Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition1, seemed to unite some of the best blessings2 of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress3 or vex4 her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses5; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the intimacy6 of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal7 office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming9 Miss Taylor's judgment10, but directed chiefly by her own.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy11 to her many enjoyments12. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
Sorrow came - a gentle sorrow - but not at all in the shape of any disagreeable consciousness. - Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any continuance. The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and herself were left to dine together, with no prospect13 of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father composed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think of what she had lost.
The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering with what self-denying, generous friendship she had always wished and promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness - the kindness, the affection of sixteen years - how she had taught and how she had played with her from five years old - how she had devoted14 all her powers to attach and amuse her in health - and how nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of gratitude15 was owing here; but the intercourse16 of the last seven years, the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed Isabella's marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a dearer, tenderer recollection. She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed17: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of hers - one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her as could never find fault.
How was she to bear the change? - It was true that her friend was going only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic, she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude18. She dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful.
The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian19 all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness20 of his heart and his amiable21 temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.
Her sister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being settled in London, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily reach; and many a long October and November evening must be struggled through at Hartfield, before Christmas brought the next visit from Isabella and her husband, and their little children, to fill the house, and give her pleasant society again.
Highbury, the large and populous22 village, almost amounting to a town, to which Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and name, did really belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses were first in consequence there. All looked up to them. She had many acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even half a day. It was a melancholy23 change; and Emma could not but sigh over it, and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. He was a nervous man, easily depressed24; fond of every body that he was used to, and hating to part with them; hating change of every kind. Matrimony, as the origin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yet reconciled to his own daughter's marrying, nor could ever speak of her but with compassion25, though it had been entirely26 a match of affection, when he was now obliged to part with Miss Taylor too; and from his habits of gentle selfishness, and of being never able to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself, he was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for herself as for them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield. Emma smiled and chatted as cheerfully as she could, to keep him from such thoughts; but when tea came, it was impossible for him not to say exactly as he had said at dinner,
`Poor Miss Taylor! - I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that Mr. Weston ever thought of her!'
`I cannot agree with you, papa; you know I cannot. Mr. Weston is such a good-humoured, pleasant, excellent man, that he thoroughly27 deserves a good wife; - and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for ever, and bear all my odd humours, when she might have a house of her own?'
`A house of her own! - But where is the advantage of a house of her own? This is three times as large. - And you have never any odd humours, my dear.'
`How often we shall be going to see them, and they coming to see us! - We shall be always meeting! We must begin; we must go and pay wedding visit very soon.'
`My dear, how am I to get so far? Randalls is such a distance. I could not walk half so far.'
`No, papa, nobody thought of your walking. We must go in the carriage, to be sure.'
`The carriage! But James will not like to put the horses to for such a little way; - and where are the poor horses to be while we are paying our visit?'
`They are to be put into Mr. Weston's stable, papa. You know we have settled all that already. We talked it all over with Mr. Weston last night. And as for James, you may be very sure he will always like going to Randalls, because of his daughter's being housemaid there. I only doubt whether he will ever take us anywhere else. That was your doing, papa. You got Hannah that good place. Nobody thought of Hannah till you mentioned her - James is so obliged to you!'
`I am very glad I did think of her. It was very lucky, for I would not have had poor James think himself slighted upon any account; and I am sure she will make a very good servant: she is a civil, pretty-spoken girl; I have a great opinion of her. Whenever I see her, she always curtseys and asks me how I do, in a very pretty manner; and when you have had her here to do needlework, I observe she always turns the lock of the door the right way and never bangs it. I am sure she will be an excellent servant; and it will be a great comfort to poor Miss Taylor to have somebody about her that she is used to see. Whenever James goes over to see his daughter, you know, she will be hearing of us. He will be able to tell her how we all are.'
Emma spared no exertions28 to maintain this happier flow of ideas, and hoped, by the help of backgammon, to get her father tolerably through the evening, and be attacked by no regrets but her own. The backgammon-table was placed; but a visitor immediately afterwards walked in and made it unnecessary.
Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella's husband. He lived about a mile from Highbury, was a frequent visitor, and always welcome, and at this time more welcome than usual, as coming directly from their mutual8 connexions in London. He had returned to a late dinner, after some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were well in Brunswick Square. It was a happy circumstance, and animated29 Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which always did him good; and his many inquiries30 after `poor Isabella' and her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed, `It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, to come out at this late hour to call upon us. I am afraid you must have had a shocking walk.'
`Not at all, sir. It is a beautiful moonlight night; and so mild that I must draw back from your great fire.'
`But you must have found it very damp and dirty. I wish you may not catch cold.'
`Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck31 on them.'
`Well! that is quite surprising, for we have had a vast deal of rain here. It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at breakfast. I wanted them to put off the wedding.'
`By the bye - I have not wished you joy. Being pretty well aware of what sort of joy you must both be feeling, I have been in no hurry with my congratulations; but I hope it all went off tolerably well. How did you all behave? Who cried most?'
`Ah! poor Miss Taylor! 'Tis a sad business.'
`Poor Mr. and Miss Woodhouse, if you please; but I cannot possibly say ``poor Miss Taylor.'' I have a great regard for you and Emma; but when it comes to the question of dependence32 or independence! - At any rate, it must be better to have only one to please than two.'
`Especially when one of those two is such a fanciful, troublesome creature!' said Emma playfully. `That is what you have in your head, I know - and what you would certainly say if my father were not by.'
`I believe it is very true, my dear, indeed,' said Mr. Woodhouse, with a sigh. `I am afraid I am sometimes very fanciful and troublesome.'
`My dearest papa! You do not think I could mean you, or suppose Mr. Knightley to mean you. What a horrible idea! Oh no! I meant only myself. Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know - in a joke - it is all a joke. We always say what we like to one another.'
Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them: and though this was not particularly agreeable to Emma herself, she knew it would be so much less so to her father, that she would not have him really suspect such a circumstance as her not being thought perfect by every body.
`Emma knows I never flatter her,' said Mr. Knightley, `but I meant no reflection on any body. Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons to please; she will now have but one. The chances are that she must be a gainer.'
`Well,' said Emma, willing to let it pass - `you want to hear about the wedding; and I shall be happy to tell you, for we all behaved charmingly. Every body was punctual, every body in their best looks: not a tear, and hardly a long face to be seen. Oh no; we all felt that we were going to be only half a mile apart, and were sure of meeting every day.'
`Dear Emma bears every thing so well,' said her father. `But, Mr. Knightley, she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor, and I am sure she will miss her more than she thinks for.'
Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles. `It is impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion,' said Mr. Knightley. `We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow herself to feel so much pain as pleasure. Every friend of Miss Taylor must be glad to have her so happily married.'
`And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me,' said Emma, `and a very considerable one - that I made the match myself. I made the match, you know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again, may comfort me for any thing.'
Mr. Knightley shook his head at her. Her father fondly replied, `Ah! my dear, I wish you would not make matches and foretell33 things, for whatever you say always comes to pass. Pray do not make any more matches.'
`I promise you to make none for myself, papa; but I must, indeed, for other people. It is the greatest amusement in the world! And after such success, you know! - Every body said that Mr. Weston would never marry again. Oh dear, no! Mr. Weston, who had been a widower34 so long, and who seemed so perfectly35 comfortable without a wife, so constantly occupied either in his business in town or among his friends here, always acceptable wherever he went, always cheerful - Mr. Weston need not spend a single evening in the year alone if he did not like it. Oh no! Mr. Weston certainly would never marry again. Some people even talked of a promise to his wife on her deathbed, and others of the son and the uncle not letting him. All manner of solemn nonsense was talked on the subject, but I believed none of it.
