Good question.
> str(Empl[c(2,4)])
List of 2
$ family:List of 3
..$ spouse : chr "Fred"
..$ children : num 3
..$ child.ages: num [1:3] 4 7 9
$ family:List of 3
..$ spouse : chr "Mary"
..$ children : num 2
..$ child.ages: num [1:2] 14 17>
> Empl[c(2,4)][1]
$family
$family$spouse
[1] "Fred"
$family$children
[1] 3
$family$child.ages
[1] 4 7 9
> Empl[c(2,4)][2]
$family
$family$spouse
[1] "Mary"
$family$children
[1] 2
$family$child.ages
[1] 14 17
> Empl[c(2,4)][[1]][1]
$spouse
[1] "Fred"
> Empl[c(2,4)][[2]][1]
$spouse
[1] "Mary"
> Empl[c(2,4)][[1]]$spouse
[1] "Fred"
> Empl[c(2,4)][[2]]$spouse
[1] "Mary"
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