Mr. Knightley might quarrel with her, but Emma could not quarrel with herself. He was so much displeased1, that it was longer than usual before he came to Hartfield again; and when they did meet, his grave looks shewed that she was not forgiven. She was sorry, but could not repent2. On the contrary, her plans and proceedings3 were more and more justified4 and endeared to her by the general appearances of the next few days.
The Picture, elegantly framed, came safely to hand soon after Mr. Elton's return, and being hung over the mantelpiece of the common sitting-room5, he got up to look at it, and sighed out his half sentences of admiration6 just as he ought; and as for Harriet's feelings, they were visibly forming themselves into as strong and steady an attachment7 as her youth and sort of mind admitted. Emma was soon perfectly8 satisfied of Mr. Martin's being no otherwise remembered, than as he furnished a contrast with Mr. Elton, of the utmost advantage to the latter.
Her views of improving her little friend's mind, by a great deal of useful reading and conversation, had never yet led to more than a few first chapters, and the intention of going on to-morrow. It was much easier to chat than to study; much pleasanter to let her imagination range and work at Harriet's fortune, than to be labouring to enlarge her comprehension or exercise it on sober facts; and the only literary pursuit which engaged Harriet at present, the only mental provision she was making for the evening of life, was the collecting and transcribing9 all the riddles10 of every sort that she could meet with, into a thin quarto of hot-pressed paper, made up by her friend, and ornamented12 with ciphers13 and trophies14.
In this age of literature, such collections on a very grand scale are not uncommon15. Miss Nash, head-teacher at Mrs. Goddard's, had written out at least three hundred; and Harriet, who had taken the first hint of it from her, hoped, with Miss Woodhouse's help, to get a great many more. Emma assisted with her invention, memory and taste; and as Harriet wrote a very pretty hand, it was likely to be an arrangement of the first order, in form as well as quantity.
Mr. Woodhouse was almost as much interested in the business as the girls, and tried very often to recollect16 something worth their putting in. `So many clever riddles as there used to be when he was young - he wondered he could not remember them! but he hoped he should in time.' And it always ended in `Kitty, a fair but frozen maid.'
His good friend Perry, too, whom he had spoken to on the subject, did not at present recollect any thing of the riddle11 kind; but he had desired Perry to be upon the watch, and as he went about so much, something, he thought, might come from that quarter.
It was by no means his daughter's wish that the intellects of Highbury in general should be put under requisition. Mr. Elton was the only one whose assistance she asked. He was invited to contribute any really good enigmas18, charades20, or conundrums21 that he might recollect; and she had the pleasure of seeing him most intently at work with his recollections; and at the same time, as she could perceive, most earnestly careful that nothing ungallant, nothing that did not breathe a compliment to the sex should pass his lips. They owed to him their two or three politest puzzles; and the joy and exultation23 with which at last he recalled, and rather sentimentally24 recited, that well-known charade19,
My first doth affliction denote,
Which my second is destin'd to feel
And my whole is the best antidote25
That affliction to soften26 and heal. -
made her quite sorry to acknowledge that they had transcribed27 it some pages ago already.
`Why will not you write one yourself for us, Mr. Elton?' said she; `that is the only security for its freshness; and nothing could be easier to you.'
`Oh no! he had never written, hardly ever, any thing of the kind in his life. The stupidest fellow! He was afraid not even Miss Woodhouse' - he stopt a moment - `or Miss Smith could inspire him.'
The very next day however produced some proof of inspiration. He called for a few moments, just to leave a piece of paper on the table containing, as he said, a charade, which a friend of his had addressed to a young lady, the object of his admiration, but which, from his manner, Emma was immediately convinced must be his own.
`I do not offer it for Miss Smith's collection,' said he. `Being my friend's, I have no right to expose it in any degree to the public eye, but perhaps you may not dislike looking at it.'
The speech was more to Emma than to Harriet, which Emma could understand. There was deep consciousness about him, and he found it easier to meet her eye than her friend's. He was gone the next moment: - after another moment's pause,
`Take it,' said Emma, smiling, and pushing the paper towards Harriet - `it is for you. Take your own.'
But Harriet was in a tremor28, and could not touch it; and Emma, never loth to be first, was obliged to examine it herself.
To Miss - CHARADE.
My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.
Another view of man, my second brings,
Behold29 him there, the monarch30 of the seas!,p> But ah! united, what reverse we have!
Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown;
Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave,
And woman, lovely woman, reigns31 alone.
Thy ready wit the word will soon supply,
May its approval beam in that soft eye!
She cast her eye over it, pondered, caught the meaning, read it through again to be quite certain, and quite mistress of the lines, and then passing it to Harriet, sat happily smiling, and saying to herself, while Harriet was puzzling over the paper in all the confusion of hope and dulness, `Very well, Mr. Elton, very well indeed. I have read worse charades. Courtship - a very good hint. I give you credit for it. This is feeling your way. This is saying very plainly - ``Pray, Miss Smith, give me leave to pay my addresses to you. Approve my charade and my intentions in the same glance.''
May its approval beam in that soft eye!
Harriet exactly. Soft is the very word for her eye - of all epithets32, the justest that could be given.
Thy ready wit the word will soon supply.
Humph - Harriet's ready wit! All the better. A man must be very much in love, indeed, to describe her so. Ah! Mr. Knightley, I wish you had the benefit of this; I think this would convince you. For once in your life you would be obliged to own yourself mistaken. An excellent charade indeed! and very much to the purpose. Things must come to a crisis soon now.'
She was obliged to break off from these very pleasant observations, which were otherwise of a sort to run into great length, by the eagerness of Harriet's wondering questions.
`What can it be, Miss Woodhouse? - what can it be? I have not an idea - I cannot guess it in the least. What can it possibly be? Do try to find it out, Miss Woodhouse. Do help me. I never saw any thing so hard. Is it kingdom? I wonder who the friend was - and who could be the young lady. Do you think it is a good one? Can it be woman?
And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.
Can it be Neptune33?
Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!
