Chapter 15

           Mr.Woodhousewassoonreadyforhistea;andwhenhehaddrankhisteahewasquitereadytogohome;anditwasasmuchashisthreecompanionscoulddo,toentertainawayhisnoticeofthelatenessofthehour,beforetheothergentlemenappeared.Mr.Westonwaschattyandconvivial,andnofriendtoearlyseparationsofanysort;butatlastthedrawing-roompartydidreceiveanaugmentation.Mr.Elton,inverygoodspirits,wasoneofthefirsttowalkin.Mrs.WestonandEmmaweresittingtogetheronasofa.Hejoinedthemimmediately,and,withscarcelyaninvitation,seatedhimselfbetweenthem.

           Emma,ingoodspiritstoo,fromtheamusementaffordedhermindbytheexpectationofMr.FrankChurchill,waswillingtoforgethislateimproprieties,andbeaswellsatisfiedwithhimasbefore,andonhismakingHarriethisveryfirstsubject,wasreadytolistenwithmostfriendlysmiles.

           Heprofessedhimselfextremelyanxiousaboutherfairfriend—herfair,lovely,amiablefriend."Didsheknow?—hadsheheardanythingabouther,sincetheirbeingatRandalls?—hefeltmuchanxiety—hemustconfessthatthenatureofhercomplaintalarmedhimconsiderably."Andinthisstylehetalkedonforsometimeveryproperly,notmuchattendingtoanyanswer,butaltogethersufficientlyawaketotheterrorofabadsorethroat;andEmmawasquiteincharitywithhim.