Page:A memoir of Jane Austen (Fourth Edition).pdf/362

 templating her, he then sat in silence for some minutes longer, while Tom Musgrave was chattering to Elizabeth; till they were interrupted by Nanny’s approach, who, half-opening the door and putting in her head, said—-

‘Please, ma’am, master wants to know why he be’nt to have his dinner ?’

The gentlemen, who had hitherto disregarded every symptom, however positive, of the nearness of that meal, now jumped up with apologies, while Elizabcth called briskly after Nanny to take up the fowls.

‘I am sorry it happens so,’ she added, turning good-humouredly towards Musgrave, ‘but you know what early hours we keep.’

Tom had nothing to say for himself, he knew it very well, and such honest simplicity, such shameless. truth, rather bewildered him. Lord Osborne’s parting compliments took some time, his inclination for speech seeming to increase with the shortness of the term for indulgence. He recommended exercise in defiance of dirt; spoke again in praise of halfbaots ; begged that his sister might be allowed to send Emma the name of her shoemaker; and concluded with saying, ‘My hounds will be hunting this country next week. I believe they will throw off at Stanton Wood on Wednesday at nine o'clock I mention this in hopes of your being drawn out to see what’s going on. If the morning's tolerable, pray do us the honour of giving us your good wishes in person.’

The sisters looked on each other with astonishment when their visitors had withdrawn.