“Now I say, my dear, in our case, for lady , read⁠—mum! a word to the wise.⁠—I am in a fine flow of spirits, an’t I? But I want to set your heart at ease as to Mrs. S. ⁠— My representation, you see, has quite appeased her.”

And again, on Emma’s merely turning her head to look at Mrs. Bates’s knitting, she added, in a half whisper,

“I mentioned no names , you will observe.⁠—Oh! no; cautious as a minister of state. I managed it extremely well.”