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diff --git a/old/54010-0.txt b/old/54010-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e2c6739..0000000 --- a/old/54010-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5871 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Younger Sister, by -Catherine Anne Austen Hubback and Jane Austen - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Younger Sister, Volume I - -Author: Catherine Anne Austen Hubback - Jane Austen - -Release Date: January 20, 2017 [EBook #54010] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNGER SISTER *** - - - - -Produced by Barry Abrahamsen, Mary Glenn Krause, David -Edwards, The University of Iowa and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE YOUNGER SISTER. - - - A Novel - - - BY - - MRS. HUBBACK, - - - IN THREE VOLUMES.—VOL. I. - - - - - LONDON: - THOMAS CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER - 30, WELBECK ST., CAVENDISH SQ. - - 1850. - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TO THE MEMORY OF HER AUNT, - THE LATE JANE AUSTEN, - - THIS WORK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED - BY THE AUTHORESS - WHO, THOUGH TOO YOUNG TO HAVE KNOWN - HER PERSONALLY, - WAS FROM CHILDHOOD TAUGHT TO - ESTEEM HER VIRTUES, - AND ADMIRE HER TALENTS. - - - _Aberystwith - Feb._ 1850. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE YOUNGER SISTER. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - -The Reverend John Watson, who, for the space of twenty years, was the -incumbent of the village of Winston, had not always been such an -indolent invalid as he appeared to those who only knew him during the -last ten years of that time. When he was inducted into the living, he -was a husband and the father of five children; a sixth was very -shortly added to their nursery; and, for several years after her -birth, Mrs. Watson's activity, good judgment, and influence with her -husband, preserved, for him, the esteem and respect of his -parishioners, and the character amongst his acquaintance, of a very -kind and attentive neighbour, and a most highly respectable parish -priest. But, with her life, his energy seemed to depart; he became -indolent from sorrow; shunning society—shrinking from exertion—and -confining himself to what was absolutely unavoidable of his duties. -This line of conduct, begun from grief, which seemed to prostrate his -mental strength, was continued from self-indulgence, long after the -poignancy of the grief was worn away, and it ended in really entailing -the ill-health—from which, he had, for sometime, pleased himself with -fancying that he suffered. Frequent attacks of the gout, disabled him -from much exertion, and often confined him to his room for weeks -together. - -In the meantime, his family grew up with almost every disadvantage -that could attend them. Motherless, and unchecked by their father, his -girls—at least, the three eldest—were left entirely to their own -guidance and discretion, or indiscretion, to speak with more -propriety; and the sons were early sent out, to fight their own way in -the world, without the softening influence of domestic ties, or the -memory of a happy home to warm their hearts and strengthen their -principles. - -The only one of the family who could be said to have received a good -education, was the youngest daughter, Emma—who, on her mother's death, -was begged of her father by his brother-in-law, and brought up by him -and his wife, as tenderly as if she had been their own. He was a -wealthy man; and by her own family, when they thought of her at all, -she was generally considered with something like envy—excepting by her -eldest sister, who had been too fond of her as an infant, not to -rejoice in her removal to a better home. It was considered as -indisputable by the others, that she was uncommonly lucky; since, -beyond doubt, her uncle would leave her handsomely provided for; and -the only question on that subject, which was debated with much -anxiety, was, whether he ought not to divide his wealth equally -amongst them all, or whether the eldest son should inherit the -greatest share. Mr. Robert Watson, the expectant nephew, was an -attorney at Croydon and his flourishing business, joined to his great -expectations from his rich uncle, had proved overpowering attractions -to a young lady in that neighbourhood, to whom he had been united for -several years, when the death of his uncle occurred. Had the greedy -anticipations of the nephew, or the selfish hopes of his vain wife, -been the only disappointed feelings on the occasion, nobody, but -themselves, would have much cared. But Mr. Pearson, in his will, -trusting much more to the steadiness of his wife, and less to the -affection of his niece, than either deserved, left the whole of his -property in the widow's power. He intended, perhaps, by this measure, -to secure to her the respect and attention of his sister's children, -whose interest it thus became to keep on good terms with their aunt; -and was very far from anticipating the catastrophe that ensued. -Instead of acting the part of an indulgent aunt, or of a patronising -and tyrannical one, Mrs. Pearson took an active part to obliterate all -trace of the connection, by bestowing her hand, and her first -husband's property, on a handsome but poor young Irishman; and, on her -shortly after quitting England, to visit his relatives, she kindly -gave Emma leave to return to her father's house, with a generous -present of fifty pounds to be divided between her and her sisters. - -At the period of her return home, Emma found her two younger sisters -were absent; and the affectionate warmth with which Elizabeth Watson -received her, joined to the silence of her father on the mortifying -subject of her aunt's marriage, did great good to her heart and -feelings. The painful sensations which the union in question had -occasioned her, were quite as strong as the indignation, and far more -amiable than the disappointment, which had been experienced by other -members of her family. She had loved and revered her uncle, and would -not, even to herself, admit that he had been unjust, hardly even -injudicious in the disposition of his property. But she had, also, -loved her aunt; and the memory of old obligations, and gratitude for -long-continued kindness, struggled painfully with less agreeable -feelings. So far as her own loss of fortune was concerned, she did not -consider it worth a regret: having been early accustomed to the -luxuries of a handsome income, she had not the smallest practical -knowledge of what poverty is; and, therefore, with the generous -indifference natural to an amiable and liberal mind, she would have -felt no resentment, had this been the only evil attending the -marriage. But the fear that her aunt was bringing unhappiness on -herself, by her injudicious choice; the certainty that she was -rendering herself an object of contempt or ridicule; and the -disappointment to her own affectionate heart in being thus cast off -for a stranger, though each bitter in itself, were altogether easy to -bear, compared with the glaring disrespect to her beloved uncle's -memory, which these hasty nuptials testified. This cut her to the -heart; and perhaps it was the silent reproach which her looks conveyed -that made Mrs. Mac Mahon so very desirous that Emma should cultivate -an acquaintance with her own family, from whom she had been too long -separated. With the strong feelings of a warm and youthful mind, not -yet versed in the fleeting nature of every human woe, she deemed this -a grief which time might soften, but could never quite heal; and -though rejoicing at the prospect of meeting with her sisters, and -cultivating an unremitting and unfading affection for them, she was -convinced that she never should quite got over the disappointment her -aunt had caused her. - -The Christmas assembly was fast approaching, and Mrs. Edwards had, as -usual, invited one of the Miss Watsons to accompany her family to the -ball. The absence of Penelope and Margaret prevented there being any -indecision as to which should be the fortunate individual. Mr. Watson -could not be left quite alone, and Emma having never been to a ball, -Elizabeth, without hesitation, decided in her favour. - -For the first day or two that it was in contemplation, Emma, true to -her pre-arranged hopeless despondency, took little interest in the -prospect; and though strongly feeling her sister's good nature, and, -for her sake, trying to seem pleased, would really have given up her -place without a sigh, to any individual who desired it. But the -interest of preparing her frock, arranging her ornaments, and settling -the minute details of the toilette, had the same irresistible -attraction for her, that they would have for nine girls out of ten, -and when the important afternoon arrived, she was in a very pleasant -state of excitement on the subject. - -"You will find the Edwardses very agreeable people," said Elizabeth to -her, as they drove slowly from the parsonage along the lane, now -splashy and deep with November mud. "I assure you, they live in very -good style; the door will be opened by a man-servant, and their dinner -is sure to be handsome." - -"What sort of person is Mr. Edwards?" enquired Emma, who began to have -a little palpitation, at the idea of being left quite amongst -strangers. - -"Oh, you need not mind him," said her sister, "you will see him at -dinner, and he will ask you to take wine; and he will eat a great many -filberts after dinner, and offer you some gingerbread; but you need -not take it if you don't like; Mary Edwards makes it on purpose for -her father, who eats it every day. Mr. Edwards will play at cards all -the evening at the ball, and if he wins you will stay late, and he -will be quite good tempered; but if he has ill-luck, he will hurry you -home very early. However you will be sure of some comfortable soup -afterwards; and if he is cross, you had better say nothing, and go to -bed as soon as you can!" - -"I will be sure and remember it," observed Emma. - -"As the party from Osborne Castle are expected," continued Elizabeth, -"I dare say it will be a very good ball; I am sure you will be very -much admired; how I should like to be there myself!" - -"Well, Elizabeth, I am sure you shall go instead of me; it would be -much better, as _you_ know everybody, and _I_ am quite a stranger. I -could send John over with your things if you staid in my place; I -should not be at all afraid of driving this steady old thing back to -Winston by myself; and as to our father, I dare say I could amuse him. -Do you know I really think you had better settle it so." - -"My dearest Emma," cried Elizabeth warmly, "how excessively -good-natured of you; but I could not do such a thing for the world, -though I shall always remember your making the offer. Keep you from -your first ball indeed; when you are so sure of being so much admired! -oh no, it is only fit that you should have your turn of pleasure, and -I would not hinder you." - -"But indeed, dear Elizabeth, I should not care about it, I am sure, in -comparison with you, so you need not mind that!" - -"But indeed I could not think of such a thing; and besides, my -principal wish would be to see _you_ there. I am sure you will enjoy -it. Offer to give up a ball at nineteen, and your first ball too; I -wonder when Pen or Margaret would think of such a thing: I am sure _I_ -should never have forgiven any one who kept _me_ from a ball at your -age. But if my father seems pretty well, and can spare me, I really -think I would wrap myself up, and make John drive me over to join you -there; I could easily do that you know." - -"What! drive over in this pony-chaise, Elizabeth?" said Emma, much -surprised. - -"Yes, why not! I suppose _you_ have been so used to a coach, as to -think that impossible: but, my dear Emma, I am afraid you are too -refined to be happy with us!" - -"Too refined!" said Emma, "what do you mean?" - -"Why that is just an example,—you are not used to make shifts, and be -put about; and are shocked at such an idea; it will not answer, I -assure you, it will not make you happy." - -"I am sorry you see anything to find fault with, Elizabeth; I did not -know I was refined; it is natural to me; I only think and feel like -the people I have been used to," and she sighed at the thought of her -uncle and aunt. - -"I dare say that is very true; but it will not do here; how Pen would -laugh at you; you have no idea how she ridicules everything not just -like herself. So you had better get over it as fast as you can!" - -"I will do my best," sighed Emma. - -"I should not wonder if Tom Musgrove were to dance with you, he -generally notices every new girl, especially if they are pretty. But I -should not like _you_ to be caught by him." - -"Who is he? I never heard you mention him." - -"Oh, he is a young man of independent property who lives near here; -and one of our pleasantest young men too; but I must warn you against -him, Emma; he has a way of paying attentions to young girls, and he is -so pleasant they all like him; so when he has made one desperately in -love, he flies off to somebody else, and does not mind what hearts he -breaks." - -"What a despicable character," cried Emma warmly, "you need not fear -my liking him after that." - -"I assure you," returned Miss Watson, "he is _very_ agreeable, and I -defy any girl to whom he tries to recommend himself, not to find him -agreeable. Almost every girl in this neighbourhood except myself, has -been desperately in love with him at one time or other. Margaret was -his last object, but though he has not paid her much attention for -these six months, she is perfectly persuaded that he is as much -attached to her as she is to him; and this is the second time since -last spring that she has gone to stay a month at Croydon, in the hopes -of his following and proposing to her. He never will however." - -"And how came you to escape?" enquired Emma with interest. - -"Really I can hardly tell; I think at first I was so taken up with the -affair with Purvis, and my disappointment there, that I thought little -about Tom Musgrove." - -"To whom do you allude?" said Emma, "I do not at all understand you?" - -"Did you never hear about that!" said Elizabeth with surprise, -"perhaps you were thought too young to be trusted; but I will tell you -now. I was engaged to him; he was a very nice young man, and it would -have been a very good match for me—and what do you think prevented -it?" - -"I am anxious to know, Elizabeth, but cannot guess!" - -"It was Penelope—yes, it was really Pen, she said; and did things -which caused the rupture—and Purvis left me!" - -Emma looked much shocked. - -"I can hardly believe it: your own sister; it seems quite impossible -that any girl could be guilty of such treachery: what could be her -motive!" - -"Oh, she wanted to marry him herself—Pen would do anything in the -world to be married—that is what she is gone to Chichester about -now—did you not know that?" - -"Gone about?" repeated Emma looking puzzled—"what do you mean, how can -she be gone to be married?" - -"Don't you know that," again exclaimed Elizabeth, "though, to be sure, -I do not see how you should, as nobody could have told you. I believe -there is some old doctor there whom she is bent upon marrying. He is -quite an old man, asthmatic, and all sorts of bad things: the friend -she is staying with, however, thinks it would be a very good match for -her, as he would make her a handsome settlement, and could not live -long. I am not at all in her confidence, however, and have only a -general notion of how things go on; I just hear what she tells -Margaret, or what she lets out accidentally. I believe they think -everything going on very prosperously now, and, perhaps, she may soon -be married to him. I am sure I hope she will." - -"Oh, Elizabeth, do you think she could be happy with an old asthmatic -man? and marrying from such mercenary motives," cried Emma, half -horrified. - -"Really I do not know," replied Miss Watson quietly, "whether _she_ -would be happier or not; but I am sure _we_ should. I wish with all my -heart Pen and Margaret both were married; for Margaret is so peevish, -there is no peace unless one lets her have her own way; and Penelope -would rather have quarrelling going on than nothing. Now I think you -and I could live together very comfortably, Emma; and really I would -rather the others were married than myself." - -"Yes, I can easily believe that," returned Emma, "having once loved, -and been disappointed, I can understand your not caring about any one -else." - -"I do not know that _that_ would make any difference," returned Miss -Watson. "Poor Purvis, I certainly was very sorry to lose him; and -really suffered very much at the time; but it would be a very pleasant -thing to be well married; and, I believe, scarce any body marries -their first love." - -"I would rather do anything than marry for money," observed Emma, "it -is so shocking. I would rather be teacher at a boarding school." - -"I have been at school, Emma, which you have not, and know what a -school teacher is—such a life—I would rather do anything than that!" - -"But to marry without love—that must surely be worse," persisted Emma. - -"Oh, I would not marry without love, exactly; but I think I could -easily love any tolerably good-tempered man, who could give me a -comfortable home. I am sure I would make any body a good wife; unless -they were very cross. But your idea of _loving_ is just another of -your refinements, Emma; and only does for rich people who can afford -such luxuries." - -Emma did not reply; but presently said— - -"I think there is only one Miss Edwards, you told me." - -"Oh yes, Mary Edwards is the only daughter; and I wish you -particularly to observe who she dances with; whether she is much with -the officers, especially if Captain Hunter is very attentive to her. I -must write to Sam soon, and he will be anxious to hear—" - -"Why should he care?" enquired Emma. - -"Because, poor fellow, he is very much in love with her himself—and he -begged me to watch for him, and let him know what chance he has—I must -say, I do not think he has any at all; and even if Mary liked him, her -father, and certainly her mother, would not encourage it. If Sam were -set up for himself even, as an apothecary, I do not know that they -would let her think of him; but being merely an assistant to a country -doctor, I am sure he ought to have no hopes." - -"Poor fellow," said Emma, "you think he loves her, do you?" - -"Oh yes, I have no doubt of _his_ love being very strong; he is always -writing about her, and, when he comes home, trying to see her: -however, he says now, he does not mean to see her again, unless he -gets some decided encouragement; or else he might have tried to come -here and meet her at this ball: he will not ask for a day at -Christmas, unless I send him a good account." - -"Well, I will be sure to observe," replied Emma. - -No more conversation could pass between the sisters, as they had -reached the outskirts of the town; and the noise of the carriage -wheels on the rough pitching of the street, made all attempts to be -heard quite fruitless. Elizabeth whipped and urged on the old horse -into something like an animated trot, and they soon were threading -their way between the carts of cabbages, and turnips—waggons of -hay—stalls of cattle, and sheep—old women with baskets—young women -with fine gowns—boors with open mouths, and idle boys and girls with -mischievous fingers congregating in the untidy market-place of a small -country town. Having successfully crossed these, and escaped without -accident, though not without some apprehension on Emma's part, they -proceeded along the High Street in safety, until the house of Mr. -Edwards was reached. Elizabeth certainly expected Emma to be somewhat -impressed with the grandeur of this, the principal residence of the -town; but the bright red-brick house created no peculiar sensation in -her mind, though she saw it was one story higher than the neighbouring -buildings. The dark green door, glittering brass knocker, and snow -white steps, were likewise considered by Emma as things of course, -being unaware that they testified to the wealth and taste of the -proprietor, and when their knock was answered by a footman in livery, -as Elizabeth had foretold, she was yet so entirely ignorant as to -regard him without emotion, or entertain any feeling of extra respect -for his master. - -They found Mrs. and Miss Edwards sitting together—the father, of -course, was at his office and not likely to appear till dinner time. -Mary Edwards was a pleasing looking girl, though the curl papers, -which were a part of her preparation for the evening, did not improve -her appearance. Her manner was rather reserved, but less so than that -her mother—whose formal stiffness was so great, that Emma almost -fancied herself an unwelcome guest; and felt so uncomfortable and -frightened, as to be more than half inclined to accompany Elizabeth -home again. When, after sitting a short time, the latter rose to -depart, leaving her sister with a sinking heart, Mrs. Edwards tried to -be agreeable, enquired how Emma liked their country—whether she walked -much—and if she usually enjoyed good health—to all which questions, -Emma returned answers as coherent and intelligible as could be -expected from a person whose thoughts were fixed on another subject. -Her mind was involved in a labyrinth of wonder, as to the reason why -Mrs. Edwards had so far punished herself as to have invited one to -whom she seemed so very unfriendly. - -After half an hour of this unpleasant intercourse, the ladies went up -stairs to dress; and as the two girls were now together, without the -mother's cold looks to distress them, they soon became more easy and -intimate. The little cares of the toilette—the assistance they -mutually afforded each other—the interest thereby raised, quickly -dispersed the apparent coldness of Mary Edwards' manner; and she even -ventured to observe to Emma, that she thought her like her brother. It -was easy to guess which brother she meant, and Emma did not force her -to particularise; but as Miss Edwards turned away directly after -uttering this, and bent over a drawer to search for something, which -she never found, it was impossible to decide as to the degree of her -blushing; but Emma thought, at the moment, her companion looked so -very pretty and lady-like in her ball-dress, that she felt no surprise -at her brother's predilection. - -Mr. Edwards joined them at dinner; and, whilst he was helping the -soup, he repeated the observation, which his daughter had previously -and privately made, that Miss Emma Watson was very like her brother. - -Mrs. Edwards coolly replied she did not see it. - -"We are very well acquainted with your brother, Mr. Sam." resumed Mr. -Edwards. "He usually dines with us, when he is at home." - -Emma did not know exactly what to answer, but Mrs. Edwards took up the -subject in her peculiarly cold manner, and observed: - -"It is, now, many months since _we_ have seen anything of Mr. Sam -Watson—though, I believe, he did dine with you, Mr. Edwards, whilst -_we_ were at Bath, last year." - -Mary's cheeks became of a decidedly deeper shade of pink during this -discourse, but she ate her soup without speaking. - -"I hope he was well, when you heard of him last," persisted Mr. -Edwards, seeming, in a very husband-like way, bent on continuing the -conversation which his wife desired to stop. - -"I do not think my sister has heard, since I have been at Winston," -replied Emma. - -"Young men in business, have not much time for idle correspondence," -observed the elder lady, so much as if she thought Miss Watson _ought_ -not to have received a letter, that Emma ventured to observe she -supposed that was the reason. - -Mr. Edwards did not, any further, provoke his wife by persevering on -this subject, and the rest of the dinner passed calmly and -uneventfully away. - -Mrs. Edwards, anxious to secure a comfortable seat by the fire, was -determined to be, as usual, very early in the ball-room—and her -husband was roused from his after-dinner nap, to accompany them—which -he unwillingly did; after settling his cravat and arranging his wig at -the glass, which surmounted the drawing-room chimney-piece. The coach -conveyed them very safely to the assembly rooms in the Red Lion; and -as they were mounting the stairs in the dark, for they were so early -that the lamp in the lobby was not lighted, the door of a bed-room was -suddenly opened, and a young man appeared in dishabille. - -"Ha! Mrs. Edwards!" said he, "early, as usual! you always take care to -be the first in the field. When you come, I know it is time for me to -dine; but I think I must dress first—don't you think so?" - -Mrs. Edwards replied by begging they might not interrupt him in so -necessary an occupation; and, with a formal bow, passed on—looking -round anxiously to see whether her two young charges were following. - -"Do you know him?" whispered Mary. - -"No," replied Emma, in the same tone. - -"It is Tom Musgrove," said Miss Edwards, a little louder, as they -advanced further from the vicinity of his apartment. - -"_Mr._ Musgrove," said her mother, with a peculiar emphasis. - -Mary blushed and was silent. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - -They entered the ball-room; it looked very cold and very dull; the -candles as yet hardly lighted, and the fires yielding far more smoke -than heat. Over one of these several officers were lounging; Mrs. -Edwards directed her steps to the other, and seated herself on the -warmest side; her two companions found chairs near her, Mr. Edwards -having left them at the door of the ball-room, to seek out his old -associates at the whist-tables. But it was all so new to Emma, that -she did not feel any of the annoyance at their early appearance with -which a more experienced young lady would have been afflicted. -Everything interested her happy mind, and she even felt amused in -ascertaining the number of lights, and listening to the scraping of -the fiddles tuning in the orchestra. They had not been seated many -minutes, when they were joined by a young officer, whom Emma -immediately guessed to be Captain Hunter, and from the pleasure which -the quiet Mary demonstrated at his addresses, she augured unfavourably -for her brother's prospects. - -She could not, however, accuse Mrs. Edwards of looking more kindly on -the gay soldier than she seemed to do on the doctor's assistant: and -had it been Sam himself, he could hardly have received a more frigid -recognition than the formal and ungracious bow, which Emma witnessed. -Captain Hunter showed no symptom of discouragement, but continued a -low but eloquent conversation with Mary, the only part of which -intelligible to her companions was an engagement for the first two -dances; for these were the days of country dances, before quadrilles, -waltzes, and polkas had changed the face of the ball-room. There must -certainly be some connexion between the style of dress and the style -of dancing prevalent in any particular generation. The stiff ruffs, -the awful long waists and formal boddices of Elizabeth's reign were -quite in keeping with a stately pavan; the loose attire and complete -undress adopted by the courtly beauties of Charles the Second may be -considered characteristic of the elegant but licentious style -pervading their dances. The minuet matched well with the buckram, and -rich brocade, and high head-dress which marked the era of the earlier -Georges; whilst powder and hoops of course disappeared under the -influence of the merry country-dance and cotillion. Perhaps at the -present time the dresses, like the dances, partake more of the -character of the latter Stuarts—graceful and bewitching; the -habiliments full and flowing, the steps vivacious but tending to -giddiness, with a near approximation to romping, and a great risk of -inducing a _faux-pas_, or even a serious fall. - -But all this is a digression from my story, and cannot possibly have -passed through my heroine's mind, since, sixty years ago, the -liveliest fancy would have never pictured an English ball such as we -now see it. The accessions to the company at first few and at great -intervals, so as to allow Emma time to notice the dress, manners, and -appearance of each individual, gradually became so much more numerous, -as to prevent her seeing or observing more than half of them. Dancing, -however, was delayed because the Osborne Castle party were expected, -and the stewards, of course, were waiting for Miss Osborne to open the -ball. At length, a bustle in the assembly-room called Emma's attention -to the door, from a very remarkable dress which she had been for some -minutes contemplating, and the important group made their appearance. -Mary pointed them out to her young companion: there was Lady Osborne, -with her splendid diamond necklace; her son and daughter, and her -daughter's friend, Miss Carr; her son's late tutor, Mr. Howard, his -sister, and her little boy, a child apparently about six years old. -The last mentioned lady, a widow with pleasing manners and a very -agreeable countenance, happened to seat herself near Emma, whose -attention was speedily called to the little boy, by the extreme -impatience he evinced for the dance to begin. His mother, turning to a -friend beside her, observed, - -"You will not wonder that Charles is so eager for his first dance, -when you hear how he is to be honoured; Miss Osborne has promised to -dance with him herself, which is very good-natured." - -"Oh yes," cried Charles, "she has promised to be my partner ever since -Saturday, indeed as long as I knew I was coming to the ball." - -Just at this moment, Miss Osborne stepped hastily forward, and -addressing the little boy in a hurried manner, said: - -"Charles, I am very sorry, but I find I cannot keep my engagement with -you this time; I must dance with Colonel Miller, but another time, the -next dance, perhaps, will do just as well for us I dare say." - -She then hastened away, without waiting to witness the effect of her -communication on the little fellow, whose hopes and enjoyment seemed -to vanish together. Disappointment was painted on every feature, and -his swelling heart appeared about to prompt a shower of tears, with -which a proud desire to appear manly was maintaining an ineffectual -struggle. His mother, who seemed little less distressed, endeavoured -to soothe his grief, and held out vague hopes of better luck another -time; when Emma, who really pitied him, and was quite interested by -the appearance of both, said with the most obliging air: - -"If you will accept me as a substitute for Miss Osborne, sir, I shall -be most happy to dance with you the two next dances." - -It would be difficult to tell, of the mother or son, which countenance -looked the brightest, or whose eyes showed the greatest pleasure at -this kind offer: and the couple took their place in the dance with -equal satisfaction, Emma being perfectly contented with her juvenile -partner, whilst he was all anxiety to acquit himself well to do her -honor, and especially intent on running his fingers as far as possible -into the points of the new gloves which he had received from his -mother on quitting her side, with sundry injunctions to keep them on. - -Emma had been much amused when the Osborne party entered, to see Tom -Musgrove accompanying them; having, no doubt, from the knowledge she -had previously acquired, of his having been long in the house, that he -had been waiting outside the door, in order to join them, and appear -as if he formed one of their party. She now discerned him standing -opposite to herself by the side of Lord Osborne; who, she learnt from -casual remarks amongst ladies near her, never danced himself, and was -now preventing or dissuading Tom Musgrove from doing so either. Lord -Osborne was a remarkably plain young man, barely endowed with the air -of a gentleman, and it seemed to observers, as if the time spent in -the ball-room were one of actual penance to him. His principal -occupation appeared to consist in regarding Emma with a broad, -unmitigated stare, which rather disconcerted her, and made her exert -herself to converse with Charles, that she might not seem to mind it. -It was not easy for her to decide what drew his attention so fixedly -on herself; she thought, perhaps, that he wondered at her presumption -in standing up with one of his party; or that he was criticising her -style of dress; or censuring her dancing; she wished with all her -heart that he could find some other subject for his speculation, and -was quite relieved at the gradual change of place which dancing -produced. Charles was very happy, and spoke his feelings in rather an -audible whisper, when addressing Mr. Howard, as that gentleman was -passing near him, he said: - -"Oh, do look, Uncle Howard, at my pretty partner, I do really think -she is the prettiest girl in the room," an opinion which Mr. Howard -himself did not seem inclined to controvert, though his answer was -more cautiously and softly given. - -"Upon my word, Charles," said Miss Osborne, as she gave him hands -across; "you are in high luck; I am sure you have gained by the -exchange," an assertion to which, had Charles been a few years older, -he would have replied with less sincerity than his hurried "Yes," now -announced. - -He told Emma he was very glad _now_, that Miss Osborne had broken her -promise, but could