`I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of introducing my son to you,' said Mr. Weston.
Mrs. Elton, very willing to suppose a particular compliment intended her by such a hope, smiled most graciously.
`You have heard of a certain Frank Churchill, I presume,' he continued - `and know him to be my son, though he does not bear my name.'
`Oh! yes, and I shall be very happy in his acquaintance. I am sure Mr. Elton will lose no time in calling on him; and we shall both have great pleasure in seeing him at the Vicarage.'
`You are very obliging. - Frank will be extremely happy, I am sure. - He is to be in town next week, if not sooner. We have notice of it in a letter to-day. I met the letters in my way this morning, and seeing my son's hand, presumed to open it - though it was not directed to me - it was to Mrs. Weston. She is his principal correspondent, I assure you. I hardly ever get a letter.'
`And so you absolutely opened what was directed to her! Oh! Mr. Weston - (laughing affectedly) I must protest against that. - A most dangerous precedent1 indeed! - I beg you will not let your neighbours follow your example. - Upon my word, if this is what I am to expect, we married women must begin to exert ourselves! - Oh! Mr. Weston, I could not have believed it of you!'
`Aye, we men are sad fellows. You must take care of yourself, Mrs. Elton. - This letter tells us - it is a short letter - written in a hurry, merely to give us notice - it tells us that they are all coming up to town directly, on Mrs. Churchill's account - she has not been well the whole winter, and thinks Enscombe too cold for her - so they are all to move southward without loss of time.'
`Indeed! - from Yorkshire, I think. Enscombe is in Yorkshire?'
`Yes, they are about one hundred and ninety miles from London. a considerable journey.'
`Yes, upon my word, very considerable. Sixty-five miles farther than from Maple2 Grove3 to London. But what is distance, Mr. Weston, to people of large fortune? - You would be amazed to hear how my brother, Mr. Suckling, sometimes flies about. You will hardly believe me - but twice in one week he and Mr. Bragge went to London and back again with four horses.'
`The evil of the distance from Enscombe,' said Mr. Weston, `is, that Mrs. Churchill, as we understand, has not been able to leave the sofa for a week together. In Frank's last letter she complained, he said, of being too weak to get into her conservatory4 without having both his arm and his uncle's! This, you know, speaks a great degree of weakness - but now she is so impatient to be in town, that she means to sleep only two nights on the road. - So Frank writes word. Certainly, delicate ladies have very extraordinary constitutions, Mrs. Elton. You must grant me that.'
`No, indeed, I shall grant you nothing. I Always take the part of my own sex. I do indeed. I give you notice - You will find me a formidable antagonist5 on that point. I always stand up for women - and I assure you, if you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at an inn, you would not wonder at Mrs. Churchill's making incredible exertions6 to avoid it. Selina says it is quite horror to her - and I believe I have caught a little of her nicety. She always travels with her own sheets; an excellent precaution. Does Mrs. Churchill do the same?'
`Depend upon it, Mrs. Churchill does every thing that any other fine lady ever did. Mrs. Churchill will not be second to any lady in the land for' -
Mrs. Elton eagerly interposed with,
`Oh! Mr. Weston, do not mistake me. Selina is no fine lady, I assure you. Do not run away with such an idea.'
`Is not she? Then she is no rule for Mrs. Churchill, who is as thorough a fine lady as any body ever beheld7.'
Mrs. Elton began to think she had been wrong in disclaiming8 so warmly. It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was not a fine lady; perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence9 of it; - and she was considering in what way she had best retract10, when Mr. Weston went on.
`Mrs. Churchill is not much in my good graces, as you may suspect - but this is quite between ourselves. She is very fond of Frank, and therefore I would not speak ill of her. Besides, she is out of health now; but that indeed, by her own account, she has always been. I would not say so to every body, Mrs. Elton, but I have not much faith in Mrs. Churchill's illness.'
