Harriet slept at Hartfield that night. For some weeks past she had been spending more than half her time there, and gradually getting to have a bed-room appropriated to herself; and Emma judged it best in every respect, safest and kindest, to keep her with them as much as possible just at present. She was obliged to go the next morning for an hour or two to Mrs. Goddard's, but it was then to be settled that she should return to Hartfield, to make a regular visit of some days.
While she was gone, Mr. Knightley called, and sat some time with Mr. Woodhouse and Emma, till Mr. Woodhouse, who had previously1 made up his mind to walk out, was persuaded by his daughter not to defer2 it, and was induced by the entreaties3 of both, though against the scruples4 of his own civility, to leave Mr. Knightley for that purpose. Mr. Knightley, who had nothing of ceremony about him, was offering by his short, decided6 answers, an amusing contrast to the protracted7 apologies and civil hesitations8 of the other.
`Well, I believe, if you will excuse me, Mr. Knightley, if you will not consider me as doing a very rude thing, I shall take Emma's advice and go out for a quarter of an hour. As the sun is out, I believe I had better take my three turns while I can. I treat you without ceremony, Mr. Knightley. We invalids10 think we are privileged people.'
`My dear sir, do not make a stranger of me.'
`I leave an excellent substitute in my daughter. Emma will be happy to entertain you. And therefore I think I will beg your excuse and take my three turns - my winter walk.'
`You cannot do better, sir.'
`I would ask for the pleasure of your company, Mr. Knightley, but I am a very slow walker, and my pace would be tedious to you; and, besides, you have another long walk before you, to Donwell Abbey.'
`Thank you, sir, thank you; I am going this moment myself; and I think the sooner you go the better. I will fetch your greatcoat and open the garden door for you.'
Mr. Woodhouse at last was off; but Mr. Knightley, instead of being immediately off likewise, sat down again, seemingly inclined for more chat. He began speaking of Harriet, and speaking of her with more voluntary praise than Emma had ever heard before.
`I cannot rate her beauty as you do,' said he; `but she is a pretty little creature, and I am inclined to think very well of her disposition11. Her character depends upon those she is with; but in good hands she will turn out a valuable woman.'
`I am glad you think so; and the good hands, I hope, may not be wanting.'
`Come,' said he, `you are anxious for a compliment, so I will tell you that you have improved her. You have cured her of her school-girl's giggle12; she really does you credit.'
`Thank you. I should be mortified13 indeed if I did not believe I had been of some use; but it is not every body who will bestow14 praise where they may. You do not often overpower me with it.'
`You are expecting her again, you say, this morning?'
`Almost every moment. She has been gone longer already than she intended.'
`Something has happened to delay her; some visitors perhaps.'
`Highbury gossips! - Tiresome15 wretches16!'
`Harriet may not consider every body tiresome that you would.'
Emma knew this was too true for contradiction, and therefore said nothing. He presently added, with a smile,
`I do not pretend to fix on times or places, but I must tell you that I have good reason to believe your little friend will soon hear of something to her advantage.'
`Indeed! how so? of what sort?'
`A very serious sort, I assure you;' still smiling.
`Very serious! I can think of but one thing - Who is in love with her? Who makes you their confidant?'
Emma was more than half in hopes of Mr. Elton's having dropt a hint. Mr. Knightley was a sort of general friend and adviser18, and she knew Mr. Elton looked up to him.
`I have reason to think,' he replied, `that Harriet Smith will soon have an offer of marriage, and from a most unexceptionable quarter: - Robert Martin is the man. Her visit to Abbey-Mill, this summer, seems to have done his business. He is desperately19 in love and means to marry her.'
`He is very obliging,' said Emma; `but is he sure that Harriet means to marry him?'
`Well, well, means to make her an offer then. Will that do? He came to the Abbey two evenings ago, on purpose to consult me about it. He knows I have a thorough regard for him and all his family, and, I believe, considers me as one of his best friends. He came to ask me whether I thought it would be imprudent in him to settle so early; whether I thought her too young: in short, whether I approved his choice altogether; having some apprehension21 perhaps of her being considered (especially since your making so much of her) as in a line of society above him. I was very much pleased with all that he said. I never hear better sense from any one than Robert Martin. He always speaks to the purpose; open, straightforward22, and very well judging. He told me every thing; his circumstances and plans, and what they all proposed doing in the event of his marriage. He is an excellent young man, both as son and brother. I had no hesitation9 in advising him to marry. He proved to me that he could afford it; and that being the case, I was convinced he could not do better. I praised the fair lady too, and altogether sent him away very happy. If he had never esteemed23 my opinion before, he would have thought highly of me then; and, I dare say, left the house thinking me the best friend and counsellor man ever had. This happened the night before last. Now, as we may fairly suppose, he would not allow much time to pass before he spoke24 to the lady, and as he does not appear to have spoken yesterday, it is not unlikely that he should be at Mrs. Goddard's to-day; and she may be detained by a visitor, without thinking him at all a tiresome wretch17.'
