第2章

Emma had seen the Edwardes only one morning at Stanton, they were therefore all but Strangers to her, and tho'her spirits were by no means insensible to the expected joys of the Evening, she felt a little uncomfortable in the thought of all that was to precede them.Her conversation with Elizabeth too giving her some very unpleasant feelings, with respect to her own family, hadmade her more open to disagreable impressions from any other cause, and increased her sense of the awkwardness of rushing into Intimacy on so slight an acquaintance.—There was nothing in the manners of Mrs.or Miss Edwardes to give immediate change to these Ideas;—the Mother tho'a very friendly woman, had a reserved air, and a great deal of formal Civility—and the daughter, a genteel looking girl of twenty-two, with her hair in papers, seemed very naturally to have caught something of the stile of the Mother who had brought her up.—Emma was soon left to know what they could be, by Elizabeth's being obliged to hurry away— and some very, very languid remarks on the probable Brilliancy of the Ball, were all that broke at intervals a silence of half an hour before they were joined by the Master of the house.—Mr.Edwardes had a much easier, and more communicative air than the Ladies of the Family; he was fresh from the Street, and he came ready to tell what ever might interest.—After a cordial reception of Emma, he turned to his daughter with 'Well Mary, I bring you good news.—The Osbornes will certainly be at the Ball tonight.—Horses for two Carriages are ordered from the White Hart, to be at Osborne Castle by nine.''I am glad of it'—observed Mrs.E., 'because their coming gives a credit to our Assemblies.The Osbornes being known to have been at the first Ball, will 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 werecarefully 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 eventhe 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.'