Page:Austen Sanditon and other miscellanea.djvu/122

 92 eldest Sister, and sometimes I see a look of Miss Penelope, and once or twice there has been a glance of Mr. Robert; but I cannot perceive any likeness to Mr. Samuel.’ ‘I see the likeness between her and Miss Watson,’ replied Mr. Edwardes, ‘very strongly, but I am not sensible of the others. I do not much think she is like any of the Family but Miss Watson; but I am very sure there is no resemblance between her and Sam.’

This matter was settled, and they went to Dinner. ‘Your Father, Miss Emma, is one of my oldest friends,’ said Mr. Edwardes, as he helped her to wine, when they were drawn round the fire to enjoy their Dessert. ‘We must drink to his better health. It is a great concern to me, I assure you, that he should be such an Invalid. I know nobody who likes a game of cards in a social way, better than he does; and very few people that play a fairer rubber. It is a thousand pities that he should be so deprived of the pleasure. For now we have a quiet little Whist club that meets three times a week at the White Hart, and if he could but have his health, how much he would enjoy it.’ ‘I dare say he would, Sir, and I wish with all my heart he were equal to it.’ ‘Your Club would be better fitted for an Invalid,’ said Mrs. Edwardes, ‘if you did not keep it up so late.’ This was an old grievance. ‘So late, my dear; what are you talking of?’ cried the Husband with sturdy pleasantry. ‘We are always at home before Midnight. They would laugh at Osborne Castle to hear you call that late; they are but just rising from dinner at midnight.’ ‘That is nothing to the purpose,’ retorted the Lady calmly. ‘The Osbornes are to be no rule for us. You had better meet every night, and break up two hours sooner.’ So far, the subject was very often carried; but Mr. and Mrs. Edwardes were so wise as never to pass that point; and Mr. Edwardes now turned to something else. He had lived long enough in the Idleness of a Town to become a little