Here are seven of you, besides myself, (who, she is pleased to say, am very entertaining already,) and she only demands from each of you either one thing very clever, be it prose or verse, original or repeated--or two things moderately clever--or three things very dull indeed, and she engages to laugh heartily at them all." "Oh! very well," exclaimed Miss Bates, "then I need not be uneasy.
'Three things very dull indeed.' That will just do for me, you know.

I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan't I?
(looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every body's assent)--Do not you all think I shall ?" Emma could not resist.
"Ah! ma'am, but there may be a difficulty.

Pardon me--but you will be limited as to number--only three at once." Miss Bates, deceived by the mock ceremony of her manner, did not immediately catch her meaning; but, when it burst on her, it could not anger, though a slight blush shewed that it could pain her.
"Ah!--well--to be sure.

Yes, I see what she means, (turning to Mr.
Knightley,) and I will try to hold my tongue.

I must make myself very disagreeable, or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend." "I like your plan," cried Mr.Weston.