acquaintance so happily begun, and that her appearance was not only that of a dazzling meteor to shine across his path with rare brilliancy for a few minutes, and then leave him to darkness and despair for the future. "No," said Emma; "I trust I have an orbit, though a small one, but too distant and remote a one from yours, Sir William, for it ever to be likely that our paths should cross again." "You don't say so, Miss Watson; surely if Miss Osborne has discovered and learnt to appreciate your worth—your brilliancy—it is very possible for an inferior individual like me equally to keep you in sight." "No," said Emma; "it requires Miss Osborne's abilities for that, and I am sure you cannot pretend to vie with her in that respect." "Beyond all question, no," cried Sir William; "I have not such vanity or impertinence; have I not already informed you I am the most modest creature breathing?" "Oh, yes," replied Emma smiling; "we settled that point so long ago that it had almost escaped my memory in the interval; but now you mention it, I do recollect that you said so before." "You are too bad, Miss Watson," replied he laughing. "I think you wrong me—you should say too good, in thus readily allowing your claim to superior merit." "Well, but now tell me, do you think Miss Osborne so very clever?" "I must decline discussing that point, being incapable of forming a judgment on the subject." "Am I to infer that you do not like me?" enquired he doubtfully. "By no means—all I can allow you to infer from my silence is, that Miss Osborne has been, voluntarily, so very kind to me, that she deserves my gratitude, but that I have seen too little of her to warrant my forming an opinion as to her talents or abilities." "Do you think her pretty?" "Exceedingly so," replied Emma warmly; "it is a countenance that improves on one so very much—surely you must admire her." Sir William did not return a direct answer, and Emma suspected that he would have been more ready with a reply, had his admiration been merely
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