Or a trident? or a mermaid34? or a shark? Oh, no! shark is only one syllable35. It must be very clever, or he would not have brought it. Oh! Miss Woodhouse, do you think we shall ever find it out?'
`Mermaids and sharks! Nonsense! My dear Harriet, what are you thinking of? Where would be the use of his bringing us a charade made by a friend upon a mermaid or a shark? Give me the paper and listen.
For Miss - - read Miss Smith.
My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.
That is court.
Another view of man, my second brings;
Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!
That is ship; - plain as it can be. - Now for the cream.
But ah! united, (courtship, you know,) what reverse we have!
Man's boasted power and freedom, all are flown.
Lord of the earth and sea, he bends a slave,
And woman, lovely woman, reigns alone.
A very proper compliment! - and then follows the application, which I think, my dear Harriet, you cannot find much difficulty in comprehending. Read it in comfort to yourself. There can be no doubt of its being written for you and to you.'
Harriet could not long resist so delightful36 a persuasion37. She read the concluding lines, and was all flutter and happiness. She could not speak. But she was not wanted to speak. It was enough for her to feel. Emma spoke17 for her.
`There is so pointed38, and so particular a meaning in this compliment,' said she, `that I cannot have a doubt as to Mr. Elton's intentions. You are his object - and you will soon receive the completest proof of it. I thought it must be so. I thought I could not be so deceived; but now, it is clear; the state of his mind is as clear and decided39, as my wishes on the subject have been ever since I knew you. Yes, Harriet, just so long have I been wanting the very circumstance to happen what has happened. I could never tell whether an attachment between you and Mr. Elton were most desirable or most natural. Its probability and its eligibility40 have really so equalled each other! I am very happy. I congratulate you, my dear Harriet, with all my heart. This is an attachment which a woman may well feel pride in creating. This is a connexion which offers nothing but good. It will give you every thing that you want - consideration, independence, a proper home - it will fix you in the centre of all your real friends, close to Hartfield and to me, and confirm our intimacy41 for ever. This, Harriet, is an alliance which can never raise a blush in either of us.'
`Dear Miss Woodhouse!' - and `Dear Miss Woodhouse,' was all that Harriet, with many tender embraces could articulate at first; but when they did arrive at something more like conversation, it was sufficiently42 clear to her friend that she saw, felt, anticipated, and remembered just as she ought. Mr. Elton's superiority had very ample acknowledgment.
`Whatever you say is always right,' cried Harriet, `and therefore I suppose, and believe, and hope it must be so; but otherwise I could not have imagined it. It is so much beyond any thing I deserve. Mr. Elton, who might marry any body! There cannot be two opinions about him. He is so very superior. Only think of those sweet verses - `To Miss - -.' Dear me, how clever! - Could it really be meant for me?'
`I cannot make a question, or listen to a question about that. It is a certainty. Receive it on my judgment43. It is a sort of prologue44 to the play, a motto to the chapter; and will be soon followed by matter-of-fact prose.'
`It is a sort of thing which nobody could have expected. I am sure, a month ago, I had no more idea myself! - The strangest things do take place!'
`When Miss Smiths and Mr. Eltons get acquainted - they do indeed - and really it is strange; it is out of the common course that what is so evidently, so palpably desirable - what courts the pre-arrangement of other people, should so immediately shape itself into the proper form. You and Mr. Elton are by situation called together; you belong to one another by every circumstance of your respective homes. Your marrying will be equal to the match at Randalls. There does seem to be a something in the air of Hartfield which gives love exactly the right direction, and sends it into the very channel where it ought to flow.
The course of true love never did run smooth -
A Hartfield edition of Shakespeare would have a long note on that passage.'
`That Mr. Elton should really be in love with me, - me, of all people, who did not know him, to speak to him, at Michaelmas! And he, the very handsomest man that ever was, and a man that every body looks up to, quite like Mr. Knightley! His company so sought after, that every body says he need not eat a single meal by himself if he does not chuse it; that he has more invitations than there are days in the week. And so excellent in the Church! Miss Nash has put down all the texts he has ever preached from since he came to Highbury. Dear me! When I look back to the first time I saw him! How little did I think! - The two Abbots and I ran into the front room and peeped through the blind when we heard he was going by, and Miss Nash came and scolded us away, and staid to look through herself; however, she called me back presently, and let me look too, which was very good-natured. And how beautiful we thought he looked! He was arm-in-arm with Mr. Cole.'
`This is an alliance which, whoever - whatever your friends may be, must be agreeable to them, provided at least they have common sense; and we are not to be addressing our conduct to fools. If they are anxious to see you happily married, here is a man whose amiable45 character gives every assurance of it; - if they wish to have you settled in the same country and circle which they have chosen to place you in, here it will be accomplished46; and if their only object is that you should, in the common phrase, be well married, here is the comfortable fortune, the respectable establishment, the rise in the world which must satisfy them.'
`Yes, very true. How nicely you talk; I love to hear you. You understand every thing. You and Mr. Elton are one as clever as the other. This charade! - If I had studied a twelvemonth, I could never have made any thing like it.'
`I thought he meant to try his skill, by his manner of declining it yesterday.'
`I do think it is, without exception, the best charade I ever read.'
`I never read one more to the purpose, certainly.'
`It is as long again as almost all we have had before.'
`I do not consider its length as particularly in its favour. Such things in general cannot be too short.'
Harriet was too intent on the lines to hear. The most satisfactory comparisons were rising in her mind.
`It is one thing,' said she, presently - her cheeks in a glow - `to have very good sense in a common way, like every body else, and if there is any thing to say, to sit down and write a letter, and say just what you must, in a short way; and another, to write verses and charades like this.'
Emma could not have desired a more spirited rejection47 of Mr. Martin's prose.
`Such sweet lines!' continued Harriet - `these two last! - But how shall I ever be able to return the paper, or say I have found it out? - Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what can we do about that?'
`Leave it to me. You do nothing. He will be here this evening, I dare say, and then I will give it him back, and some nonsense or other will pass between us, and you shall not be committed. - Your soft eyes shall chuse their own time for beaming. Trust to me.'
