‘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 comes 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 hair and complexion,unless they are coarser featured than any mamma'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 anybody 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 anything,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;anything 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 eyes,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.Everybody 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.’