"Very much—I have come back much wiser than I went; I have made up my mind that the more elevated the situation the less pleasant it would be unless one had been brought up to it."
"Then you would not change places with Lady Osborne?" said he, fixing a pair of very penetrating eyes on her. As she had noticed Lord Osborne's looks without the remotest idea of his meaning anything but to put her out of countenance, and formed no airy speculations as to the possibility of succeeding to the dominion at the Castle, she attached no peculiar meaning to his question.
"I think the supposition hardly a reasonable one," was her answer; "could you suppose I should wish to exchange with a woman old enough to be my mother—give up five and twenty years of life to be a wealthy middle-aged dowager in claret-coloured satin and diamonds."
"Remember," continued Emma as if retracting, "I mean no disparagement to your friend, who I have no doubt may be a very excellent and amiable woman, but I was speaking merely as she appeared to me to-day."
"There have been young Lady Osbornes," said he almost in a whisper, and as if rather doubtful whether or not to speak the words.
"I suppose so," replied Emma coolly, without the smallest embarrassment, but with a slight shade of reserve in her manner. She never allowed jesting on the topic of matrimony. He saw it immediately.
"Then what do you think you require to make you happy?" said he, to escape from the other subject.
"A very comprehensive question—I should like to know whether you expect a serious answer," replied she gaily.
"To be with those I love, and have money in my purse—I think that is sufficient: no—I think I should like a house too—"
"But preserve me from the slavery of living _en grande dame_; I was not brought up to it—and nothing but habit could make such bonds sit light and gracefully."
"I believe you are right, and you must certainly be wise."
He looked at her with unmistakable admiration; she could not meet his eye, but coloured and fixed hers on the fender. In spite of her embarrassment, however, she felt a real pleasure in the friendly tone he had assumed, and hoped sincerely that the morning would not see him cold and formal again.
"Emma," said Elizabeth after they had retired for the night, "I am certain that Lord Osborne admires you very much."