Mr Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange Read Free Book Online

noticed her complexion particularly. Why, it has been brightened by fresh air and exercise! I thought as I came into the room. It was just what she needed to bring out her beauty. So good of you to take the trouble!'
    'I am sure it was good of Harriet to take the time to walk with me,' she said, firmly turning the conversation back to Harriet's advantages.
    Hah! I thought in amusement. Now, Elton, turn that into a compliment to Emma if you can!
    I continued to be amused by them, as they carried on at cross purposes for the next quarter of an hour, Emma trying to make a match between a glove and a mitten, and Elton to raise his standing in the village by flattering Miss Woodhouse. I waited for them to grow tired of it, but as they showed no signs of doing so, at last I emerged from my newspaper and forced them to engage in more general and rational conversation.
    Friday 27 November
    Emma's matchmaking continued today and Elton, poor man, had no idea of what she was about.
    She asked him outright what he thought of her little friend. It was impossible to make anything of his convoluted answer, for although he said how much she had improved, and how she had now acquired the polish she had been wanting, his every remark reflected well on Emma: it was Emma who had improved her; Emma who had given her polish.
    As the evening wore on, I began to have a suspicion that Elton was doing more than flattering a well-connected young woman. I began to think he was lifting his eyes to Emma herself.
    Perhaps I was imagining it, but there seemed something more than an ill-judged civility in his words, perhaps the admiration of a man who hoped to be admitted as a suitor?
    The latter would be interesting indeed! He has no hope of succeeding, but the very idea of his assuming that he has a chance of success will teach Emma a lesson in humility which I can never hope to surpass.
    What, Miss Woodhouse of Hartfield to marry Mr Elton! She would be horrified if she knew.
    I mean to pay them close attention, and see how things develop!

DECEMBER
    Tuesday 1 December
    It seems that Emma's present interest in sketching is to last for a little longer, at least. I found her taking Harriet's likeness, as she had intended, when I called on her this morning. Elton, as is usual these days, was in attendance.
    Mr Woodhouse and I withdrew for a time as I helped him to write some letters of business, and then we both returned to the drawing-room. We found Emma and her friend hard at work. Harriet was posing, and Emma's sketch was already well-developed.
    Elton was standing behind Emma, fidgeting, and not knowing what to do with himself.
    He spoke to me when I entered the room, seemingly glad of something to say.
    'Miss Woodhouse has decided to paint her friend full-length, like the portrait of Mr John Knightley.'
    I went over to Emma and looked at what she had done. Mrs Weston was watching the progress of the drawing, too, and her eye had not failed to see that Emma's portrait was flattering.
    'Miss Woodhouse has given her friend the only beauty she wanted,' she said to Elton. 'The expression of the eye is most correct, but Harriet has not those eyebrows and eyelashes. It is the fault of her face that she has them not.'
    'Do you think so?' he replied '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.'
    Something had to be done to counteract this flattery, and so I said: 'You have made her too tall, Emma.'
    I could tell by her expression that she knew she had, but she would not admit it.
    '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, foreshortening. Oh, no! it gives one exactly the idea of such a height as Harriet's. Exactly so indeed!' said her would-be