Such another small basin of thin gruel as his own, was all that he could, with thorough self-approbation, recommend, though he might constrain himself, while the ladies were comfortably clearing the nicer things... (Chapter 3)

And he was really a very pleasing young man, a young man whom any woman not fastidious might like. He was reckoned very handsome; his person much admired in general, though not by her, there being a want of elegance of feature which she could not dispense with (Chapter 4)

Emma attempts to destroy Harriet’s admiration for Mr. Martin because she finds him uncouth and believes a connection to him will sink her friend forever; it is like her father’s kindly attempts to prevent people from eating food that would annoy his stomach and thereby theirs also. They each believe they are saving their friends. However, Mr. Woodhouse suggests tummy-safe gruel to his friends that he is perfectly happy to eat himself while Emma is trying to match Harriet to a man she would not accept herself because of his inelegant facial features. (;D)