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in a tender voice。—He recollected himself； and came forward；
delighted to find such a circle of Friends； and blessing his good
fortune for the unlooked…for Indulgence。—He shook hands with
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Robert； bowed and smiled to the Ladies； and did everything very
prettily； but as to any particularity of address or Emotion towards
Margaret； Emma who closely observed him； perceived nothing
that did not justify Elizabeth’s opinions tho’ Margaret’s modest
smiles imported that she meant to take the visit to herself。—He
was persuaded without much difficulty to throw off his greatcoat；
and drink tea with them。 ‘For whether he dined at 8 or 9； as he
observed； was a matter of very little consequence。’—and without
seeming to seek； he did not turn away from the chair close to
Margaret which she was assiduous in providing him。—She had
thus secured him from her Sisters—but it was not immediately in
her power to preserve him from her Brother’s claims； for as he
came avowedly from London； and had left it only four hours ago；
the last current report as to public news； and the general opinion
of the day must be understood； before Robert could let his
attention be yielded to the less national； and important demands
of the Women。—At last however he was at liberty to hear
Margaret’s soft address； as she spoke her fears of his having had a
most terrible； cold； dark dreadful Journey。—‘Indeed you should
not have set out so late。’ ‘I could not be earlier；’ he replied。 ‘I was
detained chatting at the Bedford； by a friend。—All hours are alike
to me。—How long have you been in the Country Miss
Margaret？’—‘We came only this morning。—My kind Brother and
Sister brought me home this very morning。—’Tis singular is not
it？’ ‘You were gone a great while； were not you？ a fortnight I
suppose？’—‘You may call a fortnight a great while Mr。 Musgrave；’
said Mrs。 Robert smartly—‘but we think a month very little。 I
assure you we bring her home at the end of a month； much against
our will。’ ‘A month！ have you really been gone a month！ ’tis
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amazing how Time flies。’ ‘You may imagine；’ said Margaret in a
sort of Whisper； ‘what are my Sensations in finding myself once
more at Stanton。 You know what a sad visitor I make。—And I was
so excessively impatient to see Emma；—I dreaded the meeting；
and at the same time longed for it。—Do you not comprehend the
sort of feeling？’—‘Not at all；’ cried he aloud。 ‘I could never dread a
meeting with Miss Emma Watson；—or any of her Sisters。’ It was
lucky that he added that finish。—‘Were you speaking to me？’—
said Emma； who had caught her own name。—‘Not absolutely’—he
answered—‘but I was thinking of you；—as many at a greater
distance are probably doing at this moment。—Fine open weather
Miss Emma！—Charming season for Hunting。’ ‘Emma is delightful；
is not she？’—whispered Margaret。 ‘I have found her more than
answer my warmest hopes。—Did you ever see anything more
perfectly beautiful？ I think even you must be a convert to a brown
complexion。’—He hesitated； Margaret was fair herself； and he did
not particularly want to compliment her； but Miss Osborne and
Miss Carr were likewise fair； and his devotion to them carried the
day。 ‘Your Sister’s complexion；’ said he at last； ‘is as fine as a dark
complexion can be； but I still profess my preference of a white
skin。 You have seen Miss Osborne？—she is my model for a truly
feminine complexion； and she is very fair。’—‘Is she fairer than
me？’—Tom made no reply。—‘Upon my Honour Ladies；’ said he；
giving a glance over his own person； ‘I am highly endebted to your
Condescension for admitting me； in such Dishabille into your
Drawing room。 I really did not consider how unfit I was to be here
or I hope I should have kept my distance。 Lady Osborne would tell
me that I were growing as careless as her son； if she saw me in this
condition。’—The Ladies were not wanting in civil returns； and
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Robert Watson stealing a view of his own head in an opposite
glass；—said with equal civility； ‘You cannot be more in dishabille
than myself。—We got here so late； that I had not time even to put a
little fresh powder in my hair。’—Emma could not help entering
into what she supposed her Sister…in…law’s feelings at that
moment。—When the Tea…things were removed； Tom began to talk
of his Carriage—but the old Card Table being set out； and the fish
and counters with a tolerably clean pack brought forward from the
beaufit by Miss Watson； the general voice was so urgent with him
to join their party； that he agreed to allow himself another quarter
of an hour。 Even Emma was pleased that he would stay； for she
was beginning to feel that a family party might be the worst of all
parties； and the others were delighted。—‘What’s your Game？’—
cried he； as they stood round the Table。—‘Speculation I believe；’
said Elizabeth—‘My Sister recommends it； and I fancy we all like
it。 I know you do； Tom。’—‘It is the only round game played at
Croydon now；’ said Mrs。 Robert—‘we never think of any other。 I
am glad it is a favourite with you。’—‘Oh！ me！’ cried Tom。
‘Whatever you decide on； will be a favourite with me。—I have had
some pleasant hours at Speculation in my time—but I have not
been in the way of it now for a long while。—Vingt…un is the game
at Osborne Castle； I have played nothing but Vingt…un of late。 You
would be astonished to hear the noise we make there。—The fine
old； lofty Drawingroom rings again。 Lady Osborne sometimes
declares she cannot hear herself speak。—Lord Osborne enjoys it
famously—he makes the best Dealer without exception that I ever
beheld—such quickness and spirit！ he lets nobody dream over
their cards—I wish you could see him overdraw himself on both
his own cards—it is worth anything in the World！’—‘Dear me！’—
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cried Margaret ‘why should not we play at Vingt…un？—I think it is
a much better game than Speculation。 I cannot say I am very fond
of Speculation。’ Mrs。 Robert offered not another word in support
of the game。—She was quite vanqui