by Jane Austen
53. Since governess was a lower status position, Mrs. Elton’s question serves to denigrate Mrs. Weston; this is why Emma is so astonished.
54. “Gentlewoman” and “lady” were used interchangeably. Like “gentleman,” the terms had both a social and a moral meaning. By her marriage Mrs. Weston has already become a gentlewoman in social status, and Mrs. Elton affirms her being one in her conduct and demeanor.
55. simplicity: naturalness, sincerity, lack of affectation or artifice.
56. Being such a model for the young women under her supervision was an essential qualification for a governess, since she was supposed to help form the characters and manners of her charges.
57. cara sposo: dear husband (in Italian). The phrase, like some other Italian expressions, had become fashionable in the 1770s and 1780s. By this time, however, its popularity had long faded, so Mrs. Elton’s usage reveals her as both attempting to be fashionable and ignorant of what current fashion is. She also uses the phrase incorrectly by saying “cara,” which is the feminine form of the adjective and thus inappropriate to pair with the masculine form of the noun. (It is possible “cara” is a printer’s error, which was common with foreign words—Emma repeats the mistake below, though she herself may not know Italian, or she may be simply mimicking Mrs. Elton in her folly.)
58. She should certainly say “Mr. Knightley,” which would be how anyone not related would address someone of high rank. Gentlemen who knew each other well would sometimes use only the last name: Mr. Knightley has spoken of “Weston” and “Elton.” Mrs. Elton may have been inspired in her usage by her husband’s saying “my friend Knightley.” But even if he and Mr. Knightley are close enough to justify his saying that, and this is uncertain, she, as a woman and someone who has just met Mr. Knightley, has no basis for it. Emma, in contrast, consistently speaks of “Mr. Knightley,” “Mr. Weston,” and “Mr. Frank Churchill.”
59. under-bred: of inferior breeding or manners.
60. finery: affected stylishness or elegance.
61. Principles of good manners dictated not presuming familiarity with someone until one came to know the person well and the latter had indicated an interest in becoming more intimate.
62. Waiting on, or visiting, a bride would be a standard courtesy, which is why Mr. Woodhouse is so disturbed he has not done so.
63. Vicarage Lane was earlier described as intersecting the main road at a right angle (see here), and Mr. Woodhouse finds that far too sharp a turn.
A house with a bench around a tree.
[From John Plaw, Rural Architecture (London, 1796), Plate XI]
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64. The issue of precedence for the bride arises shortly, when the Woodhouses give a dinner for Mrs. Elton.
A barouche (top) and a landau.
[From, respectively, Ralph Straus, Carriages and Coaches (London, 1912), p. 232, and The Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashions, Manufactures, &c, Vol. I (1809), p. 122]
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VOLUME II, CHAPTER XV
1. Thus the author explicitly endorses Emma’s opinions in this case. Over the rest of the novel she will continue to show Mrs. Elton’s bad qualities, and Emma will continue to be antagonistic toward her. At the same time, Mrs. Elton does serve a function in the exposure and criticism of the title character that is central to the novel, for she presents a more extreme version of some of Emma’s worst flaws, such as overconfidence in one’s own judgment and extreme concern for social status. Her arrival thus could be seen as providing Emma with a dose of her own medicine.
The figure of Mrs. Elton also corresponds to one seen frequently in the literature of the time, that of the vulgar parvenu. Many writers offered satirical depictions of newly rich merchants and their families, who aspired to rise into genteel society and to emulate the manners and ways of those above them. But, while full of self-assurance and a belief that they knew what was correct and fashionable, their manners, speech, and behavior continually betrayed their true ignorance. Frances, or Fanny, Burney, a novelist who strongly influenced Jane Austen, devoted a considerable portion of her first novel, Evelina, to a sharp, satirical portrait of an unrefined London merchant family. At the same time, Jane Austen, while undoubtedly drawing upon this tradition, also depicts, in the case of Mr. Weston and the Coles, people from mercantile backgrounds who behave far better than Mrs. Elton.
2. presuming: presumptuous.
3. familiar: inclined to take liberties, overly familiar. The word sometimes had a negative connotation then, a manifestation of this society’s belief in formality and restraint.
4. Her consequence, or social position, would have been raised by her marriage.
5. This is a sign of Mr. Elton’s limited judgment, and thus further evidence of Emma’s early mistakes regarding him.
6. This view of the herd-like quality of public opinion appears elsewhere in Jane Austen.
7. unreserve: frankness, full disclosure.
8. He presumably told his wife about Emma’s machinations to attach him to Harriet, and may have also mentioned her misleading signals toward himself, but it is doubtful that he confessed his own earnest proposal to Emma.
9. They do not dare with Emma herself because of her social rank and strong connection with other leading figures in Highbury.
10. scruple: hesitate.
11. calculated: apt.
