PoorHarrietwasinaflutterofspiritswhichrequiredallthereasoningsandsoothingsandattentionsofeverykindthatEmmacouldgive.Emmafeltthatshecouldnotdotoomuchforher,thatHarriethadarighttoallheringenuityandallherpatience;butitwasheavyworktobeforeverconvincingwithoutproducinganyeffect,foreveragreedto,withoutbeingabletomaketheiropinionsthesame.Harrietlistenedsubmissively,andsaid`itwasverytrue-itwasjustasMissWoodhousedescribed-itwasnotworthwhiletothinkaboutthem-andshewouldnotthinkaboutthemanylonger\'butnochangeofsubjectcouldavail,andthenexthalf-hoursawherasanxiousandrestlessabouttheEltonsasbefore.AtlastEmmaattackedheronanotherground.
`YourallowingyourselftobesooccupiedandsounhappyaboutMr.Elton\'smarrying,Harriet,isthestrongestreproachyoucanmakeme.YoucouldnotgivemeagreaterreproofforthemistakeIfellinto.Itwasallmydoing,Iknow.Ihavenotforgottenit,Iassureyou-Deceivedmyself,Ididverymiserablydeceiveyou-anditwillbeapainfulreflectiontomeforever.Donotimaginemeindangerofforgettingit.\'
Harrietfeltthistoomuchtouttermorethanafewwordsofeagerexclamation.Emmacontinued,
`Ihavenotsaid,exertyourselfHarrietformysake;thinkless,talklessofMr.Eltonformysake;becauseforyourownsakerather,Iwouldwishittobedone,forthesakeofwhatismoreimportantthanmycomfort,ahabitofself-commandinyou,aconsiderationofwhatisyourduty,anattentiontopropriety,anendeavourtoavoidthesuspicionsofothers,tosaveyourhealthandcredit,andrestoreyourtranquillity.ThesearethemotiveswhichIhavebeenpressingonyou.Theyareveryimportant-andsorryIamthatyoucannotfeelthemsufficientlytoactuponthem.Mybeingsavedfrompainisaverysecondaryconsideration.Iwantyoutosaveyourselffromgreaterpain.PerhapsImaysometimeshavefeltthatHarrietwouldnotforgetwhatwasdue-orratherwhatwouldbekindbyme.\'
Thisappealtoheraffectionsdidmorethanalltherest.TheideaofwantinggratitudeandconsiderationforMissWoodhouse,whomshereallylovedextremely,madeherwretchedforawhile,andwhentheviolenceofgriefwascomfortedaway,stillremainedpowerfulenoughtoprompttowhatwasrightandsupportherinitverytolerably.