One morning, about ten days after Mrs. Churchill's decease, Emma was called downstairs to Mr. Weston, who `could not stay five minutes, and wanted particularly to speak with her.' - He met her at the parlour-door, and hardly asking her how she did, in the natural key of his voice, sunk it immediately, to say, unheard by her father,
`Can you come to Randalls at any time this morning? - Do, if it be possible. Mrs. Weston wants to see you. She must see you.'
`Is she unwell?'
`No, no, not at all - only a little agitated2. She would have ordered the carriage, and come to you, but she must see you alone, and that you know - (nodding towards her father) - Humph! - Can you come?'
`Certainly. This moment, if you please. It is impossible to refuse what you ask in such a way. But what can be the matter? - Is she really not ill?'
`Depend upon me - but ask no more questions. You will know it all in time. The most unaccountable business! But hush3, hush!'
To guess what all this meant, was impossible even for Emma. Something really important seemed announced by his looks; but, as her friend was well, she endeavoured not to be uneasy, and settling it with her father, that she would take her walk now, she and Mr. Weston were soon out of the house together and on their way at a quick pace for Randalls.
`Now,' - said Emma, when they were fairly beyond the sweep gates, - `now Mr. Weston, do let me know what has happened.'
`No, no,' - he gravely replied. - `Don't ask me. I promised my wife to leave it all to her. She will break it to you better than I can. Do not be impatient, Emma; it will all come out too soon.'
`Break it to me,' cried Emma, standing4 still with terror. - `Good God! - Mr. Weston, tell me at once. - Something has happened in Brunswick Square. I know it has. Tell me, I charge you tell me this moment what it is.'
`No, indeed you are mistaken.' -
`Mr. Weston do not trifle with me. - Consider how many of my dearest friends are now in Brunswick Square. Which of them is it? - I charge you by all that is sacred, not to attempt concealment5.'
`Upon my word, Emma.' -
`Your word! - why not your honour! - why not say upon your honour, that it has nothing to do with any of them? Good Heavens! - What can be to be broke to me, that does not relate to one of that family?'
`Upon my honour,' said he very seriously, `it does not. It is not in the smallest degree connected with any human being of the name of Knightley.'
Emma's courage returned, and she walked on.
`I was wrong,' he continued, `in talking of its being broke to you. I should not have used the expression. In fact, it does not concern you - it concerns only myself, - that is, we hope. - Humph! - In short, my dear Emma, there is no occasion to be so uneasy about it. I don't say that it is not a disagreeable business - but things might be much worse. - If we walk fast, we shall soon be at Randalls.'
Emma found that she must wait; and now it required little effort. She asked no more questions therefore, merely employed her own fancy, and that soon pointed6 out to her the probability of its being some money concern - something just come to light, of a disagreeable nature in the circumstances of the family, - something which the late event at Richmond had brought forward. Her fancy was very active. Half a dozen natural children, perhaps - and poor Frank cut off! - This, though very undesirable7, would be no matter of agony to her. It inspired little more than an animating8 curiosity.
`Who is that gentleman on horseback?' said she, as they proceeded - speaking more to assist Mr. Weston in keeping his secret, than with any other view.
`I do not know. - One of the Otways. - Not Frank; - it is not Frank, I assure you. You will not see him. He is half way to Windsor by this time.'
`Has your son been with you, then?'
`Oh! yes - did not you know? - Well, well, never mind.'
For a moment he was silent; and then added, in a tone much more guarded and demure9,
`Yes, Frank came over this morning, just to ask us how we did.'
They hurried on, and were speedily at Randalls. - `Well, my dear,' said he, as they entered the room - `I have brought her, and now I hope you will soon be better. I shall leave you together. There is no use in delay. I shall not be far off, if you want me.' - And Emma distinctly heard him add, in a lower tone, before he quitted the room, - `I have been as good as my word. She has not the least idea.'
