Mrs. Weston's friends were all made happy by her safety; and if the satisfaction of her well-doing could be increased to Emma, it was by knowing her to be the mother of a little girl. She had been decided1 in wishing for a Miss Weston. She would not acknowledge that it was with any view of making a match for her, hereafter, with either of Isabella's sons; but she was convinced that a daughter would suit both father and mother best. It would be a great comfort to Mr. Weston, as he grew older - and even Mr. Weston might be growing older ten years hence - to have his fireside enlivened by the sports and the nonsense, the freaks and the fancies of a child never banished2 from home; and Mrs. Weston - no one could doubt that a daughter would be most to her; and it would be quite a pity that any one who so well knew how to teach, should not have their powers in exercise again.
`She has had the advantage, you know, of practising on me,' she continued - `like La Baronne d'Almane on La Comtesse d'Ostalis, in Madame de Genlis' Adelaide and Theodore, and we shall now see her own little Adelaide educated on a more perfect plan.'
`That is,' replied Mr. Knightley, `she will indulge her even more than she did you, and believe that she does not indulge her at all. It will be the only difference.'
`Poor child!' cried Emma; `at that rate, what will become of her?'
`Nothing very bad. - The fate of thousands. She will be disagreeable in infancy3, and correct herself as she grows older. I am losing all my bitterness against spoilt children, my dearest Emma. I, who am owing all my happiness to you, would not it be horrible ingratitude4 in me to be severe on them?'
Emma laughed, and replied: `But I had the assistance of all your endeavours to counteract5 the indulgence of other people. I doubt whether my own sense would have corrected me without it.'
`Do you? - I have no doubt. Nature gave you understanding: - Miss Taylor gave you principles. You must have done well. My interference was quite as likely to do harm as good. It was very natural for you to say, what right has he to lecture me? - and I am afraid very natural for you to feel that it was done in a disagreeable manner. I do not believe I did you any good. The good was all to myself, by making you an object of the tenderest affection to me. I could not think about you so much without doating on you, faults and all; and by dint6 of fancying so many errors, have been in love with you ever since you were thirteen at least.'
`I am sure you were of use to me,' cried Emma. `I was very often influenced rightly by you - oftener than I would own at the time. I am very sure you did me good. And if poor little Anna Weston is to be spoiled, it will be the greatest humanity in you to do as much for her as you have done for me, except falling in love with her when she is thirteen.'
`How often, when you were a girl, have you said to me, with one of your saucy7 looks - ``Mr. Knightley, I am going to do so-and-so; papa says I may, or I have Miss Taylor's leave'' - something which, you knew, I did not approve. In such cases my interference was giving you two bad feelings instead of one.'
`What an amiable8 creature I was! - No wonder you should hold my speeches in such affectionate remembrance.'
```Mr. Knightley.'' - You always called me, ``Mr. Knightley;'' and, from habit, it has not so very formal a sound. - And yet it is formal. I want you to call me something else, but I do not know what.'
`I remember once calling you ``George,'' in one of my amiable fits, about ten years ago. I did it because I thought it would offend you; but, as you made no objection, I never did it again.'
`And cannot you call me ``George'' now?'
`Impossible! - I never can call you any thing but ``Mr. Knightley.'' I will not promise even to equal the elegant terseness9 of Mrs. Elton, by calling you Mr. K. - But I will promise,' she added presently, laughing and blushing - `I will promise to call you once by your Christian10 name. I do not say when, but perhaps you may guess where; - in the building in which N. takes M. for better, for worse.'
Emma grieved that she could not be more openly just to one important service which his better sense would have rendered her, to the advice which would have saved her from the worst of all her womanly follies11 - her wilful12 intimacy13 with Harriet Smith; but it was too tender a subject. - She could not enter on it. - Harriet was very seldom mentioned between them. This, on his side, might merely proceed from her not being thought of; but Emma was rather inclined to attribute it to delicacy14, and a suspicion, from some appearances, that their friendship were declining. She was aware herself, that, parting under any other circumstances, they certainly should have corresponded more, and that her intelligence would not have rested, as it now almost wholly did, on Isabella's letters. He might observe that it was so. The pain of being obliged to practise concealment15 towards him, was very little inferior to the pain of having made Harriet unhappy.
