"I hear you are thinking of leaving home, Mr. Howard, I hope I shall see Mrs. Willis again before you do."
"I suppose Lord Osborne told you?" replied he with a tone and emphasis which she could not quite comprehend.
"I certainly heard it from him," answered she, rather annoyed at his abruptness, and puzzled what to say next.
Another pause of some duration followed, and then he broke it, by an enquiry if she had enjoyed the ball last night. She answered rather eagerly, not nearly so much as the first one she had attended.
"I am surprised," replied he in a cold voice, "I fancied the friendly kindness of Miss Osborne, and the attentions of her brother would have secured you a pleasant evening."
"I hope I am not ungrateful for Miss Osborne's goodness, but she could not with her best endeavours secure happiness even for a single evening; and as to the attentions of her brother, to tell you the truth, such as they are they are not particularly conducive to pleasure. There was far more exaltation than excitement in being honored as his partner."
"We are, perhaps, all inclined to undervalue what is in our power," replied he very gravely.
"I beg your pardon, but I do not see what that has to do with the present case," said Emma, "it is not in my power to think Lord Osborne an entertaining partner, or a good dancer, and though I mean no reflection on him, I should not be sorry to think it was the last time we shall ever stand up together."
"Possibly it may be," said he with a peculiar smile.
She could not make him out at all, and resolved not to speak again, since he seemed determined to quarrel with her. Again he broke the silence by an observation:
"I suppose now you have seen more of Osborne Castle, Miss Emma Watson, you have become better reconciled to it."
"I like it very much," said Emma, finding she was expected to say something, and not quite certain what would be best.
"I remember not long ago that you expressed very different sentiments," continued he, "but circumstances are altered now, no doubt, and it is astonishing how soon the mind becomes accustomed to such a change. We feel inclined to doubt that we ever thought otherwise from what we do now."
"Perhaps that is the reason," said Emma, "why I am unconscious of any change in my thoughts and feelings regarding the Castle and its inmates, except the natural feelings of being more at home here than before."