Mr. Knightley was to dine with them - rather against the inclination1 of Mr. Woodhouse, who did not like that any one should share with him in Isabella's first day. Emma's sense of right however had decided2 it; and besides the consideration of what was due to each brother, she had particular pleasure, from the circumstance of the late disagreement between Mr. Knightley and herself, in procuring3 him the proper invitation.
She hoped they might now become friends again. She thought it was time to make up. Making-up indeed would not do. She certainly had not been in the wrong, and he would never own that he had. Concession4 must be out of the question; but it was time to appear to forget that they had ever quarrelled; and she hoped it might rather assist the restoration of friendship, that when he came into the room she had one of the children with her - the youngest, a nice little girl about eight months old, who was now making her first visit to Hartfield, and very happy to be danced about in her aunt's arms. It did assist; for though he began with grave looks and short questions, he was soon led on to talk of them all in the usual way, and to take the child out of her arms with all the unceremoniousness of perfect amity5. Emma felt they were friends again; and the conviction giving her at first great satisfaction, and then a little sauciness6, she could not help saying, as he was admiring the baby,
`What a comfort it is, that we think alike about our nephews and nieces. As to men and women, our opinions are sometimes very different; but with regard to these children, I observe we never disagree.'
`If you were as much guided by nature in your estimate of men and women, and as little under the power of fancy and whim7 in your dealings with them, as you are where these children are concerned, we might always think alike.'
`To be sure - our discordancies must always arise from my being in the wrong.'
`Yes,' said he, smiling - `and reason good. I was sixteen years old when you were born.'
`A material difference then,' she replied - `and no doubt you were much my superior in judgment8 at that period of our lives; but does not the lapse9 of one-and-twenty years bring our understandings a good deal nearer?'
`Yes - a good deal nearer.'
`But still, not near enough to give me a chance of being right, if we think differently.'
`I have still the advantage of you by sixteen years' experience, and by not being a pretty young woman and a spoiled child. Come, my dear Emma, let us be friends, and say no more about it. Tell your aunt, little Emma, that she ought to set you a better example than to be renewing old grievances10, and that if she were not wrong before, she is now.'
`That's true,' she cried - `very true. Little Emma, grow up a better woman than your aunt. Be infinitely11 cleverer and not half so conceited12. Now, Mr. Knightley, a word or two more, and I have done. As far as good intentions went, we were both right, and I must say that no effects on my side of the argument have yet proved wrong. I only want to know that Mr. Martin is not very, very bitterly disappointed.'
`A man cannot be more so,' was his short, full answer.
`Ah! - Indeed I am very sorry. - Come, shake hands with me.'
This had just taken place and with great cordiality, when John Knightley made his appearance, and `How d'ye do, George?' and `John, how are you?' succeeded in the true English style, burying under a calmness that seemed all but indifference13, the real attachment14 which would have led either of them, if requisite15, to do every thing for the good of the other.
The evening was quiet and conversable, as Mr. Woodhouse declined cards entirely16 for the sake of comfortable talk with his dear Isabella, and the little party made two natural divisions; on one side he and his daughter; on the other the two Mr. Knightleys; their subjects totally distinct, or very rarely mixing - and Emma only occasionally joining in one or the other.
The brothers talked of their own concerns and pursuits, but principally of those of the elder, whose temper was by much the most communicative, and who was always the greater talker. As a magistrate17, he had generally some point of law to consult John about, or, at least, some curious anecdote18 to give; and as a farmer, as keeping in hand the home-farm at Donwell, he had to tell what every field was to bear next year, and to give all such local information as could not fail of being interesting to a brother whose home it had equally been the longest part of his life, and whose attachments19 were strong. The plan of a drain, the change of a fence, the felling of a tree, and the destination of every acre for wheat, turnips20, or spring corn, was entered into with as much equality of interest by John, as his cooler manners rendered possible; and if his willing brother ever left him any thing to inquire about, his inquiries21 even approached a tone of eagerness.
