I do love the warmth and open-hearted generosity of the Bates ladies' hospitality. The sweet cake from their beaufet probably represents quite a noticeable part of their tiny weekly budget. I think their own capacity for happiness and their robust enjoyment of food helps as well, and I applaud their determination to enjoy their roast loin of pork whatever Mr Woodhouse might have to say about the matter.

Poor old Mr Woodhouse - he is every bit as solicitous for his guests comfort and wellbeing as Miss Bates, but his fearfulness about food does rather threaten to diminish his guests' enjoyment. His recommendations of a very small egg, a very little bit of tart, a small half glass of wine put into a tumbler of water are dreary and funny and terribly sad all at the same time.

Luckily Emma is usually around to supply their visitors in a much more satisfactory style, and ply them with minced chicken and scalloped oysters. But what happens when Emma goes out for the evening just once in a blue moon? Mr Woodhouse gets things all his own way and deprives Mrs Bates of her sweetbreads and asparagus! I really feel for her disappointment.