`Pray, Mr. Knightley,' said Emma, who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech, `how do you know that Mr. Martin did not speak yesterday?'
`Certainly,' replied he, surprized, `I do not absolutely know it; but it may be inferred. Was not she the whole day with you?'
`Come,' said she, `I will tell you something, in return for what you have told me. He did speak yesterday - that is, he wrote, and was refused.'
This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed; and Mr. Knightley actually looked red with surprize and displeasure, as he stood up, in tall indignation, and said,
`Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her. What is the foolish girl about?'
`Oh! to be sure,' cried Emma, `it is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always imagines a woman to be ready for any body who asks her.'
`Nonsense! a man does not imagine any such thing. But what is the meaning of this? Harriet Smith refuse Robert Martin? madness, if it is so; but I hope you are mistaken.'
`I saw her answer! - nothing could be clearer.'
`You saw her answer! - you wrote her answer too. Emma, this is your doing. You persuaded her to refuse him.'
`And if I did, (which, however, I am far from allowing) I should not feel that I had done wrong. Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man, but I cannot admit him to be Harriet's equal; and am rather surprized indeed that he should have ventured to address her. By your account, he does seem to have had some scruples. It is a pity that they were ever got over.'
`Not Harriet's equal!' exclaimed Mr. Knightley loudly and warmly; and with calmer asperity25, added, a few moments afterwards, `No, he is not her equal indeed, for he is as much her superior in sense as in situation. Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you. What are Harriet Smith's claims, either of birth, nature or education, to any connexion higher than Robert Martin? She is the natural daughter of nobody knows whom, with probably no settled provision at all, and certainly no respectable relations. She is known only as parlour-boarder at a common school. She is not a sensible girl, nor a girl of any information. She has been taught nothing useful, and is too young and too simple to have acquired any thing herself. At her age she can have no experience, and with her little wit, is not very likely ever to have any that can avail her. She is pretty, and she is good tempered, and that is all. My only scruple5 in advising the match was on his account, as being beneath his deserts, and a bad connexion for him. I felt that, as to fortune, in all probability he might do much better; and that as to a rational companion or useful helpmate, he could not do worse. But I could not reason so to a man in love, and was willing to trust to there being no harm in her, to her having that sort of disposition, which, in good hands, like his, might be easily led aright and turn out very well. The advantage of the match I felt to be all on her side; and had not the smallest doubt (nor have I now) that there would be a general cry-out upon her extreme good luck. Even your satisfaction I made sure of. It crossed my mind immediately that you would not regret your friend's leaving Highbury, for the sake of her being settled so well. I remember saying to myself, ``Even Emma, with all her partiality for Harriet, will think this a good match.'''
`I cannot help wondering at your knowing so little of Emma as to say any such thing. What! think a farmer, (and with all his sense and all his merit Mr. Martin is nothing more,) a good match for my intimate friend! Not regret her leaving Highbury for the sake of marrying a man whom I could never admit as an acquaintance of my own! I wonder you should think it possible for me to have such feelings. I assure you mine are very different. I must think your statement by no means fair. You are not just to Harriet's claims. They would be estimated very differently by others as well as myself; Mr. Martin may be the richest of the two, but he is undoubtedly26 her inferior as to rank in society. - The sphere in which she moves is much above his. - It would be a degradation27.'
`A degradation to illegitimacy and ignorance, to be married to a respectable, intelligent gentleman-farmer!'
`As to the circumstances of her birth, though in a legal sense she may be called Nobody, it will not hold in common sense. She is not to pay for the offence of others, by being held below the level of those with whom she is brought up. - There can scarcely be a doubt that her father is a gentleman - and a gentleman of fortune. - Her allowance is very liberal; nothing has ever been grudged28 for her improvement or comfort. - That she is a gentleman's daughter, is indubitable to me; that she associates with gentlemen's daughters, no one, I apprehend29, will deny. - She is superior to Mr. Robert Martin.'
`Whoever might be her parents,' said Mr. Knightley, `whoever may have had the charge of her, it does not appear to have been any part of their plan to introduce her into what you would call good society. After receiving a very indifferent education she is left in Mrs. Goddard's hands to shift as she can; - to move, in short, in Mrs. Goddard's line, to have Mrs. Goddard's acquaintance. Her friends evidently thought this good enough for her; and it was good enough. She desired nothing better herself. Till you chose to turn her into a friend, her mind had no distaste for her own set, nor any ambition beyond it. She was as happy as possible with the Martins in the summer. She had no sense of superiority then. If she has it now, you have given it. You have been no friend to Harriet Smith, Emma. Robert Martin would never have proceeded so far, if he had not felt persuaded of her not being disinclined to him. I know him well. He has too much real feeling to address any woman on the haphazard30 of selfish passion. And as to conceit31, he is the farthest from it of any man I know. Depend upon it he had encouragement.'
It was most convenient to Emma not to make a direct reply to this assertion; she chose rather to take up her own line of the subject again.
