The Watsons by Jane Austen : Part 2

Part 2: The Arrival of the Martins
Emma meets a family, the Martins, who are lower in social class. The family includes Mr. Martin, a sensible and hardworking farmer, and his sisters. Although Emma initially feels superior to them, she begins to notice Mr. Martin’s good qualities. The family dynamics and relationships between the Watsons and the Martins become an important subplot.
Summary by Dream Audiobooks

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part two of The Watsons. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Read by Gazina. The Watsons a fragment
of a novel by Jane Austen, Part two. At a
little before eight, the Tomlinson's carriage was had to go by,

(00:21):
which was the constant signal for Missus Edwards to order
hers to the door, and in a very few minutes
the party were transported from the quiet and warmth of
a snug parlor to the bustle, noise and drafts of
the air of the broad entrance passage of an inn.
Missus Edwards carefully guarding her own dress, while she attended
with yet greater solicitude to the proper security of her

(00:43):
young charges. Shoulders and throats led the way up the
wide staircase, while no sound of a ball, but the
first scrape of one violin blessed the ears of her followers.
At miss Edwards, on hazarding, the anxious inquiry of whether
there were many people come yet was to by the waiter,
as she knew she should, that Missus Tomlinson's family were

(01:05):
in the room. In passing along a short gallery to
the assembly room, brilliant in lights before them, They were
accosted by a young man in a morning dress and boots,
who was standing in the doorway of a bed chamber,
apparently on purpose to see them go by. Ah, Missus Edwards,
how do you do? How do you do? Miss Edwards?

(01:26):
He cried with an easy air. You are determined to
be in good time. I see as usual the candles
are but this moment lit, I like to get a
good seat by the fire, you know, mister Musgrave, replied
Missus Edwards. I am this moment going to dress, said he.
I am waiting for my stupid fellow. We shall have

(01:47):
a famous ball. The Osbornes are certainly coming. You may
depend upon that, for I was with Lord Osborne this morning.
The party passed on Missus edwards satin gown swept along
the clean floor of the ball room to the fireplace
at the upper end, where one party only were formerly seated,
while three or four officers were lounging together passing in

(02:09):
and out from the adjoining card room. A very stiff
meeting between these near neighbors ensued, and as soon as
they were all duly placed again, Emma in a low whisper,
which became the solemn scene, said to miss Edwards, the
gentleman we passed in the passage was mister Musgrave's. Then
he has reckoned remarkably agreeable, I understand, miss Edwards answered hesitatingly. Yes,

(02:34):
he is very much liked by many people, but we
are not very intimate. He is rich, is not he?
He has about eight or nine hundred pounds a year.
I believe he came into possession of it when he
was very young, and my father and mother think it
has given him rather an unsettled turn. He is no
favorite with them. The cold and empty appearance of the

(02:56):
room and the demure air of the small cluster of
females at one end of it began soon to give way.
The inspiriting sound of other carriages was heard, and continual
accessions of portly chaperons and strings of smartly dressed girls
were received. Was now and then a fresh gentleman straggler, who,
if not enough in love to station himself near any

(03:17):
fair creature, seemed glad to escape into the card room.
Among the increasing number of military men, one now made
his way to miss Edwards with an air of mpressement,
which decidedly said to her companion I am Captain Hunter,
and Emma, who could not but watch her at such
a moment, saw her looking rather distressed but by no

(03:40):
means displeased, and heard an engagement formed for the first
two dances, which made her think her brother Sam's a
hopeless case. Emma, in the meanwhile, was not unobserved or
unadmired herself. A new face and a very pretty one
could not be slighted. Her name was whispered from one
party to another, and no sooner had the signal been

(04:01):
given by the orchestras, striking up a favorite air which
seemed to call the young to their duty and people
the center of the room, than she found herself engaged
to dance with the brother officer introduced by Captain Hunter.
Emma Watson was not more than of the middle height,
well made and plump, with an air of healthy vigor.

