The Watsons by Jane Austen : Part 5

Part 5: Family Tensions and Emma’s Choices
As the story progresses, tensions within the Watson family grow. Emma’s choices regarding love and marriage become more complex, and she faces pressure from both her family and society. The expectations placed on her as a young woman are heightened, and she struggles to balance her own desires with the social norms of the time. Summary by Dream Audiobooks

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part five of the Watsons. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Read by Gazina The Watsons the fragment
of a novel by Jane Austen, Part five. A week
or ten days rolled quietly away after this visit, before

(00:20):
any new bustle arose to interrupt even for half a day,
the tranquil and affectionate intercourse of the two sisters, whose
mutual regard was increasing with the intimate knowledge of each other,
which such intercourse produced. The first circumstance to break in
on this security was the receipt of a letter from
Croydon to announce the speedy return of Margaret, and a

(00:42):
visit of two or three days from mister and missus
Robert Watson, who undertook to bring her home and wished
to see their sister Emma. It was an expectation to
fill the thoughts of the sisters at Stanton, and to
busy the hours of one of them, at least, for
as Jane had been a woman of fortune, the preparations
for her entertainment were considerable, and as Elizabeth had at

(01:05):
all times more good will than method in her guidance
of the house, she could make no change without a bustle.
An absence of fourteen years had made all her brothers
and sisters strangers to Emma, But in her expectation of
Margaret there was more than the awkwardness of such an alienation.
She had heard things which made her dread her return,

(01:27):
and the day which brought the party to Stanton seemed
to her the probable conclusion of almost all that had
been comfortable in the house. Robert Watson was an attorney
at Croydon in a good way of business, very well
satisfied with himself for the same, and for having married
the only daughter of the attorney to whom he had
been clerk, with a fortune of six thousand pounds. Missus

(01:51):
Robert was not less pleased with herself for having had
that six thousand pounds, and for being now in possession
of a very smart house in Croydon, where she gave
genteel parties and wore fine clothes. In her person there
was nothing remarkable. Her manners were pert and conceited. Margaret
was not without beauty. She had a slight, pretty figure,

(02:14):
and rather wanted countenance than good features. But the sharp
and anxious expression of her face made her beauty in general,
little felt on meeting her long absent sister, as on
every occasion of show. Her manner was all affection, and
her voice all gentleness, continual smiles in a very slow
articulation being her constant resource when determined unpleasing. She was

(02:39):
now so delighted to see you, dear Emma, that she
could hardly speak a word in a minute. I am
sure we shall be great friends, she observed with much sentiment.
As they were sitting together. Emma scarcely knew her to
answer such a proposition, and the manner in which it
was spoken she could not attempt to equal. Missus. Robert

(03:00):
Watson eyed her with much familiar curiosity and triumphant compassion.
The loss of the aunt's fortune was uppermost in her
mind at the moment of meeting, and she could not
but feel how much better it was to be the
daughter of a gentleman of property in Croydon than the
niece of an old woman who threw herself away on
an Irish captain. Robert was carelessly kind as became a

(03:25):
prosperous man, and a brother more intent on settling with
a postboy inveighing against the exorbitant advance in posting and
pondering over a doubtful half crown, than on welcoming a
sister who was no longer likely to have any property
for him to get the direction of your roads. For
the village is infamous, Elizabeth said he worse than ever

(03:47):
it was by heaven. I would indict it if I
live near you, who is surveyor? Now? There was a
little niece at Croydon to be fondly inquired after by
the kind hearted to Elizabeth, who regretted very much her
not being of the party. You are very good, replied
her mother. And I assure you. It went very hard

(04:09):
with Augusta to have us come away without her. I
was forced to say we were only going to church,
and promised to come back for her directly. But you
know it would not do to bring her without her maid.
And I am as particular as ever in having her
properly attended to. Sweet little darling, cried Margaret. It quite

(04:29):
broke my heart to leave her. Then why was you
in such a hurry to run away from her? Cried
missus Robart. You are a sad, shabby girl. I have
been quarreling with you all the way we came. Have
I not such a visit as this I never heard of.
You know how glad we are to have any of
you with us, if it be for months together. And

(04:52):
I am sorry with a witty smile, we have not
been able to make Croydon agreeable this autumn. My dearest Jane,
do not overpower me with your raillery. You know what
inducements I had to bring me home. Spare me, I
entreat you. I am no match for your arch sallies. Well,