`Ever since the day - about four years ago - that Miss Taylor and I met with him in Broadway Lane, when, because it began to drizzle36, he darted37 away with so much gallantry, and borrowed two umbrellas for us from Farmer Mitchell's, I made up my mind on the subject. I planned the match from that hour; and when such success has blessed me in this instance, dear papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making.'
`I do not understand what you mean by ``success,''' said Mr. Knightley. `Success supposes endeavour. Your time has been properly and delicately spent, if you have been endeavouring for the last four years to bring about this marriage. A worthy38 employment for a young lady's mind! But if, which I rather imagine, your making the match, as you call it, means only your planning it, your saying to yourself one idle day, ``I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry her,'' and saying it again to yourself every now and then afterwards, why do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You made a lucky guess; and that is all that can be said.'
`And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess? - I pity you. - I thought you cleverer - for, depend upon it a lucky guess is never merely luck. There is always some talent in it. And as to my poor word ``success,'' which you quarrel with, I do not know that I am so entirely without any claim to it. You have drawn39 two pretty pictures; but I think there may be a third - a something between the do-nothing and the do-all. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston's visits here, and given many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might not have come to any thing after all. I think you must know Hartfield enough to comprehend that.'
`A straightforward40, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than good to them, by interference.'
`Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others,' rejoined Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. `But, my dear, pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family circle grievously.'
`Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa, - I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in Highbury who deserves him - and he has been here a whole year, and has fitted up his house so comfortably, that it would be a shame to have him single any longer - and I thought when he was joining their hands to-day, he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same kind office done for him! I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service.'
`Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young man, and I have a great regard for him. But if you want to shew him any attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will be a much better thing. I dare say Mr. Knightley will be so kind as to meet him.'
`With a great deal of pleasure, sir, at any time,' said Mr. Knightley, laughing, `and I agree with you entirely, that it will be a much better thing. Invite him to dinner, Emma, and help him to the best of the fish and the chicken, but leave him to chuse his own wife. Depend upon it, a man of six or seven-and-twenty can take care of himself.'
蒙殿下恩准
谨以最崇高的敬意
将本书
献给摄政王殿下
殿下的
忠诚、恭顺、卑微的仆人
作者
爱玛·伍德豪斯又漂亮，又聪明，又有钱，加上有个舒适的家，性情也很开朗，仿佛人生的几大福分让她占全了。她在人间生活了将近二十一年，一直过着无忧无虑的日子。
爱玛有个极其慈爱的父亲。他对两个女儿十分娇惯，而爱玛又是他的小女儿。由于姐姐出嫁的缘故，爱玛小小年纪就成了家里的女主人。母亲去世得太早，她的爱抚只给爱玛留下个模模糊糊的印象，而取代母亲位置的，是个十分贤惠的女人，她身为家庭女教师，慈爱之心不亚于做母亲的。
泰勒小姐在伍德豪斯先生家待了十六年，与其说是孩子们的家庭教师，不如说是她们的朋友。她非常疼爱两个姑娘，特别是爱玛。她俩之间情同手足，真比亲姊妹还亲。泰勒小姐性情温和，即使名义上还是家庭教师时，也很少去管束爱玛。后来师生关系彻底消失了，两人就像知心朋友一样生活在一起，爱玛更是爱做什么就做什么。她十分尊重泰勒小姐的意见，但她主要按自己的主意办事。
要说爱玛的境况真有什么危害的话，那就是她有权随心所欲，还有点自视过高，这是些不利因素，可能会妨碍她尽情享受许多乐趣。不过，目前尚未察觉这种危险，对她来说还算不上什么不幸。
令人难过的事——令人略感难过的事——终于降临了——但又绝非以令人不快的方式出现的。泰勒小姐结婚了。由于失去了泰勒小姐，爱玛第一次尝到了伤感的滋味。就在这位好友结婚的那天，爱玛第一次凄楚地坐在那里沉思了许久。婚礼结束后，新娘新郎都走了，吃饭时只剩下他们父女俩，不会有第三个人来为这漫长的夜晚活跃一下气氛。吃过晚饭后，父亲像往常一样睡觉去了，爱玛只得坐在那里琢磨自己的损失。