`Oh! Miss Woodhouse, what a pity that I must not write this beautiful charade into my book! I am sure I have not got one half so good.'
`Leave out the two last lines, and there is no reason why you should not write it into your book.'
`Oh! but those two lines are' -
- `The best of all. Granted; - for private enjoyment48; and for private enjoyment keep them. They are not at all the less written you know, because you divide them. The couplet does not cease to be, nor does its meaning change. But take it away, and all appropriation49 ceases, and a very pretty gallant22 charade remains50, fit for any collection. Depend upon it, he would not like to have his charade slighted, much better than his passion. A poet in love must be encouraged in both capacities, or neither. Give me the book, I will write it down, and then there can be no possible reflection on you.'
Harriet submitted, though her mind could hardly separate the parts, so as to feel quite sure that her friend were not writing down a declaration of love. It seemed too precious an offering for any degree of publicity51.
`I shall never let that book go out of my own hands,' said she.
`Very well,' replied Emma; `a most natural feeling; and the longer it lasts, the better I shall be pleased. But here is my father coming: you will not object to my reading the charade to him. It will be giving him so much pleasure! He loves any thing of the sort, and especially any thing that pays woman a compliment. He has the tenderest spirit of gallantry towards us all! - You must let me read it to him.'
Harriet looked grave.
`My dear Harriet, you must not refine too much upon this charade. - You will betray your feelings improperly52, if you are too conscious and too quick, and appear to affix53 more meaning, or even quite all the meaning which may be affixed54 to it. Do not be overpowered by such a little tribute of admiration. If he had been anxious for secrecy55, he would not have left the paper while I was by; but he rather pushed it towards me than towards you. Do not let us be too solemn on the business. He has encouragement enough to proceed, without our sighing out our souls over this charade.'
`Oh! no - I hope I shall not be ridiculous about it. Do as you please.'
Mr. Woodhouse came in, and very soon led to the subject again, by the recurrence56 of his very frequent inquiry57 of `Well, my dears, how does your book go on? - Have you got any thing fresh?'
`Yes, papa; we have something to read you, something quite fresh. A piece of paper was found on the table this morning - (dropt, we suppose, by a fairy) - containing a very pretty charade, and we have just copied it in.'
She read it to him, just as he liked to have any thing read, slowly and distinctly, and two or three times over, with explanations of every part as she proceeded - and he was very much pleased, and, as she had foreseen, especially struck with the complimentary58 conclusion.
`Aye, that's very just, indeed, that's very properly said. Very true. ``Woman, lovely woman.'' It is such a pretty charade, my dear, that I can easily guess what fairy brought it. - Nobody could have written so prettily59, but you, Emma.'
Emma only nodded, and smiled. - After a little thinking, and a very tender sigh, he added,
`Ah! it is no difficulty to see who you take after! Your dear mother was so clever at all those things! If I had but her memory! But I can remember nothing; - not even that particular riddle which you have heard me mention; I can only recollect the first stanza60; and there are several.
Kitty, a fair but frozen maid,
Kindled61 a flame I yet deplore62,
The hood-wink'd boy I called to aid,
Though of his near approach afraid,
So fatal to my suit before.
And that is all that I can recollect of it - but it is very clever all the way through. But I think, my dear, you said you had got it.'
`Yes, papa, it is written out in our second page. We copied it from the Elegant Extracts. It was Garrick's, you know.'
`Aye, very true. - I wish I could recollect more of it.
Kitty, a fair but frozen maid.
The name makes me think of poor Isabella; for she was very near being christened Catherine after her grandmama. I hope we shall have her here next week. Have you thought, my dear, where you shall put her - and what room there will be for the children?'
`Oh! yes - she will have her own room, of course; the room she always has; - and there is the nursery for the children, - just as usual, you know. Why should there be any change?'
`I do not know, my dear - but it is so long since she was here! - not since last Easter, and then only for a few days. - Mr. John Knightley's being a lawyer is very inconvenient63. - Poor Isabella! - she is sadly taken away from us all! - and how sorry she will be when she comes, not to see Miss Taylor here!'
`She will not be surprized, papa, at least.'
`I do not know, my dear. I am sure I was very much surprized when I first heard she was going to be married.'
`We must ask Mr. and Mrs. Weston to dine with us, while Isabella is here.'
`Yes, my dear, if there is time. - But - (in a very depressed64 tone) - she is coming for only one week. There will not be time for any thing.'
`It is unfortunate that they cannot stay longer - but it seems a case of necessity. Mr. John Knightley must be in town again on the 28th, and we ought to be thankful, papa, that we are to have the whole of the time they can give to the country, that two or three days are not to be taken out for the Abbey. Mr. Knightley promises to give up his claim this Christmas - though you know it is longer since they were with him, than with us.'
`It would be very hard, indeed, my dear, if poor Isabella were to be anywhere but at Hartfield.'
Mr. Woodhouse could never allow for Mr. Knightley's claims on his brother, or any body's claims on Isabella, except his own. He sat musing65 a little while, and then said,
`But I do not see why poor Isabella should be obliged to go back so soon, though he does. I think, Emma, I shall try and persuade her to stay longer with us. She and the children might stay very well.'
`Ah! papa - that is what you never have been able to accomplish, and I do not think you ever will. Isabella cannot bear to stay behind her husband.'
This was too true for contradiction. Unwelcome as it was, Mr. Woodhouse could only give a submissive sigh; and as Emma saw his spirits affected66 by the idea of his daughter's attachment to her husband, she immediately led to such a branch of the subject as must raise them.
`Harriet must give us as much of her company as she can while my brother and sister are here. I am sure she will be pleased with the children. We are very proud of the children, are not we, papa? I wonder which she will think the handsomest, Henry or John?'
`Aye, I wonder which she will. Poor little dears, how glad they will be to come. They are very fond of being at Hartfield, Harriet.'
`I dare say they are, sir. I am sure I do not know who is not.'