(05:12):
I only beg you will not set your neighbors against
the place. Perhaps Emma may be tempted to go back
with us and stay till Christmas, if you don't put
in your word. Emma was greatly obliged. I assure you
we have very good society at Croydon. I do not
much attend the balls, they are rather too mixed, but

(05:32):
our parties are very select and good. I had seven
tables last week in my drawing room. Are you fond
of the country? How do you like Stanton? Very much?
Replied Emma, who thought a comprehensive answer most to the purpose.
She saw that her sister in law despised her immediately,

(05:53):
missus Robert Watson was indeed wondering what sort of a
home Emma could possibly have been used to in Shropshire
and setting. It is certain that the aunt could never
have had six thousand pounds. How charming Emma is, whispered
Margaret to missus Robert in her most languishing tone. Emma
was quite distressed by such behavior, and she did not

(06:15):
like it better when she heard Margaret, five minutes afterwards
say to Elizabeth in a sharp, quick accent, totally unlike
the first have you heard from Penn since she went
to Chichester. I had a letter the other day. I
don't find she is likely to make anything of it.
I fancy she'll come back, Miss Penelope. As she went

(06:36):
such she feared would be Margaret's common voice when the
novelty of her own appearance were over. The tone of
artificial sensibility was not recommended by the idea. The ladies
were invited upstairs to prepare for dinner. I hope you
will find things tolerably comfortable, Jane, said Elizabeth, as she

(06:57):
opened the door of the spared bed chamber. My good creature,
replied Jane, he is no ceremony with me. I entreat you.
I am one of those who always take things as
they find them. I hope I can put up with
a small apartment for two or three nights without making
a piece of work. I always wish to be treated
quite enfermil when I come to see you, And now

(07:20):
I do hope you have not been getting a great
dinner for us. Remember we never eat suppers, I suppose,
said Margaret rather quickly to Emma. You and I are
to be together. Elizabeth always takes care to have a
room to herself. No, Elizabeth gives me half hers Oh,

(07:41):
in a softened voice, and rather mortified to find that
he was not ill used. I am sorry. I am
not to have the pleasure of your company, especially as
it makes me nervous to be much alone. Emma was
the first of the females in the parlor again. On
entering it, she found her brother alone. So Emma said,

(08:03):
he you are quite a stranger at home. It must
seem odd enough for you to be here. A pretty
piece of work your aunt Turner has made of it.
By Heaven, a woman should never be trusted with money,
I always said. She ought to have settled something on
you as soon as her husband died. But that would
have been trusting me with money, replied Emma. And I

(08:25):
am a woman too. It might have been secured to
your future use without your having any power over it. Now,
what a blow it must have been upon you to
find yourself instead of airess to eight thousand or nine
thousand pounds, sent back a weight upon your family without
a sixpence. I hope the old woman will smart for it.

(08:49):
Do not speak disrespectfully of her. She was very good
to me, and if she has made an imprudent choice,
she will suffer more from it herself than I can
possibly do. I do not mean to distress you, but
you know everybody must think her an old fool. I
thought Turner had been reckoned, an extraordinarily sensible, clever man.

(09:09):
How the devil came he to make such a will.
My uncle's sense is not at all impeached, in my opinion,
by his attachment to my aunt. She has been an
excellent wife to him. The most liberal and enlightened minds
are always the most confiding. The event has been unfortunate.
But my uncle's memory is, if possible, endeared to me

(09:31):
by such a proof of tender respect for my aunt.
That's odd sort of talking. He might have provided decently
for his widow without leaving everything that he had to
dispose of, or any part of it at her mercy.
My aunt may have erred, said Emma warmly. She has erred,

(09:52):
but my uncle's conduct was faultless. I was her own niece,
and he left to herself the power and the pleasure
of providing for me. But unluckily she has left the
pleasure of providing for you to your father, and without
the power. That's the long and short of the business.
After keeping you at a distance from your family for

(10:12):
such a length of time as must do away all
natural defection among us, and breeding you up, I suppose
in a superior style, you are returned upon their hands
without a sixpence, you know, replied Emma, struggling with her tears.
My uncle's melancholy state of health. He was a greater
invalid than my father. He could not leave home. I

