Mr Woodhouse objects to his daughter's portrait because Harriet appears outdoors with only a shawl, risking cold. He judges outdoor meals dangerous and almost indecent and insists on dining in rooms from which all draughts are rigorously excluded. He traveled to Donwell Abbey by carriage with a window down but remained by the fire indoors while others enjoyed the open air. A friend, X, shares Mr Woodhouse's preference for draught-proof dining. At an inn on the Seine meals were served under a lime tree, yet X preferred a sheltered corner of the bare salle à manger. That preference altered personal regard for X and stirred reflection about outdoor breakfasts.
It is very pretty, he said to Emma, just as all your drawings are, my dear. The only thing I do not thoroughly like is that she seems to be sitting out of doors with only a little shawl over her shoulders, and it makes me think she must catch cold. But, my dear Papa, protested Emma, it is supposed to be summer, a warm day in summer.
On his strong recommendation I once spent a few days at a charming little inn on the banks of the Seine, where, weather permitting, it was the custom to serve all the meals under a fragrant lime tree in the courtyard. When I expressed my pleasure in this custom to the landlord, Ah monsieur, he said, your friend, monsieur, did not share your taste.
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