The superior degree of confidence towards Harriet, which this one article marked, gave her severe pain.
On the subject of the first of the two circumstances, she did, after a little reflection, venture the following question.

"Might he not ?--Is not it possible, that when enquiring, as you thought, into the state of your affections, he might be alluding to Mr.Martin--he might have Mr.Martin's interest in view?
But Harriet rejected the suspicion with spirit.
"Mr.Martin! No indeed!--There was not a hint of Mr.Martin.I hope I know better now, than to care for Mr.Martin, or to be suspected of it." When Harriet had closed her evidence, she appealed to her dear Miss Woodhouse, to say whether she had not good ground for hope.
"I never should have presumed to think of it at first," said she, "but for you.

You told me to observe him carefully, and let his behaviour be the rule of mine--and so I have.

But now I seem to feel that I may deserve him; and that if he does chuse me, it will not be any thing so very wonderful." The bitter feelings occasioned by this speech, the many bitter feelings, made the utmost exertion necessary on Emma's side, to enable her to say on reply, "Harriet, I will only venture to declare, that Mr.Knightley is the last man in the world, who would intentionally give any woman the idea of his feeling for her more than he really does." Harriet seemed ready to worship her friend for a sentence so satisfactory; and Emma was only saved from raptures and fondness, which at that moment would have been dreadful penance, by the sound of her father's footsteps.

He was coming through the hall.