Chapter 11

It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing
many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to
body or mind — but when a beginning is made — when the felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt —
it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more.

Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury, and longed to dance again; and the last half-hour of an evening which Mr.
Woodhouse was persuaded to spend with his daughter at Randalls, was passed by the two young people in schemes on the
subject. Frank’s was the first idea; and his the greatest zeal in pursuing it; for the lady was the best judge of the
difficulties, and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance. But still she had inclination enough for shewing
people again how delightfully Mr. Frank Churchill and Miss Woodhouse danced — for doing that in which she need not blush
to compare herself with Jane Fairfax — and even for simple dancing itself, without any of the wicked aids of vanity — to
assist him first in pacing out the room they were in to see what it could be made to hold — and then in taking the
dimensions of the other parlour, in the hope of discovering, in spite of all that Mr. Weston could say of their exactly
equal size, that it was a little the largest.

His first proposition and request, that the dance begun at Mr. Cole’s should be finished there — that the same party
should be collected, and the same musician engaged, met with the readiest acquiescence. Mr. Weston entered into the idea
with thorough enjoyment, and Mrs. Weston most willingly undertook to play as long as they could wish to dance; and the
interesting employment had followed, of reckoning up exactly who there would be, and portioning out the indispensable
division of space to every couple.

“You and Miss Smith, and Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss Coxes five,” had been repeated many times over.
“And there will be the two Gilberts, young Cox, my father, and myself, besides Mr. Knightley. Yes, that will be quite
enough for pleasure. You and Miss Smith, and Miss Fairfax, will be three, and the two Miss Coxes five; and for five
couple there will be plenty of room.”

But soon it came to be on one side,

“But will there be good room for five couple? — I really do not think there will.”

On another,

“And after all, five couple are not enough to make it worth while to stand up. Five couple are nothing, when one
thinks seriously about it. It will not do to invite five couple. It can be allowable only as the thought of the
moment.”

Somebody said that Miss Gilbert was expected at her brother’s, and must be invited with the rest. Somebody else
believed Mrs. Gilbert would have danced the other evening, if she had been asked. A word was put in for a second young
Cox; and at last, Mr. Weston naming one family of cousins who must be included, and another of very old acquaintance who
could not be left out, it became a certainty that the five couple would be at least ten, and a very interesting
speculation in what possible manner they could be disposed of.

The doors of the two rooms were just opposite each other. “Might not they use both rooms, and dance across the
passage?” It seemed the best scheme; and yet it was not so good but that many of them wanted a better. Emma said it would
be awkward; Mrs. Weston was in distress about the supper; and Mr. Woodhouse opposed it earnestly, on the score of health.
It made him so very unhappy, indeed, that it could not be persevered in.

“Oh! no,” said he; “it would be the extreme of imprudence. I could not bear it for Emma! — Emma is not strong. She
would catch a dreadful cold. So would poor little Harriet. So you would all. Mrs. Weston, you would be quite laid up; do
not let them talk of such a wild thing. Pray do not let them talk of it. That young man (speaking lower) is very
thoughtless. Do not tell his father, but that young man is not quite the thing. He has been opening the doors very often
this evening, and keeping them open very inconsiderately. He does not think of the draught. I do not mean to set you
against him, but indeed he is not quite the thing!”

Mrs. Weston was sorry for such a charge. She knew the importance of it, and said every thing in her power to do it
away. Every door was now closed, the passage plan given up, and the first scheme of dancing only in the room they were in
resorted to again; and with such good-will on Frank Churchill’s part, that the space which a quarter of an hour before
had been deemed barely sufficient for five couple, was now endeavoured to be made out quite enough for ten.

“We were too magnificent,” said he. “We allowed unnecessary room. Ten couple may stand here very well.”

Emma demurred. “It would be a crowd — a sad crowd; and what could be worse than dancing without space to turn in?”

“Very true,” he gravely replied; “it was very bad.” But still he went on measuring, and still he ended with,

“I think there will be very tolerable room for ten couple.”

“No, no,” said she, “you are quite unreasonable. It would be dreadful to be standing so close! Nothing can be farther
from pleasure than to be dancing in a crowd — and a crowd in a little room!”

“There is no denying it,” he replied. “I agree with you exactly. A crowd in a little room — Miss Woodhouse, you have
the art of giving pictures in a few words. Exquisite, quite exquisite! — Still, however, having proceeded so far, one is
unwilling to give the matter up. It would be a disappointment to my father — and altogether — I do not know that — I am
rather of opinion that ten couple might stand here very well.”

Emma perceived that the nature of his gallantry was a little self-willed, and that he would rather oppose than lose
the pleasure of dancing with her; but she took the compliment, and forgave the rest. Had she intended ever to marry him,
it might have been worth while to pause and consider, and try to understand the value of his preference, and the
character of his temper; but for all the purposes of their acquaintance, he was quite amiable enough.

Before the middle of the next day, he was at Hartfield; and he entered the room with such an agreeable smile as
certified the continuance of the scheme. It soon appeared that he came to announce an improvement.