`If she is really ill, why not go to Bath, Mr. Weston? - To Bath, or to Clifton?' `She has taken it into her head that Enscombe is too cold for her. The fact is, I suppose, that she is tired of Enscombe. She has now been a longer time stationary11 there, than she ever was before, and she begins to want change. It is a retired12 place. A fine place, but very retired.'
`Aye - like Maple Grove, I dare say. Nothing can stand more retired from the road than Maple Grove. Such an immense plantation13 all round it! You seem shut out from every thing - in the most complete retirement14. - And Mrs. Churchill probably has not health or spirits like Selina to enjoy that sort of seclusion15. Or, perhaps she may not have resources enough in herself to be qualified16 for a country life. I always say a woman cannot have too many resources - and I feel very thankful that I have so many myself as to be quite independent of society.'
`Frank was here in February for a fortnight.'
`So I remember to have heard. He will find an addition to the society of Highbury when he comes again; that is, if I may presume to call myself an addition. But perhaps he may never have heard of there being such a creature in the world.'
This was too loud a call for a compliment to be passed by, and Mr. Weston, with a very good grace, immediately exclaimed,
`My dear madam! Nobody but yourself could imagine such a thing possible. Not heard of you! - I believe Mrs. Weston's letters lately have been full of very little else than Mrs. Elton.'
He had done his duty and could return to his son.
`When Frank left us,' continued he, `it was quite uncertain when we might see him again, which makes this day's news doubly welcome. It has been completely unexpected. That is, I always had a strong persuasion17 he would be here again soon, I was sure something favourable18 would turn up - but nobody believed me. He and Mrs. Weston were both dreadfully desponding. ``How could he contrive19 to come? And how could it be supposed that his uncle and aunt would spare him again?'' and so forth20 - I always felt that something would happen in our favour; and so it has, you see. I have observed, Mrs. Elton, in the course of my life, that if things are going untowardly21 one month, they are sure to mend the next.'
`Very true, Mr. Weston, perfectly22 true. It is just what I used to say to a certain gentleman in company in the days of courtship, when, because things did not go quite right, did not proceed with all the rapidity which suited his feelings, he was apt to be in despair, and exclaim that he was sure at this rate it would be May before Hymen's saffron robe would be put on for us. Oh! the pains I have been at to dispel23 those gloomy ideas and give him cheerfuller views! The carriage - we had disappointments about the carriage; - one morning, I remember, he came to me quite in despair.'
She was stopped by a slight fit of coughing, and Mr. Weston instantly seized the opportunity of going on.
`You were mentioning May. May is the very month which Mrs. Churchill is ordered, or has ordered herself, to spend in some warmer place than Enscombe - in short, to spend in London; so that we have the agreeable prospect24 of frequent visits from Frank the whole spring - precisely25 the season of the year which one should have chosen for it: days almost at the longest; weather genial26 and pleasant, always inviting27 one out, and never too hot for exercise. When he was here before, we made the best of it; but there was a good deal of wet, damp, cheerless weather; there always is in February, you know, and we could not do half that we intended. Now will be the time. This will be complete enjoyment28; and I do not know, Mrs. Elton, whether the uncertainty29 of our meetings, the sort of constant expectation there will be of his coming in to-day or to-morrow, and at any hour, may not be more friendly to happiness than having him actually in the house. I think it is so. I think it is the state of mind which gives most spirit and delight. I hope you will be pleased with my son; but you must not expect a prodigy30. He is generally thought a fine young man, but do not expect a prodigy. Mrs. Weston's partiality for him is very great, and, as you may suppose, most gratifying to me. She thinks nobody equal to him.'
`And I assure you, Mr. Weston, I have very little doubt that my opinion will be decidedly in his favour. I have heard so much in praise of Mr. Frank Churchill. - At the same time it is fair to observe, that I am one of those who always judge for themselves, and are by no means implicitly31 guided by others. I give you notice that as I find your son, so I shall judge of him. - I am no flatterer.'
Mr. Weston was musing32.
