CHAPTER VI
關燈
小
中
大
EmmacouldnotfeeladoubtofhavinggivenHarriet’sfancyaproperdirectionandraisedthegratitudeofheryoungvanitytoaverygoodpurpose,forshefoundherdecidedlymoresensiblethanbeforeofMr.Elton’sbeingaremarkablyhandsomeman,withmostagreeablemannersandasshehadnohesitationinfollowinguptheassuranceofhisadmirationbyagreeablehints,shewassoonprettyconfidentofcreatingasmuchlikingonHarriet’sside,astherecouldbeanyoccasionfor.ShewasquiteconvincedofMr.Elton’sbeinginthefairestwayoffallinginlove,ifnotinlovealready.Shehadnoscruplewithregardtohim.HetalkedofHarriet,andpraisedhersowarmly,thatshecouldnotsupposeanythingwantingwhichalittletimewouldnotadd.HisperceptionofthestrikingimprovementofHarriet’smanner,sinceherintroductionatHartfield,wasnotoneoftheleastagreeableproofsofhisgrowingattachment.
“YouhavegivenMissSmithallthatsherequired,”saidhe“youhavemadehergracefulandeasy.Shewasabeautifulcreaturewhenshecametoyou,but,inmyopinion,theattractionsyouhaveaddedareinfinitelysuperiortowhatshereceivedfromnature.”
“IamgladyouthinkIhavebeenusefultoherbutHarrietonlywanteddrawingout,andreceivingafew,veryfewhints.Shehadallthenaturalgraceofsweetnessoftemperandartlessnessinherself.Ihavedoneverylittle.”
“Ifitwereadmissibletocontradictalady,”saidthegallantMr.Elton—
“Ihaveperhapsgivenheralittlemoredecisionofcharacter,havetaughthertothinkonpointswhichhadnotfalleninherwaybefore.”
“Exactlysothatiswhatprincipallystrikesme.Somuchsuperaddeddecisionofcharacter!Skilfulhasbeenthehand!”
“Greathasbeenthepleasure,Iamsure.Inevermetwithadispositionmoretrulyamiable.”
“Ihavenodoubtofit.”Anditwasspokenwithasortofsighinganimation,whichhadavastdealofthelover.Shewasnotlesspleasedanotherdaywiththemannerinwhichhesecondedasuddenwishofhers,tohaveHarriet’spicture.
“Didyoueverhaveyourlikenesstaken,Harriet?”saidshe:“didyoueversitforyourpicture?”
Harrietwasonthepointofleavingtheroom,andonlystopttosay,withaveryinterestingna?veté,
“Oh!dear,no,never.”
Nosoonerwassheoutofsight,thanEmmaexclaimed,
“Whatanexquisitepossessionagoodpictureofherwouldbe!Iwouldgiveanymoneyforit.Ialmostlongtoattemptherlikenessmyself.YoudonotknowitIdaresay,buttwoorthreeyearsagoIhadagreatpassionfortakinglikenesses,andattemptedseveralofmyfriends,andwasthoughttohaveatolerableeyeingeneral.Butfromonecauseoranother,Igaveitupindisgust.Butreally,Icouldalmostventure,ifHarrietwouldsittome.Itwouldbesuchadelighttohaveherpicture!”
“Letmeentreatyou,”criedMr.Elton“itwouldindeedbeadelight!Letmeentreatyou,MissWoodhouse,toexerciseso
