The next morning brought Mr. Frank Churchill again. He came with Mrs. Weston, to whom and to Highbury he seemed to take very cordially. He had been sitting with her, it appeared, most companionably at home, till her usual hour of exercise; and on being desired to chuse their walk, immediately fixed2 on Highbury. - `He did not doubt there being very pleasant walks in every direction, but if left to him, he should always chuse the same. Highbury, that airy, cheerful, happy-looking Highbury, would be his constant attraction.' - Highbury, with Mrs. Weston, stood for Hartfield; and she trusted to its bearing the same construction with him. They walked thither3 directly.
Emma had hardly expected them: for Mr. Weston, who had called in for half a minute, in order to hear that his son was very handsome, knew nothing of their plans; and it was an agreeable surprize to her, therefore, to perceive them walking up to the house together, arm in arm. She was wanting to see him again, and especially to see him in company with Mrs. Weston, upon his behaviour to whom her opinion of him was to depend. If he were deficient4 there, nothing should make amends5 for it. But on seeing them together, she became perfectly6 satisfied. It was not merely in fine words or hyperbolical compliment that he paid his duty; nothing could be more proper or pleasing than his whole manner to her - nothing could more agreeably denote his wish of considering her as a friend and securing her affection. And there was time enough for Emma to form a reasonable judgment7, as their visit included all the rest of the morning. They were all three walking about together for an hour or two - first round the shrubberies of Hartfield, and afterwards in Highbury. He was delighted with every thing; admired Hartfield sufficiently8 for Mr. Woodhouse's ear; and when their going farther was resolved on, confessed his wish to be made acquainted with the whole village, and found matter of commendation and interest much oftener than Emma could have supposed.
Some of the objects of his curiosity spoke9 very amiable10 feelings. He begged to be shewn the house which his father had lived in so long, and which had been the home of his father's father; and on recollecting11 that an old woman who had nursed him was still living, walked in quest of her cottage from one end of the street to the other; and though in some points of pursuit or observation there was no positive merit, they shewed, altogether, a good-will towards Highbury in general, which must be very like a merit to those he was with.
Emma watched and decided12, that with such feelings as were now shewn, it could not be fairly supposed that he had been ever voluntarily absenting himself; that he had not been acting13 a part, or making a parade of insincere professions; and that Mr. Knightley certainly had not done him justice.
Their first pause was at the Crown Inn, an inconsiderable house, though the principal one of the sort, where a couple of pair of post-horses were kept, more for the convenience of the neighbourhood than from any run on the road; and his companions had not expected to be detained by any interest excited there; but in passing it they gave the history of the large room visibly added; it had been built many years ago for a ball-room, and while the neighbourhood had been in a particularly populous14, dancing state, had been occasionally used as such; - but such brilliant days had long passed away, and now the highest purpose for which it was ever wanted was to accommodate a whist club established among the gentlemen and half-gentlemen of the place. He was immediately interested. Its character as a ball-room caught him; and instead of passing on, he stopt for several minutes at the two superior sashed windows which were open, to look in and contemplate15 its capabilities16, and lament17 that its original purpose should have ceased. He saw no fault in the room, he would acknowledge none which they suggested. No, it was long enough, broad enough, handsome enough. It would hold the very number for comfort. They ought to have balls there at least every fortnight through the winter. Why had not Miss Woodhouse revived the former good old days of the room? - She who could do any thing in Highbury! The want of proper families in the place, and the conviction that none beyond the place and its immediate1 environs could be tempted18 to attend, were mentioned; but he was not satisfied. He could not be persuaded that so many good-looking houses as he saw around him, could not furnish numbers enough for such a meeting; and even when particulars were given and families described, he was still unwilling19 to admit that the inconvenience of such a mixture would be any thing, or that there would be the smallest difficulty in every body's returning into their proper place the next morning. He argued like a young man very much bent20 on dancing; and Emma was rather surprized to see the constitution of the Weston prevail so decidedly against the habits of the Churchills. He seemed to have all the life and spirit, cheerful feelings, and social inclinations22 of his father, and nothing of the pride or reserve of Enscombe. Of pride, indeed, there was, perhaps, scarcely enough; his indifference23 to a confusion of rank, bordered too much on inelegance of mind. He could be no judge, however, of the evil he was holding cheap. It was but an effusion of lively spirits.