`You are a very warm friend to Mr. Martin; but, as I said before, are unjust to Harriet. Harriet's claims to marry well are not so contemptible32 as you represent them. She is not a clever girl, but she has better sense than you are aware of, and does not deserve to have her understanding spoken of so slightingly. Waiving33 that point, however, and supposing her to be, as you describe her, only pretty and good-natured, let me tell you, that in the degree she possesses them, they are not trivial recommendations to the world in general, for she is, in fact, a beautiful girl, and must be thought so by ninety-nine people out of an hundred; and till it appears that men are much more philosophic34 on the subject of beauty than they are generally supposed; till they do fall in love with well-informed minds instead of handsome faces, a girl, with such loveliness as Harriet, has a certainty of being admired and sought after, of having the power of chusing from among many, consequently a claim to be nice. Her good-nature, too, is not so very slight a claim, comprehending, as it does, real, thorough sweetness of temper and manner, a very humble35 opinion of herself, and a great readiness to be pleased with other people. I am very much mistaken if your sex in general would not think such beauty, and such temper, the highest claims a woman could possess.'
`Upon my word, Emma, to hear you abusing the reason you have, is almost enough to make me think so too. Better be without sense, than misapply it as you do.'
`To be sure!' cried she playfully. `I know that is the feeling of you all. I know that such a girl as Harriet is exactly what every man delights in - what at once bewitches his senses and satisfies his judgment36. Oh! Harriet may pick and chuse. Were you, yourself, ever to marry, she is the very woman for you. And is she, at seventeen, just entering into life, just beginning to be known, to be wondered at because she does not accept the first offer she receives? No - pray let her have time to look about her.'
`I have always thought it a very foolish intimacy,' said Mr. Knightley presently, `though I have kept my thoughts to myself; but I now perceive that it will be a very unfortunate one for Harriet. You will puff37 her up with such ideas of her own beauty, and of what she has a claim to, that, in a little while, nobody within her reach will be good enough for her. Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief38. Nothing so easy as for a young lady to raise her expectations too high. Miss Harriet Smith may not find offers of marriage flow in so fast, though she is a very pretty girl. Men of sense, whatever you may chuse to say, do not want silly wives. Men of family would not be very fond of connecting themselves with a girl of such obscurity - and most prudent20 men would be afraid of the inconvenience and disgrace they might be involved in, when the mystery of her parentage came to be revealed. Let her marry Robert Martin, and she is safe, respectable, and happy for ever; but if you encourage her to expect to marry greatly, and teach her to be satisfied with nothing less than a man of consequence and large fortune, she may be a parlour-boarder at Mrs. Goddard's all the rest of her life - or, at least, (for Harriet Smith is a girl who will marry somebody or other,) till she grow desperate, and is glad to catch at the old writing-master's son.'
`We think so very differently on this point, Mr. Knightley, that there can be no use in canvassing39 it. We shall only be making each other more angry. But as to my letting her marry Robert Martin, it is impossible; she has refused him, and so decidedly, I think, as must prevent any second application. She must abide40 by the evil of having refused him, whatever it may be; and as to the refusal itself, I will not pretend to say that I might not influence her a little; but I assure you there was very little for me or for any body to do. His appearance is so much against him, and his manner so bad, that if she ever were disposed to favour him, she is not now. I can imagine, that before she had seen any body superior, she might tolerate him. He was the brother of her friends, and he took pains to please her; and altogether, having seen nobody better (that must have been his great assistant) she might not, while she was at Abbey-Mill, find him disagreeable. But the case is altered now. She knows now what gentlemen are; and nothing but a gentleman in education and manner has any chance with Harriet.'
`Nonsense, errant nonsense, as ever was talked!' cried Mr. Knightley. - `Robert Martin's manners have sense, sincerity41, and good-humour to recommend them; and his mind has more true gentility than Harriet Smith could understand.'
Emma made no answer, and tried to look cheerfully unconcerned, but was really feeling uncomfortable and wanting him very much to be gone. She did not repent42 what she had done; she still thought herself a better judge of such a point of female right and refinement43 than he could be; but yet she had a sort of habitual44 respect for his judgment in general, which made her dislike having it so loudly against her; and to have him sitting just opposite to her in angry state, was very disagreeable. Some minutes passed in this unpleasant silence, with only one attempt on Emma's side to talk of the weather, but he made no answer. He was thinking. The result of his thoughts appeared at last in these words.
`Robert Martin has no great loss - if he can but think so; and I hope it will not be long before he does. Your views for Harriet are best known to yourself; but as you make no secret of your love of match-making, it is fair to suppose that views, and plans, and projects you have; - and as a friend I shall just hint to you that if Elton is the man, I think it will be all labour in vain.'
Emma laughed and disclaimed45. He continued,
`Depend upon it, Elton will not do. Elton is a very good sort of man, and a very respectable vicar of Highbury, but not at all likely to make an imprudent match. He knows the value of a good income as well as any body. Elton may talk sentimentally46, but he will act rationally. He is as well acquainted with his own claims, as you can be with Harriet's. He knows that he is a very handsome young man, and a great favourite wherever he goes; and from his general way of talking in unreserved moments, when there are only men present, I am convinced that he does not mean to throw himself away. I have heard him speak with great animation47 of a large family of young ladies that his sisters are intimate with, who have all twenty thousand pounds apiece.'
