: "Mrs.
Robert, exactly as smart as she had been at her own party, came in with
apologies for her dress. 'I would not make you wait,' said she, 'so I
put on the first thing I met with. I am afraid I am a sad figure. My
dear Mr. W. (addressing her husband) you have not put any fresh powder in
your hair.'"

This is certainly Mrs. Elton's double, and the resemblance extends to
calling her husband Mr. W. It gives one a certain shock of surprise to
find an old friend masquerading as a new acquaintance, nor is she the
only example in the book. I think the following speech of Mr. Tom
Musgrave will recall a well-known character.

"Oh, me," said Tom, "whatever you decide on will be a favourite with me.
I have had some pleasant hours at 'speculation' in my time, but I have
not been in the way of it for a long while. 'Vingt-un' is the game at
Osborne Castle. {74a} I have played nothing but 'Vingt-un' of late. You
would be astonished to hear the noise we make there--the fine old lofty
drawing-room rings again. Lady Osborne sometimes declares she cannot
hear herself speak. Lord Osborne enjoys it famously, and he makes the
best dealer without exception that I ever beheld--such quickness and
spirit, he lets nobody dream over their cards. I wish you could see him
over-draw himself on both his own cards. It is worth anything in the
world!"

We may surely recognise the folly and underbred parade of Mr. John Thorpe
in Mr. Tom Musgrave's speech. Again, Tom Musgrave plagues Emma just as
Thorpe persecuted Catherine by an ill-timed invitation to a _tete-a-tete_
curricle drive.

The heroine, Emma Watson, has no resemblance to Emma Woodhouse. In
situation she may be compared to Fanny Price, for she has been brought up
by a refined aunt, and is suddenly plunged into the very different
manners and surroundings of her pushing jealous sisters; but in character
she seems to me to have none of the charm which has given Fanny Price
such various admirers as the Rev. Sydney Smith and Mr. F. W. H. Myers.
{74b} It is perhaps characteristic of her creator's truth, that her
heroine who is made known to us just as she arrives at her new home in
uncomfortable surroundings and among unknown sisters, should be reserved
and a little prim, and that we should be made to feel that this was not
her complete character. Possibly she would have developed into a Fanny
Price with a strong touch of Eleanor Dashwood, but this is a barren
speculation.