`I hope,' said he presently, `I have not been severe upon poor Mrs. Churchill. If she is ill I should be sorry to do her injustice33; but there are some traits in her character which make it difficult for me to speak of her with the forbearance I could wish. You cannot be ignorant, Mrs. Elton, of my connexion with the family, nor of the treatment I have met with; and, between ourselves, the whole blame of it is to be laid to her. She was the instigator34. Frank's mother would never have been slighted as she was but for her. Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentlemanlike sort of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless and tiresome35; but her pride is arrogance36 and insolence37! And what inclines one less to bear, she has no fair pretence of family or blood. She was nobody when he married her, barely the daughter of a gentleman; but ever since her being turned into a Churchill she has out-Churchill'd them all in high and mighty38 claims: but in herself, I assure you, she is an upstart.'
`Only think! well, that must be infinitely39 provoking! I have quite a horror of upstarts. Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to people of that sort; for there is a family in that neighbourhood who are such an annoyance40 to my brother and sister from the airs they give themselves! Your description of Mrs. Churchill made me think of them directly. People of the name of Tupman, very lately settled there, and encumbered41 with many low connexions, but giving themselves immense airs, and expecting to be on a footing with the old established families. A year and a half is the very utmost that they can have lived at West Hall; and how they got their fortune nobody knows. They came from Birmingham, which is not a place to promise much, you know, Mr. Weston. One has not great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound: but nothing more is positively42 known of the Tupmans, though a good many things I assure you are suspected; and yet by their manners they evidently think themselves equal even to my brother, Mr. Suckling, who happens to be one of their nearest neighbours. It is infinitely too bad. Mr. Suckling, who has been eleven years a resident at Maple Grove, and whose father had it before him - I believe, at least - I am almost sure that old Mr. Suckling had completed the purchase before his death.'
They were interrupted. Tea was carrying round, and Mr. Weston, having said all that he wanted, soon took the opportunity of walking away.
After tea, Mr. and Mrs. Weston, and Mr. Elton sat down with Mr. Woodhouse to cards. The remaining five were left to their own powers, and Emma doubted their getting on very well; for Mr. Knightley seemed little disposed for conversation; Mrs. Elton was wanting notice, which nobody had inclination43 to pay, and she was herself in a worry of spirits which would have made her prefer being silent.
Mr. John Knightley proved more talkative than his brother. He was to leave them early the next day; and he soon began with -
`Well, Emma, I do not believe I have any thing more to say about the boys; but you have your sister's letter, and every thing is down at full length there we may be sure. My charge would be much more concise44 than her's, and probably not much in the same spirit; all that I have to recommend being comprised in, do not spoil them, and do not physic them.'
`I rather hope to satisfy you both,' said Emma, `for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude45 false indulgence and physic.'
`And if you find them troublesome, you must send them home again.'
`That is very likely. You think so, do not you?'
`I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father - or even may be some encumbrance46 to you, if your visiting engagements continue to increase as much as they have done lately.'
`Increase!'
`Certainly; you must be sensible that the last half-year has made a great difference in your way of life.'
`Difference! No indeed I am not.'
`There can be no doubt of your being much more engaged with company than you used to be. Witness this very time. Here am I come down for only one day, and you are engaged with a dinner-party! - When did it happen before, or any thing like it? Your neighbourhood is increasing, and you mix more with it. A little while ago, every letter to Isabella brought an account of fresh gaieties; dinners at Mr. Cole's, or balls at the Crown. The difference which Randalls, Randalls alone makes in your goings-on, is very great.'
`Yes,' said his brother quickly, `it is Randalls that does it all.'
`Very well - and as Randalls, I suppose, is not likely to have less influence than heretofore, it strikes me as a possible thing, Emma, that Henry and John may be sometimes in the way. And if they are, I only beg you to send them home.'
`No,' cried Mr. Knightley, `that need not be the consequence. Let them be sent to Donwell. I shall certainly be at leisure.'