While they were thus comfortably occupied, Mr. Woodhouse was enjoying a full flow of happy regrets and fearful affection with his daughter.
`My poor dear Isabella,' said he, fondly taking her hand, and interrupting, for a few moments, her busy labours for some one of her five children - `How long it is, how terribly long since you were here! And how tired you must be after your journey! You must go to bed early, my dear - and I recommend a little gruel22 to you before you go. - You and I will have a nice basin of gruel together. My dear Emma, suppose we all have a little gruel.'
Emma could not suppose any such thing, knowing as she did, that both the Mr. Knightleys were as unpersuadable on that article as herself; - and two basins only were ordered. After a little more discourse23 in praise of gruel, with some wondering at its not being taken every evening by every body, he proceeded to say, with an air of grave reflection,
`It was an awkward business, my dear, your spending the autumn at South End instead of coming here. I never had much opinion of the sea air.'
`Mr. Wingfield most strenuously24 recommended it, sir - or we should not have gone. He recommended it for all the children, but particularly for the weakness in little Bella's throat, - both sea air and bathing.'
`Ah! my dear, but Perry had many doubts about the sea doing her any good; and as to myself, I have been long perfectly25 convinced, though perhaps I never told you so before, that the sea is very rarely of use to any body. I am sure it almost killed me once.'
`Come, come,' cried Emma, feeling this to be an unsafe subject, `I must beg you not to talk of the sea. It makes me envious26 and miserable27; - I who have never seen it! South End is prohibited, if you please. My dear Isabella, I have not heard you make one inquiry28 about Mr. Perry yet; and he never forgets you.'
`Oh! good Mr. Perry - how is he, sir?'
`Why, pretty well; but not quite well. Poor Perry is bilious29, and he has not time to take care of himself - he tells me he has not time to take care of himself - which is very sad - but he is always wanted all round the country. I suppose there is not a man in such practice anywhere. But then there is not so clever a man any where.'
`And Mrs. Perry and the children, how are they? do the children grow? I have a great regard for Mr. Perry. I hope he will be calling soon. He will be so pleased to see my little ones.'
`I hope he will be here to-morrow, for I have a question or two to ask him about myself of some consequence. And, my dear, whenever he comes, you had better let him look at little Bella's throat.'
`Oh! my dear sir, her throat is so much better that I have hardly any uneasiness about it. Either bathing has been of the greatest service to her, or else it is to be attributed to an excellent embrocation of Mr. Wingfield's, which we have been applying at times ever since August.'
`It is not very likely, my dear, that bathing should have been of use to her - and if I had known you were wanting an embrocation, I would have spoken to -
`You seem to me to have forgotten Mrs. and Miss Bates,' said Emma, `I have not heard one inquiry after them.'
`Oh! the good Bateses - I am quite ashamed of myself - but you mention them in most of your letters. I hope they are quite well. Good old Mrs. Bates - I will call upon her to-morrow, and take my children. - They are always so pleased to see my children. - And that excellent Miss Bates! - such thorough worthy30 people! - How are they, sir?'
`Why, pretty well, my dear, upon the whole. But poor Mrs. Bates had a bad cold about a month ago.'
`How sorry I am! But colds were never so prevalent as they have been this autumn. Mr. Wingfield told me that he has never known them more general or heavy - except when it has been quite an influenza31.'
`That has been a good deal the case, my dear; but not to the degree you mention. Perry says that colds have been very general, but not so heavy as he has very often known them in November. Perry does not call it altogether a sickly season.'
`No, I do not know that Mr. Wingfield considers it very sickly except -
`Ah! my poor dear child, the truth is, that in London it is always a sickly season. Nobody is healthy in London, nobody can be. It is a dreadful thing to have you forced to live there! so far off! - and the air so bad!'
`No, indeed - we are not at all in a bad air. Our part of London is very superior to most others! - You must not confound us with London in general, my dear sir. The neighbourhood of Brunswick Square is very different from almost all the rest. We are so very airy! I should be unwilling32, I own, to live in any other part of the town; - there is hardly any other that I could be satisfied to have my children in: but we are so remarkably33 airy! - Mr. Wingfield thinks the vicinity of Brunswick Square decidedly the most favourable34 as to air.'
