The Watsons (2): Diplomatic DisplayOxfordBodleian Library, MS.Eng.e.3764
to take people by surprise, with sudden
visits at extraordinary seasons; & in the present in::stance he had had the additional motive of be::ing able to
tell the Miſs Watsons, whom he de::pended on finding
sitting quietly employedafter tea, that he was going home to an 8o’clock
dinner. — As it happenedhowever, he did not givecreate more surprise than he received, when in::stead of
being shewn into the usual little sitting room,the door of the best parloura foot larger each way than the other was thrown open,& he beheld a circle of smart people whom he cd .couldnot immediately recognise sillin1 arranged withall the honours of visiting round the
fire, & Miſs Watson sitting at the best PembrokeTable, with making the best Tea things before her.He stoodstopt, for a few seconds, in silent amaze::ment. — "Musgrave!" — ejaculated Margaret ina tender voice. — He
recollected himself, & cameforward, delighted to find suchhimself a circle ofFriends, & bleſsing his good fortune for theunlooked-for Indulgence. — He shook handswith Robert, bowed & smiled to the Ladies, &did every thing very prettily; but as to anyparticularity of addreſs or Emotion
towardsMargaret, Emma who closed2 observed him, perceived nothing that diddiscerned no more thannot justify Eliz.’sElizabeth's opinionsshe had expected, tho’thoughtho’though Margaret’s modest
Footnotes
- 1.
- Intended to be 'sitting', but erased before the 'g' was completed and the 't's crossed.Back to context...
- 2.
- RWC reads ‘closely’, which is presumably what JA intended to write.Back to context...