"Why, who dare even suggest such a thing?
Certainly not.

The whole household is constructed with a view to your mother's happiness." So she had told him, and so he believed.

It was quite useless talking; he did not see, he did not, indeed.
I knew Emma disliked her and Patience, too.

The farce of her being my mother's companion was very soon played out.

She never came near, unless my father went, and then she did not remain long.