A new establishment had opened, curiously named “The Highbury Nookery”, which purported to be a club for discerning gentlemen. Mr Knightley, believing himself to be such a person, decided to visit it; whereupon, to his great astonishment, he was presented to a delectable young lady with an abundance of long flaxen ringlets, whose name was Emma, and who was to be his companion for the evening. They were shewn into a private sitting-room. Uncertain as to what was expected of him, Mr Knightley enquired: “Pray tell me, Miss Emma, are you a good girl?” Emma smiled shyly and replied: “Oh sir, indeed I am not!” Before his incredulous eyes, she began to disrobe, and as the last undergarment was shed, Mr Knightley’s gaze could not but be drawn to that which was revealed. “I am delighted to observe”, he stammered at last, “that you are truly of the fair sex.”
(“Emmancipated”, after Jane Austen)
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