the warsons(华森夫妇)-第4章
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Ladies are likely to feel the effects of it longer。 When an old Lady
plays the fool； it is not in the course of nature that she should
suffer from it many years。’ Emma drew her hand across her eyes—
and Mrs。 Edwardes on perceiving it； changed the subject to one of
less anxiety to all。
With nothing to do but to expect the hour of setting off； the
afternoon was long to the two young Ladies； and tho’ Miss
Edwardes was rather discomposed at the very early hour which
her mother always fixed for going； that early hour itself was
watched for with some eagerness。—The entrance of the Tea things
at seven o’clock was some relief—and luckily Mr。 and Mrs。
Edwardes always drank a dish extraordinary； and ate an
additional muffin when they were going to sit up late； which
lengthened the ceremony almost to the wished for moment。 At a
little before eight； the Tomlinsons carriage was heard to go by；
which was the constant signal for Mrs。 Edwardes to order hers to
the door； and in a very few minutes； the party were transported
from the quiet warmth of a snug parlour； to the bustle； noise and
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draughts of air of the broad Entrance…passage of an Inn。—Mrs。
Edwardes carefully guarding her own dress； while she attended
with yet greater Solicitude to the proper security of her young
Charges’ Shoulders and Throats； led the way up the wide
staircase； while no sound of a Ball but the first Scrape of one
violin； blessed the ears of her followers； and Miss Edwardes on
hazarding the anxious enquiry of whether there were many people
come yet was told by the Waiter as she knew she should； that ‘Mr。
Tomlinson’s family were in the room。’ In passing along a short
gallery to the Assembly…room； brilliant in lights before them； they
were accosted by a young Man in a morning dress and Boots； who
was standing in the doorway of a Bedchamber； apparently on
purpose to see them go by。—‘Ah！ Mrs。 E。—how do you do？—How
do you do Miss E。？—he cried； with an easy air；—‘You are
determined to be in good time I see； as usual。—The Candles are
but this moment lit。’—‘I like to get a good seat by the fire you
know； Mr。 Musgrave；’ replied Mrs。 E。 ‘I am this moment going to
dress；’ said he—‘I am waiting for my stupid fellow。—We shall have
a famous Ball； The Osbornes are certainly coming； you may
depend upon that for I was with Lord Osborne this morning—’
The party passed on—Mrs。 E’s sattin gown swept along the
clean floor of the Ball…room； to the fireplace at the upper end；
where one party only were formally seated； while three or four
Officers were lounging together； passing in and out from the
adjoining card…room。—A very stiff meeting between these near
neighbours ensued—and as soon as they were all duely placed
again； Emma in the low whisper which became the solemn scene；
said to Miss Edwardes； ‘The gentleman we passed in the passage；
was Mr。 Musgrave； then？—He is reckoned remarkably agreable I
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understand。’ Miss E。 answered hesitatingly—‘Yes—he is very
much liked by many people。—But we are not very intimate。’—‘He
is rich； is not he？’—‘He has about 8 or 900￡ a year I believe。—He
came into possession of it； when he was very young； and my
Father and Mother think it has given him rather an unsettled
turn。—He is no favourite with them。’—The cold and empty
appearance of the Room and the demure air of the small cluster of
Females at one end of it began soon to give way； the inspiriting
sound of other Carriages was heard； and continual accessions of
portly Chaperons； and strings of smartly…dressed girls were
received； with now and then a fresh gentleman straggler； who if
not enough in Love to station himself near any fair Creature
seemed glad to escape into the Card…room。—Among the increasing
numbers of Military Men； one now made his way to Miss Edwards；
with an air of Empressément； which decidedly said to her
Companion ‘I am Captain Hunter。’—and Emma； who could not
but watch her at such a moment； saw her looking rather
distressed； but by no means displeased； and heard an engagement
formed for the two first dances； which made her think her Brother
Sam’s a hopeless case。
Emma in the meanwhile was not unobserved； or unadmired
herself。—A new face and a very pretty one； could not be slighted—
her name was whispered from one party to another； and no sooner
had the signal been given； by the Orchestra’s striking up a
favourite air； which seemed to call the young Men to their duty；
and people the centre of the room； than she found herself engaged
to dance with a Brother officer； introduced by Captain Hunter。—
Emma Watson was not more than of the middle height—well
made and plump； with an air of healthy vigour。—Her skin was
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very brown； but clear； smooth and glowing； which with a lively
Eye； a sweet smile； and an open Countenance； gave beauty to
attract； and expression to make that beauty improve on
acquaintance。—Having no reason to be dissatisfied with her
partner； the Evening began very pleasantly to her； and her
feelings perfectly coincided with the reiterated observation of
others； that it was an excellent Ball。—The two first dances were
not quite over； when the returning sound of Carriages after a long
interruption； called general notice； and ‘the Osbornes are coming；
the Osbornes are coming’—was repeated round the room。—After
some minutes of extraordinary bustle without； and watchful
curiosity within； the important Party； preceded by the attentive
Master of the Inn to open a door which was never shut； made their
appearance。 They consisted of Lady Osborne； her son Lord
Osborne； her daughter Miss Osborne； Miss Carr； her daughter’s
friend； Mr。 Howard formerly Tutor to Lord Osborne； now
Clergyman of the Parish in which the Castle stood； Mrs。 Blake； a
widow…sister who lived with him； her son a fine boy of ten years
old； and Mr。 Tom Musgrave； who probably imprisoned within his
own room； had been listening in bitter impatience to the sound of
the Music； for the last half hour。 In their progress up the room；
they paused almost immediately behind Emma； to receive the
Compliments of some acquaintance； and she heard Lady Osborne
observe that they had made a point of coming early for the
gratification of Mrs。 Blake’s little boy； who was uncommonly fond
of dancing。—Emma looked at them all is they passed—but chiefly
and with most interest on Tom Musgrave； who was certainly a
genteel； good looking young man。—Of the females； Lady Osborne
had by much the finest person；—tho’ nearly fifty； she was very
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handsome； and had all the Dignity of Rank。
Lord Osborne was a very fine young man； but there was an air
of Coldness； of Carelessness； even of Awkwardness about him；
which seemed to speak him out of his Element in a Ball…room。 He
came in fact only because it was judged expedient for him to
please the Borough—he was not fond of Women’s company； and
he never danced。—Mr。 Howard was an agreable…looking Man； a
little more than Thirty。
At the conclusion of the two Dances； Emma found herself； she
knew not how； seated amongst the Osborne set； and she was
immediately struck with the fine Countenance and animated
gestures of the little boy； as he was standing before his Mother；
wondering when they should begin。—‘You will not be surprised at
Charles’s impatience；’ said Mrs。 Blake； a lively pleasant…looking
little Woman of five… or six… and thirty； to a Lady who was standing
near her； ‘when you know what a partner he is to have。 Miss
Osborne has been so very kind as to promise to dance the two first
dances with him。’—‘Oh！ yes—we have been engaged this week；’
cried the boy； ‘and we are to dance down every couple。’—On the
other side of Emma； Miss Osborne； Miss Carr； and a party of
young Men were standing engaged in very lively consultation—
and soon afterwards she saw the smartest officer of the set；
walking off to the Orchestra to order the dance； while Miss
Osborne passing before her； to her little expecting Partner hastily
said—‘Charles； I beg your pardon for not keeping my engagement；
but I am going to dance these two dances with Colonel Beresford。
I know you will excuse me； and I will certainly dance with you
af