(10:37):
do not mean to make you cry, said Robert, rather softened,
and after a short silence, by way of changing the subject,
he added, I am just come from my father's room.
He seems very indifferent. It will be a sad break
up when he dies. Pity, you can none of you
get married. You must come to Croydon as well as

(10:57):
the rest and see what you can do there. I
believe if Margaret had had a thousand or fifteen hundred pounds,
there was a young man who would have thought of her.
Emma was glad when they were joined by the others.
It was better to look at her sister in law's
finery than listen to Robert, who had equally irritated and
grieved her. Missus. Robert, exactly as smart as she had

(11:21):
been at her own party, came in with apologies for
her dress. I would not make you wait, said she,
so I put on the first thing I met with.
I am afraid. I am a sad figure. My dear
mister w to her husband. You have not put any
fresh powder in your hair. No, I did not intend it.

(11:43):
I think there is powder enough in my hair for
my wife and sisters. Indeed, you ought to make some
alteration to your dress before dinner when you are visiting,
so you do not at home. Nonsense. It is very
odd that you should not like to do what ither
the gentleman do. Mister Marshall and mister Hemmings changed their

(12:03):
dress every day of their lives before dinner, and what
was the use of my putting up your last new coat?
If you are never to wear it, do be satisfied
with being fine yourself and leave your husband alone. To
put an end to this altercation and soften the evident
vexation of her sister in law, Emma, though in no

(12:25):
spirits to make such nonsense easy, began to admire her gown.
It produced immediate complacency. Do you like it? Said she?
I am very happy it has been excessively admired, but
sometimes I think the pattern too large. I shall wear
one to morrow that I think you will prefer to this.
Have you seen the one I gave Margaret? Dinner came,

(12:49):
and except when missus Robert looked at her husband's head,
she continued gay and flippant, chiding Elizabeth for the profusion
on the table, and absolutely protesting against the entrance of
the roast turkey, which formed the only exception too. You
see your dinner, I do beg and entreat that no
turkey may be seen to day. I am really frightened

(13:11):
out of my wits with a number of dishes we
have already. Let us have no turkey. I beseech you,
my dear, replied Elizabeth, the turkey is roasted, and it
may just as well come in as stay in the kitchen. Besides,
if it is cut, I am in hopes my father
may be tempted to eat a bit, for it is
rather a favorite dish. You may have it in, my dear,

(13:34):
but I assure you I shan't touch it. Mister Watson
had not been well enough to join the party at dinner,
but was prevailed on to come down and drink tea
with them. I wish we may be able to have
a game of cards to night, said Elizabeth to missus Robart,
after seeing her father comfortably seated in his arm chair.

(13:55):
Not on my account, my dear, I beg you know
I am no card player. I think a snug chat
infinitely better. I always say cards are very well sometimes
to break a formal circle, but one never wants them
among friends. I was thinking of its being something to
amuse my father, said Elizabeth. If it was not disagreeable

(14:16):
to you, he says his head won't bear a whist.
But perhaps if we make a round game, he may
be tempted to sit down with us. By all means,
my dear creature I am quite at your service, only
do not oblige me to choose the game. That's all.
Speculation is the only round game at Croydon now, But
I can play anything. When there is only one or

(14:38):
two of you at home. You must be quite at
a loss to amuse him. Why do you not get
him to play at cribbage? Margaret and I have played
at cribbage most nines that we have not been engaged.
A sound like a distant carriage was at this moment caught.
Everybody listened, It became more decided, It certainly drew nearer it.

(15:00):
It was an unusual sound for Stanton at any time
of the day, for the village was on no very
public road and contained no gentleman's family but the rector's.
The wheels rapidly approached. In two minutes. The general expectation
was answered. They stopped beyond a doubt at the garden
gate of the parsonage. Who could it be? It was

(15:20):
certainly a post chaise. Penelope was the only creature to
be thought of. She might perhaps have met with some
unexpected opportunity of returning. A pause of suspense ensued. Steps
were distinguished along the paved footway which led under the
windows of the house to the front door, and then
within the passage. They were the steps of a man.

