Unbroken

Harriet slept that night at Hartfield; for some weeks past she had spent more than half her time there, and insensibly a room had been reserved for her; Amanda felt that it was best, from all points of view, to keep her friend with her as much as possible during this time of crisis. The next morning Harriet was obliged to go to Mrs. Goddard's, but it had been agreed that she would come to spend a week at Hartfield.

A few moments after Harriet had left, Mr. Knightley was introduced: the greetings over, Amanda encouraged her father, who was just about to leave, to put his plan into effect; Mr. Knightley added his entreaties to those of Amanda, ​​and despite his qualms Mr. Burton eventually yielded.

Well ! if you will, Mr. Knightley, excuse my rudeness, I think I will take Amanda's advice and go out for a quarter of an hour. No doubt it is preferable that I take advantage of the hours of sunshine to go for a walk. I treat you without ceremony. We valetudinarians arrogate privileges to ourselves!

"My dear sir, do not regard me as a stranger; you are welcome.

My daughter will replace me advantageously; she will be happy to keep you company. Under these conditions I will take the liberty of going for my daily walk.

"Nothing more timely, sir.

I would ask you to do me the favor of coming with me, Mr. Knightley, but I walk so slowly that it would be a nuisance to you; besides, you still have a long way to go to get back to Donwell Abbey.

"Thank you, sir, thank you; I am leaving myself in a few moments, but I think it would be best if you did not waste time. I'm going to get your overcoat and open the garden door for you. Finally Mr. Burton walked away, but Mr. Knightley, instead of doing the same, immediately sat down, ready to talk. After a short preamble he began, unusually, to praise Harriet: 'I don't think so highly of her beauty as you do, but I admit she's a pretty little creature; she has, I believe a good character; she is a malleable nature: well directed she can become a woman of merit.

I'm glad to hear you speak like that, and I hope she won't lack good influences."

Come, I see you expect a compliment; so I will tell you that you have improved it; she's no longer the schoolgirl she used to be; she does you honor.

Thank you. I should be humiliated, indeed, if I did not believe that I had been of any use to him; and I am all the more obliged to you for your observation, as you are not usually lavish with praise.

"Didn't you tell me you were expecting her this morning?"

- From one moment to another ; I'm even surprised she's not here.

"Perhaps she was detained by some visit?"

- Of little interest, in any case!

"Who knows if Harriet agrees with your point of view!"

Then he added with a smile:

"I don't pretend to be sure of the time and day, but I can tell you that your young friend will soon hear some news that will be of great benefit to her.

"Really and in what genre?"

"I have reason to believe," he continued, "that Harriet Smith will soon receive a marriage proposal – of the first order. This is Robert Martin. Her summer visit to Abbey Mill seems to have paid off: he is extremely in love with her and is determined to marry her.

"That's very kind of him," answered Amanda; but is he certain of finding an equal ardor in her?

Good ! Good ! I'll use more formal terms: he proposes to ask for Harriet's hand. He came to the Abbey the day before yesterday to consult me ​​on this subject. He knows that I have a great esteem for him and his family and he considers me one of his best friends; he came to ask me if I didn't think it was imprudent of him to marry, if the girl didn't seem to me too young; in a word, if I approved of his choice. He was apprehensive—especially since you made her your friend—that Harriet was seen as occupying a higher social position than his own. I agreed with everything he told me; I never heard anyone speak more sensibly than Robert Martin; he is frank, loyal; his judgment is excellent. He is a good son and a good brother. He gave me to understand, moreover, that he had the means to marry; under these conditions, I only had to give my full and complete approval. I also hired the fair-haired person and he left me very satisfied. This visit took place the day before yesterday. It is natural to suppose that he will not be long in putting his plan into execution: he did not speak yesterday, I infer that he went to Madame Goddard

But, said Amanda, ​​who from the beginning of this speech was smiling inwardly, how do you know that Mr. Martin did not declare himself yesterday?

That's just a guess, of course, but it seems plausible to me. Hasn't Harriet been with you all day?

