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Emma
by Jane Austen
VOLUME I
CHAPTER VI
Emma could not feel a doubt of having given Harriet's fancy a proper
direction and raised the gratitude of her young vanity to a very
good purpose, for she found her decidedly more sensible than before
of Mr. Elton's being a remarkably handsome man, with most agreeable
manners; and as she had no hesitation in following up the assurance
of his admiration by agreeable hints, she was soon pretty confident
of creating as much liking on Harriet's side, as there could be
any occasion for. She was quite convinced of Mr. Elton's being in
the fairest way of falling in love, if not in love already. She
had no scruple with regard to him.
He talked of Harriet, and praised her so warmly, that she could
not suppose any thing wanting which a little time would not add.
His perception of the striking improvement of Harriet's manner,
since her introduction at Hartfield, was not one of the least agreeable
proofs of his growing attachment.
"You have given Miss Smith all that she required," said
he; "you have made her graceful and easy. She was a beautiful
creature when she came to you, but, in my opinion, the attractions
you have added are infinitely superior to what she received from
nature."
"I am glad you think I have been useful to her; but Harriet
only wanted drawing out, and receiving a few, very few hints. She
had all the natural grace of sweetness of temper and artlessness
in herself. I have done very little."
"If it were admissible to contradict a lady," said the
gallant Mr. Elton--
"I have perhaps given her a little more decision of character,
have taught her to think on points which had not fallen in her way
before."
"Exactly so; that is what principally strikes me. So much superadded
decision of character! Skilful has been the hand!"
"Great has been the pleasure, I am sure. I never met with
a disposition more truly amiable."
"I have no doubt of it." And it was spoken with a sort
of sighing animation, which had a vast deal of the lover. She was
not less pleased another day with the manner in which he seconded
a sudden wish of hers, to have Harriet's picture.
"Did you ever have your likeness taken, Harriet?" said
she: "did you ever sit for your picture?"
Harriet was on the point of leaving the room, and only stopt to
say, with a very interesting naivete,
"Oh! dear, no, never."
No sooner was she out of sight, than Emma exclaimed,
"What an exquisite possession a good picture of her would be!
I would give any money for it. I almost long to attempt her likeness
myself. You do not know it I dare say, but two or three years ago
I had a great passion for taking likenesses, and attempted several
of my friends, and was thought to have a tolerable eye in general.
But from one cause or another, I gave it up in disgust. But really,
I could almost venture, if Harriet would sit to me. It would be
such a delight to have her picture!"
"Let me entreat you," cried Mr. Elton; "it would
indeed be a delight! Let me entreat you, Miss Woodhouse, to exercise
so charming a talent in favour of your friend. I know what your
drawings are. How could you suppose me ignorant? Is not this room
rich in specimens of your landscapes and flowers; and has not Mrs.
Weston some inimitable figure-pieces in her drawing-room, at Randalls?"
Yes, good man!--thought Emma--but what has all that to do with
taking likenesses? You know nothing of drawing. Don't pretend to
be in raptures about mine. Keep your raptures for Harriet's face.
"Well, if you give me such kind encouragement, Mr. Elton, I
believe I shall try what I can do. Harriet's features are very delicate,
which makes a likeness difficult; and yet there is a peculiarity
in the shape of the eye and the lines about the mouth which one
ought to catch."
"Exactly so--The shape of the eye and the lines about the
mouth--I have not a doubt of your success. Pray, pray attempt it.
As you will do it, it will indeed, to use your own words, be an
exquisite possession."
"But I am afraid, Mr. Elton, Harriet will not like to sit.
She thinks so little of her own beauty. Did not you observe her
manner of answering me? How completely it meant, `why should my
picture be drawn?'"
"Oh! yes, I observed it, I assure you. It was not lost on
me. But still I cannot imagine she would not be persuaded."
Harriet was soon back again, and the proposal almost immediately
made; and she had no scruples which could stand many minutes against
the earnest pressing of both the others. Emma wished to go to work
directly, and therefore produced the portfolio containing her various
attempts at portraits, for not one of them had ever been finished,
that they might decide together on the best size for Harriet. Her
many beginnings were displayed. Miniatures, half-lengths, whole-lengths,
pencil, crayon, and water-colours had been all tried in turn. She
had always wanted to do every thing, and had made more progress
both in drawing and music than many might have done with so little
labour as she would ever submit to. She played and sang;--and drew
in almost every style; but steadiness had always been wanting; and
in nothing had she approached the degree of excellence which she
would have been glad to command, and ought not to have failed of.
