I must get rid of every thing .-- There it goes, and there is an end, thank Heaven! of Mr.Elton." "And when," thought Emma, "will there be a beginning of Mr.Churchill ?" She had soon afterwards reason to believe that the beginning was already made, and could not but hope that the gipsy, though she had _told_ no fortune, might be proved to have made Harriet's .-- About a fortnight after the alarm, they came to a sufficient explanation, and quite undesignedly.

Emma was not thinking of it at the moment, which made the information she received more valuable.

She merely said, in the course of some trivial chat, "Well, Harriet, whenever you marry I would advise you to do so and so"-- and thought no more of it, till after a minute's silence she heard Harriet say in a very serious tone, "I shall never marry." Emma then looked up, and immediately saw how it was; and after a moment's debate, as to whether it should pass unnoticed or not, replied, "Never marry!--This is a new resolution." "It is one that I shall never change, however." After another short hesitation, "I hope it does not proceed from--I hope it is not in compliment to Mr.Elton ?" "Mr.Elton indeed!" cried Harriet indignantly.--"Oh! no"-- and Emma could just catch the words, "so superior to Mr.Elton!" She then took a longer time for consideration.

Should she proceed no farther ?--should she let it pass, and seem to suspect nothing ?--Perhaps Harriet might think her cold or angry if she did; or perhaps if she were totally silent, it might only drive Harriet into asking her to hear too much; and against any thing like such an unreserve as had been, such an open and frequent discussion of hopes and chances, she was perfectly resolved .-- She believed it would be wiser for her to say and know at once, all that she meant to say and know.

Plain dealing was always best.