As Tom Musgrave was seen no more, we may suppose his plan to have succeeded, and imagine him mortifying with his Barrel of Oysters, in dreary solitude—or gladly assisting the Landlady in her Bar to make fresh Negus for the happy Dancers above.Emma could not help missing the party, by whom she had been, tho'in some respects unpleasantly, distinguished, and the two Dances which followed and concluded the Ball, were rather flat, in comparison with the others.—Mr.E.having play'd with good luck, they were some of the last in the room.—'Here we are, back again I declare'—said Emma sorrowfully, as she walked into the Dining room, where the Table was prepared, and the neat Upper maid was lighting the Candles—'My dear Miss Edwardes—how soon it is at an end!—I wish it could all come over again!'A great deal of kind pleasure was expressed in her having enjoyed the Evening so much—and Mr.Edwardes was as warm as herself, in praise of the fullness, brilliancy and Spirit of the Meeting, tho'as he had been fixed the whole time at the same Table in the same Room, with only one change of chairs, it might have seemed a matter scarcely perceived.
But he had won four rubbers out of five, and everything went well.His daughter felt the advantage of this gratified state of mind, in the course of the remarks and retrospections which now ensued, over the welcome soup.—'How came you not to dance with either of the Mr.Tomlinsons, Mary?'—said her Mother.'I was always engaged when they asked me.''I thought you were to havestood up with Mr.James, the last two dances; Mrs.Tomlinson told me he was gone to ask you—and I had heard you say two minutes before that you were not engaged.'—'Yes—but—there was a mistake—I had misunderstood—I did not know I was engaged.—I thought it had been for the two Dances after, if we staid so long— but Captain Hunter assured me it was for those very Two.'
'So, you ended with Captain Hunter Mary, did you?'said herFather.'And who did you begin with?''Captain Hunter.'was repeated, in a very humble tone—'Hum!—That is being constant however.But who else did you dance with?''Mr.Norton, and Mr.Styles.''And who are they?''Mr.Norton is a Cousin of Captain Hunter's.'—'And who is Mr.Styles?''One of his particular friends.'—'All in the same Regiment'added Mrs.E.—'Mary was surrounded by Red coats the whole Evening.I should have been better pleased to see her dancing with some of our old Neighbours I confess.''Yes, yes, we must not neglect our old Neighbours.But if these soldiers are quicker than other people in a Ball-room, what are young Ladies to do?''I think there is no occasion for their engaging themselves so many Dances beforehand, Mr.Edwards.'—'No—perhaps not—but I remember my dear when you and I did the same.'—Mrs.E.said no more, and Mary breathed again.—A great deal of goodhumoured pleasantry followed—and Emma went to bed in charming Spirits, her head full of Osbornes, Blakes and Howards.
The next morning brought a great many visitors.It was the wayof the place always to call on Mrs.E.on the morning after a Ball, and this neighbourly inclination was increased in the present instance by a general spirit of curiosity on Emma's account, as everybody wanted to look again at the girl who had been admiredthe night before by Lord Osborne.
Many were the eyes, and various the degrees of approbation with which she was examined.Some saw no fault, and some no Beauty.With some her brown skin was the annihilation of every grace, and others could never be persuaded that she were half so handsome as Elizabeth Watson had been ten years ago.—The morning passed quietly away in discussing the merits of the Ball with all this succession of Company—and Emma was at once astonished by finding it Two o'clock, and considering that she had heard nothing of her Father's Chair.After this discovery she had walked twice to the window to examine the Street, and was on the point of asking leave to ring the bell and make enquiries, when the light sound of a Carriage driving up to the door set her heart at ease.She stepd again to the window—but instead of the convenient but very un-smart Family Equipage perceived a neat Curricle.—Mr.Musgrave was shortly afterwards announced;—and Mrs.Edwardes put on her very stiffest look at the sound.—Not at all dismayed however by her chilling air, he paid his Compliments to each of the Ladies with no unbecoming Ease, and continuing to address Emma, presented her a note, which he had the honour of bringing from her Sister; But to which he must observe that a verbal postscript from himself would be requisite.'
