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XIV . Box Hill The next day was fine , and a large party drove out to Box Hill to enjoy the famous view . Everything was ready for a happy day , yet from the very start something was wrong . The party broke into small groups , and nobody seemed to want to talk to anybody else . The Eltons walked together , Mr Knightley took charge of Miss Bates and Jane , and Emma and Harriet stayed with Frank Churchill . Frank was very lively and very loud . He flirted with Emma openly , and Emma let him do it . She did not care for him at all in that way . But she was bored and a little cross , and she wanted to seem gay , so she laughed at all his jokes . “ Ladies and gentlemen , ” cried Frank at last , “ I am ordered by Miss Woodhouse to say that she wants to know what you are all thinking of . ” Nobody answered . Mrs Elton looked offended , and Mr Knightley said drily , “ Is Miss Woodhouse sure that she would like to hear what we are all thinking of ? ” “ Then here is another game , ” said Frank . “ Miss Woodhouse demands from each of you either one thing very clever , or two things moderately clever , or three things very dull indeed , and she promises to laugh heartily at them all . ” “ Oh , very well ! ” said Miss Bates happily . “ Then I need not be uneasy . Three things very dull indeed ! That will just do for me , you know . I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth , shan’t I ? ” And she looked round at everybody with a kind , cheerful face . Emma could not resist . “ Ah , ma’am , but there may be a difficulty . Pardon me , but you will be limited as to number . Only three at once . ” At first Miss Bates did not understand . Then she did , and her face went pink . She could not be angry , but she had been hurt . “ Ah , well , to be sure , ” she said quietly , turning to Mr Knightley . “ Yes , I see what she means , and I will try to hold my tongue . I must have made myself very tiresome , or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend . ” The game went on , but the day was spoilt . When it was time to leave , and Emma stood waiting for her carriage , Mr Knightley came up to her with a grave face . “ Emma , I must once more speak to you as I have often spoken before . How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates ? How could you be so cruel in your wit to a woman of her age and position ? ” Emma blushed . She was sorry , but she tried to laugh it off . “ How could I help saying it ? Nobody could have helped it . It was not so very bad , and I dare say she did not understand me . ” “ I assure you she did . She felt your full meaning , and she has talked of it since with such kindness . I wish you could have heard her . ”
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