"You did not! that was unlucky; I wish I had known you were going, I would have been there, and I could have suggested it to Miss Osborne; I dare say she would have shewn you all the rooms."
"She offered to do so, but we put it off till another time; we thought we should be too hurried."
"It's a pity you did not dine there; its something quite grand to see all the plate—I quite enjoy it—they give such good dinners."
"You do not seem aware that we did dine there," replied Emma, "and, as I had seen other large establishments before, I saw nothing so very astonishing at their table."
"You did dine there—yes—but that was in a family way; the thing is to see a regular great dinner—twenty people sitting down—that is what I like."
"I am not fond of large dinner parties; unless one has a very pleasant neighbour they are apt to be dull."
"Very much so—very much so indeed; I quite agree with you, a little, quiet, social dinner—where one person can talk and the others listen, that is pleasant. You get every thing hot and quickly—that's the thing!"
Emma did not feel called on to answer, and presently he added:
"I should like to have you for a neighbour at such a dinner."
Emma was still obdurately silent, and Mr. Musgrove, to recompense himself, turned to Elizabeth, and began to talk to her.