She pondered, but could think of nothing. After a mutual silence of some minutes, Harriet thus began again⁠—

“I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married, or going to be married! so charming as you are!”⁠—

Emma laughed, and replied,

“My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to induce me to marry; I must find other people charming⁠—one other person at least. And I am not only not going to be married at present, but have very little intention of ever marrying at all.”

“Ah!⁠—so you say; but I cannot believe it.”