`Upon my word,' exclaimed Emma, `you amuse me! I should like to know how many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being of the party; and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure to attend to the little boys. These amazing engagements of mine - what have they been? Dining once with the Coles - and having a ball talked of, which never took place. I can understand you - (nodding at Mr. John Knightley) - your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends at once here, delights you too much to pass unnoticed. But you, (turning to Mr. Knightley,) who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I cannot imagine. And as to my dear little boys, I must say, that if Aunt Emma has not time for them, I do not think they would fare much better with Uncle Knightley, who is absent from home about five hours where she is absent one - and who, when he is at home, is either reading to himself or settling his accounts.'
Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton's beginning to talk to him.
“我希望不久就能有幸向你介绍我的儿子，”韦斯顿先生说。
埃尔顿太太很愿意把这样一个希望看做是对她的一种特别恭维，于是便喜笑颜开。
“我想你一定听说过一个名叫弗兰克-邱吉尔的人，”韦斯顿先生接着说，“而且知道他是我的儿子，尽管他没有跟我姓。”
“哦！是的，我将很乐意结识他。我敢说埃尔顿先生一定会马上去拜访他。如果他能光临牧师住宅，我们俩都会感到不胜荣幸。”
“你太客气了。我想弗兰克一定会感到万分高兴的。他即使不能再早，下星期也该到伦敦了。我们今天收到一封信，得到了这一消息。今天早上我在路上遇见送信的来，看见了我儿子的笔迹，便把信拆开了——不过，信不是写给我的——是写给韦斯顿太太的。不瞒你说，弗兰克主要是跟她通信。我几乎收不到什么信。”
“这么说，你还真把写给她的信拆开啦！哦！韦斯顿先生，”埃尔顿太太装模作样地笑了起来，“我要抗议这种行径。真是个十分危险的先例啊！我求你可别让你的邻居也跟你学。说实在话，我要是也碰上这样的事，那我们已婚妇女可要拿出点厉害来！哦！韦斯顿先生，我简直不敢相信，你居然会干出这样的事来！”
“是呀，我们男人都是坏家伙。你得自己小心才是，埃尔顿太太。这封信告诉我们——这是封短信——写得很匆忙，只是告诉我们一声——说他们马上就要到伦敦来，为的是邱吉尔太太的缘故——她整个冬天身体都不好，觉得恩斯库姆对她来说太冷——因此，他们要赶紧往南方跑。”
“谁说不是呀！我想是从约克郡来。恩斯库姆是在约克郡吧？”
“是的，离伦敦大约有一百九十英里。路程相当长啊。”
“是呀，确实相当长。比枫园到伦敦还远六十英里。不过，韦斯顿先生，对于有钱人来说，路程远又算得了什么呢？我姐夫有时候东奔西跑的，你听了准会大吃一惊。你也许不大相信——他和布雷格先生驾着驷马马车，一个星期来回跑了两趟伦敦呢。”
“从恩斯库姆这么远的地方赶来，”韦斯顿先生说，“那麻烦就在于，据我们了解，邱吉尔太太已经有一个星期没能离开沙发了。弗兰克在上封信里说，她抱怨身体太虚弱，每次去暖房都得让弗兰克和他舅舅扶着！你知道，这说明她身体太虚弱了——可现在倒好，她迫不及待地想进城，只打算在路上睡两夜。弗兰克的信上是这么写的。当然，娇弱的女士体质就是特别，埃尔顿太太。这一点你要承认。”
