Lord Osborne was a very fine young man; but there was an 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 because it was judged expedient for him to please the borough – he was not fond of women’s company, and he never danced. – Mr Howard was an agreable-looking man, a little more than thirty.At the conclusion of the two dances, Emma found herself, she knew not how, seated among the Osborne set; and she was immediately struck with the fine countenance and animated gestures of the little boy, as he was standing before his mother, wondering when they should begin.‘You will not be surprised at Charles’s impatience,’ said Mrs Blake, a lively, pleasant-looking little woman of five or six and thirty, to a lady who was standing near her, ‘when you know what a partner he is to have. Miss Osborne has been so very kind as to promise to dance the two first dances 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 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, 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, 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 felt and acted –.