At last he was persuaded to move on from the front of the Crown; and being now almost facing the house where the Bateses lodged25, Emma recollected26 his intended visit the day before, and asked him if he had paid it.
`Yes, oh! yes' - he replied; `I was just going to mention it. A very successful visit: - I saw all the three ladies; and felt very much obliged to you for your preparatory hint. If the talking aunt had taken me quite by surprize, it must have been the death of me. As it was, I was only betrayed into paying a most unreasonable27 visit. Ten minutes would have been all that was necessary, perhaps all that was proper; and I had told my father I should certainly be at home before him - but there was no getting away, no pause; and, to my utter astonishment28, I found, when he (finding me nowhere else) joined me there at last, that I had been actually sitting with them very nearly three-quarters of an hour. The good lady had not given me the possibility of escape before.'
`And how did you think Miss Fairfax looking?'
`Ill, very ill - that is, if a young lady can ever be allowed to look ill. But the expression is hardly admissible, Mrs. Weston, is it? Ladies can never look ill. And, seriously, Miss Fairfax is naturally so pale, as almost always to give the appearance of ill health. - A most deplorable want of complexion29.'
Emma would not agree to this, and began a warm defence of Miss Fairfax's complexion. `It was certainly never brilliant, but she would not allow it to have a sickly hue30 in general; and there was a softness and delicacy31 in her skin which gave peculiar32 elegance24 to the character of her face.' He listened with all due deference33; acknowledged that he had heard many people say the same - but yet he must confess, that to him nothing could make amends for the want of the fine glow of health. Where features were indifferent, a fine complexion gave beauty to them all; and where they were good, the effect was - fortunately he need not attempt to describe what the effect was.
`Well,' said Emma, `there is no disputing about taste. - At least you admire her except her complexion.'
He shook his head and laughed. - `I cannot separate Miss Fairfax and her complexion.'
`Did you see her often at Weymouth? Were you often in the same society?'
At this moment they were approaching Ford's, and he hastily exclaimed, `Ha! this must be the very shop that every body attends every day of their lives, as my father informs me. He comes to Highbury himself, he says, six days out of the seven, and has always business at Ford's. If it be not inconvenient34 to you, pray let us go in, that I may prove myself to belong to the place, to be a true citizen of Highbury. I must buy something at Ford's. It will be taking out my freedom. - I dare say they sell gloves.'
`Oh! yes, gloves and every thing. I do admire your patriotism35. You will be adored in Highbury. You were very popular before you came, because you were Mr. Weston's son - but lay out half a guinea at Ford's, and your popularity will stand upon your own virtues36.'
They went in; and while the sleek37, well-tied parcels of `Men's Beavers38' and `York Tan' were bringing down and displaying on the counter, he said - `But I beg your pardon, Miss Woodhouse, you were speaking to me, you were saying something at the very moment of this burst of my amor patriae. Do not let me lose it. I assure you the utmost stretch of public fame would not make me amends for the loss of any happiness in private life.'
`I merely asked, whether you had known much of Miss Fairfax and her party at Weymouth.'
`And now that I understand your question, I must pronounce it to be a very unfair one. It is always the lady's right to decide on the degree of acquaintance. Miss Fairfax must already have given her account. - I shall not commit myself by claiming more than she may chuse to allow.'
`Upon my word! you answer as discreetly39 as she could do herself. But her account of every thing leaves so much to be guessed, she is so very reserved, so very unwilling to give the least information about any body, that I really think you may say what you like of your acquaintance with her.'
`May I, indeed? - Then I will speak the truth, and nothing suits me so well. I met her frequently at Weymouth. I had known the Campbells a little in town; and at Weymouth we were very much in the same set. Colonel Campbell is a very agreeable man, and Mrs. Campbell a friendly, warm-hearted woman. I like them all.'
`You know Miss Fairfax's situation in life, I conclude; what she is destined40 to be?'
`Yes - (rather hesitatingly) - I believe I do.'
`You get upon delicate subjects, Emma,' said Mrs. Weston smiling; `remember that I am here. - Mr. Frank Churchill hardly knows what to say when you speak of Miss Fairfax's situation in life. I will move a little farther off.'