“不，我决不会承认。我总是站在我们女人这一边。真是这样。我要预先告诉你——在这一点上，我要坚决跟你作对。我总是要替女人说话的——跟你说吧，你要是知道塞丽娜觉得在旅馆里过夜是什么滋味，那你对邱吉尔太太千方百计地要避免在旅馆里过夜，就不会感到奇怪了。塞丽娜说她觉得真可怕——我想我已经感染上了一点她的娇气。她每次出去旅行都要带上自己的被单，难得的防范措施。邱吉尔太太是不是也这么做？”
“你放心好了，别的有身份的女士怎么做，邱吉尔太太就会怎么做。在英国，邱吉尔太太决不会落在任何女士的后面——”
埃尔顿太太急忙打断了他的话：
“哦！韦斯顿先生，你别误会我的意思。塞丽娜可不是什么有身份的女士。可别这样想。”
“她不是吗？那就不能拿她来衡量邱吉尔太太了。邱吉尔太太可是个地地道道的有身份的女士。”
埃尔顿太太心想，她不该这样矢口否认。她决不想让人家认为，她姐姐不是个有身份的女士。也许她还缺乏勇气，不敢大言不惭。她正想最好怎样把话收回来，只听韦斯顿先生接着说道：
“我不是很喜欢邱吉尔太太，你也许猜得出来——不过，这话只是在我们两人中间说说。她很喜欢弗兰克，因此我也就不想说她的坏话。再说，她现在身体不好。不过，据她自己说，她一直都是那样。我不会对谁都这么说，埃尔顿太太，我不大相信邱吉尔太太真有病。”
“她要是真有病，为什么不去巴思呢，韦斯顿先生？去巴思或克利夫顿（译注：英国格罗斯特郡布里斯托尔西部的温泉疗养地）？”
“她觉得恩斯库姆太冷了，她受不了。其实，我看她是在恩斯库姆住腻了。她这一次比以前哪一次在那儿住的时间都长，便想换换环境。那地方太偏僻。是个好地方，但是太偏僻。”
“是呀——我敢说，就像枫园一样。什么地方也比不上枫园离大路更远的了。周围是那么一大片农场！你就像是跟一切都隔绝了似的——完全与世隔绝。邱吉尔太太也许没有塞丽娜那样的身体，那样的心情，来欣赏与世隔绝的生活。要么就是缺乏消遣办法，适应不了乡下生活。我总是说，女人的消遣办法越多越好——谢天谢地，我有这么多的消遣办法，没人交往也没有关系。”
“弗兰克二月份在这儿住了两个星期。”
“我记得听人说过。他下次再来的时候，会发现海伯里社交界新添_『一员，那就是说，如果我可以自许为新添的一员的话。不过，他也许从没听说天下还有这么个人吧。”
她这话显然是要讨人恭维，因而也不会被人置之不理。韦斯顿先生马上彬彬有礼地大声说道：
“亲爱的太太！除了你自己以外，谁也想象不到会有这样的事。没听说过你！我相信，韦斯顿太太最近写的信里简直没提什么别的人，通篇都是埃尔顿太太。”
韦斯顿先生尽到了责任，可以回过头来谈他的儿子了。
“弗兰克走的时候，”他继续说道，“我们都还拿不准什么时候能再见到他，这就使今天的消息令人格外高兴。这事太出人意料了。其实，我可是一直坚信他不久就会再来的，我相信一定会出现令人可喜的情况——可就是没人相信我。弗兰克和韦斯顿太太都灰心透了。‘我怎么来得了呢？舅舅舅妈怎么会再放我呢？’诸如此类的顾虑——我总觉得会出现对我们有利的情况。你瞧，果然出现了。我以前曾经说过，埃尔顿太太，如果这个月事情不顺心，下个月肯定就会有所补偿。”
“一点不错，韦斯顿先生，千真万确。那话也是我以前对某一位先生常说的。他当时正在求婚，因为事情进展得不顺当，不像他期望的那么快，他便绝望了，说照这样的速度发展，就是到了五月，婚姻之神也不会给我们披上藏红色长袍！（译注：英国诗人弥尔顿所写的长诗《快乐的人》中有这样两句： 让婚姻之神常常出现，穿着藏红色长袍，拿着明亮的蜡烛。）哦！我费了多少劲才打消了他那些悲观的念头，让他乐观起来！就说马车吧——我们对马车没抱什么希望——有一天早上，我记得他灰心丧气地跑来找我。”
她轻轻咳嗽了起来，话给打断了，韦斯顿先生连忙抓住机会，继续往下说。
“你说起五月。就是在五月，邱吉尔太太不知是听了别人的话，还是自己决定的，要到一个比恩斯库姆暖和的地方——说明了，就是要去伦敦。因此，令人可喜的是，弗兰克整个春天会经常来我们这里——春天是人们喜欢出来探亲访友的最好季节：白天几乎最长，天气温和宜人，总是诱人往外跑，决不会热得让人懒得活动。他上次来的时候，我们想尽量玩得痛快些。可是那阵子阴雨连绵，非常潮湿。你也知道，二月里天气总是那样，我们的打算有一半落了空。这一次赶上好时候了，可以玩个痛快。埃尔顿太太，我们拿不准他什么时候能来，无时无刻不在盼望他今天来，明天来，或是随时都会来，这种期盼是不是比他真来了还令人高兴。我想是的。我想这种心情最令人欢欣鼓舞。我希望你会喜欢我儿子，不过别以为他是个天才。大家都认为他是个好青年，但是别以为他是个天才。韦斯顿太太非常喜爱他，你也猜得到，我对此非常高兴。她认为谁也比不上他。”
“你放心好啦，韦斯顿先生，我丝毫也不怀疑我会喜欢他的。我已经听到了那么多称赞弗兰克·邱吉尔先生的话。不过，还可以说句公正话，我也是那种一向自有主见的人，决不会盲目地受别人的左右。我可以预先告诉你，我发现你儿子怎么样，就会说他怎么样。我口J．不会奉承人。”
韦斯顿先生在沉思。