`I am very much obliged to you,' said Emma, laughing again. `If I had set my heart on Mr. Elton's marrying Harriet, it would have been very kind to open my eyes; but at present I only want to keep Harriet to myself. I have done with match-making indeed. I could never hope to equal my own doings at Randalls. I shall leave off while I am well.'
`Good morning to you,' - said he, rising and walking off abruptly48. He was very much vexed49. He felt the disappointment of the young man, and was mortified to have been the means of promoting it, by the sanction he had given; and the part which he was persuaded Emma had taken in the affair, was provoking him exceedingly.
Emma remained in a state of vexation too; but there was more indistinctness in the causes of her's, than in his. She did not always feel so absolutely satisfied with herself, so entirely50 convinced that her opinions were right and her adversary's wrong, as Mr. Knightley. He walked off in more complete self-approbation than he left for her. She was not so materially cast down, however, but that a little time and the return of Harriet were very adequate restoratives. Harriet's staying away so long was beginning to make her uneasy. The possibility of the young man's coming to Mrs. Goddard's that morning, and meeting with Harriet and pleading his own cause, gave alarming ideas. The dread51 of such a failure after all became the prominent uneasiness; and when Harriet appeared, and in very good spirits, and without having any such reason to give for her long absence, she felt a satisfaction which settled her with her own mind, and convinced her, that let Mr. Knightley think or say what he would, she had done nothing which woman's friendship and woman's feelings would not justify52.
He had frightened her a little about Mr. Elton; but when she considered that Mr. Knightley could not have observed him as she had done, neither with the interest, nor (she must be allowed to tell herself, in spite of Mr. Knightley's pretensions) with the skill of such an observer on such a question as herself, that he had spoken it hastily and in anger, she was able to believe, that he had rather said what he wished resentfully to be true, than what he knew any thing about. He certainly might have heard Mr. Elton speak with more unreserve than she had ever done, and Mr. Elton might not be of an imprudent, inconsiderate disposition as to money matters; he might naturally be rather attentive53 than otherwise to them; but then, Mr. Knightley did not make due allowance for the influence of a strong passion at war with all interested motives54. Mr. Knightley saw no such passion, and of course thought nothing of its effects; but she saw too much of it to feel a doubt of its overcoming any hesitations that a reasonable prudence55 might originally suggest; and more than a reasonable, becoming degree of prudence, she was very sure did not belong to Mr. Elton.
Harriet's cheerful look and manner established hers: she came back, not to think of Mr. Martin, but to talk of Mr. Elton. Miss Nash had been telling her something, which she repeated immediately with great delight. Mr. Perry had been to Mrs. Goddard's to attend a sick child, and Miss Nash had seen him, and he had told Miss Nash, that as he was coming back yesterday from Clayton Park, he had met Mr. Elton, and found to his great surprize, that Mr. Elton was actually on his road to London, and not meaning to return till the morrow, though it was the whist-club night, which he had been never known to miss before; and Mr. Perry had remonstrated56 with him about it, and told him how shabby it was in him, their best player, to absent himself, and tried very much to persuade him to put off his journey only one day; but it would not do; Mr. Elton had been determined57 to go on, and had said in a very particular way indeed, that he was going on business which he would not put off for any inducement in the world; and something about a very enviable commission, and being the bearer of something exceedingly precious. Mr. Perry could not quite understand him, but he was very sure there must be a lady in the case, and he told him so; and Mr. Elton only looked very conscious and smiling, and rode off in great spirits. Miss Nash had told her all this, and had talked a great deal more about Mr. Elton; and said, looking so very significantly at her, `that she did not pretend to understand what his business might be, but she only knew that any woman whom Mr. Elton could prefer, she should think the luckiest woman in the world; for, beyond a doubt, Mr. Elton had not his equal for beauty or agreeableness.'
