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Neighbours against the place。—Perhaps Emma may be tempted to
go back with us； and stay till Christmas； if you don’t put in your
word。’—Emma was greatly obliged。 ‘I assure you we have very
good society at Croydon。—I do not much attend the Balls； they are
rather too mixed；—but our parties are very select and good。—I
had seven Tables last week in my Drawingroom。 Are you fond of
the Country？ How do you like Stanton？’—‘Very much’—replied
Emma； who thought a comprehensive answer； most to the
purpose。—She saw that her Sister…in…law despised her
immediately。—Mrs。 R。 W。 was indeed wondering what sort of a
home Emma could possibly have been used to in Shropshire； and
setting it down as certain that the Aunt could never have had six
thousand pounds。—‘How charming Emma is！—’ whispered
Margaret to Mrs。 Robert in her most languishing tone。—Emma
was quite distress’d by such behaviour；—and she did not like it
better when she heard Margaret five minutes afterwards say to
Elizabeth in a sharp quick accent； totally unlike the first—‘Have
you heard from Pen。 since she went to Chichester？—I had a letter
the other day。—I don’t find she is likely to make anything of it。 I
fancy she’ll come back “Miss Penelope” as she went。’
Such； she feared would be Margaret’s common voice； when the
novelty of her own appearance were over； the tone of artificial
Sensibility was not recommended by the idea。—The Ladies were
invited upstairs to prepare for dinner。 ‘I hope you will find things
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tolerably comfortable Jane’—said Elizabeth as she opened the
door of the spare bedchamber。—‘My good creature；’ replied Jane；
‘use no ceremony with me； I intreat you。 I am one of those who
always take things as they find them。 I hope I can put up with a
small apartment for two or three nights； without making a piece of
work。 I always wish to be treated quite “en famille” when I come
to see you—and now I do hope you have not been getting a great
dinner for us。—Remember we never eat suppers。’—‘I suppose；’
said Margaret rather quickly to Emma； ‘you and I are to be
together； Elizabeth always takes care to have a room to herself。’—
‘No—Elizabeth gives me half her’s。’—‘Oh I’—（in a soften’d voice；
and rather mortified to find she was not ill used） ‘I am sorry I am
not to have the pleasure of your company—especially as it makes
me nervous to be much alone。’
Emma was the first of the females in the parlour again； on
entering it she found her brother alone。—‘So Emma；’ said he； ‘you
are quite the Stranger at home。 It must seem odd enough to you to
be here。—A pretty piece of work your Aunt Turner has made of
it！—By Heaven！ A woman should never be trusted with money。 I
always said she ought to have settled something on you； as soon as
her Husband died。’ ‘But that would have been trusting me with
money；’ replied Emma； ‘and I am a woman too。—’ ‘It might have
been secured to your future use； without your having any power
over it now。—What a blow it must have been upon you！—To find
yourself； instead of heiress of 8 or 9000￡； sent back a weight upon
your family； without a sixpence。—I hope the old woman will smart
for it。’ ‘Do not speak disrespectfully of her—She was very good to
me； and if she has made an imprudent choice； she will suffer more
from it herself； than I can possibly do。’ ‘I do not mean to distress
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you； but you know every body must think her an old fool。—I
thought Turner had been reckoned an extraordinary sensible；
clever man。—How the Devil came he to make such a will？’—‘My
Uncle’s sense is not at all impeached in my opinion； by his
attachment to my Aunt。 She had been an excellent wife to him。
The most Liberal and enlightened Minds are always the most
confiding。—The event has been unfortunate； but my Uncle’s
memory is if possible endeared to me by such a proof of tender
respect for my Aunt。’—‘That’s odd sort of Talking！—He might
have provided decently for his widow； without leaving every thing
that he had to dispose of； or any part of it at her mercy。’—‘My
Aunt may have erred’—said Emma warmly—‘she has erred—but
my Uncle’s conduct was faultless。 I was her own Niece； and he left
to herself the power and the pleasure of providing for me。—‘But
unluckily she has left the pleasure of providing for you； to your
Father； and without the power。—That’s the long and the short of
the business。 After keeping you at a distance from your family for
such a length of time as must do away all natural affection among
us and breeding you up （I suppose） in a superior stile； you are
returned upon their hands without a sixpence。’ ‘You know；’
replied Emma struggling with her tears； ‘my Uncle’s melancholy
state of health。—He was a greater Invalid than my father。 He could
not leave home。’ ‘I do not mean to make you cry。’—said Robert
rather softened—and after a short silence； by way of changing the
subject； he added—‘I am just come from my Father’s room； he
seems very indifferent。 It will be a sad break…up when he dies。
Pity； you can none of you get married！—You must come to
Croydon as well as the rest； and see what you can do there。—I
believe if Margaret had had a thousand or fifteen hundred pounds；
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there was a young man who would have thought of her。’ Emma
was glad when they were joined by the others； it was be