Emma was the first of the females in the parlour again； on entering it she found her brother alone.—'So Emma，'said he， 'you are quite the Stranger at home.It must seem odd enough to you to be here.—A pretty piece of work your Aunt Turner has made of it！—By Heaven！ A woman should never be trusted with money.I always said she ought to have settled something on you， as soon as her Husband died.''But that would have been trusting me with money，'replied Emma， 'and I am a woman too.—''It might have been secured to your future use， without your having any power over it now.—What a blow it must have been upon you！—To find yourself， instead of heiress of 8 or 9000ā， sent back a weight upon your family， without a sixpence.—I hope the old woman will smart for it.''Do not speak disrespectfully of her—She was very good to me； and if she has made an imprudent choice， she will suffer more from it herself； than I can possibly do.''I do not mean to distressyou， but you know every body must think her an old fool.—I thought Turner had been reckoned an extraordinary sensible， clever man.—How the Devil came he to make such a will？'—'My Uncle's sense is not at all impeached in my opinion， by his attachment to my Aunt.She had been an excellent wife to him.The most Liberal and enlightened Minds are always the most confiding.—The event has been unfortunate， but my Uncle's memory is if possible endeared to me by such a proof of tender respect for my Aunt.'—'That's odd sort of Talking！—He might have provided decently for his widow， without leaving every thing that he had to dispose of， or any part of it at her mercy.'—'My Aunt may have erred'—said Emma warmly—'she has erred—but my Uncle's conduct was faultless.I was her own Niece， and he left to herself the power and the pleasure of providing for me.—'But unluckily she has left the pleasure of providing for you， to your Father， and without the power.—That's the long and the short of the business.After keeping you at a distance from your family for such a length of time as must do away all natural affection among us and breeding you up (I suppose) in a superior stile， you are returned upon their hands without a sixpence.''You know，'replied Emma struggling with her tears， 'my Uncle's melancholy state of health.—He was a greater Invalid than my father.He could not leave home.''I do not mean to make you cry.'—said Robert rather softened—and after a short silence， by way of changing the subject， he added—'I am just come from my Father's room， he seems very indifferent.It will be a sad break-up when he dies.Pity， you can none of you get married！—You must come to Croydon as well as the rest， and see what you can do there.—I believe if Margaret had had a thousand or fifteen hundred pounds，there was a young man who would have thought of her.'Emma was glad when they were joined by the others； it was better to look at her Sister-in-law's finery than listen to Robert， who had equally irritated and grieved her.—Mrs.Robert exactly as smart as she had been at her own party， came in with apologies for her dress— 'I would not make you wait，'said she， 'so I put on the first thing I met with.—I am afraid I am a sad figure.—My dear Mr.W.—(to her husband) you have not put any fresh powder in your hair.'— 'No—I do not intend it.—I think there is powder enough in my hair for my wife and sisters.''Indeed you ought to make some alteration in your dress before dinner when you are out visiting， tho'you do not at home.''Nonsense.'—'It is very odd you should not like to do what other gentlemen do.Mr.Marshall and Mr.Hemmings change their dress every day of their Lives before dinner.And what was the use of my putting up your last new Coat， if you are never to wear it.'—'Do be satisfied with being fine yourself， and leave your husband alone.'—To put an end to this altercation， and soften the evident vexation of her sister-in-law， Emma (tho'in no Spirits to make such nonsense easy) began to admire her gown.—It produced immediate complacency.—'Do you like it？'—said she.—'I am very happy.—It has been excessively admired；—but sometimes I think the pattern too large.—I shall wear one tomorrow that I think you will prefer to this.—Have you seen the one I gave Margaret？'
Dinner came， and except when Mrs.R.looked at her husband'shead， she continued gay and flippant， chiding Elizabeth for the profusion on the Table， and absolutely protesting against the entrance of the roast Turkey—which formed the only exception to 'You see your dinner'.—'I do beg and entreat that no Turkey maybe seen to-day.I am really frightened out of my wits with the number of dishes we have already.Let us have no Turkey I beseech you.''My dear，'replied Elizabeth 'the Turkey is roasted， and it may just as well come in， as stay in the Kitchen.Besides if it is cut， I am in hopes my Father may be tempted to eat a bit， for it is rather a favourite dish.''You may have it in my dear， but I assure you I shan't touch it.'