这天哈丽特就在哈特菲尔德过夜。几个星期以来，她大部分时间都在这里度过，后来索性专门给了她一间卧室。爱玛觉得，现在应该让她尽量待在他们家，这样做再恰当不过了，既万无一失，又表现了她的一片好心。第二天早上，哈丽特得去戈达德太太那里待上一两个钟头，不过还要跟太太说好，她要回到哈特菲尔德住上几天。
哈丽特走后，奈特利先生来了，跟伍德豪斯先生和爱玛坐了一会。伍德豪斯先生早就打算出去散步，女儿劝他不要拖延，他虽然害怕有所失礼，但经不住两人一再恳求，只好丢下奈特利先生去散步。主人絮絮叨叨地赔了一大堆不是，客客气气地推辞了半天，奈特利先生却一点也不讲究虚礼，回起话来干脆利落，两人形成了有趣的对照。
“奈特利先生，你要是肯原谅我，你要是认为我不是很失礼的话，我就听从爱玛的意见，出去溜达一刻钟。外面出太阳了，我想我还是趁能走的时候，去转上三圈。我对你就不讲客套了，奈特利先生。我们体弱多病的人觉得自己享有这样的特权。”
“亲爱的先生，请不要把我当外人。”
“我让我女儿招待你，她会很称职的。爱玛很乐意招待你。因此我想请你原谅，出去走上三圈——这是我冬季的散步。”
“这再好不过了，先生。”
“我本想请你做伴的，奈特利先生，可我走得太慢，怕让你觉得厌烦。再说你要回当维尔寺，还得走不少路。”
“谢谢你，先生，谢谢你。我也马上就走。我想你还是越早出去越好。我给你拿大衣，打开花园门。”
伍德豪斯先生终于出去了。但是奈特利先生并没马上离开，而是坐了下来，似乎还想再聊聊天。他说起了哈丽特，主动地讲了不少赞美的话，这是爱玛以前从未听过的。
“我不像你那样把她看得如花似玉，”他说。“不过她倒是个漂亮的小妞，我觉得她的脾气也挺好。她的品格要取决于她跟什么人在一起，在可靠的人的栽培下，她会出落成一个受人器重的女人。”
“很高兴你会有这样的看法。我想可靠的人总是有的。”
“好吧，”奈特利先生说，“你就是想让别人夸你，那就让我告诉你：你使她有了长进。你根治了她那女学生爱咯咯笑的毛病，她确实给你增了光。”
“谢谢你。我要不是认为自己起了点作用，还真要感到羞愧呢。不过，就是在可能的情况下，也不是人人都爱赞扬别人的。你就不肯多夸奖我。”
“这么说哈丽特今天上午还要来啦？”
“随时都会来。她原来没有打算去这么久。”
“她一定是让什么事给耽搁了，也许是来了客人。”
“海伯里的那些碎嘴！讨厌的家伙！”
“你认为讨厌的人，哈丽特可不一定觉得讨厌。”
爱玛知道这是无可辩驳的事实，因此没有做声。过了一会，奈特利先生又笑嘻嘻地说：
“我也不敢说时问地点什么都知道，不过我要告诉你，我有充分的理由相信，你那位小朋友很快就会听到一件好事。”
“真的呀！怎么会呢？什么好事？”
“一件大好事，你放心好了。”奈特利先生仍然笑嘻嘻的。
“大好事！我看只有一件事——有人爱上了她吧？是谁向你披露r他们的隐情？”
爱玛心想，八成是埃尔顿先生透露了风声。奈特利先生朋友多，也爱给人出主意，爱玛知道埃尔顿先生敬重他。
“我有理由认为，”奈特利先生说，“马上就会有人向哈丽特·史密斯求婚了，而且求婚的是一个无可挑剔的人——这人就是罗伯特·马丁。看样子，哈丽特今年夏天去阿比一米尔时，把他迷住了。他深深地爱上了她，想娶她为妻。”
“他倒是挺一片好心，”爱玛说。“不过他敢肯定哈丽特愿意嫁给他吗？”
“哦，他只是想向她求婚哪。这总可以吧？他前天晚上来到阿比一米尔，找我商量这件事。他知道我待他和他一家都很好，我想他把我当成了知心朋友。他来问我：他这么早就成家是否有些轻率；我是否觉得哈丽特还太年轻；简而言之，我是否同意他的选择。也许他有些担心，特别考虑到你把哈丽特培育得那么出色，他怕自己攀不上她。我非常爱听他这话，我觉得谁也没有罗伯特·马丁这么明白事理。他说起话来总是恰如其分，为人坦率，不遮不盖，还很通情达理。他把什么都告诉了我：他的家境，有什么打算，如能结婚，家里人计划怎么办。他是个好小伙子，无论当儿子还是做哥哥，都很出色。我毫不犹豫地劝他结婚。他向我表明，他结得起婚。既然如此，我觉得他最好结婚。我还赞扬了那位漂亮的小姐，让他高高兴兴地走了。如果说他以前从不把我的话当一回事的话，这一次他却很尊重我的意见了，而且我敢说，他临走时把我看成了最好的朋友，最善于出主意的人。这是前天晚上的事。可以料想，他很快就会向小姐表露钟情的。看来他昨天没有开口，今天可能去了戈达德家。哈丽特八成是让客人耽搁了，她可一点也不讨厌那个人。”
“请问，奈特利先生，”爱玛听奈特利先生说话时，差不多一直在暗暗发笑，于是便说，“你怎么知道马丁先生昨天没有提呢？”
“当然，”奈特利先生心里感到奇怪，便回答说，“我不是了解得很清楚，不过可以推测嘛。她昨天不是整天都在你这儿吗？”
“好了，”爱玛说，“你向我提供了这么多情况，我也告诉你个情况。马丁先生昨天确实提了，就是说，他写了封信，遭到了拒绝。”
这话只得又说了一遍，对方才肯相信。奈特利先生又惊又气，脸都涨红了，只见他愤然站起来，说道： “那她就是个傻瓜，比我想象的还傻。这傻丫头想干什么？”
“咳！”爱玛大声嚷道，“女人拒绝男人的求婚，男人总觉得不可思议。男人总以为女人不管遇到什么人求婚，都应该欣然答应。”
“没有的事！男人可不是这样想的。不过，这究竟是怎么回事？哈丽特·史密斯拒绝了罗伯特·马丁？要是果真如此，那岂不是发疯了。不过我希望是你搞错了。”
“我看了她的回信，事情再清楚不过了。”
