CHAPTER III

ood-willofaminddelightedwithitsownideas,didshethendoallthehonoursofthemeal,andhelpandrecommendthemincedchickenandscallopedoysters,withanurgencywhichsheknewwouldbeacceptabletotheearlyhoursandcivilscruplesoftheirguests. UponsuchoccasionspoorMr.Woodhouse’sfeelingswereinsadwarfare.Helovedtohavetheclothlaid,becauseithadbeenthefashionofhisyouth,buthisconvictionofsuppersbeingveryunwholesomemadehimrathersorrytoseeanythingputonitandwhilehishospitalitywouldhavewelcomedhisvisitorstoeverything,hiscarefortheirhealthmadehimgrievethattheywouldeat. Suchanothersmallbasinofthingruelashisownwasallthathecould,withthoroughself-approbation,recommendthoughhemightconstrainhimself,whiletheladieswerecomfortablyclearingthenicerthings,tosay: “Mrs.Bates,letmeproposeyourventuringononeoftheseeggs.Aneggboiledverysoftisnotunwholesome.Serleunderstandsboilinganeggbetterthananybody.Iwouldnotrecommendaneggboiledbyanybodyelsebutyouneednotbeafraid,theyareverysmall,yousee—oneofoursmalleggswillnothurtyou.MissBates,letEmmahelpyoutoalittlebitoftart—averylittlebit.Oursareallapple-tarts.Youneednotbeafraidofunwholesomepreserveshere.Idonotadvisethecustard.Mrs.Goddard,whatsayyoutohalfaglassofwine?Asmallhalf-glass,putintoatumblerofwater?Idonotthinkitcoulddisagreewithyou.” Emmaallowedherfathertotalk—butsuppliedhervisitorsinamuchmoresatisfactorystyle,andonthepresenteveninghadparticularpleasureinsendingthemawayhappy.ThehappinessofMissSmithwasquiteequaltoherintentions.MissWoodhousewassogreatapersonageinHighbury,thattheprospectoftheintroductionhadgivenasmuchpanicaspleasurebutthehumble,gratefullittlegirlwentoffwithhighlygratifiedfeelings,delightedwiththeaffabilitywithwhichMissWoodhousehadtreatedheralltheevening,andactuallyshakenhandswithheratlast!