Isabella sent quite as good an account of her visitor as could be expected; on her first arrival she had thought her out of spirits, which appeared perfectly16 natural, as there was a dentist to be consulted; but, since that business had been over, she did not appear to find Harriet different from what she had known her before. - Isabella, to be sure, was no very quick observer; yet if Harriet had not been equal to playing with the children, it would not have escaped her. Emma's comforts and hopes were most agreeably carried on, by Harriet's being to stay longer; her fortnight was likely to be a month at least. Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley were to come down in August, and she was invited to remain till they could bring her back.
`John does not even mention your friend,' said Mr. Knightley. `Here is his answer, if you like to see it.'
It was the answer to the communication of his intended marriage. Emma accepted it with a very eager hand, with an impatience17 all alive to know what he would say about it, and not at all checked by hearing that her friend was unmentioned.
`John enters like a brother into my happiness,' continued Mr. Knightley, `but he is no complimenter; and though I well know him to have, likewise, a most brotherly affection for you, he is so far from making flourishes, that any other young woman might think him rather cool in her praise. But I am not afraid of your seeing what he writes.'
`He writes like a sensible man,' replied Emma, when she had read the letter. `I honour his sincerity18. It is very plain that he considers the good fortune of the engagement as all on my side, but that he is not without hope of my growing, in time, as worthy19 of your affection, as you think me already. Had he said any thing to bear a different construction, I should not have believed him.'
`My Emma, he means no such thing. He only means - '
`He and I should differ very little in our estimation of the two,' interrupted she, with a sort of serious smile - `much less, perhaps, than he is aware of, if we could enter without ceremony or reserve on the subject.'
`Emma, my dear Emma - '
`Oh!' she cried with more thorough gaiety, `if you fancy your brother does not do me justice, only wait till my dear father is in the secret, and hear his opinion. Depend upon it, he will be much farther from doing you justice. He will think all the happiness, all the advantage, on your side of the question; all the merit on mine. I wish I may not sink into ``poor Emma'' with him at once. - His tender compassion20 towards oppressed worth can go no farther.'
`Ah!' he cried, `I wish your father might be half as easily convinced as John will be, of our having every right that equal worth can give, to be happy together. I am amused by one part of John's letter - did you notice it? - where he says, that my information did not take him wholly by surprize, that he was rather in expectation of hearing something of the kind.'
`If I understand your brother, he only means so far as your having some thoughts of marrying. He had no idea of me. He seems perfectly unprepared for that.'
`Yes, yes - but I am amused that he should have seen so far into my feelings. What has he been judging by? - I am not conscious of any difference in my spirits or conversation that could prepare him at this time for my marrying any more than at another. - But it was so, I suppose. I dare say there was a difference when I was staying with them the other day. I believe I did not play with the children quite so much as usual. I remember one evening the poor boys saying, ``Uncle seems always tired now.'''
The time was coming when the news must spread farther, and other persons' reception of it tried. As soon as Mrs. Weston was sufficiently21 recovered to admit Mr. Woodhouse's visits, Emma having it in view that her gentle reasonings should be employed in the cause, resolved first to announce it at home, and then at Randalls. - But how to break it to her father at last! - She had bound herself to do it, in such an hour of Mr. Knightley's absence, or when it came to the point her heart would have failed her, and she must have put it off; but Mr. Knightley was to come at such a time, and follow up the beginning she was to make. - She was forced to speak, and to speak cheerfully too. She must not make it a more decided subject of misery22 to him, by a melancholy23 tone herself. She must not appear to think it a misfortune. - With all the spirits she could command, she prepared him first for something strange, and then, in a few words, said, that if his consent and approbation24 could be obtained - which, she trusted, would be attended with no difficulty, since it was a plan to promote the happiness of all - she and Mr. Knightley meant to marry; by which means Hartfield would receive the constant addition of that person's company whom she knew he loved, next to his daughters and Mrs. Weston, best in the world.
