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humouredly towards Musgrave—‘but you know what early hours
we keep。’ Tom had nothing to say for himself； he knew it very well；
and such honest simplicity； such shameless Truth rather
bewildered him。—Lord Osborne’s parting Compliments took some
time； his inclination for speech seeming to increase with the
shortness of the term for indulgence。—He recommended Exercise
in defiance of dirt—spoke again in praise of Half…boots—begged
that his Sister might be allow’d to send Emma the name of her
Shoemaker—and concluded with saying； ‘My Hounds will be
hunting this Country next week—I believe they will throw off at
Stanton Wood on Wednesday at 9 o’clock。—I mention this； in
hopes of your being drawn out to see what’s going on。—If the
morning’s tolerable； pray do us the honour of giving us your good
wishes in person。’
The Sisters looked on each other with astonishment； when their
Visitors had withdrawn。 ‘Here’s an unaccountable Honour！’ cried
Elizabeth at last。 ‘Who would have thought of Lord Osborne’s
coming to Stanton。—He is very handsome—but Tom Musgrave
looks all to nothing； the smartest and most fashionable Man of the
two。 I am glad he did not say anything to me； I would not have had
to talk to such a great Man for the world。 Tom was very agreable；
was not he？—But did you hear him ask where Miss Penelope and
Miss Margaret were； when he first came in？—It put me out of
patience。—I am glad Nanny had not laid the Cloth however； it
would have looked so awkward；—just the Tray did not signify。’ To
say that Emma was not flattered by Lord Osborne’s visit； would be
to assert a very unlikely thing； and describe a very odd young
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Lady； but the gratification was by no means unalloyed； His coming
was a sort of notice which might please her vanity； but did not suit
her pride； and she would rather have known that he wished the
visit without presuming to make it； than have seen him at
Stanton。—Among other unsatisfactory feelings it once occurred to
her to wonder why Mr。 Howard had not taken the same privilege
of coming； and accompanied his Lordship—but she was willing to
suppose that he had either known nothing about it； or had
declined any share in a measure which carried quite as much
Impertinence in its form as Goodbreeding。—Mr。 W。 was very far
from being delighted； when he heard what had passed；—a little
peevish under immediate pain； and ill disposed to be pleased； he
only replied—‘Phoo！ Phoo！—What occasion could there be for
Lord O。’s coming。 I have lived here fourteen years without being
noticed by any of the family。 It is some foolery of that idle fellow T。
Musgrave。 I cannot return the visit。—I would not if I could。’ And
when T。 Musgrave was met with again； he was commissioned with
a message of excuse to Osborne Castle； on the too…sufficient plea of
Mr。 Watson’s infirm state of health。
A week or ten days rolled quietly away after this visit； before
any new bustle arose to interrupt even for half a day； the tranquil
and affectionate intercourse of the two Sisters； whose mutual
regard was increasing with the intimate knowledge of each other
which such intercourse produced。—The first circumstance to
break in on this serenity； was the receipt of a letter from Croydon
to announce the speedy return of Margaret； and a visit of two or
three days from Mr。 and Mrs。 Robert Watson； who undertook to
bring her home and wished to see their Sister Emma。—It was an
expectation to fill the thoughts of the Sisters at Stanton； and to
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busy the hours of one of them at least—for as Jane had been a
woman of fortune； the preparations for her entertainment were
considerable； and as Elizabeth had at all times more good will
than method in her guidance of the house； she could make no
change without a Bustle。—An absence of fourteen years had made
all her Brothers and Sisters Strangers to Emma； but in her
expectation of Margaret there was more than the awkwardness of
such an alienation； she had heard things which made her dread
her return； and the day which brought the party to Stanton
seemed to her the probable conclusion of almost all that had been
comfortable in the house。—Robert Watson was an Attorney at
Croydon； in a good way of Business； very well satisfied with
himself for the same； and for having married the only daughter of
the Attorney to whom he had been Clerk； with a fortune of six
thousand pounds。—Mrs。 Robert was not less pleased with herself
for having had that six thousand pounds； and for being now in
possession of a very smart house in Croydon； where she gave
genteel parties； and wore fine cloathes。—In her person there was
nothing remarkable； her manners were pert and conceited。—
Margaret was not without beauty； she had a slight； pretty figure；
and rather wanted Countenance than good features；—but the
sharp and anxious expression of her face made her beauty in
general little felt。—On meeting her long…absent Sister； as on every
occasion of shew； her manner was all affection and her voice all
gentleness； continual smiles and a very slow articulation being her
constant resource when determined on pleasing。
She was now so ‘delighted to see dear； dear Emma’ that she
could hardly speak a word in a minute。—‘I am sure we shall be
great friends’—she observed； with much sentiment； as they were
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sitting together。—Emma scarcely knew how to answer such a
proposition—and the manner in which it was spoken； she could
not attempt to equal。 Mrs。 R。 W。 eyed her with much familiar
curiosity and Triumphant Compassion；—the loss of the Aunt’s
fortune was uppermost in her mind； at the moment of meeting；—
and she could not but feel how much better it was to be the
daughter of a gentleman of property in Croydon； than the niece of
an old woman who threw herself away on an Irish Captain。—
Robert was carelessly kind； as became a prosperous Man and a
brother； more intent on settling with the Post…Boy； inveighing
against the Exorbitant advance in Posting； and pondering over a
doubtful halfcrown； than on welcoming