这桩婚事肯定能给她的朋友带来幸福。韦斯顿先生人品出众，家境优裕，年纪相当，举止优雅。爱玛一想起自己曾怀着慷慨无私的情谊，一直在尽心竭力地促成这门亲事，就不禁有些得意。不过，这件事让她一上午都感觉心里不是滋味。泰勒小姐一走，她每天将无时无刻不思念她。她回想起她以前的情意——十六年的情意和慈爱——从她五岁起，泰勒小姐就开始教导她，陪她玩耍——她没灾没病时，泰勒小姐尽量跟她形影不离，逗她开心——她小时候每次生病时，泰勒小姐总要悉心照料她。她的这些情意真让她感激不尽。然而，伊莎贝拉出嫁后，就剩下她们两个相互做伴，七年来平等相待，推心置腹，回想起来倍加亲切，倍加温馨。泰勒小姐真是个难得的朋友和伙伴，又聪明又有见识，又能干又文静，懂得家里的规矩，事事都肯操心，尤其关心她爱玛，关心她的每一个欢乐，每一个心意。这是爱玛可以倾诉衷肠的一个人，对她一片真情，真让她无可挑剔。
她如何来忍受这一变化呢？诚然，她的朋友离她家不过半英里，可爱玛心里明白，住在半英里以外的韦斯顿太太跟住在她家的泰勒小姐相比，那差异可就大了。尽管她性情开朗，家庭条件优越，但她现在势必感到十分孤独。她非常爱她的父亲，但是父亲毕竟做不了她的伴侣。无论是正经交谈还是开开玩笑，父亲跟她总是话不投机。
伍德豪斯先生结婚较晚，他和爱玛因为年龄悬殊而造成的隔阂，由于他体质和习性的缘故，而变得越发严重。他一向体弱多病，加上既不用脑也不活动，还未到迟暮之年就已老态龙钟。虽说他不管走到哪里，人们都喜欢他心地慈善，性情和蔼，但是从来没有人夸赞他的天赋。
爱玛的姐姐出嫁的地方并不远，就在伦敦，离家只有十六英里，不过姐妹俩也不能天天来往。十月和十一月间，爱玛只得在哈特菲尔德熬过一个个漫长的夜晚，等到伊莎贝拉两口子带着孩子来过圣诞节时，家里才会热闹起来，她也才会高高兴兴地有人做伴。
海伯里是个人口众多的大村庄，几乎算得上一个镇。哈特菲尔德虽有自己的草坪、灌木丛和名称，实际上只是村子的一部分。可就在这样一个大村子里，居然找不到跟她情投意合的人。伍德豪斯家是这里的首户人家，大家都很仰慕他们。由于父亲对谁都很客气，爱玛在村里有不少熟人，可惜他们谁也取代不了泰勒小姐，哪怕相处半天也很困难。这是个令人沮丧的变化，爱玛只能为之唉声叹气，胡思乱想，直至父亲醒来，她才不得不摆出一副欣欣然的样子。她父亲需要精神安慰。他是个神经脆弱的人，动不动就会心灰意冷。对于处惯了的人，他个个都很喜欢，就怕跟他们分离，不愿意发生任何变化。结婚势必要引起变化，因而总是让他为之伤感。虽说他女儿跟丈夫恩爱弥笃，但他总也想不通她为什么要嫁人，一说起她就要流露出一副怜悯之情。如今他又不得不眼看着泰勒小姐离他而去。他考虑问题一向只从自身的利益出发，从来想不到别人会跟他持有不同的看法，因此定要认为泰勒小姐所做的这件事，对他们父女、对她自己都非常糟糕，她若是一辈子待在哈特菲尔德，肯定会幸福多了。爱玛尽量装着乐呵呵的，又是说又是笑，以便阻止父亲不要那样去想。但是到吃茶点时，父亲再也克制不住了，又说起了吃午饭时说过的那些话。
“可怜的泰勒小姐！她要是能回来就好了。真遗憾，韦斯顿先生偏偏看上了她！”
“我不同意你的看法，爸爸，你知道我不能同意。韦斯顿先生性情和善，讨人喜欢，是个出类拔萃的男人，就该娶个贤惠的好妻子。泰勒小姐本来可以有个自己的家，你总不能让她陪伴我们一辈子，忍受我的怪脾气吧？”
“她自己的家？她自己的家有什么好的？这个家有她的三倍大。你也从来没有什么怪脾气，亲爱的。”
“我们可以去看他们，他们也可以来看我们，机会多着呢！我们可以经常见面呀！这得由我们先开头，我们得尽快向他们道喜去。”
“亲爱的，我哪能去那么远的地方？兰多尔斯那么远的路，我连一半也走不动。”
“不，爸爸，谁也没想让你走着去。我们当然要坐马车去啦。”
“马车！这么一点点路，詹姆斯才不愿意套马呢。再说，到了那里把可怜的马拴在哪儿？”
“拴在韦斯顿先生的马厩里，爸爸。你要知道，这一切早已安排好了，昨天晚上就跟韦斯顿先生谈妥了。说到詹姆斯，你尽管放心好了，他女儿在兰多尔斯当用人，他总是巴不得去那儿。我倒怀疑他肯不肯送我们到别处去。这事都亏了你，爸爸。你给汉娜找了那份好差事。谁也没有想到汉娜，多亏你提携她。詹姆斯对你好感激啊！”
“我很高兴想到了她。这是～桩好事，我不想让可怜的詹姆斯觉得自己受了冷落。汉娜肯定会是个出色的用人。这姑娘懂礼貌，嘴又甜，给我的印象好极了。她每次见到我，总是又施礼又问安，那样子真招人喜欢。你叫她来做针线活的时候，我见她总是轻轻地打开门，从不搞得砰砰响。我敢说，她一定是个出色的用人。可怜的泰勒小姐能有个熟悉的人跟在身边，也算是一大安慰。你看吧，詹姆斯每次去看他女儿，泰勒小姐就会听到我们的情况，詹姆斯会一五一十地告诉她的。”