Mrs. Weston was looking so ill, and had an air of so much perturbation, that Emma's uneasiness increased; and the moment they were alone, she eagerly said,
`What is it my dear friend? Something of a very unpleasant nature, I find, has occurred; - do let me know directly what it is. I have been walking all this way in complete suspense10. We both abhor11 suspense. Do not let mine continue longer. It will do you good to speak of your distress12, whatever it may be.'
`Have you indeed no idea?' said Mrs. Weston in a trembling voice. `Cannot you, my dear Emma - cannot you form a guess as to what you are to hear?'
`So far as that it relates to Mr. Frank Churchill, I do guess.'
`You are right. It does relate to him, and I will tell you directly;' (resuming her work, and seeming resolved against looking up.) `He has been here this very morning, on a most extraordinary errand. It is impossible to express our surprize. He came to speak to his father on a subject, - to announce an attachment13 - '
She stopped to breathe. Emma thought first of herself, and then of Harriet.
`More than an attachment, indeed,' resumed Mrs. Weston; `an engagement - a positive engagement. - What will you say, Emma - what will any body say, when it is known that Frank Churchill and Miss Fairfax are engaged; - nay14, that they have been long engaged!'
Emma even jumped with surprize; - and, horror-struck, exclaimed,
`Jane Fairfax! - Good God! You are not serious? You do not mean it?'
`You may well be amazed,' returned Mrs. Weston, still averting15 her eyes, and talking on with eagerness, that Emma might have time to recover - `You may well be amazed. But it is even so. There has been a solemn engagement between them ever since October - formed at Weymouth, and kept a secret from every body. Not a creature knowing it but themselves - neither the Campbells, nor her family, nor his. - It is so wonderful, that though perfectly16 convinced of the fact, it is yet almost incredible to myself. I can hardly believe it. - I thought I knew him.'
Emma scarcely heard what was said. - Her mind was divided between two ideas - her own former conversations with him about Miss Fairfax; and poor Harriet; - and for some time she could only exclaim, and require confirmation17, repeated confirmation.
`Well,' said she at last, trying to recover herself; `this is a circumstance which I must think of at least half a day, before I can at all comprehend it. What! - engaged to her all the winter - before either of them came to Highbury?'
`Engaged since October, - secretly engaged. - It has hurt me, Emma, very much. It has hurt his father equally. Some part of his conduct we cannot excuse.'
Emma pondered a moment, and then replied, `I will not pretend not to understand you; and to give you all the relief in my power, be assured that no such effect has followed his attentions to me, as you are apprehensive18 of.'
Mrs. Weston looked up, afraid to believe; but Emma's countenance19 was as steady as her words.
`That you may have less difficulty in believing this boast, of my present perfect indifference,' she continued, `I will farther tell you, that there was a period in the early part of our acquaintance, when I did like him, when I was very much disposed to be attached to him - nay, was attached - and how it came to cease, is perhaps the wonder. Fortunately, however, it did cease. I have really for some time past, for at least these three months, cared nothing about him. You may believe me, Mrs. Weston. This is the simple truth.'
Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and when she could find utterance20, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good than any thing else in the world could do.
`Mr. Weston will be almost as much relieved as myself,' said she. `On this point we have been wretched. It was our darling wish that you might be attached to each other - and we were persuaded that it was so. - Imagine what we have been feeling on your account.'
`I have escaped; and that I should escape, may be a matter of grateful wonder to you and myself. But this does not acquit21 him, Mrs. Weston; and I must say, that I think him greatly to blame. What right had he to come among us with affection and faith engaged, and with manners so very disengaged? What right had he to endeavour to please, as he certainly did - to distinguish any one young woman with persevering22 attention, as he certainly did - while he really belonged to another? - How could he tell what mischief23 he might be doing? - How could he tell that he might not be making me in love with him? - very wrong, very wrong indeed.'