“你看了她的回信！你还给她代写的吧。爱玛，这是你干的好事。你劝说她拒绝了马丁。”
“我根本不承认是我干的，即使是我干的，我也不觉得有什么错。马丁先生是个很体面的青年，可我认为他跟哈丽特不相配。我感到很奇怪，他居然胆敢向哈丽特求婚。照你的说法，他本来似乎还有些顾虑，只可惜他后来打消了这些顾虑。”
“跟哈丽特不相配！”奈特利先生愤懑地大声嚷道。过了一会，他冷静了一些，以严厉的口吻说道：“是呀，他跟哈丽特还真不相配呢，无论在身份上还是在才智上，他都胜过哈丽特。爱玛，你对那姑娘太宠爱了，都失去了理智。哈丽特·史密斯在出身、性情和教养上有什么了不起的，居然要攀一个比罗伯特·马丁还强的人？她不知道是什么人的私生女，可能连生计也没有着落，当然更没有体面的亲戚。大家只知道她是一所普通小学的寄宿生，人不聪明，又缺乏见识。别人也没教她点有用的东西，而她自己又年轻又无知，自然也没学到什么本事。她处于这个年龄，不可能有什么经验，加上头脑愚笨，以后也不大可能获得什么有益的经验。她长得漂亮，脾气好，如此而已。我撮合这门亲事只有一个顾虑，就是怕委屈了马丁，给他找一个不般配的人。我觉得，就财产而言，他十有八九可以娶一个比哈丽特有钱得多的姑娘；就找一个明白事理的伴侣和有用的帮手而言，他也不可能娶一个还不如哈丽特的姑娘。但是，跟坠人情网的人是讲不通道理的，因此我就一心指望哈丽特也没有什么坏处，她有那样的好性子，跟着马丁那样的好青年，很容易上进，往好里发展。我觉得这门亲事只是对哈丽特有利。毫无疑问（我现在也毫不怀疑），大家都会说哈丽特真是万幸。我相信就是你也会感到很满意的。我当即想到，你的朋友嫁给这样一个好人家，你不会因为她要离开海伯里而感到惋惜。我记得我自言自语说：‘爱玛尽管十分偏爱哈丽特，她也会觉得这是一门好亲事。”’
“我感到很奇怪，你怎么这么不了解爱玛，居然说出这样的话来。什么话呀！马丁先生就是再聪明，再怎么好，也只是个农夫，而你却以为嫁给一个农夫对我的挚友还是一门好亲事！她明明要嫁给一个我不愿意结识的人，我却不会因为她要离开海伯里而感到惋惜！真奇怪，你居然认为我会产生这样的念头。告诉你吧，我的想法截然相反。我认为你说话一点也不公正。你把哈丽特看扁了，我和别人都会替她打抱不平。两人比起来，马丁先生也许钱多一些，但他的社会地位无疑要低于哈丽特。哈丽特的活动圈子比他的高贵得多。嫁给他只能降低她的身份。”
“一个愚昧无知的私生女嫁给一个聪明体面的富裕农民，居然会降低她的身份！”
“至于她的出身，虽然在法律上她可以说是低人一等，但是从常理上看却并非如此。她不应为别人的过失付出代价，非要把她置于抚养她的那些人的地位之下。毋庸置疑，她父亲是一个绅士——一个有钱的绅士。她有充裕的生活费，为了促使她上进，确保她生活舒适，一向都是对她什么也不吝惜。她是个大家闺秀，，我认为这是不容置疑的；她经常与大家闺秀来往，我想这是谁也否认不了的。她的地位要高于罗伯特·马丁先生。”
“不管她的生身父母是谁，”奈特利先生说，“不管是谁抚养了她，看来他们谁也没有打算把她推上你所谓的上流社会。她受过一点微不足道的教育之后，就给送到戈达德太太那里，由她自己独立谋生，简而言之，跟戈达德太太的那伙人混在一起，照戈达德太太的那一套行事。显然，她的朋友们觉得这对她挺不错的，事实上也确实如此。她自己并没有更高的愿望。你与她结交之前，她对周围的人并没有反感，也不抱有什么奢望。夏天她在马丁家玩得非常快活，当时她丝毫没有什么优越感。要是她现在有了，那就是你灌输的。爱玛，你对哈丽特·史密斯真不够朋友。要是罗伯特·马丁觉得哈丽特对他没有意思，他是决不会向她求婚的。我很了解他。他的感情很真挚，小会凭着自私的情感，随意向任何人求爱。至于说到自负，我所认识的人中，还就数他最不自负了。他肯定觉得女方对他有意思。”
对于这番话，爱玛还是不作正面回答为好，于是她又扯起了自己的话题。
“你是马丁先生非常热心的朋友，可是正如我刚才说的，你对哈丽特就不公正了。哈丽特有权利缔结一门好亲事，而并不像你说的那样卑贱。她小算是聪明人，但总比你想象的聪明些，不该把她的智力说得那么低下。不过，撇开这一点且不说，就算她真像你描绘的那样，只是长得漂亮，脾气好，那我可要告诉你，就凭她那样漂亮，脾气那样好，这在世人看来可不是微不足道的优点，因为她实在是一个美女，一百个人里有九十九个都会这样认为。除非男人不像大家想象的那样，对美貌能采取非常达观的态度，除非男人不爱美貌爱才智，那么像哈丽特这样可爱的姑娘，就一定会有人看中她、追求她，一定能够从许多人中加以挑选，因而可以挑三拣四。她的好性子也不是个无足轻重的优点，她那性情举止，还真是十分温柔，十分谦恭，十分讨人喜爱。这样的美貌，这样的性情，你们男人们不将其视为女人最宝贵的条件，那才怪呢。”
“爱玛，听你这样诡辩，我都快接受你的看法了。像你这样无理狡辩，还不如索性不讲理为好。”
“毫无疑问！”爱玛调皮地嚷道。“我知道那是你们所有人的看法。我知道，哈丽特这样的姑娘是哪个男人都喜欢的——一见面就能让人着迷，让人称心如意。哦！哈丽特可以挑挑拣拣啦。你要是想结婚的话，她嫁给你最合适啦。她才十七岁，刚刚走上社会，刚刚为人们所知，难道就因为她拒绝了第一个求婚的人，就觉得她不可思议吗？不——还是让她自己去考虑吧。”
