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dispose a great many people to attend the second。—It is more than
they deserve； for in fact they add nothing to the pleasure of the
Evening； they come so late； and go so early；—but Great People
have always their charm。’—Mr。 Edwardes proceeded to relate
every other little article of news which his morning’s lounge had
supplied him with； and they chatted with greater briskness； till
Mrs。 E。’s moment for dressing arrived； and the young Ladies were
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carefully recommended to lose no time。 Emma was shewn to a
very comfortable apartment； and as soon as Mrs。 E。’s civilities
could leave her to herself； the happy occupation； the first Bliss of a
Ball began。—The girls； dressing in some measure together； grew
unavoidably better acquainted； Emma found in Miss E。—the shew
of good sense； a modest unpretending mind； and a great wish of
obliging—and when they returned to the parlour where Mrs。 E。
was sitting respectably attired in one of the two Sattin gowns
which went thro’ the winter； and a new cap from the Milliners；
they entered it with much easier feelings and more natural smiles
than they had taken away。—Their dress was now to be examined；
Mrs。 Edwards acknowledged herself too old…fashioned to approve
of every modern extravagance however sanctioned—and tho’
complacently viewing her daughter’s good looks； would give but a
qualified admiration； and Mr。 E。 not less satisfied with Mary； paid
some Compliments of good humoured Gallantry to Emma at her
expence。—The discussion led to more intimate remarks； and Miss
Edwardes gently asked Emma if she were not often reckoned very
like her youngest brother。—Emma thought she could perceive a
faint blush accompany the question； and there seemed something
still more suspicious in the manner in which Mr。 E。 took up the
subject。—‘You are paying Miss Emma no great compliment I think
Mary；’ said he hastily。 ‘Mr。 Sam Watson is a very good sort of
young Man； and I dare say a very clever Surgeon； but his
complexion has been rather too much exposed to all weathers； to
make a likeness to him very flattering。’ Mary apologized in some
confusion。 ‘She had not thought a strong Likeness at all
incompatible with very different degrees of Beauty。—There might
be resemblance in Countenance； and the complexion； and even
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the features be very unlike。’ ‘I know nothing of my Brother’s
Beauty；’ said Emma； ‘for I have not seen him since he was seven
years old—but my father reckons us alike。’ ‘Mr。 Watson！’—cried
Mr。 Edwardes； ‘Well； you astonish me。—There is not the least
likeness in the world； Your brother’s eyes are grey； yours are
brown； he has a long face； and a wide mouth。—My dear； do you
perceive the least resemblance？’—‘Not the least。—Miss Emma
Watson puts me very much in mind of her eldest Sister； and
sometimes I see a look of Miss Penelope—and once or twice there
has been a glance of Mr。 Robert—but I cannot perceive any
likeness to Mr。 Samuel。’ ‘I see the likeness between her and Miss
Watson；’ replied Mr。 E。—‘very strongly—but I am not sensible of
the others。—I do not much think she is like any of the Family but
Miss Watson； but I am very sure there is no resemblance between
her and Sam。’
This matter was settled； and they went to Dinner。—‘Your
Father； Miss Emma； is one of my oldest friends’—said Mr。
Edwardes； as he helped her to wine； when they were drawn round
the fire to enjoy their Desert；—‘We must drink to his better
health。—It is a great concern to me I assure you that he should be
such an Invalid。—I know nobody who likes a game of cards in a
social way； better than he does； and very few people that play a
fairer rubber。—It is a thousand pities that he should be so
deprived of the pleasure。 For now we have a quiet little Whist club
that meets three times a week at the White Hart； and if he could
but have his health； how much he would enjoy it。’ ‘I dare say he
would Sir—and I wish with all my heart he were equal to it。’ ‘Your
Club would be better fitted for an Invalid；’ said Mrs。 E。 ‘if you did
not keep it up so late。’—This was an old grievance。—‘So late； my
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dear； what are you talking of；’ cried the Husband with sturdy
pleasantry。 ‘We are always at home before Midnight。 They would
laugh at Osborne Castle to hear you call that late； they are but just
rising from dinner at midnight。’—‘That is nothing to the
purpose。’—retorted the Lady calmly。 ‘The Osbornes are to be no
rule for us。 You had better meet every night； and break up two
hours sooner。’ So far； the subject was very often carried；—but Mr。
and Mrs。 Edwardes were so wise as never to pass that point； and
Mr。 Edwardes now turned to something else。—He had lived long
enough in the Idleness of a Town to become a little of a Gossip；
and having some curiosity to know more of the Circumstances of
his young Guest than had yet reached him； he began with； ‘I think
Miss Emma； I remember your Aunt very well about thirty years
ago； I am pretty sure I danced with her in the old rooms at Bath；
the year before I married。 She was a very fine woman then—but
like other people I suppose she is grown somewhat older since
that time。—I hope she is likely to be happy in her second choice。’
‘I hope so； I believe so； Sir’—said Emma in some agitation。—
‘Mr。 Turner had not been dead a great while I think？’ ‘About two
years Sir。’ ‘I forget what her name is now？’—‘O’brien。’ ‘Irish！ Ah！ I
remember—and she is gone to settle in Ireland。—I do not wonder
that you should not wish to go with her into that Country Miss
Emma—but it must be a great deprivation to her； poor Lady！—
After bringing you up like a Child of her own。’—‘I was not so
ungrateful Sir；’ said Emma warmly； ‘as to wish to be any where
but with her。—It did not suit them； it did not suit Captain O’brien
that I should be of the party。’ ‘Captain！’—repeated Mrs。 E。 ‘the
Gentleman is in the army then？’ ‘Yes Ma’am。’—‘Aye—there is
nothing like your officers for captivating the Ladies； Young or
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