12. Thus Mrs. Elton also replicates Emma’s course of patronizing another young woman and trying to manage her life.
13. This is from one of the most celebrated and popular poems of the eighteenth century, Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.” The line concerns those with great talents whose humble circumstances condemn them to obscurity. The original has “sweetness” rather than “fragrance” in the second line. This is probably not intended to be a mistake on Mrs. Elton’s part, however, for it is also committed by the author when she quotes the same lines in Northanger Abbey.
14. Her speaking of retirement, or seclusion, in such negative terms now contrasts with her earlier profession that she herself had no fear of retirement (see here).
15. She is obviously attracted by Jane Fairfax’s inferiority, at least as regards her social position.
16. Wright would be her cook, as indicated by her using her last name; cooks were normally upper servants. She would send the dinner up from the basement, the usual location of the kitchen.
17. Meaning her table would be abundant enough to feed additional guests besides Jane Fairfax.
18. protection: patronage.
19. Calling her “Miss Fairfax” would be correct—though a little later in this chapter both Emma and Mr. Knightley, speaking to each other, say this instead of “Miss Fairfax” part of the time. But Mrs. Elton has just met Jane Fairfax and thus has far less to warrant familiarity. Other characters in the novel use “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” and “Miss” even when speaking of those who are lower socially, such as shopkeepers, but are not close acquaintances.
20. paradings: displays (done to show off).
21. disgustingly: distastefully.
22. condescending: gracious toward inferiors.
23. Thus Mrs. Elton strengthens Emma’s belief that Jane must be concealing a secret.
24. Midsummer: June 21.
25. A servant would be sent for the purpose of accompanying her, since women, especially young women, were not supposed to travel on their own.
26. apology: justification, explanation.
27. Emma and Mrs. Weston wonder if his warmth could result from affection for Jane Fairfax, in addition to his long-standing fondness for Emma, which makes him hate to see her behaving wrongly and yearn for her improvement.
28. “Thou,” the familiar form of “you,” had by this time disappeared from standard English speech (though it was still used by some less-educated people). But consciousness of the word persisted, thanks to literature from earlier periods—most importantly, the King James Bible, t
he sole translation most people would have heard or seen.
29. She returns to her worry about her nephew’s losing his inheritance if Mr. Knightley marries.
30. gaiters: coverings for the lower leg. They were often worn for horseback riding, something Mr. Knightley was earlier described as doing to get around. His willingness to wear such a rough garment inside a house indicates his lack of pretension.
31. behindhand: backward, tardy.
32. Their alternating pressing of each other’s feet could pass unnoticed by Mr. Knightley because of their long dresses.
33. comfortable: pleasant, enjoyable.
34. temper: disposition.
35. This would be a common, and generally approved, attitude in this society. Mr. Cole’s wish to become accepted among his genteel neighbors would make him particularly anxious not to appear arrogant or presumptuous.
36. This is the most likely explanation for Jane Fairfax’s conduct—though if her aunt’s company wearies her so much as to make her spend time with Mrs. Elton, the mystery of why she chooses to remain in Highbury becomes even more acute.
37. Emma’s last words here derive from the Book of Common Prayer, the basis for the Anglican church service. Its communion prayer calls for self-examination so that “you may perceive wherein you have offended in what you have done or left undone, whether in thought, word, or deed.”
38. good-breeding: politeness, good manners.
39. situation: position (as governess).
40. Emma shows here, as she does elsewhere, a great delight in satirizing Mrs. Elton by imitating her statements and pet phrases.
41. sensibilities: powers or capacities for feeling.
42. Thus her current reserve results from more than her natural character.
VOLUME II, CHAPTER XVI
1. dissipated: wasted, frittered away (upon frivolous pursuits). Mrs. Elton makes a pretense of lamenting the ruin they might suffer.
2. She may have expected, coming from Bath and a house near Bristol, that a country neighborhood would be much quieter and duller.
3. Evening parties were common in Bath, in part because its compact distances, paved streets, and light emanating from the numerous buildings made going to others’ homes after dark fairly easy.
4. Prominent country families often gave dinner parties for their neighbors; that the Sucklings are newcomers attempting to establish their social position (see note 31) could make them especially prone to such parties, which could demonstrate both their hospitality and their wealth.
5. Two sitting rooms would be essential for refined living, and drawing rooms were the most desirable type of sitting room (see note 10).
6. Rout cakes were rich cakes usually served at receptions (“rout” meant a large, fashionable evening party or reception). A recipe of the time calls for flour, butter, sugar, currants, eggs, orange-flower and rose water, wine, and brandy.
7. Ice, used to create desserts, was a luxury then. To be available year-round, ice needed to be cut during the winter and stored underground in special ice houses; for a contemporary example of an ice house, see the following page. It would be more easily procured in towns such as Bath or Bristol, where some shops sold it. In a letter written while visiting her affluent brother Edward, Jane Austen declares, “I shall eat Ice & drink French wine, & be above Vulgar Economy” (July 1, 1808).
8. Having candles for each table would obviously make it easier for the players; those having parties in Highbury have presumably not provided that luxury, for it was usual to use very few candles to light a room because of their cost. Fashionable card tables had special stands to hold candles; for an example, see this page.
