Life At A Storm

It was no longer in Amanda's power to devote her leisure to watching over Mr. Elton's happiness. His sister's imminent arrival took precedence over his other concerns; during Isabelle's stay in Hartfield, she anticipated that lovers would take a back seat; nothing else would prevent them from advancing their business rapidly if they pleased. She was beginning to find that some people too readily defer to others to look after their own interests.

The visit of Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley aroused unusual interest that year. Indeed since their marriage they used to spend all their holidays, part in Hartfield and part in Donwell Abbey. But the summer before, on the doctor's advice, they had taken their children to the seaside. It was therefore several months since Mr. Burton had seen his daughter and the children; he was very moved and nervous at the thought of this too short visit. For the moment he was very concerned about the risks to which he believed the travelers were exposed ,and his concern extended to his horses and coachman who had been sent in relay halfway.

His alarms were in vain: the twenty-five miles were passed without incident, and Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley, with their children, escorted by a respectable number of maids, arrived safe and sound at Hartfield. The joy of being together, so many people to welcome, the allocation to each of them of their respective lodgings, caused a confusion and a hubbub which Mr. Burton's nerves could not at any other time have endured; however, all was soon restored to order, for her father's habits and sentiments were held in great regard by Mrs. John Knightley: everywhere else her maternal solicitude would have inquired about the settlement of her children; she would have liked to know, on arrival, if they were in the best conditions for eating, drinking, sleeping and amusement; but at Hartfield she was above all concerned that they should not be a cause of fatigue for her father.

Mrs. Jean Knightley was a pretty and elegant little woman, passionately attached to her home and family, a devoted wife, a loving mother, and her affection for her father and sister was extreme. She never found anything wrong with anyone she loved. She was of average intelligence and not very quick-witted; besides this resemblance to her father, she also inherited from him a delicate constitution; she was ever preoccupied with the health of her children, was as infatuated with her doctor, Mr. Wingfield, as her father was with Mr. Perry; they both had an extreme benevolence of character and the same consideration for their old friends.

Mr. Jean Knightley was a tall, distinguished, and very intelligent man; he occupied one of the first places in his profession and at the same time he had all the qualities of a man of the interior; his somewhat cold and reserved manners prevented him at first sight from appearing amiable, and he was liable to display, on occasion, some bad humor: his wife, moreover, had a real idolatry for him which contributed to develop this tendency ; she welcomed with unalterable gentleness the often sudden manifestations of marital opinions. His sister-in-law had no very warm sympathy for him; none of his faults escaped Amanda's clairvoyance; she felt the slight insults inflicted on Isabelle and of which she was unaware.

Perhaps she would have shown less severity towards her brother-in-law if he had shown himself better disposed towards her, but his manners were, on the contrary, those of a brother and a friend who does not praise only by the way and that affection does not blind. She reproached him above all for lacking in respectful tolerance towards his father: Mr. Burton's manners sometimes made Mr. John Knightley lose his patience and provoked in him a call to reason or a rather sharp reply. This rarely happened, for in reality he was well aware of the consideration due to his father-in-law; too often, however, to retain the benevolence of Amanda, ​​who kept apprehending some offensive word during their conversations. The beginning of each visit, however, was always perfectly cordial, and this one must of necessity be extremely brief, it was hoped that no one would depart from the current feelings of effusion.

They had not been sitting together long when Mr. Burton, shaking his head wistfully and sighing, remarked to his daughter the change that had taken place since his departure.

Oh! my dear, he said, poor Miss Taylor! This is a sad affair.

Oh ! Certainly, replied Isabelle, full of sympathy. How you must miss her! And to my dear Amanda! What a terrible loss for you both! I have taken part in your sorrow. I couldn't imagine how you would manage without her. I hope she is well?

'She is well enough, my dear; I am not sure, however, if the place where she lives is suitable for her.

Mr. Jean Knightley then intervened to ask Amanda if Randalls' air was unhealthy.

Oh ! no, she replied, not in the least. I have never seen Mrs. Weston healthier. Dad alludes to his regret.

"Which does them both credit," he replied, to Amanda's keen satisfaction.

"Do you see her sometimes?" replied Isabelle in the plaintive tone which particularly pleased her father.

Mr. Burton hesitated, then replied:

"Not so often, my dear, as I would like.