She was not much deceived as to her own skill either as an artist
or a musician, but she was not unwilling to have others deceived,
or sorry to know her reputation for accomplishment often higher
than it deserved.
There was merit in every drawing--in the least finished, perhaps
the most; her style was spirited; but had there been much less,
or had there been ten times more, the delight and admiration of
her two companions would have been the same. They were both in ecstasies.
A likeness pleases every body; and Miss Woodhouse's performances
must be capital.
"No great variety of faces for you," said Emma. "I
had only my own family to study from. There is my father--another
of my father--but the idea of sitting for his picture made him so
nervous, that I could only take him by stealth; neither of them
very like therefore. Mrs. Weston again, and again, and again, you
see. Dear Mrs. Weston! always my kindest friend on every occasion.
She would sit whenever I asked her. There is my sister; and really
quite her own little elegant figure!--and the face not unlike. I
should have made a good likeness of her, if she would have sat longer,
but she was in such a hurry to have me draw her four children that
she would not be quiet. Then, here come all my attempts at three
of those four children;--there they are, Henry and John and Bella,
from one end of the sheet to the other, and any one of them might
do for any one of the rest. She was so eager to have them drawn
that I could not refuse; but there is no making children of three
or four years old stand still you know; nor can it be very easy
to take any likeness of them, beyond the air and complexion, unless
they are coarser featured than any of mama's children ever were.
Here is my sketch of the fourth, who was a baby. I took him as he
was sleeping on the sofa, and it is as strong a likeness of his
cockade as you would wish to see. He had nestled down his head most
conveniently. That's very like. I am rather proud of little George.
The corner of the sofa is very good. Then here is my last,"--unclosing
a pretty sketch of a gentleman in small size, whole-length-- "my
last and my best--my brother, Mr. John Knightley. --This did not
want much of being finished, when I put it away in a pet, and vowed
I would never take another likeness. I could not help being provoked;
for after all my pains, and when I had really made a very good likeness
of it--(Mrs. Weston and I were quite agreed in thinking it very
like)--only too handsome--too flattering--but that was a fault on
the right side-- after all this, came poor dear Isabella's cold
approbation of--"Yes, it was a little like--but to be sure
it did not do him justice." We had had a great deal of trouble
in persuading him to sit at all. It was made a great favour of;
and altogether it was more than I could bear; and so I never would
finish it, to have it apologised over as an unfavourable likeness,
to every morning visitor in Brunswick Square;--and, as I said, I
did then forswear ever drawing any body again. But for Harriet's
sake, or rather for my own, and as there are no husbands and wives
in the case at present, I will break my resolution now."
Mr. Elton seemed very properly struck and delighted by the idea,
and was repeating, "No husbands and wives in the case at present
indeed, as you observe. Exactly so. No husbands and wives,"
with so interesting a consciousness, that Emma began to consider
whether she had not better leave them together at once. But as she
wanted to be drawing, the declaration must wait a little longer.
She had soon fixed on the size and sort of portrait. It was to
be a whole-length in water-colours, like Mr. John Knightley's, and
was destined, if she could please herself, to hold a very honourable
station over the mantelpiece.
The sitting began; and Harriet, smiling and blushing, and afraid
of not keeping her attitude and countenance, presented a very sweet
mixture of youthful expression to the steady eyes of the artist.
But there was no doing any thing, with Mr. Elton fidgeting behind
her and watching every touch. She gave him credit for stationing
himself where he might gaze and gaze again without offence; but
was really obliged to put an end to it, and request him to place
himself elsewhere. It then occurred to her to employ him in reading.
"If he would be so good as to read to them, it would be a
kindness indeed! It would amuse away the difficulties of her part,
and lessen the irksomeness of Miss Smith's."
Mr. Elton was only too happy. Harriet listened, and Emma drew in
peace. She must allow him to be still frequently coming to look;
any thing less would certainly have been too little in a lover;
and he was ready at the smallest intermission of the pencil, to
jump up and see the progress, and be charmed.--There was no being
displeased with such an encourager, for his admiration made him
discern a likeness almost before it was possible. She could not
respect his eye, but his love and his complaisance were unexceptionable.
