Miss Bates mentions that Mrs. Cole did say something about not wondering that Mr. Elton "should have aspired" to court Miss Woodhouse. But I don't think Mr. Elton is responsible for this gossip. Gossip seems quite able to run away all by itself in Highbury. I think the lady's of Highbury noticed how often Mr. Elton was dining at Hartfield and started speculating as lady's are apt to do.