`Ah! my dear, it is not like Hartfield. You make the best of it - but after you have been a week at Hartfield, you are all of you different creatures; you do not look like the same. Now I cannot say, that I think you are any of you looking well at present.'
`I am sorry to hear you say so, sir; but I assure you, excepting those little nervous head-aches and palpitations which I am never entirely free from anywhere, I am quite well myself; and if the children were rather pale before they went to bed, it was only because they were a little more tired than usual, from their journey and the happiness of coming. I hope you will think better of their looks to-morrow; for I assure you Mr. Wingfield told me, that he did not believe he had ever sent us off altogether, in such good case. I trust, at least, that you do not think Mr. Knightley looking ill,' turning her eyes with affectionate anxiety towards her husband.
`Middling, my dear; I cannot compliment you. I think Mr. John Knightley very far from looking well.'
`What is the matter, sir? - Did you speak to me?' cried Mr. John Knightley, hearing his own name.
`I am sorry to find, my love, that my father does not think you looking well - but I hope it is only from being a little fatigued35. I could have wished, however, as you know, that you had seen Mr. Wingfield before you left home.'
`My dear Isabella,' - exclaimed he hastily - `pray do not concern yourself about my looks. Be satisfied with doctoring and coddling yourself and the children, and let me look as I chuse.'
`I did not thoroughly36 understand what you were telling your brother,' cried Emma, `about your friend Mr. Graham's intending to have a bailiff from Scotland, to look after his new estate. What will it answer? Will not the old prejudice be too strong?'
And she talked in this way so long and successfully that, when forced to give her attention again to her father and sister, she had nothing worse to hear than Isabella's kind inquiry after Jane Fairfax; and Jane Fairfax, though no great favourite with her in general, she was at that moment very happy to assist in praising.
`That sweet, amiable37 Jane Fairfax!' said Mrs. John Knightley. - `It is so long since I have seen her, except now and then for a moment accidentally in town! What happiness it must be to her good old grandmother and excellent aunt, when she comes to visit them! I always regret excessively on dear Emma's account that she cannot be more at Highbury; but now their daughter is married, I suppose Colonel and Mrs. Campbell will not be able to part with her at all. She would be such a delightful38 companion for Emma.'
Mr. Woodhouse agreed to it all, but added,
`Our little friend Harriet Smith, however, is just such another pretty kind of young person. You will like Harriet. Emma could not have a better companion than Harriet.'
`I am most happy to hear it - but only Jane Fairfax one knows to be so very accomplished39 and superior! - and exactly Emma's age.'
This topic was discussed very happily, and others succeeded of similar moment, and passed away with similar harmony; but the evening did not close without a little return of agitation40. The gruel came and supplied a great deal to be said - much praise and many comments - undoubting decision of its wholesomeness41 for every constitution, and pretty severe Philippics upon the many houses where it was never met with tolerable; - but, unfortunately, among the failures which the daughter had to instance, the most recent, and therefore most prominent, was in her own cook at South End, a young woman hired for the time, who never had been able to understand what she meant by a basin of nice smooth gruel, thin, but not too thin. Often as she had wished for and ordered it, she had never been able to get any thing tolerable. Here was a dangerous opening.
`Ah!' said Mr. Woodhouse, shaking his head and fixing his eyes on her with tender concern. - The ejaculation in Emma's ear expressed, `Ah! there is no end of the sad consequences of your going to South End. It does not bear talking of.' And for a little while she hoped he would not talk of it, and that a silent rumination42 might suffice to restore him to the relish43 of his own smooth gruel. After an interval44 of some minutes, however, he began with,
`I shall always be very sorry that you went to the sea this autumn, instead of coming here.'
`But why should you be sorry, sir? - I assure you, it did the children a great deal of good.'
