of your answer. I had imagined you were consulting me only as to the wording of it.'
"Harriet was silent. With a little reserve of manner, Emma continued:
"'You mean to return a favourable answer, I collect.'
"'No; I do not, that is, I do not mean—what shall I do? What would you advise me to do? Pray, dear Miss Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do.'
"'I shall not give you any advice, Harriet. I will have nothing to do with it. This is a point which you must settle with your own feelings.'
"'I had no notion that he liked me so very much,' said Harriet, contemplating the letter. For a little while Emma persevered in her silence, but, beginning to apprehend the bewitching flattery of that letter might be too powerful, she thought it best to say—
"'I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she can hesitate as to "Yes," she ought to say "No" directly. It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful feelings, with half a heart. I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than yourself, to say thus much to you. But do not imagine that I want to influence you.'
"'Oh, no; I am sure you are a great deal too kind to—but if you would just advise me what I had best do—no, no, I do not mean that—as you say, one's mind ought to be quite made up—one should not be hesitating—it is a very serious thing. It will be safer to say "No," perhaps. Do you think I had better say "No"?'
