Emma scarcely heard what was said. - Her mind was divided between two ideas - her own former conversations with him about Miss Fairfax; and poor Harriet; - and for some time she could only exclaim, and require confirmation, repeated confirmation.

`Well,' said she at last, trying to recover herself; `this is a circumstance which I must think of at least half a day, before I can at all comprehend it. What! - engaged to her all the winter - before either of them came to Highbury?'

`Engaged since October, - secretly engaged. - It has hurt me, Emma, very much. It has hurt his father equally. Some part of his conduct we cannot excuse.'

Emma pondered a moment, and then replied, `I will not pretend not to understand you; and to give you all the relief in my power, be assured that no such effect has followed his attentions to me, as you are apprehensive of.'

Mrs. Weston looked up, afraid to believe; but Emma's countenance was as steady as her words.

`That you may have less difficulty in believing this boast, of my present perfect indifference,' she continued, `I will farther tell you, that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I did like him, when I was very much disposed to be attached to him - nay, was attached - and how it came to cease, is perhaps the wonder. Fortunately, however, it did cease. I have really for some time past, for at least these three months, cared nothing about him. You may believe me, Mrs. Weston. This is the simple truth.'

Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and when she could find utterance, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good than any thing else in the world could do.

`Mr. Weston will be almost as much relieved as myself,' said she. `On this point we have been wretched. It was our darling wish that you might be attached to each other - and we were persuaded that it was so. - Imagine what we have been feeling on your account.'

`I have escaped; and that I should escape, may be a matter of grateful wonder to you and myself. But this does not acquit him, Mrs. Weston; and I must say, that I think him greatly to blame. What right had he to come among us with affection and faith engaged, and with manners so very disengaged? What right had he to endeavour to please, as he certainly did - to distinguish any one young woman with persevering attention, as he certainly did - while he really belonged to another? - How could he tell what mischief he might be doing? - How could he tell that he might not be making me in love with him? - very wrong, very wrong indeed.'

`From something that he said, my dear Emma, I rather imagine - '

`And how could she bear such behaviour! Composure with a witness! to look on, while repeated attentions were offering to another woman, before her face, and not resent it. - That is a degree of placidity, which I can neither comprehend nor respect.'

`There were misunderstandings between them, Emma; he said so expressly. He had not time to enter into much explanation. He was here only a quarter of an hour, and in a state of agitation which did not allow the full use even of the time he could stay - but that there had been misunderstandings he decidedly said. The present crisis, indeed, seemed to be brought on by them; and those misunderstandings might very possibly arise from the impropriety of his conduct.'

`Impropriety! Oh! Mrs. Weston - it is too calm a censure. Much, much beyond impropriety! - It has sunk him, I cannot say how it has sunk him in my opinion. So unlike what a man should be! - None of that upright integrity, that strict adherence to truth and principle, that disdain of trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of his life.'