Lady Susan, the Watsons, Sanditon by Jane Austen

Author:Jane Austen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 1974-08-14T04:00:00+00:00

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On the third day after the ball, as Nanny at five minutes before three, was beginning to bustle into the parlour with the tray and the knife-case, she was suddenly called to the front door, by the sound of as smart a rap as the end of a riding-whip would give – and though charged by Miss Watson to let nobody in, returned in half a minute, with a look of awkward dismay, to hold the parlour door open for Lord Osborne and Tom Musgrave.

The surprise of the young ladies may be imagined. No visitors would have been welcome at such a moment; but such visitors as these – such a one as Lord Osborne at least, a nobleman and a stranger, was really distressing. – He looked a little embarrassed himself, – as, on being introduced by his easy, voluble friend, he muttered something of doing himself the honour of waiting on Mr Watson. – Though Emma could not but take the compliment of the visit to herself, she was very far from enjoying it She felt all the inconsistency of such an acquaintance with the very humble style in which they were obliged to live; and having in her aunt’s family been used to many of the elegancies of life, was fully sensible of all that must be open to the ridicule of richer people in her present home.

Of the pain of such feelings, Elizabeth knew very little; – her simpler mind or juster reason saved her from such mortification – and though shrinking under a general sense of inferiority, she felt no particular shame. – Mr Watson, as the gentlemen had already heard from Nanny, was not well enough to be downstairs; – With much concern they took their seats – Lord Osborne near Emma, and the convenient Mr Musgrave in high spirits at his own importance, on the other side of the fireplace with Elizabeth. He was at no loss for words; – but when Lord Osborne had hoped that Emma had not caught cold at the ball, he had nothing more to say for some time, and could only gratify his eye by occasional glances at his fair neighbour.

Emma was not inclined to give herself much trouble for his entertainment – and after hard labour of mind, he produced the remark of its being a very fine day, and followed it up with the question of, ‘Have you been walking this morning?’

‘No, my lord. We thought it too dirty.’

‘You should wear half-boots.’ – After another pause, ‘Nothing sets off a neat ankle more than a half-boot; nankin galoshed with black looks very well. – Do not you like half-boots?’18

‘Yes – but unless they are so stout as so injure their beauty, they are not fit for country walking.’

‘Ladies should ride in dirty weather. – Do you ride?’

‘No my lord.’

‘I wonder every lady does not. – A woman never looks better than on horseback. –’

‘But every woman may not have the inclination, or the means.’

‘If they

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