At length, however, he spoke:
"It's a beautiful morning; ain't you going to walk to-day?"
"No, my Lord," replied she quietly, raising her eyes from her work, "I think it is too dirty!"
"You should wear boots," said he, "nankeen with block tops, look very nice, when a woman has a pretty ankle."
She had nothing to object to his taste, and did not reply.
"Do you ride?" continued he.
"No, my lord."
"Why not? every woman should ride; a woman never looks so well as on horse-back, well mounted, and in a handsome habit—you should ride—don't you like it?"
"There are, sometimes, other impediments, my lord, besides want of taste, even to so becoming an amusement," replied Emma, gravely.
"Eh? I don't understand," resumed he, "what prevents you?"