`Henry is a fine boy, but John is very like his mama. Henry is the eldest67, he was named after me, not after his father. John, the second, is named after his father. Some people are surprized, I believe, that the eldest was not, but Isabella would have him called Henry, which I thought very pretty of her. And he is a very clever boy, indeed. They are all remarkably68 clever; and they have so many pretty ways. They will come and stand by my chair, and say, ``Grandpapa, can you give me a bit of string?'' and once Henry asked me for a knife, but I told him knives were only made for grandpapas. I think their father is too rough with them very often.'
`He appears rough to you,' said Emma, `because you are so very gentle yourself; but if you could compare him with other papas, you would not think him rough. He wishes his boys to be active and hardy69; and if they misbehave, can give them a sharp word now and then; but he is an affectionate father - certainly Mr. John Knightley is an affectionate father. The children are all fond of him.'
`And then their uncle comes in, and tosses them up to the ceiling in a very frightful70 way!'
`But they like it, papa; there is nothing they like so much. It is such enjoyment to them, that if their uncle did not lay down the rule of their taking turns, whichever began would never give way to the other.'
`Well, I cannot understand it.'
`That is the case with us all, papa. One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.'
Later in the morning, and just as the girls were going to separate in preparation for the regular four o'clock dinner, the hero of this inimitable charade walked in again. Harriet turned away; but Emma could receive him with the usual smile, and her quick eye soon discerned in his the consciousness of having made a push - of having thrown a die; and she imagined he was come to see how it might turn up. His ostensible71 reason, however, was to ask whether Mr. Woodhouse's party could be made up in the evening without him, or whether he should be in the smallest degree necessary at Hartfield. If he were, every thing else must give way; but otherwise his friend Cole had been saying so much about his dining with him - had made such a point of it, that he had promised him conditionally72 to come.
Emma thanked him, but could not allow of his disappointing his friend on their account; her father was sure of his rubber. He re-urged - she re-declined; and he seemed then about to make his bow, when taking the paper from the table, she returned it -
`Oh! here is the charade you were so obliging as to leave with us; thank you for the sight of it. We admired it so much, that I have ventured to write it into Miss Smith's collection. Your friend will not take it amiss I hope. Of course I have not transcribed beyond the first eight lines.'
Mr. Elton certainly did not very well know what to say. He looked rather doubtingly - rather confused; said something about `honour,' - glanced at Emma and at Harriet, and then seeing the book open on the table, took it up, and examined it very attentively73. With the view of passing off an awkward moment, Emma smilingly said,
`You must make my apologies to your friend; but so good a charade must not be confined to one or two. He may be sure of every woman's approbation74 while he writes with such gallantry.'
`I have no hesitation75 in saying,' replied Mr. Elton, though hesitating a good deal while he spoke; `I have no hesitation in saying - at least if my friend feels at all as I do - I have not the smallest doubt that, could he see his little effusion honoured as I see it, (looking at the book again, and replacing it on the table), he would consider it as the proudest moment of his life.'
After this speech he was gone as soon as possible. Emma could not think it too soon; for with all his good and agreeable qualities, there was a sort of parade in his speeches which was very apt to incline her to laugh. She ran away to indulge the inclination76, leaving the tender and the sublime77 of pleasure to Harriet's share.
奈特利先生可以跟爱玛争吵，爱玛却不能责怪自己。奈特利先生很不高兴，过了好久才又来到哈特菲尔德。两人见面时，奈特利先生板着个脸，说明他还没有原谅爱玛。爱玛有些忐忑不安，但是并不后悔。恰恰相反，后几天的事态越来越证明她的计划和举动是正确的，她也越发感到得意。
