Эмма / Emma

“Oh! dear, no, never,” answered Harriet. “Why should my picture be drawn?”

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

“What an excellent picture of her would be! I would give any money for it. You do not know it I dare say, but two or three years ago I had a great passion for painting. And I could almost venture, if Harriet would sit to me. It would be such a delight to have her picture!”

“Oh, yes,” cried Mr. Elton; “it would indeed be a delight, Miss Woodhouse, to exercise so charming a talent in favour of your friend.

”

“But I am afraid, Mr. Elton, Harriet will not like to sit. She thinks so little of her own beauty. Did not you observe her manner of answering me? �Why should my picture be drawn?’”

“Oh! yes, I observed it, I assure you. But still I cannot imagine she would not be persuaded.”

Harriet was soon back again, and the proposal almost immediately made. Emma wished to go to work directly. She had soon fixed on the size and sort of portrait.

It was to be a whole-length in water-colours.

The sitting began; and Harriet, smiling and blushing, presented a very sweet mixture of youthful expression to the steady eyes of the artist. But Mr. Elton was fidgeting behind her and watching every touch. So Emma requested him to place himself elsewhere. It then occurred to her to employ him in reading.

Mr. Elton was happy to read aloud. Harriet listened, and Emma drew in peace. The sitting was altogether very satisfactory; Emma was quite enough pleased with the first day’s sketch to wish to go on.

Harriet was to sit again the next day; and Mr. Elton entreated for the permission of attending and reading to them again.

“By all means[37 - By all means. – Сделайте одолжение.]. We shall be most happy to consider you as one of the party.”

The whole progress of the picture was rapid and happy. Everybody who saw it was pleased.

“Miss Woodhouse has given her friend the only beauty she wanted,” observed Mrs.

Weston. “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 Mr. Elton. “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, you know.”

“You have made her too tall, Emma,” said Mr. Knightley.

Emma knew that she had, but Mr.