`And, moreover, if you must go to the sea, it had better not have been to South End. South End is an unhealthy place. Perry was surprized to hear you had fixed45 upon South End.'
`I know there is such an idea with many people, but indeed it is quite a mistake, sir. - We all had our health perfectly well there, never found the least inconvenience from the mud; and Mr. Wingfield says it is entirely a mistake to suppose the place unhealthy; and I am sure he may be depended on, for he thoroughly understands the nature of the air, and his own brother and family have been there repeatedly.'
`You should have gone to Cromer, my dear, if you went anywhere. - Perry was a week at Cromer once, and he holds it to be the best of all the sea-bathing places. A fine open sea, he says, and very pure air. And, by what I understand, you might have had lodgings46 there quite away from the sea - a quarter of a mile off - very comfortable. You should have consulted Perry.'
`But, my dear sir, the difference of the journey; - only consider how great it would have been. - An hundred miles, perhaps, instead of forty.'
`Ah! my dear, as Perry says, where health is at stake, nothing else should be considered; and if one is to travel, there is not much to chuse between forty miles and an hundred. - Better not move at all, better stay in London altogether than travel forty miles to get into a worse air. This is just what Perry said. It seemed to him a very ill-judged measure.'
Emma's attempts to stop her father had been vain; and when he had reached such a point as this, she could not wonder at her brother-in-law's breaking out.
`Mr. Perry,' said he, in a voice of very strong displeasure, `would do as well to keep his opinion till it is asked for. Why does he make it any business of his, to wonder at what I do? - at my taking my family to one part of the coast or another? - I may be allowed, I hope, the use of my judgment as well as Mr. Perry. - I want his directions no more than his drugs.' He paused - and growing cooler in a moment, added, with only sarcastic47 dryness, `If Mr. Perry can tell me how to convey a wife and five children a distance of an hundred and thirty miles with no greater expense or inconvenience than a distance of forty, I should be as willing to prefer Cromer to South End as he could himself.'
`True, true,' cried Mr. Knightley, with most ready interposition - `very true. That's a consideration indeed. - But John, as to what I was telling you of my idea of moving the path to Langham, of turning it more to the right that it may not cut through the home meadows, I cannot conceive any difficulty. I should not attempt it, if it were to be the means of inconvenience to the Highbury people, but if you call to mind exactly the present line of the path. . . . The only way of proving it, however, will be to turn to our maps. I shall see you at the Abbey to-morrow morning I hope, and then we will look them over, and you shall give me your opinion.'
Mr. Woodhouse was rather agitated48 by such harsh reflections on his friend Perry, to whom he had, in fact, though unconsciously, been attributing many of his own feelings and expressions; - but the soothing49 attentions of his daughters gradually removed the present evil, and the immediate50 alertness of one brother, and better recollections of the other, prevented any renewal51 of it.
