Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, which for the last two or three generations had been rising into gentility and property. He had received a good education, but, on succeeding early in life to a small independence, had become indisposed for any of the more homely1 pursuits in which his brothers were engaged, and had satisfied an active, cheerful mind and social temper by entering into the militia2 of his county, then embodied3.
Captain Weston was a general favourite; and when the chances of his military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill, of a great Yorkshire family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were full of pride and importance, which the connexion would offend.
Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her fortune - though her fortune bore no proportion to the family-estate - was not to be dissuaded5 from the marriage, and it took place, to the infinite mortification6 of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with due decorum. It was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much happiness. Mrs. Weston ought to have found more in it, for she had a husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him think every thing due to her in return for the great goodness of being in love with him; but though she had one sort of spirit, she had not the best. She had resolution enough to pursue her own will in spite of her brother, but not enough to refrain from unreasonable7 regrets at that brother's unreasonable anger, nor from missing the luxuries of her former home. They lived beyond their income, but still it was nothing in comparison of Enscombe: she did not cease to love her husband, but she wanted at once to be the wife of Captain Weston, and Miss Churchill of Enscombe.
Captain Weston, who had been considered, especially by the Churchills, as making such an amazing match, was proved to have much the worst of the bargain; for when his wife died, after a three years' marriage, he was rather a poorer man than at first, and with a child to maintain. From the expense of the child, however, he was soon relieved. The boy had, with the additional softening8 claim of a lingering illness of his mother's, been the means of a sort of reconciliation9; and Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the little Frank soon after her decease. Some scruples10 and some reluctance11 the widower-father may be supposed to have felt; but as they were overcome by other considerations, the child was given up to the care and the wealth of the Churchills, and he had only his own comfort to seek, and his own situation to improve as he could.
A complete change of life became desirable. He quitted the militia and engaged in trade, having brothers already established in a good way in London, which afforded him a favourable12 opening. It was a concern which brought just employment enough. He had still a small house in Highbury, where most of his leisure days were spent; and between useful occupation and the pleasures of society, the next eighteen or twenty years of his life passed cheerfully away. He had, by that time, realised an easy competence13 - enough to secure the purchase of a little estate adjoining Highbury, which he had always longed for - enough to marry a woman as portionless even as Miss Taylor, and to live according to the wishes of his own friendly and social disposition14.
It was now some time since Miss Taylor had begun to influence his schemes; but as it was not the tyrannic influence of youth on youth, it had not shaken his determination of never settling till he could purchase Randalls, and the sale of Randalls was long looked forward to; but he had gone steadily15 on, with these objects in view, till they were accomplished16. He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through. He had never been an unhappy man; his own temper had secured him from that, even in his first marriage; but his second must shew him how delightful17 a well-judging and truly amiable18 woman could be, and must give him the pleasantest proof of its being a great deal better to choose than to be chosen, to excite gratitude19 than to feel it.
He had only himself to please in his choice: his fortune was his own; for as to Frank, it was more than being tacitly brought up as his uncle's heir, it had become so avowed20 an adoption21 as to have him assume the name of Churchill on coming of age. It was most unlikely, therefore, that he should ever want his father's assistance. His father had no apprehension22 of it. The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her husband entirely23; but it was not in Mr. Weston's nature to imagine that any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear, and, as he believed, so deservedly dear. He saw his son every year in London, and was proud of him; and his fond report of him as a very fine young man had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too. He was looked on as sufficiently24 belonging to the place to make his merits and prospects25 a kind of common concern.
Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury, and a lively curiosity to see him prevailed, though the compliment was so little returned that he had never been there in his life. His coming to visit his father had been often talked of but never achieved.
Now, upon his father's marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a most proper attention, that the visit should take place. There was not a dissentient voice on the subject, either when Mrs. Perry drank tea with Mrs. and Miss Bates, or when Mrs. and Miss Bates returned the visit. Now was the time for Mr. Frank Churchill to come among them; and the hope strengthened when it was understood that he had written to his new mother on the occasion. For a few days, every morning visit in Highbury included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs. Weston had received. `I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr. Frank Churchill has written to Mrs. Weston? I understand it was a very handsome letter, indeed. Mr. Woodhouse told me of it. Mr. Woodhouse saw the letter, and he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his life.'