`I certainly do forget to think of her,' said Emma, `as having ever been any thing but my friend and my dearest friend.'
He looked as if he fully41 understood and honoured such a sentiment.
When the gloves were bought, and they had quitted the shop again, `Did you ever hear the young lady we were speaking of, play?' said Frank Churchill.
`Ever hear her!' repeated Emma. `You forget how much she belongs to Highbury. I have heard her every year of our lives since we both began. She plays charmingly.'
`You think so, do you? - I wanted the opinion of some one who could really judge. She appeared to me to play well, that is, with considerable taste, but I know nothing of the matter myself. - I am excessively fond of music, but without the smallest skill or right of judging of any body's performance. - I have been used to hear her's admired; and I remember one proof of her being thought to play well: - a man, a very musical man, and in love with another woman - engaged to her - on the point of marriage - would yet never ask that other woman to sit down to the instrument, if the lady in question could sit down instead - never seemed to like to hear one if he could hear the other. That, I thought, in a man of known musical talent, was some proof.'
`Proof indeed!' said Emma, highly amused. - `Mr. Dixon is very musical, is he? We shall know more about them all, in half an hour, from you, than Miss Fairfax would have vouchsafed42 in half a year.'
`Yes, Mr. Dixon and Miss Campbell were the persons; and I thought it a very strong proof.'
`Certainly - very strong it was; to own the truth, a great deal stronger than, if I had been Miss Campbell, would have been at all agreeable to me. I could not excuse a man's having more music than love - more ear than eye - a more acute sensibility to fine sounds than to my feelings. How did Miss Campbell appear to like it?'
`It was her very particular friend, you know.'
`Poor comfort!' said Emma, laughing. `One would rather have a stranger preferred than one's very particular friend - with a stranger it might not recur43 again - but the misery44 of having a very particular friend always at hand, to do every thing better than one does oneself! - Poor Mrs. Dixon! Well, I am glad she is gone to settle in Ireland.'
`You are right. It was not very flattering to Miss Campbell; but she really did not seem to feel it.'
`So much the better - or so much the worse: - I do not know which. But be it sweetness or be it stupidity in her - quickness of friendship, or dulness of feeling - there was one person, I think, who must have felt it: Miss Fairfax herself. She must have felt the improper45 and dangerous distinction.'
`As to that - I do not - '
`Oh! do not imagine that I expect an account of Miss Fairfax's sensations from you, or from any body else. They are known to no human being, I guess, but herself. But if she continued to play whenever she was asked by Mr. Dixon, one may guess what one chuses.'
`There appeared such a perfectly good understanding among them all - ` he began rather quickly, but checking himself, added, `however, it is impossible for me to say on what terms they really were - how it might all be behind the scenes. I can only say that there was smoothness outwardly. But you, who have known Miss Fairfax from a child, must be a better judge of her character, and of how she is likely to conduct herself in critical situations, than I can be.'
`I have known her from a child, undoubtedly46; we have been children and women together; and it is natural to suppose that we should be intimate, - that we should have taken to each other whenever she visited her friends. But we never did. I hardly know how it has happened; a little, perhaps, from that wickedness on my side which was prone47 to take disgust towards a girl so idolized and so cried up as she always was, by her aunt and grandmother, and all their set. And then, her reserve - I never could attach myself to any one so completely reserved.'
`It is a most repulsive48 quality, indeed,' said he. `Oftentimes very convenient, no doubt, but never pleasing. There is safety in reserve, but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person.'
`Not till the reserve ceases towards oneself; and then the attraction may be the greater. But I must be more in want of a friend, or an agreeable companion, than I have yet been, to take the trouble of conquering any body's reserve to procure49 one. Intimacy50 between Miss Fairfax and me is quite out of the question. I have no reason to think ill of her - not the least - except that such extreme and perpetual cautiousness of word and manner, such a dread51 of giving a distinct idea about any body, is apt to suggest suspicions of there being something to conceal52.'
