Mrs. Robert Watson having announced her emancipation from the trammels of woe, invitations poured in, fast and thick, in all of which Emma was specially included.
It was fine, bright weather, with the pleasantest frost; and Emma was able to take out Augusta nearly every morning for a walk. To her dismay, however, she found herself frequently joined by Lord Osborne, who had taken rooms in a neighbouring inn; and she appealed in vain to her sister to accompany them, or to take charge of the child herself.
Matters were brought to a head by Jane, who deliberately informed Lord Osborne one morning when he called, of the direction in which Emma had gone. She herself had sent her some little distance beyond the town, in order to enquire for an old servant who was ill. The result was,[Pg 176] that as Emma was turning but the first corner on her return home, she came face to face with Lord Osborne.
She replied to his greeting as coldly as might be; and was endeavouring to proceed on her way, when she was brought to a standstill by his informing her that Mrs. Watson had been so good as to indicate to him where he might find her. "She was particularly kind," he said. "I am very much obliged to her—the more so that I have been missing you for so many mornings."
Emma's eyes had been fixed on the ground, but she now suddenly raised them. His face was slightly flushed, and his whole manner betrayed confidence.
Pale with anger, and holding Augusta's hand tightly, she confronted him.
"Lord Osborne, I am alone and unprotected," she said. "You must surely see that your attentions only cause me distress. Be good enough to let me proceed on my way, without accompanying me."
"Mrs. Watson has given me her permission to escort you home."
"My sister-in-law has no conception of her duty to me."
"Believe me, Miss Watson, my intentions are entirely honourable. You have no reason to treat me with such coldness. My whole desire is to make you my wife—if you will honour me by accepting me."
Emma curtsied.
"I cannot possibly accept you, my lord—I beseech you to accept this answer as final—I can never be your wife!—but, believe me, I am deeply sensible to the honour you have done me."
"What reason can you have for refusing me? Do not be so hasty! You do not perhaps know me well enough. I will wait—I will be patient—if you will only give me one word of hope!"
"My lord, I cannot!"
"You cannot?—why cannot you?"
Emma remained silent, but she was walking onward, the while he kept at her side.
"Miss Emma! why do not you speak?"
She could find no reply.
"I know I am a dull fellow—but I love[Pg 178] you so much! There is not anything I would not do for you! Could not you care for me a little?"
"No, my lord."
"If you were only married to me, you would care for me!—you could not but care for me if we were married—I would love you so much!"
Emma wept.
"Why do you make my aunt cry? Why do not you go away?" asked little Augusta, looking over at him reproachfully.
"It needs a child to point out my obvious duty," he said bitterly; and, turning back, he strode away.
Augusta remained silent for several minutes, and then said—
"Is not a lord nicer than a gentleman?"
Emma was obliged to smile.
"Shall not you marry him after a while?" she continued.
"Would you like to marry him, Augusta?"
"No," replied the child, after a little hesitation; "it always seems a long time when he is there."
On their return home, Jane herself opened the door and, fixing her eyes on Emma, said—
"Has Lord Osborne asked you?"
Emma admitted it.
"Well, you have accepted him?"
"No."
"You have not accepted him! Good heavens! Emma!—do you tell me you have refused him?—refused Lord Osborne!"
"Yes."
"Wicked, ungrateful girl! How have you the face to stand there and tell me such a thing? Are you mad, Emma? What bewitched you to refuse him?"
Emma remained silent.
"Speak, wretched girl! How dared you to refuse him?"
Emma looked at her haughtily.
"I shall speak to my brother," she replied coldly.
"It is your brother who will speak to you—Minx! Do not look at me like that! You are insufferable with your airs—and[Pg 180] you just nothing! Owing every stick on your back to your brother and to me!"
Jane had completely lost all self-control; and little Augusta, terrified, clung to Emma, crying bitterly.
At this moment, Robert came into the hall.
"Here is Emma gone and refused Lord Osborne!" cried his wife.
"Do you consider the servants to be stone deaf!" he demanded angrily. "Come with me into my study, Emma. Go with your mother, Augusta."
Crossing the hall, he opened the door of his room for Emma to enter, and, following her in, closed and locked it.
"What is the meaning of all this?"
Emma was too agitated to reply.
"Is it true that you have refused Lord Osborne?"
"Yes, Robert."
"And why have you refused him?" Emma strove to answer, but no words came.
"I insist on your answering me. Why[Pg 181] have you refused him?—you must have some reason."
"I do not love him."
"As far as I am aware, it is not the custom for a nice girl to love a man before he asks her. It will come in time. Listen to me, Emma. I was anything but pleased when Lord Osborne followed you here, but he has shown that his intentions are wholly honourable. Shortly after our party he called on me to obtain my permission to offer himself to you, as soon as he deemed that he might do so with reasonable hope of success. This morning he acquainted your sister with his design in following you. You have nothing to complain of with regard to his conduct; he is a handsome man; and his position is far above that you have any right to expect."
Emma remained silent, with her eyes on the ground and her cheeks burning.
"I stand to you in the light of a father," continued Robert; "I have a right to your obedience; and if you have any natural feelings you will be glad to make me some return for all I have done for you—and I[Pg 182] am ready to do much more—by showing some willingness to comply with what I judge to be best for you. I am not saying that I might not have preferred that you had married a man in a simpler rank; but as you are so difficult to suit, I could not run the risk of dismissing him. Our aunt was no friend to you, breeding you up in a different way to us all, making you discontented; and you should be grateful to Lord Osborne for overlooking so much and being willing to marry you. Promise me, Emma, that there will be no more nonsense, if he should be so good as to forgive you for the insult you have done him, and should come forward again."
"I cannot promise. I can never marry him."
"You can, and will marry him! Obstinate girl! What are you aiming at? Would you prefer to attract the attentions of a royal prince?"
Robert had no sooner uttered these words than he would gladly have recalled them—shrinking from the flash of his sister's eyes. The next moment she had[Pg 183] swept past him, unlocked the door, and was gone.
Half-an-hour later she had left the house, and was on her way to Sam at Guildford.
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