"Mrs. Elton was evidently wanting to be complimented herself — and it was, 'How do you like my gown?'" — C. E. Brock's second illustration for the second volume of Jane Austen's "Emma" (1898, 1906)

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Mrs. Elton was evidently wanting to be complimented herself — and it was, “How do you like my gown?” (Vol. 2, p. 122)

Charles Edmund Brock

1898, 1906

12.8 by 8.3 cm (5 by 3 ¼ inches), framed

Jane Austen's Emma, Part II, facing p. 122.

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Passage Illustrated: Mrs. Elton was evidently wanting to be complimented herself

Frank Churchill returned to his station by Emma; and as soon as Miss Bates was quiet, she found herself necessarily overhearing the discourse of Mrs. Elton and Miss Fairfax, who were standing a little way behind her. He was thoughtful. Whether he were overhearing too she could not determine. After a good many compliments to Jane on her dress and look — compliments very quietly and properly taken — Mrs. Elton was evidently wanting to be complimented herself — and it was, “How do you like my gown? — How do you like my trimming? — How has Wright done my hair?” — with many other relative questions, all answered with patient politeness. Mrs. Elton then said —

“Nobody can think less of dress in general than I do: but upon such an occasion as this, when everybody’s eyes are so much upon me, and in compliment to the Westons, who I have no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do me honour. I would not wish to be inferior to others; and I see very few pearls in the room except mine. — So Frank Churchill is a capital dancer, I understand. We shall see if our styles suit. — A fine young man certainly is Frank Churchill. I like him very well.” [Chapter 38, pp. 121-122]

Commentary: Emma Contrasts Augusta in More than Fashion in the Ballroom at The Crown

Mrs. Elton (the former Augusta Hawkins), the new wife of the parish minister and an heiress in her own right, almost seems to go out of her way to annoy Emma. Her wealth is derived from trade, and she has recently come to Highbury from the mercantile city of Bristol. Undoubtedly she resents the wealthy Emma Woodhouse, and may know that her husband once proposed to her. Ever since her arrival Mrs. Elton has been a disruptive force, and she seems to pose something of a threat to Emma's pre-eminence. Here we see her consciously courting compliments for her overly elaborate ball gown. The virtue of the illustration is its sharply contrasting Emma's more tasteful gown and more modest pose with the vanity of Mrs. Elton and the excessive ornamentation of her ball gown.

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.

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

Created 7 April 2026