奈特利先生要来跟他们一道吃饭——这是伍德豪斯先生很不情愿的事；伊莎贝拉回来的头一天，他不希望外人跟他一起分享这份欢乐。不过，爱玛自有主见，定下了这件事。除了考虑对那兄弟俩要一视同仁之外，她还顾及她与奈特利先生最近的争吵，因而特别乐意请他来做客。
她希望他们能言归于好。她觉得现在是该和解的时候了。其实，和解是谈不上的。她爱玛绝对没有错，而他奈特利先生也决不会认错。让步是不可能的，不过现在应该装作不记得曾经吵过架。她想了一个主意，指望能帮助他们言归于好：等奈特利先生一走进屋，她就抱起一个孩子玩——那是她姐姐最小的孩子，一个八个来月的小女孩，这次是第一次来哈特菲尔德，让姨妈抱在怀里上下舞逗，觉得好生开心。这一招果然灵验。虽然奈特利先生起初还板着个脸，简慢地问了几句话，但是没过多久，他又一如既往地谈起了孩子们，还从爱玛怀里接过小姑娘，显得十分亲切，毫不拘礼。爱玛觉得他们又成了朋友。心里一高兴，她先是感到十分得意，继而又有几分顽皮，听见奈特利先生赞赏小姑娘，便情不自禁地说道：
“真令人欣慰，我们对自己的侄儿侄女、外甥外甥女的看法是一致的。对于大人们，我们的看法有时大相径庭，但是对于这些孩子，我发觉我们从来没有异议。”
“如果你对大人们也像对这些孩子一样，能按照情理评价他们，而不是凭着异想天开或一时冲动对待他们，那我们的看法总会是一致的。”
“当然啦——我们发生分歧总是我的责任。”
“是的，”奈特利先生微笑地说道。“而且理由很充分。你出生的时候，我都十六岁了。”
“那倒是很大的差别啦，”爱玛回道。“毫无疑问，那时候你比我懂事多了。不过，如今过了二十一年了，难道我们的智力不是大大接近了吗？”
“是的——是大大接近了。”
“不过还不是十分接近，我们一有了不同看法，我依然不可能是正确的。”
“比起你来，我依然占有优势：一来比你多十六年的阅历；二来我不是个漂亮的年轻姑娘，不是个被宠坏了的孩子。算了吧，爱玛，我们言归于好，别再旧事重提啦。小爱玛，告诉你姨妈，说她应该给你做个好榜样，不要重算旧账，即使她过去没有错，现在这样做可不对。”
“的确，”爱玛嚷道，“一点不错。小爱玛，长大了要比你姨妈有出息些。要比她聪明得多，一点也不像她那样自负。奈特利先生，我再有一两句话就说完了。我们两人都是一片好心，这一点谁也没有错，而且我要说，就结果而言，事实证明我也没有错。我只是想知道，马丁先生不是非常伤心。”
“他伤心透了，”奈特利先生简短地答道。
“唉！我真感到遗憾。来，跟我握握手吧。”
两人刚亲热地握过手，约翰·奈特利便进来了。兄弟俩以地道的英国方式，一个说了声“你好，乔治！”另一个说了声“约翰，你好！”表面上很沉静，显得颇为冷漠，实际上却亲密无间，若有必要，为彼此赴汤蹈火都在所不辞。
晚上，大家安安静静，倾心交谈。伍德豪斯先生不肯打牌，定要跟亲爱的伊莎贝拉好好聊一聊，于是几个人自然而然地分成了两伙，一边是他和大女儿，一边是奈特利兄弟。两边的话题绝然不同，或者说互不搭界——爱玛只是偶尔往这边或那边插一两句。
那兄弟俩谈起了各自关心和从事的事情，但主要谈论哥哥的。这位哥哥健谈得多，因而往往是他在说话。他身为地方长官，经常有点法律上的事情要向约翰求教，至少也有点奇闻趣事要给他讲讲。而约翰身为农场主，掌管着当维尔的家用农场，也得讲讲每块田地来年准备种什么，还得谈谈老家的情况，那位做哥哥的毕竟在家里度过了大部分岁月，对家乡怀有深厚的感情，不可能不爱听老家的事。约翰虽然少言寡语些，但是说起挖排水渠、换围篱、伐树，以及哪一英亩地打算种小麦、萝卜或春玉米，同样兴致勃勃。如果他那好心的哥哥有什么事没说到的话，他就会带着近乎急切的口吻问个明白。
就在这兄弟俩谈得投契的时候，伍德豪斯先生也在尽享与女儿倾吐衷肠的乐趣，抱怨中透着欣喜，疼爱中伴着忧虑。
“我可怜的好孩子，”他说，见伊莎贝拉还在忙着服侍一个孩子，便亲切地握住了她的手，使她暂时丢开了孩子。“你很久没有回家了，真是太久啦！跑了这么远的路，一定很疲乏了吧！亲爱的，你得早一点睡——我劝你喝点粥再睡。你跟我一起喝一钵香喷喷的粥。亲爱的爱玛，我们都喝一点粥吧。”
爱玛是不会想出这样的事情的。她心里明白，奈特利兄弟跟她一样，说什么也不肯喝粥。因此，只吩咐要两钵粥。伍德豪斯先生先说了几句粥的好处，对不是每人每晚都喝点粥惊诧了一番，随即便带着冥思苦索的神情说道：
“亲爱的，你秋天不回家，却跑到骚桑德（译注：骚桑德：英格兰南部港市，海滨游憩胜地），这事做得不妥当。我一向不喜欢海边的空气。”
“爸爸，温菲尔德先生竭力劝我们去——不然我们是不会去的。他说几个孩子都应该去，特别是小贝拉，她喉咙不舒服，需要吸吸海边的空气，洗洗海水澡。”
“哎！亲爱的，佩里很怀疑去海滨对她有什么好处。至于我嘛，虽然我以前没有跟你明说过，但我决不相信去海滨对谁有好处。有一次险些要了我的命。”
“得了，得了，”爱玛觉得这个话题不妥善，便嚷嚷道，“我求求你们不要再谈论海滨了，叫我听了又眼红又气馁。我还从没见过海呢！请你们不要再提骚桑德啦。亲爱的伊莎贝拉，我还没听你问起过佩里先生，他可是从没忘记你呀。”
“哦！可敬的佩里先生，他好吗，爸爸？”
