‘So Emma wants to make restitution. Well done, little Emma! I did not think it was in her.’
‘It has been her darling scheme for years; but Lady Elizabeth has made her promise to wait till she is five-and-twenty, and not to consider herself pledged.’
‘How like Lady Elizabeth! One respects her like an institution! I hope Emma may hold out, but she has a firebrand in her counsels. I am glad you are not infatuated.’
‘I am sure I don’t know what I think of Miss Marstone. I cannot like her; yet I want to admire her—she is so good.’
‘Let her be as good as she pleases; why should she be silly?’
‘Oh! she is very clever.’
‘When good and clever people are silly, they are the biggest simpletons of all.’
‘Then I don’t think I quite know what you mean by silliness.’
‘Not turning one’s sense to the best advantage, I suppose,’ said Theodora. ‘That Miss Marstone provokes me. If her principles were not right I should not care; but when she has sound views, to see her go on talking, with no reserve, only caring for what is out of the way, it makes one feel oneself turned to ridicule. How can Lady Elizabeth endure it?’
‘I don’t think she likes it, but Emma is so fond of her!’