It seemed quite a shame, especially considering how many houses there are where fine instruments are absolutely thrown away.

This is like giving ourselves a slap, to be sure! and it was but yesterday I was telling Mr.Cole, I really was ashamed to look at our new grand pianoforte in the drawing-room, while I do not know one note from another, and our little girls, who are but just beginning, perhaps may never make any thing of it; and there is poor Jane Fairfax, who is mistress of music, has not any thing of the nature of an instrument, not even the pitifullest old spinet in the world, to amuse herself with .-- I was saying this to Mr.Cole but yesterday, and he quite agreed with me; only he is so particularly fond of music that he could not help indulging himself in the purchase, hoping that some of our good neighbours might be so obliging occasionally to put it to a better use than we can; and that really is the reason why the instrument was bought--or else I am sure we ought to be ashamed of it .-- We are in great hopes that Miss Woodhouse may be prevailed with to try it this evening." Miss Woodhouse made the proper acquiescence; and finding that nothing more was to be entrapped from any communication of Mrs.Cole's, turned to Frank Churchill.
"Why do you smile ?" said she.
"Nay, why do you ?" "Me!--I suppose I smile for pleasure at Colonel Campbell's being so rich and so liberal .-- It is a handsome present." "Very." "I rather wonder that it was never made before." "Perhaps Miss Fairfax has never been staying here so long before." "Or that he did not give her the use of their own instrument--which must now be shut up in London, untouched by any body." "That is a grand pianoforte, and he might think it too large for Mrs.
Bates's house." "You may _say_ what you chuse--but your countenance testifies that your _thoughts_ on this subject are very much like mine." "I do not know.

I rather believe you are giving me more credit for acuteness than I deserve.

I smile because you smile, and shall probably suspect whatever I find you suspect; but at present I do not see what there is to question.

If Colonel Campbell is not the person, who can be ?" "What do you say to Mrs.Dixon ?" "Mrs.Dixon! very true indeed.