not help anxiously enquiring whether she thought -she would keep her engagement for the next dance. - -Emma answered in the affirmative, though she could have given no -better reason for expecting Miss Osborne to perform her promise next -time, than that she had broken it the last. When the dance was -concluded, and Emma returned to her seat, Mrs. Wells, Charles' mother, -expressed in warm terms, her obligation to Miss Watson for so kindly -dancing with her little boy; Emma assured her, with great sincerity, -that she was very happy to have given him pleasure, and that she had -greatly enjoyed her dance. - -They soon entered into an agreeable conversation—and she was -exceedingly pleased, when, a short time afterwards, they were joined -by Mr. Howard, who begged his sister to introduce him, and solicited -her hand for the ensuing dance. Mr. Howard's appearance and manner -were such, as could not fail to prepossess any one in his favor, and -Emma had formed a favorable opinion of him already, from the -affectionate terms in which little Charles had spoken of his uncle, -when he informed her that he and his mother resided constantly with -him. The good nature which had actuated her brought its own reward; -and she thought, with much pleasure, of the ensuing dances. Previous -to their commencement, there was a proposal made by Mrs. Wells, that -they should go in search of tea. They set off accordingly—Charles very -proudly escorting his partner—Mr. Howard and his sister being close -behind; when, in attempting to enter the tea-room, they were met by so -many returning to the dancing, that they were forced to draw aside; -and, almost pushed behind a half-opened door. Whilst waiting here for -a passage, Emma heard Lord Osborne address Mr. Tom Musgrove, as they -were standing together before the very door which concealed her. - -"I say, Musgrove, why don't you go and dance with that beautiful Emma -Watson that I may come and look at her?" - -"I was just going to ask her, my lord:" cried Tom, "the very thought -that I had in my head this moment." - -"Ay, do so, then," continued Lord Osborne, "and I will stand behind -you; by Jove, she's so handsome that, if ever I did dance with any -girl, it should be with her!" - -It was with no little self-congratulation, that Emma reflected on her -engagement to Mr. Howard, which would save her, as she hoped, from the -unwelcome suit of Mr. Musgrove and the stare of Lord Osborne. There -was a sort of suppressed look of mirth and amusement on the -countenance of Mr. Howard, which convinced her that _he_, too, had -heard this short dialogue, and Charles evinced his perception of it by -whispering: - -"They did not know we could hear them—and I would not have told them -for the world—would you?" A sentiment in which Emma silently, but -entirely joined. - -It was not till they left the room—and she had joined Mrs. -Edwards—that they again encountered Mr. Musgrove. He immediately -requested an introduction, and Mrs. Edwards was obliged to comply; -but, it was in her coldest and most ungracious manner. It evidently -made not the slightest difference to the gentleman, however, who -heeded not the means to gain a wished-for end, and had long been aware -that he was no favorite with the Edwards' family generally. He -immediately flattered himself he should be permitted the great honor -of dancing with Miss Emma Watson the two next dances. She had peculiar -satisfaction in replying that she was engaged. - -"Oh! but, indeed," he eagerly replied, "we must not let my little -friend, Charles, engross you entirely, Miss Emma?" - -To which, with a demure face, and an internal sensation of delight, -she answered that she was not engaged to dance with Master Wells. - -Tom was baffled and mortified, and he shewed it in his face. He -lingered, however, near her, until her partner appeared to claim her -hand; when, with a look of surprise, he went to inform Lord Osborne of -his ill-success. - -The young nobleman bore it with great philosophy. - -"Oh, with Howard is it!" was his observation; "well, that will do just -as well for me." - -And accordingly he stationed himself exactly behind that gentleman, -and again indulged in the stare which Emma had previously found so -annoying. She wished with all her heart that he could find a less -disagreeable way of expressing his admiration, as even the idea that -he thought her so handsome could not reconcile her to his method of -demonstrating it. However, she found Mr. Howard quite us agreeable as -his countenance had led her to expect, and upon the whole she enjoyed -herself exceedingly. When the dance had concluded, whilst she was -still engaged in a pleasant conversation with her partner, they were -suddenly interrupted by discovering that the Osborne Castle party were -preparing to leave. She heard Lord Osborne telling Tom Musgrove that -the thing had become very dull to the ladies, and his mother was -determined to go home: though for his own part, he thought it was the -best ball he had been at for a long time. Mrs. Wells and her brother -of course accompanied the others, and Emma wished them good night, and -saw them depart with regret, in which they appeared to participate. -Lord Osborne entered, after quitting the room for a minute or two, as -if reluctant to tear himself away, and disturbing her from the corner -where she was resting, muttered an inaudible excuse of having left his -gloves in the window-seat behind her; though the said gloves being -carefully coiled up in his hand all the time, it was certain that he -must have had some other object in view, which probably was to enjoy -one more stare at her. - -Tom Musgrove disappeared at the same time from the ball-room, as he -would not be guilty of the vulgarity of outstaying the grandest part -of the company; whether he spent the rest of the evening in helping -Mrs. Newland make negus at the bar, or consoled himself by ordering a -barrel of oysters and whisky-punch in his own room, Emma never -ascertained, but her partner, who laughed excessively at his airs of -elegance, assured her he had no doubt it was great mortification and -self-denial on his part to appear indifferent, and she was too little -pleased with him to avoid feeling a secret satisfaction at this -conviction. - -The rest of the assembly lost nothing in spirit by their departure, -and seemed determined to enjoy themselves, though Miss Osborne had -pronounced the evening dull, and her friend Miss Carr was heard to -declare, after surveying every one through her glass, that it all -seemed very vulgar. - -Emma's next partner was an officer, but she had several other -solicitations which she was forced to refuse, as a very pretty girl, -quite new, and evidently admired by Lord Osborne, was not likely to be -neglected in a country assembly-room, and for the rest of the evening -it was quite the fashion to call her "_the pretty_ Miss Watson." - -As it was a regulation in the ball-room that no other dance should be -called after one o'clock, this finished her amusement; and at the -summons of Mr. Edwards she was not at all dissatisfied to return home, -although she professed to have spent a most delightful evening. She -felt rather anxious to ascertain whether Mr. Edwards had lost or won -at cards, and on entering the dining-room, where the supper-table was -spread, she looked anxiously at his countenance, to read his features, -and discover his state of mind. The pleasant conviction that fortune -had favoured him was conveyed to her mind, when, on the subsidence of -the frown which the sudden glare of candle-light occasioned, he -presented a bland smile and self-satisfied aspect, pronounced the soup -which, as Elizabeth had predicted, appeared to comfort them, to be -extremely good, and joked with Emma about the hearts which he guessed -she had conquered on this her first appearance in their country. - -"Well, Mary," added he, turning to his daughter, and chucking her -under the chin, "and who did you dance with? Who was your first -partner?" - -"Captain Hunter, sir," replied Mary, demurely, yet blushing a little. - -"And who next?" pursued he. - -"Mr. Edward Hunter, sir." - -"And who is he?" - -"Captain Hunter's cousin." - -"Oh, aye—very well: who next?" - -"Captain Scott, sir." - -"Who is he—another cousin of Captain Hunter, eh?" - -"No, sir; only a friend of his." - -"I thought so," said her father, chuckling. - -"Mary was surrounded with red-coats the whole evening," observed Mrs. -Edwards. "I must say I should have been as well pleased to have seen -her dancing with some of our old friends and neighbours, and less -taken up with those soldiers." - -It was lucky for Mary that her father had been winning at cards, as he -would otherwise, very probably, have been as much offended as her -mother seemed to be on hearing of her conduct. He now, however, -good-humouredly took her part—only saying— - -"Pooh, pooh, my dear, the girl naturally likes officers, all girls -do—besides, if those young men are quicker at asking her than others, -how could she help dancing with them." - -Mrs. Edwards looked very little pleased at an observation which was -too true to be contradicted, and observed, in a general way, that she -had always remarked girls could contrive to oblige their parents when -they had a mind to do so. - -"I hope you had your share of officers, Miss Emma," said the old -gentleman. - -"Thank you, sir, I had quite sufficient," said Emma, quietly. - -"Oh, Miss Emma was almost above the officers, she got into the Osborne -Castle set, and her partner was no less than Mr. Howard. Did Lord -Osborne ask you?" - -"No, ma'am," replied Emma. - -"I am sure he looked at you enough," continued Mrs. Edwards; "I -thought he was going to eat you." - -"I was not afraid of that," said Emma, smiling; "but I own I was -rather annoyed." - -"I think Mr. Musgrove was more insufferable than ever," pursued Mrs. -Edwards; "I am glad you did not dance with him, Miss Emma; really that -young man is beyond bearing in his impertinence." - -"Oh, you should not abuse him to Miss Emma; I dare say her sisters -give a very different account of him; he is a great favorite with all -of them, I know," said Mr. Edwards. - -"I never heard anything of him which particularly prepossessed me in -his favour," replied Emma, very coolly. "Elizabeth mentioned him, and, -from what I have seen, I should think her description was very like -the truth." - -Little more was said by any one, and the party, after many yawns, -separated for the night, to the great relief of their young guest, who -was exceedingly sleepy, and longing for darkness and silence. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - -The next morning, as the ladies were quietly sitting together, and -just as Emma was beginning to expect the arrival of her sister to take -her home, a loud knock was heard at the door, which gave audible -notice of a far more masculine hand than that of Elizabeth Watson. -There was hardly time, however, for more than a brief wonder on the -subject, when Mr. Musgrove was announced. The stiffness of Mrs. -Edwards' reception, and the cold tranquillity of Mary's manners, -seemed to make no impression on him; at least, so Emma judged from -there being no abatement of that air of self-complacency which had -early struck her as belonging to him. - -After the opening compliments to the party, he turned to Emma herself, -and presenting a note, observed that this would, in part, explain and -excuse his intrusion. It was from Elizabeth to herself, to say, that -as her father had found himself better than usual, he had suddenly -resolved to go to the visitation which happened that day, and in -consequence of his thus employing the chaise, she could not come, as -she had promised, to bring her sister home. She added, that she did -not, in the least, know what Emma could do, only if the Edwardses -asked her to remain, she thought that was the best thing that could be -contrived. - -After pondering over this unwelcome note for several minutes, Emma was -just about to state the dilemma to Mrs. Edwards, when Tom Musgrove -broke in. - -"I had an interest, Miss Emma, in bringing that note, and a message -besides, from your sister, which you must allow me to state. I met -Miss Watson in the village seeking for a messenger, and offered to do -her errand, as she told me the object of it, on condition that she -would sanction my bringing you home in my curricle. Believe me, it -will be with the greatest delight that I will drive you to Winston, -and the carriage is now at the door waiting for the honour of your -occupation." - -Emma looked a little distressed. - -"Did Elizabeth really wish me to come home that way," said she, -hesitating. - -"I assure you, my proposal had her full and unqualified consent, and -you have only to say the word, and now—in half an hour—an hour—two -hours time—any time—I am at your service." - -"I am much obliged to you," replied Emma, embarrassed between her fear -lest she should be supposed intruding on her hostess, and her extreme -dislike of encouraging any appearance of intimacy with Mr. Musgrove; -"but I do not think it is in the least degree necessary that I should -give you the trouble. The walk is nothing, and I dare say I can easily -find a person to carry my few things." - -"The _trouble_ is nothing, Miss Emma," cried he, "but the walk -cannot be ranked in that way; three—four miles—what is it—five -perhaps—and such mud and dirt to get through—and after dancing all -night too: indeed it must be impossible. And there stand my -horses—useless—unemployed save by my unworthy self—indeed you _must_ -accept my offer." - -Emma would not yield; she was quite determined to encounter any -inconvenience rather than accept the offered seat; and the more -pressing he became the firmer her refusals grew. - -Mrs. Edwards, who had been quietly listening to what was passing -between them, no sooner ascertained that the inclination of her young -visitor was decidedly opposed to an offer, which _she_ would have -deemed it in the highest degree indecorous to accept, than with a very -unusual warmth of manner on her part, she interposed, and greatly -relieved Emma by saying: - -"If Miss Watson can wait until after luncheon, I shall have great -pleasure in conveying her home in our coach." - -This well-timed offer was gratefully and gladly accepted, but Tom -loudly interposed. - -"But you know, Mrs. Edwards, that is contrary to all your rules—quite -impossible to have your horses out to-day, after their night-work. -Surely you cannot really and seriously mean such a thing—and my -curricle here to make it quite unnecessary." - -"I do really mean it;" replied Mrs. Edwards steadily, "our carriage -and horses are quite at Miss Watson's service; and I am happy to -relieve her from the risk which she evidently apprehends in so dashing -an equipage as your curricle. She will, no doubt, feel much safer in -our coach!" - -The gentleman bit his lip, but was forced to yield; and turning to -Emma, enquired: - -"How did it happen, Miss Emma, that none of your sisters were at the -ball?—I don't think I saw them there all the evening." - -"My eldest sister," answered Emma coldly, "could not leave my father, -and she is the only one at home now." - -"Oh, indeed; why how long have the others been away?" then without -waiting for an answer, he continued—"How did you like our ball last -night? I suppose you did not keep it up much after I was gone!" - -"When did you leave the room?" enquired Emma, pleased to give him the -retort courteous, for his affected ignorance about her sisters. - -"Oh, I did not stay after the Osbornes' party went away—I was tired -and bored." - -"And _we_ enjoyed ourselves nearly two hours after that," cried Emma, -"and as the room was less crowded with idlers who would not dance, I -think it was particularly pleasant." - -"Upon my word, I wish I had known that, I really should have been -tempted to come back, after seeing Miss Carr to the carriage," said -Tom, "but you know, Mrs. Edwards, sometimes when one's particular -friends are gone, one fancies all the rest will be dull—so I went to -my room." - -"Possibly," replied Mrs. Edwards, "but I am used to judge for myself -in such matters, and therefore am not likely to be misled in the way -you are now regretting." - -After remaining as long as he could without very great rudeness, and -receiving no invitation to stay and take luncheon, Mr. Musgrove drove -off in his curricle, exceedingly astonished at the fact of the offered -seat in it being so firmly rejected. - -It was something quite new to him, for he had been used to consider -the other Miss Watsons as quite at his disposal, and could hardly -imagine that one of the family could have ideas and feelings so -diametrically opposed to her sisters'. - -According to her promise, Mrs. Edwards' carriage safely conveyed Emma -to her father's house in the course of that afternoon, Mary Edwards -accompanying her, but not remaining many minutes, as she well knew -their dinner hour was approaching, and she did not wish to be in their -way. - -No sooner had she withdrawn, than Elizabeth began expressing her -extreme surprise at the fact of the Edwards' coach, coachman, and -horses being considered in a state fit for use the day after the ball, -as they always used to rest when they had been out at night. - -"Only think of their sending you home, my dear Emma, I cannot tell you -how surprised I am—_I_ never knew such a thing done before." - -"I assure you, it was very kindly done, Elizabeth; and not only was -the carriage placed at my service, but Mrs. Edwards' manner became -much more friendly from that time." - -"Well, I wonder you did not accept Tom Musgrove's offer—or did he not -make it—or did you get my note?" - -"Yes; he brought the note; but, indeed, dear Elizabeth, I was so -unprepared for your proposing, or allowing him to propose such a -thing, that I thought you had, probably, known nothing about it; and -that the whole was a device on his part. How could you imagine, after -what you had yourself told me, that I would allow him to drive me -about in that way. I could not do such a thing." - -"Indeed, I had some scruples, Emma, about it; I did not like throwing -you together in that way, but I could see no other means of your -getting home—and I did long for that. Who would have thought of the -Edwardses having out their coach? But I never, for a moment, expected -you would refuse him. I don't think I could have done such a -thing—though, I dare say, it was quite right; I should not have had -the resolution to resist such a temptation!" - -"It was no temptation to me; and, therefore, required no extraordinary -resolution Elizabeth. I thought it wrong, besides,—but I certainly -should have disliked it." - -"You do not mean to say you dislike Tom Musgrove!" cried Elizabeth, in -great surprise; "did you not dance with him? Did he not ask you?" - -"He did ask me, and I did not accept him," replied Emma, smiling at -her sister's amazement, "but his manners do not please me; and I do -not think that, having accepted him last night as a partner, would -have made me wish for him to-day as a driver." - -"Well, tell me all about it," cried Elizabeth, "I am longing to hear -all about the ball. Who did you dance with? How did you like it—give -me the whole history." - -Emma complied, and related, as minutely as possible, all the events of -the preceding evening. Elizabeth's surprise on hearing it was extreme. - -"Good gracious!" cried she, much agitated; "dance with Mr. Howard? -Well, Emma, how could you venture? were you not frightened out of your -wits? Dance with the man who plays at cards with old Lady -Osborne!—whom she seems so fond of—well, you are the boldest little -thing possible! And you say you were not afraid?" - -"No, really," said Emma, "why should I be—he was quite the gentleman, -I assure you." - -"Oh, yes!" said Miss Watson, "a gentleman, of course he is; but, why -should that prevent your being afraid? Did you talk to him? How did -you know what to say?" - -"There was no difficulty about that," replied Emma, "he was very -agreeable and we had a great deal of conversation." - -"Well, I am glad you were so noticed, Emma," said her sister, kindly; -"I knew you must be admired; and, really, am rejoiced that you have -made so good a beginning. Dance with Mr. Howard—refuse Tom -Musgrove—and come home in Mrs. Edwards' coach! I wonder what you will -do next!" - -"Come home in my own, we will hope," said Emma, laughing; "like a good -girl in a fairy story—very grand in a gilt coach and four." - -Elizabeth then proceeded to enquire about Mary Edwards and Captain -Hunter; and the inference which she deduced from Emma's narrative, was -extremely unfavorable to her brother's prospects. She declared she -would write to Sam that evening, and tell him he had no hope. - -"But here comes Jenny with the dinner. Poor Emma! you will not dine as -well as you did yesterday. There is only fried beef—for, as my father -was gone out, and I hardly expected you, I did not think it worth -while to get any thing more. If I had been sure of your coming, I -would have got you a chop." - -"Quite unnecessary, dear Elizabeth, I do not care what I eat," replied -Emma, as she moved her chair to the table. - -"That is so pleasant of you, Emma," said Elizabeth, "I must say, with -all your refinement, you are easier pleased than either Pen or -Margaret. How very comfortably we could live together." - -Mr. Watson returned from the visitation and the dinner in very good -spirits. - -"I am very glad I went," said he, "people were all very kind, and the -dinner was very good. I don't know how many people told me they were -glad to see me, and I had some capital venison—there was turbot too, -and hare soup—all excellent—and a very civil young clergyman, a very -nice young man indeed, would help me down to dinner, and took care I -had a warm seat, and saved me the trouble of calling for things. I -thought it very kind of him, I think his name is Howard. He asked -after my daughter too—I don't know which he meant at all—but I suppose -you can tell amongst yourselves. I really don't know when I passed a -more pleasant afternoon!" - -The next morning, however, brought a different story. The unusual -exertion combined with turbot and venison, brought on a violent fit of -the gout, and for a day or two the girls hardly left their father's -room, or had any other pursuit or occupation than attempting to -relieve his pain, or amuse his intervals of rest. - -The third day after the ball, whilst Jenny was slowly preparing the -dinner-table in the parlour, with more noise than despatch, the two -girls standing over the fire looking at her movements, the door-bell -was heard following the tread of horses on the gravel at the entrance. - -"Who can that possibly be?" cried Elizabeth, "run and let them in, -Jenny—no, stop, I think you had better not—just say your master is -ill." - -Jenny bustled off—leaving the knife-basket on the floor, and the cloth -half opened on the table. A moment of silent suspense followed, when -in reply to some mutterings of Jenny, they heard through the door -which she had left open Tom Musgrove's voice— - -"Oh, never mind, we will go in all the same; we came to enquire for -Mr. Watson." - -And another voice, laughing harshly, was heard, and steps along the -passage, which excited Elizabeth to such a degree, that she hastily -twitched off the unspread cloth, and threw it into a chair behind the -door—which she had just time to do, before the visitors presented -themselves unannounced; for Jenny was too much astonished at the event -to find tongue to utter the names of Lord Osborne and Mr. Musgrove; -but stood with her mouth open gazing in the passage. Elizabeth felt -excessive surprise at this unexpected visit, to a degree which almost -made her unconscious of what she was doing. Shame at being detected by -Lord Osborne in dining at three o'clock, and doubt how to behave to -him—an inclination to apologise for her homely appearance, plain -stuff-gown and untidy room, which, however, was fortunately checked by -her uncertainty how to express herself properly, all contended in her -mind; when the first gush of surprise was abated, it was quite a -relief to her, to shake hands with her old friend Tom Musgrove, and to -see him seat himself without ceremony. Emma, on the contrary, felt -this intrusion extremely impertinent and ill-bred; what excuse was -there for Lord Osborne calling in this way; there never had been any -acquaintance previously between the families, her father had never -been noticed by the inhabitants of the Castle, nor invited there as -many of the neighbouring gentry were; and now that he was ill, and -they knew it, she was indignant that they should thus force themselves -on her sister and herself. - -Her own curtsey was as stiff and reserved, as if she had been taking -lessons of Mrs. Edwards; and she resumed her seat without feeling the -slightest inclination to converse herself, and being almost displeased -with Elizabeth for the easy manner in which she allowed, or perhaps -encouraged, Tom Musgrove to address her. Lord Osborne's visit was -certainly meant for Emma, for he placed himself near her, and sat some -minutes with his eyes fixed on her countenance, until she began to -think he meant to preserve the same conduct in her father's house, as -he had done at the ball. - -At length, however, he spoke: - -"It's a beautiful morning; ain't you going to walk to-day?" - -"No, my Lord," replied she quietly, raising her eyes from her work, "I -think it is too dirty!" - -"You should wear boots," said he, "nankeen with block tops, look very -nice, when a woman has a pretty ankle." - -She had nothing to object to his taste, and did not reply. - -"Do you ride?" continued he. - -"No, my lord." - -"Why not? every woman should ride; a woman never looks so well as on -horse-back, well mounted, and in a handsome habit—you _should_ -ride—don't you like it?" - -"There are, sometimes, other impediments, my lord, besides want of -taste, even to so becoming an amusement," replied Emma, gravely. - -"Eh? I don't understand," resumed he, "what prevents you?" - -"I have no horse," replied Emma, thinking _that_ the shortest way of -finishing the subject, and reducing it to the level of his capacity. - -"Then your father should keep one for you," observed he. - -"My father cannot afford it," said Emma, decidedly; "and I have no -wish to act in a way inconsistent with our circumstances." - -"Poor is he? how uncomfortable!" said Lord Osborne, "why, what's his -income, do you suppose?" continuing in the tone in which he would have -questioned a day labourer as to his wages. - -"It is a point upon which I never thought myself entitled to enquire," -she replied, drawing herself proudly up, and speaking in a tone not to -be misunderstood. - -Lord Osborne looked at her with surprise, which was gradually -converted into admiration at the beautiful effect of the colour which -dyed her cheek as she spoke. An idea crossed his mind that, perhaps, -he had not been sufficiently civil, and he tried to soften his voice, -and put on a more winning manner. - -"The hounds meet next Monday about a mile from here, at Upham—will you -not come and see them throw off. It's a pretty sight." - -"I do not think it will be in my power, my lord." - -"I wish you could—did you ever see it?" - -"Never." - -"Well, you cannot imagine how gay it is; we have such a capital -breakfast always at Upham Lodge; then the scarlet coats round the edge -of the cover; the horses—the talking and laughing, the ladies who -drive over to see us—though I often think them rather a bore—then the -great burst when the dogs do find; and off they go away, and we after -them, and forget every thing in the world, except one wish, to be in -at the death. You cannot think how exciting it is. Do come." - -"Thank you, my lord; but I must be satisfied with your description. I -cannot accept your invitation." - -"Perhaps you are afraid of the cold; my sister caught a dreadful cold -one day, when she came in an open carriage, and it was wet; are you -thinking of that?" - -"No, for I did not know it before." - -"Didn't you? She was ill a month; I was monstrous sorry for her—for -you see it was partly my fault; I persuaded her to come; I don't know -how it is. I rather like to have her with me—some men don't." - -Emma could hardly suppress a smile at this eloquent demonstration of -his fraternal affection. She began, however, to think that if Lord -Osborne liked his sister there might be some good in him; which, -before, she had been inclined to question. The gentlemen sat long, -although Tom Musgrove, at least, must have been perfectly aware that -he was encroaching on their dinner hour; and Emma was growing -exceedingly weary of the looks of Lord Osborne, who sunk into repeated -fits of silence, which were interrupted by abrupt and disconnected -questions or observations. At length, they were all roused by the maid -servant, who, putting her head into the half-opened door-way, called -out: - -"Please ma'am, Master wants to know why he beant to have any dinner -to-day!" - -This very unmistakeable announcement, brought a deep blush to -Elizabeth's cheek, who, interrupting her chat with Tom Musgrove, said: - -"Very well, Jenny, I hear." - -The gentlemen now rose to go, and, to Emma's great relief, took leave; -Elizabeth calling briskly after the maid, as she was shewing them out, -to tell Nanny to take up the fowls immediately. - -"Well," said she, drawing a long breath when the room was once more -quiet, "what are we to think of this? I wonder whether Lord Osborne -saw the knife-tray? I hope he did not notice, or what he thinks of us -dining at this hour!" - -"I must say, I think it was taking an unwarrantable liberty," cried -Emma, "calling in this way—very impertinent and disagreeable—though he -is a lord, what right has he to intrude on us?" - -"Do you think so, Emma? well, it did not strike me so—I was only -hoping he would not notice the table-cloth or the steel forks. I know -they have silver ones every day at Osborne Castle. I wish Jenny had -not began putting out the things, or had not brought that tiresome -message." - -"He never called here before, why should he come now without excuse or -apology?" persisted Emma. - -"Why, to see you to be sure—and very good use he made of his eyes. Now -really, Emma, you ought not to quarrel with him, for it is evidently -admiration of you that brings him here." - -"I do not care for admiration without respect, Elizabeth, and I hope -the visit will not be repeated." - -Her father's opinion quite coincided with hers, when he came to hear -of the visit in question. There had been no acquaintance between old -Lord Osborne and himself, he observed, and he would have none with his -son, of whom he had formed a very moderate opinion; and as to Tom -Musgrove, he was always coming when he was not wanted, and scampering -after Lord Osborne in an absurd way: what right had such a Tom Fool as -he to interfere with his dinner hour, or cause the roast fowls to be -overdone. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - -The approach of Christmas week, was to bring the great event of -Elizabeth's year—namely, a visit from her eldest brother and his wife, -who were to return with Margaret and spend a few days at Winston. -Elizabeth evidently looked up very much to Mrs. Robert Watson, who, -she assured Emma, had been educated in a very superior way—a London -boarding-school—her father had been very wealthy, and her mother most -genteel; she had, too, an uncle, who was a knight, in London, and -quite a distinguished person there—so that altogether, Jane was an -honor to the family, whilst her talents and taste alone were -sufficient to procure distinction in the first circles. - -Emma was uncertain, but most anxious to like her sister-in-law; she -felt half amused and half doubtful, whilst Elizabeth enumerated all -the advantages of Robert's grand marriage. However, she exerted -herself with the greatest good-will, to assist in the numerous -preparations necessary on such an occasion. Nothing was too good for -Jane—though Emma could hardly help wondering to see that the -drawing-room was to be used—the furniture and mirror uncovered—the -best china produced, and all the plate had out to grace their -visitors. For a brother and sister, she fancied this would have been -unnecessary; and she wished, with a sigh, that there had been more -consistency between their every-day life, and the appearance they were -now expected to make. - -Elizabeth was one of the worst housekeepers possible; with a little -more system and management, her father's income might have produced a -respectable appearance at all times; but as there was not the smallest -attention given by Mr. Watson to his household affairs, beyond paying -the bills, and finding fault with the dinners, everything was in -confusion from one week to another. Elizabeth had much of the easy, -good-natured indolence of her father, but was spurred up by necessity -to unwilling exertions; and ill seconded by her untidy maid servants, -who knew she was too good-natured to scold; she was always excessively -put out of her way by preparations for company. Her total want of -arrangement, and the facility with which she was diverted from one -object to another, made her twice as long as necessary in every -occupation. Thus, for instance, it was in vain that she had promised -Emma to return to the china closet, and tell her which articles would -be wanted from thence; for happening to see Jenny awkwardly attempting -to clean some plate, she stayed so long to show her how to do it, that -Emma, in despair of her return, was induced to seek her, and with -difficulty persuaded her to resume her occupation up stairs. - -Such was her ordinary mode of proceeding. In spite, however, of these -delays, and the loss of time incurred, the preparations were at length -complete; and Elizabeth having surveyed the dinner-table with much -satisfaction, and wished, with a sigh, that they could keep a foot -boy, returned to the drawing-room to wait the arrival of her visitors. - -The happy moment shortly arrived, and with much noise and bustle Mr. -and Mrs. Robert Watson, Margaret, and all their luggage were safely -lodged in the family residence. Emma looked with much anxiety at both -her unknown sisters, but at Mrs. Watson first, of course; indeed, few -could have helped that, from the prominence which she assumed. She was -a tall, showy-looking woman, with a high nose, a high colour, and very -high feathers in her bonnet. She seemed much inclined to talk, and -received Emma very cordially. Margaret was excessively affectionate in -her manners, clung round her, called her "her dear new sister," her -"darling Emma," pushed back the curls from her cheeks to kiss her, and -spoke in the fondest, most caressing tone. - -"Well you see, Elizabeth," said Mrs. Robert, "I have brought Margaret -back; but she is a naughty girl, and I am much displeased with her, -for I want to take her home again to Croydon on Saturday, and she says -she will not go." - -This was said as Mrs. Robert was stroking down her long fur tippet, -and spreading out her hands at the fire, and concluded with a playful -tap on Margaret's cheek. - -"Ah, dear Jane," said Margaret, "you know how I like being with you, -but indeed I cannot tear myself from sweet Emma immediately." - -"Saturday!" cried Elizabeth; "you surely do not think of leaving us on -Saturday! That will be only three days—only half a visit; you promised -us a week." - -"Did I?