Mr Knightley’s Diary (23 page)

Friday 8 October

Today, Emma and I were married. I had the satisfaction of knowing I was marrying the best woman in the world, because she is the only woman for me. I have seen few sights better than the sight of Emma walking into the church on her father's arm. Elton performed the ceremony and, if he remembered that he had once hoped to marry Emma himself, he gave no sign of it.

As we made our vows, I had the pleasure of hearing Emma call me George. She seemed to like it, too, for she called me George again at our wedding-breakfast, and I do not despair of her calling me George as a general thing.

Isabella and Mrs Weston argued over whether Emma's first child would be a boy or a girl, Isabella pressing the merits of a boy as firstborn, and Mrs Weston pressing the merits of a girl.

'Whatever the case, Emma will be a very happy woman,' said John. 'Will she not?' he asked Mr Woodhouse.

Mr Woodhouse looked up from his gruel and sighed.

'Poor Emma!' he said.