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He walked away and smiled at his wife , and Mrs Elton smiled back at him . Harriet’s face went red , and Emma saw it all . Then Mr Knightley , who never danced , walked across the room and asked Harriet to be his partner . Harriet’s face lit up with joy . They took their places , and he danced very well indeed . Emma had never seen him dance before , and she watched him with real pleasure , while Harriet looked as if she were in heaven . At supper Emma found a chance to speak to him alone . “ That was very kind of you , ” she said . “ They meant to hurt her , and I think that they wanted to hurt me through her . ” “ They aimed at wounding more than Mr Elton , ” he agreed . “ But Emma , why are they your enemies ? Why should they want to hurt you ? ” Emma looked at him for a moment , and then she told him the truth . “ I wanted him to marry Harriet , and I made a great mistake . I was wrong about Mr Elton , and you were right . I shall never forget it . ” “ Then I will tell you something in return , ” he said , smiling . “ I have not given Harriet as much justice as she deserves . She has some very good qualities which Mrs Elton is quite without . She is a simple , honest , gentle girl , and any man of sense would prefer her to that woman . ” Emma was very pleased by this , more pleased than she could have said . Just then Mr Weston began calling everybody to dance again . “ Whom are you going to dance with ? ” asked Mr Knightley . Emma waited a moment before she answered . “ With you , if you will ask me . ” “ Will you ? ” he said , and he offered her his hand . “ Indeed I will . You have shown that you can dance , and you know that we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper . ” “ Brother and sister ! No , indeed , ” said Mr Knightley . They danced together , and Emma thought that she had never enjoyed a dance so much in her life . XII . Gypsies and Alphabets The next morning Emma was walking in the garden , still thinking happily about the ball , when the gate opened and Frank Churchill came in . He was holding Harriet up , and Harriet was pale and shaking and could hardly stand . Harriet had gone for a walk with a friend along the Richmond road . In a lonely place they had met a large group of gypsies , and some of the children had begged for money and crowded round her . Her friend had run away , but Harriet had been too frightened to move . By great good luck Frank had come along the road on foot at that moment , and the gypsies had run off when they saw him . Then he had brought her safely to Hartfield . Emma was very excited by this story . A handsome young man had rescued a lovely young girl from danger : what could be more romantic ? She said nothing aloud , because she had promised herself not to make any more matches , but she could not stop her thoughts .
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