这是个比较令人舒心的思路，爱玛竭力引着话头往下说，希望借助十五子游戏，让父亲好歹度过这个夜晚，除了她自己的苦恼以外，不要再去想其他令人不快的事。棋桌刚摆好不久，就来了一位客人，棋便用不着下了。
奈特利先生是个聪明人，大约三十七八岁，跟伍德豪斯家不仅有多年的交情，而且身为伊莎贝拉的夫兄，跟这家人还有一层亲戚关系。他住在离海伯里大约一英里的地方，是伍德豪斯家的常客，而且总是很受欢迎。这一次他就是从他们伦敦的亲戚那里来的，因而比平常更受欢迎。他出去了几天，回到家里吃了顿很晚的晚餐，然后跑到哈特菲尔德，报告说布伦斯维克广场那一家人（译注：伊莎贝拉一家人住在此地。）全都平平安安。这是一条好消息，让伍德豪斯先生兴奋了好一阵。奈特利先生和颜悦色，一向对他颇有好处。伍德豪斯先生问起“可怜的伊莎贝拉”及其子女的许多情况，他都回答得十分令人满意。此后，伍德豪斯先生颇为感激地说道：
“奈特利先生，你真是太好了，这么晚了还跑来看我们。恐怕路上很不好走吧。”
“没有的事儿，先生。今晚月色很美，天气也很暖和，你的炉子烧得这么旺，我还得离远一点。”
“可你一定觉得天气很潮湿，道路很泥泞。但愿你不要着凉。”
“泥泞，先生！你瞧我的鞋，连个泥点也没沾上。”
“是嘛！真没想到，我们这儿可下了不少雨。我们吃早饭的时候，稀里哗啦地下了半个小时。我本想让他们将婚礼延期呢。”
“对啦——我还没有向你们道喜呢。我深知你们两人心里是一种什么喜幸滋味，所以没有急于向你们道喜。不过我希望事情办得还不错吧。你们都表现得怎么样？谁哭得最厉害？”
“咳！可怜的泰勒小姐！这事真叫人伤心。”
“恕我说一声‘可怜的伍德豪斯先生和伍德豪斯小姐’，可我说什么也不能说‘可怜的泰勒小姐’。我非常敬重你和爱玛，可是说到仰赖他人还是独立自主的问题嘛！不管怎么说，取悦一个人比取悦两个人的滋味好受些。”
“特别是两人中有一位还是个那么富于幻想、那么令人厌烦的家伙！”爱玛调皮地说道。“我知道，你心里就是这么想的——要是我父亲不在场的话，你肯定也会这么说。”
“我想的确如此，亲爱的，”伍德豪斯先生说着叹了口气。“恐怕我有时也很富于幻想，也很令人厌烦。”
“我的好爸爸！你不要以为我在说你，也不要以为奈特利先生是在说你。多可怕的念头啊！哦，可别这么想！我只是在说我自己。你也知道，奈特利先生喜欢挑我的刺儿——当然是开玩笑——纯粹是开玩笑。我们两个一向有什么说什么。”
其实，能发现爱玛缺点的人本来就寥寥无几，而发现缺点又肯向她指出的却只有奈特利先生一人。虽说爱玛不大喜欢别人指出自己的缺点，但她知道父亲更不喜欢别人说她的不是，因此便不想让他察觉有人并不把她看成十全十美。
“爱玛知道我从不恭维她，”奈特利先牛说道。“不过我刚才并没有说谁的不是。泰勒小姐以前要取悦两个人，现在只要取悦一个人，看来她是受益者。”
“对啦，”爱玛想把话题岔开，便说道，“你想了解婚礼的情况，我倒很乐意讲给你听听，因为我们人家表现得都很不错。我们个个都准时到场，个个都喜气洋洋。谁也没有流泪，也见不到拉长脸的。哦！真的没有，我们觉得彼此只隔着半英里路，准能天天见面。”
“亲爱的爱玛对什么事都想得开，”做父亲的说道。“不过，奈特利先生，可怜的泰勒小姐走后，她心里真是难过极了。她以后肯定要比现在料想的更加想念泰勒小姐。”
爱玛转过头去，既想哭，又想强颜欢笑。
“这样好的一个伙伴，爱玛不可能不想念，”奈特利先生说道。“如果我们认为她真能不想念泰勒小姐，可就不会像现在这样喜欢她了。不过爱玛知道，这桩婚事对泰勒小姐极为有利。她知道，泰勒小姐到了这个年纪多么想要有个家，多么需要有个生活保障，能过上舒舒服服的日子。因此，爱玛主要应该为之高兴，而不是为之伤心。泰勒小姐结了这门好亲事，她的朋友个个都该为她高兴才是。”
“你忘了我有一件值得高兴的事，”爱玛说，“一件非常值得高兴的事——是我撮合了这桩婚事。你知道，是我四年前给他们做的媒j当时好多人都说韦斯顿先生不会再结婚了，可我却帮助促成了这件好事，而且事实证明我做对了，真使我感到欣慰极了。”
奈特利先生朝她摇摇头。伍德豪斯先生亲切地说道：“哦！亲爱的，我希望你不要去做媒，不要去预言什么事，因为你说的话总是很灵验。请你不要再给人做媒了。”
“我答应不给我自己做媒，爸爸，不过我还非得给别人做媒不可。这真是其乐无穷啊！你瞧这次我干得多漂亮！谁都说韦斯顿先生决不会再结婚了。哦，决不会！韦斯顿先生丧妻这么多年，仿佛一个人过得十分舒服，不是去城里做买卖，就是在这里应酬朋友，到哪儿都受人欢迎，总是那么开心。他要是喜欢热闹，一年到头也不会一个人度过一个夜晚。哦，决不会！韦斯顿先生肯定不会再结婚了。有人甚至说，他妻子临终时，他曾保证决不续娶；还有人说，他儿子和内兄不让他再婚。五花八门的胡言乱语说得一本正经，可我一句也不信。大约四年前的一天，我和泰勒小姐在布罗德韦巷遇见了他，当时正好下起了毛毛雨，他显得十分殷勤，连忙跑到法默·米切尔家，为我们借了两把伞，于是我就打定了主意。从那时候起，我就开始筹划这件好事。亲爱的爸爸，既然我在这件事上取得了这样的成功，你总不会以为我要洗手不干了吧。”