Poor man! - it was at first a considerable shock to him, and he tried earnestly to dissuade25 her from it. She was reminded, more than once, of having always said she would never marry, and assured that it would be a great deal better for her to remain single; and told of poor Isabella, and poor Miss Taylor. - But it would not do. Emma hung about him affectionately, and smiled, and said it must be so; and that he must not class her with Isabella and Mrs. Weston, whose marriages taking them from Hartfield, had, indeed, made a melancholy change: but she was not going from Hartfield; she should be always there; she was introducing no change in their numbers or their comforts but for the better; and she was very sure that he would be a great deal the happier for having Mr. Knightley always at hand, when he were once got used to the idea. - Did he not love Mr. Knightley very much? - He would not deny that he did, she was sure. - Whom did he ever want to consult on business but Mr. Knightley? - Who was so useful to him, who so ready to write his letters, who so glad to assist him? - Who so cheerful, so attentive26, so attached to him? - Would not he like to have him always on the spot? - Yes. That was all very true. Mr. Knightley could not be there too often; he should be glad to see him every day; - but they did see him every day as it was. - Why could not they go on as they had done?
Mr. Woodhouse could not be soon reconciled; but the worst was overcome, the idea was given; time and continual repetition must do the rest. - To Emma's entreaties27 and assurances succeeded Mr. Knightley's, whose fond praise of her gave the subject even a kind of welcome; and he was soon used to be talked to by each, on every fair occasion. - They had all the assistance which Isabella could give, by letters of the strongest approbation; and Mrs. Weston was ready, on the first meeting, to consider the subject in the most serviceable light - first, as a settled, and, secondly28, as a good one - well aware of the nearly equal importance of the two recommendations to Mr. Woodhouse's mind. - It was agreed upon, as what was to be; and every body by whom he was used to be guided assuring him that it would be for his happiness; and having some feelings himself which almost admitted it, he began to think that some time or other - in another year or two, perhaps - it might not be so very bad if the marriage did take place.
Mrs. Weston was acting29 no part, feigning30 no feelings in all that she said to him in favour of the event. - She had been extremely surprized, never more so, than when Emma first opened the affair to her; but she saw in it only increase of happiness to all, and had no scruple31 in urging him to the utmost. - She had such a regard for Mr. Knightley, as to think he deserved even her dearest Emma; and it was in every respect so proper, suitable, and unexceptionable a connexion, and in one respect, one point of the highest importance, so peculiarly eligible32, so singularly fortunate, that now it seemed as if Emma could not safely have attached herself to any other creature, and that she had herself been the stupidest of beings in not having thought of it, and wished it long ago. - How very few of those men in a rank of life to address Emma would have renounced33 their own home for Hartfield! And who but Mr. Knightley could know and bear with Mr. Woodhouse, so as to make such an arrangement desirable! - The difficulty of disposing of poor Mr. Woodhouse had been always felt in her husband's plans and her own, for a marriage between Frank and Emma. How to settle the claims of Enscombe and Hartfield had been a continual impediment - less acknowledged by Mr. Weston than by herself - but even he had never been able to finish the subject better than by saying - `Those matters will take care of themselves; the young people will find a way.' But here there was nothing to be shifted off in a wild speculation34 on the future. It was all right, all open, all equal. No sacrifice on any side worth the name. It was a union of the highest promise of felicity in itself, and without one real, rational difficulty to oppose or delay it.
Mrs. Weston, with her baby on her knee, indulging in such reflections as these, was one of the happiest women in the world. If any thing could increase her delight, it was perceiving that the baby would soon have outgrown35 its first set of caps.
The news was universally a surprize wherever it spread; and Mr. Weston had his five minutes share of it; but five minutes were enough to familiarise the idea to his quickness of mind. - He saw the advantages of the match, and rejoiced in them with all the constancy of his wife; but the wonder of it was very soon nothing; and by the end of an hour he was not far from believing that he had always foreseen it.
`It is to be a secret, I conclude,' said he. `These matters are always a secret, till it is found out that every body knows them. Only let me be told when I may speak out. - I wonder whether Jane has any suspicion.'
He went to Highbury the next morning, and satisfied himself on that point. He told her the news. Was not she like a daughter, his eldest36 daughter? - he must tell her; and Miss Bates being present, it passed, of course, to Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Perry, and Mrs. Elton, immediately afterwards. It was no more than the principals were prepared for; they had calculated from the time of its being known at Randalls, how soon it would be over Highbury; and were thinking of themselves, as the evening wonder in many a family circle, with great sagacity.