“我总觉得你们搞得这么亲热是很荒谬的，”奈特利先生马上说道，“不过我一直把这想法埋在心里。现在我认识到，这对哈丽特来说将是很不利的。你总夸她如何漂亮，条件如何好，搞得她忘乎所以了，用不了多久，周围的人她会一个也看不上眼的。头脑简单的人有了虚荣心，那是什么荒唐事都干得出来的。年轻小姐最容易冒出不切实际的幻想。哈丽特·史密斯小姐尽管很漂亮，求婚的人不见得会纷至沓来。不管你怎么说，聪明的男人不会要傻女人做老婆。出身高贵的男人是不大喜欢跟没有名分的姑娘结婚的——十分谨慎的男人担心她父母的秘密一揭露出来，他们自己要受连累，搞得很不光彩。她要是嫁给罗伯特·马丁，一辈子都会又平安，又体面，又快活。你要是鼓动她一心就想高攀，唆使她非要嫁给一个有钱有势的人，那她可能要在戈达德太太的学校里寄宿一辈子——或者至少要寄宿到她实在奈不住了，甘愿嫁给一个老书法教师的儿子，因为她终究是要嫁人的。”
“奈特利先生，我们两人对这件事的看法截然不同，再争论也没有用，只会搞得彼此更不高兴。不过，要叫我同意她嫁给罗伯特·马丁，那是办不到的。她已经拒绝了他，而且我认为是断然拒绝，对方肯定不会再次求婚。既然已经拒绝，不管后果如何，她都决不会反悔。谈到拒绝这件事，我也不想说我对她一点左右力都没有，不过说实话，不管我还是别人都无能为力。马丁相貌太不雅观，举止太不体面，哈丽特即使过去对他有过好感，现在也不会喜欢他。可以想象，哈丽特以前没见过更好的人，也许还能容忍他。马丁是她朋友的兄弟，又千方百计地来讨好她。哈丽特以前没见过更好的人（这无疑帮了马丁的大忙），她住在阿比一米尔时，兴许还不觉得他令人讨厌。然而，现在情况却不一样了。她现在知道有教养的人是什么样了。只有有教养、有风度的男士才配得上哈丽特。”
“胡说，彻头彻尾的胡说八道！”奈特利先生大声说道。“罗伯特·马丁由于富有见识，为人真诚和善，因而举止非常得体。他的内心十分优雅，哈丽特·史密斯是捉摸不透的。”
爱玛没有回答，试图装出一副欣然无所谓的样子，可是心里感到很不是滋味，便巴不得他快点走掉。她对做过的事并不后悔，而且觉得在妇女权利和教养的问题上，还是比他更有眼力。不过，总的说来，她一向倒挺佩服他的眼力的，因此也就不想跟他大声争吵，一见他气冲冲地坐在她对面，真让她感到难受。两人就这么别别扭扭地沉默了几分钟，有一次爱玛想谈谈天气，他却没有搭理她。他在思索。思索的结果，最后说出了这样的话： “罗伯特·马丁并没有大不了的损失——他要能这么想就好了；但愿他很快能转过弯来。你对哈丽特打的什么主意，你自己心里最清楚。既然你并不掩饰你喜欢给别人做媒，那么看来你已经算计好了，心里早就有了谱儿。作为朋友我要提醒你，如果你物色的是埃尔顿，我想那只会白费心机。”
爱玛笑了笑，拒不承认有这事。奈特利先生又说： “你相信我好啦，埃尔顿是不会答应的。埃尔顿是个很好的人，是海伯里很受人尊敬的牧师，但决不会贸然定下一门亲事。他比谁都精明，知道钱多的好处。埃尔顿说话可能有些感情用事，做事却很有理智。就像你很了解哈丽特的长处一样，他也很了解他自己的长处。他知道他长得一表人才，走到哪里都讨人喜欢。只有男人在场时，他一般都是直言不讳的，我从他这时的谈吐中意识到，他不想随便找个女人了事。我曾听他兴冲冲地讲起一户人家，家里有好几位年轻小姐，跟他妹妹关系十分密切，她们每人都有两万英镑财产。”
“多谢啦，”爱玛说罢又笑了。“如果我真打算让埃尔顿先生娶哈丽特，还的确要感谢你的开导，可惜我眼下只想让哈丽特跟我在一起。我真不想再做牵线搭桥的事。兰多尔斯的好事很难逢上第二回了。我要趁好而收。”
“再见，”奈特利先生说着立起身，匆匆走掉了。他心里非常懊恼。他体会到了马丁的沮丧，由于他事先鼓励过他，因而进一步加剧了他的沮丧，不禁感到非常内疚。而他深信爱玛插手了这件事，更使他气愤至极。
爱玛也很气恼，然而她又不大清楚她为什么气恼。她不像奈特利先生那样，总是对自己充满自信，绝对相信自己的意见是正确的，别人是错误的。奈特利先生离开时，比来找爱玛时还充满自信。不过，爱玛也不怎么十分沮丧，用不了多久，等哈丽特一回来，她就会恢复常态。哈丽特走了这么久，她真有些忐忑不安了。也许马丁上午真去了戈达德太太家，见到哈丽特，为自己申辩，一想到这些真让她感到可怕。她心里最担心的，还就怕自己的计划落空。后来哈丽特回来了，只见她兴高采烈，也没说因为遇见马丁耽搁了这么久，她不禁感到很满意，也放下了心，觉得不管奈特利先生怎么想怎么说，她所作的一切都是基于女人的情谊，因而是正当的。
奈特利先生说到埃尔顿先生时，把她吓了一跳。但仔细一想，奈特利先生不会像她那样去观察埃尔顿先生，决不会带着她那样的兴致，而且不管奈特利先生怎样标榜，她都要说他也没有她那样的洞察力，他当时只是情急之下讲的气话，因此她可以断定，他说的那些话，与其说他了解真情，不如说他唯恐事情果真如此。也许他当真听见埃尔顿先生吐露过真言，比对她爱玛还要直言不讳，也许埃尔顿先生在钱财上并不马马虎虎，他对这些问题可能还很仔细。但是，除了种种私利之外，还有一种强烈的爱情在起作用，奈特利先生没有充分考虑到这一点。他没看到这种爱，当然也想不到会有什么效果。不过，她爱玛却看到了这种爱，知道这种爱可以克服合理的谨慎可能导致的迟疑不决。她相信，埃尔顿先生所具有的，也无外乎是合理而适度的谨慎。