It was, indeed, a highly prized letter. Mrs. Weston had, of course, formed a very favourable idea of the young man; and such a pleasing attention was an irresistible26 proof of his great good sense, and a most welcome addition to every source and every expression of congratulation which her marriage had already secured. She felt herself a most fortunate woman; and she had lived long enough to know how fortunate she might well be thought, where the only regret was for a partial separation from friends whose friendship for her had never cooled, and who could ill bear to part with her.
She knew that at times she must be missed; and could not think, without pain, of Emma's losing a single pleasure, or suffering an hour's ennui27, from the want of her companionableness: but dear Emma was of no feeble character; she was more equal to her situation than most girls would have been, and had sense, and energy, and spirits that might be hoped would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and privations. And then there was such comfort in the very easy distance of Randalls from Hartfield, so convenient for even solitary28 female walking, and in Mr. Weston's disposition and circumstances, which would make the approaching season no hindrance29 to their spending half the evenings in the week together.
Her situation was altogether the subject of hours of gratitude to Mrs. Weston, and of moments only of regret; and her satisfaction - -her more than satisfaction - her cheerful enjoyment30, was so just and so apparent, that Emma, well as she knew her father, was sometimes taken by surprize at his being still able to pity ``poor Miss Taylor,'' when they left her at Randalls in the centre of every domestic comfort, or saw her go away in the evening attended by her pleasant husband to a carriage of her own. But never did she go without Mr. Woodhouse's giving a gentle sigh, and saying, `Ah, poor Miss Taylor! She would be very glad to stay.'
There was no recovering Miss Taylor - nor much likelihood of ceasing to pity her; but a few weeks brought some alleviation31 to Mr. Woodhouse. The compliments of his neighbours were over; he was no longer teased by being wished joy of so sorrowful an event; and the wedding-cake, which had been a great distress32 to him, was all eat up. His own stomach could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be different from himself. What was unwholesome to him he regarded as unfit for any body; and he had, therefore, earnestly tried to dissuade4 them from having any wedding-cake at all, and when that proved vain, as earnestly tried to prevent any body's eating it. He had been at the pains of consulting Mr. Perry, the apothecary33, on the subject. Mr. Perry was an intelligent, gentlemanlike man, whose frequent visits were one of the comforts of Mr. Woodhouse's life; and upon being applied34 to, he could not but acknowledge (though it seemed rather against the bias35 of inclination) that wedding-cake might certainly disagree with many - perhaps with most people, unless taken moderately. With such an opinion, in confirmation36 of his own, Mr. Woodhouse hoped to influence every visitor of the newly married pair; but still the cake was eaten; and there was no rest for his benevolent37 nerves till it was all gone.
There was a strange rumour38 in Highbury of all the little Perrys being seen with a slice of Mrs. Weston's wedding-cake in their hands: but Mr. Woodhouse would never believe it.
