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am sure I am very grateful to Mr Knightley for reading to us.'
    I left Emma soothing him and spoke to Harriet, and by the time the tea was brought in he was content again.
    Afterwards, I was able to write some business letters for him. I would have liked to stay to dinner, but my accounts needed looking into and I spent the evening with my books.
    Monday 26 October
    One of the trees in the wood was damaged by the storm and it is unsafe. I have given instructions for it to be felled. The timber is not of a good enough quality to be sold, and so I have ordered it cut up for firewood. I have given Wiliam Larkins instructions to have some of the logs sent to Miss Bates, and to distribute the rest amongst the poor.
    Friday 30 October
    Emma continues to make much of her little friend. When I arrived at Hartfield this evening, I found Harriet still there, and Elton was in attendance. Emma brought Harriet forward and set her at her ease, encouraging her to speak to Elton, and to answer questions he had asked. It was kind of her, for it will increase Harriet's confidence and give her more facility with conversation. Elton good-naturedly humoured Harriet, whilst Emma looked on benignly.
    I am not sure whether she sees herself as Harriet's fairy godmother, or as Lady Bountiful, but I am convinced that Harriet sees her as a mixture of the two.
    Later, I played a game of backgammon with Emma whilst the others entertained Mr Woodhouse, and then I walked part of the way home with Elton. He was full of Emma's praises, saying how well she spoke, and how intelligent were her ideas.
    Elton is another one of Emma's friends who is easily pleased, to add to her growing collection! I only hope my presence will be enough to counteract the harmful effects of all this adulation.

NOVEMBER
    Tuesday 3 November
    At last I had time to think about the footpath to Langham. I have been meaning to re-lay it for some time. At present, it cuts through the meadow, which I do not like. I want to move it so that it skirts the meadow instead. I told William Larkins of my plan, and he approved of it, but I have decided to wait until John has seen it before going ahead with the work, in case he has any better suggestion to make.
    After spending the day on Abbey matters, I dined with Graham and discovered that his sister had returned to Bath. Graham had a friend staying with him, a Mr Longridge; a quiet and gentlemanlike man. The three of us spent a pleasant evening with the Otways and Coles, who were also of the party. It was not as enjoyable as an evening spent at Hartfield, but it was very agreeable none the less.
    Friday 6 November
    I had to see Mr Weston about a matter of business and so I called on him this afternoon. He was out, but I found Mrs Weston and Miss Bates in the drawing-room. Miss Bates was in a state of great agitation.
    'She said nothing about it in her letters, but then she has never liked to worry us--so considerate--but Mr Churchill--oh yes, indeed it must be so, but what do you think, Mr Knightley?'
    I had no idea what she was talking about, and so I could not answer her question, but Mrs Weston explained that she had had a letter from her stepson, Frank Churchill, and that, in it, he had mentioned that he had been a member of a boating-party. There was nothing in that, except that he had recounted an incident which had occurred when he had gone out on the sea. There had been an accident, or almost an accident, and a young lady, who was also a member of the party, had nearly been dashed from the vessel. Churchill had caught her, and so no harm had been done, but the strange thing was, that the young lady who had nearly been swept overboard was Miss Fairfax. Churchill had happened to meet her party whilst at Weymouth, and they had both happened to form a part of the boating-trip.
    'Mrs Weston thought I must have heard of it--was sure Jane would have mentioned it in one of her letters--but I had never heard anything about it. And now I am not easy