—no, sure I could not have done so: you know I cannot be so -long from my little girl, and she would break her heart without me." - -"I wish you could have brought her," said Elizabeth. - -"Quite impossible, my dear child, for I never like to take her out -without her own maid, and I know you could not give her a room to -herself as she has been used to. I am excessively particular about -her," she continued, turning to Emma, "too particular, perhaps, but it -was the way we were brought up—so you must not blame me." - -"Of course not," replied Emma; "for doing what you think right, who -could?" - -"I am sure," continued this anxious mother, in a tone of great -complacency, "I don't know how the poor little darling will get on -without me; she almost cried her eyes out when she found she was not -coming in the chaise, and I was obliged to pretend I was only going to -church, and should be home again very soon." - -"Oh, sweet little darling!" cried Margaret; "I do so dote on that -child—little angel!" - -Just at this moment, the brother entered the room. - -"I say, Jane," cried he, "that confounded band-box of yours is -squeezed as flat as a pancake, and your new trunk is too wide to go up -these wretched narrow stairs; so what you are to do I am sure I don't -know—dress in the hall, I suppose." - -"My band-box squeezed!" cried the lady, in dismay. "I have no doubt my -caps are all ruined absolutely: what shall I do!—how could it happen -to my band-box!" - -"Do anything but bother me about it, that's all. Ah, Emma," holding -out his hand to his sister, "how do you do. It's a good while since we -met, isn't it? I suppose, Elizabeth, I may go up at once and see my -father before dinner?" - -Elizabeth assented, and the whole party seemed about to separate. - -"I suppose, Elizabeth," said Margaret, in a tone whose sharpness -jarred on Emma's ear and contrasted with the softness of her voice to -herself, "there's no letter for me from Kew, is there? But I dare say -if there were, you would not think of giving it to me for an hour." - -Elizabeth assured her there was none, and then quitted the room, to -accompany her sister-in-law, and assist her toilette. - -"Well, Emma," said Margaret, resuming her fondling tone, "how do you -like Winston? I am sure, but for one thing, I should never wish to see -it again," looking down, and trying to blush as she spoke; "_one_ -attraction it has: have you seen any of the neighbours?—did you not go -to the ball?—do tell me all about it!" - -"I think we must go and dress for dinner, Margaret," said Emma. - -"Well, you can tell me then, for I suppose," added she, in an injured -tone, "you and I are to have one room—Elizabeth always takes care of -herself, and will be sure to put you upon me." - -"No," said Emma, "Elizabeth has agreed that I should share her room." - -"Oh," said Margaret—then paused a moment—"well, I was in hopes _we_ -should have slept together—I am sure I shall love you so much, Emma." - -"I am sure it will give me great pleasure if you do," replied her -sister; "but Margaret, if I cannot be of use to you, I must go and get -ready for dinner myself;" and she hastily escaped to her own room. - -When Emma descended again, she found her brother alone in the -drawing-room, leaning over the fire-place, looking at a number of the -"Gentleman's Magazine," which, however, he tossed on the table when -Emma approached. - -"Well, Emma," said he, lifting his coat-tails, and turning his back to -the fire, "so your aunt has thrown you off, and herself away, has she? -A pretty mess she has made of it with her marriage. Upon my word, -women are entirely unfit to be trusted with money in any shape, and -there ought to be a law against old fools of widows marrying again. -How our uncle could be such a confounded ass as to leave everything in -her power, I can_not_ conceive! Any one could have foreseen what has -happened. I hope the young husband will plague her heart out—no doubt -he will lead her a wretched life—she deserves it. But I think the old -gentleman might have given you something—a thousand pounds or so would -have done very well for you, and the rest would have been most -particularly acceptable to me just now. There was an investment -offered itself, a month or two ago, in which I could have, beyond a -doubt, doubled five thousand pounds in a very short time, and it was -particularly cutting to be obliged to let it pass me, because that old -man had behaved so shabbily. Upon my life, it makes me quite angry -when I think of it—and just to throw you back upon my father's hands, -without a sixpence—a burden—a useless burden upon the family—what -could he be thinking of!" - -Emma was too much overcome by the many bitter feelings this speech -raised, to be able to reply; and her brother, seeing her tears, said: - -"Well, I did not mean to make you cry, Emma; there's no good in -that—though I do not wonder that you should be mortified and -disappointed too. Girls are nothing without money—no one can manage -them but you shall come and try your luck at Croydon. Perhaps, with -your face, and the idea that you have still expectations, you might -get off our hands altogether. There was a young man at Croydon who was -very near taking Margaret. I really believe, would have had her, if -she had only a couple of thousand pounds, but you can but do your -best, so there, don't cry." - -Before Emma had time to do more than wipe her eyes, her sister-in-law -entered the room very smart, and in high spirits, to find herself more -handsomely dressed than either of the Miss Watsons. She was much -discomposed, however, to find that her husband had not changed his -coat, or dressed his hair. - -"My dear Mr. Watson," cried she, "how comes this about? Don't you mean -to make yourself tidy before dinner?" - -"Do let me alone, Jane," said he, impatiently shaking off her hand; "I -trust I am tidy enough for my wife and sisters." - -"Oh! but do come up, for my sake, and put just a sprinkle of powder on -your hair? I will do it in a moment for you. You really look quite -undressed; upon my word, I am ashamed of you. Your coat all dirty, and -quite unfit to be seen—do come." - -"Do go! For goodness sake, do let me alone," said he, shrugging his -shoulders. "You women, who think of nothing but bedizening yourselves -out, fancy we have nothing else to do either. You are fine enough for -us both, so pray let me alone." - -Mrs. Watson covered her mortification by an affected laugh, and -retreating to the sofa, cried out: - -"Emma, do come, and let me have a little conversation with you, -there's a good girl." - -Emma coloured, but obeyed the summons; and her sister, after surveying -her dress with satisfaction, seemed, for a moment, to hesitate how to -begin. - -"You do not dress your hair, Emma, quite _en règle_—you understand -French, I suppose, now look at mine—your curls are too long—really, -it's a pity, for you have pretty hair—a nice color—very much the same -as mine. How odd," laughing, "that you should be so dark—like me—all -your sisters quite fair—you should not put your tucker so high—mine is -quite the _ton_—you see how the lace is arranged—how do you like -Winston? I suppose you have not much company? I dare say, it is dull; -you shall come to Croydon, as Margaret will not go back, and I will -shew you a little of the world. Have you been used to much company?" - -"Not much," replied Emma. - -"Well, then, Croydon will be a pleasant change. I wonder at that, -however, I thought your uncle was a man of wealth. My father saw so -much society; and, at my uncle's, Sir Thomas, I am sure I have met the -best company in London." - -"Indeed," said Emma, not very well knowing what else to say. - -"In consequence, I am quite accustomed to move in a gay circle—though -my friends there, tell me, indeed, I am quite the Queen of Croydon. I -believe I am rather looked up to—one is, you know, when one has high -relations, and goes to town, and gets patterns and books from London; -now, it's something quite remarkable the number of houses we visit—and -the white gloves I wear out in the year—I am excessively particular -about my gloves; and Margaret, whose hand is small, was quite glad to -take some of mine; and, really, when she had cleaned them a little, -they did very well for her. _I_ seldom wear them a second time. You -will come to Croydon—will you not?" - -"Thank you, not this winter; you are very kind in asking me; but I -have been so short a time at home." - -"Oh! but you must: I assure you, you will have much the best chance in -the winter, there are so many more young men in the country then. But, -perhaps, you have left your heart in Shropshire. Have you any little -charming love story to confide to me. Ah! you may trust me—I assure -you I am very discreet—I never betrayed Margaret the least in the -world." - -Emma again declined the proposed visit to Croydon. Her sister-in-law -looked much surprised, and not quite pleased. - -"Well I should have thought our house might have some attractions for -a young lady of your age; however, of course you know best, I hope you -will find something more pleasing here." - -Emma was spared the trouble of replying by the entrance of Margaret -and Elizabeth, who were immediately engrossed by attentions to Mrs. -Robert, which soothed her into complacency again. Dinner speedily -followed; the early hour was a subject of comment on the part of the -visitors. - -"Dear me, I wonder when I dined at three o'clock before—really a -little change is quite amusing, I am so glad you did not think it -necessary to alter your hour for me." - -"I certainly would have fixed on any hour agreeable to you, Jane," -replied Miss Watson good humouredly, "but my father has so long been -used to this time, that it would be very unpleasant to him to alter -it. But I dare say it seems very gothic to you." - -"Oh, pray do not think any apology necessary, my dear child; you know -what an accommodating creature I am. There is nothing I hate half so -much as having a fuss made about me. Now really in some places where I -go, they will make me of so much importance, treat me so much as a -visitor—in short, I may say, look up so much to me, that upon my word -it is quite overpowering." - -"I know you are very good-natured, to put up with our deficiencies as -you do, Jane," replied Elizabeth simply and sincerely, "and no doubt -they must strike you forcibly. I wish we could treat you better, but I -hope you can make a good meal even at three o'clock; you see your -dinner, all except a roast turkey which is coming presently." - -"A roast turkey, Elizabeth!" said her sister-in-law, "after all this -profusion which I see around me. Upon my word, I am ashamed of giving -so much trouble; positively ashamed: such a dinner, and all for me. -Really I must forbid the roast turkey—I insist on that not being -brought. I cannot hear that you should be so put out of your way." - -"But, my dear Jane," observed Elizabeth, "since the turkey is roasted, -it may as well come in here, as remain in the kitchen. Besides, I am -in hopes my father may be tempted to take some, as it is a favorite -dish of his—so the roast turkey we must have." - -"Well, as you please," said the other lady, "only I hope you will not -expect _me_ to take any of it; I must protest against partaking any of -it at all." - -"Do as you please, Jane," said her husband, interposing, "but because -you reject the turkey, I see no reason why _I_ should be deprived of -it, so I must beg Elizabeth not to mind your nonsense." - -The party, after leaving the dining-room, were sitting amicably in the -best parlour, Robert Watson apparently asleep in an easy-chair, and -his lady holding forth to her sisters-in-law about her parties, her -acquaintance, and her manner of living at Croydon, when the sound of -carriage wheels on the gravel under the window, followed by the -house-bell, drew their attention and aroused their curiosity; who -could it be? perhaps Penelope, returned suddenly from Chichester—it -was just like her to come without giving notice; perhaps Sam, but he -was so unlikely to come at all—nobody could decide—but the opening -door seconding Jenny's voice, revealed the mystery, and shewed Tom -Musgrove! - -Mr. Musgrove's share of the surprise was great—quite as great as what -he intended to occasion—when instead of being shewn into the little -dingy sitting-room as usual, and finding the two Miss Watsons sitting, -as he expected, by the melancholy light of a pair of sixes—he was -ushered into the best drawing-room, graced by the uncovered chandelier -and best sofa; and encountered in a blaze of wax candles, which almost -dazzled him, a group of ladies dressed for company. He really hardly -knew where he was, and glanced round with excessive astonishment. - -"Really, Miss Watson," cried he, whilst shaking hands with her, "I -must apologise for this intrusion; I did not know you had company." - -"You are exceedingly welcome," replied Elizabeth, with much more -good-nature than Emma approved. "It is my brother and sister: they -only arrived to-day." - -"Yes," said Robert, who, on surveying Tom's appearance, so elegant and -finished as it appeared to him, in point of dress, felt much -mortification on remembering his own unpowdered hair, and morning -coat; "yes, we have not been long in the house—not long enough, you -see, to change our travelling costume: but just in time to sit down to -dinner." - -Emma's cheeks glowed in spite of her wishes, at this speech, and she -stole a glance at the wife to see how she bore it. That lady's eyes -seemed merely to speak an internal triumph as she looked at her -husband, as if she meant, at the first convenient opportunity, to -enforce the propriety of Robert's taking her advice in future. - -"Never apologise for your dress, my good sir," cried Tom, shaking -hands with him; "at least, not to me, for I shall consider it a -reflection on my own vile dishabille. But the fact is, I was passing -this way, being on my return from Osborne Castle, where I have been -spending a few days, and I could not go so near, without just stopping -to enquire how Mr. Watson goes on." - -Margaret, who ever since his entrance, had been trying to attract his -attention, could now be repulsed no longer. She would speak, and be -spoken to; and the tone and manner in which she addressed Mr. -Musgrove, together with the pains she took to secure his having a -chair next her when they all sat down, showed Emma that she was by no -means reduced to despair about his supposed attachment. - -"It is long since we have met," said she, in a soft, whispering voice, -looking up in his face with what was intended for an endearing smile. - -"A week or two," said he, carelessly. - -"Fie, naughty man—it is a month—a whole month—you ought not to be a -worse reckoner of time than myself—it was very kind of you to come and -welcome me home." - -"Don't thank me for that: I did not know you were here, I assure you; -I knew you were not at the ball; but I thought it was a sore throat, -or something of that sort kept you away: have you really been gone a -month!—I could have sworn I saw you a week ago. Your sister has come, -I suppose, since you left?" - -"Emma! oh yes, charming Emma—imagine my feelings at meeting her—I was -so anxious, but so fearful—timid as I am, you can fancy how afraid I -should feel at meeting a new sister. Can you not understand the -feeling?" - -"Not the least in the world," cried Tom aloud; "I cannot fancy any one -afraid of meeting Miss Emma Watson." - -"Is she not lovely—I think her quite beautiful—but, perhaps, you do -not admire dark complexions—tell me, which do you like best—brunette -or blonde." - -Tom hesitated. Margaret herself was fair, which would alone have been -a sufficient reason for his asserting a preference for an olive -skin—but then Miss Carr was fair likewise—and he was a great admirer -of Miss Carr's. He, therefore, replied evasively— - -"Your sister's is, no doubt, a very lovely complexion—I like dark -beauties excessively—but now and then one sees a blonde, whose tint is -relieved from the insipidity which usually attends it—Miss Carr, for -instance—did you ever see Fanny Carr?" - -"No," said Margaret, almost pouting. - -"She has the loveliest skin I ever saw—and a very nice little thing is -Fanny Carr, independent of her complexion—a very nice, lively, -bewitching little fairy, with those she likes—though, to be sure, she -can be disagreeable enough, I am told—but, Miss Watson," continued he, -jumping up to put an end to Margaret's whispers, "do let me help you -at the tea-table—why will you not make me of use—pray don't scruple to -call on me—I love to be of use to the fair." - -"I know no way in which you can possibly assist me," replied -Elizabeth, "until the tea is ready to be handed round—unless you will -talk to and amuse my sister, Mrs. Robert, whilst I am obliged to sit -here." - -This was a task which exactly suited Tom, as to a married woman, he -might be as gallant as he chose with perfect safety, and he devoted -himself with great zeal to this object. Nothing could prevail upon him -to take tea yet—as he had not dined, and he could not drink tea first. - -"I dare say you dined three hours ago," said he, "but I, you know, -keep bachelor's hours, and at Osborne Castle we never sat down to -dinner until six or seven o'clock." - -"Indeed," said Mrs. Robert, "but you must not suppose that I am used -to such early hours; at Croydon, I dare say it is nearer five than -four when _we_ dine." - -"That would be too early for me," cried he, with a smile of -superiority, "I would as soon it were three as five—seven, or indeed -eight, suits me better; and I must get home to dinner to-night." - -It was evident that the fact of his not having dined, gave him a happy -consciousness of vast mental superiority over his companions. But Emma -found herself sadly deceived in the hopes which she had ventured -fondly to cherish, that the dinner awaiting him would hasten his -departure. On the contrary, when the tea-things were removed, and the -card-table produced, a very slight hint from Mrs. Watson was quite -sufficient to draw from him a speech, which beginning with a statement -of the necessity of quitting them, ended, of course, with an assertion -of the impossibility of tearing himself away: and he was then quite -ready to join their party; keeping his dinner still in waiting, as a -subject to be reverted to whenever other topics failed him. - -"Well, ladies," cried he, "what are we to play—what's your favorite -game, Mrs. Watson." - -"Oh, we play nothing but Vingt'un at Croydon," said she, "all the best -circles play Vingt'un—it is decidedly the most genteel." - -"Vingt'un—hum—very well—let it be vingt'un then," said Tom; "it's a -long time since I played it; Lady Osborne likes loo best—indeed, I -believe amongst people of at certain rank, loo is all the rage—but, -however, since you are bent on—commerce, was that what you said, Mrs. -Watson?" - -"Oh, dear no," cried she, colouring, and overawed by the superiority -of his tone, "I merely mentioned vingt'un, but I quite agree with you, -it _is_ rather a stupid game, and I am quite tired of it. Suppose we -try loo to-night?" And she privately resolved to store up in her -memory the important fact, that Lady Osborne preferred loo to -vingt'un, and on her return to Croydon, astonish her former -acquaintance with her intimate knowledge of her ladyship's taste and -habits. - -"As I happen to prefer loo to vingt'un," said Robert Watson, ashamed -of being supposed to following any one's fashions, yet, from habitual -servility to the great, afraid of asserting a difference of opinion; -"I see no harm in playing it, otherwise, had I liked any other game -better, I should certainly have seen Lady Osborne at Jericho before I -would have allowed her to interfere." - -An idea crossed Emma's mind, that in all probability nothing could be -farther from Lady Osborne's wishes or notions, than influencing their -choice of a game; and that if their debate could possibly be revealed -to her, she would, perhaps, consider it impertinent in them, to make -her diversions a pattern for theirs. Loo, however, they were fated to -play; and Emma, who hated cards, thought with regret of the quiet -evenings she had formerly enjoyed so much, when chatting over her -needle-work with Elizabeth, or reading at intervals to her father some -favourite author. - -Their party did not break up until supper-time, of which, of course, -Tom Musgrove was pressed to stay and partake. But he, who was -determined to call his next meal a dinner, felt himself forced to -refuse, although, in truth, he would much rather have accepted the -offer, could his vanity have allowed him to follow his inclination. - -Mrs. Watson whispered to her sister, to ask him to join them at dinner -the next day, which Elizabeth acceded to with great cordiality. They -were to have a few friends to dinner, and if he could condescend to -eat at five o'clock, perhaps he might find it in other respects -agreeable, and they would be happy to see him. He hesitated and -demurred, not from any doubt as to his final determination, but -because he meant to give his acceptance a greater grace. - -"As I am well aware of Mr. Musgrove's habits of intimacy with my -sister," said Mrs. Watson, simpering; "I shall conclude, if he refuses -now, it is poor unfortunate _me_, whom he despises and avoids." - -"My dear Mrs. Watson," cried he, "you prevent my saying another word; -everything must give way before such an accusation. Even if Lord -Osborne himself sends for me—which is not unlikely—I shall refuse to -attend on him for your sake. Only do not expect me, Miss Watson, to -make any figure at your hospitable board. I shall be happy to look on, -as a spectator, but eating indeed must be quite out of the question." - -"Very well; you shall do as you please, remember five o'clock." - -"What a very delightful young man," cried Mrs. Watson, as soon as he -left the room. "Upon my word, I do not know when I have met one more -perfectly well bred and gentleman-like. I look upon myself to be a -pretty good judge—having had much opportunity of judging—more than -most young women, both at my dear father's, and my uncle Sir Thomas's; -and, really, in my poor taste, he is quite the thing. Such charming -vivacity, and yet, such attention when one speaks—and he really seems -to understand and appreciate one's feelings and sentiments so -thoroughly—and such a graceful bow; I assure you I am quite -delighted." - -Elizabeth cast a triumphant look at Emma, as much as to say: - -"Now, what do you say?" but Emma's judgment was not to be lightly -shaken. Margaret looked down amiably modest and tried to blush, whilst -she whispered: - -"I am so glad _you_ liked him. I knew you would! Was it not attentive -to call to-day!" from which Emma inferred, that she took the -compliment of his call entirely to herself. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - -It was to be a very grand thing, indeed, the next day; and Elizabeth, -seldom entertaining company, was quite in a fidget about the dinner, -and tormented Emma all the time she was undressing, with questions, -which could not be answered, and fears which could not be dispelled. - -"Suppose Mr. Robinson were to be very cross, Emma, you cannot imagine -how disagreeable he is then—or only fancy if the soup turns out ill, -what shall I do? Do you really think my black satin gown good enough; -I think nobody will see, by candle-light, where the cream was spilt; -and it does not look ill—how tired you look, Emma; well, I will not -tease you, only I want to know how did my aunt manage about—oh! -by-the-bye, I'll ask Jane that." So Emma never learnt what it was, -being too weary to ask. - -A short silence followed. - -"Now you see," burst out Elizabeth afresh, "you see, Emma, what Jane -thinks of Tom Musgrove—you must change your mind." - -"No, indeed; her liking him can make no difference to me," replied -Emma, quietly. - -"Oh, Emma! I did not think you so conceited, to think of your setting -up your opinion against Jane's, a married woman, and so much older and -more experienced; I could not have expected it." - -"I do not set up my opinion against her, I only differ in taste," said -her sister meekly, being very anxious to be allowed to go to sleep. - -"You are quite impracticable, and, I fear, very obstinate," returned -Elizabeth, with a gravity which made Emma smile in spite of her -weariness. Then followed another long silence, and she was dropping -into a comfortable slumber, when she was startled by Elizabeth -springing up, and exclaiming: "Oh! I quite forgot—what shall I do?" - -"What is the matter?" enquired Emma, quite alarmed. - -"Why, I forgot to tell Nanny to be sure and put the custards into the -safe, for there's a hole in the corner of the larder, where the cat -gets in, and she will be certain to eat them all before morning." - -"Oh," said Emma, as her eyes again closed irresistibly, and whether or -not her sister quitted her bed to go down and rectify her error, she -could not tell, for she, at length, dropped fast asleep. - -Emma spent the greater part of the next day in her father's room. It -was much more agreeable to her than the drawing-room; and Elizabeth, -with all her good qualities, was not equal to her as a nurse, and -really loved society and conversation, or rather chit-chat, so much as -to be very glad to believe her sister's assertion, that she took -pleasure in attending on her father. Mr. Watson, though indolent and -self-indulgent, was a scholar, and enjoyed the pursuits of literature -when not attended by too much labour. Emma found, as he recovered, -that there was much to be gained by intercourse with him: she read to -him both in English and French, and only regretted that she could not -also assist him in Latin or Greek. Hour after hour she had devoted to -amusing him, and felt herself well repaid by the affection he -manifested in return; and now that the society down stairs, of course, -compelled Elizabeth to absent herself, she rejoiced that it made her -presence doubly necessary. She could not like her sister-in-law—she -saw so much of peevishness in Margaret's general manner as to expect -the same would be manifested to her, and Robert had so pained and -shocked her by their first _tête-à-tête_, that she never approached -him without dread lest he should renew so painful a subject. - -A proposal to remain with her father all the evening, instead of -appearing at dinner was negatived. He would not permit her to do so, -as it really was not necessary for his comfort, and he expected -amusement from her description of the dinner-party after it was over. - -It was not a very large one; the size of their dining-parlour forbade -that—besides their own party of five, there made their appearance Mr. -and Mrs. Robinson, the country apothecary and his wife; Mrs. Steady, -the widow of a former curate, who lived in the village, and Mr. -Martin, who was doing duty for their father during his illness. To -these had been added, as we already know, Tom Musgrove; and happy -would it have been for the others had he been omitted, as it was -impossible for so fashionable a young man to be guilty of such rustic -simplicity as to be punctual. The guests whose appetites were set to -that particular hour, displayed sundry symptoms of extreme impatience, -and Robert Watson vented certain unintelligible ejaculations which -were commonly supposed to be murmurs at his tardiness. Mr. Martin, a -very absent individual, not having his wife at hand to remind him -where he was, leant his head on his hand, and fell into a fit of -abstraction. Mr. Robinson, who was making himself agreeable to Mrs. -Watson, internally comforted himself with the hope that this long fast -would be productive of evil to their digestive faculties, which he -should be called in to set to rights. - -Mrs. Steady was condoling with Elizabeth on the expected consequences -of this delay, anticipating that the beef would be over roasted, and -the chickens boiled to rags, and comparing this ill-bred fashionable -behaviour with the regularity and decorum of her late lamented Steady. -Emma was laboriously trying to talk to Mrs. Robinson, who looked all -the while as if she thought that somehow the delay was all her fault, -and feared to drop out a syllable, lest she should be punished for it; -whilst Margaret who had dressed herself with unusual care, sat in a -state of feverish impatience by the side of her sister-in-law, -whispering to her, every few minutes, that she was sure some shocking -accident had happened to _him_—_he_ little knew the misery he caused -her—and other ejaculations of a similar character. - -Half an hour passed in this manner, when Robert approached his sister, -in a glow of indignant hunger that could be no longer suppressed. - -"Really, Elizabeth, I think this is too bad—there's no occasion that -we should all starve, because that young fellow is not hungry—ten to -one but he has forgotten his engagement, and we may wait till supper -time for our meal, and he none the better. Do order dinner, I say, and -leave him in the lurch for his inattention." - -"Oh fie, my dear Mr. Watson!" cried his wife, quite shocked to think -her husband should be guilty of the vulgarity of having an appetite; -"Oh fie—sit down to dinner without our guest—you cannot really think -of such a thing; you cannot possibly mean it—what does it matter if we -dine now, or an hour hence? I am sure _we_ do not keep such early -hours ourselves. I have seen too much of fashionable life to be much -surprised at his tardiness. You cannot expect punctuality from such a -very agreeable, pleasant young man!" - -"Pooh, pooh, Jane, I tell you, you know nothing about it. I cannot -expect pleasure from such a very unpunctual young man—that's what you -should say—it's very rude,—and he is very ill bred—and would never do -for business." - -"Business! Tom Musgrove do for business!" cried Margaret, indignantly, -"I should think not—whoever thought of business and Tom Musgrove in -the same breath?" - -"Not many, I dare say," observed Robert, contemptuously, "but if he -has no business to occupy him, the less excuse is there for his -preposterous conduct." - -"My dear," said Mrs. Watson, with decision; "he is very genteel—and -genteel people, when they have an independent fortune, are not obliged -to be so regular as others—Tom Musgrove is very genteel." - -"You know nothing about it," cried Robert, snappishly—for when a man -is hungry, he not only dislikes contradiction himself, but, -invariably, is liberal with it to others. "If a man simpers and -whispers, and makes a few pretty—pretty speeches to _you_ women, you -set him down, forsooth, as very genteel—though he never pays a bill—if -he can help it—is supercilious to his equals—and keeps a whole party -waiting for dinner. Plague take such gentility, say I. Elizabeth, I -shall ring the bell for dinner." - -He did as he said, whilst his wife sat ruffling up and swelling with -indignation at his retort. Determined not to hear her he walked away -and stationed himself at the window, which commanded a view of the -road. She, not able to address him, and resolved he should know her -opinion, audibly exclaimed—to her neighbour—that she _did_ know what -gentility was, for she had seen a great of genteel company at Sir -Thomas's—and that great allowances were to be made for young men who -were always wild and eccentric creatures. - -Emma, who heard all this, could not help mentally considering where -those allowances were to