In general, it was a very well approved match. Some might think him, and others might think her, the most in luck. One set might recommend their all removing to Donwell, and leaving Hartfield for the John Knightleys; and another might predict disagreements among their servants; but yet, upon the whole, there was no serious objection raised, except in one habitation, the Vicarage. - There, the surprize was not softened37 by any satisfaction. Mr. Elton cared little about it, compared with his wife; he only hoped `the young lady's pride would now be contented38;' and supposed `she had always meant to catch Knightley if she could;' and, on the point of living at Hartfield, could daringly exclaim, `Rather he than I!' - But Mrs. Elton was very much discomposed indeed. - `Poor Knightley! poor fellow! - sad business for him. - She was extremely concerned; for, though very eccentric, he had a thousand good qualities. - How could he be so taken in? - Did not think him at all in love - not in the least. - Poor Knightley! - There would be an end of all pleasant intercourse39 with him. - How happy he had been to come and dine with them whenever they asked him! But that would be all over now. - Poor fellow! - No more exploring parties to Donwell made for her. Oh! no; there would be a Mrs. Knightley to throw cold water on every thing. - Extremely disagreeable! But she was not at all sorry that she had abused the housekeeper40 the other day. - Shocking plan, living together. It would never do. She knew a family near Maple41 Grove42 who had tried it, and been obliged to separate before the end of the first quarter.
韦斯顿太太平安分娩了，朋友们都为之感到高兴。爱玛对自己做的好事本来就很得意？如果说有什么事能让她越发得意的话，那就是得知朋友生了一个女孩。她一心巴望来一个韦斯顿小姐。她不会承认那是为了以后可以给她做个媒，把她嫁给伊莎贝拉的哪个儿子。她认为做父母的觉得女儿更为称心。等韦斯顿先生上了年纪——甚至韦斯顿先生十年后也会上年纪的——火炉边始终有一个不离家的孩子（译注：按英国当时的习俗，女孩一般待在家里接受家庭教师的教育，男孩则去寄宿学校读书）用嬉戏、调皮、任性和幻想来活跃气氛，那倒是个莫大的安慰。韦斯顿太太也一样——谁也不怀疑她多么需要一个女儿。再说，任何一个善于管教孩子的人，如果不能再一次发挥自己的才能，也是很可惜的。
“你知道，她有她的有利条件，曾拿我作为她的实践对象，”爱玛接着说，“就像德-让利夫人所写的《阿黛莱德和西奥多》里的达尔曼男爵夫人以道斯达利女伯爵为实践对象（译注：德·让利夫人(1746-1830)：法国著名的教育理论家，《阿黛莱德和西奥多》是她一本书的英译本的书名）那样，我们可以看到她以更完荚的方案来教育自己的小阿黛莱德。”
“那就是说，”奈特利先生回答道，“对她比对你还要更娇惯，还以为自己根本没有娇惯。这将是唯一的差别。”
“可怜的孩子！”爱玛大声嚷道。“那样的话，她会成什么样子呢？”