He perfectly agreed with her: and after walking together so long, and thinking so much alike, Emma felt herself so well acquainted with him, that she could hardly believe it to be only their second meeting. He was not exactly what she had expected; less of the man of the world in some of his notions, less of the spoiled child of fortune, therefore better than she had expected. His ideas seemed more moderate - his feelings warmer. She was particularly struck by his manner of considering Mr. Elton's house, which, as well as the church, he would go and look at, and would not join them in finding much fault with. No, he could not believe it a bad house; not such a house as a man was to be pitied for having. If it were to be shared with the woman he loved, he could not think any man to be pitied for having that house. There must be ample room in it for every real comfort. The man must be a blockhead who wanted more.
Mrs. Weston laughed, and said he did not know what he was talking about. Used only to a large house himself, and without ever thinking how many advantages and accommodations were attached to its size, he could be no judge of the privations inevitably53 belonging to a small one. But Emma, in her own mind, determined54 that he did know what he was talking about, and that he shewed a very amiable inclination21 to settle early in life, and to marry, from worthy55 motives56. He might not be aware of the inroads on domestic peace to be occasioned by no housekeeper's room, or a bad butler's pantry, but no doubt he did perfectly feel that Enscombe could not make him happy, and that whenever he were attached, he would willingly give up much of wealth to be allowed an early establishment.
第二天早晨，弗兰克·邱吉尔先生又来了。他是跟韦斯顿太太一起来的，他似乎打心眼里喜欢这位太太，也打心眼里喜欢海伯里。看来他一直十分亲切地陪她坐在家里，直至她平常出门活动的时间。韦斯顿太太要他选择散步的路线，他立刻表示要去海伯里。“我毫不怀疑，无论朝哪个方向走，都有非常宜人的地方可以散步。不过要我选择的话，我总会选择同一个地方。海伯里，那个空气新鲜、喜气洋洋的海伯里，无时无刻不在吸引我。”在韦斯顿太太看来，海伯里就意味着哈特菲尔德；而且她相信，他也是这么看的。于是，他们便径直朝这里走来。
爱玛简直没想到他们会来，因为韦斯顿先生刚刚来过一会，就想听听别人夸他儿子长得英俊，并不知道他们的打算。所以，爱玛看见他们臂挽臂地朝他们家走来，不禁又惊又喜。她还正想再见见他，尤其想见他和韦斯顿太太在一起。她要看看他对韦斯顿太太采取什么态度，再决定对他抱有什么看法。如果他在这方面还有欠缺的话，那就没有什么可以弥补的了。然而，一看见他们俩在一起，她就感到十分高兴。他不仅用动听的语言和百般的恭维，来表示他的恭敬之情，而且他对继母的整个态度，也是再恰到好处、再令人高兴不过了——没有什么比这更令人可喜地表明：他希望把继母当做朋友，希望博得她的欢心。鉴于他们要待上一个上午，爱玛有足够的时间作出合理的判断。他们一起在外面转悠了一两个小时——先围着哈特菲尔德的矮树丛转了一圈，然后在海伯里走了走。弗兰克对什么都喜欢，把哈特菲尔德大大赞赏了一番，伍德豪斯先生听了一定会觉得很悦耳。后来决定继续往前走时，他表示希望结识全村的人。他时而发现这也不错，时而觉得那也挺有意思，真是出乎爱玛的意料之外。