“我不明白你说的‘成功’是什么意思，”奈特利先生说。“成功是要经过努力的。如果过去四年中你一直在努力促成这桩婚事，那你的工夫花得值得，没有白费。这是一位年轻小姐做的一件大好事！可是，依我看来，如果你所谓的促成了这桩婚事，只是指你生出了这个念头，某一天闲着没事儿，便对自己说：‘如果韦斯顿先生肯娶泰勒小姐，我看这对泰勒小姐是件美事。’后来又不时地这么自言自语。如果真是这样，你怎么能谈得上成功呢？你的功劳在哪儿？你有什么值得骄傲的？你是侥幸猜中了，充其量只能这么说罢了。”
“你从未尝过侥幸猜中的甜头和喜悦吧？你让我感到可怜。我原以为你比较聪明——请听着，侥幸猜中决不仅仅靠侥幸，总还需要几分天资。至于你跟我争执的‘成功’二字，我看我也并非一点功劳也没有。你概括了两种情况——可我认为还有第三种情况——介于全然无功和一手包办之间。如果不是我鼓动韦斯顿先生常来这里，不是我给了他那么多细微的鼓励，解决了那么多细微的问题，这件事压根儿就成不了。我想你很了解哈特菲尔德，定能知道这里的奥妙。”
“一个像韦斯顿先生这样襟怀坦白、爽爽快快的男人，一个像泰勒小姐这样明白事理、大大落落的女人，即使不用别人帮忙，也能稳稳妥妥地办好自己的事情。你要是跟着瞎掺和的话，说不定帮不了他们什么忙，反倒害了你自己呢。”
“爱玛要是能帮上别人的忙，就从小考虑她自已，”伍德豪斯先生并不完全明白两人的意思，便插嘴说道。“不过，亲爱的，可别再给别人说媒了，这是做傻事，残酷地拆散了一个家。”
“就再做一次，爸爸，给埃尔顿先生做个媒。可怜的埃尔顿先生！你也挺喜欢埃尔顿先生的，爸爸，我得给他物色个太太。海伯里没有哪个女人配得上他。他在这里住了整整一年了，把房子收拾得那么舒适，叫他再过单身生活就不像话了。今天他帮新人举行婚礼时，我看他那样子，好像他也想来一个同样的仪式！我很器重埃尔顿先生，我只有采取这个方式来帮他的忙。”
“埃尔顿先生的确是个很英俊的小伙子，也是个人品很好的年轻人，我也很看重他。不过，亲爱的，你要是想关心他的话，就请他哪一天来我们家吃顿饭。这样做好多了。我敢说，奈特利先生也会乐意见见他。”
“非常乐意，先生，随便哪一天，”奈特利先生笑着说道。“我完全赞成你的意见，这样做好多了。就请他来吃饭吧，爱玛，请他吃最好的鱼、最好的鸡，但是让他自己选择自己的太太。你听着，一个二十六七岁的人完全可以自己照料自己。”
收听单词发音 |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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esteeming
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| v.尊敬( esteem的现在分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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alloy
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| n.合金，(金属的)成色 | |
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enjoyments
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| 愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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valetudinarian
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| n.病人；健康不佳者 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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