Oh ! dad, how can you talk like that? Since their marriage we have only passed a whole day without seeing Mr. or Mrs. Weston and often both, either at Randalls or here and as you can imagine, Isabelle, more generally here. They showed the most affectionate eagerness. Mr. Weston really is as attentive as she is. If you put on that melancholy look, Dad, you'll give Isabelle the very wrong idea of ​​what's going on. Everyone, of course, understands how much Miss Taylor must be missed, but everyone at the same time should know that Mr. and Mrs. Weston have managed to lessen the effects of the separation more than we ourselves hoped.

"It was natural that it should be so," said Mr. Jean Knightley, "that was indeed what I understood from your letters." I did not doubt Mrs. Weston's desire to be thoughtful; on the other hand, her husband being idle and naturally sociable, the task was made easy for him. I have always told you, my dear, that your apprehensions are exaggerated; you have heard Amanda's story and I hope you are reassured.

'Certainly,' said Mr. Burton, 'I have no doubt that poor Mrs. Weston comes to see us often enough, but these are only visits and she always has to go!

"It would be very hard on poor Mr. Weston, papa," said Amanda, ​​"if it were otherwise. You quite forget the existence of Mr. Weston.

"It seems to me," said Mr. Jean Knightley, laughing, "that Mr. Weston has some rights also. It is up to us, Amanda, ​​to come to the defense of the poor husband; by state I am qualified to intervene and you who are still free are not prohibited from showing impartiality. As for Isabelle, she has been married long enough to understand all the advantage there would be to putting on the MM. Weston aside.

"I, my darling," resumed his wife, "are you referring to me?" No one can be better able than I to speak in favor of marriage, and if it had not been a question of leaving Hartfield I would still have considered Miss Taylor a very fortunate woman. On the other hand, I can assure you that I never intended to disregard the titles of this excellent Mr. Weston; there is no happiness that I do not wish him; I consider him one of the most affable men in existence; except you and your brother, I don't know of a better character. I will never forget the good grace he displayed in launching Henri's kite on a very windy day during the last Easter vacation; and ever since he took the trouble to write to me on his way home at midnight to reassure me about a rumor of cases of typhoid fever in Cobham, I have always believed that there is not a better heart on earth. No one deserved such a husband more than Miss Taylor!

"Where is the young man?" said Mr. Jean Knightley; did he appear, yes or no?

"There was talk of a visit at the time of the wedding," answered Amanda; but our expectation was disappointed. I haven't heard from him since.

"You forgot the letter, my dear! resumed Mr. Burton. He wrote a letter of congratulations to poor Mrs. Weston, who showed it to me, and I thought it turned out very well. I cannot say that the idea came from him: he is young, and it may be his uncle...

"My dear papa, he is twenty-three years old; you forget that time is passing.

Twenty three years ! Is it possible ? I never would have believed it; he was only two years old when his poor mother died; the years really fly away and my memory is very bad. Either way, the letter was perfect; I remember that it was dated Weymouth and that it began: "My dear Madam", but I do not remember the continuation; it was signed: "Br. C. Weston Churchill." »

All to his praise, exclaimed Mrs. Jean Knightley, always ready to approve. I'm sure he's a lovely young man, but it's very sad that he doesn't live in his father's house. There is something so shocking about a child being taken away from its parents! I could never understand how Mr. Weston could resign himself to parting with his son. Abandon her child! I could never have a good opinion of a person who would be able to make such a proposal.

"No one ever had a good opinion of the Churchills," said Mr. Jean Knightley coldly, "but don't imagine, my dear Isabella, that Mr. Weston felt, in letting his son go, what you would feel in parting with him." 'Henri or Jean. Mr. Weston has a cheerful and conciliatory character, but without depth; he takes things as they come and makes the best of them; I think he attaches more importance to the satisfactions of what is called the world, that is to say to the possibility of taking his meals and playing whist five times a week with his neighbors, than 'to the affections of family or to the satisfactions of his interior.

Amanda could only be hurt by such a disparaging remark about Mr. Weston, and she longed to respond to it, but she restrained herself and dropped the subject. She was eager to keep the peace, if that was possible; on the other hand, she could not help admiring the strength of the family bond in her brother-in-law and the feeling that made him hold this language.