“没什么大不了的，成千上万的孩子都这样。小时候讨人嫌，大了会自己改正的。最亲爱的爱玛，对娇生惯养的孩子我慢慢的也不那么讨厌了。我的幸福全要归功于你，我要是对他们太苛刻了，那岂不是忘恩负义吗？”
爱玛笑起来了，答道：“可是你竭力帮我抵消了别人的娇惯。要是没有你的帮助，我怀疑靠我自己的理智是否能改好。”
“是吗？我倒并不怀疑。造物给了你理智，泰勒小姐给了你原则。你肯定会好好的。我的干预既可能带来好处，也可能带来坏处。你完全可以说：他有什么权利来教训我？我怕你自然会觉得我这样做令人讨厌。我认为我没给你带来什么好处。好处都让我得了，使你成了我热恋的对象。我一想起你心里就充满了爱，缺点什么的我都爱。正因为我想象出你有许多错处，至少从你十三岁起，我就爱上了你。”
“我敢肯定，你对我大有好处，”爱玛大声说道。“我经常受到你的良好影响——只是我当时不肯承认罢了。我敢肯定你给我带来了好处。如果可怜的小安娜·韦斯顿给宠坏了，你就像以前待我那样来对待她，那将是最大的仁慈，可就是别在她长到十三岁时又爱上她。”
“你小时候经常露出一副调皮的神情对我说：‘奈特利先生，我要做什么什么事，爸爸说可以，或者泰勒小姐同意了——而你当时也知道，我是不赞成的。’在这种情况下，我的干预不是使你一般的不高兴，而是使你双重的不高兴。”
“我当时有多可爱啊！难怪你会这么深情地记住我的话。”
“‘奈特利先生。’你总叫我‘奈特利先生’。从习惯上说，听起来并不那么一本正经。然而却显得太一本正经了。我想让你换个称呼，可又不知道换什么称呼好。”
“我记得大约十年前，有一次心里一热乎，就叫你‘乔治’。我当时这样叫你，本想气气你，可是你并不在意，我也就没再这么叫。”
“现在你不能叫我‘乔治’吗？”
“不可能！我只能叫你‘奈特利先生’。我甚至不会答应用埃尔顿太太那种风雅的简短称呼，叫你‘奈先生’。不过我会答应，”她马上又一边笑一边红着脸补充说，“我答应叫你一次教名。我不说在什么时候，可你也许可以猜到在什么地方：不管是好是歹，某某与某某缔姻的地方（译注：指教堂）。”
奈特利先生那么有见识，爱玛要是听了他的话，本来可以避免犯下她那女性最愚蠢的错误——任性地跟哈丽特·史密斯搞得那么亲密，可惜她不敢公开地承认这一点，她为此感到悲哀。这个问题太微妙了，她根本没法谈。他们两人很少谈到哈丽特。奈特利先生之所以如此，也许仅仅因为没想到她，而爱玛却觉得问题棘手，从某些表面现象来看，怀疑她们的友情不如以前。她自己也知道，她们要是在别的情况下分手，书信来往肯定会频繁一些，而不至于像现在这样，几乎完全靠伊莎贝拉的信件提供消息。奈特利先生或许也看出了这一点。不得不向他隐瞒事实真相，这痛苦丝毫也不亚于造成哈丽特悲伤时所感到的痛苦。
果然不出所料，伊莎贝拉来信详细地介绍了她的客人的情况。她发觉她刚到的时候神情沮丧，这倒也非常正常，因为还要去看牙医。可是看过牙医之后，她似乎觉得哈丽特跟以前并没什么两样。当然，伊莎贝拉并不是个目光敏锐的人，但如果哈丽特没有心思跟孩子们玩，那她也不至于看不出来。哈丽特能多住一段时间，原定的两个星期很可能要延长到至少一个月，这使爱玛感到非常欣慰，心里一直满怀希望。约翰·奈特利夫妇俩打算八月份来，可以叫她多住些日子，跟他们一道走。
“约翰甚至没提到你的朋友，”奈特利先生说。“你要是想看的话，这就是他的回信。”
奈特利先生把他打算结婚的事写信告诉了弟弟，弟弟给他写了回信。爱玛急忙伸手接过信，迫不及待地想看看约翰是怎么说的，听说没提到她的朋友也不在意。
“约翰怀着手足之情为我高兴，”奈特利先生接着说，“可他不会恭维人。他是你姐夫，虽说我知道他十分疼爱你，他却不会花言巧语，换个别的年轻女人，还会觉得他不诚心赞美人。不过，我不怕让你看看他写了些什么。”
“他写起信来倒像一个通情达理的人，”爱玛看过信以后回答道。“我敬佩他的真诚。显然，他认为我们这次订婚完全是我交了好运，不过他还是希望我以后会无愧于你的一片真情，而你认为我已经受之无愧了。他要是不这么说，我倒还不会相信他呢。”
“我的爱玛，他并不是这个意思。他只是说——”
“他和我对两人的评价分歧很小，”爱玛打断了他的话，脸上露出一本正经的微笑。“如果我们可以不讲客套、开诚布公地谈论这件事，那我们的分歧或许还要小得多。”
“爱玛。亲爱的爱玛——”
“哦！”爱玛更加兴高采烈地嚷了起来，“你要是认为你弟弟对我不公道，那就等到我亲爱的父亲知道这桩秘密之后，听听他的意见吧。你听我说吧，他对你会更不公道。他会认为这全是你的福气，是你占了便宜，优势全在我这一边。但愿我不要一下就落到被他称作‘可怜的爱玛’的境地。对于受委屈的好人，他充其量只能表现出这样的怜悯之情。”
“啊！”奈特利先生大声嚷道，“但愿你父亲能像约翰一半那样好说服，相信我们很般配，生活在一起会很幸福。约翰的信有一段我看了觉得很有趣——你注意到了没有？他说我的消息并没有使他感到太意外，他早就料到会听到这样的消息。”
“如果我了解你弟弟的话，他只是说他料到了你打算结婚。他没想到会是跟我。看来他对此完全没有思想准备。”
“是呀，是呀——可我觉得很有意思，他居然能猜透我的心思。他凭什么判断的呢？我觉得我的情绪和谈吐与往常没什么两样，他怎么现在会料到我要结婚呀。不过，我想是这么回事。我敢说，那天我待在他们那儿，跟往常是有些不一样。我想我跟孩子玩得不像平时那么多。我记得有一天晚上，几个可怜的孩子说：‘伯伯好像总是没劲儿。”’
