Austen Said:

replied Harriet rather solemnly.

was all Harriet's answer, and spoken with a degree of grave displeasure

which Emma thought

She, therefore, said no more for some time. Her next beginning was,

She then repeated some warm personal praise which she had drawn from Mr. Elton, and now did full justice to; and Harriet blushed and smiled, and

said

Mr. Elton was the very person fixed on by Emma for driving the young farmer out of Harriet's head.

She thought

It was not likely, however, that any body should have equalled her in the date of the plan, as it had entered her brain during the very first evening of Harriet's coming to Hartfield. The longer she considered it, the greater was her sense of its expediency.

and

Emma imagined

she thought

She had already satisfied herself that

she trusted,

said Mr. Knightley,

replied Mrs. Weston, smiling,

said Mr. Knightley, feelingly; and for a moment or two he had done.

he soon added,

said he, smiling.

he replied.

cried he;

said he,

said Mrs. Weston gently,

said Mrs. Weston,

Part of her meaning was to conceal some favourite thoughts of her own and Mr. Weston's on the subject, as much as possible. There were wishes at Randalls respecting Emma's destiny, but it was not desirable to have them suspected; and the quiet transition which Mr. Knightley soon afterwards made to

convinced her that

Emma could not feel a doubt of

and as she had no hesitation in following up the assurance of his admiration by agreeable hints,

she was soon pretty confident of

She was quite convinced of

said he;

said the gallant Mr. Elton—

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.

said she:

Harriet was on the point of leaving the room, and only stopt to say, with a very interesting naivete,

No sooner was she out of sight, than Emma exclaimed,

cried Mr. Elton;

thought Emma —

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.

said Emma.

unclosing a pretty sketch of a gentleman in small size, whole-length—

Mr. Elton seemed very properly struck and delighted by the idea, and was repeating,

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.

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

was really obliged to put an end to it, and request him

It then occurred to her to employ him in reading.

Mr. Elton was only too happy. Harriet listened, and Emma drew in peace.