Mr. Knightley’s Diary

"Yes, though before she went, she protested she would not venture into the water." She glanced at her father. "I have not mentioned it to Papa. He would only worry. He does not approve of the children getting their feet wet."

"If I remember, you were always getting your feet wet as a child," I said. "I recall you paddling in the stream at Donwell..."

"And receiving a fine scolding for it when Miss Taylor found me!"

"It was the mildest of reproofs, especially as you had escaped from your lessons and gone outside on the pretext of sketching the Abbey."

"It was not a pretext! I took my pencils and my sketchbook..."

"And abandoned them as soon as you were out of sight."

"Unfair!" she cried, adding saucily: "I abandoned them before I was out of sight."

"Incorrigible girl! If you had applied yourself more, you might now be a mistress of your art, instead of abandoning your portraits, half-finished, in a portfolio."

"They are not half-finished!" she declared, then she had the goodness to laugh, and to add: "Not all of them, anyway. I finished the portrait of John. It is my best work, I think, and deserves its place in the drawing-room. Mrs. Weston thought it a good likeness."

"Though Isabella did not."

She did not like my remark, and said: "Isabella is partial. No one could have captured John’s likeness in a way that would have suited her."

"And Mrs. Weston, too, is partial," I told her. "She would have thought it a good likeness however it had turned out."

"Perhaps I need more practice. I think I might draw you, Mr. Knightley," she said with an arch smile.

"I seem to recall you doing so..." I reminded her.

" - and abandoning the attempt," she admitted.

"I did not, say so."

"No, but you were about to. You seem to make no allowance for the fact that I was sixteen years old at the time."

"Quite old enough to finish it. But it is not too late. Perhaps you should take it out and finish it now," I said.

"I think not. You are the worst person in the world to sketch, for you are never still. You are worse than the children in that respect, for I am sure little George stays in one place for longer than his namesake."

"A convenient excuse," I told her.

"Not at all. If you will promise me a day when you will sit in a chair, I will promise you a finished portrait."

"I thought you had done with taking likenesses? I seem to remember you saying so, when you received a cool reception for your portrait of John," I teased her.

She smiled up at me. "I believe I have changed my mind."

It was a pity that, at that moment, Mr. Woodhouse called to us. I do not have enough opportunities to talk to Emma alone. Of all my acquaintance, she is the one whose company I most appreciate, despite her perversity and sauce!

Friday 23 October

I visited Miss Bates this morning, and found her well.

"Oh, Mr. Knightley, we"re honoured I am sure. Mother was just saying we have not seen Mr. Knightley since the storm, we hoped you were well - yes, thank you, Mother and I are both well, though Perry did not like the look of Mother the other day, however it was nothing, just a chill, which is not to be wondered at as the weather has turned cold. What was I talking about?"

"Have you had many visitors lately?" I asked her, wanting to see if my hint to Emma had gone home.

"Oh, yes, ever so many. Mrs. Cole came, she is so fond of Mother, and so kind and obliging, asking if there was anything she could do. And then Mrs. Goddard called. What do you think, she has had a goose from the Martins. Was that not kind of them? And Mrs. Goddard said it was the best goose she had ever eaten. She had it dressed and then Miss Nash, Miss Prince and Miss Richardson all supped with her, and then what do you think? She brought the legs for Mother and me. We are so fortunate in our friends."

She told me of Elton and Mrs. Cole; of Graham and Mrs. Lovage; in short, it seemed that everyone in Highbury had been to visit her. And then, at last, she mentioned Emma. I was pleased, and finally took my leave in good spirits.

I dined with the Otways, and found that Mrs. Lovage was there. We enjoyed a lively conversation after dinner, and then she sang. She has an agreeable voice, and I believe I may grow to like her very well in time.

Saturday 24 October

Estate business occupied me this morning, but I called at Hartfield this afternoon. I found Emma and Harriet just returning from a walk. It is as I suspected! They are no further on with their reading than last time I spoke to them. Studying has given way to walking to Randalls and talking to Mrs. Weston, or walking to Highbury and talking to Miss Bates. Emma defended their negligence by saying that she thought they ought to take their exercise whilst it is fine, for there will be many poor days over the winter when they will be glad to stay inside and read.

"You have an answer for everything," I told her.