cease, since Mrs. Watson did not seem -disposed to make them for her husband—though, in her judgment he -seemed the person most entitled to claim them. Perhaps he had outgrown -his right—or exhausted his share—possibly, the title to them ceased at -marriage—or, may be, his wife alone was not called on to accommodate -him in that way. In the present instance, as she was remarkably -hungry, she was glad Robert carried his point, and she walked into -dinner with not one degree less of pleasure, because Mr. Musgrove was -not there. - -A dinner party, like the present, was not likely to be productive of -much that could be called conversation. Mr. Robinson contradicted Mr. -Martin about the laws concerning poor-rates; and, after being meekly -yielded to by that worthy divine, found himself in his turn, -pronounced perfectly misinformed, and laboring under an erroneous -impression by his good friend, Robert Watson—who just allowed him to -go on long enough on a subject of which he was ignorant, to give -himself an opportunity of triumphing over him. - -Just as Mr. Robinson was beginning to look very purple and red, and to -glance at his wife to see how _she_ looked—and just as poor, humble, -meek, Mrs. Robinson was hurriedly talking nonsense to Emma about green -peas, in order to shew that she did not notice her master's defeat, -the door opened and Tom Musgrove bustled into the room. - -"Beg ten thousand pardons, Miss Watson," cried he, ostentatiously -parading up to her, "But, upon my word and honor, I could _not_ get -here sooner." - -("Whose fault was that?" muttered Robert.) - -"Can't think how it happened." - -("Only because you started too late.") - -"I am excessively sorry—glad you didn't think it necessary to wait." - -("Confound the puppy—does he think we are an hour eating our soup.") - -"Pray don't make any difference for me. I dare say I can make a dinner -of what I see. The mutton, no doubt, as good cold as hot." - -("Good enough for you, any way.") - -"Pray don't send for the soup again! It is not in the least -necessary." - -"Well, since you are so kind as to say so," said Elizabeth, simply, "I -will let you do as you please—I dare say the soup will not be very -good now—and it's not pleasant, I know, to have it back! Simson is -handing you a chair—pray sit down;" and as she spoke—the waiter, who -was no other than the parish clerk, acting for the night in this -capacity, thrust a chair against Mr. Musgrove's legs with such zeal, -as very nearly upset him, and quite caused him to jog Mrs. Steady's -elbow as she was in the act of lifting a glass to her lips, much to -the damage of her respectable grey silk gown. When things come to the -worst, they must mend—so says the proverb—and the company found it -true on this occasion, so far as the disagreeable noise and bustle of -his entrance was concerned. But this was not the case with Tom -himself—who, really chilled and hungry, sat down to only half a -dinner, more than half cold—and whose vanity compelled him to abstain -even from what was yet before him, lest he should be supposed guilty -of the vulgarity of having an appetite. Had the struggles of his mind -been exposed, perhaps, even Emma might have pitied him—or, at least, -have admired the heroic constancy with which he sacrificed himself at -the shrine of fashionable indifference. Unknown and unnoticed, -however, were the efforts of his self-denial, and like modest worth, -or unpatronised genius, they found their only reward in the internal -satisfaction of his mind. As, however, he was a talker by profession, -and always inclined to lead in conversation, their party gained much -in liveliness, by the addition of his society. He flattered Mr. -Watson—joked with Elizabeth—quizzed Mrs. Steady—and threw admiring -glances at Emma, with laudable mirth and perseverance. Mrs. Robinson -was soothed—Robert Watson silenced—and Mr. Martin aroused by his -jocularity—whilst poor Mrs. Robinson was actually able to finish her -dinner in tolerable comfort, so much was her husband's brow cleared -from the threatened storm, which had before alarmed her. - -With secret weariness, Emma watched for the signal to withdraw from -the dinner-table, but Elizabeth was too much entertained to be at all -in a hurry to rise, and it was, at length, to Mrs. Robert Watson that -her thanks for a release were due. - -Emma almost forgave her assumption on the occasion, in consideration -of the beneficial effects arising from it. It was in vain, however, to -hope that release from weariness would follow a secession from the -dinner-table; everything seemed so intolerably dull, that she was -enraged with herself for her own stupidity, feeling convinced that the -want of interest in all around her must arise from too much -self-engrossment; she tried accordingly to school herself into -listening to the platitudes of Mrs. Steady, or the boastings of her -sister-in-law with something like attention; but she tried in vain; -her mind was continually wandering away to some distant subject, or -was only recalled to the objects present, to calculate the number of -minutes before the probable time of their departure. She did not doubt -their being all amiable and excellent persons; but they certainly were -not interesting characters; Mrs. Steady, in particular, next whom she -was seated, seemed much fitter to knit stockings or make jam, than to -keep up an intellectual conversation. - -The weariest evenings, however, have an end: and this, like all -others, terminated at last. Whist and loo—even the supper itself—were -all finished; and when Mr. Martin had succeeded in putting on Robert's -great coat; and secured, instead of his own, the old clerk's hat, -which had been carefully hidden behind the door, he, the last of the -party, disappeared, and Emma stole away without waiting to hear her -brother Robert's animadversions on the dinner. - -The succeeding day was much too wet and stormy to allow any of the -females the relief of change of air and scene; but Emma, in the -stronghold of her father's apartment, felt less disturbed than she -could have expected. If there was storm abroad, there was anything but -fair weather within the house. Mrs. Watson was affronted with her -husband, and revenged herself by praising Tom Musgrove, and indulging -in severe strictures on those whose birth and early education -incapacitated them from judging of manners and fashion. These refined -and elegant inuendos had all the effect she could desire—irritating -her husband the more, because he could not treat them as personal and -offensive, without at the same time admitting the implied inferiority -of his situation in life, and opportunities of information and -improvement. Accordingly, he could only testify his extreme -displeasure by a general crossness to all around him, never speaking -except when an opportunity to say something disagreeable presented -itself. The novelty of such a domestic scene, by no means gave it any -charms in Emma's eyes, and she could not help considering that if Jane -was annoyed by her husband's temper, it would, at least, be wiser to -try to soothe and amend it, than, by irritating his infirmity, -encrease the source of her own discomfort. The pleasure of fretting -and galling any one, was beyond her comprehension, requiring abilities -and understanding, similar to those of her sister-in-law, properly to -appreciate. - -Compared with this scene of strife, her father's company was perfect -happiness, and she delighted in burying her own discomforts in a -volume of Shakespeare, or Boswell's delightful reminiscences of his -idol. - -Yet Elizabeth seemed really to regret that the visit was so short, and -tried, though vainly, to persuade both her brother and wife to prolong -their stay. - -Robert was determined to go on Saturday; and Jane, who knew it would -be vain to oppose him, wisely took her part with a good grace, and -resolved to make it appear to be her own free will likewise. - -"It is not the slightest use to press me, Elizabeth," he said, with -more truth than graciousness; "you know I can be a very determined -character when I please. I flatter myself, I have as much firmness and -decision of mind, as any woman in England. When I have taken a -resolution, I _have_ taken it." - -"But why take this resolution, Jane; if Robert must go to business, -why not stay here by yourself, and let us have a little time to enjoy -your society." - -"It is very strange," said the lady, affecting to laugh, and turning -to Emma. "I always have such extreme difficulty in getting away from -this sister of yours. Indeed, I may say the same of all, or most of my -friends. 'My dear Mrs. Watson, do come!' writes one. 'My dearest -friend, you must stay' cries another. I am positively torn to pieces -between them all. My sweet friend Lady Browning was just the same when -I was with her at Clifton—upon my word, it's quite distressing." - -Emma was saved the trouble of answering by Elizabeth again -interposing. - -"You would have no trouble at all if you would only yield now—there is -nothing to prevent you." - -"My dear Elizabeth, you who are not a wife and a mother can little -understand the feelings of one filling such a doubly responsible -situation. I am absolutely dying to get back to my little darling -Marianne." - -"What a pity that you could not bring her," said Elizabeth; "but -still, I dare say, she could do very well without you for a day or two -more." - -Before Mrs. Watson had time to answer, her husband returned to the -parlour. - -"I have been trying to persuade Jane to prolong her visit, Robert; I -do so wish you could both remain." - -"It's no use to bother, Elizabeth," replied he, roughly; "I cannot -stay, and Jane shall not, and there's an end of it." - -"Well, I can only say I am very sorry; I am sure we shall be -dreadfully dull when you are gone." - -Even this prospect caused no relenting in the heart of the obdurate -Robert, who still persisted in his plan, perhaps, with the more zest -because he delighted in tormenting both his wife and sisters. - -"When shall you come and see us at Croydon, Elizabeth?" said her -sister-in-law, after a short pause; "there are several things I want -very much to show you. You should see the curtains—the new curtains in -the drawing-room—they look so handsome—all my choice: it is not -everybody who can choose curtains to advantage—requires great tact and -judgment." - -"It does not require any marvellous judgment to empty a husband's -purse, guessing from the wonderful facility some ladies of my -acquaintance display," growled Robert, from behind the Weekly London -Newspaper, which his father took in second-hand. "Positively, this -paper is a fortnight old: what a place—I saw it before I left -Croydon—one might as well be buried alive!" - -During this soliloquy, Elizabeth without listening in the least to her -brother, was eagerly replying to Mrs. Robert's offer. - -"You are extremely kind Jane, to give me such pleasure; you know there -is nothing I should like better, but I must not think of it—indeed I -must not. I do not think my father would like my leaving home whilst -he is so ill. Margaret is so useless a housekeeper, and hates the -trouble so much—and Emma being the youngest, perhaps it would not do: -if Pen were at home, it would be different: she makes a capital -housekeeper, and she amuses my father when he is well too—I think when -Pen comes back, I think I might be tempted." - -"I should think our house might offer a very pleasant change to any -young lady shut up so much as you are in this miserable place. I am -sure most of my friends are more anxious to stay than go." - -"Oh, it is not that I doubt the pleasure," replied Elizabeth; "it -would be a great treat to me, I am sure. But you must not be angry at -my refusing now." - -"Angry! I am not a person to be angry about trifles—it is not my way -to fret or take on, I leave that for those who have no other way of -showing their dignity but by growling at everything. People blessed -with my birth and education need not resort to such pitiful means to -look grand and important." - -Emma sighed many times to see the temper of her brother so -uncomfortably irritable, and grieved again and again in secret, over -the destruction of some of her most fondly cherished hopes. All her -life she had wished for fraternal affection; much as she had loved her -uncle and aunt, she had always wished to know and love her brothers -and sisters. The vain wishes she had expended on this subject now rose -up to haunt her memory with the thought that she had been ungratefully -slighting the good she had enjoyed, for the sake of unknown objects -which still evaded her. True she was now acquainted with five members -of her family; but of these how little there was to attach, in the -three last met, she hardly liked to own even to herself. Robert was -surly; Jane conceited, Margaret fretful—and all seemed self-occupied. -She tried to check these thoughts, she was shocked at her own -wickedness in conceiving such things, but the feeling was there, even -when not clothed in words, and she could not eradicate it. - -Elizabeth she dearly loved already, but from what she heard, she -fancied Penelope would not be very agreeable—and her last hope was in -Sam. If he would only love her—be a friend, a companion to her—she -still flattered herself this was possible, for Elizabeth certainly -seemed to like him, and one letter of his, which Emma had heard, gave -her a favorable impression of his character. With the fond idea of -being loved by one brother at least, at some future time, Emma saw her -eldest brother and his wife depart without any of the regret which -afflicted both her other sisters, having strong internal convictions -that the house would be now more peaceable. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - -"What are you going to do this morning, Elizabeth?" inquired Margaret -in a voice between langour and peevishness. - -"Oh, I have a hundred things to do," cried Miss Watson, turning from -the window where she had watched her brother and his wife drive off. -"I must go and see about helping Nanny put away the best china and -glass, and I must pin up the curtains, and put by all the things in -the best bed-room—which were had out for Jane's use; and I want to try -that receipt she gave me for a pudding for my father—and fifty other -things beside." - -"Then you will not think of walking, I presume; shall you Emma?" - -"I am not sure," replied she, "is it not very dirty!" - -"Good gracious, Emma!" cried Margaret sharply, "I hope you are not -such a fine lady as to mind stepping out in a little mud, or what is -to become of me—I cannot bear walking alone, and Elizabeth is sure to -be busy when I want her company." - -"Perhaps," said Emma gently, rather afraid of giving offence by -suggesting so evident a duty, "if we were to help Elizabeth, she would -have done in time to join you and enjoy the fine weather." - -"I don't suppose she wants us a bit," cried Margaret again. - -"Thank you, Emma," replied her eldest sister, without listening to -Margaret, "but do not put off your walk on my account, I am used to -these things, and mind the trouble no more than you do threading your -needle, or finding your place in a book," and taking her key-basket -from the table, she left the room. - -"There, I told you so," said Margaret immediately, "I knew Elizabeth -disdains all assistance, and hates to be interfered with in her -housekeeping: she is as jealous of her authority as possible, and I -believe would rather go through any trouble herself, than allow us to -share it for half an hour. Now just make haste, do, and put your -pelisse on; I like the finest part of the day." - -Emma still hesitated— - -"I am not sure that I can go with you—perhaps my father may want me." - -"My father want you!" repeated Margaret in a tone of astonishment, and -with a look of surprise and incredulity, which Emma thought the -announcement did not justify, "why what in all the world should he -want _you_ for?" - -"I read to him a great deal," replied Emma colouring, lest her sister -should suppose she meant to suggest a comparison between their -relative conduct; for Margaret in general acted as if her father and -his comfort were the objects of the slightest importance to her. - -"What a bore that must be," continued Margaret; "at least it is to me, -if not to you," added she, as Emma exclaimed at the idea—"for now you -have that as an excuse for not walking with me. I know what it is, you -don't want to come—and you might just as well say so at once, and not -worry me by all these put offs." - -"Indeed I shall be very happy to walk with you," said Emma, in a -soothing tone, "if I my father can spare me; I will just run up and -see, and if so, we can go directly." - -Mr. Watson happened to be occupied by letters of business; in which he -did not need Emma's help, and accordingly the sisters set off -together. They took the road towards the town, Margaret saying nothing -as to their object, and Emma making no enquiries. Indeed it did not -occur to her that her sister had any other motive for walking than the -desire of air and exercise. - -"I have hardly had time to talk to you, Emma, since I came home; but -the fact is, Jane is so fond of me, that when we are together she -seldom can spare me ten minutes. She is an amazingly clever woman, I -assure you, and one of the best judges of character and manners I ever -saw." - -This assertion, though Emma believed it might be perfectly true, did -not convey to her mind precisely the idea which Margaret expected; and -it rather convinced her of the narrow circle in which her sister had -always moved, than the depth of Mrs. Robert's penetration, or the -extent of Margaret's own virtues. She did not, however, dissent from -the praise, and her sister went on complacently. - -"I am sure, Emma you must be struck with Tom Musgrove's manners—is he -not delightful?" enquired she, when her dissertation on Croydon was -ended. - -"I cannot say that I admire him at all," replied Emma firmly. - -"Not admire him!" cried Margaret, for a moment aghast at such -heresy—then recollecting herself, she added, "ah, I suppose you mean -he did not admire _you_—he did not dance with you at the ball I know; -I dare say, too, he was not in spirits—if I had been there it would -have been different; if you knew him as well as I and had received as -much attention from him, and knew what he thought of yourself as I do, -you would see him with very different eyes." - -"I shall be quite satisfied to view him always with as much -indifference as I do now," said Emma, "and I trust, even if his -manners should improve, or my taste alter, I shall be able to look on -him without causing you any anxiety by excessive admiration. Elizabeth -tells me he has made sad inroads on the peace of most young ladies -hereabouts; I hope he will spare me, as I suppose I must not flatter -myself with being wiser or steadier than other girls." - -"Elizabeth only says so from jealousy," cried Margaret indignantly, -"he never paid her any attentions, and so—but good gracious, Emma," -added she, interrupting herself and looking behind, "there he is -coming, and some others with him—who can they be, only one wears a red -coat—I did not expect them so soon." - -"Did you expect him at all?" said Emma, colouring with -astonishment—"Is it possible you walked here to meet him?" - -"Well, and where's the harm if I did—I wish you would just look at -those other two gentlemen, and tell me if you know who they are!" - -"Indeed," replied Emma, vexed and embarrassed, "I do not like to look -round in that way; it does not seem—at least I have been told it is -not lady-like to turn round and stare at people—but, Margaret, is it -really the case, that you came here with this view?" - -"Pooh, pooh, how can you be so tiresome, didn't you know as well as -me, that the hounds were to meet at Ashley Lodge—I thought most likely -Tom Musgrove would come this way, it is his direct road; but I wish I -could make out who it is with him; they are just putting their horses -into a trot,—I declare I believe it is Lord Osborne and Mr. Howard—how -tiresome now—for Tom will not stop when Lord Osborne is there—how very -provoking!" - -"If I had known this," said Emma blushing painfully, "nothing would -have persuaded me to come this way—they will think we did it to meet -them—" - -The gentlemen were now come so near, that Emma's concluding words were -lost in the noise produced by the sharp trot of several horses. She -was thinking rather uncomfortably about what Mr. Howard would think, -and whether _he_ would suppose she had walked out to throw herself in -Lord Osborne's way, when the gentlemen suddenly drew up beside the -high, narrow foot-path on which the sisters were walking. - -"Miss Emma Watson," cried Lord Osborne, as he threw himself from his -horse, which he hastily resigned to the groom, "by Jove! how lucky I -am to have come this way—so you are come out to see the hounds throw -off? I am so glad to have met you." - -Tom Musgrove dismounted in imitation of his noble friend; but, as the -path only admitted two, he was obliged to draw back—and, whilst Lord -Osborne walked by the side of Emma, Tom was exposed, without defence, -to the appealing glances and soft whispers of Margaret. Emma saw, with -a sort of concern, which she could not exactly analyse, that Mr. -Howard remained on horseback, and only acknowledged his former partner -by a bow, much colder and more formal than his reminiscences at the -visitation had led her to expect. Whilst she was wondering at the -change, her companion was trying to be as agreeable as nature would -allow him, and she could almost have laughed outright at the air of -deference and attention with which the dashing Tom Musgrove listened -to his lordship's remarks, and confirmed any of his statements which -required support. Thus they had walked for more than five minutes, -when they reached a bend of the road, where another branch of the lane -opened to them, which Emma knew would lead them almost directly home. - -"Margaret," said she, turning to her sister, "I think we had better -return this way, we may, perhaps, be wanted at home before we can -reach it." - -"I am sure I am quite ready to go," said Margaret, apparently on the -point of bursting into tears of spite and envy at finding it useless -to attempt to fix Tom's attention on herself. - -"I thought you were come here on purpose to see the hounds throw off," -said Lord Osborne to Emma, "and what's the use of going home before -you reach the cover." - -"Indeed you were mistaken, my lord," replied Emma calmly, but -decidedly; "for I was not aware till we saw you, that the hounds met -in this neighbourhood!" - -"Well, but do come on now, you are so near—my sister and Miss Carr are -to be there, and I want to introduce you to them." - -"Your lordship must be perfectly aware that what you propose is -impossible," replied Emma, "I have no claim to intrude on Miss -Osborne's notice, and she would, probably, be far more surprised than -pleased by such an extraordinary step." - -"No, indeed, on my honor, my sister wishes to know you—Tom Musgrove -knows what she said about it last night—" looking over his shoulder at -his friend, but going on speaking too eagerly to allow time for more -than a simple assent from Tom. "I believe I was wrong in what I said, -which, I suppose, is what you mean, I want to introduce my sister to -you—is that right?" Emma could not quite control a smile; "so now you -will just come on with us, without stopping here any longer." - -"I am much obliged to you, my lord; but, indeed, I cannot comply with -your request; and as Miss Osborne would not be expecting to meet us -to-day, she will experience no disappointment." - -Very reluctantly the young nobleman was obliged to give up his -proposition; and, as they rode way, he suddenly turned towards Tom -Musgrove, after some minutes' silence, and exclaimed: - -"I say, Musgrove, how is it you manage with women to make them worship -you so—Emma Watson is the only girl I ever _tried_ to please, and she -seems to delight in refusing everything I propose. I can make no way -with her." - -Tom's self-complacency was very near betraying him into a serious -blunder at this speech; for he was on the point of assenting to the -proposition that he was more successful in making fools of young women -than Lord Osborne. Fortunately, he recollected in time, that however -agreeable a strenuous support to his lordship's opinions might be -under ordinary circumstances, there were occasions when a well turned -negative was far more flattering. Lord Osborne, like many other -people, might depreciate himself—but he could not wish his friends to -take the same view of the subject; Musgrove, therefore, judiciously -replied, that Miss Emma Watson had treated him precisely the same, -from which he concluded it was her way. - -The sisters, in the meantime, were pursuing their path homewards, -whilst Margaret was raining questions on Emma as to the commencement -and progress of her acquaintance with Lord Osborne,—an event which -seemed to her so very astonishing, as only to be surpassed by the cool -and composed manner with which Emma treated the affair. - -Tom Musgrove's intimacy at Osborne Castle, had always greatly elevated -his importance in her eyes; yet here was her own sister, who not only -had walked side by side with the peer himself, but had positively -refused to accompany him farther, in spite of his entreaties; and she -now wound it all up by coolly declaring, that she thought Lord Osborne -very far from an agreeable young man, and had no wish to see more of -him. Emma was a perfect enigma to her sister, and but for a feeling of -awe, which such exalted acquaintance had impressed on her mind, -Margaret would have railed at her for her refusal to walk further. She -was silently pondering on these extraordinary circumstances, when she -was roused by the angry bark of a fierce dog—which rushing from the -farm-yard, took up a position in the centre of the way, and seemed -determined to dispute the passage. Margaret, screaming aloud, turned -to run away, and Emma's first impulse was to follow her example; but a -moment's consideration checked her, and she attempted to soothe or -overcome the animal by speaking gently, and looking fixedly at him. -She was so far successful, that his bark sunk into a low irritable -growl, and Emma profited by the comparative silence to address a man -in the farm-yard, and beg him to call back the dog. - -"He woant hurt thee, Missus," was the reply of the countryman, who -seemed, in reality, rather amused at the fright of the young ladies. - -"But my sister is afraid to pass him," said Emma, imploringly, looking -round at Margaret who was standing at the distance of a hundred yards, -and evidently prepared again to take flight at the smallest aggressive -movement of the enemy. - -"Thy sister must jist make up her moinde to pass as other foalk -do—unless you chose to go athert the field yonder, to get out of him's -way." - -"Athert the field," Emma concluded they must go, as Margaret would not -advance; and she was about reluctantly to turn back, when the sound of -horse's hoofs was heard, and the next moment Mr. Howard appeared -advancing towards them. A glance shewed him the dilemma in which the -ladies were placed, and he was as quick in overcoming as in -comprehending their difficulties. A well aimed blow of his whip sent -the aggressor yelping to his kennel, and a sharp reproof to his master -followed, for not interfering in their favour, accompanied with a hint -about the necessity of confining his dog, if he did not wish to have -it indicted. - -Mr. Howard was too well known for his word to be disputed or his -reproofs resented; the farmer promised it should not happen -again—peace was restored, and under Mr. Howard's protection, even -Margaret ventured to pass. - -"I thought you were going to hunt," said Emma, in reply to his offer -to see them safely out of reach of their terrible foe. Mr. Howard said -he had only ridden out for pleasure, not for so important and -imperative a business as fox-hunting: it was evident, however, that he -considered walking with the Miss Watsons quite as pleasant as riding, -and that he was in no hurry to remount. - -"Would you allow my sister to do herself the honour of calling on -you?" said he, presently; "your kindness to her little boy has quite -captivated her, and Charles is as anxious as herself to carry on the -acquaintance so happily begun. She has been ill since the assembly or -the offer would have been made sooner." - -Emma coloured highly, but from very pleasurable feelings at this -speech, and readily professed that it would give her great pleasure to -become better acquainted both with Charles and his mother. - -"I was almost afraid to propose it," said Mr. Howard, "when I heard -the bad success of Lord Osborne's negotiation for a similar point: you -do not really mean to refuse Miss Osborne's overtures." - -"They must be made in a different way," said Emma, "before I am -tempted to accept them; or, indeed, to believe that anything more is -intended than to make me look ridiculous." - -"You do less than justice both to yourself and to my friends," said -Mr. Howard, gently, "I assure you, the wish was really expressed by -Miss Osborne; and though my pupil blundered in making it known, I am -certain it was entirely from want of self-possession, not from want of -respect." - -Emma did not answer; she was trying to ascertain whether the gratified -feeling she experienced, at the moment, arose from the wish ascribed -to Miss Osborne, or the anxiety shown by Mr. Howard to set those -wishes in a proper light. - -A pause soon afterwards occurring in the conversation, Margaret seized -the opportunity, and leaning past her sister, addressed Mr. Howard in -an earnest and anxious manner— - -"Is it really true, Mr. Howard, that Miss Carr is so very beautifully -fair?" - -"She is certainly very fair," replied he, rather astonished at the -question, "I do not know that I ever saw a whiter skin; but is it -possible that her complexion can be a subject of discussion or -interest in your village?" - -"I do not know," replied Margaret, not at all understanding him; "Mr. -Musgrove is a great deal at the castle, is he not?" - -"Yes often, I believe," said Mr. Howard, quietly. - -"I do not wonder at it—he must be a great favorite with the ladies, no -doubt," continued she; "I should think his manners must recommend him -everywhere." - -"I fancy his intimacy at the castle is more owing to Lord Osborne's -partiality than that of his mother or sister," said he, still in a -reserved tone of voice, as if not wishing to discuss the domestic -circle of the Osbornes; yet there was a suppressed smile on his mouth, -which Emma construed into amusement at the idea of Miss Osborne's -admiring her brother's hanger-on; and she silently diverted herself -with fancying the probable degree of esteem which his complaisance and -flattery would win for him. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - -Mr. Howard did not leave the girls until they had reached their own -gate, and then with a quiet but decided assurance that he would soon -bring his sister, he mounted his horse, and rode homewards. - -"Well, Emma," said Margaret, as they entered the parlour together, "I -wish every body had your luck; I cannot see why I should not have such -great friends, yet I dare say, I have been to fifty assemblies, and -never was a bit the nearer knowing Lord Osborne or any of his set—how -you managed it, I am sure I cannot guess." - -"It was only because Emma is both good-natured and pretty," said -Elizabeth, looking up from the sofa-cover she was assiduously mending. - -"Emma is not the first pretty girl who has been seen in those rooms, I -believe," said Margaret sharply; "and I should like to know what being -good-natured has to do with it!" - -"It made her offer to dance with little Charles Willis—and by that -means please his uncle and mother; it was her kindness and good-nature -did that." - -"No it was not; it was because she was so lucky as to sit next the -boy; if she had been at the other end of the room, all the good-nature -in the world would have been of no use—it was all her good luck." - -"And if you had sat next to him the whole evening, should you have -thought of offering to be his partner, Margaret?" enquired Elizabeth. - -"Very likely not—I hate dancing with boys. But I don't understand how -Emma got acquainted with Lord Osborne." - -"And I cannot at all comprehend what makes your head so full of the -Osbornes this morning," replied Elizabeth. - -"Why we met them all this morning, and first there was Lord Osborne -walking and talking with Emma, and then Mr. Howard—there never was -anything like it—he came right up to the garden-gate before he left -us." - -"Did he indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Do you mean Lord Osborne?" - -Margaret explained, but her account was so tinctured with jealousy -that Elizabeth, curious and unsatisfied, ran up after Emma who had -left the room at the commencement of this discussion, to ascertain the -truth from her. - -Even when Emma had related everything to her sister, it seemed almost -incredible—that Lord Osborne should have proposed such an -introduction, and Mr. Howard promised a visit from his sister, -appeared more like events in a fairy tale than the sober realities of -their every-day life. - -"But why did you refuse the introduction, Emma?" - -"What to Miss Osborne? Because I think such unequal acquaintances are -very undesirable and not likely to compensate for the trouble which -accompanies them, by any pleasure they can afford." - -"I believe in my heart, Emma, you are very proud," said Elizabeth in a -doubting, puzzled tone that almost made her sister laugh. - -"Too proud to become a hanger-on of Miss Osborne's, certainly," -answered she; "much too proud to be condescended to, and encouraged, -or patronised, or anything of the sort." - -"Well if I had been you, I would have just seen what his lordship -would do: suppose they had asked you up to the Castle—would you not -have liked that?" - -"No," said Emma; "I should only indulge in luxuries which would make -my home uncomfortable from the contrast, or perhaps become envious -from comparing their state with my own. But I cannot imagine the -option will be given me: unless Miss Osborne seeks me, we shall not -meet, for I shall certainly not throw myself in her way." - -"Well I am less proud and less philosophical than you, Emma, and I own -I would accept such an offer if it were made me, and be thankful for -the respite from the disagreeables of home, however temporary it might -be. I wonder whether Miss Osborne wishes it very much. But after all -Emma, you mean to let Mrs. Willis visit you—where's your pride in that -case?" - -"Surely Elizabeth, you must see the difference," said Emma, coloring. -"Mr. Howard and his sister are in our rank of life, though their -intimacy at the castle gives them artificial consequence. There would -be no condescension on their part, and no obligation incurred by me, -which a return visit would not fairly pay." - -"Well, I wish I knew what day they would come," said Miss Watson, "for -we could sit in the drawing-room, and not cover the sofa and carpets." - -"Pray do not do anything of the sort," said Emma, in alarm; "I hope it -will not be the only visit they will pay—and we cannot _always_ sit in -state to receive them; make friends of them, and receive them in -parlour." - -Elizabeth shook her head. - -"You are very odd, Emma—what notions you have. I don't at all -understand you yet." - -It was very evident by the result, that Mr. Howard had not overstated -his sister's anxiety to place her acquaintance with Emma on a footing -which would secure its permanence and authorise an increase of -intimacy; for the next Monday after making the request, the visitors -arrived. Elizabeth and Margaret were sitting together when they were -announced—but the former immediately left the room to seek for -Emma—although she would have been very glad if Margaret would have -saved her the trouble. Margaret, however, was determined to see as -much of these strangers from an unknown world, as she could, and -consequently, would not stir. She was very anxious to improve the -opportunity by immediately entering into conversation with Mr. Howard, -but she could think of nothing to say, and it was to the sister that -they were indebted for the introduction of a subject. Margaret, who -had taken little notice of her at first—for she always found a -difficulty in conversing with women, could not help feeling, in some -degree, obliged by the well-bred manner in which she commenced some -common topics of conversation. - -"My brother has been telling me of your adventures on Saturday with -the dog," said Mrs. Willis presently, "I hope you suffered no further -inconvenience from it." - -"Oh," said Margaret, "I was dreadfully frightened; I believe, but for -Mr. Howard's interference, I should have fainted; I am very nervous, -and I declare I would rather have remained there the whole night, than -have ventured past the horrid animal." - -"My arrival there must be esteemed most fortunate," said he, "but I -own I am astonished at the rudeness of the man in the farm-yard, who -contented himself with looking on." - -"Oh. he was a brute," cried Margaret, "no better than the dog—but what -else can you expect from boors like him. They have no sentiment or -feeling." - -"I do not agree with you," replied Mr. Howard, "I assure you, I have -often been struck with instances of disinterested kindness and -generosity amongst the labouring classes, which prove that they are -endowed with excellent feelings." - -"They have no delicacy or sentiment," said Margaret, "and without that -they are uninteresting to me. I own my partiality for the favorites of -nature, the gentle and elegant in manner, the aristocratic in birth -and breeding." - -"Still I think you do our peasantry injustice, if you suppose them -destitute of delicacy of feeling, because they have not a refined way -of expressing their thoughts in words," replied Mr. Howard. "Their -manners of course are uncultivated, and their habits are what you -would call unrefined—and no one would wish they should be cursed with -the desire for elegancies, which habit has rendered indispensable with -us, but which must be unattainable to them; but the germs of -generosity, gratitude, and self-sacrifice for the good of others, may -be found in many a one who would be puzzled to express his ideas in -words." - -"I dare say that is very true," replied Margaret; "but I must say I -think them very coarse and clownish; now and then one sees a pretty -looking girl; but the men are all detestable." - -"I have little to say for their manners or persons," said Mr. Howard; -"but, I assure you, I have met with poetical though uncultivated minds -amongst labouring men—the true poetry of nature." - -"It must be very odd poetry expressed in such gothic language," said -Margaret, laughing: as she had not the smallest poetical feeling -herself, she could not comprehend what he meant when he talked of it, -and concluded that the peasantry spoke in rhyme, or, at least, blank -verse. - -At this moment the entrance of the other young ladies cut short the -discussion, and introduced a new subject. Charles, who had been -standing by his mother, earnestly contemplating the crown of his hat, -and drawing figures with his finger on the beaver, now looked up, all -animation, as Emma kindly greeted him as her "first partner at her -first ball." His mother's eyes sparkled almost as much as the little -boy's, at her good-natured notice. Mr. Howard's admiration of her was -less obvious, but, perhaps, not less sincere than the others. A moment -after, Mr. Watson entered the room: his gout was better, and allowed -him to come down stairs. - -Mr. Howard noticed that it was Emma who rolled his easy chair into the -proper position, Emma, who arranged his footstool, who drew the -curtain to exclude the glare of the wintry sun, placed the screen to -ward off the draught from the door, and laid his spectacles, -snuff-box, and writing-case on precisely the proper spots of the -proper table next him. Elizabeth was conversing with her visitor, and -Margaret never stirred on such occasions. Certainly Emma's exertions, -at this time, were almost rendered useless by the zeal with which Mr. -Howard seconded her movements. Mr. Watson's comforts were soon -arranged in the most satisfactory manner, such as long habit had -rendered indispensable to him, and when he had carefully adjusted his -spectacles, and taken a survey of the room, he turned to Mr. Howard, -and enquired, who was that nice young woman talking to Elizabeth. - -On being answered that it was his sister, he civilly apologised for -not having known her, which, as he had never seen her before, he -remarked, was not wonderful; but Elizabeth ought to have introduced -him before he sat down, as really the gout made it extremely difficult -to move across the room. Elizabeth did not think it necessary to -justify herself by informing him, that it was only owing to the -self-engrossment and bustle attending his progress and settlement in -his arm-chair, that her attempt at an introduction had been thwarted; -indeed, Miss Watson was so little used to such ceremonies as to have -seized precisely the most inauspicious moment for speaking, and having -been foiled in her first essay, sat down without trying again. - -Mrs. Willis, however, made it all easy, and soothed Mr. Watson's -discomposure at such a breach of etiquette, by the good-natured and -respectful manner in which she now addressed him. - -Whilst they were sitting in pleasant chat, Tom Musgrove again appeared -amongst them. Emma really began to hate the sight of him on Margaret's -account, as her sister's manners whilst in his company, cost her many -blushes; and her increase of fretfulness after his departure -occasioned discomfort to the whole party. It was a great gratification -to her to discover from Mr. Watson's manner, that he was very far from -looking on Tom Musgrove as the amiable and elegant gentleman that he -aspired to be considered, and she even fancied that her father did not -receive him simply as an inoffensive guest; on the contrary, he seemed -annoyed at his visit, and inclined to regard it as an intrusion. - -"Well master Tom," said he, "what foolish thing have you been doing -lately?—breaking any more horses' knees or dinner-engagements—your -genius cannot have been idle since I saw you last—let's hear all about -it." - -"No indeed sir," replied Tom; "I have been doing nothing worth -chronicling, at least to such a _judge_ as you. I have had my own -little amusements, but they are not worth detailing. By the bye -Howard, I dare say Osborne did not tell you how completely I beat him -at Fives the other day: he's a good player too—but didn't I astonish -him." - -"Lord Osborne seldom entertains me with accounts of his sports, -whether defeated or victorious," replied Mr. Howard, coolly. - -"When you have the gout in your foot even twice as bad as I have," -observed Mr. Watson, "it will be consolatory to you to remember that -you could once beat Lord Osborne at Fives." - -"Aye sir, I dare say I shall have my turn by-and-bye, I expect to have -it early—Osborne tells me _his_ father had it at five-and-twenty. It's -an aristocratic complaint." - -"Unless you have reason to suppose the late Lord Osborne was _your_ -father likewise," resumed Mr. Watson drily, "I don't see what either -his gout or his aristocracy have to do with you." - -"Do you feel any symptoms already?" whispered Margaret; "you really -ought to take care of yourself—who would be so much missed if you were -laid up with that dreadful disorder! and who would you get to nurse -you in your hours of suffering?" - -"Oh I'll take care of myself, Miss Margaret," said he pointedly; "gout -makes one a prisoner, which is bad—I hate all confinement, and bonds -of every kind, especially fire-side bonds: freedom for me—freedom at -home and abroad—perfect freedom. By the bye, Howard," continued he, -breaking in upon a very agreeable conversation which that gentleman -was carrying on aside with Emma, "I knew you were here when I came in, -by that curious vehicle standing at the door. Positively it must have -belonged to your great grandfather—nobody more modern could have built -such a conveyance!" - -"One thing is certain," said Mr. Watson, "Mr. Howard _had_ a great -grandfather to whom it might have belonged—it is more than every one -can say!" - -Tom rather winced at this observation, for as it was known, to those -who possessed good memories, that his grandfather had ridden about the -country on a donkey, whilst carrying on the lucrative business of a -rag-merchant, it was no very great stretch of the imagination to -conclude that his more remote ancestor had been equally humble in his -means of travelling. - -"Perhaps it is not the most elegant conveyance in the world," replied -its owner good-humouredly; "but it carries us very safely, and the -most fashionable curricle would do no more." - -"Upon my word I must beg to have the refusal of it, if you can be -tempted to part with it, Howard, and I will send it to a museum -somewhere, labelled the car of Cybele; I protest it puts me in mind of -an old print of that machine, which belonged to an aunt of mine." - -"Lord Osborne has promised to give me a new carriage when either he or -I marry," said Mr. Howard; "and I mean to make mine serve till that -event." - -"And are you come wooing now in person or as proxy?" whispered Tom, -quite loud enough for Emma to hear. "A good place this—one need not -ask twice, I fancy." - -"Mr. Musgrove," said Howard in his particularly quiet but decisive -way, "you are as welcome to laugh at my carriage as you should be to -use it, if it were necessary; but remember there are subjects on which -jesting is indelicate, and places where it is insulting." He turned -away as he spoke and addressed Mr. Watson, to give Emma's cheeks time -to recover from the glow which betrayed that she had heard more than -was pleasant. - -Tom looked a little foolish, and after a moment's hesitation, -addressed an enquiry to Emma as to whether she had been walking that -forenoon. He only gained a mono-syllable in reply, and then Emma -drawing little Charles towards her, began a confidential conversation -with him on the subject of his garden and companions at school, and -the comparative merits of base-ball and cricket. Tom was repulsed, so -turning to Elizabeth, he cried: - -"Well I must be going, Miss Watson, for I have an engagement. I -promised to meet Fred Simpson and Beauclerc and another fellow -presently—so I must be off. They want my opinion about some greyhounds -Beauclerc has taken a fancy to but wouldn't buy till I had had time to -see them. They are monstrous good fellows, and must not be kept -waiting. Great friends of Osborne's, I assure you." - -Nobody opposed his design: then turning with a softer tone and manner -to Emma, he said, - -"Really I must go to school again and take lessons from my little -friend, to learn from him the art of finding agreeable conversation. -What is the secret, Charles?" - -"It is more easily explained than taught," replied Emma, "unaffected -good-humour, sincerity, and simplicity. That is all!" - -Tom took himself off, and as the sound of his curricle wheels died -away in the distance, Mr. Watson observed: - -"There goes a young man, who if he had had to work for his bread might -have been a useful member of society. But unfortunately the father -made a fortune, so the son can only make a fool of himself." - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - -"I suppose some of you girls will be for going over to return Mrs. -Willis's visit," said Mr. Watson to his daughters, the next day; -"she's a nice little woman so far as I saw, and I have no objection to -your visiting her; but you must go to-morrow, if you go at all this -week, for I cannot spare the horse after that day." - -"Well, Emma," said Margaret directly, "I will drive you over to-morrow -if you like—you don't drive, I dare say!" - -"I think," said Emma, "that Elizabeth ought to go, because as it is a -first visit, and she is the eldest—it will seem more complimentary." - -"Certainly," cried Elizabeth, who was quite as anxious as Margaret to -pay the visit, "you and I, Emma, must go at all events." - -"But then _I_ can't," exclaimed Margaret, "and why am _I_ to be left -out? if Elizabeth goes, because _she_ is eldest, I have the best right -to go too, when Pen is away, for I am older than Emma, at all events." - -"But as the visit was paid especially to Emma," rejoined Elizabeth, -"it is quite impossible that she should give up to you. She _must_ -go." - -"Oh, yes, every body must go but me, that is always the way, it's very -hard." - -"Would not the chaise hold three?" suggested Emma, anxious for a -compromise, "Margaret is so slight, and I am not large, I am sure we -could sit so." - -"I dare say you could," replied her father, "but I can tell you, you -would have to sit in the stable-yard if you did, for the old horse -could not draw you, and should not make the attempt—no, no, if -Margaret wants to go she may wait till next time—if you pay visits at -all, you shall pay them properly." - -The consequence of this decision on the part of their father, was such -an increase of fretfulness in Margaret for the rest of the day, as to -make Emma inclined to think the society of her new acquaintance would -be dearly bought at such a penalty. Elizabeth bore it with the -indifference produced by long habit. - -"It is no use minding her," said she to Emma, as they were undressing, -that night; "she is always the same; if you give up one thing, she -will quarrel about another; you can do no good to her by sacrificing -every thing to her wishes, and you had much better take your own way -when you can, and mind her crossness as little as possible." - -Emma sighed at this assertion, but she sighed in vain; Margaret's -ill-humour was as apparent next morning, and rather increased as the -hour of setting off drew near. It was some consolation to her, -however, to discover that the day was exceedingly cold, with a heavy -canopy of clouds over head, and occasionally, slight sprinklings of -snow, which promised any thing but a pleasant drive to her sisters. -Wrapping themselves up as well as they could, they set off; but the -ominous appearance of the sky rather increased than diminished; and -before they came in sight of Osborne Castle, for the parsonage was -within the park, a very heavy fall of snow overtook them. As their -humble vehicle slowly progressed along, Elizabeth was earnestly hoping -that none of the Osborne family would see them; she had never before -reflected much on the difference in their rank and circumstances; but -now, whilst driving along the road where _their_ coach and four had so -often passed, she was mentally comparing her lot with Miss Osborne's, -and it seemed almost presumption in her to come, as it were, in -contact with such superior elegance and grandeur. - -Emma's sensations were different; she felt that their equipage was -suitable to their station, and need therefore cost her no blushes, as -it gave her no concern. The wish to find the inhabitants of the -parsonage at home, was uppermost in her thoughts—and the hope that -they should ultimately return, without being buried in the snow, her -principal object of anxiety. - -In the former of these she was perfectly gratified; the neat and -pretty looking maid, who opened the door, announcing that both the -master and mistress were within. Emma was struck with the air of -comfort and tidiness in all she saw, possibly because it contrasted -strongly with her father's house. It was owing to Mr. Watson's -frequent illness perhaps, but at home she had observed so many things -which appeared to require a master's eye. The gate swinging on one -hinge, the trees straggling over the paths, the wall round the -stable-yard broken down, and a hundred other examples of neglect and -disorder had met her eyes at home. How different it all was at Mr. -Howard's! Even with the disadvantage of winter, and the consequent -dreariness of aspect which a lawn and shrubbery at such a season must -present—the neatness of the place conveyed an idea of comfort and -taste. - -The porch and steps were clean and white; and the little vestibule, -through which they passed to the parlour, was ornamented by some fine -myrtles and geraniums in pots, which combined with the well-arranged -guns, fishing-rods, and similar objects to give an air at once elegant -and pleasing to the eye, but not too studied for the daily habits of -domestic life. The useful and the ornamental were happily blended, and -Emma looked with great pleasure round her. - -They found Mrs. Willis sitting alone, and were received by her with -warmth and ease. - -"It is very good, indeed, of you to come through such weather to see -us," said she, "I am sure you must be half frozen—what can I give you -to make you comfortable." - -Her visitors assured her they needed nothing; which, however, was not -strictly true, as Emma certainly required the presence of the brother -to make her quite contented. This assurance did not satisfy the -hospitality of their hostess, who persisted in ordering hot wine and -water, and would not be satisfied without their eating something to -keep prevent any ill effects from the cold, as she said. - -They had not sat there many minutes, when Mr. Howard entered from his -little study which faced the entrance. He had seen their arrival, but -would not gratify his wishes of immediately presenting himself till he -had ascertained that their horse was properly attended to, and the -carriage placed under cover, to shelter it from the now thickly -descending snow. - -Elizabeth looked round the room with surprise and admiration. It was -not larger or better than their own—and the furniture was, apparently, -neither more expensive, nor more plentiful—but there was an air which -their sitting-room never had. Instead of the old discoloured -engravings of bishops with wonderful wigs, or gentlemen in -broad-tailed coats, and flapped waistcoats, with their black frames, -and dull, dusty glasses, which adorned the walls of their usual -sitting-room at home, there hung here a few beautiful copies from the -well-known and most admired works of the Italian masters, which Mr. -Howard had brought as the fruits of his tour with Lord Osborne. These -appeared to Elizabeth far more cheerful than the dingy prints before -mentioned, although the idea of objecting to the latter, had never -before entered her head. There was a flower-stand with some pretty -plants; an embroidery frame; a bird cage with Charles's pet canary; a -set of bookshelves well-filled, and a comfortable fire. But she could -not make out why the appearance of the room was so different from -things at home. Perhaps one reason was, that the whole of the -furniture, having been bought and arranged at the same time, -harmonised together; unlike the articles in her father's house, which -having been picked up at different auctions in the neighbourhood, or -purchased second-hand from the broker, appeared, when put together, -ill-matched and out of place, however good in themselves the -individual articles were. She wished she could learn the art of giving -such an air to a room, but she feared she never should. These thoughts -wandered through her mind during the intervals of her conversation -with their hostess, mixed with occasional wonder that Emma should find -so much to say, and say it all with so much ease to Mr. Howard; for -though Elizabeth could get on pretty well with Mrs. Willis, she still -felt some degree of awe towards Mr. Howard himself; a man who taught -young Lord Osborne, and played at cards with his mother. Emma, -evidently undeterred by such considerations, or rather not considering -the subject at all, kept up a very pleasant chat with him, though -nothing was said by either particularly deserving to be recorded. Half -an hour passed rapidly, but when the sisters, after glancing at each -other as a signal for departure, began to look rather anxiously at the -weather, they found that it had changed decidedly for the worse since -their entrance, although their attentions had been too much engrossed -to perceive it before. The heavy sky was discharging itself on the -earth in a thick veil of snow, which entirely concealed the distance, -and rapidly whitened all surrounding objects. So dense was the -atmosphere, that it rather seemed as if the clouds had themselves -suddenly descended and settled upon the earth, than as if they were -merely dispensing their superfluous contents. The wind too, which had -before blown only in occasional gusts, was now almost incessant, and -greatly increased in violence, and as their road lay eastward, they -were certain of encountering it in full force. The whirlwinds of snow -which it raised, threatened almost to smother unhappy travellers, and -would have made it madness to attempt to face it. - -"What can we do?" said Emma, as she contemplated the scene in some -alarm; "do you think you could drive in such a storm, Elizabeth?" - -"Oh, I should not mind venturing," said Miss Watson, "but I am afraid -for you; you know you had a cold this morning, and to encounter such a -storm would make you worse." - -"Encounter the storm!" cried the brother and sister at once, -"impossible, not to be mentioned or thought of, much less put in -practice—they must wait a little while, if they wished _very much_ to -return home, and see what patience would produce; in case it did not -mend, they might send a message if they feared Mr. Watson would be -uneasy—but indeed Mr. Howard thought they had better give up all idea -of returning at once, and allow him immediately to dispatch some one -to answer for their safety to their father's house. But as to leaving -the house during such a tempest, it was quite out of the question." - -With the most friendly warmth, every possible accommodation was placed -at their disposal; every objection done away as soon as started; every -difficulty proved to be a vain fancy of its originator. The idea of -the addition to their circle at dinner, did not seem at all to -discompose Mrs. Willis; and the minor arrangements, the things to be -lent for their use and comfort, appeared rather to bring her positive -enjoyment. In a short time, the young ladies felt themselves quite -domesticated in the house; their cloaks and bonnets removed, their -hair smoothed, and their thick boots exchanged, for comfortable -slippers of their new friend, they found themselves again seated -comfortably in the pretty parlour—and, ere long, were busily employed -in helping Mrs. Willis in the agreeable occupation of sewing certain -little colored silk bags which Mr. Howard and Charles afterwards -filled with deliciously scented pot-pourri, from the large china jar -in the corner of the room. Now, their only subject of uneasiness -besides the dread of giving too much trouble, was the fear that their -father's comfort would suffer in their absence, as they knew only too -well how little Margaret contributed towards his amusement, or sought -to spare him trouble. - -Dinner time came, and Elizabeth was surprised to find that, although -in the vicinity of Osborne Castle, their hour of dining was no later -than what she was accustomed to; and still more surprised that the -simple meal—the single joint, and the plain, but certainly well-made, -pudding which followed it, was considered quite sufficient in itself, -and needing no apologies. Not that she expected anything more elegant -or uncommon, much less wished for it, but she felt had _she_ been the -entertainer, she would, certainly, have regretted the absence of -further luxuries. The hour of dusk which followed the dinner, was -particularly agreeable, as they drew their chairs round the -comfortable fire, and chatted with the easy good nature which such a -situation and such a combination of circumstances is sure to promote. -The man or woman who can be cross and disagreeable at such a moment, -must either be cursed with an uncommonly perverse temper, or have -eaten a great deal more than is good for the health. This was not the -case with either of the five who formed this cheerful group—and -Charles very freely expressed his extreme satisfaction at the turn -events had taken; appealing to his uncle to confirm his assertion that -nothing could be more delightful than the fact of the two Miss Watsons -being forced to remain in the house, and to join in his hope that the -snow would keep them prisoners for a week to come. Mr. Howard readily -assented to his view of their own good fortune in the turn events had -taken, and only demurred to his wishes from the doubt whether the -young ladies themselves would not find such a detention a severe -penalty—in which case, he was sure, even Charles could not wish, for -his own gratification, to inflict it on them. - -"Oh, certainly not, if they did not like it," cried Charles, "only I -am sure Miss Emma, you are too good-natured to object to what would -give us all so much pleasure." - -"If my opinion or wishes could make any difference to the snow, or -serve to open the road, Charles, it would be worth while to form a -deliberate decision," said Emma, good naturedly; "but now I want you, -in the meantime, to guess this riddle," and she diverted his attention -by proposing some charades and enigmas for his amusement. - -The diversion soon occupied the whole party, and much mirth ensued at -the variety and strange guesses which it gave rise to. Presently a -note was brought to Mr. Howard, which after studying near a light for -some time, he threw down on the table, and said: - -"There, ladies, there is a riddle which I would almost defy you to -read—look at it!" - -His sister took it up. - -"Oh! I see—pray Miss Watson can you read that name?" and she held it -out to Elizabeth, who, with Emma, looked at it with great curiosity. - -"Is that writing!" cried Emma, "and can any one expect it to be read; -I do not understand a word, except the three first." - -"Yes," said Elizabeth, "one can read that, 'my dear Mr. Howard,' but -the rest appears as if the writer had dipped a stick in an ink bottle, -and scribbled over the paper at random—you do not mean to say, you -have read it, Mr. Howard?" - -"I made out its meaning," said he, looking up from a writing-table, at -a little distance, "and I am answering it at this moment." - -"Well, you must be much more clever than I am," said Elizabeth, -simply, "they are all hieroglyphics to me." - -"It is a note from Lady Osborne," said Mrs. Willis, "I know her -signature; but I am not sure that I could decipher more." - -"Lady Osborne!" cried Elizabeth, looking at it again, but this time -with great respect, "do peeresses write in that way." - -"Not all, I trust, for the credit of the peerage," replied Mr. Howard, -"or, at least, for the comfort of their correspondents." - -"It is certainly a great misapplication of abilities," observed Emma, -coolly, "for I am sure it must cost a person more trouble to produce -such a scrawl than it would to write three legible letters." - -"I have no doubt it has cost her ladyship some trouble, and I am -certain it has put her to needless expense," said he, "for on one -occasion, her steward sent an express to London to enquire the meaning -of a note he had received which was intended to announce her return -home: they passed the man on the road, and consequently the -housekeeper was taken by surprise; how angry she was at the blunder!" - -"Well but, Edward, what is the subjects of your present _billet-doux_, -or is it a secret that you are answering in such a hurry?" - -"It is only to invite me to the castle to-night, to make up their -card-table, which I have refused," said he, as he gave his note to the -servant and seated himself again. - -"Ah, how glad I am," cried his sister, "such a night, to ask you out, -though only across the park! The Miss Watson's company affords a -sufficient apology even to Lady Osborne, I should think." - -"It is a sufficient one to myself," said Mr. Howard, "Lady Osborne may -be unable to calculate accurately what I gain by the refusal—but I -know that I secure a pleasant party, and escape a dreadful walk, to -say nothing of the tedium of the card-table itself; you see how deeply -I am indebted to your presence, Miss Watson, which serves me as an -excuse on this occasion." - -"We always hear virtue is its own reward," said Emma, "and your -hospitality to us is now repaid in kind; as you would not allow us to -encounter the snow, it would have been unjust that you should be -exposed to it yourself." - -"Well, Edward, I must say, I should be glad if you had a living in -some other part of the country—for you must know," turning to -Elizabeth, "that the inhabitants of the castle are almost too near to -be pleasant. We are under obligations which neither party can forget, -and Edward is compelled to sacrifice a great deal of time, and suffer -much occasional inconvenience from the whims of the great lady, which -would be all obviated if our residence were fifty miles off. You have -no idea how exacting she is; and if my brother were not one of the -best-tempered men in the world we never could go on as well as we do." - -Here was food for wonder to Elizabeth; after all then the Osbornes -though noble were not perfect; and the Howards, with their nice house, -comfortable income, and high connections had, like other people, their -own peculiar grievances, and cherished those hopes of improving their -lot, by some anticipated change, which form the principal charm of -life to half the world. - -"I owe much to Lady Osborne for kindness both of deed and of -intention," said Mr. Howard seriously; "and I should be sorry either -by word or act, to fail in the respect which is her due. She always -means kindly at least." - -"It is quite right of you, Edward, to be careful how you express your -opinion, but neither gallantry nor gratitude have the same claim on -me. She always means kindly to herself, I dare say, and thinks she -means so to us—but she is no judge of our comfort, and fancies because -our rank is different, we have a different set of feelings likewise—" - -"For shame, Clara," interrupted her brother, "you forget what you are -saying, and the best thing for you is, that we should forget it too." - -"No indeed," replied she smiling; "must she not suppose you endowed -with an extraordinary indifference to cold, and a super-human energy -of frame to be pleased at encountering such a storm as this? hark to -the wind!" - -"Well, I am convinced, that were we removed from the vicinity of the -Castle, as you so much desire, Clara, we should suffer as much -inconvenience from the loss of many comforts which they afford us now; -and you would admit then, that the good and evil were more