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 Emma. ‘Well, we shall see how irresistible Mr, Tom Musgrave and I find each other. I suppose I shall know him as soon as I enter the ball-room ; he must carry some of his charms in his face.’

‘You will not find him in the ball-room, I can tell you; you will go early, that Mrs. Edwards may get a good place by the fire, and he never comes till late; if the Osbornes are coming, he will wait tn the passage and come in with them. I should like to look in upon you, Emma. If it was but a good day with my father, 1 would wrap myself up, and James should drive me over as soon as I had made tea for him ; and I should be with you by the time the dancing began.’

‘What! Would you come late at night in this chair ?’

‘To be sure I would. There, I said you were very refined, and that's an instance of it.’

Emma for a moment made no answer. At last she said—

‘I wish, Elizabeth, you had not made a point of my going to this ball; I wish you were going instead of me. Your pleasure would be greater than mine. Iam a stranger here, and know nobody but the Edwards; my enjoyment, therefore, must be very doubtful. Yours, among all your acquaintance, would be certain. It is not too late to change. Very little apology could be requisite to the Edwards, who must be more glad of your company than of mine, and I should most readily return to my father; and should not be at all afraid to drive this quiet old