CHAPTER VI
關燈
小
中
大
yadded,
“Ohno!certainlynottootallnotintheleasttootall.Consider,sheissittingdown—whichnaturallypresentsadifferent—whichinshortgivesexactlytheidea—andtheproportionsmustbepreserved,youknow.Proportions,fore-shortening.—Ohno!itgivesoneexactlytheideaofsuchaheightasMissSmith’s.Exactlysoindeed!”
“Itisverypretty,”saidMr.Woodhouse.“Soprettilydone!Justasyourdrawingsalwaysare,mydear.Idonotknowanybodywhodrawssowellasyoudo.TheonlythingIdonotthoroughlylikeis,thatsheseemstobesittingoutofdoors,withonlyalittleshawloverhershoulders—anditmakesonethinkshemustcatchcold.”
“But,mydearpapa,itissupposedtobesummerawarmdayinsummer.Lookatthetree.”
“Butitisneversafetositoutofdoors,mydear.”
“You,sir,maysayanything,”criedMr.Elton,“butImustconfessthatIregarditasamosthappythought,theplacingofMissSmithoutofdoorsandthetreeistouchedwithsuchinimitablespirit!Anyothersituationwouldhavebeenmuchlessincharacter.Thena?vetéofMissSmith’smanners—andaltogether—Oh,itismostadmirable!Icannotkeepmyeyesfromit.Ineversawsuchalikeness.”
Thenextthingwantedwastogetthepictureframedandherewereafewdifficulties.ItmustbedonedirectlyitmustbedoneinLondontheordermustgothroughthehandsofsomeintelligentpersonwhosetastecouldbedependedonandIsabella,theusualdoerofallcommissions,mustnotbeappliedto,becauseitwasDecember,andMr.WoodhousecouldnotbeartheideaofherstirringoutofherhouseinthefogsofDecember.ButnosoonerwasthedistressknowntoMr.Elton,thanitwasremoved.Hisgallantrywasalwaysonthealert.“Mighthebetrustedwiththecommission,whatinfinitepleasureshouldhehaveinexecutingit!hecouldridetoLondonatanytime.Itwasimpossibletosayhowmuchheshouldbegratifiedbybeingemployedonsuchanerrand.”
“Hewastoogood!—shecouldnotendurethethought!—shewouldnotgivehimsuchatroublesomeofficefortheworld,”—broughtonthedesiredrepetitionofentreatiesandassurances,—andaveryfewminutessettledthebusiness.
Mr.EltonwastotakethedrawingtoLondon,chusetheframe,andgivethedirectionsandEmmathoughtshecouldsopackitastoensureitssafetywithoutmuchincommodinghim,whileheseemedmostlyfearfulofnotbeingincommodedenough.
“Whatapreciousdeposit!”saidhewithatendersigh,ashereceivedit.
“Thismanisalmosttoogallanttobeinlove,”thoughtEmma.“Ishouldsayso,butthatIsupposetheremaybeahundreddifferentwaysofbeinginlove.Heisanexcellentyoungman,andwillsuitHarrietexactlyitwillbean‘Exactlyso,’ashesayshimselfbuthedoessighandlanguish,andstudyforcomplimentsrathermorethanIcouldendureasaprincipal.Icomeinforaprettygoodshareasasecond.ButitishisgratitudeonHarriet’saccount.”
