Jane Austen Quote of the Week 274

I hope you have all had a good week.


This week I realised that I have been working really hard with little thought for myself and no time taken to relax and reflect. I always seem to be chasing my tail rather than actually stopping and enjoying the moment. It led me to consider what I love and what makes me relax. Music is the best remedy to any stress, and the best tool to relax both the body and the mind, and make you happy. I was thinking about Emma and dancing and I found this quote from Chapter 38:


"In another moment a happier sight caught her -- Mr. Knightley leading Harriet to the set! Never had she been more surprised, seldom more delighted, than at that instant. She was all pleasure and gratitude, both for Harriet and herself, and longed to be thanking him; and though too distant for speech, her countenance said much, as soon as she could catch his eye again.
    His dancing proved to be just what she had believed it, extremely good; and Harriet would have seemed almost too lucky, if it had not been for the cruel state of things before, and for the very complete enjoyment and very high sense of the distinction which her happy features announced. It was not thrown away on her, she bounded higher than ever, flew farther down the middle, and was in a continual course of smiles."


It of course helps if you are with a partner who can dance! This point in the novel is one of the turning points for Emma and Mr Knightley.





Have a calm weekend, and take some time for yourselves to do what you love.




Pic: Emma and Mr Knightley