equally -balanced than you are at present disposed to allow." - -"We might not have quite so much game, Edward; Miss Osborne would not -give me flowers, and we should not go to assemblies in their coach; -but on the other hand, I should not be so plagued by our best maid -marrying their groom, as Lucy is going to do next month, because the -Osborne Arms will then be vacant; nor would the laundress tell me when -I complained of her clear-starching, that she had always helped in my -lady's laundry, and the housekeeper had been perfectly satisfied with -her." - -"But pray tell me," said Emma, "is there any reason for her ladyship's -curiously illegible hand, has she lost any of her fingers, or did she -never learn to write?" - -"I assure you she would be surprised at your not admiring her -writing," said Mrs. Willis; "she piques herself on its peculiar and -aristocratic beauty." - -"I am sure," said Elizabeth, "I have often been punished for writing -which was much better than that; the writing master at school would -have groaned at such a prodigious waste of paper and ink." - -"Nevertheless, it thoroughly attains the object at which she aims, to -be unique," said Mr. Howard, "and I am sure she would be much -surprised at hearing it was illegible; but she thinks a fair, flowing -hand, in an Italian character, much more a round, distinct, and clear -one, only fit for tradesmen's accounts or clergymen's sermons." - -"She has the same taste in everything," said his sister; "that -frightful little dog she is so fond of petting, and half the ornaments -in the drawing-room have no value but in their singularity." - -"And do her family inherit her tastes?" enquired Emma, "does her son, -for instance, prefer the wonderful to the beautiful?" - -Mr. Howard gave Emma an enquiring glance, which seemed intended to -question the motive of her curiosity; then answered rather gravely, -that Lord Osborne's tastes and opinions were as yet unformed. - -"But he is not insensible to the power of some kind of beauty," cried -Elizabeth, looking archly at her sister; "from what I have lately -heard of him, I am certain he is not." - -Why the subject of Lord Osborne's tastes should be disagreeable to Mr. -Howard, Emma could not precisely comprehend, though she pondered long -on the matter, but this short discussion was evidently followed by a -certain coldness and restraint in his manner of addressing her, which -puzzled and rather vexed her. It was not, however, shaken off during -the rest of the evening, and the unpleasant sensation it produced, was -only mitigated by his being persuaded to read aloud to them, and in -this manner the rest of the evening was spent. - -The weather the next morning did not offer any prospect of a release -to the young ladies, and to say the truth they evidently bore the -involuntary absence from home without suffering very acutely, if -either their air of complacency or their lively conversation might be -considered indicative of their feelings. Breakfast passed pleasantly -away, and the ladies were quietly sitting together afterwards, when -the door opened and Lord Osborne's head appeared. - -"May I come in?" said he, standing with the door in his hand. "You -look very comfortable." - -"You will not disturb us, my lord," said Mrs. Willis gently but -good-humouredly, "provided you have no dog with you." - -He advanced and paid his compliments to the ladies, then turned to the -fire. - -"That's nice," said he; "you can't think how pleasant it is after the -cold air;" then seating himself and holding out his feet to dry before -the fire, he said to Emma, "I heard you were snowed up here last -night." - -"Did you, my lord," said she very coolly. - -"Yes; my mother _would_ know who it was with Howard, and so I learnt, -and I am to give you my sister's compliments, or love or something of -the sort, and as soon as the road is swept she will come and see you." - -Emma was rather embarrassed at this declaration; she did not wish for -Miss Osborne's notice, and felt uncomfortably averse to her patronage; -yet the declaration seemed to excite so little surprise or emotion of -any kind on the part of her new friend that she began to think it -might be a more common-place matter than she had anticipated. The -feelings of the sisters were not at all alike, though the result was -the same in each; they both shrank from any intercourse with Miss -Osborne; Elizabeth because she feared their inferior style of living -would shock and disgust her, or perhaps excite her ridicule; Emma -because she apprehended the superiority of her birth and fortune would -lead the peer's daughter to expect a degree of complaisance and -submission which Emma herself would only pay to superior talents or -virtue; but when she saw the quiet ease with which Lord Osborne was -received, and the indifference with which the announcement of his -sister's intentions was listened to, she became better reconciled to -her lot, and prepared to go through her share of the introduction with -calmness. - -After all, Miss Osborne, though a baron's daughter and living in a -castle, might have the tastes which are to be found amongst the -dwellers in parsonages—though she travelled in a coach and four, she -might love variety and novelty as much as the driver of the humblest -one-horse chaise, and the prospect of forming a new acquaintance might -have many charms for her on a snowy day when her time would probably -hang heavy on her hands. - -"It's not such bad walking either as you would think," said Lord -Osborne to nobody, and in answer to nothing; "and the walk down here -is screened from the wind; but you would be surprised to see how the -snow has drifted in places: it will be impossible for you to get -through the lanes to-day Miss Watson." - -"We do not intend that they should attempt it," said their hostess, -"until we have ascertained that the roads are perfectly practicable, -it would be inhuman to turn them out." - -A short silence ensued. Lord Osborne sat by the fire looking at Emma, -who proceeded steadily with her work; presently Mrs. Willis commenced, -or rather resumed a conversation with Elizabeth, for the entrance of -his lordship had interrupted it, on the the best methods of rearing -domestic poultry. - -Gradually as Miss Watson became hardened to the consciousness of being -listened to by Lord Osborne, her faculties returned; and though at his -first entrance she could not have told how young chickens should be -fed, before the expiration of half an hour she was equal to imparting -to her companion the deepest mysteries of the poultry yard. - -Whilst they were thus sitting, quiet and composed, Charles Willis -suddenly rushed into the room and took up his station close to Emma's -work-table. - -"Why, Charles," said Lord Osborne, "don't you see me—aren't you going -to speak to me this morning," and he laid a firm grasp, as he spoke, -on Charles's coat collar, and drew the boy towards himself. - -"I beg your pardon, my lord, I really did not see you," replied -Charles, twisting his person in the vain hope of eluding his -lordship's grasp, and keeping his place. - -"I say, Charles," continued the young man, "how comes it lessons are -over so early this morning—a holiday—hey—or uncle lazy—I thought you -never finished till noon?" - -"Oh no, we have been very industrious," Charles answered; "we both -worked as hard as we could to get lessons over because we wanted to -come early into the drawing-room as the Miss Watsons were here." - -"But you don't mean to say you like the Miss Watsons better than Latin -grammar—or Greek verbs—that's impossible altogether." - -Charles laughed. - -"Are _you_ so fond of the Latin grammar, my lord?" asked he, slyly. - -"I! oh no; but then I learnt all mine long ago; and since I survived -the flogging, I dare say it did me no harm. But now tell me," added -he, in a whisper, quite distinct enough for every one in the room to -hear, "was it you or your uncle who was in the greatest hurry: or does -not he like the Miss Watsons as well as you, Charles." - -"Oh, I assure you, he was quite as anxious as myself—and I think he -likes Miss Emma as much as I do," whispered Charles in reply. - -Whether the deep colour in Emma's cheek, at that moment, was -occasioned by this answer of Charles, or by vexation at an obstinate -knot in her thread, which she vainly endeavoured to disentangle, was -not exactly obvious to Lord Osborne's perceptions. He thought the -effect, however, so very becoming as to regard her with great -admiration, and his looks were intently fixed on her, when Mr. Howard -entered the room. - -The eager step and open, happy look with which he was advancing, -seemed to meet an unexpected shock at the sight of his young pupil. -His air was embarrassed as he paid him his compliments, and after -standing for a moment, as if in hesitation, he drew a chair near Miss -Watson and his sister, on the opposite side of the table to the -others. - -A pause of some minutes ensued: it appeared that Lord Osborne found -sufficient, amusement in contemplating the varying colour in Emma's -cheeks, whilst Mr. Howard was occupied in playing with a pencil he -took from the table, and did not raise his eyes at all. - -"It is not like your lordship's usual aversion to cold," said he, at -length, "to venture out on foot in such a morning. I thought nothing -could have tempted you to such an exertion." - -"One changes sometimes," replied Lord Osborne, "and one can do -anything with a sufficient motive—I mean to turn over a new leaf, as -my nursery maids used to say—and you will hardly know me again." - -Another silence, during which his lordship crossed and uncrossed his -legs repeatedly—then took up the poker and stirred the fire. Emma -heartily wished him back at the castle: his looks fixed on her were -very unpleasant; and she hoped that his departure would release Mr. -Howard from the spell which appeared to overpower him, and restore his -ordinary animation. - -She had, however, long to wait for this desirable result; it was -evident that the drawing-room at the parsonage presented more charms -to the young peer, than the castle halls, and he continued to sit in -silent admiration of Emma's blushes long after Mr. Howard had risen in -despair, and left the room. - -The sound of the door bell about noon, brought some prospect of a -change; eliciting from Mrs. Willis an exclamation of wonder, and from -Lord Osborne an interjection— - -"I'll bet anything that's my sister." - -He was right. Wrapt in a furred mantle which might almost have defied -the cold of a Siberian winter, Miss Osborne made her entry, on purpose -to call on Miss Emma Watson, as she declared immediately. Emma -observed her with some curiosity. She was a small, young woman, with -lively manners, a quick, dark eye, and good humoured expression. Quite -pretty enough, considering her birth, to be called beautiful, though -had she been without the advantages of rank, fashion and dress—had -she, in fact, been a Miss Watson, and not a Miss Osborne, she would -not, probably, have been noticed a second time. She was extremely -courteous and agreeable in her manners, chatting with volubility and -animation, as if it was a relief to her to escape from the state -apartments of her mother's house, to the unrestrained warmth and -good-nature of the parsonage. - -"Where's your brother to-day, Mrs. Willis," said she presently, "has -he run away from me; does he fancy we are charged with lectures for -his desertion of our drawing-room last night. He need not be afraid. -_I_ think he was very excusable." - -"He was here just now. I do not think his conscience seems very -uneasy—he is probably engaged in some business at present—I will let -him know you are here." - -"Oh no, pray don't disturb him; I have too much regard for his credit, -and the good of his parishioners. What should I say if my intrusion -broke in on an argument, or put to flight a beautiful figure of -speech. How could I answer for such mischief. Let him write his sermon -in peace." - -Mrs. Willis assented. Probably Miss Osborne did not expect she would, -for she presently added: - -"I don't know, however, but that on the whole you had better summon -him, because then he can give us his opinion on the proposal that I am -charged to make, being nothing less than that you should _all_ come -and dine at the Castle this evening." - -It would not be easy for words to convey an accurate idea of the look -and feelings of Elizabeth Watson on hearing this proposal. To say she -was astonished, is to tell but a small part of her sensations. The -idea that she should have lived to see the day which brought about -such an invitation was so perfectly overwhelming, that she seemed to -herself until that moment never to have been surprised before. But to -accept it was impossible: she felt an instantaneous conviction that it -must be refused; for besides not knowing how to conduct herself under -such circumstances, she had no dress to go in. Their visit to the -parsonage having been entirely unpremeditated, it followed, of course, -that there had been no preparations made; their best dresses, inferior -as they were to what the visitors at Osborne Castle might be expected -to produce, were reposing in quietness in Elizabeth's wardrobe. - -Miss Osborne's proposal was followed by a short, hesitating silence -amongst those to whom it was addressed. - -"Perhaps," cried she perceiving this, "you will like a moment's -consideration. I do not wish to hurry for an answer. Pray deliberate -on the case, Mrs. Willis, but if you can, persuade your friends to -conclude their deliberations in our favour." - -"I am afraid," said Elizabeth, urged by the desperate nature of her -feelings to some immediate exertion, "I am afraid we cannot have the -pleasure—do ourselves the honor I believe I ought to say—but indeed we -were not prepared—we have no dress at all suitable for the -occasion"—she stopped, afraid that she might have done wrong in -exposing the real state of the case. - -Miss Osborne looked surprised, as if the idea of not possessing a -sufficient stock of gowns had never before entered her head. - -"I am sorry there should be any difficulty," she cried, "gowns that -are good enough for Mrs. Willis and Mr. Howard, must surely be good -enough for us. We shall not make the smallest objection to your coming -as you are. You will be conferring on us a most important favour. You -cannot imagine how miserably dull we find ourselves in this weather. -Mama dozes over a fire-screen, and Miss Carr and I sit and look at -each other, and long for a change of scene. Snow is always detestable, -but at Osborne Castle it surpasses everything for deadening the -faculties and damping the spirits. Come now, do think favourably of my -request, how shall I dare to face Lady Osborne with a second refusal?" - -"I hope her ladyship was not vexed at my brother's refusal last -night?" said Mrs. Willis, with a little anxiety. - -"I will not say she was not disappointed," replied Miss Osborne gaily, -"we are so dreadfully dull and melancholy; but he has my full and -entire forgiveness for his defalcation, on condition that he comes -to-night to repair his errors, and brings you all with him." - -Meantime Lord Osborne had edged his chair closer to Emma, and was in -low tones pressing on her the request his sister had just made. - -"Do come, you look too good-natured to say no—I am sure you must be -monstrously obliging."—Emma shook her head and tried not to -smile.—"And as to what your sister says about dress, that's nonsense; -that is, I don't mean she talks nonsense, but it's foolish to care -about dress—you look very nice—you always do—and we don't the least -mind about your gown. My mother and sister have such loads of fine -clothes themselves, that depend upon it they will not care the least -for seeing any more." - -Emma thought this extremely probable, but yet it did not seem quite -applicable to their case. How, indeed, could any young lady be -expected to derive consolation from the idea that her personal -appearance could be a matter of total indifference to her companions. -It was evident to Miss Osborne, that the ladies wished to discuss this -question amongst themselves; she therefore dropped the subject, and -after chatting good-naturedly on some indifferent topics, took her -leave, with an assurance that if they decided in favour of the Castle, -a carriage should be sent down to fetch them. She persuaded her -brother to return with her, which was a particular relief to Emma, who -had grown quite tired of his eyes. - -Hardly was the house door closed on them, when Elizabeth drawing a -long breath, exclaimed: - -"Oh dear, Mrs. Willis, do tell me what we had better do, I am sure I -would much rather refuse if we can, but then perhaps it would not be -thought right—and I must say if I were not so frightened I should -rather like to see the inside of the Castle, and how people go on -there." - -"I do not think you need be much alarmed," replied Mrs. Willis smiling -good-humouredly, "you will survive it I dare say, if you make up your -mind to go. Lady Osborne _is_ rather stiff certainly, but though she -does nothing to make herself agreeable, she is not unpleasant—not more -so than a handsome piece of furniture—a picture, or anything of that -sort. And I really think you would be more amused there than in our -little drawing-room." - -"But we have no dress fit for company," again urged Elizabeth. - -"They are aware of the circumstances under which you came, and -therefore must know you to be unprepared. I do not, therefore, think -_that_ need be an insurmountable objection. Your own inclination must -decide it." - -At this moment Mr. Howard re-entered the room. His sister immediately -began to relate to him the fact of the visit and the invitation; but -he cut her short by saying that he knew it; he had met Miss Osborne -and her brother as they were leaving the house, and accompanied her -part of the way home. His eyes were turned on Emma as he spoke, and an -idea which suddenly occurred to her relative to his acquaintance with -the young lady, caused her a sensation that brought the blood to her -cheeks. Why she should color and feel warm at the notion that he had -any particular regard for Miss Osborne, she could not exactly decide. -It certainly could not concern her in the least if he had, and she -would have been very glad to have kept her looks and feelings under -better regulation, she was so very much afraid that he would guess her -thought. This was an alarm entirely without foundation, as far from -rightly guessing what was passing in her mind, Mr. Howard's fancy went -off in a totally different direction. He attributed her blushes to -some sentiment connected with the brother, not the sister, and -supposed her to be pleased with the consciousness of these attentions -being meant for her. For his own part he felt considerable surprise -that Miss Osborne should so directly and decidedly countenance her -brother's admiration. He had expected more pride from her.—Could he -have heard the conversation that passed on the subject at Osborne -Castle, he would have better understood the hidden machinery on which -these matters turned. - -"What makes you so anxious to cultivate an intimacy with those Watson -girls," said Miss Carr to her friend, when she heard her announce an -intention of calling on them. - -"I like the looks of Emma particularly," replied the young lady -addressed; "there is expression in her countenance, an air and manner -in her motions which I admire." - -"And do you run after all the girls who have a little manner or -expression, Rosa?" enquired her friend again, with something of -superciliousness in her tone. - -"I don't like those who have not, Fanny—but there is more than this in -my plan—I think Mr. Howard likes her." - -"Well, and what does that signify to you? what have you to do with Mr. -Howard's liking?" this question was accompanied with a sharp, -interrogative look from Miss Carr, as if she strongly suspected her -friend's motive. - -"I have half a scruple about explaining to you, Fanny." - -"Oh, pray throw it away then and explain it once. I am dying of -curiosity to understand the motive of your manœuvres." - -"I will tell you nothing whilst you look so much as if you think you -understand all—your quizzical look provokes me to silence." - -"And if you will not tell me, Rosa, I will just tell you what I think; -listen—you think Mr. Howard admires Emma Watson—and you cultivate her -acquaintance for the sake of thwarting their attachment. Is that -worthy of you." - -"Worthy indeed," cried Miss Osborne, throwing back her head with an -air of disdain. "I might justly retort your question—upon my word, I -am highly flattered by your gracious opinion of me. No, if I do stoop -to manœuvre, it is not to dishonor our house, or to _promote_ -alliances unworthy of it. Now I will tell you my real motive—though -positively even to you, I am half-ashamed of mentioning it. My -mother—have you not observed—she is so very partial to—" - -Miss Osborne paused in some confusion. Her friend looked puzzled. - -"Partial to whom—to Emma Watson? I really don't understand." - -"No, no, to Mr. Howard," replied the blushing daughter, in a low tone; -"and I would give the world to see him married and out of her way." - -"Very well—very reasonable," said Miss Carr, coolly, twisting her -fingers through her long ringlets. "But how does your patronising this -Emma promise any particular progress to Mr. Howard's passion? In my -opinion, you had much better let them alone." - -"I don't think so," replied Miss Osborne, decisively; "the Watsons -have always been considered as very low in rank amongst visitable -people. The few we know ourselves decidedly hold them cheaply—and I -think it possible that, accustomed to superior society, Mr. Howard -might hesitate a moment before throwing himself amongst a set so -decidedly inferior to those with whom he is used to mix." - -"He does not seem to feel any such nicety, since his admiration has -begun, and will, no doubt, prosper without your intervention. I still -repeat, you had better let them alone." - -"But I have a great regard for Mr. Howard, and should like to be on -good terms with his wife." - -"Wait till she is in existence then." - -"But if I slight her _now_, will she be more inclined to be sociable -_then_?" - -"You need not slight her—be civil if you like—but why seek her out -unnecessarily?" - -"Because I foresee that his marriage, whenever it takes place, will -cause a _fracas_, and I should wish them both to feel they have a -friend in me." - -"Well, it is an affair that concerns you no doubt, much more nearly -than me, and I cannot presume to dictate. But I think _all_ manœuvring -dangerous." - -"Besides," continued Miss Osborne, changing the ground of her -reasoning, "Emma Watson, in herself seems a nice conversable girl, -and, I assure you, at Osborne Castle, when there is no party in the -house, such an acquisition is not to be despised." - -"Why, Rosa, you never spoke a word to her—how can you tell that she is -conversable." - -"Not from my own observation of course; but I can form some judgment -from what Mrs. Willis and her brother have told us—" - -"And your brother, too," said Miss Carr, with some emphasis; "he seems -to be taking some trouble to make her acquaintance." - -"Who, Osborne? yes, he admires her, I believe; but his is a very -passive sort of admiration, not in the least likely to lead to any -vehement results." - -"Well, I can admit your being sometimes lonely as a motive for wishing -for a country friend; but, if I do not think you make the selection -with your usual judgment, you must forgive me." - -"I cannot imagine why you entertain such a prejudice against poor Emma -Watson, Fanny; you cannot, surely, be jealous of her—are _you_ in love -with Mr. Howard—come—confess!" - -"No," replied Miss Carr, coloring deeply as she spoke. - -The result of this conversation was that visit and invitation already -related. Lady Osborne made no objection to her daughter's proposal. -Her card-table would be then certain to be filled, and Mr. Howard -would have no excuse for absenting himself. Her pride did not stand in -the way on this occasion—she considered every individual not belonging -to the peerage to be so much beneath her, that the gradations amongst -themselves were invisible to her exalted sight; and a step or two, -more or less, made no difference. She had not, therefore, the smallest -inclination to oppose the admission of new spectators to her glory—and -rather rejoiced in the idea of the envy and admiration to which her -jewels, her equipages, and her general style of grandeur would give -rise. - -With these amiable motives, she allowed her daughter to do as she -liked, and the only one who seemed at all discomposed by the -circumstance, was Miss Carr, whose remonstrances, however, proved -quite ineffectual. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - -To return to the party at the parsonage, whom we left discussing the -point, Elizabeth suddenly turned to her sister and exclaimed, - -"By the bye Emma, you have given no opinion on the subject—yet you are -as much interested as the rest of us. What do you think of -going—should you like it?" - -"Yes, I think I should," replied Emma honestly and boldly. "I like -what I have seen of Miss Osborne better than I expected, and really -have rather a curiosity to see the inside of the Castle." - -"Ah, Emma, I am glad you have come down from your proud indifference, -and condescended to be curious like the rest of us," cried her sister. - -"Did you think I affected indifference, Elizabeth?" - -"I suspected it. For my part I have no scruple in owning my wishes, -and should like extremely to surprise Tom Musgrove by my acquaintance -with the manners, amusements and ideas prevalent in Osborne Castle, of -which he talks so much." - -"Then I may conclude it a settled affair," observed Mrs. Willis; "and -Charles shall run up to the Castle with the note immediately. That -shall be his share of the amusement." - -At six o'clock the party started from the Parsonage. Elizabeth in a -flutter between curiosity and fear, which made her pleasure in the -undertaking rather doubtful to herself. Emma would have thought more -about it had she not been engrossed with meditations on the change in -Mr. Howard's manners, which rather perplexed her. He had been -different all the afternoon from what he had appeared in the morning; -his prolonged absence from their company seemed unaccordant with -Charles's declaration of his haste to join them, and there was a -coldness in his tone when he addressed _her_, quite at variance with -his former warmth and frankness. This pained her; she was constantly -fancying that she had done or said something to lessen herself in his -esteem, but she could not imagine what it was. Occupied with these -thoughts she scarcely noticed the grandeur of the Hall, the -magnificent staircase, the elegance of the ante-rooms as they -approached, and was only roused from her reverie by the overpowering -blaze of light in the drawing-room. Lady Osborne was alone in the -room, seated on a sofa from which she did not rise to receive them, -but graciously extended her thin and richly jewelled hand to Mrs. -Willis, and bowed courteously to her companions. - -Overawed by her near approach to such magnificence, Elizabeth drew -back rather hastily, and after nearly upsetting Emma by inadvertently -treading on her toe, she dropped into the chair which seemed most out -of sight, and endeavoured to recover her breath and composure. - -Lady Osborne desired the other ladies to find seats, and then -observing that Mr. Howard likewise drew back, and seemed to meditate a -retreat to one of the windows, she dropped the elegant screen she had -been holding in her hand. It was not well managed, however; Mrs. -Willis was so near that she restored her ladyship's screen before her -brother had time to interfere. But Lady Osborne was not to be baffled, -she addressed a few civil words to Mrs. Willis, and then suddenly -observed, - -"You have no footstool Mrs. Willis, take mine—I daresay Mr. Howard -will bring me another." - -Thus appealed to the gentleman was forced to approach, and immediately -with eager civility was offered a seat on the sofa by herself. - -Emma meantime was contemplating their hostess with some interest, and -more wonder. Lady Osborne had been a celebrated beauty, and her dress -showed that she had by no means given up all pretensions to her former -claims. Jewels and flowers were mingled in her hair which was still -remarkably abundant; her neck and shoulders were a good deal -uncovered, her arms and hands were heavily hung with ornaments, and -she smoothed down her rich dress with a hand which though thin was -still white and delicate-looking. There was something in her manner to -Mr. Howard which particularly struck Emma—a sort of consciousness and -wish to attract and engage him, that seemed very much at variance with -her age and station. Not that she was an old woman—Emma had learned -from "The Peerage" that she was not more than forty-five, and she -looked less. But she was the mother of a grown-up son and daughter, -and the widow of a peer; and a grave and gentle deportment, stately -but serene, would have seemed more becoming in Emma's eyes, and given -her a higher idea of her character. She had not however very long to -make these observations as Miss Osborne's entrance gave her another -subject for her thoughts. This young lady presented a remarkable -contrast to her mother, from the studied plainness of her dress. She -was entirely without ornament, except some beautiful flowers, and had -evidently sought in her toilette to assimilate her appearance as -nearly as was suitable to what she knew her guests must present. She -took a seat between the two strangers, and entered readily into -conversation with Emma; but before many sentences had been exchanged, -their party was completed by the appearance of Miss Carr at one door, -as the young master of the house entered at another. - -He paid his compliments to them all by a short bow, and a muttered, -"Glad to see you," then walked towards his mother's sofa, and -stationed himself by the end of it, nearest Emma, where leaning -against the elbow, he could resume his apparently favorite amusement -of staring at her face. Miss Carr, meanwhile, had approached the -fender, and stood fluttering over the fire for some minutes, then -advancing nearer to Lady Osborne, addressed to her some trifling -question, which diverted her attention from Mr. Howard, to his evident -relief. He immediately rose, and resigned his seat in her favor. Lady -Osborne looked displeased, but to that Miss Carr was indifferent, she -had secured a position at Lord Osborne's elbow, which was her own -object, and broken short her lady hostess's attempts at flirtation -with the clergyman which she knew would please her friend. - -Her position, however advantageous, was not long tenable: the summons -to dinner was given before she had time to utter more than one remark -to Lord Osborne, cutting off his answer, which, short as he usually -made his replies, there was now no opportunity to utter. Lady Osborne -rose in great state, and giving her hand to Mr. Howard, proceeded to -the dining room, through a long range of ante-rooms, where large -glasses were so arranged as to exhibit before her, her stately figure, -and glance back the lustre of her diamond ornaments. As Elizabeth and -Emma followed Miss Osborne and her friend, they could not help -wondering at the self-admiration which made it agreeable thus to see -nothing but self. - -"How dingy we look compared to her ladyship and Miss Carr," whispered -Elizabeth to her sister. "I really feel quite ashamed of myself." - -"I trust I shall be a little sheltered from her son's eyes," rejoined -Emma, in a similar tone, "his stare is quite overpowering; why does he -not, sometimes, look at you." - -"Thank you, I do not wish it—gracious—six footmen—what can they all -find to do in waiting," this ejaculation was uttered almost -inaudibly—they having reached the dining-room, where Elizabeth was too -much awed to speak. - -Lady Osborne did not sit at the head of her own table, and her two -young visitors were seated on either hand of Miss Osborne on the -opposite side of her ladyship. Immediately that she perceived how they -were about to be arranged, Emma contrived to seat herself as far as -possible from their host, and by that means became the neighbour of -Mr. Howard. She fancied he perceived the object of her manœuvres, for -a sort of half smile passed over his face, and he looked either amused -or pleased, she could not tell which. He did not address her, however, -and as Miss Osborne turned to converse with Elizabeth she sat for some -time silent. But as dinner advanced, just as her ladyship was -detailing to Mrs. Willis some events in the village which required -superintendence, and whilst Miss Carr was making a lively attack on -Lord Osborne—about his absence of mind during the dinner, Mr. Howard -enquired whether her curiosity was gratified. Pleasure that he should -once more resume a tone of friendship, brought a lively colour to her -cheeks, and so sweet a smile to her lips, that he must have been very -insensible to admiration of beauty, had he been able to resist the -attraction. He continued the conversation as long as Lady Osborne's -narrative served as a screen to them, and though, when that drew to a -close, he found himself compelled to transfer his attention to their -hostess, the impressions left by his look and tone were so very -pleasing, as quite to rescue the dinner from a charge of stupidity -which Emma had previously been meditating to bring against it. It was -lucky that she had this little diversion, for otherwise her share of -amusement would have been small. There was not a great deal said at -dinner, and of that little comparatively a small portion fell to her -lot. - -It was over however at last, and when they had reached the -drawing-room to which they were ushered, in almost as much form as -they left it, though their conductor was now only the groom of the -chambers, Emma hoped she might find some little relief from -insipidity: nor was she disappointed; whilst Lady Osborne was sipping -coffee, and prosing to Mrs. Willis, her daughter drew her younger -guests into a smaller room, which she assured them was her own -particular domain; here establishing themselves comfortably round the -ample fire, they fell into a lively and pleasant chat, such as any -three girls might be expected to do; presently they were joined by -Miss Carr. - -"Your lady-mother," said she, "is so deep in village politics with -Mrs. Willis, that I am sure I must be _de trop_ there, and I have, -therefore, absconded here." - -She seated herself as she spoke in the chimney corner on a low -ottoman, and spreading out her hands to the fire; she said— - -"Don't let me stop you unless you were talking of me, Miss Emma -Watson, it is your turn—what do you think?" - -"Think of what?" enquired Emma, rather startled by the keen eyes fixed -on her—it seemed always her fate to be stared at unmercifully. - -"Think, oh, of anything—of Mr. Howard for instance—what do you think -of him?" - -"That he carves very well," returned Emma laughing. - -"Well, that is something—a good quality in the master of a house; I -commend it seriously to your attention." - -"I should think the gentlemen would not sit very long," observed Miss -Osborne, "and when they come we must all adjourn to the drawing-room, -for mama will wish to sit down to cards. I hope you can play cards." - -Her visitors assented, Elizabeth asserting that she was very fond of -them. - -"And you, Miss Emma Watson," cried Miss Carr, "do you not delight in -cards—you answer with a degree of coldness that speaks rather of -indifference on the subject." - -"I can play if necessary," replied Emma, "but there are many -occupations I prefer." - -"But you shall not be obliged to make martyrs of yourselves," said -Miss Osborne good-humouredly. "If you prefer it you shall sit here, -either or both of you, but we do not play high." - -Nothing remarkable occurred during the rest of the evening; a dull, -leaden state seemed to pervade everything, and both the Miss Watsons -felt an inclination to yawn, which they dared not indulge in so august -a presence. They were very glad when the time for taking leave -arrived, and the enlivening bustle of putting on cloaks and fur boots -quite aroused them. Lord Osborne looked on whilst Mr. Howard was -wrapping up Emma, with a degree of attention which held out fair hopes -of his soon learning such a lesson by heart. - -"I shall come down and see you to-morrow," said he. - -"It seems warmer to-night," observed Emma, "don't you think we are -going to have a thaw? perhaps we may get home to-morrow." - -"I hope you are not weary of us," said Mr. Howard, in a cordial voice; -"if the weather does not change till _we_ wish it, we shall keep you -prisoner some days yet." - -"Thank you," said she—she wanted to say something more but did not -know exactly what, and they reached the carriage before she had made -up her mind. - -The bright fire which was burning in the comfortable little drawing -room at the parsonage, irresistably invited them to enter and draw -round it, before separating for the night. Their drive had dispelled -their sleepiness, and they were all four in good spirits: it was just -the time, the situation, when reserve seems naturally cast aside, and -friendly chat and the merry laugh go round unrestrained. - -"Well, Miss Watson," said Mrs. Willis, "is your curiosity gratified? -how do you like the Castle? are you envious of their state?" - -"No, I think not," answered Elizabeth reflectingly, "there are some -things I should like, but much that would be troublesome. I dare say -Lady Osborne has no worry about housekeeping, but then _I_ should feel -the responsibility of having so many dependent on me." - -"And what part would you chose of her ladyship's manner of living?" -asked Mr. Howard, "her jewels perhaps—or her six footmen?" - -"Neither," replied Elizabeth, laughing a little; "I am used to wait on -myself, and should feel it a great restraint to be obliged to wait -whilst others waited on me. I could not help thinking of what my -father used to say, when Lady Osborne's maid was so long bringing her -ladyship a shawl. 