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staircase； while no sound of a Ball but the first Scrape of one
violin； blessed the ears of her followers； and Miss Edwardes on
hazarding the anxious enquiry of whether there were many people
come yet was told by the Waiter as she knew she should； that ‘Mr。
Tomlinson’s family were in the room。’ In passing along a short
gallery to the Assembly…room； brilliant in lights before them； they
were accosted by a young Man in a morning dress and Boots； who
was standing in the doorway of a Bedchamber； apparently on
purpose to see them go by。—‘Ah！ Mrs。 E。—how do you do？—How
do you do Miss E。？—he cried； with an easy air；—‘You are
determined to be in good time I see； as usual。—The Candles are
but this moment lit。’—‘I like to get a good seat by the fire you
know； Mr。 Musgrave；’ replied Mrs。 E。 ‘I am this moment going to
dress；’ said he—‘I am waiting for my stupid fellow。—We shall have
a famous Ball； The Osbornes are certainly coming； you may
depend upon that for I was with Lord Osborne this morning—’
The party passed on—Mrs。 E’s sattin gown swept along the
clean floor of the Ball…room； to the fireplace at the upper end；
where one party only were formally seated； while three or four
Officers were lounging together； passing in and out from the
adjoining card…room。—A very stiff meeting between these near
neighbours ensued—and as soon as they were all duely placed
again； Emma in the low whisper which became the solemn scene；
said to Miss Edwardes； ‘The gentleman we passed in the passage；
was Mr。 Musgrave； then？—He is reckoned remarkably agreable I
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understand。’ Miss E。 answered hesitatingly—‘Yes—he is very
much liked by many people。—But we are not very intimate。’—‘He
is rich； is not he？’—‘He has about 8 or 900￡ a year I believe。—He
came into possession of it； when he was very young； and my
Father and Mother think it has given him rather an unsettled
turn。—He is no favourite with them。’—The cold and empty
appearance of the Room and the demure air of the small cluster of
Females at one end of it began soon to give way； the inspiriting
sound of other Carriages was heard； and continual accessions of
portly Chaperons； and strings of smartly…dressed girls were
received； with now and then a fresh gentleman straggler； who if
not enough in Love to station himself near any fair Creature
seemed glad to escape into the Card…room。—Among the increasing
numbers of Military Men； one now made his way to Miss Edwards；
with an air of Empressément； which decidedly said to her
Companion ‘I am Captain Hunter。’—and Emma； who could not
but watch her at such a moment； saw her looking rather
distressed； but by no means displeased； and heard an engagement
formed for the two first dances； which made her think her Brother
Sam’s a hopeless case。
Emma in the meanwhile was not unobserved； or unadmired
herself。—A new face and a very pretty one； could not be slighted—
her name was whispered from one party to another； and no sooner
had the signal been given； by the Orchestra’s striking up a
favourite air； which seemed to call the young Men to their duty；
and people the centre of the room； than she found herself engaged
to dance with a Brother officer； introduced by Captain Hunter。—
Emma Watson was not more than of the middle height—well
made and plump； with an air of healthy vigour。—Her skin was
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very brown； but clear； smooth and glowing； which with a lively
Eye； a sweet smile； and an open Countenance； gave beauty to
attract； and expression to make that beauty improve on
acquaintance。—Having no reason to be dissatisfied with her
partner； the Evening began very pleasantly to her； and her
feelings perfectly coincided with the reiterated observation of
others； that it was an excellent Ball。—The two first dances were
not quite over； when the returning sound of Carriages after a long
interruption； called general notice； and ‘the Osbornes are coming；
the Osbornes are coming’—was repeated round the room。—After
some minutes of extraordinary bustle without； and watchful
curiosity within； the important Party； preceded by the attentive
Master of the Inn to open a door which was never shut； made their
appearance。 They consisted of Lady Osborne； her son Lord
Osborne； her daughter Miss Osborne； Miss Carr； her daughter’s
friend； Mr。 Howard formerly Tutor to Lord Osborne； now
Clergyman of the Parish in which the Castle stood； Mrs。 Blake； a
widow…sister who lived with him； her son a fine boy of ten years
old； and Mr。 Tom Musgrave； who probably imprisoned within his
own room； had been listening in bitter impatience to the sound of
the Music； for the last half hour。 In their progress up the room；
they paused almost immediately behind Emma； to receive the
Compliments of some acquaintance； and she heard Lady Osborne
observe that they had made a point of coming early for the
gratification of Mrs。 Blake’s little boy； who was uncommonly fond
of dancing。—Emma looked at them all is they passed—but chiefly
and with most interest on Tom Musgrave； who was certainly a
genteel； good looking young man。—Of the females； Lady Osborne
had by much the finest person；—tho’ nearly fifty； she was very
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