Austen Said:

"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."

"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,"

"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 it is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear."

"You, sir, may say any thing,"

"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."

"What a precious deposit!"

"Will you read the letter?"

"Pray do. I'd rather you would."

"Well, well,"

"Is it a good letter? or is it too short?"

"Well,"

"well— — and— — and what shall I do?"

"Yes."

"Yes. But what shall I say? Dear Miss Woodhouse, do advise me."

"You think I ought to refuse him then,"

"No, I do not; that is, I do not mean —What shall I do? What would you advise me to do? Pray, dear Miss Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do."

"I had no notion that he liked me so very much,"

"Oh! no, I am sure you are a great deal too kind to —but if you would just advise me what I had best do— No, no, I do not mean that—— As you say, one's mind ought to be quite made up— One should not be hesitating— It is a very serious thing.—It will be safer to say 'No,' perhaps.—Do you think I had better say 'No?'"

"Miss Woodhouse, as you will not give me your opinion, I must do as well as I can by myself; and I have now quite determined, and really almost made up my mind—to refuse Mr. Martin. Do you think I am right?"

"You could not have visited me!"

"No, to be sure you could not; but I never thought of that before. That would have been too dreadful!—What an escape!—Dear Miss Woodhouse, I would not give up the pleasure and honour of being intimate with you for any thing in the world."

"Dear me!—How should I ever have borne it! It would have killed me never to come to Hartfield any more!"

"I do not think he is conceited either, in general,"

"at least, he is very good natured, and I shall always feel much obliged to him, and have a great regard for—but that is quite a different thing from —and you know, though he may like me, it does not follow that I should—and certainly I must confess that since my visiting here I have seen people —and if one comes to compare them, person and manners, there is no comparison at all, one is so very handsome and agreeable. However, I do really think Mr. Martin a very amiable young man, and have a great opinion of him; and his being so much attached to me—and his writing such a letter—but as to leaving you, it is what I would not do upon any consideration."

"Oh no;—and it is but a short letter too."

"Oh! yes, very. Nobody cares for a letter; the thing is, to be always happy with pleasant companions. I am quite determined to refuse him. But how shall I do? What shall I say?"

"I shall never be invited to Abbey-Mill again,"

"And I am sure I should never want to go there; for I am never happy but at Hartfield."

"I think Mrs. Goddard would be very much surprized if she knew what had happened. I am sure Miss Nash would —for Miss Nash thinks her own sister very well married, and it is only a linen-draper."

"Now he has got my letter,"

"I wonder what they are all doing— whether his sisters know— if he is unhappy, they will be unhappy too. I hope he will not mind it so very much."

"My picture!—But he has left my picture in Bond-street."

"Well, I believe, if you will excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if you will not consider me as doing a very rude thing, I shall take Emma's advice and go out for a quarter of an hour. As the sun is out, I believe I had better take my three turns while I can. I treat you without ceremony, Mr. Knightley. We invalids think we are privileged people."

"I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter. Emma will be happy to entertain you. And therefore I think I will beg your excuse and take my three turns— — my winter walk."

"I would ask for the pleasure of your company, Mr. Knightley, but I am a very slow walker, and my pace would be tedious to you; and, besides, you have another long walk before you, to Donwell Abbey."

"So many clever riddles as there used to be when he was young— — he wondered he could not remember them! but he hoped he should in time." And it always ended in "Kitty, a fair but frozen maid."

"Oh no! he had never written, hardly ever, any thing of the kind in his life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse"—

"or Miss Smith could inspire him."

"I do not offer it for Miss Smith's collection,"

"Being my friend's, I have no right to expose it in any degree to the public eye, but perhaps you may not dislike looking at it."

"What can it be, Miss Woodhouse?—what can it be? I have not an idea— I cannot guess it in the least. What can it possibly be? Do try to find it out, Miss Woodhouse. Do help me. I never saw any thing so hard. Is it kingdom? I wonder who the friend was—and who could be the young lady. Do you think it is a good one? Can it be woman?

And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.

Can it be Neptune?

Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!

Or a trident? or a mermaid? or a shark? Oh, no! shark is only one syllable. It must be very clever, or he would not have brought it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, do you think we shall ever find it out?"

"Dear Miss Woodhouse!"—

"Dear Miss Woodhouse,"

"Whatever you say is always right,"