But I will shew her greater attention than I have done." Every invitation was successful.

They were all disengaged and all happy .-- The preparatory interest of this dinner, however, was not yet over.

A circumstance rather unlucky occurred.

The two eldest little Knightleys were engaged to pay their grandpapa and aunt a visit of some weeks in the spring, and their papa now proposed bringing them, and staying one whole day at Hartfield--which one day would be the very day of this party .-- His professional engagements did not allow of his being put off, but both father and daughter were disturbed by its happening so.

Mr.Woodhouse considered eight persons at dinner together as the utmost that his nerves could bear--and here would be a ninth--and Emma apprehended that it would be a ninth very much out of humour at not being able to come even to Hartfield for forty-eight hours without falling in with a dinner-party.
She comforted her father better than she could comfort herself, by representing that though he certainly would make them nine, yet he always said so little, that the increase of noise would be very immaterial.