I'm reading Austen again, with predictable results. Here I was at the day job:
Miss Thompson called on her early that afternoon to indicate she would henceforth be out and the development caused Emma some not undue agitation. It was always mildly distressing for Miss Thompson to be indisposed, as the duties of that lady included corresponding with the many impertinent individuals on whose contributions of modest sums the financial solvency of the organisation relied, and in her absence Emma might be forced to handle such correspondence, simultaneously dull and delicate, herself. But Miss Thompson was reassuring, 'Her compatriot would handle majority of correspondence, &c.' and smiled sweetly as she took her leave.
A quiet hour followed and Emma indulged the pleasures of an easy afternoon, the sun streaming through the tall windows as she read a novel and attended the peripheral duties the place of employ required. After an interval, Mr. Leonard visited her station and she enquired after the plans for his coming nuptials. He responded that they were advancing according to schedule, and that both families were equally eager for such an advantageous connexion to be finalised.
'You have heard, of course, the regrettable business about Miss Fassluke?' Emma proceeded to ask.
'Ah! she is to remove to Michigan. An atrocious development indeed for we have so cherished her companionship here.'
'So we have.'
At that moment, as if summoned, Miss Fassluke herself entered. Her hair was fixed according to the latest fashion, presenting her youthful face in an especially pleasing manner, and she appeared in excellent spirits--surely, Emma remarked, not as affected by her own impending removal as were her friends. Miss Fassluke called herself flattered to find them put so out of sorts by her planned departure and Emma bore the teazing admirably.
'You will be attending, then, the ball in Miss Fassluke's honor?' she asked Mr. Leonard.
'I shan't be, regrettably. But you have my best wishes nonetheless, Miss Fassluke.'
'And am I to believe your cordial wishes sincere, Mr. Leonard, when you prove unwilling to upend prior engagements in order to attend my ball?' Laughter accompanied this remark.
'Ah but you remain ignorant, Miss Fassluke, of my excuse! It is excellent, and once you give it audience, I assure you my decision to absent myself will become quite easily understood. You see, on the very day of the ball, I turn two and thirty, and therefore have celebrations to attend at which my presence would be yet more sorely missed!'
The two ladies laughed in complete understanding and the party then disbanded, each member returning, with a degree of reluctance, to their respective tasks. Unfortunately, the previous quiet was not to be replicated and soon Emma found herself in a most grievous communication with one of the individuals contributing modest sums, who explained at length her previous ardent support for the organisation, being a person who cared a great deal for animals, and wolves especially, and who had, over the course of many years, contributed sums to a great number of organisations whose missions reflected her earnest values, &c. She further explained that she had received a recent communication explicitly requesting additional financial tidings and that, due to the misery of the current economic situation, both in the country as a whole and in her own home, she was unable to abide the request and that in fact she wished to receive no such communications whatsoever in future. Emma sighed. This, then, was the object, and could have been reached without the preceding speech.
The afternoon waned without further event, save for the welcome return of Miss Thompson at half past three, and it was soon time to board a carriage bound for home.
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