Emily was talking of Mrs.
Burnet's visit of the day before, and her opinion of the Hetherington
festivities. 'And what an interminable visit it was,' said Jane; 'I
thought they would never go!'
'People always inflict themselves in a most merciless manner when
there is anything going on,' said Emily.
'I wonder if they guessed anything,' said Lily.
'To be sure they did, and stayed out of curiosity,' said Lord
Rotherwood. 'In spite of Emily's dignified contradictions of the
report, every one knew it the other evening. It was all in vain that
she behaved as if I was speaking treason--people have eyes.'
'Ah! I am very sorry for that contradiction,' said Lily; 'I hope
people will not fancy we do not like it.'
'No, it will only prove my greatness,' said Lord Rotherwood. 'Your
Marques, was China in the map, so absorbing all beholders that the
magnanimous Mohuns themselves--'
'What nonsense, Rotherwood,' said Jane, sharply; 'can't you suppose
that one may shut one's eyes to what one does not wish to see.'
The singular inappropriateness of this answer occasioned a general
roar of laughter, and she looked in perplexity. Every one whom she
asked why they laughed replied by saying, 'Ask Marianne Weston;' and
at length, after much puzzling and guessing, and being more laughed
at than had ever before happened to her in her life, she was obliged
to seek an explanation from Marianne, who might well have triumphed
had she been so disposed.
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