"What a good idea!" cried Lady Gordon, all animation at the proposal; "I should like it of all things! Suppose we try?"
"With your present company?" enquired Emma.
"Yes; we should have quite enough—should we not? You shall be the lady, and Fanny, Sabrina; I, the Spirit—Sir William, Comus, and Osborne—let me see, we should want one other man. I suppose Mr. Howard would take a part?"
"Mr. Howard? oh, no! I should think not. I am sure he would not like it!"
"Well, well; any one could do the brother's part. I think it would be exquisite. I am quite delighted with the idea."
"Did you ever act, Lady Gordon?" enquired Emma.
"Never at all; but I am sure it must be delightful. I wonder whether Sir William would make any objection?"
"There would be some difficulties in the way," observed Emma.
"So much the better; difficulties to overcome give one spirits. Here we would have our theatre,"—stopping the carriage and looking round. "A marquee or something of the sort, and seats raised in a semi-circle—it would be quite delightful, such a fête champêtre. I am certain we could manage it; and the novelty of the thing would give it great éclat."
"But, Lady Gordon, if you talk in that way you will frighten me; I am certain I could not act before an audience—I never tried any thing of the sort, except in the most quiet way; amongst cousins and intimate friends, with nobody to look on, but my uncle and aunt, and one or two old people, whom we were not afraid of. We did it only for own amusement, without thinking of being looked at or producing an effect; acting for the entertainment of a circle of people, must be such a very different thing from acting for one's pleasure."