“Well, Miss Woodhouse,” he almost immediately began, “your inclination for dancing has not been quite frightened away,
I hope, by the terrors of my father’s little rooms. I bring a new proposal on the subject:— a thought of my father’s,
which waits only your approbation to be acted upon. May I hope for the honour of your hand for the two first dances of
this little projected ball, to be given, not at Randalls, but at the Crown Inn?”

“The Crown!”

“Yes; if you and Mr. Woodhouse see no objection, and I trust you cannot, my father hopes his friends will be so kind
as to visit him there. Better accommodations, he can promise them, and not a less grateful welcome than at Randalls. It
is his own idea. Mrs. Weston sees no objection to it, provided you are satisfied. This is what we all feel. Oh! you were
perfectly right! Ten couple, in either of the Randalls rooms, would have been insufferable! — Dreadful! — I felt how
right you were the whole time, but was too anxious for securing any thing to like to yield. Is not it a good exchange? —
You consent — I hope you consent?”

“It appears to me a plan that nobody can object to, if Mr. and Mrs. Weston do not. I think it admirable; and, as far
as I can answer for myself, shall be most happy — It seems the only improvement that could be. Papa, do you not think it
an excellent improvement?”

She was obliged to repeat and explain it, before it was fully comprehended; and then, being quite new, farther
representations were necessary to make it acceptable.

“No; he thought it very far from an improvement — a very bad plan — much worse than the other. A room at an inn was
always damp and dangerous; never properly aired, or fit to be inhabited. If they must dance, they had better dance at
Randalls. He had never been in the room at the Crown in his life — did not know the people who kept it by sight. — Oh! no
— a very bad plan. They would catch worse colds at the Crown than anywhere.”

“I was going to observe, sir,” said Frank Churchill, “that one of the great recommendations of this change would be
the very little danger of any body’s catching cold — so much less danger at the Crown than at Randalls! Mr. Perry might
have reason to regret the alteration, but nobody else could.”

“Sir,” said Mr. Woodhouse, rather warmly, “you are very much mistaken if you suppose Mr. Perry to be that sort of
character. Mr. Perry is extremely concerned when any of us are ill. But I do not understand how the room at the Crown can
be safer for you than your father’s house.”

“From the very circumstance of its being larger, sir. We shall have no occasion to open the windows at all — not once
the whole evening; and it is that dreadful habit of opening the windows, letting in cold air upon heated bodies, which
(as you well know, sir) does the mischief.”

“Open the windows! — but surely, Mr. Churchill, nobody would think of opening the windows at Randalls. Nobody could be
so imprudent! I never heard of such a thing. Dancing with open windows! — I am sure, neither your father nor Mrs. Weston
(poor Miss Taylor that was) would suffer it.”

“Ah! sir — but a thoughtless young person will sometimes step behind a window-curtain, and throw up a sash, without
its being suspected. I have often known it done myself.”

“Have you indeed, sir? — Bless me! I never could have supposed it. But I live out of the world, and am often
astonished at what I hear. However, this does make a difference; and, perhaps, when we come to talk it over — but these
sort of things require a good deal of consideration. One cannot resolve upon them in a hurry. If Mr. and Mrs. Weston will
be so obliging as to call here one morning, we may talk it over, and see what can be done.”

“But, unfortunately, sir, my time is so limited —”

“Oh!” interrupted Emma, “there will be plenty of time for talking every thing over. There is no hurry at all. If it
can be contrived to be at the Crown, papa, it will be very convenient for the horses. They will be so near their own
stable.”

“So they will, my dear. That is a great thing. Not that James ever complains; but it is right to spare our horses when
we can. If I could be sure of the rooms being thoroughly aired — but is Mrs. Stokes to be trusted? I doubt it. I do not
know her, even by sight.”

“I can answer for every thing of that nature, sir, because it will be under Mrs. Weston’s care. Mrs. Weston undertakes
to direct the whole.”

“There, papa! — Now you must be satisfied — Our own dear Mrs. Weston, who is carefulness itself. Do not you remember
what Mr. Perry said, so many years ago, when I had the measles? ‘If Miss Taylor undertakes to wrap Miss Emma up, you need
not have any fears, sir.’ How often have I heard you speak of it as such a compliment to her!”

“Aye, very true. Mr. Perry did say so. I shall never forget it. Poor little Emma! You were very bad with the measles;
that is, you would have been very bad, but for Perry’s great attention. He came four times a day for a week. He said,
from the first, it was a very good sort — which was our great comfort; but the measles are a dreadful complaint. I hope
whenever poor Isabella’s little ones have the measles, she will send for Perry.”

“My father and Mrs. Weston are at the Crown at this moment,” said Frank Churchill, “examining the capabilities of the
house. I left them there and came on to Hartfield, impatient for your opinion, and hoping you might be persuaded to join
them and give your advice on the spot. I was desired to say so from both. It would be the greatest pleasure to them, if
you could allow me to attend you there. They can do nothing satisfactorily without you.”

