 friends! And such a noble fire! - I am quite roasted. No coffee, I
thank you, for me - never take coffee. - A little tea if you please, sir, by and
bye, - no hurry - Oh! here it comes. Everything so good!«
    Frank Churchill returned to his station by Emma; and as soon as Miss Bates
was quiet, she found herself necessarily overhearing the discourse of Mrs. Elton
and Miss Fairfax, who were standing a little way behind her. - He was
thoughtful. Whether he were overhearing too, she could not determine. After a
good many compliments to Jane on her dress and look, compliments very quietly
and properly taken, Mrs. Elton was evidently wanting to be complimented herself
- and it was, »How do you like my gown? - How do you like my trimming? - How has
Wright done my hair?« - with many other relative questions, all answered with
patient politeness. Mrs. Elton then said,
    »Nobody can think less of dress in general than I do - but upon such an
occasion as this, when everybody's eyes are so much upon me, and in compliment
to the Westons - who I have no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do me
honour - I would not wish to be inferior to others. And I see very few pearls in
the room except mine. - So Frank Churchill is a capital dancer, I understand. -
We shall see if our styles suit. - A fine young man certainly is Frank
Churchill. I like him very well.«
    At this moment Frank began talking so vigorously, that Emma could not but
imagine he had overheard his own praises, and did not want to hear more; - and
the voices of the ladies were drowned for awhile, till another suspension
brought Mrs. Elton's tones again distinctly forward. - Mr. Elton had just joined
them, and his wife was exclaiming,
    »Oh! you have found us out at last, have you, in our seclusion? - I was this
moment telling Jane, I thought you would begin to be impatient for tidings of
us.«
    »Jane!« - repeated Frank Churchill, with a look of surprise and displeasure.
- »That is easy - but Miss Fairfax does not disapprove it, I suppose.«
    »How do you like Mrs. Elton?« said Emma in a whisper.
    »Not at all.«
    »You are ungrateful,«
    »Ungrateful! - What do you mean?« Then changing from a frown to a smile