`From something that he said, my dear Emma, I rather imagine - '
`And how could she bear such behaviour! Composure with a witness! to look on, while repeated attentions were offering to another woman, before her face, and not resent it. - That is a degree of placidity24, which I can neither comprehend nor respect.'
`There were misunderstandings between them, Emma; he said so expressly. He had not time to enter into much explanation. He was here only a quarter of an hour, and in a state of agitation25 which did not allow the full use even of the time he could stay - but that there had been misunderstandings he decidedly said. The present crisis, indeed, seemed to be brought on by them; and those misunderstandings might very possibly arise from the impropriety of his conduct.'
`Impropriety! Oh! Mrs. Weston - it is too calm a censure26. Much, much beyond impropriety! - It has sunk him, I cannot say how it has sunk him in my opinion. So unlike what a man should be! - None of that upright integrity, that strict adherence27 to truth and principle, that disdain28 of trick and littleness, which a man should display in every transaction of his life.'
`Nay, dear Emma, now I must take his part; for though he has been wrong in this instance, I have known him long enough to answer for his having many, very many, good qualities; and - '
`Good God!' cried Emma, not attending to her. - `Mrs. Smallridge, too! Jane actually on the point of going as governess! What could he mean by such horrible indelicacy? To suffer her to engage herself - to suffer her even to think of such a measure!'
`He knew nothing about it, Emma. On this article I can fully29 acquit him. It was a private resolution of hers, not communicated to him - or at least not communicated in a way to carry conviction. - Till yesterday, I know he said he was in the dark as to her plans. They burst on him, I do not know how, but by some letter or message - and it was the discovery of what she was doing, of this very project of hers, which determined30 him to come forward at once, own it all to his uncle, throw himself on his kindness, and, in short, put an end to the miserable31 state of concealment that had been carrying on so long.'
Emma began to listen better.
`I am to hear from him soon,' continued Mrs. Weston. `He told me at parting, that he should soon write; and he spoke32 in a manner which seemed to promise me many particulars that could not be given now. Let us wait, therefore, for this letter. It may bring many extenuations. It may make many things intelligible33 and excusable which now are not to be understood. Don't let us be severe, don't let us be in a hurry to condemn34 him. Let us have patience. I must love him; and now that I am satisfied on one point, the one material point, I am sincerely anxious for its all turning out well, and ready to hope that it may. They must both have suffered a great deal under such a system of secresy and concealment.'
`His sufferings,' replied Emma dryly, `do not appear to have done him much harm. Well, and how did Mr. Churchill take it?'
`Most favourably35 for his nephew - gave his consent with scarcely a difficulty. Conceive what the events of a week have done in that family! While poor Mrs. Churchill lived, I suppose there could not have been a hope, a chance, a possibility; - but scarcely are her remains36 at rest in the family vault37, than her husband is persuaded to act exactly opposite to what she would have required. What a blessing38 it is, when undue39 influence does not survive the grave! - He gave his consent with very little persuasion40.'
`Ah!' thought Emma, `he would have done as much for Harriet.'
`This was settled last night, and Frank was off with the light this morning. He stopped at Highbury, at the Bates's, I fancy, some time - and then came on hither; but was in such a hurry to get back to his uncle, to whom he is just now more necessary than ever, that, as I tell you, he could stay with us but a quarter of an hour. - He was very much agitated - very much, indeed - to a degree that made him appear quite a different creature from any thing I had ever seen him before. - In addition to all the rest, there had been the shock of finding her so very unwell, which he had had no previous suspicion of - and there was every appearance of his having been feeling a great deal.'
`And do you really believe the affair to have been carrying on with such perfect secresy? - The Campbells, the Dixons, did none of them know of the engagement?'
Emma could not speak the name of Dixon without a little blush.
`None; not one. He positively41 said that it had been known to no being in the world but their two selves.'
