Mr. Knightley’s Diary

August

Monday 2 August

Robert Martin called to say he was going to town on business, and he asked if there was anything he could do for me whilst there. I asked him to take charge of some papers for John, which he took very readily.

Thursday 5 August

I was surprised to find Robert Martin at my door as soon as I had breakfasted this morning, but when I saw his face, I guessed what he would say.

He had delivered the papers to John, and had then been invited to join John’s party to Astley’s in the evening. He had accepted the invitation, and had gone with John, Isabella, Henry, little John - and Harriet.

"There was quite a crush, and on quitting our box at Astley’s, Mr. John Knightley took charge of his wife and younger boy, whilst I followed with Harriet and Henry. Harriet was uneasy. I gave her my arm, and steered her safely through the crowd," he told me.

By his recital of this small incident, I could guess what was coming, but I did not interrupt him. I was only too pleased to see him happy.

"Your brother asked me to dine with them the next day," he went on. "Very kind of him it was, and I accepted his invitation. In the course of the visit I had a chance of speaking to Harriet. I asked her to be my wife, Mr. Knightley," he told me, with a smile spreading across his face, "and she said yes."

I was delighted, and told him so, but I was pensive as I walked to Hartfield, not knowing how Emma would react to the news. I greeted her warmly, and then said: "I have something to tell you,

Emma; some news."

"Good or bad?" she asked.

"I do not know which it ought to be called."

For myself, I knew; and for Harriet and Mr. Martin; but for Emma? I did not know how she would regard it. I said as much, and then said: "It concerns Harriet Smith."

She flushed, but said nothing.

"Harriet Smith prepares to marry Robert Martin. I have it from Robert Martin himself. He told me not half an hour ago."

I thought she did not like it, and I said as much, but she replied: "You mistake me. I never was more surprised - but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you. How - how has it been possible?"

I told her everything, and she made no reply.

"Emma, my love, I know you think of his situation as an evil; but you must consider it as what satisfies your friend; and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him as you know him more. His good sense and good principles would delight you. As far as the man is concerned, you could not wish your friend in better hands."

I was relieved to learn that she had been silent only from surprise.

"You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think Harriet is doing extremely well. Her connections may be worse than his. I have been silent from surprise merely, excessive surprise. You cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me! How peculiarly unprepared I was! For I had reason to believe her very lately more determined against him, much more, than she was before."

"You ought to know your friend best," I said, "but I should say she was a good-tempered, soft-hearted girl, not likely to be very, very determined against any young man who told her he loved her."

It is a happy conclusion to the affair, and Emma sees it quite as well as I do.

Friday 6 August

As Emma and I walked in the garden at Hartfield this morning we were talking of Harriet again, and Emma laughed, saying: "Only Harriet could be in love thrice in one year."

"Thrice?" I asked. "Mr. Elton and Mr. Martin are but two men."

She coloured, but then said saucily: "I see I must tell you all. I am very much afraid that, until recently, Harriet was in love with you."

"Me?" I asked, astonished.

"You need not be so surprised. You are a very easy man to fall in love with. I have managed it myself without any difficulty."

I smiled and pulled her hand through my arm.

"But Harriet…I cannot believe it. I gave her no encouragement. I barely spoke to her!" I said.

"You saved her from humiliation when you asked her to dance, and you singled her out at the Abbey, asking her if her affections were engaged."

"The first was an act of charity, the second - she did not think I was asking if she was attached to me?"

"Yes, she did."

"But I was thinking of Robert Martin! I wanted to know if she was still in love with him."

"So I hoped, but she was adamant that nothing had been further from your mind - or hers. And then you sat with her at Hartfield just before you went to London, the day after Box Hill. She distinctly remembered you saying you could not stay for five minutes, but then you stayed with her for half an hour."

"That is because I was waiting for you."

"So I hoped..."

"You hoped?"

"When Harriet told me she was in love with you, and she was sure her feelings were returned - that is when I knew I loved you. I told her she must be mistaken, but she gave so many proofs of your affection, I thought it must be true. I was thinking of it as I walked in the garden when you returned from London, and it was at the forefront of my mind as you said you had something to tell me."

"You thought…" I began in surprise. "You cannot mean to say that you thought I was about to talk of Harriet?"

"Yes. I thought you were about to tell me that you were in love with her."

"So that is why you looked so sad."

"I thought I had lost you. I had spent so long meddling with other people’s hearts, I had neglected my own."

"So when I spoke, and you tried to silence me…"

"…it was because I could not bear to hear you say that you intended to marry Harriet. But I realized that, as a friend, I could not refuse to listen, and so I said you might speak. And then you said that you loved me."

"Oh, Emma," I said.

Words failed me, and so I abandoned them, and kissed her. It felt so right that I kissed her again. And then again.

Tuesday 10 August

John has arrived from London with his family, and Harriet has returned with them. When I called on Emma this afternoon, she had spoken to her friend, and after a little awkwardness on each side, they had congratulated each other with a warm and sincere affection.

Emma has invited Robert Martin to call on her, and I am sure he will be happy to accept the invitation.

Thursday 12 August

Robert Martin called at Hartfield today, and Emma was delighted to meet him. Harriet was as happy as it is possible for a woman to be, and Robert’s happiness, I do believe, approached my own.

Harriet’s father has been discovered at last. Mrs. Goddard revealed his name to Mr. Martin, and Harriet now knows she is the natural daughter of a tradesman. Robert Martin has applied to him, and he has given his consent to the marriage.

Autumn will be a season of weddings!