9. Thus each table would be able to use a fresh pack of cards.
10. establishment: household.
11. One’s servants waited at table, but the Eltons’ lack of a large staff means they would need to hire additional servers for the night. The labor required to serve the multitude of dishes offered at a dinner party and to attend to the guests’ needs created a demand for many servants, especially if one wished to serve in the grand style Mrs. Elton undoubtedly desires.
12. The host would normally sit at the bottom of the table, with the hostess at the top. The person at the bottom was also expected to carve the meat, and that is probably why Mr. Woodhouse objects to sitting there.
13. These would be his professional engagements in London, which presumably restrict him to only this brief period when he can be out of town. Isabella could not bring the boys because of the barriers to women traveling alone and because of their having a baby at home—she does have nursery maids, but she showed herself to be an extremely devoted mother who would probably not trust any other person’s unsupervised care.
14. The issue of achieving a balance of the sexes does not arise, for prevailing norms did not dictate complete equality at dinner parties or alternating men and women in the seating arrangements.
An ice house.
[From John Buonaratti Papworth, Rural Residences (London, 1832), p. 97]
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15. John Knightley’s dislike of socializing appeared earlier, as did Emma’s suffering from anticipation of his ill temper, even more often than he showed any ill temper.
16. opposed: opposite.
17. Emma as the hostess would be at the other end; in the absence of Mr. Woodhouse the position of host goes to the nearest male relation. This is normally Mr. Knightley, but since John Knightley is an even closer relation, he is now the one at the end.
18. Mr. Weston has family in London and may need to visit them for a particular reason. He also engaged in limited business activities there when younger, and may still occasionally venture to London to tend to such matters (see here).
19. Mrs. Elton will comment at a later gathering on others’ lack of pearls (see here).
20. The relatively late breakfast time, usually nine or ten o’clock, meant people could often engage in other activities beforehand.
21. Outside of London letters were not delivered to people’s homes, so one needed to go to the post office.
22. The one period is probably the time when one is engaged to be married and is corresponding with one’s betrothed. He may have experience of that: a comment below suggests he may be thirty; he and Isabella married seven years earlier (see here), hence he would have been living in London and beginning his legal career at that time, and while he might have proposed to her during his visits to his brother, he would have needed to maintain contact by letter during the rest of the engagement.
23. Her blush may come from catching his meaning, and applying the idea of an engagement or at least a love interest to herself.
24. She is thinking of the isolation she will suffer as a governess.
25. Meaning a family of her own. She has just stated that she is ten years younger than he, and she was earlier described as twenty-one (see here).
A card table. The holes on each side are for players to put their counters, and the stands at each corner are for candles.
[From K. Warren Clouston, The Chippendale Period in English Furniture (New York, 1897), p. 82]
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26. The idea that women were more delicate was common, and Mr. Woodhouse, with his concern about health and his gallantry toward women, is especially likely to express it.
27. By “better neighbour” he means visiting them more.
28. Mrs. Weston’s concerns for health give her an affinity with Mr. Woodhouse, and thus provide a sense of why he must have treasured her as a governess for his children.
The main London post office.
[From Fiona St. Aubyn, Ackermann’s Illustrated London, illustrations by Augustus Pugin and Thomas Rowlandson (Ware, 1985), p. 189]
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29. She most likely means a footman, whose job it was to deliver messages, among other things.
30. It is likely she does remember her servants’ names; later she w
ill mention Mr. Knightley’s footman by name (see here). But she is implying that she has so many male servants that she cannot remember them all. Male servants were rarer as well as more expensive than female servants, due to much higher wages and a special tax on male servants, and thus a source of prestige.
31. accommodation: arrangement.
32. She may still be suffering from poor health. Fresh air, which was frequently recommended in the medical literature of the time, could be especially salutary to her, since she spends most of the day within her grandmother’s small apartment.
33. Though the idea of the superior authority of the husband was generally accepted in this society, no other woman in Austen’s novels calls her husband “my lord and master,” and most of the marriages she portrays involve a fair amount of reciprocal consultation and decision making. Mrs. Elton is once again calling attention to her being a married woman.
34. This would be one reason for Mrs. Elton to adopt a pretense of extreme wifely submission, for it then allows her to claim, in the event she can persuade her husband to something, that this demonstrates her influence, which would be the product of her personal charms and of her husband’s affection for her.
35. Since Patty is the Bateses’ sole servant, she does need to perform a vast array of tasks. It is notable that after pretending to forget the names of her own servants, she remembers the Bateses’.
36. {CAUTION: PLOT SPOILER} Her determination suggests a strong reason, which is that she goes to the post office to receive letters from Frank. By fetching them herself, she ensures that nobody else knows of the letters; she also could mail her replies. It is not clear what arrangement he makes in return, but he has enough freedom of movement to be able to venture to a nearby post office to mail the letters; letters to him might be collected by a servant at Enscombe for distribution at the house, a standard procedure in wealthy families, but this would not necessarily alert anyone else to the identity of his correspondent, since letters did not include a return name and address.