The sitting was altogether very satisfactory; she was quite enough
pleased with the first day's sketch to wish to go on. There was
no want of likeness, she had been fortunate in the attitude, and
as she meant to throw in a little improvement to the figure, to
give a little more height, and considerably more elegance, she had
great confidence of its being in every way a pretty drawing at last,
and of its filling its destined place with credit to them both--a
standing memorial of the beauty of one, the skill of the other,
and the friendship of both; with as many other agreeable associations
as Mr. Elton's very promising attachment was likely to add.
Harriet was to sit again the next day; and Mr. Elton, just as he
ought, entreated for the permission of attending and reading to
them again.
"By all means. We shall be most happy to consider you as one
of the party."
The same civilities and courtesies, the same success and satisfaction,
took place on the morrow, and accompanied the whole progress of
the picture, which was rapid and happy. Every body who saw it was
pleased, but Mr. Elton was in continual raptures, and defended it
through every criticism.
"Miss Woodhouse has given her friend the only beauty she wanted,"--observed
Mrs. Weston to him--not in the least suspecting that she was addressing
a lover.--"The expression of the eye is most correct, but Miss
Smith has not those eyebrows and eyelashes. It is the fault of her
face that she has them not."
"Do you think so?" replied he. "I cannot agree with
you.It appears to me a most perfect resemblance in every feature.
I never saw such a likeness in my life. We must allow for the effect
of shade, you know."
"You have made her too tall, Emma," said Mr. Knightley.
Emma knew that she had, but would not own it; and Mr. Elton warmly
added,
"Oh no! certainly not too tall; not in the least too tall.
Consider, she is sitting down--which naturally presents a different--which
in short gives exactly the idea--and the proportions must be preserved,
you know. Proportions, fore-shortening.--Oh no! it gives one exactly
the idea of such a height as Miss Smith's. Exactly so indeed!"
"It is very pretty," said Mr. Woodhouse. "So prettily
done! Just as your drawings always are, my dear. I do not know any
body who draws so well as you do. The only thing I do not thoroughly
like is, that she seems to be sitting out of doors, with only a
little shawl over her shoulders--and it makes one think she must
catch cold."
"But, my dear papa, it is supposed to be summer; a warm day
in summer. Look at the tree."
"But it is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear."
"You, sir, may say any thing," cried Mr. Elton, "but
I must confess that I regard it as a most happy thought, the placing
of Miss Smith out of doors; and the tree is touched with such inimitable
spirit! Any other situation would have been much less in character.
The naivete of Miss Smith's manners--and altogether--Oh, it is most
admirable! I cannot keep my eyes from it. I never saw such a likeness."
The next thing wanted was to get the picture framed; and here were
a few difficulties. It must be done directly; it must be done in
London; the order must go through the hands of some intelligent
person whose taste could be depended on; and Isabella, the usual
doer of all commissions, must not be applied to, because it was
December, and Mr. Woodhouse could not bear the idea of her stirring
out of her house in the fogs of December. But no sooner was the
distress known to Mr. Elton, than it was removed. His gallantry
was always on the alert. "Might he be trusted with the commission,
what infinite pleasure should he have in executing it! he could
ride to London at any time. It was impossible to say how much he
should be gratified by being employed on such an errand."
"He was too good!--she could not endure the thought!-- she
would not give him such a troublesome office for the world,"--brought
on the desired repetition of entreaties and assurances,--and a very
few minutes settled the business.
Mr. Elton was to take the drawing to London, chuse the frame, and
give the directions; and Emma thought she could so pack it as to
ensure its safety without much incommoding him, while he seemed
mostly fearful of not being incommoded enough.
"What a precious deposit!" said he with a tender sigh,
as he received it.
"This man is almost too gallant to be in love," thought
Emma. "I should say so, but that I suppose there may be a hundred
different ways of being in love. He is an excellent young man, and
will suit Harriet exactly; it will be an `Exactly so,' as he says
himself; but he does sigh and languish, and study for compliments
rather more than I could endure as a principal. I come in for a
pretty good share as a second. But it is his gratitude on Harriet's
account."
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