Shewassobusyinadmiringthosesoftblueeyes,intalkingandlistening,andformingalltheseschemesinthein-betweens,thattheeveningflewawayataveryunusualrate;andthesupper-table,whichalwaysclosedsuchparties,andforwhichshehadbeenusedtositandwatchtheduetime,wasallsetoutandready,andmovedforwardstothefire,beforeshewasaware.Withanalacritybeyondthecommonimpulseofaspiritwhichyetwasneverindifferenttothecreditofdoingeverythingwellandattentively,withtherealgood-willofaminddelightedwithitsownideas,didshethendoallthehonoursofthemeal,andhelpandrecommendthemincedchickenandscallopedoysters,withanurgencywhichsheknewwouldbeacceptabletotheearlyhoursandcivilscruplesoftheirguests.
UponsuchoccasionspoorMr.Woodhousesfeelingswereinsadwarfare.Helovedtohavetheclothlaid,becauseithadbeenthefashionofhisyouth,buthisconvictionofsuppersbeingveryunwholesomemadehimrathersorrytoseeanythingputonit;andwhilehishospitalitywouldhavewelcomedhisvisitorstoeverything,hiscarefortheirhealthmadehimgrievethattheywouldeat.
Suchanothersmallbasinofthingruelashisownwasallthathecould,withthoroughself-approbation,recommend;thoughhemightconstrainhimself,whiletheladieswerecomfortablyclearingthenicerthings,tosay:
`Mrs.Bates,letmeproposeyourventuringononeoftheseeggs.Aneggboiledverysoftisnotunwholesome.Serleunderstandsboilinganeggbetterthananybody.Iwouldnotrecommendaneggboiledbyanybodyelse;butyouneednotbeafraid,theyareverysmall,yousee-oneofoursmalleggswillnothurtyou.MissBates,letEmmahelpyoutoalittlebitoftart-averylittlebit.Oursareallapple-tarts.Youneednotbeafraidofunwholesomepreserveshere.Idonotadvisethecustard.Mrs.Goddard,whatsayyoutohalfaglassofwine?Asmallhalf-glass,putintoatumblerofwater?Idonotthinkitcoulddisagreewithyou.\'
Emmaallowedherfathertotalk-butsuppliedhervisitorsinamuchmoresatisfactorystyle,andonthepresenteveninghadparticularpleasureinsendingthemawayhappy.ThehappinessofMissSmithwasquiteequaltoherintentions.MissWoodhousewassogreatapersonageinHighbury,thattheprospectoftheintroductionhadgivenasmuchpanicaspleasure;butthehumble,gratefullittlegirlwentoffwithhighlygratifiedfeelings,delightedwiththeaffabilitywithwhichMissWoodhousehadtreatedheralltheevening,andactuallyshakenhandswithheratlast!