After the usual enquiries and civilities, he threw himself back in the easiest chair in the room, and beamed round at them, saying—
"I vow and declare there are no friends like old friends. Oh, it's monstrous dull since you and the Osbornes left—positively I have half a mind to go after Osborne!"
"Is not he soon coming back?" asked Robert.
"Faith, there's no sign of it! Howard has joined them at Rome. He is very likely to be engaged to Miss Osborne."
Emma was sitting beyond the candles, so that he could not see her face; but by her very stillness he was satisfied that he had wounded her.
"I think it is Miss Carr that he is after," said Jane in an important tone, as though she were intimate.
"Oh, Fanny Carr is all for me! She won't look at anyone else, I can assure you, when I am by!"
"Take care, Tom!" said Sam, laughing. "Out of sight, out of mind! She will have forgotten you months ago, I wager!"
"Why do not you join Lord Osborne?" enquired Jane.