有些东西引起他的兴趣，说明他心里怀有缱绻的情意。他恳求带他去看看他父亲住过多年的房子，那房子也是他祖父的家。后来想起那个带过他的老太太现在还活着，便从街这头走到街那头，寻找她住的小屋。虽然他寻求的某些东西、说的某些话，并没有什么实在的价值，但是把这一切加在一起，总的看来他对海伯里颇有好感，这在跟他一道散步的人看来，倒肯定是一个优点。
爱玛通过观察断定：既然他现在流露出这样的感情，那就不能认为他以前是故意不肯来；他不是在装模作样，也不是虚情假意地故作姿态；奈特利先生对他的看法肯定有失公道。
他们第一个停留的地方是克朗旅店。虽然这是当地主要的一家旅店，但是规模却不大，只养着两对驿马，与其说是供来往客人雇用，不如说是为附近一带的人提供方便。弗兰克的两位同伴没想到他会对这地方感兴趣，就在打这儿走过时，讲起了那间一看就知道是后来加上去的大屋子的来历。那是多年前造来作舞厅用的。当时，这一带人特别多，又特别爱跳舞，有时就在这间屋里举行舞会。但是，那种明媚灿烂的日子早就一去不复返了，如今，它的最大用途，是作为本地一些绅士和半绅士组织的惠斯特俱乐部的活动场所。弗兰克当即就产生了兴趣。听说这是个舞厅，他便来了劲儿。他没有继续往前走，而是在两扇开着的、装有上等框格的窗子跟前停了几分钟，朝里面望望，估量能容纳多少人，为它失去原先的用途感到遗憾。他觉得这间屋子没有什么缺陷，他们说的那些缺陷，他并不认为是缺陷。不，这间屋子够长、够宽、够漂亮的啦，在里面跳舞再适意不过了。整个冬天，应该至少每两周在这里举行一次舞会。伍德豪斯小姐为什么没有恢复这间屋子昔日的好时光呢？她在海伯里可是什么都办得到的啊！爱玛解释说，这里没有几家合适的人家，附近一带又没有人愿意来，但他听了却不以为然。他看到周围有那么多漂亮的房子，说什么也不相信会凑不齐人数开舞会。甚至在爱玛讲述了详细情况和各家的家境之后，他仍然认为这样贫富同乐不会带来多大的不便，第二天早晨大家又都各守本分，不会有丝毫的困难。他就像一个热衷于跳舞的年轻人一样争辩着。爱玛发现在他身上，韦斯顿家的气质完全压倒了邱吉尔家的习性，不由得大吃一惊。看来，他还真像他父亲那样，生气勃勃，精力充沛，性情开朗，喜欢交际，全然没有恩斯库姆的傲慢和矜持。也许他的确没有多少傲慢。他不计较地位的高低，心灵未免有些近乎庸俗了。然而，他又判断不出被他轻视的那种祸害。那不过是他生性活跃的一种表现罢了。
经过劝说，他终于离开了克朗旅店。几个人快到贝茨家的时候，爱玛想起他头天打算去看看这家人，便问他去过了没有。
“去了，哦！去了，”弗兰克回答说。“我正要说这件事呢。我去得还真是巧啊，三位女士我全见到了，多亏你事先嘱咐了我。如果我毫无思想准备遇上了那位喋喋不休的姨妈，那可准会要了我的命。其实，我只是有些身不由己，稀里糊涂地多待了些时候。本来十分钟就足够了，也许再恰当不过了。我还跟我父亲说过，我一定会比他先回家——谁想我根本脱不了身，话说个没完没了。我父亲在别处找不到我，最后也跟到贝茨家，这时我万分惊讶地发现，我在那里已经坐了将近三刻钟。那位好心的老太太一直不给我脱身的机会。”
“你觉得费尔法克斯小姐看上去怎么样？”
“气色不好，很不好——就是说，如果一位年轻小姐可以被认为气色不好的话。不过，这种说法是不大容易被人接受的，是吧，韦斯顿太太？小姐们是决不会气色不好的。说真的，费尔法克斯小姐天生就这么脸色苍白，几乎总是给人一种身体不好的样子。脸色这么不好，真令人可怜。”
爱玛不同意他的这一看法，便极力为费尔法克斯小姐的脸色辩护起来。“她的确没有容光焕发过，可是总的说来，我觉得也没有什么病容。她皮肤娇嫩，给她的面孔增添了几分独特的优雅。”弗兰克恭恭敬敬地听着，承认说他也听到好多人都这么说过——然而坦白地说，在他看来，一个人缺乏健康的神采，那是无论如何也无法弥补的。即使五官长得很一般，只要气色好，五官也会显得很美。要是五官长得秀丽，那效果就——好在他用不着说明效果会怎么样。
“好了，”爱玛说，“不要去争论审美观啦。至少，除了脸色以外，你还是很喜欢她的。”
弗兰克摇摇头，笑了起来。“我可无法将费尔法克斯小姐和她的脸色分开。”
“你在韦默斯经常见到她吗？你们经常一起参加社交活动吗？”
这时候，他们快到福特商店了，弗兰克连忙大声嚷道：“哈！这一定是人人每天都得去的那家商店了，我父亲告诉过我。他说他七天里有六天要来海伯里，每次都要到福特商店买点东西。你们要足没有什么不便的话，我们就进去吧，好让我证明我是这儿的人，是真正的海伯里公民。我一定要在福特商店买点东西，以此来证明我确是这儿的人。他们也许有手套卖吧。”
“哦！是的，手套什么的都有。我真钦佩你的乡上观念。你在海伯里会受到敬重的。你没来之前，大家就很喜欢你了，因为你是韦斯顿先生的儿子。不过，你要是在福特商店花上半个几尼，你的受人喜欢就建立在你的美德的基础上了。”
他们进了福特商店。当店员把式样优美、包装考究的男式海狸手套和约克皮手套取下来，放在柜台上时，弗兰克说：“对不起，伍德豪斯小姐，刚才就在我忽发乡土观念的时候，你在跟我说话，提起了一件事。再说给我听听吧。告诉你吧，不管大家把我看得有多好，都无法弥补我在个人生活中失去的任何乐趣。”
“我只不过问一问：你在韦默斯跟费尔法克斯小姐那一伙人是不是很熟悉？”
“既然我明白了你的问题，我要说你这话问得很不公道。究竟熟悉到什么程度，必须由小姐来断定。费尔法克斯小姐一定早就说过了。她想说到什么程度就是什么程度，我可不想再多说什么。”
“天哪！你回答得跟她一样谨慎。可她不管说什么事，总要留下很多东西让人去猜。她总是不声不响，不肯提供任何人的哪怕是一点点的消息，因此我真觉得你可以尽情谈谈你跟她结交的情况。”
“真可以吗？那我就照实说了，这再对我心思不过了。我在韦默斯常常遇见她。我在伦敦就有点认识坎贝尔夫妇，在韦默斯又常常在一起。坎贝尔上校是个非常和蔼可亲的人，坎贝尔太太是个又亲切又热心的女人。他们几个我都喜欢。”
“我想你了解费尔法克斯小姐的生活处境吧，知道她将来命中注定要干什么。”
