"Sabrina, fair,
Listen where thou art sitting—"
murmured Sir William in an under tone, without looking up.
"We will go together," said Miss Osborne.
"Fair ladies, will you not first condescend to cast an eye on the production of my humble pencil. Have you no curiosity, Miss Watson—no sympathy, Miss Osborne? do give me your opinion."
"My opinion would, you know, be totally useless," said Emma, turning round from the door which she had just reached; she stopped in her speech from catching a glance of Sir William's directed towards Miss Osborne, which seemed to say her own was not exactly the opinion he most desired. She left the room without another word, and her exit was followed by a silence of some moments' space between the two who remained.
Sir William broke it first.
"Are you absolutely determined against exhibiting any interest in my proceedings—against giving me any encouragement in my efforts?"
Miss Osborne colored deeply, then walking up to the easel said, as she affected to be examining the drawing,
"Sir William, you have no doubt an accurate eye for likenesses, but I doubt from the expression you give, whether you possess equal penetration with regard to characters."