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profess his ignorance of her being out of the Country； he declared
it seemed only two days since he had seen her。’ ‘Aye—that is just
like him。 And yet this is the Man； she will fancy so desperately in
love with her。—He is no favourite of mine； as you well know；
Emma；—but you must think him agreable。 Can you lay your hand
on your heart； and say you do not？’—‘Indeed I can； Both Hands；
and spread to their widest extent。’—‘I should like to know the Man
you do think agreable。’ ‘His name is Howard。’ ‘Howard！ Dear me。 I
cannot think of him； but as playing cards with Lady Osborne； and
looking proud。—I must own however that it is a relief to me； to
find you can speak as you do； of Tom Musgrave； my heart did
misgive me that you would like him too well。 You talked so stoutly
beforehand； that I was sadly afraid your Brag would be
punished。—I only hope it will last；—and that he will not come on
to pay you much attention； it is a hard thing for a woman to stand
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against the flattering ways of a Man； when he is bent upon
pleasing her。’ As their quietly sociable little meal concluded； Miss
Watson could not help observing how comfortably it had passed。 It
is so delightful to me；’ said she； ‘to have Things going on in peace
and goodhumour。 Nobody can tell how much I hate quarrelling。
Now； tho’ we have had nothing but fried beef； how good it has all
seemed。—I wish everybody were as easily satisfied as you—but
poor Margaret is very snappish； and Penelope owns she had
rather have Quarrelling going on； than nothing at all。’—Mr。
Watson returned in the Evening； not the worse for the exertion of
the day； and consequently pleased with what he had done； and
glad to talk of it； over his own Fireside。
Emma had not foreseen any interest to herself in the
occurrences of a Visitation—but when she heard Mr。 Howard
spoken of as the Preacher； and as having given them an excellent
Sermon； she could not help listening with a quicker Ear。—‘I do not
know when I have heard a Discourse more to my mind’—
continued Mr。 W。—‘or one better delivered。—He reads extremely
well； with great propriety and in a very impressive manner； and at
the same time without any Theatrical grimace or violence。—I own；
I do not like much action in the pulpit—I do not like the studied
air and artificial inflexions of voice； which your very popular and
most admired Preachers generally have。—A simple delivery is
much better calculated to inspire Devotion； and shews a much
better Taste。—Mr。 H。 read like a scholar and a gentleman。’—‘And
what had you for dinner Sir？’—said his eldest Daughter。—He
related the Dishes and told what he had ate himself。 ‘Upon the
whole；’ he added； ‘I have had a very comfortable day； my old
friends were quite surprised to see me amongst them—and I must
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say that everybody paid me great attention； and seemed to feel for
me as an Invalid。—They would make me sit near the fire； and as
the partridges were pretty high； Dr。 Richards would have them
sent away to the other end of the Table； that they might not offend
Mr。 Watson—which I thought very kind of him。—But what pleased
me as much as anything was Mr。 Howard’s attention；—There is a
pretty steep flight of steps up to the room we dine in—which do
not quite agree with my gouty foot—and Mr。 Howard walked by
me from the bottom to the top； and would make me take his
arm。—It struck me as very becoming in so young a Man； but I am
sure I had no claim to expect it； for I never saw him before in my
Life。—By the bye； he enquired after one of my Daughters； but I do
not know which。 I suppose you know among yourselves。’
——————
On the third day after the Ball； as Nanny at five minutes before
three； was beginning to bustle into the parlour with the Tray and
the Knife…case； she was suddenly called to the front door； by the
sound of as smart a rap as the end of a riding…whip could give—
and tho’ charged by Miss W。 to let nobody in； returned in half a
minute； with a look of awkward dismay； to hold the parlour door
open for Lord Osborne and Tom Musgrave。—The surprise of the
young Ladies may be imagined。 No visitors would have been
welcome at such a moment； but such visitors as these—such a one
as Lord Osborne at least； a noble man and a stranger； was really
distressing。—He looked a little embarrassed himself；—as； on being
introduced by his easy； voluble friend； he muttered something of
doing himself the honour of waiting on Mr。 Watson。—Tho’ Emma
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could not but take the compliment of the visit to herself； she was
very far from enjoying it。 She felt all the inconsistency of such an
acquaintance with the very humble stile in which they were
obliged to live； and having in her Aunt’s family been used to many
of the Elegancies of Life； was fully sensible of all that must be open
to the ridicule of Richer people in her present home。—Of the pain
of such feelings； Elizabeth knew very little；—her simpler Mind； or
juster reason saved her from such mortification—and tho’
shrinking under a general sense of Inferiority； she felt no
particular Shame。—Mr。 Watson； as the Gentlemen had already
heard from Nanny； was not well enough to be down stairs；—With
much concern they took their seats—Lord Osborne near Emma；
and the convenient Mr。 Musgrave in high spirits at his own
importance； on the other side of the fireplace with Elizabeth。—He
was at no loss for words；—but when Lord Osborne had hoped that
Emma had not caught cold at the Ball； he had nothing more to say
for some time； and could only grati