“我希望，”他随即说道，“我对可怜的邱吉尔尔太太没有太苛刻。她要是真病了，我就悔不该错怪了她。不过她的性格有些怪，我说起她来很难抱着应有的宽容。埃尔顿太太，你不会小了解我与这家人的关系，也不会不了解我的遭遇。我们俩私下说一句，这一切都怪她。是她从中挑拨的。要不是因为她，弗兰克的母亲绝不会受到欺侮。邱吉尔先生是有些傲慢，但是同他妻子的傲慢比起来，那就算不了什么。他那是‘一种文雅的、懒散的、绅士般的傲慢，不会损害任何人，只会搞得自己有点无可奈何，令人厌烦。可是他那位太太，真是傲慢无礼！而让人更不能容忍的是，她并没有什么门第和血统可以炫耀。邱吉尔先生娶她的时候，她是个微不足道的人，勉强算得上绅士的女儿。可是，自从嫁到邱吉尔家以后，便趾高气扬的，比邱吉尔家的人还要自以为了不起。不过，跟你说吧，她只不过是个暴发户。”
“想想看！咳，真叫人来气啊！我最讨厌暴发户。我在枫园的时候，对这种人厌恶透了，因为那附近就有一户这样的人家，硬要装模作样的，可把我姐姐、姐夫气坏了！你一说起邱吉尔太太，我马上就想起了他们。那家人家姓塔普曼，最近才搬来的，明明有许多低下的亲戚，却要摆出好大的架子，还想跟那些名门世家平起平坐呢。他们在韦斯特宅第顶多住了一年半，究竟怎样发的财，谁也不知道。他们是从伯明翰搬来的，你也知道，韦斯顿先生，那不是个能发财的地方。对伯明翰不能抱多大希望。我总说，那名字听起来就不吉利。不过，有关塔普曼家的其他情况就不清楚了，虽说我可以向你担保，还有不少事是令人怀疑的。从他们的神态看得出来，他们觉得自己甚至跟我姐夫萨克林先生不相上下，我姐夫正是他们最近的邻居。这太不像话了。萨克林先生在枫园住了十一年，在他之前还有他父亲——至少我是这么认为的——我几乎可以肯定，老萨克林先生在去世前就买下了这幢宅第。”
他们的谈话被打断了。茶点端来了，韦斯顿先生把要说的话都说完了，马上乘机溜掉了。
用完茶点，韦斯顿夫妇和埃尔顿先生坐下来陪伍德豪斯先生玩牌。其他五个人随他们自己去，爱玛怀疑他们是否能合得来，因为奈特利先生似乎不想交谈，埃尔顿太太就想别人听她说话，而别人又不愿听她的，她觉得心里烦恼，宁可沉闷不语。
倒是约翰·奈特利先生比他哥哥话多。他第二天一大早就要离开，因而马上说道：
“我说，爱玛，我看两个孩子的事我不用多交代了，你收到了你姐姐的信，可以肯定，信里把什么都写得很详细。我要嘱咐的比她的简单得多，而且精神也不大一样。我所要建议的只是：不要宠坏了他们，不要动不动就给他们吃药。”
“我倒希望让你们两个都满意，”爱玛说，“因为我要尽力让他们玩得快活，这对伊莎贝拉来说就足够了；而要快活，就不能恣意娇惯和随意服药。”
“你要是觉得他们烦人，就把他们送回家。”
“那倒很可能。你是这么认为的吗？”
“我是怕他们吵得你父亲受不了——甚至还会成为你的累赘，因为你最近来往的客人比较多，以后说不定还要多。”
“还要多！”
“肯定。你一定感觉到了，最近半年来，你的生活方式发生了很大的变化。”
“变化！不，我还真没感觉到。”
“你的交际活动比以前多得多，这是毫无疑问的。这一次我就亲眼看到了。我来这儿只待一天，你就摆起了宴席！以前什么时候有过这样的事，或者这一类的事？你的邻居越来越多，你跟他们的交往也越来越多。最近你写给伊莎贝拉的每一封信，都谈到刚举行过什么娱乐活动：在科尔先生家吃饭啦，在克朗旅店跳舞啦。单说你跟兰多尔斯的来往，那变化就很大。”
“是呀，”他哥哥连忙说道，“都是兰多尔斯引起的变化。”
“是这样的——依我看，爱玛，兰多尔斯今后的影响也不会比过去小，因此我觉得亨利和约翰可能有时候会妨碍你。如果真是这样的话，我只求你把他们送回家。”
“可别，”奈特利先生大声说道，“不一定非要这么办。把他们送到当维尔，我肯定有空。”
“说实在话，”爱玛嚷了起来，“你这话让我感到好笑！我倒想知道，我举行了这么多聚会，有哪一次你没参加；你又凭什么认为我没有空照顾两个小孩。我的这些令人惊异的聚会——都是些什么聚会呀？在科尔家吃过一次饭——谈起过要开一次舞会，可是一直没开成。我懂得你的意思——”说着朝约翰·奈特利点点头，“你碰巧一下子在这儿遇见这么多朋友，就高兴得不得了，没法掩饰自己。可是你呢，”一面转向奈特利先生，“你知道我难得哪一次离开哈特菲尔德两个小时，凭什么说我搞那么多的吃喝玩乐，真叫我难以想象。至于我亲爱的小外甥，我得说一句，如果爱玛姨妈没有空照料他们，我看他们跟着奈特利伯伯也不见得会好到哪里，爱玛姨妈离开家一小时，他就要离开家五小时——他即使待在家里，那也是不是埋头看书，就是埋头算账。”
奈特利先生好像竭力想忍住笑。恰在这时，埃尔顿太太跟他说起话来，他也就不费劲地忍住了。
收听单词发音 |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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disclaiming
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| v.否认( disclaim的现在分词 ) | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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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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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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untowardly
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| adj.意外的； 不顺利的；倔强的；难对付的 | |
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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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dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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prodigy
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| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
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implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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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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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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instigator
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| n.煽动者 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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43
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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concise
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| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
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preclude
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| vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍 | |
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encumbrance
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| n.妨碍物，累赘 | |
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