`Well,' said Emma, `I suppose we shall gradually grow reconciled to the idea, and I wish them very happy. But I shall always think it a very abominable42 sort of proceeding43. What has it been but a system of hypocrisy44 and deceit, - espionage45, and treachery? - To come among us with professions of openness and simplicity46; and such a league in secret to judge us all! - Here have we been, the whole winter and spring, completely duped, fancying ourselves all on an equal footing of truth and honour, with two people in the midst of us who may have been carrying round, comparing and sitting in judgment47 on sentiments and words that were never meant for both to hear. - They must take the consequence, if they have heard each other spoken of in a way not perfectly agreeable!'
`I am quite easy on that head,' replied Mrs. Weston. `I am very sure that I never said any thing of either to the other, which both might not have heard.'
`You are in luck. - Your only blunder was confined to my ear, when you imagined a certain friend of ours in love with the lady.'
`True. But as I have always had a thoroughly48 good opinion of Miss Fairfax, I never could, under any blunder, have spoken ill of her; and as to speaking ill of him, there I must have been safe.'
At this moment Mr. Weston appeared at a little distance from the window, evidently on the watch. His wife gave him a look which invited him in; and, while he was coming round, added, `Now, dearest Emma, let me intreat you to say and look every thing that may set his heart at ease, and incline him to be satisfied with the match. Let us make the best of it - and, indeed, almost every thing may be fairly said in her favour. It is not a connexion to gratify; but if Mr. Churchill does not feel that, why should we? and it may be a very fortunate circumstance for him, for Frank, I mean, that he should have attached himself to a girl of such steadiness of character and good judgment as I have always given her credit for - and still am disposed to give her credit for, in spite of this one great deviation49 from the strict rule of right. And how much may be said in her situation for even that error!'
`Much, indeed!' cried Emma feelingly. `If a woman can ever be excused for thinking only of herself, it is in a situation like Jane Fairfax's. - Of such, one may almost say, that ``the world is not their's, nor the world's law.'''
She met Mr. Weston on his entrance, with a smiling countenance, exclaiming,
`A very pretty trick you have been playing me, upon my word! This was a device, I suppose, to sport with my curiosity, and exercise my talent of guessing. But you really frightened me. I thought you had lost half your property, at least. And here, instead of its being a matter of condolence, it turns out to be one of congratulation. - I congratulate you, Mr. Weston, with all my heart, on the prospect50 of having one of the most lovely and accomplished51 young women in England for your daughter.'
A glance or two between him and his wife, convinced him that all was as right as this speech proclaimed; and its happy effect on his spirits was immediate1. His air and voice recovered their usual briskness52: he shook her heartily53 and gratefully by the hand, and entered on the subject in a manner to prove, that he now only wanted time and persuasion to think the engagement no very bad thing. His companions suggested only what could palliate imprudence, or smooth objections; and by the time they had talked it all over together, and he had talked it all over again with Emma, in their walk back to Hartfield, he was become perfectly reconciled, and not far from thinking it the very best thing that Frank could possibly have done.