'If you want to be served, send—if you want to be -_well_ served, go.' That was his motto—and though he never acted on it -himself, I think I do—and would rather run up three pair of stairs -myself, than wait whilst another does it." - -"I admire the activity and independence of your spirit, Miss Watson," -replied Mr. Howard; "but you have not yet told me what it is you do -envy." - -"No, and I do not mean to do it," replied she; "be satisfied with your -own conjectures." - -"I must if you will say no more. And _you_, Miss Emma, how were you -pleased with your evening?" - -"Very much—I have come back much wiser than I went; I have made up my -mind that the more elevated the situation the less pleasant it would -be unless one had been brought up to it." - -"Then you would not change places with Lady Osborne?" said he, fixing -a pair of very penetrating eyes on her. As she had noticed Lord -Osborne's looks without the remotest idea of his meaning anything but -to put her out of countenance, and formed no airy speculations as to -the possibility of succeeding to the dominion at the Castle, she -attached no peculiar meaning to his question. - -"I think the supposition hardly a reasonable one," was her answer; -"could you suppose I should wish to exchange with a woman old enough -to be my mother—give up five and twenty years of life to be a wealthy -middle-aged dowager in claret-coloured satin and diamonds." - -Mr. Howard smiled. - -"Remember," continued Emma as if retracting, "I mean no disparagement -to your friend, who I have no doubt may be a very excellent and -amiable woman, but I was speaking merely as she appeared to me -to-day." - -"There have been young Lady Osbornes," said he almost in a whisper, -and as if rather doubtful whether or not to speak the words. - -"I suppose so," replied Emma coolly, without the smallest -embarrassment, but with a slight shade of reserve in her manner. She -never allowed jesting on the topic of matrimony. He saw it -immediately. - -"Then what do you think you require to make you happy?" said he, to -escape from the other subject. - -"A very comprehensive question—I should like to know whether you -expect a serious answer," replied she gaily. - -"A true one, if you please." - -"To be with those I love, and have money in my purse—I think that is -sufficient: no—I think I should like a house too—" - -"Very reasonable and moderate." - -"But preserve me from the slavery of living _en grande dame_; I was -not brought up to it—and nothing but habit could make such bonds sit -light and gracefully." - -"I believe you are right, and you must certainly be wise." - -He looked at her with unmistakable admiration; she could not meet his -eye, but coloured and fixed hers on the fender. In spite of her -embarrassment, however, she felt a real pleasure in the friendly tone -he had assumed, and hoped sincerely that the morning would not see him -cold and formal again. - -"Emma," said Elizabeth after they had retired for the night, "I am -certain that Lord Osborne admires you very much." - -Emma only smiled in reply. - -"What do you think about it?" continued Miss Watson. - -"That I wish he would find some pleasanter way of testifying his -admiration," said Emma. "I do not know whether he is the only man who -ever admired me, but he is certainly the only one who ever looked at -me so much." - -"Oh, we must not expect everything arranged just to our taste," -replied Elizabeth; "and whilst you enjoy so much of his attention, you -must not complain if he is not the most sprightly of admirers—the -honour itself should suffice you. His rank is higher, if his wit is -not brighter than Mr. Howard's." - -"To mention them in the same breath!" cried Emma; "they are the -antipodes of each other—as different in sense as in rank—what a pity -their position cannot be reversed!" - -"Oh, then your objection to being Lady Osborne is not after all to the -rank but the man," cried Elizabeth, "and you are less philosophic than -you pretended to be. But if Mr. Howard had been a peer, perhaps you -would never have known him." - -"Very likely not," said Emma calmly, "but I do not see what that has -to do with it." - -"Now don't pretend to be so very innocent and simple-minded, Emma; you -know, as well as I do, that the two men are both in love with you, and -you, ambitious monkey, not content with things as they are, and -choosing between worth and rank, wish to have every advantage combined -in one, for your own special acceptance." - -"How can you talk such nonsense, Elizabeth?" said Emma coloring. - -"I deny the accusation stoutly; it is you who are unreasonable, whilst -I am talking in the most matter-of-fact way imaginable." - -Emma was silent, and after waiting a minute, her sister began again: - -"I wonder what Tom Musgrove will say when he hears we have dined at -the Castle?" - -"Some nonsense I dare say," replied Emma; "I believe his boastings -were at the bottom of your curiosity to go there; you wished to -surprise him." - -"Yes I think I did—but was it like what you expected? it was all so -grand and formal that _I_ felt quite uncomfortable. I am glad to have -been, and still more glad that I have come away." - -"It was not the first time I have been in a large house," said Emma, -"and I was not surprised at anything I saw; except that Lady Osborne -should take the trouble of wearing so many jewels, and dress in so -very juvenile a style." - -"Were you not jealous, Emma? Did you not notice how she flirted with -Mr. Howard?" - -"For shame, Elizabeth, to say such things of our hostess." - -"Nay, indeed it is only truth—I think he had much better marry her. I -dare say she has a good jointure, and she may not be very disagreeable -to him perhaps! what would you say to that?" - -"That he must be a very different Mr. Howard from what I fancy him, if -he can be induced to marry for the sake of a jointure," replied Emma -firmly. - -"But perhaps he is in love with her," persisted Miss Watson. - -"That alters the case," said Emma who did not believe anything of the -kind. - -"I rather think he must be," continued her sister, "he looked so much -pleased at her calling him to the sofa. Or I will tell you another -idea that struck me, perhaps he is attached to Miss Osborne, and pays -his court to her mother to gain her good word." - -"My dear Elizabeth," cried Emma rather impatiently, "you have within -the last five minutes, concluded Mr. Howard in love with three -different people. Some of your conjectures cannot be right, but they -may all be wrong—pray leave off guessing, since you cannot arrive at -any conclusion." - -"I like Miss Osborne," said Elizabeth, after a moment's pause. - -"So do I," replied her sister. - -"Better than Miss Carr," continued Miss Watson, "I have a little fear -of Miss Carr; but, Emma, I wonder how my father and Margaret get on, I -am afraid he will find it very dull; she does not like backgammon or -reading out loud—and this snow will prevent his getting the newspaper, -or seeing any one to amuse him." - -"Yes, I am afraid so," sighed Emma, "it is very pleasant here, but I -wish we were home again." - -"I wish home were like this," continued Miss Watson, "as airy and -cheerful, and elegant-looking—what a nice room this is—we have not -such a room in our house—and I am sure our furniture never looks so -well, take what care I can of it. You had better take this for your -own room when you are Mrs. Howard." - -"I really wish you would not talk in that way, Elizabeth," -remonstrated Emma, "it can do no good, and it will make me feel very -uncomfortable." - -"I beg your pardon, I will try not," said her sister laughing. - -Long after her sister was asleep, Emma herself was thinking over the -events of the morning, and recalling to memory every tone and word and -look of Mr. Howard. She weighed them all, and tried to comprehend the -cause of the changes which seemed to her rather sudden. She could -hardly suppose it a caprice—she did not think him guilty of that—but -why vary so completely. - -She wished to be liked by him; she was pleased with the society both -of himself and his sister, and he feared if she did not approve of her -manners, or disliked her conversation, his sister likewise would draw -back from the friendship which seemed to have begun so prosperously, -and she should lose the pleasantest acquaintance she had found since -returning to her father's house. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - -The aspect of the next morning did not promise any additional facility -for returning home; more snow had fallen during the night, and the -cutting wind which had accompanied it assured them that the lanes -would be still less practicable than before. Emma, assured by the -parting words of Lord Osborne that she was doomed to see and be seen -by him again, tried to compose her mind and features to bear the -threatened inspection. Instead of a visit from him, however, noon -brought down a little note from Miss Osborne, reminding her of a wish -expressed the night before to see the picture-gallery at the Castle, -and offering, if Mr. Howard would escort her up in time for luncheon, -to go round with her afterwards. - -"Do you think your brother could spare the time to accompany me?" said -she to Mrs. Willis, after communicating to her the contents of the -note. "I should be so much obliged if he would—because—" she added -rather hesitating, "I do not like to go alone, lest I should encounter -the young lord." - -"And you do not like him, my dear?" said Mrs. Willis with a bright -look. - -"I do not mind him much," replied Emma; "but I think I would rather -not throw myself in his way: going alone would be almost like inviting -his escort. Will you ask your brother?" - -"I will go to him immediately—but I have no doubt of his acquiescence, -and I can assure you in promising you Edward's company through the -picture-gallery Miss Osborne is securing you a _very_ great pleasure." - -"It would I am afraid be encroaching too much on Mr. Howard's time," -replied Emma, "to exact his attentions as a cicerone. Miss Osborne has -promised to go round with me herself." - -"Miss Osborne sometimes breaks her word," said Mrs. Willis coolly; -"and as she has usually a good many engagements, perhaps you had -better trust to my brother since you seem determined to shun hers." - -"I should not expect much intellectual gratification from Lord -Osborne's company, or his remarks on painting," replied Emma, almost -laughing at the idea. - -Mrs. Willis left the room, to speak to her brother. She found him of -course in his study, from whence Charles had just been dismissed. - -"Edward, are you busy?" said she. - -"No; what do you want, Clara?" looking up for a moment and then -returning to his papers. "I was just coming to the parlour." - -"It is not I, but Emma Watson who wants you." - -Mr. Howard turned round to look at his sister with an expression half -pleased, half incredulous. - -"Yes indeed, so you need not stare so; Miss Osborne has sent down to -ask you to bring her to lunch at the Castle, and go through the -picture-gallery afterwards—that is to say, she has promised to go -through the gallery, but you must be sure to accompany them." - -Mr. Howard bent over his papers again for a moment in silence. - -"Why do not you answer, Edward? There is nothing to prevent your -going, is there?—and I am sure you cannot dislike it." - -"Oh, no—but Emma—what did she say to it?" - -"She begged me to come and engage you as her escort, that she might -avoid falling into the company of Lord Osborne, who she seemed to -apprehend might be lying in wait for her. Elizabeth Watson does not -care for paintings, and means to remain with me." - -"It will give me the greatest pleasure," said Mr. Howard, starting up, -and beginning to put away his books and papers. "Now, or at any time -she will name, I am quite at her service. When does she wish to go?" - -"Immediately, I should think, as they lunch at one—that is, as soon as -she can get herself ready. I will go back and give her your message at -once." - -They were soon on their way. The air was bright and exhilarating—and -it would have been very pleasant walking but for the ground being -exceedingly slippery. It may be doubtful whether Mr. Howard thought -this an evil, since it compelled his companion to lean on him for -support, up the steep ascent which conducted them to the castle. Even -with the assistance of his arm, she was obliged to pause and take -breath, before they had accomplished more than half the ascent. From -the point where they stood, they commanded a beautiful view—the -parsonage and the church lying snugly at their feet, and the snow-clad -country stretching out beyond, chequered with rich hanging woods of -beech on the sides of the hills, and thick coppices of underwood down -in the valley. Emma expressed her admiration with enthusiasm. Mr. -Howard assured her that if she would move a short distance along a -path to the left, she would enjoy a still more splendid panorama. The -snow had been swept from off the gravel, and Emma could not resist the -temptation, though it was diverging from their object. There was -plenty of time,—since they need not be at the castle till one—and it -was now little more than half past twelve. They turned into the path -accordingly, and soon reached the spot he had mentioned: from this -point they likewise had a peep at the castle, situated some way above -them; and whilst they were standing there, Mr. Howard observed: - -"There is Lord Osborne just coming out at the side door, near his own -rooms—do you see him." - -Emma perceived and watched him. - -"I think he is taking the path to your house—is he not?" - -"Yes, we shall meet him presently, if we turn and pursue our walk -upwards." - -"Oh! then, pray let us stay here till he is gone past," said Emma, -hastily. "I do not wish to meet him in the least." - -Mr. Howard looked so excessively pleased that Emma deeply coloured, -and was nearly thinking his eyes as troublesome as those of his former -pupil. - -It will easily be believed that he did not press the proposition to -meet Lord Osborne,—on the contrary, he acquiesced with very good grace -in her wish to remain concealed till all danger of encountering him -was passed away. As soon as the winding of the path hid him entirely -from sight, they proceeded upwards and reached the castle without -further incident, having only consumed half an hour in a walk which -might have been easily accomplished in a third of that time. Yet Emma -did not find the walk tedious, and Mr. Howard never discovered the -period it had occupied. - -They were shewn to Miss Osborne's own sitting room, where they found -her practising on the harp. Miss Carr was lounging amongst the soft -pillows of a comfortable chair—from which she hardly raised herself to -address the visitors. Her friend was extremely good-humoured and -civil. She pressed Emma's hand affectionately—enquired tenderly after -her health, and expressed herself excessively obliged by her coming. - -"Luncheon is waiting," added she, "you will not see mama, she is never -visible of a morning—but did you not meet my brother?" - -Emma coloured, and as she did not answer immediately, Mr. Howard -replied— - -"We saw him at a distance—but he did not join us." - -"I am surprised," said Miss Carr, "for I know he set off on purpose to -escort Miss Emma Watson up here. Which way did you come, to pass him?" - -"It is easily accounted for," replied Emma, calmly, "Mr. Howard had -taken me out of the direct road to shew me a good view of the -castle—and Lord Osborne passed whilst we were looking at it." - -"It is a pity you did not stop him," pursued Miss Carr, "he would not -then have had his walk for nothing." - -Emma made no answer. She did not think it necessary to inform Miss -Carr that the honor of Lord Osborne's company was not a thing that she -coveted. - -When their luncheon was over, Miss Osborne renewed her offer of -guiding Emma through the picture gallery—observing that they had -better not lose time, as there was no light to spare in a winter's -afternoon. - -"But you must come too," continued she, addressing Mr. Howard. "I am -sure you know more about the pictures than I do—and are much better -worth listening to on _that_ subject, at least." - -"Your humility, Miss Osborne, is most commendable," said he, with a -playful bow. - -"Oh, yes, I am the humblest creature in the world—there are some -things in which I believe you and a few others are wiser than -myself—Greek and mathematics for instance." - -"Your learning in those two branches did not use to be remarkable." - -"Oh, I dare say I know as much as half those who have passed through -Eton—they learnt to forget—I forgot to learn—there is not much -difference." - -"Not as you state it, certainly; apparently, you hold the learning of -your acquaintance rather cheaply." - -"Well, perhaps I do—but, really, one seldom meets with _very_ wise men -in these days: one _hears_ such prodigies have existed in former -times—but, I dare say they were not at all like the generality of our -gentlemen companions, and would be sadly at a loss to comprehend our -amusements, could they re-appear on the scene." - -"You know scholars are proverbially awkward, bashful and absent—and, -unless you would tolerate all those capital crimes, you need not wish -for them in your company." - -"I look upon you as a scholar, Mr. Howard," said the young lady, -laughing. - -"I cannot plead guilty to the impeachment, Miss Osborne." - -"But I do not consider you particularly awkward nor intolerably -bashful—and—what was the third crime you laid to the charge of -scholars?" - -"I forget." - -"What intolerable affectation," cried Miss Osborne, "you want to be -accused of absence of mind. But here we are at the gallery. Now, Miss -Watson, make Mr. Howard tell you all about them." - -The collection was really a very good one, and Emma was delighted. -Miss Osborne looked at two or three, then sauntered about the -room—looked out of the window—and, at length, returning to her -companions, said: - -"I have just recollected an engagement, for which I must leave you—I -will be back as soon as I can; but don't hurry, and don't wait for me. -You may be quite comfortable here, nobody will disturb you." - -She then left them to another protracted _tête-à-tête_; a particularly -pleasant circumstance to Mr. Howard, who found an increasing charm in -Emma's conversation. - -When tired of walking about and straining their eyes upwards, they sat -down on a comfortable sofa in a recess, where they could at once enjoy -the view of a beautiful landscape, and converse comfortably. - -"You surely must have been used to look at good paintings," said Mr. -Howard, "It is a taste that requires as much cultivation as any other -art. You evidently know how to look at a picture, and how to -appreciate its merit." - -"I do not pretend to be a connoisseur, I assure you," said Emma. - -"There is no occasion that you should—you have an eye and a taste, -which, lead your judgment right, and I can perceive that you are well -acquainted with the styles as well as the names of great artists." - -"I almost suspect you of quizzing me," replied Emma, blushing, "have I -been saying or affecting more than you think I felt." - -"You are unjust to us both in such an idea," cried he, "I should not -take such a liberty; and you are in no danger of tempting me." - -"My kind uncle was extremely fond of the art," said Emma, "and he took -me to every good collection and exhibition within our reach. He -likewise took great pains to form and correct my taste; so that I -ought rather to blush at knowing so little, than receive compliments -on the subject." - -"I do not know of what uncle you are speaking," said Mr. Howard, in a -manner that denoted his interest in her connections; "you forget that -I know almost nothing of your family." - -"The uncle who brought me up; Dr. Maitland." - -"Then you were not educated at Winston?" - -"I—oh no—my home was formerly in my uncle's house—I have not been more -than two months resident in my father's family." - -"I dare say you think me a very stupid fellow for not being aware of -this—but though I saw you were different from your sisters, and indeed -most of the young ladies of the neighbourhood, the reason never -occurred to me." - -"You thought, I suppose, I was a sort of Cinderella," said Emma -laughing, "let out by some benevolent fairy on the occasion of one -ball, and that having once escaped into public, I could not be -repressed again." - -"You know I had not been in your father's house, and had therefore no -reason to assign you an imaginary abode in the kitchen, in preference -to the parlour, where I had never been. But I own I was surprised by -your sudden apparition, since I had neither in ball-room or street, -town or country, seen or heard of more than three Miss Watsons." - -"I can easily believe it—so protracted an absence will naturally sink -one's name in oblivion." - -"May I ask if you are to return to your uncle's house?" - -"Alas! no—my dear, kind uncle died not quite a twelvemonth ago—my aunt -has left England to settle in Ireland—and my home is now at my -father's." - -"Is it not with rather a strange sensation that you meet your nearest -relations; they must be almost unknown to you." - -"I have made acquaintance with one brother and two sisters," replied -Emma with something like a sigh; "But I have yet to meet another -brother and sister." - -"It seems almost a pity," said Mr. Howard thoughtfully, "to bring up -one child apart and differently from the other members of a family, if -they are ultimately to be rejoined. At least I feel in my own case how -much I should have lost, had Clara been separated from me in -childhood. I suppose it rarely happens that a brother and sister are -so much together as we were—but we were orphans, and everything to -each other till her marriage." - -"It does not do, Mr. Howard, to indulge in retrospective -considerations, if they tend to make one dissatisfied," said Emma, -with an attempt to check a tear or hide it by a smile; "my friends -wished to do everything for the best, and if the result has been -different from their intentions, they are not to blame. But I do not -know that I should choose to repeat the experiment for one under my -care." - -"Do you like the neighbourhood?" enquired he, feeling that he had no -right to press the last subject further. - -"I have seen so little; the weather has been so unfavourable, but it -does not strike me as being very beautiful about Winston. I was used -to fine scenery in the west of England." - -"Then you will naturally think Winston flat and uninteresting.—Osborne -Castle and its park have beauties, however, which you cannot -despise—but in my enquiry I rather referred to the inhabitants—have -you pleasant neighbours about your father's house—I do not visit in -the village." - -"We live so very quietly," replied Emma, who had no intention of -satisfying his curiosity as to their acquaintance, "that I have had no -opportunity of judging. I _saw_ a great many people at the ball, but -as you must have seen them too, you are as equal to decide on their -appearance as I am." - -"You know Mr. Tom Musgrove of course?" - -"A little." - -"He is not a person of whom most young ladies answer so coolly; if I -put the same question to five out of six of my acquaintance, they -would reply with rapture—he is charming—divine—a perfect pattern for -all gentlemen." - -"I understood he was a great favorite," observed Emma, still in the -same composed voice. - -"I have been used to consider him such a perfect example in everything -relative to the important concerns of fashion and the toilette," said -Mr. Howard, gravely, "things which I know are of the first importance -in the eyes of ladies, that I have seriously proposed when I wish to -be particularly charming to copy him in the tying of his cravat." - -"I am not quite sure whether I should think any one improved by -copying Mr. Tom Musgrove, from his cravat to his shoe-buckles: but I -have, I am afraid, a wicked prejudice, against any individual who is -considered _universally_ agreeable." - -"Alas you discourage my young ambition; if to be universally agreeable -is to be hated by you, I shall leave forthwith my attempts at -pleasing. To how many individuals is it allowable to be friendly? to -how many cold? to how many repulsive in order to win your good -opinion." - -"Impossible for me to answer without more data for my calculations. -You must tell me, to begin with, how many you have been in the habit -of flattering daily!" - -"None, I assure you—there is not a more sincere creature under the -sun." - -"I do not quite believe you—but if you will not own to that—with how -many do you consider yourself a particular favorite." - -"That is an artful question—you wish to prove me guilty of general -agreeableness—but my native modesty stands my friend there: I do not -think more than two thirds of my acquaintance consider me a very -charming fellow—amongst ladies, I mean—of course, a man's opinion goes -for nothing." - -"Ah, that is too many by half to please me—if you had always spoken -with sincerity, depend upon it your particular admirers would be less -numerous." - -"But seriously, Miss Watson, why do you feel a particular enmity to -the general favorites of your sex!" - -"Seriously then, because I mistrust them." - -"You think then truth must be sacrificed to popularity? Is not that -rather a severe reflection on the taste of other women." - -"I did not mean it as such." - -"I never knew any one who did not profess to hate flattery." - -"Very likely—but I go a step farther—I dislike the flatterer." - -"And by what scale do you measure, so as to form a correct decision—is -your standard of your own merit so accurately settled, that you can -instantly perceive truth from flattery, appropriating just so much of -a compliment as you deserve, and rejecting the rest." - -"I think, Mr. Howard, I am more inclined to decide on the value of -compliments from the character of the giver, than from my own. If an -individual either man or woman dares to say a disagreeable truth, I -cannot suspect them of an agreeable falsehood. Or if they are as ready -to praise the absent, as to compliment the present, then I listen with -more complaisance." - -"It is fortunate for some men that all young ladies are not like you; -their stock of conversation would be reduced very low, if neither -praises of the present nor abuse of the absent were tolerated." - -"I differ from you, Mr. Howard. If no one would _listen_ to slander -much less evil would happen in the world; much unhappiness would be -saved—much moral guilt would be avoided." - -"True: call it by its right name—slander—and every one shrinks from -it; the habit of softening down our expressions leads to much evil—a -little scandal, nobody minds that." - -"Most detestable of all is the flattery from mercenary motives. To see -a man—a young man courting, flattering, cajoling a woman for her -money—one to whom he would, were she poor, hardly deign to address a -word—selling himself body and soul for gold—oh, it makes one -shudder—it tempts me to unjust, harsh thoughts of the whole species. -Hateful!" - -Mr. Howard looked at his companion with considerable surprise. She -certainly was using rather strong expressions, and evidently felt -acutely what she was saying. As he, however, was perfectly ignorant of -the circumstances of her aunt's marriage, and never for a moment -thought of anything of the sort, an idea passed through his mind that -she might allude to himself and Lady Osborne, for though he could not -plead guilty to anything on his own part which deserved such -condemnation, it was possible his conduct might appear in this light -to her eyes. He did not stop to consider whether it was probable, or -in accordance with her character to make such personal reflections, -but fell into a reverie on the subject of his own manners, from which -he was roused by her addressing him again. - -"I am quite ashamed, Mr. Howard, of having spoken so bitterly just -now—pray forget what I said if possible—at least do not decide on my -being a very ill-natured person because I spoke harshly—there are -sometimes circumstances on which to reflect invariably creates -unpleasant sensations—but the past is passed, and should not be -allowed to awaken angry feelings." - -"I fancy we have strayed a long way from the point which awakened -these reflections," said Mr. Howard trying to recover himself -likewise. "Tom Musgrove was the commencement of our dissertation on -flattery." - -"Mr. Musgrove—yes, so he was, but I had indeed forgotten it; my -thoughts were many miles off—they had gone back many months." - -"Your opinion of him does not seem very high," observed he, much -relieved at the termination of her sentence. - -"My opinion of him is of too little consequence to be worth -discussing," replied Emma: "I have not seen a great deal of him, but I -fancy my father does not estimate him very highly." - -"But you cannot deny him the advantage of having plenty to say for -himself." - -"Plenty indeed—sufficient to make any discussion amongst others on -that subject unnecessary." - -"He is handsome too, in the opinion of most women." - -"I do not deny it." - -"And you know he has a very comfortable independence." - -"On that point, Mr. Howard, I feel incredulous: independence is the -very thing he wants. His principal object seems to be to follow -another." - -"I see you are hardened against him." - -"You think me prejudiced, no doubt." - -"I have no wish to combat your prejudice, or persuade you into liking -him against your will." - -A pause ensued, when Emma suddenly starting from her reverie, -exclaimed, - -"It is almost dusk—we must really return home." - -"True, we can come again another day; I am sure you may come whenever -you feel disposed—I shall be most happy to escort you." - -At this moment the door was thrown back, and Lord Osborne himself -appeared. After paying his compliments, he paused a moment, and then -observed, - -"You must have a precious strong taste for pictures, Miss Watson, to -like to remain in the gallery even when it is too dark to see. I -suppose breathing the same air is pleasant to those who value the -art." - -"We have stayed longer than we intended, my lord," said Emma; "and I -really feel much obliged to your sister for allowing me such a -pleasure; but we expected her to join us." - -"It's a mighty fine thing to have such a lot of fine pictures, with -all the fine names tacked on to them. One or two I really like -myself—there's one of some horses, by somebody, excellent—and a Dutch -painting of dead game, which is so like you would really think them -all alive. Did you notice it?" - -"Not particularly—I do not care much for still life." - -"Howard there knows all about them: he has the names and dates and all -on the tip of his tongue. Don't you find it a deuced bore to listen to -it?" - -"On the contrary, I am much obliged to Mr. Howard for the -information." - -"Well I should be glad, for my part, of a piece of information: how -the—I beg pardon—I mean how the wonder did I contrive to miss you as I -was going down the straight path to the Parsonage." - -"Because we did not come up the straight path, my lord." - -"Well, on my honour, I just was surprised when I got there to hear you -were gone—stole away in fact. 