画像配了个精美的画框，埃尔顿先生回来后，就稳妥地交给了爱玛。画像挂在公用起居室的壁炉上方，奈特利先生站起来观赏，一面还照规矩发出几声赞叹。至于哈丽特，虽说还很年轻，人也不大聪明，但是看得出来，她的感情越来越热烈，越来越稳固。爱玛很快就意识到，哈丽特所以还记得马丁先生，只是为了拿他与埃尔顿先生相对照，觉得埃尔顿先生不知比他强多少倍。
爱玛就想增长她这位小朋友的才智，便让她多看些有益的书籍，多听些有益的谈话，但每次充其量只是读上开头几章，然后就推到明天再说。比较起来，闲聊比读书容易得多，凭借想象来安排哈丽特的命运，比辛辛苦苦地开阔她的眼界，培养她的分析能力，要轻松愉快得多。眼下哈丽特唯一要动笔的事情，或者说要为晚年到来所做的的唯一的心理准备，就是搜集各种各样的谜语，把它们写到一个用热压纸制作的四开簿本上。这个簿本是爱玛装订的，里面饰有数码和纪念品图案。
在如今这个人人喜欢文学的时代，如此大张旗鼓地搜集谜语并不罕见。戈达德太太学校里的首席教师纳什小姐至少抄录了三百条谜语。哈丽特小姐先从她那里得到了启示，希望在伍德豪斯小姐的帮助下，能收集到更多的谜语。爱玛帮助她编写、回忆和挑选，加上哈丽特写得一手好字，这个集子也许要成为最棒的，不仅谜语多，而且式样精美。
对于这件事，伍德豪斯先生几乎像两位小姐一样兴致勃勃，他经常搜集点有价值的谜语，好让她们写进本本里。“我年轻的时候了解好多绝妙的谜语，不知怎么现在却记不起来了！不过，以后也许能回想起来。”最后总要说一声“基蒂，一个漂亮而冷漠的姑娘”。
伍德豪斯先生跟他的好朋友佩里谈过这件事，不想佩里眼下连一个谜语也没搜集到。他要求佩里留点意，只要四处多去收集，想必会有一定收获。
他女儿的想法跟他大不一样，认为用不着向海伯里的众人求教。她只找埃尔顿先生一个人帮忙，请他把他所能搜集到的各种各样的好谜语、好字谜，统统贡献出来。她高兴地发现，他的搜集工作做得一丝不苟。同时她还发现，他又十分谨慎，以他嘴里说出的谜语，没有一个不是奉迎女人的，没有一个不是恭维女人的。她们听他说过两三个极其绝妙的谜语。有一个众所周知的字谜，他想了半天才想起来，不禁欣喜若狂，便情绪激动地吟诵起来：我的前半截本义是苦恼，后半截则注定要感受苦恼；我的整体构成一副良药，能够减轻还能治愈那苦恼。（译注：谜底为“女人”，该词的英文(woman)由两部分组成，前部分(woe)，意为“悲哀”、“苦恼”，后部分(man)意为“男人”）
后来听说小姐们早已抄到了本子上，他又感到十分遗憾。
“你为什么不给我们亲自编一个呢，埃尔顿先生？”爱玛说道。“只有这样才能确保你的谜语是新颖的，而这对你来说是再容易不过了。”
“哦，不行！我长这么大，还从没编过谜语，几乎从没编过。我这个人愚笨极了！恐怕就连伍德豪斯小姐——”他顿了顿——“或者哈丽特小姐也唤不起我的灵感。”
然而就在第二天，有迹象表明他来了灵感。他上门稍待了一会，把一张纸条放在桌上就走了。他说纸条上有一个字谜，是他的一位朋友献给他所爱慕的年轻小姐的，可是爱玛一看他那神态，就知道那是他自己写的。
“我不是拿来供史密斯小姐收集的，”埃尔顿先生说。“这是我朋友的谜语，我没有权利随意交他人过目，不过也许你不妨可以看一看。”
这话主要是说给爱玛听的，而不是说给哈丽特听的，爱玛也能领会这一点。埃尔顿先生心里很不自在，觉得接触爱玛的目光比接触她朋友的目光来得容易。随后他就走了。又过了片刻。
“拿去吧，”爱玛脸上带着笑，把那张纸条推到哈丽特跟前，说道。“这是给你的。拿去吧。”
可是哈丽特的手在发抖，没法去拿，而爱玛又事事喜欢抢先，便自已拿过去看。
献给某小姐
字谜
前半截表现了帝王的荣华富贵，
既奢侈又安逸，不愧为大地之王！
后半截突然间摇身一变，
瞧啊，赫然成为海上霸王！
两截合起来可就倒了个个儿！
男子汉的堂堂威风丧失殆尽，‘陆海之王甘愿屈膝充当奴仆，
唯有淑女主宰一切威风凛凛。你聪敏过人定会很快找到答案，愿你温柔的眼中闪出恩准的光焰。
爱玛瞧了瞧字谜，想了想，悟出了意思，又看了一遍，好弄确切些，吃透字里行间的意思，然后递给哈丽特，乐滋滋笑吟吟地坐在那里，眼见哈丽特拿着纸条出神，心里挺着急，脑子却不开窍，不由得在想：“妙极了，埃尔顿先生，真是妙极了。我见过比这还蹩脚的字谜呢。‘求爱’（译注：英文字为courtship，其前半截court意为“宫廷”，后半截ship意为“轮船”）——这可泄露了你的天机。我真佩服你这一招。你那不过是试探，等于明言直语地说：‘史密斯小姐，请允许我向你求爱吧。猜出我的字谜，同时接受我的求爱。’
愿你温柔的眼中闪出恩准的光焰！
正是哈丽特。用‘温柔’形容她的眼睛，真是再确切不过——也是所能找到的最恰当的字眼。
你聪敏过人定会很快找到答案
哼——哈丽特聪敏过人！这倒也好。只有坠人情网的人，才会这样恭维她。啊！奈特利先生，但愿你能从中得到一点教益，我想这下你可要服了吧。你还从来没有认输过，这一次没法不认了。一个好绝妙的字谜呀！真是恰到好处。事情马上就要到关键时刻了。”
她就这样乐滋滋地寻思着，若是没有人打扰，还不知道要寻思多久呢，谁想哈丽特心里太着急，提出了一些问题，打断了她的思绪。
“伍德豪斯小姐，这能是个什么字呢？——这能是个什么字呢？我捉摸不透——压根儿猜不出来。这可能是什么字呢？快找出谜底来，伍德豪斯小姐。帮帮我的忙吧。我从没见过这么难猜的。是‘王国’吗？不知道这位朋友是谁——还有那位年轻小姐能是谁呀！你觉得这个字谜好吗？会是‘女人’吗？
唯有淑女主宰一切威风凛凛
会是天王星吗？
瞧啊，赫然成为海上霸王！
会是三叉戟？美人鱼？鲨鱼？哦，不对！鲨鱼只有一个音节。这个谜语一定编得很巧妙，不然他是不会拿出来的。哦！伍德豪斯小姐，你看我们猜得出来吗？”
“美人鱼和鲨鱼！真是胡说八道！亲爱的哈丽特，你想到哪儿去了？要是哪个朋友编个美人鱼或鲨鱼的谜语，那他拿给我们猜又有什么用呢？把纸拿给我，你听着。
“献给某小姐，足给史密斯小姐。
前半截表现了帝王的荣华富贵，
既奢侈叉安逸，不愧为大地之王！
这是‘王宫’。
后半截突然间摇身一变，
瞧啊，赫然成为海上霸王！
这足‘轮船’。真是再清楚不过了。下面是精华所在：
两截合起来（你知道是‘求婚’）可就倒了个个儿！
男子汉的堂堂威风丧失殆尽，
陆海之王甘愿屈膝充当奴仆，
唯有淑女主宰一切威风凛凛。
这是个恰如其分的恭维！接下来是用意所在，亲爱的哈丽特，我看你是不难领会的。你仔细地读一读。这无疑是为你写的，献给你的。”
这话说得既在理又令人高兴，哈丽特没法不信。她看了最后几行，不由得满心欢喜，激动不已。她说不出话来，不过也用不着说话，只要心领神会就行了。爱玛替她说话。
“这番恭维显然有个特别的意图，”她说，“因此我丝毫也不怀疑埃尔顿先生的用心。你是他的意中人，你马上就会得到确凿的证据。我早就料到一准是这么回事。我就知道我错不了。不过现在是一清二楚了：他已经打定了主意，心思再清楚不过了，自从我认识你以来，我一直抱着这样的希望。是呀，哈丽特，好久以来，我就是巴望出现这件好事。你和埃尔顿先生相好究竟是最称心如意，还是最合乎常情，我可说不上来。你们还真是既般配又有缘分！我好高兴啊，衷心地祝贺你，亲爱的哈丽特。哪个女人赢得这样的爱，都会感到庆幸。这可是一起美满的姻缘，你会得到你所需要的一切——既有人体贴，又能独立自主，还有一个舒适的家——这样一来，你就可以生活在好友之间，离哈特菲尔德和我这么近，可以确保我们永远亲密无间。哈丽特，这是一起我们俩永远不会感到羞愧的姻缘。”
哈丽特起初不知道说什么是好，只叫了一声“亲爱的伍德豪斯小姐”，又一声“亲爱的伍德豪斯小姐”，一边轻柔地拥抱了她好几次。后来两人终于谈开了，爱玛才发现，但凡该看到、该感到、该期待、该记住的事，哈丽特倒是都看到、都感到、都期待、都记住了。她充分认识到了埃尔顿先生的优越条件。
“你的话从来不错，”哈丽特大声说道，“因此我认为，也相信，也希望，事情一定是这样。不然的话，我还真不敢这么想。我压根儿就不配。埃尔顿先生什么女人娶不到呀！对他是不会有什么异议的。他是那样了不起。想想那些美妙的诗句——《献给某小姐》。天哪，写得多好啊！当真是写给我的吗？”
“对此我是不会提出疑问的，也不会听信别人发出异议。这是毫无疑问的。你就相信我的判断好啦。这是一出戏的开场白，一章书的导言，接下来就是实在的故事。”
“这是一桩谁都料想不到的事情。一个月以前，我自己都没料想到啊！天底下尽出稀奇事！”
“史密斯小姐与埃尔顿先生结识——事情确实如此，倒还真有些稀奇呢。明明是天造地设的一对，本来需要别人从中撮合，却一下子有了眉目，这就非同寻常了。你和埃尔顿先生有缘走到一起了。从你们两家的情况看．还真是门当户对。你们两个结为夫妻，真可以跟兰多尔斯的那一对相媲美。看来哈特菲尔德的风水比较好，有情人总要来相会，顺顺当当地结成良缘。
真正的爱情从不是一帆风顺（译注：引自莎士比亚《仲夏夜之梦》第一幕第一场）
哈特菲尔德要出版《莎士比亚戏剧集》，就得对这句话作一条长长的注释。”
“埃尔顿先生居然真会爱上我，偏偏爱上了我，我在米迦勒节时还不认识他，都没跟他说过话呢！而他又是个顶顶英俊的美男子，一个谁都看得起的人，跟奈特利先生一样！大家都想跟他在一起，说他要是乐意的话，哪一顿饭也不用一个人单独吃，还说一周七天，他接到的邀请却不止这个数。他还好会讲道啊！他来海伯里以后所讲的道文，纳什小姐全给记下来了。天哪！回想我第一次见到他时，脑子里什么也没想呀！我跟艾博特家的两姐妹听说他路过，便连忙跑进客厅，从窗帘缝里往外偷看，不想纳什小姐赶来把我们轰开了，而她自己却待在那里往外瞧。不过，她马上又把我叫回来了，让我跟她一起瞧，看她心眼多好。我们都觉得他英俊极啦！他跟科尔先生臂挽着臂。”
“不管你的朋友是什么人，只要起码有点头脑，就会觉得这是一起良缘，而我们也不用把我们的事说给傻瓜听。如果你那些朋友急于想看见你嫁给一个能让你幸福的人，这里就有一个人，他性情和蔼可亲，能百分之百地确保你幸福；如果他们希望把你安置在一个合他们心意的区域圈子里，这里就能实现他们的心愿；如果用通俗的话讲，他们的目标就是要叫你结一门好亲事，那这里就是个体面的归宿，让你有足够的财产，保你出人头地，他们一定会很满意。”