“嗯，挺好的，可也不是太好。可怜的佩里肝有毛病，又没有时间照管自己——我听他说他没有时间照管自己——真叫人难受——可是这乡间总有人找他看病。我看哪里也找不到一个干这一行的人。不过，哪里也找不到一个这么聪明的人。”
“还有佩里太太和几个孩子，他们都好吗？孩子们长高些没有？我很敬重佩里先生，希望他能早一点来。他见到我的个宝贝们会很高兴的。”
“我希望他明天就来，我有一两件要紧的事儿要向他请教。亲爱的，不管他哪一天来，你最好让他瞧瞧小贝拉的喉咙。”
“哦！亲爱的爸爸，她的喉咙好多了，我已不再为这件事担心了。也许是洗海水澡对她大有好处，要么就是温菲尔德先生开的药十分灵验，自八月份以来我们经常给她涂这种药。”
“亲爱的，洗海水澡对她不大可能有效。我要是知道你们要给孩子涂药，我早就找——”
“我看你们好像把贝茨太太母女给忘了，”爱玛说道。“我还没听见你们问起她们俩呢。”
“哦！可亲的贝茨太太母女俩——真叫我感到不好意思——你几乎每次写信都要提起她们。但愿她们安然无恙。可亲的贝茨老太太——我明天就去看望她，把孩子也带去。她们每次见到我的孩子，都感到很高兴。还有那位了不起的贝茨小姐！两人多么可敬可亲啊！她们都好吗，爸爸？”
“嗯，亲爱的，总的说来挺不错。不过，大约一个月以前，可怜的贝茨太太患了重感冒。”
“那太遗憾了！不过，今年秋天患感冒的人比哪年都多。我听温菲尔德先生说，他从没见过这么多人患感冒，病情又那么重——除非发生了流感。”
“亲爱的，的确有不少人患感冒，但是还没有达到你说的那个地步。佩里说到处都有患感冒的人，不过从病情上看，还不及往年十一月他常见的那样严重。佩里根本不认为这是一个疾病流行季节。”
“对呀，据我所知，温菲尔德先生也不认为这是个多病的季节，不过——”
“嗨！我可怜的好孩子，其实，伦敦一年到头都是多病季节。那里没有一个人身体健康，谁也没法健康。你是迫不得已住在那里，真令人可怕啊！离家那么远！空气又那么糟糕！”
“那倒不见得——我们那儿的空气并不糟糕。我们那一带比伦敦大多数地区好多啦！亲爱的爸爸，你千万别拿我们那儿跟伦敦多数地区混为一谈。布伦斯威克广场一带跟其他地区大不一样。我们那儿空气可新鲜啦！说实话，要是叫我住到另外一个城区，我还真不愿意呢。叫孩子们搬到哪个地方住，我都不会称心。我们那儿的空气清新极啦！温菲尔德先生认为，就空气而言，布伦斯威克广场一带肯定是最好的。”
“啊！亲爱的，还是比不上哈特菲尔德吧。你们只是随遇而安罢了——可你们要是在哈特菲尔德住上一个星期，那就会个个判若两人，换个模样。眼下嘛，我真不敢说你们哪一个看上去身体是好的。”
“爸爸，听你这么说，我感到挺遗憾的。我向你担保，我的身体很好，只是有点神经性的头痛和心悸，不过这是我走到哪儿也避免不了的。几个孩子睡觉前脸色不好，这不过是路上辛苦，到了这里又很兴奋，因而比往常劳累些。我想明天你准会发现他们脸色要好些。你放心吧，温菲尔德先生对我说过，他认为他哪次送我们走，我们大伙的身体都没有这次这么好。我起码可以相信，你不会认为奈特利先生气色不好，”说着，将一双饱含柔情而又急巴巴的眼睛转向丈夫。
“不是很好，亲爱的，我可不敢恭维。我看奈特利先生远远算不上气色好。”
“什么事儿，爸爸？你是跟我说话吗？”约翰·奈特利先生听到提起他的名字，便嚷嚷道。
“亲爱的，我觉得很遗憾，我父亲并不觉得你气色好——不过，我看这只不过因为你有点疲乏罢了。你要知道，我本该让你离家前去看看温菲尔德先生的。”
“亲爱的伊莎贝拉，”做丈夫的急忙嚷道，“请你不要为我的气色操心。你仔细照料自己和孩子，有什么病好好治疗就行了，不要管我的气色怎么样。”
“有一件事我不是很明白，”爱玛嚷道。“你刚才跟你哥哥说，你的朋友格雷厄姆先生打算从苏格兰请一位管家，来料理他那座新庄园。这妥当吗？他原有的偏见是不是太深了？”
爱玛就这么滔滔不绝地说着，而且卓有成效，后来不得不再听父亲和姐姐讲话时，发现没再发生什么争执，只听见伊莎贝拉关切地问起了简-费尔法克斯。虽然一般说来她并不喜欢简·费尔法克斯，但这时候也很乐意跟着夸她几句。
“简·费尔法克斯好和蔼，好可爱啊！”约翰·奈特利太太说道。“我有好久没看见她了，只是偶尔在城里见过几面！她要是来看看她可亲的外婆、可爱的姨妈，她们该有多高兴啊！她不能再到海伯里来了，我总为亲爱的爱玛感到万分惋惜。如今坎贝尔上校夫妇的女儿出嫁了，她们说什么也舍不得放简走。她要是陪伴爱玛该有多好。”
伍德豪斯先生完全赞同，但是又说：
“我们的小朋友哈丽特·史密斯也是个漂亮姑娘。你准会喜欢哈丽特的。她给爱玛做伴再好不过了。”
“听你这么说我很高兴——不过大家都知道，还就数简·费尔法克斯最多才多艺，最有头有脸啦！她还跟爱玛同岁呢。”
大家乐陶陶地谈起了这个话题，后来又扯起了几个同样有趣的话题，都谈得十分融洽。不过，最后也发生了一场小小的争执。粥端上来了，这一下可就有了谈助了——一个个赞不绝口，议论纷纷——一致断定喝粥对各种体质的人都有益处，并且责骂许多人家压根儿烧不出像样的粥来。伊莎贝拉能举出许多人烧不好粥，然而不幸的是，一个最近因而也是最突出的例子，就是她在骚桑德的厨娘。这是她临时雇用的一个年轻妇女，根本就不懂得她说的喷香细溜的稀粥足怎么回事，要稀，可又不能太稀。尽管她经常抱着希望，并且一再叮嘱，fH她还是吃不到像样的粥。这就给人提供了可乘之机。