到时候了，应该把消息传扬开，听听别人的反映。等韦斯顿太太身体一恢复，可以接待伍德豪斯先生了，爱玛便想发挥一下她那委婉的说理功夫，决定先在家里宣布这件事，再到兰多尔斯去宣布。可是，最终如何向她父亲说呀！她已经打定主意，要趁奈特利先生不在场的时候，由她自己来说，否则的话，她怕到时候失去勇气，实情就要拖延下去了。不过，奈特利先生会在这样一个节骨眼上赶到，接着她的话头往下说。她不得不说话，而且要兴高采烈地说。她决不能用一种忧伤的语调，让父亲听了心里难过。她不能让父亲觉得，好像她都认为这是一门不幸的亲事。她鼓足了勇气，先让他有个思想准备，好听一件意料不到的事，然后直言脆语地说：这件事若能得到他的赞同和恩准——她相信这不会有什么困难，因为此事会促成大家的幸福——她和奈特利先生打算结婚。这就是说，此人就要来哈特菲尔德与他们朝夕相伴，她知道，父亲除了女儿和韦斯顿太太以外，最喜爱的就是这个人了。
可怜的人儿！他起初大为震惊，苦口婆心地劝女儿别这么做。他一再提醒爱玛，她总说她一辈子也不结婚，对她来说，独身确实要好得多，不信就看看伊莎贝拉和泰勒有多么可怜。可是他的话不顶用，爱玛昵昵地缠住他不放，笑吟吟地说她非要结婚不可。还说不应把她与伊莎贝拉和韦斯顿太太相提并论，她们一结婚就离开了哈特菲尔德，因而的确引起了令人心酸的变化。可是她并不离开哈特菲尔德，而要永远守在家里。她给家里带来的变化，除了人数增加，日子过得更舒服之外，不会有别的。她敢肯定，父亲只要想开了，有奈特利先生经常在身边，那只会增添无穷的快乐。父亲不是很喜欢奈特利先生吗？她知道父亲不会否认这一点。他有事除了找奈特利先生商量，还找过谁呢？还有谁对他这么有用，这么乐意给他写信，这么喜欢帮助他？还有谁对他这么和气、这么体贴、这么有感情呢？难道他不喜欢他始终待在身边吗？是呀，一点不错，奈特利先生来得再勤，他也不会嫌多，他巴不得天天见到他。可事实上，他们已经是天天见到他了，为什么不能一如既往地继续下去呢？
伍德豪斯先生一时还说不通。不过，最大的难关已经渡过，事情已经摊开了，余下的就是要假以时日，要反复地做工作。奈特利先生紧跟着爱玛，也一再恳求，一再保证，他对爱玛满怀深情的赞美，让伍德豪斯先生听了还真有点乐滋滋的。这两人一有机会就跟他谈这个问题，过了不久，他也就不以为然了。伊莎贝拉从中鼎力相助，写来一封封信，表示全力支持。韦斯顿太太第一次见面，就本着成人之美的原则考虑问题——首先此事已成定局，其次这是一件好事——她心里很清楚，要说服伍德豪斯先生，这两点几乎是同样重要的。事情该怎么办，大家的看法是一致的。过去他信赖的几个人，个个都向他保证说，这也是为了他的幸福。他心里有点给说动了，几乎想承认是这么回事，便开始设想：再过一阵子——也许过一两年，两人结婚未必是件坏事。
韦斯顿太太劝说他时并没有装假，流露出的都是真情实意。爱玛第一次向她透露这件事时，她不禁大吃一惊，真是从未这么惊奇过。但是转念一想，她觉得这件事只会使大家更为幸福，因此便毫不迟疑地极力鼓动伍德豪斯先生答应。她很器重奈特利先生，认为他甚至配得上她最亲爱的爱玛。无论从哪一方面看，这都是一门最合适、最般配、最完美的亲事，而且在某一点上，在最重要的一点上，更是特别妥当，特别圆满，爱玛要是爱上了别人，那就不可能这么稳妥，她觉得自己真是天下最大的傻瓜，居然没有早想到这件事，没有早向他们祝福。一个有地位的人向爱玛求婚，愿意舍弃自己的家住到哈特菲尔德来，这多么难能可贵啊！除了奈特利先生，有谁能够了解并容忍伍德豪斯先生，做出这样理想的安排！她和丈夫有心撮合弗兰克和爱玛，但总觉得不好安排可怜的伍德豪斯先生。如何兼顾恩斯库姆和哈特菲尔德的利益，一直是个难题——而对这个困难，韦斯顿先生比他太太还缺乏认识——可是每次一谈到这件事，就连韦斯顿先生最终至多也只能这么说：“这些事情自会解决的，年轻人总会想出办法的。”可是现在不能凭胡思乱想来考虑问题。这件事合情合理、光明正大，又完全般配，双方谁也不吃亏。这是一门十分美满的亲事，没有任何真正的、站得住脚的理由来阻挠，来推迟。
韦斯顿太太把婴儿抱在膝上，就这么浮想联翩，觉得自己是世界上最快活的女人。如果还有什么事情能使她更加快活的话，那就是眼看着小宝宝最初戴的帽子马上就要嫌小了。
这一喜讯传到哪里，就在哪里引起惊奇。韦斯顿先生也惊奇了五分钟，但他思想敏锐，五分钟后就不见怪了。他看出了这门亲事的好处，像他太太一样为之高兴。他马上就觉得不足为奇了，一小时之后，他都快认为自己早就料到这一步了。
“我看还应该保守秘密，”他说。“这种事总要保守秘密，直到被人发现，传得家喻户晓。只是在我可以说出去的时候才告诉我。也不知道简是否有所察觉。”
第二天早上他去了海伯里，把这个问题搞清楚了。他把消息告诉了简。简不就像他的亲女儿，像他的大女儿吗？他非得告诉她不可。由于贝茨小姐当时也在场，消息自然又立即传给了科尔太太、佩里太太和埃尔顿太太。两个主要当事人早就料到了这一点。他们已经估计过了，兰多尔斯的人知道这消息之后，要过多久会传遍海伯里。他们十分敏锐地想象自己会成为许多人家傍晚惊诧议论的中心。