(04:21):
Her skin was very brown, but clear, smooth and glowing,
which with a lively eye, a sweet smile, and an
open countenance gave beauty to attract and expression to make
that beauty improve an acquaintance. Having no reason to be
dissatisfied with her partner, the evening began very pleasantly to
her and her feelings perfectly coincided with the reiterated observation

(04:44):
of others that it was an excellent ball. The two
first dances were not quite over when the returning sound
of carriages, after a long interruption, called general notice, and
the Osborns are coming, The Osborns are coming, was repeated
round the room. After some minutes of extraordinary bustle, without
and watchful curiosity within the important party, preceded by the

(05:07):
attentive master of the inn to open a door which
was never shut, made their appearance. They consisted of Lady Osborne,
her son, Lord Osborne, her daughter Miss Osborne, Miss Carr,
her daughter's friend, mister Howard, formerly tutor to Lord Osborne,
now clergyman in the parish in which the castle stood,

(05:28):
Missus Blake, a widow sister who lived with him, her son,
a fine boy of ten years old, and mister Tom Musgrave,
who probably imprisoned within his own room, had been listening
in bitter impatience to the sound of the music for
the last half hour. In their progress up the room,
they paused almost immediately behind Emma to receive the compliments

(05:51):
of some acquaintance, and she heard Lady Osborne observe that
they had made a point of coming early for the
gratification of missus Blake's little boy, who was uncommonly fond
of dancing. Emma looked at them all as they passed,
but chiefly and with most interest on Tom Musgrave, who
was certainly a genteel, good looking young man. Of the females,

(06:13):
Lady Osborne had by much the finest person, Though nearly fifty,
she was very handsome and had all the dignity of rank.
Lord Osborne was a very fine young man, but there
was the air of coldness, of carelessness, even of awkwardness
about him, which seemed to speak him out of his
element in a ball room. He came, in fact, only

(06:34):
because it was judged expedient for him to please the borrow.
He was not fond of women's company, and he never danced.
Mister Howard was an agreeable looking man, a little more
than thirty. At the conclusion of the two dances, Emma
found herself She knew not how seated amongst the Osborne set,
and she was immediately struck with the fine countenance and

(06:57):
animated gestures of the little boy as he was standing
before his mother. Wandering when they should begin. You will
not be surprised at Charles's impatience, said missus Blake, a lively,
pleasant looking woman of five or six and thirty, to
a lady who was standing near her. When ye know
what a partner he is to have. Miss Osborne has

(07:18):
been so very kind as to promise to dance the
first two dancers with him. Oh yes, we have been
engaged this week, cried the boy, and we are to
dance down every couple. On the other side of Emma,
miss Osborne, Miss Carr, and a party of young men
were standing engaged in very lively consultation, and soon afterwards

(07:39):
she saw the smartest officer of the set walking off
to the orchestra to order the dance, while Miss Osborne,
passing before her to her little expecting partner, hastily said Charles,
I beg your pardon for not keeping my engagement, but
I am going to dance these two dances with Colonel Beresford.
I know you will excuse me, and I will certainly
dance with you after tea, And without staying for an answer,

(08:02):
she turned again to Miss Carr, and in another minute
was led by Colonel Beresford to begin the set. If
the poor little boy's face had, in its happiness been
interesting to Emma, it was infinitely more so under this
sudden reverse. He stood the picture of disappointment, with crimsoned cheeks,
quivering lips, and eyes bent on the floor. His mother,

(08:24):
stifling her own mortification, tried to soothe his with the
prospect of miss Osborne's second promise. But though he contrived
to utter with an effort of boyish bravery, oh, I
do not mind it, it was very evident by the
unceasing agitation of his features that he minded it. As
much as ever, Emma did not think or reflect, she

(08:45):
felt and acted. I shall be very happy to dance
with you, sir, if you like it, said she, holding
out her hand with a most unaffected good humor. The boy,
in one moment, restored to all his fast delight, looked
joyfully at his mother, and stepping forwards with an honest
and simple thank you. Ma'am, was instantly ready to attend