韦斯顿先生是海伯里本地人，出生于一个体面人家。他家里上两三代人渐渐发起来了，有了钱，也有了地位。他受过良好的教育，但因早年继承了一小笔遗产，便不屑于从事几个兄弟所从事的平凡职业，而参加了本郡的民兵团，以满足他那活跃快活的心灵和喜爱交际的性情。
韦斯顿上尉是个谁都喜欢的人。参军以后，他有幸结识了出身于约克郡一家名门望族的邱吉尔小姐，而邱吉尔小姐又爱上了他。这事谁也不感到奇怪，唯独小姐的哥嫂从未见过韦斯顿上尉，加之两人又自命不凡，自恃高贵，觉得这门亲事有损他们的尊严。
然而，邱吉尔小姐毕竟已经成年，并且掌握着一笔财产（尽管跟家中的资财相比微不足道），因而说什么也不肯罢休，硬是结了婚，惹得邱吉尔夫妇大为恼怒，以体面的方式同她断绝了关系。这是一起不般配的婚事，并没给两人带来多大的幸福。按说韦斯顿夫人应该觉得幸福一些，因为她丈夫心地善良，性情温和，为了报答她跟他相爱的人恩，事事都要为她着想。然而，虽说她有一定的勇气，但她并非无懈可击。她曾不顾兄长的反对，毅然按自己的意愿结了婚，可后来又忍不住要对那位兄长的无端恼怒感到无端的懊悔，忍不住要留恋老家的奢侈排场。他们过着人不敷出的日子，却依然不能跟恩斯库姆的生活相比。她对丈夫并未情淡爱弛，可她巴望既做韦斯顿上尉的妻子，又做恩斯库姆的邱吉尔小姐。
在别人看来，特别是在邱吉尔夫妇看来，韦斯顿上尉高攀了一门贵亲，可事实上他却倒了大霉。他结婚三年后妻子就死了，这时他不仅比结婚前来得更穷，而且还要抚养一个孩子。不过，没过多久，孩子的花销就不用他承担了。原来，这孩子以及那久病不起的母亲太让人可怜，倒成了促成和解的媒介。邱吉尔夫妇没有自己的孩子，也没有别的近亲的孩子可供他们收养。所以，孩子的母亲死后不久，他们就提出要收养小弗兰克。可以料想，那丧偶的父亲心里有些顾虑，有些踌躇。不过，往别的方面一考虑，他又打消了顾虑和踌躇，把孩子交给了邱吉尔夫妇，让他跟着他们享福去，而他只需要寻求自己的安逸，尽可能改善自己的境况。
以前的生活需要来个彻底的改变。他退出民兵团，做起生意来，由于几个哥哥在伦敦干得挺红火，也就给他提供了个好机会。那是一个小商行，刚好有足够的事情让他干。他在海伯里还有一栋小房子，闲暇时间大多在这里度过。随后的十八年、二十年中，他一边做点有益的事情，一边享受交友的乐趣，过得倒也挺快活。后来，日子过得充裕了，他本来早就想在海伯里附近买一小宗家业，现在终于有钱置办了，也有钱娶一个像泰勒小姐这样没有陪嫁的女人，并且按照自己和易近人、喜欢交际的性情，过着称心如意的生活。
他打泰勒小姐的主意不是一两天的事了，但毕竟不像年轻人相爱那样急不可耐，本来早就想要买下兰多尔斯，决心买下兰多尔斯再成家，后来坠人情网也没动摇这个决心。他抱着这些目标，稳打稳扎，终于一个个实现了。他发了财，买了房子，娶了太太，开始了新的生活，大有可能比以往任何时候过得都快活。他从来没有郁郁不乐过，这是他的性情决定的，即使第一次结婚时也是如此。然而，这第二次结婚必将使他体会到，娶一个明白事理、和蔼可亲的女人该是多么喜幸，并能使他极其惬意地认识到，挑选别人要比被人挑选好得多，让人感激要比感激别人好得多。
他完全根据自己的意愿作出这样的抉择。他的财产是属于他自己的，至于弗兰克，他被舅舅当做继承人收养，并不仅仅是一种默契，而是双方有言在先，等他成年时，就改姓邱吉尔。因此，弗兰克不大可能求助于他父亲，他父亲也不担心这一点。弗兰克的舅妈是个任性的女人，丈夫完全受她摆布。但是，韦斯顿先生并不相信她的任性会有那么大的威力，居然能左右这么可爱的一个人，而且他认为也是值得大家喜爱的一个人。他每年都能在伦敦看见自己的儿子，很为他感到骄傲。他夸赞他是个出类拔萃的青年，以至于海伯里的人也有些为他感到骄傲。大家把他看成当地人，他身上的优点和未来的前程，都受到众人的关注。
弗兰克·邱吉尔先生成了一个海伯里人引以为荣的人物，大家都殷切地想要见见他，不过这番好意并没得到报偿，他长这么大还从未来过海伯里。人们常说他会来看看他的父亲，可始终没有成为现实。
现在他父亲结婚了，大家觉得理所当然，这一下他该来了。不管是佩里太太与贝茨母女喝茶的时候，还是贝茨母女回访的时候，谁也没对这个问题表示过异议。这一回，弗兰克·邱吉尔说什么也得回一趟家了。后来听说他特地给继母写了一封信，于是大家越发增强了信心。几天来，凡是来海伯里串门的人，都要说起韦斯顿夫人收到一封十分得体的信。“弗兰克·邱吉尔先生给韦斯顿太太写了一封十分得体的信，我想你听说了吧？依我看，那还真是一封十分得体的信。这是伍德豪斯先生告诉我的。伍德豪斯先生看见了信，说他从未见过写得这么得体的信。”
那的确是一封非常珍贵的信。韦斯顿太太自然对这位年轻人产生了良好的印象。他如此讲究礼貌真讨人喜欢，无可争辩地证明了他十分通情达理，使她那本来就很称心如意的婚事变得越发可喜可贺了。她觉得自己是个极其幸运的女人。她凭多年的生活经验知道，别人也会认为她很幸运，唯一的遗憾是跟朋友见面少了，而那些朋友对她的情谊始终没有淡薄，哪里忍心与她分离呀！
她知道，他们一定时常思念她。她一想到爱玛因为没有她做伴，哪怕失去一丁点的乐趣，感到一时一刻的无聊，都会使她感到难过。不过，亲爱的爱玛决不是个意志薄弱的人，她比大多数姑娘更能适应环境的变化。她有头脑，有活力，也有毅力，遇到一些小小的艰难困苦，都可望能欣然处之。再说，值得欣慰的是，兰多尔斯离哈特菲尔德没有多少路，一个女人即使没人陪伴，走来走去也很方便；加上韦斯顿先生脾气好，家庭条件又不错，等冬天一到，老朋友一星期聚会三四个晚上是不成问题的。
于是，爱玛一说起自己的境况，总要滔滔不绝地对韦斯顿太太表示感激，而那表示惋惜的话，只是偶尔说上一两句。她感到很称心——其实不光是称心——显然她感到很开心，而且也有理由开心。爱玛尽管非常了解父亲，但有时候，或者是在兰多尔斯离开韦斯顿太太那舒适的家，或者是晚上眼见着韦斯顿太太由和蔼可亲的丈夫陪伴去乘坐自己的马车，父亲居然还能怜悯“可怜的泰勒小姐”，真让她感到吃惊。韦斯顿太太每次离去时，伍德豪斯先生总要轻轻叹口气，说道： “唉！可怜的泰勒小姐。她其实是很不情愿走的。”
