'Ah! but Claude is more like,' said Lily, 'because he is pale.'
'Well,' said Jane, 'do let us in the meantime make the room look more
fit to be seen before he comes down.'
The alacrity which had long been wanting to Lilias and Jane had
suddenly returned, and they succeeded in making the room look
surprisingly comfortable, compared with its former desolate aspect,
before William came down, and renewed his inquiries after all the
family.
'And how is my father's deafness?' was one of his questions.
'Worse,' said Emily. 'I am afraid all the younger ones will learn to
vociferate. He hears no one well but ourselves.'
'Oh! and Alethea Weston,' said Lily. 'Her voice is so clear and
distinct, that she hardly ever raises it to make him hear. And have
you ever heard her sing?'
'Yes, she sings very well. I cannot think why you never told me they
were living here.'
'Because you never honour us with your correspondence,' said Emily;
'if you had vouchsafed to write to your sisters you could not have
escaped hearing of the Westons.'
'And has Mr. Weston given up the law?'
'No, he only came home in the vacation,' said Emily. 'Did you know
they had lost two daughters?'
'I saw it in the paper.
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