`Hissufferings,\'repliedEmmadryly,`donotappeartohavedonehimmuchharm.Well,andhowdidMr.Churchilltakeit?\'
`Mostfavourablyforhisnephew-gavehisconsentwithscarcelyadifficulty.Conceivewhattheeventsofaweekhavedoneinthatfamily!WhilepoorMrs.Churchilllived,Isupposetherecouldnothavebeenahope,achance,apossibility;-butscarcelyareherremainsatrestinthefamilyvault,thanherhusbandispersuadedtoactexactlyoppositetowhatshewouldhaverequired.Whatablessingitis,whenundueinfluencedoesnotsurvivethegrave!-Hegavehisconsentwithverylittlepersuasion.\'
`Ah!\'thoughtEmma,`hewouldhavedoneasmuchforHarriet.\'
`Thiswassettledlastnight,andFrankwasoffwiththelightthismorning.HestoppedatHighbury,attheBates\'s,Ifancy,sometime-andthencameonhither;butwasinsuchahurrytogetbacktohisuncle,towhomheisjustnowmorenecessarythanever,that,asItellyou,hecouldstaywithusbutaquarterofanhour-Hewasverymuchagitated-verymuch,indeed-toadegreethatmadehimappearquiteadifferentcreaturefromanythingIhadeverseenhimbefore-Inadditiontoalltherest,therehadbeentheshockoffindinghersoveryunwell,whichhehadhadnoprevioussuspicionof-andtherewaseveryappearanceofhishavingbeenfeelingagreatdeal.\'
`Anddoyoureallybelievetheaffairtohavebeencarryingonwithsuchperfectsecresy?-TheCampbells,theDixons,didnoneofthemknowoftheengagement?\'