泰勒小姐是拉不回来了——也不大可能不去可怜她。可是几个星期后，伍德豪斯先生终于减少了几分烦恼。左邻右舍都恭贺完了；没有人再为这样一件可悲的事向他道喜，惹他伤心了；那个惹他大为伤感的结婚蛋糕也吃光了。他自己的胃消化不了油腻的食物，便认为别人跟他没什么两样。凡是他不宜于吃的东西，他就认定谁都不宜于吃。因此，他就极力劝说众人不要做结婚蛋糕，这一招不灵时，他又极力劝阻大家不要吃。他为此事特地请教了药剂师佩里先生。佩里先生是个很有见识的人，又有绅士风度，常去伍德豪斯先生家，给他的生活带来几分安慰。既然伍德豪斯先生求助于他，他尽管心里不情愿，却不得不承认：有许多人——甚至大多数人，的确不适于吃结婚蛋糕，要吃也只能少吃一点。这话正好印证了他的观点，伍德豪斯先生满以为可以说服来向新婚夫妇道喜的人，没想到大家还是照样吃蛋糕，他好心好意地劝阻，直至蛋糕给吃了个净光，神经才松懈下来。
海伯里有一条奇怪的谣传，说有人看见佩里家的孩子个个手里拿着一块韦斯顿太太的结婚蛋糕，可伍德豪斯先生说什么也不肯相信。
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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embodied
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dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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dissuaded
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| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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softening
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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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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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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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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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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entirely
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sufficiently
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prospects
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irresistible
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ennui
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solitary
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hindrance
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enjoyment
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alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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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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apothecary
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| n.药剂师 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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