(15:43):
It could not be Penelope, it must be Samuel. The
door opened and displayed Tom Musgrave in the wrap of
a traveler. He had been in London and was now
on his way home, and he had come half a
mile out of his road merely to call for ten
minutes at Stanton. He loved to take people by surprise

(16:05):
with sudden visits at extraordinary seasons, and in the present
instance had had the additional motive of being able to
tell the Miss Watsons, whom he depended on finding sitting
quietly employed after tea, that he was going home to
an eight o'clock dinner. As it happened, however, he did
not give more surprise than he received when, instead of

(16:26):
being shown into the usual little sitting room, the door
of the best parlor, a foot larger each way than
the other, was thrown open, and he beheld a circle
of smart people whom he could not immediately recognize, arranged
with all the honors of visiting round the fire, and
Miss Watson seated at the best pembroke table with the

(16:47):
best tea things before her. He stood a few seconds
in silent amazement. Masgrave ejaculated Margaret in a tender voice.
He recollected himself and came forward, delighted to find such
a circle of friends, and blessing his good fortune for
the unlooked for indulgence. He shook hands with Robert, bowed

(17:09):
and smiled to the ladies, and did everything very prettily.
But as to any particuliarity of address or emotion towards Margaret, Emma,
who closely observed him, perceived nothing that did not justify
Elizabeth's opinion. Though Margaret's modest smiles imported that she meant
to take the visit to herself. He was persuaded without

(17:31):
much difficulty to throw off his great coat and drink
tea with them. For whether he dined at eight or nine,
as he observed, was a matter of very little consequence,
and without seeming to seek, he did not turn away
from the chair close to Margaret, which she was assiduous
in providing him. She had thus secured him from her

(17:51):
sister's but it was not immediately in her power to
preserve him from her brother's claims, For as he came
avowedly from London, and had left it only four hours ago.
The last current report as to public news and the
general opinion of the day must be understood before Robert
could let his attention be yielded to the less national
and important demands of the women. At last, however, he

(18:17):
was at liberty to hear Margaret's softer dress as she
spoke her fears of his having had the most terrible, cold, dark,
dreadful journey. Indeed, you should not have set out so late.
I could not be earlier, he replied. I was detained
chatting at the bedford by a friend. All hours are
alike to me. How long have you been in the country,

(18:40):
miss Margaret? We only came this morning. My kind brother
and sister brought me home this very morning. Tis singular,
is it not? You were gone a great while? Were ye? Not?
A fortnight? I suppose you may call a fortnight a
great while, mister Musgrave, said missus Robart sharply. But we

(19:01):
think a month very little. I assure you. We bring
her home at the end of a month, much against
our will. A month? Have you really been gone? A month?
Tis amazing how time flies? You may imagine, said Margaret
in a sort of whisper, what are my sensations in
finding myself once more at Stanton? You know what a

(19:23):
sad visitor I make. And I was so excessively impatient
to see Emma. I dread at the meeting and at
the same time longed for it. Do you not comprehend
the sort of feeling? Not at all? Cried he aloud.
I could never dread a meeting with Miss Emma Watson
or any of her sisters. It was lucky that he

(19:45):
added that finish. Were you speaking to me, said Emma,
who had caught her own name. Not absolutely, he answered,
But I was thinking of you, as many at a
greater distance are probably doing at this moment. Fi in
open weather, Miss Emma charming season for hunting. Emma is

(20:05):
delightful as not, She whispered Margaret, I have found her
more than answer my warmest hopes. Did you ever see
anything more perfectly beautiful? I think even you must be
a convert to a brown complexion, he hesitated. Margaret was
fair herself, and he did not particularly want to compliment her.
But Miss Osborne and Miss Carr were likewise fair, and

(20:28):
his devotion to them carried the day. Your sister's complexion,
said he at last, is as fine as a dark
complexion can be. But I still profess my preference of
a white skin. You have seen miss Osborne. She is
my model for a truly feminine complexion, and she is
very fair. Is she fairer than me? Tom made no

(20:51):
reply upon my honor, ladies, he said, giving a glance
over his own person, I am highly indebted to your
condescension for admitting me, in such disabee into your drawing room.
I really did not consider how unfit I was to
be here, or I hope I should have kept my distance.
Lady Osborne would tell me that I were growing as

(21:11):
careless as her son if she saw me in this condition.
The ladies were not wanting in civil returns, and Robert Watson,
stealing a view of his own head in an opposite glass, said,
with equal civility, you cannot be more in Dizabee than myself.
We got here so late that I had not time
even to put a little fresh powder in my hair.