(09:05):
his new acquaintance. The thankfulness of missus Blake was more diffuse,
with the look most expressive of unexpected pleasure and lively gratitude,
She turned to her neighbor with repeated and fervent acknowledgments
of so great and condescending a kindness to her boy, Emma,
with perfect truth, could assure her that she could not
be giving greater pleasure than she felt herself. And Charles,

(09:28):
being provided with his gloves and charged to keep them on,
they joined the set, which was now rapidly forming with
nearly equal complacency. It was a partnership which could not
be noticed without surprise. It gained her a broad stare
from Miss Osborne and Miss Carr as they passed her
in the dance. Upon my word, childs, you are in luck,

(09:49):
said the former, as she turned him. You have got
a better partner than me, to which the happy Charles
answered yes. Tom Musgrave, who was done dancing with Miss Carr,
gave her many inquisitive glances, and after a time Lord
Osborne himself came and, under pretense of talking to Charles,
stood to look at his partner. Though rather distressed by

(10:13):
such observation, Emma could not repent what she had done.
So happy had it made both the boy and his mother,
the latter of whom was continually making opportunities of addressing
her with the warmest civility. Her little partner. She found,
though bent chiefly on dancing, was not unwilling to speak
when her questions or remarks gave him anything to say.

(10:33):
And she learnt by a sort of inevitable inquiry, that
he had two brothers and a sister, that they and
their mamma all lived with his uncle at Wigsted, that
his uncle taught him Latin, that he was very fond
of riding, and had a horse of his own given
him by Lord Osborne, and that he had been out
once already with Lord Osborne's hands. At the end of

(10:54):
these dances, Emma found they were to drink tea. Miss
Edwards gave her a caution to be at hand in
a manner which convinced her of Missus Edwards holding it
very important to have them both close to her when
she moved into the tea room, and Emma was accordingly
on the alert to gain her proper station. It was
always the pleasure of the company to have a little

(11:14):
bustle and crowd when they adjourned for a refreshment. The
tea room was a small room within the card room,
and in passing through the latter, where the passage was
straightened by tables, Missus Edwards and her party were for
a few moments hemmed in. It happened close by Lady
Osborne's casino table. Mister Howard, who belonged to it, spoke

(11:37):
to his nephew and Emma, on perceiving herself the object
of attention both to Lady Osborne and him, had just
turned away her eye in time to avoid seeming to
hear her young companion delightedly whisper loud, oh uncle, do
you look at my partner? She is so pretty? As
they were immediately in motion again. However, Charles was hurried
off without being able to receive his uncle's suffrage. On

(12:02):
entering the tea room, in which two long tables were prepared,
Lord Osborne was to be seen quite alone at the
end of one, as if retreating as far as he
could from the ball to enjoy his own thoughts and
gape without restraint. Charles instantly pointed him out to Emma,
there's Lord Osborne. Let you and I go and sit
by him. No, no, said Emma, laughing, you must sit

(12:25):
with my friends. Charles was now free enough to hazard
a few questions in his turn. What o'clock was it?
Eleven eleven? And I am not at all sleepy, Mamma said,
I should be asleep before ten. Do you think miss
Osborne will keep her word with me when tea is over? Oh? Yes,
I suppose so. So she felt that she had no

(12:47):
better reason to give than miss Osborne had not kept
it before. When shall you come to Osborne Castle? Never? Probably,
I am not acquainted with the family, But you they
come to Wigsted and see Mamma and she can take
you to the castle. There was a monstrous, curious stuffed
foxen there, and a badger. Anybody would think they were alive.

