Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite several of the better blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the earth with really little to distress or vex her.

She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his home from a really early period. Her parent had died too long ago for her to have much than an bedimmed remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an first class woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a parent in affection.

Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a teacher than a fr