“是的——（相当迟疑地）——我想我是了解的。”
“爱玛，你谈到微妙的话题上了，”韦斯顿太太笑吟吟地说道。“别忘了我还在场呢。你谈起费尔法克斯小姐的生活处境，弗兰克·邱吉尔先生简直不知道说什么是好。我要稍微走开一点。”
“我对她呀，”爱玛说，“除了视为朋友、而且是最亲密的朋友之外，倒是真忘了还有什么别的身分。”
弗兰克看上去好像完全理解，也十分敬重爱玛的这种情感。
买好手套以后，几个人又走出了商店。“你可曾听到我们刚才谈起的那位年轻小姐弹过琴吗？”弗兰克·邱吉尔问道。
“可曾听到她弹琴！”爱玛重复了一声。“你忘了她与海伯里有着多么密切的关系。自从我们俩开始学琴以来，我每年都听她弹奏。她弹得好极了。”
“你是这样想的吗？我就想听听真正有鉴赏力的人的意见。我觉得她弹得不错，就是说，她弹得很有情调，可惜我对此一窍不通。我非常喜欢音乐，可我却一点也不会演奏，也无权评说别人演奏得怎么样。我常常听见别人夸她弹得好。我还记得有一件事，可以证明别人认为她弹得好。有一个人，很有几分音乐天赋，爱上了另一个女人——跟她订了婚——都快结婚了——可是，只要我们现在谈起的这位小姐肯坐下来弹奏，他就决不会请他那另一位女士来弹——看来，只要能听这一位弹，就决不会喜欢听另一个弹。能受到一个众所周知的音乐天才的青睐，我想这就很能说明问题。”
“当然能啦！”爱玛说道，觉得十分有趣。“迪克逊先生很有音乐天赋，是吗？关于他们几个人的事，我在半个小时里从你这儿了解的情况，比半年里从费尔法克斯小姐那儿听来的还要多。”
“是的，我说的就是迪克逊先生和坎贝尔小姐两个人。我想这是很有力的证据。”
“当然——的确很有力。说实话，真是太有说服力了，我要足坎贝尔小姐的话，真要受不了啦。一个人把音乐看得比爱情还蘑——耳朵此眼睛来得灵——对美妙的声音比对我的感情反应敏感，让我无法谅解。坎贝尔小姐喜欢他这样吗？”
“你知道，她们是特别要好的朋友呢。”
“那有什么好的！”爱玛笑着说道。“宁愿要个陌生人，也不要个特别要好的朋友——如果是个陌生人，就不会再出这种事儿——可是身边总有个特别要好的朋友，什么事儿都比你自己做得好，那有多么不幸啊！可怜的迪克逊夫人！她去爱尔兰定居，我看倒也挺好。”
“你说得对。对坎贝尔小姐来说，倒没有什么光彩的。不过，她好像并不在乎。”
“这就更好了——要么就更糟了：我不知道是好是糟。不管她是出于可爱，还是出于愚蠢——是出于朋友间的坦率，还是出于感觉的迟钝——我想有一个人肯定感觉到了，那就是费尔法克斯小姐。她一定感觉到了这种不恰当而又危险的区别。”
“说到这个嘛——我倒不——”
“哦！可别以为我想让你或是别人说说费尔法克斯小姐有什么感受。我猜想，除了她自己以外，别人谁也不知道她有什么感受。但是，如果迪克逊先生每次请她弹琴她都弹的话，那别人就可以爱怎么猜就怎么猜了。”
“她们三人之间好像倒是十分融洽的——”弗兰克脱口而出，可是马上又打住了，补充说道：“不过，我也说不上他们的关系究竟怎么样——背地里又怎么样。我只能说，表面上和和气气。不过，你从小就认识费尔法克斯小姐，当然比我更了解她的性格，更了解她在紧要关头会有什么表现，”
“不错，我是从小就认识她。我们从小在一起，后来又一起长大成人。因此，人家自然会以为我们关系密切，以为她每次来看朋友，我们都该很亲热。可是，我们从来就没有亲热过。我简直不知道是怎么回事儿。也许我这个人有点不厚道，她姨妈、外婆那一伙人一个劲儿地宠爱她、吹捧她，我就禁不住要讨厌她。再说，她又不爱说话——我决不会喜欢一个金口难开的人。”
“这种性格的确令人十分讨厌，”弗兰克说。“毫无疑问，这种性格往往挺有好处的，可是从不讨人喜欢。保持沉默比较保险，可是不招人爱。谁也不会喜欢一个沉默寡言的人。”
“除非不再沉默寡言，那样一来，就会更加讨人喜欢。不过，我比以往任何时候都更需要一个朋友，或者说一个称心的伙伴，才能帮助别人克服沉默寡言的毛病，交上一个朋友。我和费尔法克斯小姐是亲密不起来的。我没有理由看不起她——丝毫没有——不过她的言谈举止总是那么谨小慎微的，不敢对任何人发表一点明确的看法，叫人难免不怀疑她有什么事瞒着别人。”
弗兰克完全同意她的看法。两人一起走了这么远，想法又这么接近，爱玛觉得他们已经很熟悉了，简直不相信这只是他们的第二次会面。他跟她原来想象的不尽相同：从他的某些见解来看，他并不是个老于世故的人，也不像个娇生惯养的富家子弟，因而比她想象的要好些。他的观点似乎比较温和——感情似乎比较热烈。令她特别感动的是，他不仅要去看那教堂，还要去看看埃尔顿先生的住宅，别人挑剔这房子的毛病，他也不跟着随声附和。不，他并不认为这座房子有什么不好，房主人也不该因为住这样的房子而受人怜悯。只要能同自己心爱的女人一起住在里面，那么，不管哪介男人拥有这座房子，他都觉得没有什么可怜悯的。谁还有更高的奢望，那他一定是个傻瓜。
韦斯顿太太笑了，说他说话没有谱。他自己住惯了大房子，从没考虑房子大有多少好处和方便，因而也不清楚住小房子在所难免的苦处。然而，爱玛却另有看法，断定他说话还是有谱的，表明他出于美好的动机，想要早一点成家。他可能没有意识到，要是女管家没屋子住，或者配膳室不像样，那会给家庭安适带来什么损害，但他一定会感到恩斯库姆不会给他带来幸福，他一旦爱上了谁，就会宁愿放弃大笔财产，也要早日成家。
收听单词发音 |
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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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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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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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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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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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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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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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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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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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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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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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39
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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42
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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recur
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| vi.复发，重现，再发生 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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45
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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48
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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49
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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50
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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51
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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52
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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53
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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54
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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55
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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56
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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