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was no time to be lost on Emma’s side in preparing for it。—Miss
Edwards accompanied her home； but as it was Dinner hour at
Stanton； staid with them only a few minutes；—‘Now my dear
Emma； said Miss W。； as soon as they were alone； you must talk to
me all the rest of the day； without stopping； or I shall not be
satisfied。 But first of all Nanny shall bring in the dinner。 Poor
thing！—You will not dine as you did yesterday； for we have
nothing but some fried beef。—How nice Mary Edwards looks in
her new pelisse！—And now tell me how you like them all； and
what I am to say to Sam。 I have begun my letter； Jack Stokes is to
call for it to…morrow； for his Uncle is going within a mile of
Guilford the next day。’ Nanny brought in the dinner；—‘We will
wait upon ourselves；’ continued Elizabeth ‘and then we shall lose
no time。—And so； you would not come home with Tom
Musgrave？’—‘No。 You had said so much against him that I could
not wish either for the obligation； or the Intimacy which the use of
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his Carriage must have created。 I should not even have liked the
appearance of it。 ‘You did very right； tho’ I wonder at your
forbearance； and I do not think I could have done it myself。—He
seemed so eager to fetch you； that I could not say no； tho’ it rather
went against me to be throwing you together； so well as I knew his
Tricks；—but I did long to see you； and it was a clever way of
getting you home； Besides it won’t do to be too nice。—Nobody
could have thought of the Edwardes’ letting you have their
Coach；—after the Horses being out so late。—But what am I to say
to Sam？’—‘If you are guided by me； you will not encourage him to
think of Miss Edwards。—The Father is decidedly against him； the
Mother shews him no favour； and I doubt his having any interest
with Mary。 She danced twice with Captain Hunter； and I think
shews him in general as much Encouragement as is consistent
with her disposition； and the circumstances she is placed in。—She
once mentioned Sam； and certainly with a little confusion—but
that was perhaps merely oweing to the consciousness of his liking
her； which may very probably have come to her knowledge。’—‘Oh！
dear Yes—she has heard enough of that from us all。 Poor Sam！—
He is out of luck as well as other people。—For the life of me
Emma； I cannot help feeling for those that are cross’d in Love。—
Well now begin； and give me an account of everything as it
happened。’ Emma obeyed her—and Elizabeth listened with very
little interruption till she heard of Mr。 H。 as a partner。—‘Dance
with Mr。 H。—Good Heavens！ You don’t say so！ Why—he is quite
one of the great and Grand ones；—Did not you find him very
high？’ ‘His manners are of a kind to give me much more Ease and
confidence than Tom Musgrave’s。’ ‘Well—go on。 I should have
been frightened out of my wits； to have had anything to do with
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the Osborne’s set。’—Emma concluded her narration。—‘And so；
you really did not dance with Tom M。 at all？—But you must have
liked him； you must have been struck with him altogether。’—‘I do
not like him； Elizabeth。 I allow his person and air to be good—and
that his manners to a certain point—his address rather—is
pleasing。—But I see nothing else to admire in him。—On the
contrary； he seems very vain； very conceited； absurdly anxious for
Distinction； and absolutely contemptible in some of the measures
he takes for becoming so。—There is a ridiculousness about him
that entertains me—but his company gives me no other agreable
Emotion。’ ‘My dearest Emma！—You are like nobody else in the
World。—It is well Margaret is not by。—You do not offend me； tho’ I
hardly know how to believe you。 But Margaret would never
forgive such words。’ ‘I wish Margaret could have heard him
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