[Mrs. Weston] “She is loveliness itself. Mr. Knightley, is not she?”
“I have not a fault to find with her person,” he replied. “I think her all you describe. I love to look at her; and I will add this praise, that I do not think her personally vain. Considering how handsome she is, she appears to be little occupied with it; her vanity lies another way.”
Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley on Emma’s beauty and faults
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5
Filed under Beauty, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Miss Taylor - Mrs. Weston, Mr. Knightley, Pride
I love this little bit:
“Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of her drawing up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through-and very good lists they were-very well chosen and very neatly arranged-sometimes alphabetically and sometimes by some other rule. The list she drew up when only fourteen-I remember thinking it did her judgement so much credit that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made out a very good list now. But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma. She will never submit to anything requiring industry and patience and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding.”
Mr. Knightley discussing Emma’s faults with Mrs. Weston, who will not admit them
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5
I think I have made various reading lists of my own over the years…
Filed under Education, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Miss Taylor - Mrs. Weston, Mr. Knightley, Patience, Reading
“I have no doubt that he will thrive and be a very rich man in time-and his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb us.”
Emma’s backhanded compliment of Robert Martin, the farmer Harriet adores
Emma, volume 1, chapter 4
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith, Insults, Men, Money, Robert Martin, Wealth
“Encouragement should be given.”
This is of Emma, and her perhaps unwise decision to encourage Harriet Smith into a different sphere of life. But it’s a good sentiment all the same, no?
Emma, volume 1, chapter 3
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Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Friendship, Harriet Smith
“She was a great talker upon little matters . . . full of trivial communications and harmless gossip.”
Our dear Miss Bates
Emma, volume 1, chapter 3
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Filed under Conversation, Emma, Miss Bates
“Emma knows I never flatter her.”
Mr. Knightley, to Mr. Woodhouse
Emma, volume 1, chapter 1
I’m just re-reading chapter 1 in Emma and realizing how many hints Austen gave us.
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Flattery, Mr. Knightley
“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken . . .”
Of Emma’s conversation with Mr. Knightley as he proposes, when she cuts him off and then suggests they “take another turn” in the garden. Knightley was ready to forgive any sort of awkwardness, because he understood Emma’s heart.
Emma, volume 3, chapter 13
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Filed under Conversation, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Mr. Knightley, Proposals, Truth
"What did she say? Just what she ought, of course. A lady always does."
Of Emma’s reply to Mr. Knightley, when he proposes
Emma, volume 3, chapter 13
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Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Mr. Knightley, On being a lady, Proposals
“‘Three things very dull indeed.’ That will just do for me, you know. I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan’t I? . . . Do not you all think I shall?”
Miss Bates at the picnic at Box Hill
Emma, volume 3, chapter 7
Some days I empathize with poor Miss Bates!
This pic is of me at Box Hill during my trip.
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Filed under Conversation, Emma, Miss Bates
"They say everybody is in love once in their lives."
Emma reflecting on her feelings for Frank Churchill-of course, at this point, she doesn’t really know what love is.
Emma, volume 2, chapter 13
Coming in a little over a week (March 23) — our next installment of Masterpiece’s Complete Jane Austen Season. Love this version of Emma with Kate Beckinsale.
Image ©ITV plc (Granada International) for Masterpiece™
Filed under Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Frank Churchill, Love
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith