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.