Emma looked disconcerted, and said she thought that a matter of very little importance when every body knew the lace almost as well as they did Mrs. Norton herself. Mrs. Willing however did not think so. “Every body knew the expense attendant on society, and she thought it altogether indiscreet in Mrs. Norton to be out as constantly as she was. It excited much remark.” Whereupon an animated discussion ensued in which poor Mrs. Norton was well pulled to pieces. Emma however defended her bravely, though driven from point to point. That she was very expensive, if not extravagant, seemed however to be settled beyond dispute, and Mrs. Willing was not inclined to make any allowance for her youth and inexperience, nor permit her grace and beauty any weight at all in extenuating her imprudence. Emma was for overlooking every thing, Mrs. Willing nothing, and the discussion was certainly as warm as is ever deemed allowable among ladies, when Mrs. Willing rose to leave. No one remaining, fortunately for Emma, but Mrs. Grayson, with whom the Appletons were very intimate, and so she gave unrestrained vent to her indignation almost before Mrs. Willing was out of hearing. “She is a pretty one!” she exclaimed, “to find fault with Mrs. Norton! She is just as expensive as her means will allow, without Mrs. Norton’s excuse of youth and beauty.” “But, my dear,” interposed Mrs. Grayson, “her husband has not failed.” “No,” said Emma, “for he is not a merchant. But every body knows their circumstances. He’s over head and ears in debt, and yet they entertain and give dinners, and she’s forever at the opera. But because she’s not a beauty and does not care particularly for dress, she is very virtuous about poor Mrs. Norton.” “Very true,” said Mrs. Grayson laughing. “I could not but be amused while she was talking to think how much that she was saying would apply equally well to herself. But people never think of that when they are laying down the law for others. But have you heard this story, girls, about Mrs. Crawford?” “No. What?” they both asked. And then followed a piece of scandal that had just burst upon the town, too naughty to repeat. “Shocking!” and “Can it be true?” they exclaimed. “No doubt of it,” returned Mrs. Grayson. “No one will visit her,” and with much interest she continued to add circumstance and suspicion one on top of the other without mercy or stint. All minor gossip was forgotten in the engrossing interest of the new subject. Mrs. Grayson talked on till the French clock on the mantel-piece struck the dinner hour, when starting up, she exclaimed— “So late! Is it possible? You’ve been so agreeable girls I had quite forgotten the hour, and my husband is waiting for me, I suppose,” and off she hurried. “She has had all the talk,” said Emma, “and that’s what she calls finding _us_ agreeable. But this story is very bad, if it is true.”