Amanda Grange: Mr. Knightley’s Diary

"Oh, yes, ever so many. Mrs. Cole came, she is so fond of Mother, and so kind and obliging, asking if there was anything she could do. And then Mrs. Goddard called. What do you think, she has had a goose from the Martins. Was that not kind of them? And Mrs. Goddard said it was the best goose she had ever eaten. She had it dressed and then Miss Nash, Miss Prince and Miss Richardson all supped with her, and then what do you think? She brought the legs for Mother and me. We are so fortunate in our friends."

She told me of Elton and Mrs. Cole; of Graham and Mrs. Lovage; in short, it seemed that everyone in Highbury had been to visit her. And then, at last, she mentioned Emma. I was pleased, and finally took my leave in good spirits.

I dined with the Otways, and found that Mrs. Lovage was there. We enjoyed a lively conversation after dinner, and then she sang. She has an agreeable voice, and I believe I may grow to like her very well in time.

Saturday 24 October

Estate business occupied me this morning, but I called at Hartfield this afternoon. I found Emma and Harriet just returning from a walk. It is as I suspected! They are no further on with their reading than last time I spoke to them. Studying has given way to walking to Randalls and talking to Mrs. Weston, or walking to Highbury and talking to Miss Bates. Emma defended their negligence by saying that she thought they ought to take their exercise whilst it is fine, for there will be many poor days over the winter when they will be glad to stay inside and read.

"You have an answer for everything," I told her.

"You should be pleased. You are always telling me you would like me to be better informed," she said, smiling up at me with that peculiar combination of innocence and mischief which has plagued me for years. "If I have an answer for everything, I have surely exceeded your expectations!"

I could not help laughing.

"Emma has always been very clever," said her father.

"That is undeniable, but cleverness must be put to good use, not bad," I remarked.

"And when, pray, do I ever put it to bad use?"

"I am sure Emma would never do such a thing," said her father anxiously. "She has never done anything bad. She has been a good daughter to me, a very good daughter, indeed I do not know a better one, unless it is Isabella." He shook his head. "Poor Isabella!"

"Mr. Knightley is teasing me, Papa," Emma said.

"I do not quite like that way he has, my dear," said her father, as Emma went over to him. "It is very rough to my ears."

"Come, now, you know Mr. Knightley is a good friend to us. How often have I heard you say that you do not know where you would be without Mr. Knightley to write your letters for you? And I am sure I do not know where I would be without him to read the paper to me in the evening."

"That is true, very true, for I am just a sad invalid and could not manage it, my dear. The print is so small it hurts my eyes, and I am sure I am very grateful to Mr. Knightley for reading to us."

I left Emma soothing him and spoke to Harriet, and by the time the tea was brought in he was content again.

Afterwards, I was able to write some business letters for him. I would have liked to stay to dinner, but my accounts needed looking into and I spent the evening with my books.

Monday 26 October

One of the trees in the wood was damaged by the storm and it is unsafe. I have given instructions for it to be felled. The timber is not of a good enough quality to be sold, and so I have ordered it cut up for firewood. I have given Wiliam Larkins instructions to have some of the logs sent to Miss Bates, and to distribute the rest amongst the poor.

Friday 30 October

Emma continues to make much of her little friend. When I arrived at Hartfield this evening, I found Harriet still there, and Elton was in attendance. Emma brought Harriet forward and set her at her ease, encouraging her to speak to Elton, and to answer questions he had asked. It was kind of her, for it will increase Harriet’s confidence and give her more facility with conversation. Elton good-naturedly humoured Harriet, whilst Emma looked on benignly.

I am not sure whether she sees herself as Harriet’s fairy godmother, or as Lady Bountiful, but I am convinced that Harriet sees her as a mixture of the two.

Later, I played a game of backgammon with Emma whilst the others entertained Mr. Woodhouse, and then I walked part of the way home with Elton. He was full of Emma’s praises, saying how well she spoke, and how intelligent were her ideas.

Elton is another one of Emma’s friends who is easily pleased, to add to her growing collection! I only hope my presence will be enough to counteract the harmful effects of all this adulation.

Tuesday 3 November

At last I had time to think about the footpath to Langham. I have been meaning to re-lay it for some time. At present, it cuts through the meadow, which I do not like. I want to move it so that it skirts the meadow instead. I told William Larkins of my plan, and he approved of it, but I have decided to wait until John has seen it before going ahead with the work, in case he has any better suggestion to make.

After spending the day on Abbey matters, I dined with Graham and discovered that his sister had returned to Bath. Graham had a friend staying with him, a Mr. Longridge; a quiet and gentlemanlike man. The three of us spent a pleasant evening with the Otways and Coles, who were also of the party. It was not as enjoyable as an evening spent at Hartfield, but it was very agreeable none the less.

Friday 6 November

I had to see Mr. Weston about a matter of business and so I called on him this afternoon. He was out, but I found Mrs. Weston and Miss Bates in the drawing-room. Miss Bates was in a state of great agitation.

"She said nothing about it in her letters, but then she has never liked to worry us - so considerate - but Mr. Churchill - oh yes, indeed it must be so, but what do you think, Mr. Knightley?"

I had no idea what she was talking about, and so I could not answer her question, but Mrs. Weston explained that she had had a letter from her stepson, Frank Churchill, and that, in it, he had mentioned that he had been a member of a boating-party. There was nothing in that, except that he had recounted an incident which had occurred when he had gone out on the sea. There had been an accident, or almost an accident, and a young lady, who was also a member of the party, had nearly been dashed from the vessel. Churchill had caught her, and so no harm had been done, but the strange thing was, that the young lady who had nearly been swept overboard was Miss Fairfax. Churchill had happened to meet her party whilst at Weymouth, and they had both happened to form a part of the boating-trip.

"Mrs. Weston thought I must have heard of it - was sure Jane would have mentioned it in one of her letters - but I had never heard anything about it. And now I am not easy about dear Jane," Miss Bates said. "Do you think I should tell her to come home to Highbury at once, Mr. Knightley? Only the Campbells have been so kind in asking her to stay, even though Miss Campbell is married and gone to live in Ireland, that I think she will not like to offend them, but I cannot bear the thought of them taking her on another boating-expedition and poor Jane being drowned!"

I protested at this terrible speculation, and asked her when Jane was due to leave Weymouth.

"She has already left," said Miss Bates. "I had a letter from her only the other day, and in it she distinctly told me they were leaving Weymouth on the morrow, so that by the time I received the letter she would be back at home again. Oh, poor Jane!"

"Then I should not worry any more about it," I told her. I added: "There is no reason why you should not invite her to Highbury, though, if you think the Campbells can spare her."