大约在邱吉尔太太去世十天后的一个上午，爱玛给叫到楼下去见韦斯顿先生，他“待不上五分钟，想特地跟她谈谈”。他在客厅门口迎接她，刚用平常的语调向她问了好，便立即压低声音，不让她父亲听见，说道：
“今天早上你能去一趟兰多尔斯吗？能去就去一趟吧。韦斯顿太太想见见你。她一定得见见你。”
“她不舒服吗？”
“不，不，一点也没有——只是有点激动。她本来想坐马车来看你，不过她要单独见你。你知道，”韦斯顿先生朝她父亲点点头，“嗯！你能去吗？”
“当然。可以的话，这就去。你这样邀请，我没法不去。不过，究竟是什么事呢？她真的没生病吗？”
“放心吧——别再问了。到时候你什么都会知道的。真是莫名其妙的事情！不过，别问了，别问了！”
甚至连爱玛也猜不着究竟是怎么回事。从韦斯顿先生的神情看来，似乎有什么非常要紧的事。不过，既然她的朋友安然无恙，爱玛也就用不着着急了。于是，她跟父亲说好，她现在要去散步，随即便跟韦斯顿先生一起走出屋去，匆匆朝兰多尔斯赶去。
“现在，”等出了大门一大段路之后，爱玛说，“韦斯顿先生，告诉我出了什么事吧。”
“不，不，”韦斯顿先生一本正经地答道。“别问我。我答应了我太太，一切由她来说。这事由她透露给你比我透露好。别着急，爱玛。你马上就会全知道了。”
“快告诉我吧，”爱玛吓得站住了，嚷了起来。“天哪！韦斯顿先生，快告诉我吧。布伦斯威克广场出了什么事。我知道出事了。告诉我，我要你这就告诉我出了什么事。”
“没事，你真猜错了。
“韦斯顿先生，别跟我开玩笑。你想想，我有多少最亲爱的朋友就在布伦斯威克广场啊。是他们中的哪一位？我郑重其事地要求你，千万不要瞒着我。”
“我说的是实话，爱玛。”
“说实话！为什么不以名誉担保！为什么不以名誉担保，说这事跟他们任何人都没有关系？天哪！既然那件事跟那家人家没有关系，为什么又要透露给我呢？”
“我以名誉担保，”韦斯顿先生十分认真地说，“是没有关系。跟奈特利家的人没有一丝一毫的关系。”
爱玛放心了，又继续往前走。
“我说把消息透露给你，”韦斯顿先生接着说，“说得不对。我不该使用那个字眼。事实上，这事与你无关——只与我有关，就是说，但愿如此。嗯！总而言之，亲爱的爱玛，你用不着那么着急。我并不是说这不是件令人不快的事——但事情本来还可能糟得多。我们要足走快些，马上就到兰多尔斯了。”
爱玛觉得只有等待了，不过并不那么难挨了。于是她不再发问了，只是发挥自己的想象，脑子里很快就冒出一个念头：事情说不定跟钱财有关系——家境方面刚暴露出什么令人不快的事情，是里士满最近发生的不幸引起的。她越想越悬乎。也许发现了五六个私生子——可怜的弗兰克给剥夺了继承权！这种事虽说很糟糕，但却不会使她为之痛苦，只不过激起了她的好奇心。
“那个骑马的人是谁？”两人继续往前走时，爱玛问道——她说话不为别的，只想帮助韦斯顿先生保守心中的秘密。
“我也不知道。也许是奥特维家的人吧。不是弗兰克。我敢肯定不是弗兰克。你是见不到弗兰克的。这当儿，他正在去温莎的半路上。”
“这么说，你儿子刚才跟你在一起啦？”
“哦！是的——难道你不知道？嗯，嗯，没关系。”
韦斯顿先生沉默了一会，然后以更谨慎、更认真的口吻，接着说道：
“是啊，弗兰克今天早上来过，只是来问个好。”
两人匆匆赶路，很快就到了兰多尔斯。“喂，亲爱的，”他们走进屋时，韦斯顿先生说道，“我把她请来了，希望你马上就好了。我让你们两个单独谈谈。拖延没什么好处。你要是叫我的话，我不走远。”他走出屋以前，爱玛清清楚楚地听见他小声加了一句：“我遵守诺言。她一点也不知道。”
韦斯顿太太脸色不好，一副心绪不宁的样子，爱玛又急起来了。等只剩下她们俩时，她急忙说道：
“什么事，亲爱的朋友？我感觉一定出了什么很不愉快的事。快告诉我是什么事。我走了这一路，心里一直很着急。我们两个都怕着急，别让我再着急下去了。你不管有什么苦恼，说出来对你有好处。”
“你真的一点不知道吗？”韦斯顿太太声音颤抖地说道。“难道你，亲爱的爱玛——难道你猜不着我要对你说什么吗？”
“只要是跟弗兰克·邱吉尔先生有关，我就猜得着。”
“你说对了。是跟他有关，我这就告诉你。”韦斯顿太太又继续做手里的活，好像决计不抬起眼来。“他今天早上来过了，为了一件极不寻常的事。我们惊奇得简直无法形容。他来跟他父亲谈一件事，说他爱上了——”
韦斯顿太太停下来喘口气。爱玛先以为他爱上了她自己，随即想到了哈丽特。
“其实不仅仅是爱上了，”韦斯顿太太接着又说，“而且订了婚——的的确确订了婚。弗兰克·邱吉尔和费尔法克斯小姐订了婚——而且是早就订了婚！你知道了会怎么说呢，爱玛？别人知道了会怎么说呢？”