"Come on," she said, "I'm going to give you a secret in exchange for yours. He spoke yesterday or better said, he made his request in writing and he was not approved.

She had to repeat the last sentence twice to convince her interlocutor. Mr. Knightley rose abruptly, blood in his face, and said in a tone of surprise and annoyance:

"Then she's a bigger fool than I imagined!"

Oh! said Amanda, ​​men can never explain why a woman rejects a marriage proposal: it seems to them that such an honor cannot be challenged!

What are you saying ? Men do not imagine any of this. What does this news mean: Harriet Smith turning down Robert Martin! What madness ! But I hope you are wrong.

I saw her answer, nothing could be clearer.

You saw her answer!" And no doubt you dictated it! Amanda, ​​this is your work; it was you who persuaded Harriet to refuse.

Even if I had intervened (which is by no means the case) I wouldn't believe I had done anything wrong!" Mr. Martin is a respectable young man, but I cannot allow him to be Harriet's equal; his scruples were justified.

How not Harriet's equal!" said Mr. Knightley, raising his voice.

Then he added a few moments later, in a softened but incisive tone:

"Indeed, he is not her equal, for he is far superior to her in intelligence and situation. Amanda, ​​your infatuation for this young girl is blinding you. What are Harriet Smith's titles, either by birth or education, to a higher covenant? She is the natural daughter of who knows who; she probably has no secure dowry and, in any case, no respectable relationship. We only know her as Madame Goddard's boarder. She is neither intelligent nor cultured. She has not been taught anything useful and she is too young to have gained personal experience. She's pretty and she has a kind character: that's all. I had qualms about giving my endorsement to Robert Martin; I considered that he could pretend to make a more advantageous marriage: in all probability he could have found a much better fortune, and he could hardly have come to worse if he sought an intelligent companion or a useful household.

But what's the use of speaking reason to a man in love! I was willing to believe that in his hands Harriet would become another woman. On the other hand, I was persuaded that, by unanimous opinion, she would be considered extremely favored by fate. I even expected your satisfaction; I thought you would not regret your friend leaving you when you knew she was so happily established.

"You must really know very little about me to have had that conviction. I cannot admit that a farmer (in spite of his good sense and his merits, Mr. Martin, is it not true, has no other social position?) is an excellent match for my bosom friend! How could I not regret seeing her marry a man I couldn't have sex with? I am surprised that you attributed such sentiments to me. You don't seem to realize Harriet's situation. Mr. Martin is arguably the richer of the two; but he is certainly socially inferior to Harriet; the environment in which she lives differs essentially from that of the young man! That would be a degradation!

It is a low step, indeed, for a young person of anonymous birth to ally herself with a well-bred, intelligent, and wealthy farmer!

Doubtless the circumstances of Harriet's birth are unfortunate, and I admit that she is at a legal disadvantage; but if she has to bear the weight of the fault of others, it is also right that she should take advantage of the advantages conferred on her by her education. There is no doubt that his father is a decent man and a wealthy man besides; his pension is extremely large; nothing has ever been neglected for its well-being and its enjoyment. For my part, I am sure that she is of good stock and no one, I think, will deny that she is in relations with well-bred girls.

"Whoever her parents are," continued Mr. Knightley, "there is no indication that they ever harbored any ambition to bring her into what you call good society. After receiving some education, she was left in the hands of her boarding school mistress, without further support, to make her way in life; she was therefore destined to move about in the circle of Madame Goddard's acquaintances; those in charge of her evidently found these relations sufficient; she herself did not want better. Until the day when it pleased you to elevate her to the rank of intimate friend, she had not thought of finding herself superior to those around her. She was as happy as could be with the Martins this summer: her ambition went no further; if she grew up, it's because of you. You didn't act like a friend to Harriet Smith.

Robert Martin would not have gone so far if he had not had good reason to believe that he was not displeasing. I know him well: he has too much heart to be guided by selfish passion. As for vanity, it is impossible to have less!