(21:34):
Emma could not help entering in what she supposed her
sister in law's feelings. At the moment when the tea
things were removed, Tom began to talk of his carriage,
but the old card table being set out, and the
fish and Countess with a tolerably clean pack being brought
forward from the buffet by miss Watson. The general voice

(21:54):
was so urgent with him to join their party that
he agreed to allow himself another quarter of an hour.
Even Emma was pleased that he would stay, for she
was beginning to feel that a family party might be
the worst of all parties. And the others were delighted.
What's your game, cried he as they stood round the table. Speculation,

(22:16):
I believe, said Elizabeth. My sister recommends it, and I
fancy we all like it. I know you do. Tom.
It is the only round game played at Croydon now,
said missus Robert. We never think of any other. I
am glad it is a favorite with you, oh me,
said Tom. Whatever you decide on will be a favorite

(22:38):
with me. I have had some pleasant hours at speculation
in my time, but I have not been in the
way of it now for a long while. Ventenre is
the game at Osborne Castle. I have played nothing but
Vantyre of late. You would be astonished to hear the
noise we make there. The fine old lofty drawing room
rings again. Lady Osborne sometimes declares she cannot hear herself speak.

(23:02):
Lord Osborne enjoys it famously, and he makes the best
dealer without exception that ever I beheld such quickness and spirit.
He lets nobody dream of their cards. I wish you
could see him overdraw himself on both his own cards.
It is worth anything in the world, dear me, cried Margaret.

(23:22):
Why should we not play at vantine? I think it
is a much better game than speculation. I cannot say
I am very fond of speculation. Missus Robert offered not
another word in support of the game. She was quite vanquished,
and the fashions of Osborne Castle carried it over the
fashions of Croydon. Do you see much of the Parsonage

(23:44):
family at the castle, mister Mausgrave, said Emma, as they
were taking their seats. Oh, yes, they are almost always there.
Missus Blake is a nice, little, good humored woman. She
and I are sworn friends, and Howard's a very gentleman like,
good sort of fellow. You are not forgotten, I assure you,
by any of the party. I fancy you must have

(24:05):
a little cheek glowing now and then, miss Emma, were
you not rather warm last Saturday, about nine or ten
o'clock in the evening. I will tell you how it was.
I see you are dying to know, says Howard to
Lord Osborne. At this interesting moment he was called on
by the others to regulate the game and determine some

(24:26):
disputable point. And his attention was so totally engaged in
the business, and afterwards, by the course of the game,
as never to revert to what he had been saying before.
And Emma, though suffering a good deal from curiosity, dared
not remind him. He proved a very useful addition to
their table. Without him, it would have been a party

(24:47):
of such very near relations as could have felt little
interest and perhaps maintained little complaisance. But his presence gave
variety and secured good manners. He was, in fact excellently
qualified to shine at a round game, and few situations
made him appear to greater advantage. He played with spirit,

(25:08):
and had a great deal to say, and though no
wit himself, could sometimes make use of the wit of
an absent friend, and had a lively way of retailing
or commonplace or saying a mere nothing that had great
effect at a card table. The ways and good jokes
of Osborne Castle were now added to his ordinary means
of entertainment. He repeated the smart sayings of one lady,

(25:32):
detailed the oversights of another, and indulged them, even with
a copy of Lord Osborne's style of overdrawing himself. On
both cards. The clock struck nine while he was thus
agreeably occupied, and when Nanny came in with her master's
basin of gruel, he had the pleasure of observing to
mister Watson that he should leave him at supper while

(25:52):
he went home to dinner himself. The carriage was ordered
to the door, and no entreaties for his staying longer
could now avail, for he well knew that if he stayed,
he must sit down to supper in less than ten minutes, which,
to a man whose heart had been long fixed on
calling his next meal a dinner, was quite insupportable. On

(26:12):
finding him determined to go, Margaret began to wink and
nod at Elizabeth to ask him to dinner for the
following day, and Elizabeth, at last, not able to resist
hints which her own hospitable social temper more than half
seconded gave the invitation. Would he give Robert the meeting?
They should be very happy with the greatest pleasure, was

(26:35):
his first reply, in a moment afterwards, that is, if
I can possibly get here in time, but I shoot
with Lord Osborne and therefore must not engage. You will
not think of me unless you see me. And so
he departed, delighted with the uncertainty in which he had
left it. End of Part five