'Holloa! how can that be!' said I, 'I -did not meet them—no indeed.' 'Did you not!' cried Mrs. Willis. 'Well -deuce take it, that is extraordinary!'" - -"Did she say so indeed," said Emma with exemplary gravity. - -"I don't mean to say she used those very words—she thought them, -though, I'm sure, by her look." - -"But now, my lord, we must wish you good evening, or Mrs. Willis will -be waiting for dinner; and though I am not afraid of her swearing at -us, I do not wish to annoy her." - -"Ah, yes, Mrs. Willis is mistress—I know—the Parson there, like -myself, is under petticoat government; nothing like a mother or sister -to keep one in order. I'll be bound a wife is nothing to it. One -cannot get away from a sister, and one can't make her quiet and -obedient—you see she has never undertaken anything of the kind, as I -understand wives do when one marries them." - -"But I have heard, my lord, that they sometimes break their word and -rebel," said Emma with mock solemnity. - -"Ah, but that must be the husband's fault, he gives them too much -rein—keep a strict hand on them, that's my maxim." - -"I recommend you, however, to keep it a secret, if you wish to find a -wife; I assure you no woman would marry you if she knew your opinion." - -"Seriously—well but I am sorry I said so then." - -"Oh, never mind—there is no harm done as yet—I promise not to betray -you—but here we are at Miss Osborne's room, will she expect us to look -in—or shall we go straight home, Mr. Howard?" - -"We'll see if Rosa's here," said her brother, opening the door as he -spoke. The room, however, was empty, and there was nothing to be done -but return home. Emma was vexed to find the young peer persisted in -escorting them. Though his conversation had been much shorter than Mr. -Howard's, she was far more weary of it. To hurry her walk, was her -only remedy, and the coldness of the air was a plausible excuse for -this. The space which had occupied nearly half an hour in ascending, -was now traversed in five minutes, and breathless but glowing, the -party reached the door of the parsonage. Here Lord Osborne was really -obliged to leave them, and Emma hastened to her room to prepare for -dinner. - -"Well, Emma," cried Elizabeth, "I should like to know what you have -been doing all this time—what an age you have been gone!" - -"Looking at pictures, Elizabeth—you know what I went for." - -"I know what you went for indeed, but how do I know what you stayed -for. Pictures indeed—looking at pictures for two hours and a half—and -in the dark too!" - -Emma laughed. - -"Of what do you suspect me, Elizabeth?" cried she as her sister placed -a candle so as to throw the light on her face. - -"Which have you been flirting with?" said Elizabeth taking her -sister's hand, and closely examining her countenance. "The peer or the -parson, which of your two admirers do you prefer?" - -"How can you ask such an unnecessary question?" returned Emma, -blushing and laughing, yet struggling to disengage herself, "would you -hesitate yourself—is not Lord Osborne the most captivating, elegant, -lively, fascinating young nobleman who ever made rank gracious and -desirable. Would _you_ not certainly accept him?" - -"Why yes, I think I should—it would be something to be Lady -Osborne—mistress of all those rooms and servants, carriages and -horses. I think I should like it, but then I shall never have the -choice!" - -"So far as I am concerned, I do not think I shall interfere with your -power of accepting him—if he makes you an offer, do not refuse it on -my account." - -"Very well—and when I am Lady Osborne, I will be very kind to Mrs. -Howard—I will send and ask her to dine with me most Sundays, and some -week days too." - -"I hope she will like it." - -"I will give her a new gown at Easter, and a pelisse or bonnet at -Christmas!" - -"Your liberality is most exemplary, but in the midst of your kind -intentions to Mrs. Howard, I fear you are forgetting Mrs. Willis and -her dinner. If you do not finish your dressing quickly you will keep -them waiting." - -Elizabeth took her sister's advice, and finished her toilette with all -possible despatch. It was singular that though invariably consuming -double the time that sufficed for Emma, the result of her efforts in -adjusting her clothes was much less satisfactory. She never looked -_finished_. Her hair was certain to fall down too low; or her gown -burst open, or her petticoat peeped out from underneath: she was -always finding a string, or a button, or a loop wanting, just when -such a loss was particularly inconvenient—always in a hurry, always -behind hand, always good-naturedly sorry, but always as far from -amendment. - -The evening was spent in quiet comfort, far removed from the stately -grandeur of the yester-night's scene—they closed round the fire, -chatting and laughing, cracking nuts and eating home-baked cakes with -a zest which Osborne Castle and its lordly halls could not rival. They -talked of the snow melting, and Charles and his uncle too persisted in -the greatest incredulity on that subject. A hundred other things were -discussed, made charming by the ease and good-humour with which they -were canvassed, and then a book was produced. Shakespeare was placed -in Mr. Howard's hands, and he read with a degree of feeling and taste, -which made it very delightful to his listeners. Thus the evening -passed peacefully and quickly, and when they separated for the night, -it was with encreased good will and affection between the parties. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - -The next morning, though ushered in by no change of the weather, -brought a very material alteration to the Miss Watsons. About eleven -o'clock, as the ladies were working together, their attention was -attracted by the sound of carriage wheels on the drive to the house. -Presently a note was handed to Miss Watson, accompanied by an -assurance that the carriage was waiting. With much surprise, Elizabeth -opened the dispatch. It was from her father, and contained information -to the effect, that wearied by their long absence, and finding that -the lanes were still blocked up, he had sent their man to the post -town for a chaise, in which they could return home, by taking the high -road, which, although greatly adding to the distance, was the safest -and most expeditious route they could adopt. He begged them to return -immediately in the post-chaise, and Robert could follow with their own -little vehicle after them. Kind as the family had been to them, the -girls were still glad of a prospect of returning home before Sunday, -being conscious that they could be ill spared from their father's -house, and that every hour of enjoyment to them, was probably -unpleasant and wearisome to him. - -They could not be parted with, of course, without great regret and -many remonstrances on the subject of the dangerous nature of the -expedition they were undertaking. Charles, in particular, gave them -such repeated assurances that they would certainly be upset, that Emma -declared her belief that his foreknowledge arose from having bribed -the postilion to bring on a catastrophe. Mrs. Willis' object seemed to -be to overwhelm them with cloaks, furs, shawls, and everything she -could think of to fence the cold away, and Mr. Howard obviated all -difficulty about returning these articles, by volunteering to drive -over as soon as the weather permitted, and fetch them all back. Hopes -of a continued friendship closed the visit, and they parted on the -best possible terms. - -Their return home was perfectly uneventful. There was not even the -cold to complain of—so well had Mrs. Willis succeeded in wrapping them -up. - -Most cordial was the welcome they received from Mr. Watson; and -Margaret, too, really looked enlivened by the sight of them. - -"I shall not let you young ladies go visiting again in a hurry," said -he good-humouredly, "I began to think one of you must have eloped with -Lord Osborne, and the other with Mr. Howard. I assure you, we have -been very dull without you." - -Such was his salutation—Margaret's ran as follows: - -"Well, I hope you have been having pleasure enough—and that you will -have brought home some news to enliven us. I am sure I am almost dead -of stupidity and dulness. Not a creature have we seen—not an -individual has come near us. Some people contrive to keep all the -amusement—all the luck—everything that is good and pleasant to -themselves." - -The astonishment of Margaret, when she heard the detail of what had -occurred, was excessive; she was ready to cry with vexation and envy, -to think of her sisters having so much to amuse them—of which she did -not partake. With jealous anger she insisted on knowing every -particular, for the sake, apparently, of tormenting herself to the -uttermost, and being as miserable and ill-used as possible. - -Every dish at dinner—every jewel in Lady Osborne's necklace—every word -said to be spoken by the ladies at the castle, and every amusement -suggested by the inhabitants of the parsonage, was an additional sting -to her mind; and she was more than ever convinced that it was an act -of the most barbarous injustice, the not allowing her to accompany her -sisters—though nothing could be more evident than the total -impossibility of such an arrangement. In vain did Emma try to turn the -conversation to some less irritating topic; Margaret pertinaciously -returned to the original theme, and insisted on learning every thing -which her sisters could tell her. - -There are various tastes amongst the inhabitants of the world; some -delight in making themselves happy, some in just the reverse; -Margaret's pleasure was to fret; her pastime was to vex herself. Had -she been the only victim to this peculiar taste, there would have been -less harm in it; but, unfortunately, her father and sisters were -likewise sufferers, and in as much as they were involuntary sufferers, -and really took no pleasure in her vexation, it was rather hard upon -them to be involved in the same calamity. - -In progress of time the snow melted from the ground, and the -inhabitants of the rectory at Winston were again set free from -confinement. As soon as the roads became at all passable, Emma began -to catch herself wondering when Mr. Howard would redeem his promise of -coming to fetch the articles with which his sister had supplied them. -She likewise detected herself in what she considered another failing; -this was looking round the untidy rooms of her father's home, with -their dingy carpets, faded curtains, papers soiled by the hands of the -servants and children, and tables unpolished and scratched, and -contrasting them mentally with the clear and cheerful aspect of the -apartments where Mrs. Willis was mistress. The grandeur of Osborne -Castle had none of the charms in her eyes which Mrs. Willis' little -parlour presented, and she came to the conclusion that the happiest -thing in the world must be to preside over such an establishment with -such a companion. Those feelings, however, she did not openly express, -in which she differed from Elizabeth, who repeatedly declared that she -wished she could make their house resemble Mr. Howard's. - -One morning, shortly after their return home, Tom Musgrove, whom they -had not seen since that event, was ushered into the parlour. - -Margaret, who happened to be alone, was instantly all agitation and -bustle, trying to persuade him to take her chair by the fire, as she -was sure he must be cold, or to accept the loan of her father's -slippers whilst his boots were sent to the kitchen to dry. - -He persisted, however, in declining her tender attentions, declaring -she wanted to make an old man of him before his time, and placing -himself on the hearth-rug, with his back to the fire, and his hands -behind him, half whistled an air. - -Margaret sighed. - -"It is long since we have seen you," said she; "and the time has -passed very wearily." - -"Hum," said Tom, stopping in his tune. "Where are your sisters, Miss -Margaret?" - -"Oh, they are at home again," replied Margaret. "I believe Emma is -with my father, and Elizabeth in the kitchen. Did you hear of their -being away so long?" - -"How long?" cried Tom. - -"From Wednesday to Saturday: there was I left without a creature to -speak to except my father and the servants, snowed up in the house, -and if they had only taken me with them, I should have enjoyed it as -much as they did." - -"I dare say; but how came they to go?" said Tom, who though really -knowing nothing about it, was determined to learn all he could without -betraying his ignorance. - -"Oh, they wanted to return Mrs. Willis' visit, and they went over in -the pony-chaise, and then the snow came on and stopped them there all -that time. I dare say they liked to stay, for I have no doubt but they -might have come home had they tried. At last my father was obliged to -send for a post-chaise to fetch them home in, and they came on -Saturday." - -"And they liked it very much, did they?" - -"Oh yes, of course—was it not hard I could not go too? I am always -thwarted and ill-used." - -"I wish your sister Emma would come down; she is always shut up in -your father's room; I called here on purpose to see her." - -"I dare say she will come presently—do sit down here; I am sure you -ought to rest yourself; you seem to have had a very dirty ride." - -"You could not go and call her, I suppose?" - -"Oh no, she will come when she has done reading to my father. Do take -something—a biscuit and a glass of wine, or something of that kind." - -"Quite unnecessary, I have but just breakfasted. I do not keep such -gothic hours as some of my friends do. I am able to please myself—a -free and independent man." - -"No doubt a happy one. Ah, Mr. Musgrove, you are most fortunate. You -cannot tell the misery, the low spirits, the—the—in short all we poor -helpless women suffer from, how much heart-breaking sorrow we endure -in silence—bitterness of heart of which the world knows nothing." - -Tom only whistled again in reply to this very pathetic address, then -turning round began to examine the ornaments on the chimney-piece. -Even Margaret could not quite blind herself to the change in his -manner since the period when her smiles seemed the object he most -coveted. - -Presently he began again. - -"Whilst your sisters were at Howard's did they see much of the -Osbornes?" - -Before Margaret had time to give an account of the visit to the -Castle, Elizabeth entered the room. - -"So I understand, Miss Watson, you have been playing the truant, and -been obliged to be brought back almost by force." - -"And are you come to congratulate or condole with me on our return?" - -"I am come to wish you joy about being overwhelmed in the snow. I -little thought when I was last at Osborne Castle we were such near -neighbours." - -"When were you there?" cried Elizabeth. - -"Let me see—I think it was Thursday. I am there very often, but I -think Thursday was the last day. How droll it would have been had we -met." - -"Emma," cried Miss Watson, as her youngest sister just then entered -the room, "Mr. Musgrove says he was at the Castle on Thursday." - -"Oh," said Emma. - -"I wonder we did not hear of it," pursued Elizabeth. "Miss Osborne -never mentioned it." - -"How do you like Miss Osborne," enquired Tom, who wanted to appear -perfectly well informed as to what had passed, and was, therefore, -ashamed of asking questions which might betray his real ignorance. - -"She seems a very pleasant, amiable young lady," replied Elizabeth, -"don't you think so, Emma." - -"Yes," replied she, quietly. - -"Did she know you were friends of mine, Miss Watson? Miss Emma, did -she not talk about me?" - -"No, indeed," replied Emma, with much satisfaction; "we never heard -your name mentioned the whole time we were in company with her." - -"How did you hear we had been there," enquired Elizabeth. - -"I think Osborne mentioned it on Saturday, when I saw him for a -minute," then seating himself by Emma, who was a little apart from the -others, he whispered; "He told me the beautiful, but obdurate Miss -Watson had been at Howard's parsonage. Why do you treat him with such -scorn, Miss Emma? You will drive my poor friend to despair." - -"I should be sorry to think that I merited your accusation, Mr. -Musgrove: scorn cannot be a becoming quality in a young lady." - -"Nay, there can be nothing unbecoming which you can do; youth and -beauty have unlimited privileges," whispered he again. "Miss Osborne -vows you eclipse Miss Carr in beauty, and she would rather have you -for a friend. She is dying to be introduced to you." - -"It is quite unnecessary to inflict such a death upon her even in -imagination, Mr. Musgrove—for our acquaintance has progressed too far -for that phrase to be at all applicable to it." - -"Yes now, I dare say; Osborne told me, but I forget, you went over the -castle I think." - -"No, we did not." - -"You did not! that was unlucky; I wish I had known you were going, I -would have been there, and I could have suggested it to Miss Osborne; -I dare say she would have shewn you all the rooms." - -"She offered to do so, but we put it off till another time; we thought -we should be too hurried." - -"It's a pity you did not dine there; its something quite grand to see -all the plate—I quite enjoy it—they give such good dinners." - -"You do not seem aware that we _did_ dine there," replied Emma, "and, -as I had seen other large establishments before, I saw nothing so very -astonishing at their table." - -"You did dine there—yes—but that was in a family way; the thing is to -see a regular great dinner—twenty people sitting down—that is what I -like." - -"I am not fond of large dinner parties; unless one has a very pleasant -neighbour they are apt to be dull." - -"Very much so—very much so indeed; I quite agree with you, a little, -quiet, social dinner—where one person can talk and the others listen, -that is pleasant. You get every thing hot and quickly—that's the -thing!" - -Emma did not feel called on to answer, and presently he added: - -"I should like to have _you_ for a neighbour at such a dinner." - -Emma was still obdurately silent, and Mr. Musgrove, to recompense -himself, turned to Elizabeth, and began to talk to her. - -As soon as her attention was released Emma left the room, and throwing -on a bonnet and cloak, determined to take refuge in the garden as the -day was fine, and she longed for fresh air. Hardly had she quitted the -entrance, however, when her attention was attracted by the sound of -wheels in the lane, and looking up her cheek crimsoned with pleasure -at perceiving Mr. Howard. - -The pleasure was certainly mutual, judging from the alacrity with -which he sprang from the carriage to meet and address her. There was -no mistaking the look and air with which he advanced, it was the -genuine expression of a cordial welcome, met with equal though more -bashful cordiality on her side. - -He was come, of course, to redeem his promise of fetching back his -sister's property; she would have come also, but she had a cold which -confined her to the house. But he had another object in his visit—he -was the bearer of an invitation to herself and sisters to attend a -concert at the Castle, which was to take place in the afternoon, and -to be followed by a ball in the evening. Miss Osborne hoped they would -excuse her mother's not having called on them; she scarcely ever paid -visits, never in the winter, or she would have accompanied her -daughter to the Vicarage when they were there. - -Emma read the note which was addressed to herself, and felt very much -pleased. It contained, besides the invitation to the ball for herself -and sisters, a most pressing request that she would pay a lengthened -visit at the Castle; over this she pondered long, and then ended with -coming to no conclusion, suddenly remembering that she was detaining -Mr. Howard out of doors, when she ought to have allowed him to enter -the house. - -"You will find Mr. Tom Musgrove sitting with my sisters," continued -she; "but if you will be so kind as _not_ to mention the contents of -the note before him, you would greatly oblige me." - -"Could I not see Mr. Watson?" replied Mr. Howard; "I wish to call on -him, and perhaps when my visit to him is over your sisters will be -disengaged." - -"Certainly; I am sure my father would have great pleasure in seeing -you," said Emma much gratified; "allow me to show you the way." - -She ushered him accordingly to her father's dressing-room, and having -witnessed the very cordial reception which Mr. Watson offered him, she -was about to withdraw, but her father stopped her. - -"I am sure you can have nothing particular to do, Emma, so you may -just as well stay and talk to Mr. Howard—I like very much to hear you, -but you know I am not strong enough to converse myself." - -"I am sure, my dear father, nobody talks half so well when you are -equal to it, but indeed you must not fancy yourself unwell, or you -will frighten Mr. Howard away." - -"When Mr. Howard has reached my age, my dear, and felt half the pain -that I do, from gout and dyspepsia, he will be very glad to set his -daughter to talk for him, my dear; so I beg you will stay." - -"I wish I enjoyed the prospect of realizing your picture, my dear sir; -a daughter exactly like Miss Emma Watson would be indeed a treasure." - -"But remember it is to be purchased at the expense of gout, and you -must not look for it these thirty years, Mr. Howard," said Emma -laughing. "When the sacrifice is complete you will talk in a very -different strain." - -Mr. Howard _looked_ very incredulous, but said nothing more on that -subject. - -Emma then mentioned the note she had received; her father began to -murmur. - -"The Osbornes will all turn all your heads with their balls and their -visits, child," said he pettishly. "I wish you had never known them." - -Emma looked down. - -"I am sure I do not wish to go, if you dislike it," said she, in a -voice which rather trembled. - -It was evident to Mr. Howard that she _did_ wish it very much. - -Mr. Watson began again. - -"What am I to do if you are going away for two or three days? You are -but just come home as it is—I cannot do without you." - -"Then I, at all events, can stay with you," replied Emma cheerfully, -"and my sisters can do as they please." - -Annoyed at the gentleman's selfishness, Mr. Howard felt inclined to -interpose, but doubted whether he should not do more harm than good. - -Emma knew better, or acted more wisely in not contradicting him, for -like many irritable people, the moment he found himself unopposed, he -began to relent, and said in a more placid voice, - -"What's the invitation, read it again, Emma, I am not quite clear -about it." - -Emma complied. - -"Well, I do not know; she does not want you all to stay over the -ball—and as Elizabeth will be at home, perhaps I could spare you for a -day or two." - -"Elizabeth would like to go to the ball too, papa." - -"Yes, yes, but then she and Margaret would come home at night, and I -should not be all day alone. I think you might go—you must have a -post-chaise and a pair of horses to take you, I suppose, and bring -your sisters back again. Would you like it, my dear?" - -"Very much, sir, if it does not disturb you." - -Like it indeed—the words served but coldly to express the pleasure -with which her heart beat at the idea. It was so very kind of Miss -Osborne to think of her in that way, and it was so very pleasant to -see how much consequence Mr. Howard attached to her acceptance of the -offer. She had not dared to look quite at him; but the first glance -she had ventured on, showed in his face an expression of deep -interest, not to be mistaken, and now looking up, she met his eyes -fixed on her with a look which immediately sunk hers again to the -ground, and seemed to call all the blood from her heart to her cheeks. - -"I am sure," cried he, speaking hurriedly to relieve her -embarrassment, "Miss Osborne would have been exceedingly disappointed -had you settled otherwise. I can venture to assert, sir, that Miss -Osborne is very fond of your daughter, and extremely anxious to -cultivate her acquaintance." - -"I dare say, I dare say, why should she not; but I hope Emma does not -flatter her to win her good will." - -"I hope not, sir," said Emma, "I should despise myself if I did." - -"It is impossible that it should be necessary," cried Mr. Howard. -"Miss Osborne is not to be propitiated by flattery, and it would -require, on Miss Emma's part, nothing beyond her natural manners to -produce a wish to carry on the acquaintance." - -"I suppose Miss Osborne desired you to make civil speeches for her," -said Mr. Watson, laughing. - -"No, I do it of my own free will, my dear sir." - -Mr. Howard's visit was long and lively; Mr. Watson was evidently -cheered by it, and pressed him to renew it. - -"I am afraid I ask what is not agreeable," continued he; "I dare say I -am dull and unpleasant; but if you knew what a treat it is to me to -see cheerful faces, you would not wonder at my selfish wish. You, Mr. -Howard, and Emma do me good." - -There was something very pleasant to Emma's ears in hearing her name -thus connected with Mr. Howard's; and it was not unwelcome to the -young man either, who warmly pressed her father's hand, and promised -readily to come as often as he could. - -"And mind, Emma, when he does come, you bring him to me," said her -father; "it is not every young man that I care to see. Your Tom -Musgroves, and such young dandies, are not at all to my mind; but a -young man who listens to what his elders say, and does not flout and -jeer at them, but shows a proper respect to age and experience, that's -what I like. I shall be happy to see you, Mr. Howard, whenever you can -come." - -After renewing his promise to be a regular and frequent visitor, Mr. -Howard was conducted by Emma to the parlour, from whence they found -Tom Musgrove had departed. Her two sisters looked up as if surprised -to see Emma and her companion; but their pleasure much exceeded their -surprise, when they learnt the nature of the embassy with which he was -charged. Margaret especially, who had formed most exalted ideas of the -nature and felicity of a visit to the castle, was at first in a -perfect rapture. She was certain that the whole affair would be in the -most superlative style of excellence; that Miss Osborne must be a lady -of first rate taste and talent; that the company would be select in an -extraordinary degree, and in short that she should never have known -what grandeur, beauty, elegance, and taste meant, but for Lady -Osborne's invitation to the concert and ball. She determined to do her -best to make her court to the whole family of Osbornes, and had great -hopes of becoming an especial favorite with them all. It was not till -after Mr. Howard's departure, which took place after a visit of about -ten minutes, that a cloud came over her bright vision. She then learnt -the sad fact that Emma was invited to remain at the castle, but that -she herself was to return home. - -This discovery made her very angry; she could comprehend no reason for -such a marked preference; why should Miss Osborne invite Emma who was -the youngest, and exclude herself; it really surpassed her -comprehension; it was most extraordinary; she had a great mind not to -go at all; she would let Miss Osborne see that she was not to be -treated with neglect; she was not a person to come and go at any one's -bidding; if Miss Osborne could ask Emma, why not herself too; she -surely had as much claim to attention. Then she turned to Emma and -required her to promise that she would not accept the invitation. But -Emma said she had done so already. She had written a note which Mr. -Howard had charge of; and she was not to be induced to retract. -Margaret grew quite angry, accusing her of being mean-spirited and -servile, fawning on Miss Osborne, and winning her favor only by her -base concessions; she said everything which an irritated and jealous -temper could suggest, and tormented Emma into tears at her crossness -and ill-will. - -"I wonder you mind her, Emma," remonstrated Elizabeth, when she -discovered that her sister's eyes were red, and wrung from her an -acknowledgment of the cause. Elizabeth had not been present when the -discussion which pained Emma so much, had taken place. "It's not the -least use fretting about Margaret's ill-temper and teazing ways—she -always was a plague and a torment from a child, and there's no chance -of her being any better. She is so abominably selfish. But I cannot -bear her to make you cry." - -"I dare say you think me very foolish," replied Emma, wiping her eyes, -"but I have never been used to be crossly spoken to, and it quite -upsets me." - -"No, I don't think you foolish, Emma; you are only much too good and -tender for this situation. I shall be glad when you are married and -safe with Mr. Howard, and nobody to scold you or make you spoil your -beauty by crying." - -"Nonsense, Elizabeth." - -"It's not nonsense, Emma, I believe he is very good-natured, and I -dare say you will be very happy with him. How long were you -_tête-à-tête_, with him, before you brought him into the parlour?" - -"We came from my father's room then." - -"Oh, you need not apologise; I think you were quite right to have a -comfortable chat with him, before bringing him into Margaret's -company. It is but little conversation you can have when she is by. I -saw you with him in the garden." - -Emma blushed. - -"I assure you we did not stay there five minutes; he came to call on -my father, and we went to him immediately." - -Elizabeth only answered by a look; but it was a look which shewed that -she was not in the least convinced by Emma's assertions, but only -wondered that she should think them necessary. - - - - - END OF VOL. I. - - - - - T. C. NEWBY, Printer, 30, Welbeck-street, Cavendish-sq. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - ● Transcriber's Notes: - ○ A few cases of inconsistent spelling were regularized. - ○ Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant - form was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. - ○ "beant" on page 70, word retained. A contraction of be not, - probably. See also "woant" on page 143. - ○ The spelling of Shakespeare was corrected. There were two - instances of the name, one spelled correctly, the other - incorrectly. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Younger Sister, by -Catherine Anne Austen Hubback and Jane Austen - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNGER SISTER *** - -***** This file should be named 54010-0.txt or 54010-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/0/1/54010/ - -Produced by Barry Abrahamsen, Mary Glenn Krause, David -Edwards, The University of Iowa and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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