The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her husband entirely; but it was not in Mr.Weston's nature to imagine that any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear, and, as he believed, so deservedly dear.

He saw his son every year in London, and was proud of him; and his fond report of him as a very fine young man had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too.

He was looked on as sufficiently belonging to the place to make his merits and prospects a kind of common concern.
Mr.Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury, and a lively curiosity to see him prevailed, though the compliment was so little returned that he had never been there in his life.

His coming to visit his father had been often talked of but never achieved.
Now, upon his father's marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a most proper attention, that the visit should take place.

There was not a dissentient voice on the subject, either when Mrs.Perry drank tea with Mrs.and Miss Bates, or when Mrs.and Miss Bates returned the visit.