“唉！”伍德豪斯先生说道，一边摇摇头，以爱怜的目光望着伊莎贝拉。在爱玛听来，这声感叹像是在说：“唉！你这次去骚桑德，引起了没完没了的烦恼，说起来真让人难受。”一时间，爱玛希望父亲不要再谈论这个话题，他只要沉思一番，就能再津津有味地喝他那细溜的粥。然而，过了不久，他又开口：
“今年秋天你们不来这儿，却去了海滨，我将永远感到很遗憾。”
“可你遗憾什么呀，爸爸？我向你保证，这对孩子们大有好处。”
“再说，即使要去海滨，也不该去骚桑德呀。骚桑德是个有损于健康的地方。听说你们选中了那地方，佩里感到惊讶。”
“我知道许多人都有这个看法，不过这实在是个误解呀，爸爸。我们一家人在那儿身体都很好，虽然那儿尽是泥，我们一点也不觉得有什么不便的。温菲尔德先生说，谁要是以为那里对身体没有好处，那就大错特错了。我想他的话是绝对可以相信的，因为他完全了解那儿的空气，他的兄弟及其一家人常去那儿。”
“亲爱的，你真要出去，也该去克罗默（译注：克罗默：位于英格兰诺福克郡，海滨游憩胜地）。佩里在克罗默住过一个星期，他认为那是一个洗海水澡最好的地方。他说那儿海滩开阔，空气清新。据我所知，你在那儿可以租到离海远一些的房子——离海四分之一英里——非常舒适。你应该问问佩里呀。”
“不过，亲爱的爸爸，那路程可就不一样了。你想想那路程有多大差距呀。一个是四十英里，一个兴许有一百英里。”
“啊！亲爱的，佩里说的好，事关身体的大事，别的一概不足考虑。既然要出门，就不要在乎走四十英里还是走一百英里。与其跑四十英里去呼吸更糟糕的空气，还不如索性不出门，就待在伦敦。佩里就是这么说的。他似乎觉得那样做不划算。”
爱玛本想打断父亲的话头，可是枉费心机。不出她所料，父亲刚说到这里，姐夫便开腔了。
“佩里先生，”他以愤懑的口气说道，“最好不要信口开河，除非有人征求他的意见。他为什么要多此一举，大惊小怪地来管我的事呢？我带一家人到哪个海滨，这与他有什么相干呢？我想，佩里可以有他自己的看法，我同样可以有我自己的看法。我既不需要他来开药，也不需要他来指教。”他顿了顿，变得冷静了些，接着又以冷冰冰的讽刺口吻说道：“要是佩里先生能告诉我如何带着妻子和五个孩子旅行一百三十英里，就像旅行四十英里一样，开销一样多，还同样便当，那我倒乐意像他那样，宁愿去克罗默，而不去骚桑德。”
“的确，的确，”奈特利先生当即插嘴道。“一点不错。的确有道理。不过，约翰，先前我跟你说过，我想把通往兰厄姆的那条小路往右移一移，不从家用草场经过，我看这事没什么难办的。要是改道后会给海伯里的人带来不便，我就不改了。不过，你要是还记得那条小路现今的路线……改进的唯一办法，是看看地图。我想，明天上午你到寺院里找我，我们仔细揣摩一下地图，你再跟我说说你的意见。”
伍德豪斯先生一向把佩里视为朋友，事实上，他有许多想法、许多言语，都不知不觉地受了他的影响，刚才听见有人对他出言尖刻，心里颇为气愤。幸亏两个女儿好言劝慰，他才渐渐消了气。再说那兄弟俩，一个马上警觉起来，另一个也出言谨慎，伍德豪斯先生没有再度发火。
收听单词发音 |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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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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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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sauciness
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| n.傲慢，鲁莽 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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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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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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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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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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attachments
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| n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物 | |
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turnips
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| 芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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gruel
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| n.稀饭，粥 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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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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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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bilious
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| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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influenza
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| n.流行性感冒，流感 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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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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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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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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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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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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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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wholesomeness
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| 卫生性 | |
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rumination
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| n.反刍，沉思 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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