(13:10):
It is a pity you should not see them. On
rising from tea, there was again a scramble for the
pleasure of being first out of the room, which happened
to be increased by one or two of the card
parties having just broken up, and the players being disposed
to move exactly the different way. Among these was mister Howard,
his sister leaning on his arm, and no sooner were

(13:32):
there within reach of Emma than missus Blake, calling her
notice by a friendly touch, said, your goodness to Charles,
my dear miss Watson brings all his family upon you.
Give me leave to introduce my brother, mister Howard, Emma curtseyed,
the gentleman bowed, made a hasty request for the honor
of her hand in the two next dances, to which

(13:54):
as hasty and affirmative was given, and they were immediately
impelled in opposite directions. Emma was very well pleased with
the circumstance. There was a quietly cheerful, gentlemanlike air in
mister Howard, which suited her, and in a few minutes afterwards,
the value of her engagement increased when, as she was
sitting in the card room, somewhat screened by a door,

(14:16):
she heard Lord Osborne, who was lounging on a vacant
table near her, called Tom Musgrave towards him and say,
why do you not dance with that beautiful Emma Watson.
I want you to dance with her, and I will
come and stand by you. I was determining on it
this very moment, my Lord. I'll be introduced and dance
with her directly. I do. And if you find she

(14:38):
does not want much talking to, you may introduce me
by and by very well, my lord. If she is
like her sister's she will only want to be listened to.
I will go this moment. I shall find her in
the tea room that stiff old Missus Edwards has never
done tea away he went Lord Osborne after him, and
Emma lost no time in her worrying from her corner

(15:01):
exactly the other way forgetting in her haste that she
left Missus Edwards behind. We had quite lost you, said
Missus Edwards, who followed her with Mary in less than
five minutes. If you prefer this room to the other,
there is no reason why you should not be here.
But we had better all be together. Emma was saved

(15:21):
the trouble of apologizing by their being joined at that
moment by Tom Musgrave, who, requesting Missus Edwards, allowed to
do him the honor of presenting him to Miss Emma
Watson left that good lady without any choice in the
business but that of testifying to the coldness of her
manner that she did it unwillingly. The honor of dancing
with her was solicited without loss of time, and Emma,

(15:44):
however she might like to be thought a beautiful girl
by a lord or commoner, was so little disposed to
favor Tom Musgrave himself that she had considerable satisfaction in
avowing her previous engagement. He was evidently surprised and discomposed.
The style of her last partner had probably led him
to believe her not overpowered with applications. My little friend,

(16:08):
Charles Blake, he cried, must not expect to engross you
the whole evening. We can never suffer this. It is
against the rules of the Assembly, and I am sure
it will never be patronized by our good friend here,
missus Edwards. She is by a much too nice a
judge of decorum to give her license to such dangerous particularity.
I am not going to dance with mister Blake, Sir.

(16:31):
The gentleman, a little disconcerted, could only hope he might
be fortunate another time, and, seeming unwilling to leave her,
though his friend, Lord Osborne was waiting in the doorway
for the result. As Emma, with some amusement perceived, he
began to make civil inquiries after her family. How comes
it that we have not the pleasure of seeing your
sisters here this evening? Our assemblies have been used to

(16:53):
be so well treated by them that we do not
know how to take this neglect. My eldest sister, the
only one at home, and she could not leave my father,
Miss Watson the only one at home. You astonish me,
it seems, but the day before yesterday that I saw
them all three in this town. But I am afraid
I have been a very sad neighbor of late. I

(17:15):
hear dreadful complaints of my negligence wherever I go, and
I confess it is a shameful length of time since
I was at Stanton. But I shall now endeavor to
make myself amends for the past. Emma's calm courtesy in
reply must have struck him as very unlike the encouraging
warmth he had been used to receive from her sisters,
and gave him probably the novel sensation of doubting his

(17:38):
own influence and of wishing for more attention than she bestowed.
The dancing now recommenced, Miss Carr, being impatient to call,
everybody was required to stand up, and Tom Musgrave's curiosity
was appeased on seeing mister Howard come forward and claim
Emma's hand. That will do as well for me, was

(18:00):
Lord Osborne's remark when his friend carried him the news,
and he was continually at Howard's elbow during the two dances.
The frequency of his appearance there was the only unpleasant
part of the engagement, the only objection she could make
to mister Howard. In himself, she thought him as agreeable
as he looked, though chatting on the commonest topics. He