“是呀，一点不错。你说话真动听，我就爱听你说话。你什么都懂。你和埃尔顿先生都是聪明人。这个字谜真妙啊！我就是学上一年，也编不出这么好的字谜。”
“看他昨天推说不行的样子，我还以为他想显显本领呢。”
“我的确认为这是我所读过的最好的字谜。”
“我还真没读过这么恰到好处的字谜呢。”
“比我们以前读过的字谜长一倍。”
“我并不觉得它的长度是个特别的优点。这种字谜一般还不能太短。”
哈丽特一心在琢磨字谜，顾不得听朋友说话。她脑子里冒出了最惬意的比较。
“一个人要是跟大家一样，”隔了不久她说道，脸也跟着红起来了，“在一般意义上还很聪明，等到心里有话要说的时候，便坐下来写封信，只是把要说的话三言两语地写下来，这是一码事；而要写出这样的诗句和字谜来，可就是另一码事了。”
哈丽特如此贬低马丁先生的信，真让爱玛求之不得。
“那么漂亮的诗句！”哈丽特接着说道。“特别是那最后两行！可我怎么能把纸条还回去，说我猜出来了？哦！伍德豪斯小姐，我们该怎么办啊？”
“交给我好啦，你不用管。我想他今晚可能要来，到时候我把这东西还给他，我们两人要闲聊一番，你就不要介入。你要选择适当时机，让两眼闪烁出脉脉柔情。相信我好啦。”
“哦！伍德豪斯小姐，我没法把这么漂亮的字谜抄到本子里，多么可惜呀！r我现有的，字谜没一个及得上这一半好。”
“去掉最后两行，没有什么不能抄到你的本子里。”
“哦！可那最后两行是——”
“——全篇的精华。这我承认。可以私下欣赏嘛。记在心里私下欣赏。你要知道，不会因为你少抄了两句，这两句就不存在了。这两句不会消失，意思也不会改变。不过，就是把这两句去掉，不再限定献给哪个人，剩下的还是一个非常美妙的字谜，可以收到任何集子里。你要知道，他不愿意别人瞧不起他的字谜，更不愿意别人蔑视他的情感。诗人坠人了情网，要么两方面的能力都得到鼓励，要么哪种能力都别提。把本子给我，让我把它抄下来，这样人家就不会说你什么啦。”
哈丽特依从了，，不过她不忍心把那两行割舍掉，认为她的朋友抄写的不是一份爱情宣言。这像是一份万分珍贵的信物，丝毫也不能公开。
“我要永远珍藏这个本子，”她说。
“好，”爱玛答道，“这是一种十分自然的心情，持续得越久，我就越高兴。瞧，我父亲来了，我把字谜念给他听你不介意吧？他听了该有多高兴啊！他可喜欢这种东西啦，特别是恭维女性的。他对我们慈爱极啦！你得让我念给他听。”
哈丽特板起了脸。
“亲爱的哈丽特，你可不要对这个字谜想得太多了。如果你看得过重，心里太着急，露出你悟出了弦外之音，甚至猜透了字谜用意的模样，那你就会不得体地泄露你的心曲。人家只是做了个小小的爱慕的表示，不要受宠若惊嘛。他要是急于保密的话，就不会当着我的面拿出纸条来。其实他是递给我，而不是递给你的。我们对这件事不要太认真了。我们就是不为这字谜所陶醉，他也会有足够的勇气继续下去。”
“哦！不行——我可不能为这字谜惹人笑话。你想怎么办就怎么办吧。”
，伍德豪斯先生进来了，问起了他常问的那句话，马上又扯起了那个话题：“亲爱的，你们的集子怎么样啦？收集到新东西了吗？”
“是的，爸爸，我们给你念一条，是你从没见过的。今天早上我们见到桌上有张纸条——（也许是仙子丢下的）——上面有一个好棒的字谜，我们刚刚抄下来。”
爱玛念给父亲听，按他一贯的要求，念得又慢又清楚，而且念了两三遍，一边念一边解释——伍德豪斯先生听了很高兴，而且正如爱玛所料，他特别喜欢最后那两句赠词。
“啊，还真是这么回事呢。说得很有道理。一点不错。‘淑女’。亲爱的，这可是个绝妙的字谜呀，我能轻易地猜出是哪个仙子带来的。除了你爱玛，谁能写得这么好啊。”
爱玛只是点了点头，笑了笑。伍德豪斯先生想了一下，轻轻叹息了一声，接着说： “嗨！一看就知道你像谁！你妈妈做这些事可是样样都灵啊！我要是能有她那样的记性就好了！可惜我什么也记不起来，就连你听我说过的那个谜语也记不住，只能记得头一节，其实也就那么几节。基蒂是个漂亮而冷漠的姑娘， 激起我一片柔情却又徒自悲伤，我求爱神前来相助，虽然他以前曾坏过我的好事， 我又怕他接近我。
我只能记得这一段——整个谜语编得非常巧妙。不过，亲爱的，你好像说过你都抄下来了。”
“是的，爸爸，抄在第二页上。我们是从《美文集》里抄来的。你知道，那是加里克（译注：戴维·加里克（1717-1779），系英国演员、戏剧家，以演莎剧《理查三世》成名，并作有二十余部剧本）编的。”
“是呀，一点不错。我要是能多记得一点就好了。
基蒂是个漂亮而冷漠的姑娘。
这名字使我想起了可怜的伊莎贝拉，当初给她起名字的时候，差一点让她随祖母叫凯瑟琳。但愿她下个星期能来。亲爱的，你有没有想好让她住在哪儿，还有几个孩子住在哪个房间？”
“哦！想好了——她当然还住她的房间，她以前总住的那个房间。孩子们嘛，你要知道，跟往常一样，还住幼儿室。何必再变动呢？”
“我也说不准，亲爱的——她可是有很长时间没回来了！自从复活节以来就没再回来过，而复活节那次也只住了几天。约翰·奈特利先生当律师还真不方便。可怜的伊莎贝拉！她就这么可怜巴巴地跟我们大伙拆开了！她回来了见不到泰勒小姐，心里该有多难过啊！”
“爸爸，她至少不会感到惊讶吧。”
“我也说不准，亲爱的。当初我听说泰勒小姐要出嫁的时候，还真感到大为惊讶呢。”
“等伊莎贝拉回来了，我们可得请韦斯顿夫妇来吃饭呀。”
“亲爱的，要是有时间是要请的。不过——（以非常低沉的语调）——她只回来一个星期，什么事也来不及干。”
“可惜他们不能多住几天，不过这好像也是迫不得已的事。约翰·奈特利先生二十八日必须回到伦敦，我们应该感到庆幸的是，爸爸，他们这次来乡下可以一直跟我们在一起，用不着去寺院住上两三天。奈特利先生答应，今年圣诞节就不请他们去了——不过你要知道，他们跟他分别的时间，比跟我们分别的时间还长。”
“亲爱的，要是可怜的伊莎贝拉不待在哈特菲尔德，而去别的地方，那可真叫人心里不是滋味啊。”
伍德豪斯先生决不会容忍奈特利先生请他弟弟去，也不会容忍任何人邀请伊莎贝拉，只有他自己才有这个权利。他坐在那里沉思了一会，然后说： “不管约翰·奈特利先生怎么想，我看可怜的伊莎贝拉用不着这么急急忙忙地回去。爱玛，我想尽力劝说她多住些日子。她和孩子们完全可以留下来。”
“唉！爸爸，这事儿你以前可是从没办成过，我看你以后也办不成。伊莎贝拉是不会忍心让丈夫一个人走的。”
这是实话，没什么好说的。伍德豪斯先生虽然心里不快，也只能发出一声无奈的叹息。爱玛眼见父亲因为嫌女儿眷恋丈夫而影响情绪，便立刻转换话题，好逗他高兴起来。
“等姐姐和姐夫来了，哈丽特一定会常来我们家的。她肯定会喜欢那几个孩子的。这些孩子可真是我们的宝贝呀，对吧，爸爸？不知道她觉得哪个长得更漂亮，是亨利还是约翰？”
“是呀，我也不知道她觉得哪个更漂亮。可怜的小宝贝，他们一定非常乐意来。他们就喜欢到哈特菲尔德来，哈丽特。”
“他们当然喜欢来啦，先生。我还真不知道有谁不喜欢的。”
“亨利这孩子长得很漂亮，约翰长得很像他妈妈。亨利是老大，取了我的名字，而不是他父亲的名字。老二约翰取了他父亲的名字。有些人想必会奇怪，老大怎么不取他父亲的名字，不过伊莎贝拉给他取名亨利，我看也挺好的。他的确是个聪明孩子。那些孩子个个都非常聪明，都有许多招人喜欢的地方。他们常爱站到我椅子旁，说：‘外公，能给我一小段绳子吗？’有一次亨利跟我要一把刀子，我对他说刀子是专供当外公的人用的。我觉得他们的父亲往往待他们太粗暴了。”
“你觉得他粗暴，”爱玛说，“因为你自己非常和蔼。你要是拿他跟别的爸爸比一比，就会觉得他并不粗暴。他希望自己的孩子生龙活虎，他们不乖的时候，他偶尔也会骂上一两句，小过他可足个慈父——约翰·奈特利先生的确是个慈父，孩子们个个喜欢他。”
“还有他们的那个们父，一进屋就把他们往天花板上抛，多吓人啊！”
“可他们还就喜欢让他抛呢，爸爸，没有什么比这更让他们开心的事啦。他们觉得开心极了，要不是伯伯定下个轮流来的规矩，不管谁一旦开了头，就决不会让给另一个人。”
“唉，我真搞不明白。”
“我们大家都一样，爸爸。天下有一半人搞不明白另一半人的乐趣。”
后来，就在两位小姐行将分手，准备吃四点钟那顿正餐的时候，那个无与伦比的字谜的男主角又走进来了。哈丽特赶忙转过脸去，爱玛倒能像往常一样，对他笑脸相迎，她那敏锐的目光，当即从他眼里看出，他意识到自己采取了果决的行动——把骰子掷了出去。爱玛心想他是来看看会有什么结果的，不料他却来了个托诃，说他来问问晚上他是否可以不来参加伍德豪斯先生的聚会，哈特菲尔德是否有用得着他的地方。要是有，别的事都得让路；要是没有，他的朋友科尔一直在念叨要请他吃饭——真是盛情难却，他答应只要抽得开身，一定前去做客。
爱玛感谢他的好意，但却不能容忍他为了他们而扫了朋友的兴。她父亲肯定有人跟他玩牌。埃尔顿先生再次恳请——爱玛再次谢绝，埃尔顿先生刚要鞠躬告辞，爱玛从桌上拿起那张纸条，还给了他。
“啊！这是你一片好心让我们看的字谜，我们已经拜读过了，谢谢。我们非常喜欢，我冒昧地把它抄进了史密斯小姐的集子里。希望你的朋友不要介意。当然，我只抄了前八行。”
埃尔顿先生真不知道说什么好。他看上去满腹疑惑——十分困窘，说了一声“不胜荣幸”之类的话，看看爱玛，瞧瞧哈丽特，随即望见了桌上的集子，拿起来仔细端详。爱玛有意要打消这尴尬局面，便笑吟吟地说道： “你一定要代我向你的朋友表示歉意。不过，这么好的字谜也不能只让一两个人知道。他写得这么缠绵多情，定会博得所有女人的喜欢。”
“我可以毫不犹豫地说，”埃尔顿先生说道，不过他说起话来支支吾吾，“我可以毫不犹豫地说——至少是我的朋友跟我想法一致的话——他要是能像我这样，看到他这首小诗受到这般赞颂，”说着又看了看本子，然后放回到桌上，“他定会觉得这是他一生中最辉煌的时刻。”
说完这话，他就急忙走了。爱玛也巴不得他快走，虽说他有很多讨人喜欢的地方，但他说起话来有些咋咋呼呼，真让她忍俊不禁。她跑到一旁去笑个痛快，让哈丽特沉浸在温馨、美妙的迷梦之中。
收听单词发音 |
1
