ELTON:

Well, I never compliment myself, but my friends tell me I certainly know

how to make a sandwich. Now, Jane. I--

FRANK:

Shall we all play a game? I command that we each tell Miss Woodhouse

something entertaining. You may offer one thing very clever, two things

moderately clever, or three things very dull, indeed. And in return, Miss

Woodhouse will laugh heartily at them all.

MRS ELTON:

I do not pretend to be a wit, though I have a great deal of vivacity in my

own way, of course. These diversions are tolerable at Christmas, when one

is around the fire, but in my opinions, it wastes the outdoors. Miss

Woodhouse, you must excuse me.

MR ELTON:

And me. I am an old married man, and have nothing to say that would please

Miss Woodhouse, or any young lady.

MISS BATES:

Well, I need not be uneasy, as long as we're allowed to say dull things.

Very dull, in fact. I should be sure to say things very dull in fact as

soon as I open my mouth, shan't I?

EMMA:

That may be a difficult thing.

MISS BATES:

Oh, I doubt that. I'm sure I never fail to say things very dull.

EMMA:

Yes, dear, but you will be limited in number, only three.

MISS BATES.

Oh, to be sure. Yes. I see, I see, I see what she means. I will try and

hold my tongue. I must have made myself very disagreeable or she would not

have said such a thing to an old friend. Just three. Yes.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Miss Bates, will you give me the pleasure of your company whilst I pick

some more strawberries?

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