 you saw it. I dare not let my mother know how
little she eats - so I say one thing and then I say another, and it passes off.
But about the middle of the day she gets hungry, and there is nothing she likes
so well as these baked apples, and they are extremely wholesome, for I took the
opportunity the other day of asking Mr. Perry; I happened to meet him in the
street. Not that I had any doubt before - I have so often heard Mr. Woodhouse
recommend a baked apple. I believe it is the only way that Mr. Woodhouse thinks
the fruit thoroughly wholesome. We have apple dumplings, however, very often.
Patty makes an excellent apple-dumpling. Well, Mrs. Weston, you have prevailed,
I hope, and these ladies will oblige us.«
    Emma would be very happy to wait on Mrs. Bates, etc. and they did at last
move out of the shop, with no further delay from Miss Bates than,
    »How do you do, Mrs. Ford? I beg your pardon. I did not see you before. I
hear you have a charming collection of new ribbons from town. Jane came back
delighted yesterday. Thank ye, the gloves do very well - only a little too large
about the wrist; but Jane is taking them in.«
    »What was I talking of?« said she, beginning again when they were all in the
street.
    Emma wondered on what, of all the medley, she would fix.
    »I declare I cannot recollect what I was talking of. - Oh! my mother's
spectacles. So very obliging of Mr. Frank Churchill! Oh! said he, I do think I
can fasten the rivet; I like a job of this kind excessively. - Which you know
shewed him to be so very. ... Indeed I must say that, much as I had heard of him
before and much as I had expected, he very far exceeds any thing. ... I do
congratulate you, Mrs. Weston, most warmly. He seems every thing the fondest
parent could. ... Oh! said he, I can fasten the rivet. I like a job of that sort
excessively. I never shall forget his manner. And when I brought out the baked
apples from the closet, and hoped our friends would be so very obliging as to
take some, Oh! said he directly, there is nothing in the way of fruit half so
good, and these are the finest looking home-baked
