other situation would have been much less in character. The naïveté of Miss Smith's manners, and, altogether—oh, it is most admirable; I cannot keep my eyes from it. I never saw such a likeness.'
"The next thing wanted was to get the picture framed; and here were a few difficulties. . . . But no sooner was the distress known to Mr. Elton than it was removed. His gallantry was always on the alert. Might he be trusted with the commission, what infinite pleasure should he have in executing it! He could ride to London at any time. It was impossible to say how much he should be gratified by being employed on such an errand.
"'He was too good!—she could not endure the thought!—she would not give him such a troublesome office for the world,' brought on the desired repetition of entreaties and assurances, and a very few minutes settled the business. Mr. Elton was to take the drawing to London, choose the frame, and give the directions; and Emma thought she could so pack it AS to ensure its safety without much incommoding him, while he seemed mostly fearful of not being incommoded enough.
"'What a precious deposit!' said he with a tender sigh as he received it.
"'This man is almost too gallant to be in love,' thought Emma; 'I should say so, but that I suppose there may be a hundred different ways of being in love. He is an excellent young man, and will suit Harriet exactly; it will be an "exactly so," as he says himself; but he does sigh and languish and study for compliments rather more than I could endure as a principal. I come in for a pretty good share as a second. But it is his gratitude on Harriet's account.'"