(18:21):
had a sensible, unaffected way of expressing himself, which made
them all worth hearing, and she only regretted that he
had not been able to make his pupils manners as
unexceptionable as his own. The two dances seemed very short,
and she had her partner's authority for considering them so.
At their conclusion, the Osborne's and their train were all

(18:41):
on the move. We are off, at last, said his
lordship to Tom. How much longer do you stay in
this heavenly place till sunrise? No, faith, my Lord, I
have had quite enough of it. I assure you, I
shall not show myself here again. When I have had
the honor of attending Lady Osborne to her carriage, I
shall retreat, in as much secrecy as possible, to the

(19:03):
remote corner of the house, where I shall order a
barrel of oysters and be famously snug. Let mess you
soon at the castle and bring me word how she
looks by daylight. Emma and missus Blake parted his old acquaintance,
and Charles shook her by the hand and wished her goodbye.
At least a dozen times. From Miss Osborne and Miss Carr,

(19:25):
she received something like a jerking curtsey as they passed her.
Even Lady Osborne gave her a look of complacency, and
his Lordship actually came back after the others were out
of the room to beg her pardon and look in
the window seat behind her for the gloves which were
visibly compressed in his hand. As Tom Musgrave was seen

(19:46):
no more, we may suppose his plan to have succeeded,
and imagine him mortifying with his barrel of oysters in
dreary solitude, or gladly assisting the landlady in her bar
to make fresh negers for the happy dancers above. Emma
could not help missing the party by whom she had
been though in some respects unpleasantly distinguished, and the two

(20:08):
dances which followed and concluded the ball were rather flat
in comparison with the others. Mister Edwards having played with
good luck, they were some of the last in the room.
Here we are back again, I declare, said Emma sorrowfully,
as she walked into the dining room, where the table
was prepared and the neat upper maid was lighting the candles.

(20:32):
My dear miss Edwards, how soon it is at an end.
A wish it could all come over again. A great
deal of kind pleasure was expressed in her, having enjoyed
the evening so much, And mister Edwards was as warm
as herself in the praise of the fullness, brilliancy and
spirit of the meeting. So as he had been fixed
the whole time at the same table, in the same room,

(20:53):
with only one change of chairs, it might have seemed
a matter scarcely perceived, but he had won four robbers
out of five, and everything went well. His daughter felt
the advantage of his gratified state of mind in the
course of the remarks and retrospections which now ensued over
the welcome soup. How come ye did not dance with

(21:15):
either of the mister Tomlinsons, Mary said her mother. I
was always engaged. When they asked me, I thought ye
were to have stood up with mister James. The last
two dancers. Missus Tomlinson told me he was gone to
ask you, and I had heard you say two minutes
before that you were not engaged. Yes, but there was
a mistake I had misunderstood. I did not know I

(21:38):
was engaged. I thought it had been for the two
dancers after if we stayed so long. But Captain Hunter
assured me it was for those very too. So ye
ended with Captain Hunter? Mary, did you? Said her father?
And whom did he begin with? Captain Hunter? Was repeated
in a very humble tone. Humph, that is being constant, however,

(22:02):
but who else did you dance with? Mister Norton and
mister Styles? And who are they? Mister Norton is a
cousin of Captain Hunter's, and who is mister Styles one
of his particular friends? All in the same regiment, added

(22:23):
missus Edwards. Mary was surrounded by red coats all the evening.
I should have been better pleased to see her dancing
with some of our old neighbors. I confess, yes, yes,
we must not neglect our old neighbors. But if these
soldiers are quicker than other people in a ball room,
what are young ladies to do? I think there is

(22:44):
no occasion for their engaging themselves so many dancers beforehand,
Mister Edwards, no, perhaps not, but I remember, my dear,
when you and I did the same. Missus Edwards said
no more, and Mary breathed again. A good deal look at.
Humored pleasantry followed, and Emma went to bed in charming spirits,

(23:06):
her head full of Osborne's blakes and howards. End of
Part two.