哈丽特那兴高采烈的神态，也使爱玛兴高采烈起来。哈丽特回来后没有惦记马丁先生，却谈起了埃尔顿先生。纳什小姐跟她讲过一件事，她一回来就乐滋滋地学给爱玛听。佩里先生到戈达德太太家给一个孩子看病，纳什小姐遇见了他。他对纳什小姐说，他昨天从克莱顿庄园回来时，碰到了埃尔顿先生，万万没有料到，埃尔顿先生正去伦敦，要第二天才回来。而当晚恰好是惠斯特俱乐部活动时间，埃尔顿先生以前可是从不缺席的。佩里先生为此冲他抱怨开了，说他牌打得最好，他若缺席可就太不像话了，因而极力动员他推迟一天再走，可是无济于事，埃尔顿先生打定主意要去，并且以异乎寻常的神态，说他要去办件事，无论如何也不能耽搁。这是一桩令人眼红的美差，他带了一件无价之宝。佩里先生摸不着头脑，但他知道这事肯定与一位小姐有关，便把这想法说出来了。埃尔顿先生只是羞涩地笑了笑，然后兴冲冲地骑着马走开了。纳什小姐把这事一五一十地讲给爱玛听了，还讲了埃尔顿先生的许多情况。最后，她意味深长地看着爱玛，说道：“我不敢妄加猜测他有什么事，可是我心里有数，凡是他看中的女人，我想一定是世界上最幸运的人；因为毫无疑问，埃尔顿先生又漂亮又可爱，谁也比不上他。”
收听单词发音 |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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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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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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hesitations
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| n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 )；踌躇；犹豫（之事或行为）；口吃 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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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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giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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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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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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waiving
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| v.宣布放弃( waive的现在分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
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philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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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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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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canvassing
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的现在分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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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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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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