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Passage Illustrated: Encounter in Ford’s Fabric Shop

— Ford’s was the principal woollen-draper, linen-draper, and haberdasher’s shop united; the shop first in size and fashion in the place. — “And so, there she had set, without an idea of any thing in the world, full ten minutes, perhaps — when, all of a sudden, who should come in — to be sure it was so very odd! — but they always dealt at Ford’s — who should come in, but Elizabeth Martin and her brother! — Dear Miss Woodhouse! only think. I thought I should have fainted. I did not know what to do. I was sitting near the door — Elizabeth saw me directly; but he did not; he was busy with the umbrella. I am sure she saw me, but she looked away directly, and took no notice; and they both went to quite the farther end of the shop; and I kept sitting near the door! — Oh! dear; I was so miserable! I am sure I must have been as white as my gown. I could not go away you know, because of the rain; but I did so wish myself anywhere in the world but there. — Oh! dear, Miss Woodhouse — well, at last, I fancy, he looked round and saw me; for instead of going on with her buyings, they began whispering to one another. I am sure they were talking of me; and I could not help thinking that he was persuading her to speak to me — (do you think he was, Miss Woodhouse?) — for presently she came forward — came quite up to me, and asked me how I did, and seemed ready to shake hands, if I would. She did not do any of it in the same way that she used; I could see she was altered; but, however, she seemed to try to be very friendly, and we shook hands, and stood talking some time; but I know no more what I said — I was in such a tremble! — I remember she said she was sorry we never met now; which I thought almost too kind! Dear, Miss Woodhouse, I was absolutely miserable! By that time, it was beginning to hold up, and I was determined that nothing should stop me from getting away — and then — only think! — I found he was coming up towards me too — slowly you know, and as if he did not quite know what to do; and so he came and spoke, and I answered — and I stood for a minute, feeling dreadfully, you know, one can’t tell how; and then I took courage, and said it did not rain, and I must go; and so off I set; and I had not got three yards from the door, when he came after me, only to say, if I was going to Hartfield, he thought I had much better go round by Mr. Cole’s stables, for I should find the near way quite floated by this rain. Oh! dear, I thought it would have been the death of me! So I said, I was very much obliged to him: you know I could not do less; and then he went back to Elizabeth, and I came round by the stables — I believe I did — but I hardly knew where I was, or any thing about it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, I would rather done any thing than have it happen: and yet, you know, there was a sort of satisfaction in seeing him behave so pleasantly and so kindly. And Elizabeth, too. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, do talk to me and make me comfortable again.” [Chapter 21, pp. 248-250]

Commentary

The job of the illustrator here is complicated by the fact that the passage realised is a first-person retrospective from the naive Harriet's point of view, and it is addressed to Emma rather than the reader. Austen's conveying the rather simple-minded character of the speaker through her own words and punctuation suggests Harriet's almost breathless appeal to her more experienced and highly sympathetic confidant. However, the best the artist can do is make the young speaker visually appealing. We are to recall that Harriet Smith, at Emma's instigation, had earlier rejected Robert Martin's heartfelt marriage proposal, even though she much admired him. Emma had argued against the match because the Martins are mere farmers, and therefore socially beneath her. Harriet's downcast, introspective glance betokens her embarrassment at suddenly encountering Elizabeth Martin and her brother, especially since they seem so genuinely concerned about her. Her embarrassment is reflected by that of the observant shop clerk in the background, right. Brock renders the scene entirely credible by a detailed realisation of the contents of the shelves in the fabric shop, and of the elegantly attired young people. Although they are only Mr. Knightley's tenants at Abbey-Mill Farm, the Martins appear good-hearted and neat in appearance, even if they are not "gentry."

The background is effectively realised for this embarrassing social encounter:

Shops such as Ford's often served as social focal points for provincial women, as they supplied all the necessary materials for those women to have clothes made up. [Tandon, note 16, p. 215 for Volume II, Chapter 3]

That is, to have local dressmakers and milliners provide women's clothing in the lastest fashions of London and Paris. In particular, local linen drapers were an important aspect of the commerce of such market towns as Austen's Highbury "as many women could afford only locally produced, bespoke imitations of fashionable London dress patterns" [Tandon, p. 217]. In other words, this "chance meeting" has its antecedents in the fashion needs of members of the Martins' class. Certainly the coincidental meeting in the fabric shop provided Brock with the opportunity to provide a realistic and detailed interior focussing on the Regency fashions of Harriet, Elizabeth Martin and her stylishly dressed brother.

Bibliography

Austen, Jane. Emma. Ed. R. Brimley Johnson. With coloured illustrations by C. E. and H. M. Brock. The Novels and Letters of Jane Austen. 2 vols. New York & Philadelphia: Frank S. Holby, 1906. [p]

Austen, Jane. Emma: An Annotated Edition. Ed. Bharat Tandon. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Belknap Press of Harvard U. P, 2012.

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Created 11 April 2026