Emma was most happy to be called to such a council; and her father, engaging to think it all over while she was gone,
the two young people set off together without delay for the Crown. There were Mr. and Mrs. Weston; delighted to see her
and receive her approbation, very busy and very happy in their different way; she, in some little distress; and he,
finding every thing perfect.

“Emma,” said she, “this paper is worse than I expected. Look! in places you see it is dreadfully dirty; and the
wainscot is more yellow and forlorn than any thing I could have imagined.”

“My dear, you are too particular,” said her husband. “What does all that signify? You will see nothing of it by
candlelight. It will be as clean as Randalls by candlelight. We never see any thing of it on our club-nights.”

The ladies here probably exchanged looks which meant, “Men never know when things are dirty or not;” and the gentlemen
perhaps thought each to himself, “Women will have their little nonsenses and needless cares.”

One perplexity, however, arose, which the gentlemen did not disdain. It regarded a supper-room. At the time of the
ballroom’s being built, suppers had not been in question; and a small card-room adjoining, was the only addition. What
was to be done? This card-room would be wanted as a card-room now; or, if cards were conveniently voted unnecessary by
their four selves, still was it not too small for any comfortable supper? Another room of much better size might be
secured for the purpose; but it was at the other end of the house, and a long awkward passage must be gone through to get
at it. This made a difficulty. Mrs. Weston was afraid of draughts for the young people in that passage; and neither Emma
nor the gentlemen could tolerate the prospect of being miserably crowded at supper.

Mrs. Weston proposed having no regular supper; merely sandwiches, &c., set out in the little room; but that was
scouted as a wretched suggestion. A private dance, without sitting down to supper, was pronounced an infamous fraud upon
the rights of men and women; and Mrs. Weston must not speak of it again. She then took another line of expediency, and
looking into the doubtful room, observed,

“I do not think it is so very small. We shall not be many, you know.”

And Mr. Weston at the same time, walking briskly with long steps through the passage, was calling out,

“You talk a great deal of the length of this passage, my dear. It is a mere nothing after all; and not the least
draught from the stairs.”

“I wish,” said Mrs. Weston, “one could know which arrangement our guests in general would like best. To do what would
be most generally pleasing must be our object — if one could but tell what that would be.”

“Yes, very true,” cried Frank, “very true. You want your neighbours’ opinions. I do not wonder at you. If one could
ascertain what the chief of them — the Coles, for instance. They are not far off. Shall I call upon them? Or Miss Bates?
She is still nearer. — And I do not know whether Miss Bates is not as likely to understand the inclinations of the rest
of the people as any body. I think we do want a larger council. Suppose I go and invite Miss Bates to join us?”

“Well — if you please,” said Mrs. Weston rather hesitating, “if you think she will be of any use.”

“You will get nothing to the purpose from Miss Bates,” said Emma. “She will be all delight and gratitude, but she will
tell you nothing. She will not even listen to your questions. I see no advantage in consulting Miss Bates.”

“But she is so amusing, so extremely amusing! I am very fond of hearing Miss Bates talk. And I need not bring the
whole family, you know.”

Here Mr. Weston joined them, and on hearing what was proposed, gave it his decided approbation.

“Aye, do, Frank. — Go and fetch Miss Bates, and let us end the matter at once. She will enjoy the scheme, I am sure;
and I do not know a properer person for shewing us how to do away difficulties. Fetch Miss Bates. We are growing a little
too nice. She is a standing lesson of how to be happy. But fetch them both. Invite them both.”

“Both sir! Can the old lady?” . . .

“The old lady! No, the young lady, to be sure. I shall think you a great blockhead, Frank, if you bring the aunt
without the niece.”

“Oh! I beg your pardon, sir. I did not immediately recollect. Undoubtedly if you wish it, I will endeavour to persuade
them both.” And away he ran.

Long before he reappeared, attending the short, neat, brisk-moving aunt, and her elegant niece — Mrs. Weston, like a
sweet-tempered woman and a good wife, had examined the passage again, and found the evils of it much less than she had
supposed before — indeed very trifling; and here ended the difficulties of decision. All the rest, in speculation at
least, was perfectly smooth. All the minor arrangements of table and chair, lights and music, tea and supper, made
themselves; or were left as mere trifles to be settled at any time between Mrs. Weston and Mrs. Stokes. — Every body
invited, was certainly to come; Frank had already written to Enscombe to propose staying a few days beyond his fortnight,
which could not possibly be refused. And a delightful dance it was to be.

Most cordially, when Miss Bates arrived, did she agree that it must. As a counsellor she was not wanted; but as an
approver, (a much safer character,) she was truly welcome. Her approbation, at once general and minute, warm and
incessant, could not but please; and for another half-hour they were all walking to and fro, between the different rooms,
some suggesting, some attending, and all in happy enjoyment of the future. The party did not break up without Emma’s
being positively secured for the two first dances by the hero of the evening, nor without her overhearing Mr. Weston
whisper to his wife, “He has asked her, my dear. That’s right. I knew he would!”