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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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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transcribing
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| （用不同的录音手段）转录( transcribe的现在分词 )； 改编（乐曲）（以适应他种乐器或声部）； 抄写； 用音标标出（声音） | |
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10
riddles
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| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
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11
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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12
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
ciphers
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| n.密码( cipher的名词复数 )；零；不重要的人；无价值的东西 | |
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14
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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15
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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16
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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17
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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18
enigmas
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| n.难于理解的问题、人、物、情况等，奥秘( enigma的名词复数 ) | |
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19
charade
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| n.用动作等表演文字意义的字谜游戏 | |
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20
charades
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| n.伪装( charade的名词复数 )；猜字游戏 | |
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21
conundrums
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| n.谜，猜不透的难题，难答的问题( conundrum的名词复数 ) | |
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22
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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23
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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24
sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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25
antidote
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| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
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26
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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27
transcribed
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| （用不同的录音手段）转录( transcribe的过去式和过去分词 )； 改编（乐曲）（以适应他种乐器或声部）； 抄写； 用音标标出（声音） | |
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28
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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29
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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30
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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31
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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32
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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33
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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34
mermaid
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| n.美人鱼 | |
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35
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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36
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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37
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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38
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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40
eligibility
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| n.合格，资格 | |
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41
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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42
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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43
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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44
prologue
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| n.开场白，序言；开端，序幕 | |
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45
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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46
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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47
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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48
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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49
appropriation
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| n.拨款，批准支出 | |
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50
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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51
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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52
improperly
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| 不正确地，不适当地 | |
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53
affix
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| n.附件，附录 vt.附贴，盖(章)，签署 | |
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54
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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55
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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56
recurrence
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| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
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57
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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58
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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59
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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60
stanza
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| n.（诗）节，段 | |
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61
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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62
deplore
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| vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾 | |
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63
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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64
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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65
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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66
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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67
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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68
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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69
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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70
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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71
ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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72
conditionally
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| adv. 有条件地 | |
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73
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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74
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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75
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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76
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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77
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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