At this moment Frank began talking so vigorously, that Emma could not but imagine he had overheard his own praises, and did not want to hear more;⁠—and the voices of the ladies were drowned for a while, till another suspension brought Mrs. Elton’s tones again distinctly forward.⁠— Mr. Elton had just joined them, and his wife was exclaiming,

“Oh! you have found us out at last, have you, in our seclusion?⁠—I was this moment telling Jane, I thought you would begin to be impatient for tidings of us.”

“Jane!”⁠—repeated Frank Churchill, with a look of surprise and displeasure.⁠—“That is easy⁠—but Miss Fairfax does not disapprove it, I suppose.”

“How do you like Mrs. Elton?” said Emma in a whisper.

“Not at all.”