大体说来，大家都很赞赏这门亲事。有人认为男的合算，有人认为女的合算。有人觉得他们应该去当维尔，把哈特菲尔德让给约翰·奈特利一家。有人则预言他们的仆人会闹纠纷。然而，总的说来，没有什么真正表示异议的，除了一家人家——牧师家以外。在牧师家，惊讶之余没有半点高兴。与妻子相比，埃尔顿先生还不怎么在乎，他只是在想“这位小姐的自尊心可以得到满足了”，认为“她一直在想尽办法勾引奈特利”。谈到住到哈特菲尔德一事，他又大言不惭地嚷道：“他愿意，我可不干！”可是埃尔顿太太可真是沉不住气了。“可怜的奈特利！可怜的家伙！他可倒霉了。我真替他担心。他尽管很古怪，还是有许许多多优点。他怎么会上这个当呢？不要以为他坠人了情网——绝对没有的事。可怜的奈特利！我们与他的愉快交往彻底结束了。以前不管什么时候请他，他都会多么高兴地来跟我们一起吃饭啊！可现在却完了。可怜的家伙！再也不会为我组织去当维尔游玩了。唉！不会了，有了一个奈特利太太，什么事情都要泼冷水。讨厌透顶！那天我骂那个管家，现在一点也不后悔。真是令人震惊，居然两家住到一起。绝对行不通。据我所知，枫园附近有一家人家尝试过，没过一个季度就不得不散伙了。”
收听单词发音 |
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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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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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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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terseness
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| 简洁，精练 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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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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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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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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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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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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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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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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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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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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feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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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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