"Are you expecting Miss Fairfax here soon?"

"Oh, yes; next week."

"Indeed! That must be a very great pleasure."

"Thank you, You are very kind. Yes, next week. Every body is so surprized; and every body says the same obliging things... Chp 19

Lol - I wonder why they all say the same obliging things - I expect people are running out of ways to be polite. I think it is hard to be really truthfully interested in Miss Bates's topic of conversation, but one cannot be truthfully rude either, because Miss Bates is such a sweet-natured person and does not deserve to be injured. At least Emma recognises as much - so I don't know, perhaps I am wrong in thinking so, but pretending as best she can to be interested is the kindest thing to do in this case. Poor Miss Bates is even more a captive of Highbury than Emma and this limits her conversation. Its not her fault, but still a trial for human nature.