爱玛惊奇得甚至跳了起来。她大惊失色地嚷道：
“简·费尔法克斯！天哪！你不是当真的吧？你是说着玩的吧？”
“你完全有理由感到惊异，”韦斯顿太太回道，仍然把目光避开爱玛，急着继续往下说，好让爱玛平静下来。“你完全有理由感到惊异。但事实就是如此。早在去年十月份，他们就郑重地订了婚——那是在韦默斯，对谁都严守秘密。除了他们自己以外，谁也不知道——坎贝尔夫妇、男女双方的家人，全都不知道。真是奇怪，我完全相信这是事实，可我又觉得简直不可思议。我简直不敢相信。我还以为我很了解他呢。”
爱玛几乎没听见她说的话。她心里转着两个念头——一是她以前跟弗兰克议论过费尔法克斯小姐，二是哈丽特有多可怜。一时间她只能惊叹，而且要人家证实了又证实。
“咳，”她终于说话了，竭力想平静下来。“这件事就是让我琢磨半天，我也琢磨不透啊。什么！跟她订婚整整一个冬天了——那不是两人都没来海伯里以前的事吗？”
“十月份就订婚了，秘密订的婚。太叫我伤心了，爱玛。他父亲也同样伤心。他有些行为我们是不能原谅的。”
爱玛沉思了一下，然后答道：“我也不想假装不明白你的意思。为了尽量安慰你，我要请你放心，他向我献殷勤并没产生你所担心的那种效果。”
韦斯顿太太抬起头来，简直不敢相信。可爱玛不仅言语镇定，神态也很自若。
“为了使你更容易相信我确实满不在乎，”爱玛接着又说，“我还要告诉你，我们最初相识的时候，我一度的确挺喜欢他，很想爱上他——不，是爱上了他——后来怎么结束的，也许有些奇怪。不过，幸好结束了。最近有一段时间，至少有三个月，我真没把他放在心上。你可以相信我，韦斯顿太太。这全是实话。”
韦斯顿太太含着喜悦的眼泪亲吻爱玛。等到能说出话时，就对她说：听到她这番表白，真比世界上什么东西都更宝贵。
“韦斯顿先生会跟我一样放心了，”她说。“我们对这件事感到很苦恼。以前，我们真心希望你们能相爱——而且也以为你们在相爱。你想想看，我们为你感到多么难受啊。”
“我逃脱了。我居然能逃脱，这对你们、对我自己，都是个值得庆幸的奇迹。可是，那也不能因此而原谅他。我要说，我认为他应该受到严厉的指责。他明明爱上了别人，又跟人家订了婚，还有什么权利跑到我们中间，装作好像是个完全自由的人？他既然已经有人了，还有什么权利去讨好别的年轻女人——一个劲儿地向她献殷勤呢？难道他不知道他在搞什么名堂吗？难道他不知道他会害得我爱上她吗？真不道德，太不道德了。”
“听他说的话，亲爱的爱玛，我认为——”
“她怎么能容忍这种行为啊！眼睁睁地看着还能若无其事！男的当着她的面一次次地向另一个女人献殷勤，她却袖手旁观，毫不抱怨。这样的涵养工夫，我既难以理解，也无法敬佩。”
“他们之间有误会，爱玛，他是明明白白这么讲的，只是来不及细说。他在这儿只待了一刻钟，由于心情激动，就连这一刻钟也没充分利用——不过，他明言直语地说他们有误会。目前的紧张局面好像真是这些误会引起的；而这些误会又很可能是他的行为不当引起的。”
“行为不当！哎！韦斯顿太太——你太轻描淡写了。远远不止是行为不当！这一下可降低了我对他的看法，我也说不准降得有多低。完全不像个男子汉大丈夫！男子汉大丈夫应该为人正派诚实、坚持真理和原则、蔑视卑鄙的伎俩，可是这些优点他却一概没有。”
“不，亲爱的爱玛，我得为他说几句话。尽管他在这件事上做得不对，可是我认识他也不算短了，可以担保他有许多许多优点，而且——”
“天哪！”爱玛根本不听她的，大声嚷道，“还有斯莫尔里奇太太哪！简就要去做家庭教师了！他采取这么可怕的轻率举动，究竟是什么意思？居然让她去应聘——甚至让她想出这样一招！”
“他不知道这件事呵，爱玛。在这一点上，我敢说他完全是无辜的。那是简私自决定的，没跟他交换意见——至少没有明确地商量过。我知道，他说直到昨天他还蒙在鼓里，不知道简的计划。他址突然知道的，我也不清楚是怎么知道的，也许此收到信了，或是接到了回信——正是因为发现了简的举动，获悉了她的这项汁划，他才决定立即采取主动，向他舅舅坦白一切，求他宽恕。总之，结束这隐瞒已久所造成的痛苦状态。”
爱玛开始认真听了。
“我很快就会收到他的信，”韦斯顿太太接着往下说。“他临走时跟我说，他会马上写信来的。从他说话的神态来看，他似乎要告诉我许多现在还不能说的详情细节。所以，我们就等他来信吧。也许信里会作出许多辩解。有许多事情目前无法理解，信里或许会解释清楚，得到谅解。我们别把问题看得太重了，别急于责怪他。我们还是耐心些。我必须爱他，我既然认准了这一点，而且是最重要的一点，就急巴巴地想让事情有个好的结果，心想一定会这样。他们一直遮遮掩掩的，一定忍受了不少痛苦。”
