“Poor Miss Taylor! – I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that Mr. Weston ever thought of her!…A house of her own! – But where is the advantage of a house of her own? This is three times as large.- And you have never any odd humours, my dear.”
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 1. The first words of spoken dialogue in the novel come from the satirical character Mr. Woodhouse. He is complaining to daughter Emma about governess Miss Taylor quitting her position to get married. Instead of wishing well on her marriage, the wealthy family patriarch complains and makes the ironic comment, “Poor Miss Taylor.” Highlighted are the wealthy Woodhouse family patriarch’s self-centeredness and resistance to change.