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evident by the unceasing agitation of his features that he minded it
as much as ever。—Emma did not think； or reflect；—she felt and
acted。 ‘I shall be very happy to dance with you Sir； if you like it；’
said she； holding out her hand with the most unaffected good
humour。—The Boy in one moment restored to all his first
delight—looked joyfully at his Mother and stepping forwards with
an honest and simple Thank you Ma’am was instantly ready to
attend his new acquaintance。—The Thankfulness of Mrs。 Blake
was more diffuse；—with a look； most expressive of unexpected
pleasure； and lively Gratitude； she turned to her neighbour with
repeated and fervent acknowledgements of so great and
condescending a kindness to her boy。—Emma with perfect truth
could assure her that she could not be giving greater pleasure than
she felt herself—and Charles being provided with his gloves and
charged to keep them on； they joined the Set which was now
rapidly forming； with nearly equal complacency。—It was a
Partnership which could not be noticed without surprise。 It gained
her a broad stare from Miss Osborne and Miss Carr as they passed
her in the dance。 ‘Upon my word Charles you are in luck；’ （said the
former as she turned him） ‘you have got a better partner than
me’—to which the happy Charles answered ‘Yes。’—Tom Musgrave
who was dancing with Miss Carr； gave her many inquisitive
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 22
glances； and after a time Lord Osborne himself came under
pretence of talking to Charles； stood to look at his partner。—Tho’
rather distressed by such observation； Emma could not repent
what she had done； so happy had it made both the boy and his
Mother； the latter of whom was continually making opportunities
of addressing her with the warmest civility。—Her little partner she
found； tho’ bent chiefly on dancing； was not unwilling to speak；
when her questions or remarks gave him anything to say； and she
learnt； by a sort of inevitable enquiry that he had two brothers and
a sister； that they and their Mama all lived with his Uncle at
Wickstead； that his Uncle taught him Latin； that he was very fond
of riding； and had a horse of his own given him by Lord Osborne；
and that he had been out once already with Lord Osborne’s
Hounds。—At the end of these Dances Emma found they were to
drink tea；—Miss E。 gave her a caution to be at hand； in a manner
which convinced her of Mrs。 E。’s holding it very important to have
them both close to her when she moved into the Tearoom； and
Emma was accordingly on the alert to gain her proper station。 It
was always the pleasure of the company to have a little bustle and
croud when they thus adjourned for refreshment；—the Tearoom
was a small room within the Cardroom； and in passing thro’ the
latter； where the passage was straightened by Tables； Mrs。 E。 and
her party were for a few moments hemmed in。 It happened close
by Lady Osborne’s Cassino Table； Mr。 Howard who belonged to it
spoke to his Nephew； and Emma on perceiving herself the object
of attention both to Lady O。 and him； had just turned away her
eyes in time； to avoid seeming to hear her young companion
delightedly whisper aloud ‘Oh！ Uncle； do look at my partner。 She
is so pretty！’ As they were immediately in motion again however
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Charles was hurried off without being able to receive his Uncle’s
suffrage。 On entering the Tearoom； in which two long Tables were
prepared； Lord Osborne was to be seen quite alone at the end of
one； as if retreating as far as he could from the Ball； to enjoy his
own thoughts； and gape without restraint。—Charles instantly
pointed him out to Emma—‘There’s Lord Osborne—Let you and I
go and sit by him。’—‘No； no；’ said Emma laughing ‘you must sit
with my friends。’
Charles was now free enough to hazard a few questions in his
turn。 ‘What o’clock was it？’—‘Eleven。’—‘Eleven！—And I am not at
all sleepy。 Mama said I should be asleep before ten。—Do you think
Miss Osborne will keep her word with me； when Tea is over？’ ‘Oh！
yes。—I suppose so。’—tho’ she felt that she had no better reason to
give than that Miss Osborne had not kept it before。—‘When shall
you come to Osborne Castle？’—‘Never； probably。—I am not
acquainted with the family。’ ‘But you may come to Wickstead and
see Mama； and she can take you to the Castle。—There is a
monstrous curious stuff’d Fox there； and a Badger—anybody
would think they were alive。 It is a pity you should not see
them。’—On rising from Tea； there was again a scramble for the
pleasure of being first out of the room； which happened to be
increased by one or two of the card parties having just broken up
and the players being disposed to move exactly the different way。
Among these was Mr。 Howard—his sister leaning on his arm—and
no sooner were they within reach of Emma； than Mrs。 B。 calling
her notice by a friendly touch； said ‘Your goodness to Charles； my
dear Miss Watson； brings all his family upon you。 Give me leave to
introduce my Brother—Mr。 H。’ Emma curtsied； the gentleman
bowed—made a hasty request for the honour of her hand in the
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 24
next two dances； to which as hasty an affirmative was given； and
they were immediately impelled in opposite directions。—Emma
was very well pleased with the circumstance；—there was a quietly…
chearful； gentlemanlike air in Mr。 H。 which suited her—and in a
few minutes afterwards； the value of her Engagement increased；
when as she was sitting in the Card…room somewhat screened by a
door； she heard Lord Osborne； who was lounging on a vacant
Table near her； call Tom Musgrave towards him and say； ‘Why do
not you dance with that beautiful Emma Watson？—I want you to
dance with her—and I will come and stand by you。’—‘I was
determining on it this very moment my Lord； I’ll be introduced
and dance with her directly。’—‘Aye do—and if you find she does
not want much Talking to； you may introduce me by and bye。’—
‘Very well my Lord。 If she is like her Sisters； she will only want to
be listened to。—I will go this moment。 I shall find her in the Tea
room。 That stiff old Mrs。 E。 has never done tea。’—Away he went—
Lord Osborne after him—and Emma lost no time in hurrying from
her corner； exactly the other way； forgetting in her haste that she
left Mrs。 Edwardes behind。—‘We had quite lost you’—said Mrs。
E。—who followed her with Mary； in less than five minutes。—‘If you
prefer this room to the other； there is no reason why you should
not be here； but we had better all be together。’ Emma was saved
the Trouble of apologizing； by their being joined at the moment by
Tom Musgrave； who requesting Mrs。 E。 aloud to do him the
honour of presenting him to Miss Emma Watson； left that good
Lady without any choice in the business； but that of testifying by
the coldness of her manner that she did it unwillingly。 The honour
of dancing with her； was solicited without loss of time—and
Emma； however she might like to be thought a beautiful girl by
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Lord or Commoner； was so little