“他的痛苦，”爱玛冷冷地回道，“似乎没给他带来多少伤害嘛。嗯，邱吉尔先生是什么态度？”
“完全顺着他外甥呗——简直毫不犯难地就同意了。想想看，那家人家一个星期里出了那么多事，发生了多大的变化啊！可怜的邱吉尔太太在世时，我觉得没有希望、没有机会、没有可能。可是她的遗体刚葬入自家的墓穴，她丈夫就做出了完全违背她意愿的事。人一进了坟墓，其不良影响也就随之消失，这是多大的幸事啊！简直没费什么口舌，他就同意了。”
“哦！”爱玛心想，“换了哈丽特，他也会同意的。”
“这是昨天晚上说定的，弗兰克今天早上天一亮就走了。我想他先去了海伯里，在贝茨家停了停——然后再上这儿来。不过，他又急着要回到他舅舅那儿，他眼下比以前更需要他，因此正如我刚才对你说的，他只能在我们这儿待一刻钟。他非常激动——的确非常激动——我从没见过他那么激动，那样子跟以前完全判若两人。别的且不说，看到她病得那么厉害，他先前丝毫没有料到，因而大为震惊——看来他心里非常难受。”
“你当真认为这件事搞得非常秘密吗？坎贝尔夫妇、迪克逊夫妇，他们谁都不知道他俩订婚的事吗？”
爱玛说到迪克逊时，脸上不由得微微一红。
“谁都不知道，没一个人知道。他说得很肯定：世界上除了他们俩以外，谁也不知道。”
“嗯，”爱玛说，“我想我们会渐渐想开的，祝愿他们美满幸福。不过，我永远认为这种做法十分可鄙。除了虚情假意、招摇撞骗、暗中刺探和背信弃义那一套以外，还会是什么呢？来到我们中间的时候，一个劲儿地标榜自己多么坦率、多么纯朴，暗地里却串通起来，对我们大家评头论足！整整一个冬天，整整一个夏天，我们完全受了骗，以为大家都一样的坦率、一样的诚实，没想到我们中间有那么两个人，他们传来传去，比这比那，把不该让他们知道的想法和话语刺探了去，坐在那里说三道四。如果他们彼此听到了别人议论对方的不大悦耳的话，那他们就得自食其果了！”
“那我倒挺心安理得的，”韦斯顿太太回道。“我敢说，我从没在他们中的哪个人面前议论过另一个，说些不该让他们两人都听到的话。”
“你真幸运。你唯一的错误是，你认为我们的一位朋友爱上了那位小姐，不过你那话只是对我讲了。”
“一点不错。不过，我一向很看得起费尔法克斯小姐，决不会冒冒失失地说她的坏话。至于弗兰克的坏话，那我当然更不会说啦。”
恰在这时，韦斯顿先生出现在离窗口不远的地方，显然是在观察她们的动静。他太太朝他使了个眼色，叫他进来。趁他还没进来的时候，他太太又补充道：“最亲爱的爱玛，我求你留心你的言语和神态，让他心里踏实些，对这门亲事感到满意。我们要尽可能往好里想——的确，几乎一切都可以说是对她有利。这门亲事并不很称心如意，不过邱吉尔先生都不计较，我们何必去计较呢？对他来说，我指弗兰克，爱上这样一个稳重而有头脑的姑娘，也许是件很幸运的事。尽管严格说来，她这件事做得很越格，我还是一向认为——并且以后仍然认为她有这样的优点。她处于那个地位，即使犯了那个过错，也情有可原啊！”
“的确情有可原！”爱玛感慨地嚷道。“如果一个女人只为自己着想还可以原谅的话，那只有处在简·费尔法克斯小姐那样的地位。对于这种人，你简直可以说：‘这世界不是他们的，这世界的法律也约束不到他们。’（译注：爱玛在仿效引用莎士比亚所著悲剧《罗密欧与朱丽叶》第五幕第一场中的一句话，原话为：“这世界不是你的朋友，这世界的法律也保护不到你。”）”
韦斯顿先生一进门，他太太便笑容满面地大声嚷道：
“瞧你的，你还真会跟我开玩笑啊！我看你是用这个花招来挑逗我的好奇心，练一练我的猜测本领。你真把我吓坏了。我还以为你至少损失了一半财产呢。到头来，这不仅不是件令人伤心的事，反倒是件值得庆贺的事。衷心祝贺你，韦斯顿先生，你眼见就有一个全英国最可爱、最多才多艺的年轻女子作你的儿媳了。”
韦斯顿先生跟太太对视了一两眼后便意识到，正如这番话所表明的那样，一切都顺顺当当，因而立刻高兴起来。看他的神态，听他的声音，他又恢复了往常的活跃。他满怀感激之情，一把抓住太太的手，跟她谈起了这件事，那样子足以证明：只要给以时间，让他听听别人的话，他就会相信这还不算是件很坏的亲事。他的两个同伴说的话，只是想为弗兰克的鲁莽行为开脱，使他不至于反对这门亲事。等他们三人一起谈完了这件事，他送爱玛回哈特菲尔德途中跟爱玛又谈了一阵之后，他已经完全想通了，差不多快要认为：这是弗兰克所能做的最令人满意的事了。
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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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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animating
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| v.使有生气( animate的现在分词 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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abhor
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| v.憎恶；痛恨 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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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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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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placidity
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| n.平静，安静，温和 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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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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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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intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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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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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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espionage
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| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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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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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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briskness
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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