Page:A memoir of Jane Austen (Fourth Edition).pdf/368

 Pen since she went to Chichester? I had a letter the other day. I don’t find she is likely to make anything of it. I fancy shell come back ‘Miss Penclope, as she went.’

Such she feared would be Margaret’s common voice when the novelty of her own appearance were over ; the tone of artificial sensibility was not recommended by the idea. The ladies were invited upstairs to prepare for dinner.

‘I hope you will find things tolerably comfortable, Jane,’ said Elizabeth, as she opened the door of the spare bedchamber.

‘My good creature,’ replied Jane, ‘use no ceremony with me, I entreat you. Iam one of those who always take things as they find them. I hope I can put up with a small apartment for two or three nights without making a piece of work. I always wish to be treated quite “en famille” when I come to see you. And now I do hope you have not been getting a great dinner for us. Remember we never eat suppers.’

‘I suppose, said Margaret rather quickly to Emma, ‘you and I are to be together; Elizabeth always takes care to have a room to herself.’

‘No, Elizabeth gives me half hers.’

‘Oh!’ in a softened voice, and rather mortified to find that she was not ili-used.

‘I am sorry I am not to have the pleasure of your company, especially as it makes me nervous to be much alone.’

Emma was the first of the females in the parlour again; on entering it she found her brother alone.