Time passed on. A few more to-morrows, and the party from London would be arriving. It was an alarming change; and Emma was thinking of it one morning, as what must bring a great deal to agitate1 and grieve her, when Mr. Knightley came in, and distressing2 thoughts were put by. After the first chat of pleasure he was silent; and then, in a graver tone, began with,
`I have something to tell you, Emma; some news.'
`Good or bad?' said she, quickly, looking up in his face.
`I do not know which it ought to be called.'
`Oh! good I am sure. - I see it in your countenance3. You are trying not to smile.'
`I am afraid,' said he, composing his features, `I am very much afraid, my dear Emma, that you will not smile when you hear it.'
`Indeed! but why so? - I can hardly imagine that any thing which pleases or amuses you, should not please and amuse me too.'
`There is one subject,' he replied, `I hope but one, on which we do not think alike.' He paused a moment, again smiling, with his eyes fixed4 on her face. `Does nothing occur to you? - Do not you recollect5? - Harriet Smith.'
Her cheeks flushed at the name, and she felt afraid of something, though she knew not what.
`Have you heard from her yourself this morning?' cried he. `You have, I believe, and know the whole.'
`No, I have not; I know nothing; pray tell me.'
`You are prepared for the worst, I see - and very bad it is. Harriet Smith marries Robert Martin.'
Emma gave a start, which did not seem like being prepared - and her eyes, in eager gaze, said, `No, this is impossible!' but her lips were closed.
`It is so, indeed,' continued Mr. Knightley; `I have it from Robert Martin himself. He left me not half an hour ago.'
She was still looking at him with the most speaking amazement6.
`You like it, my Emma, as little as I feared. - I wish our opinions were the same. But in time they will. Time, you may be sure, will make one or the other of us think differently; and, in the meanwhile, we need not talk much on the subject.'
`You mistake me, you quite mistake me,' she replied, exerting herself. `It is not that such a circumstance would now make me unhappy, but I cannot believe it. It seems an impossibility! - You cannot mean to say, that Harriet Smith has accepted Robert Martin. You cannot mean that he has even proposed to her again - yet. You only mean, that he intends it.'
`I mean that he has done it,' answered Mr. Knightley, with smiling but determined7 decision, `and been accepted.'
`Good God!' she cried. - `Well!' - Then having recourse to her workbasket, in excuse for leaning down her face, and concealing8 all the exquisite9 feelings of delight and entertainment which she knew she must be expressing, she added, `Well, now tell me every thing; make this intelligible10 to me. How, where, when? - Let me know it all. I never was more surprized - but it does not make me unhappy, I assure you. - How - how has it been possible?'
`It is a very simple story. He went to town on business three days ago, and I got him to take charge of some papers which I was wanting to send to John. - He delivered these papers to John, at his chambers11, and was asked by him to join their party the same evening to Astley's. They were going to take the two eldest12 boys to Astley's. The party was to be our brother and sister, Henry, John - and Miss Smith. My friend Robert could not resist. They called for him in their way; were all extremely amused; and my brother asked him to dine with them the next day - which he did - and in the course of that visit (as I understand) he found an opportunity of speaking to Harriet; and certainly did not speak in vain. - She made him, by her acceptance, as happy even as he is deserving. He came down by yesterday's coach, and was with me this morning immediately after breakfast, to report his proceedings14, first on my affairs, and then on his own. This is all that I can relate of the how, where, and when. Your friend Harriet will make a much longer history when you see her. - She will give you all the minute particulars, which only woman's language can make interesting. - In our communications we deal only in the great. - However, I must say, that Robert Martin's heart seemed for him, and to me, very overflowing15; and that he did mention, without its being much to the purpose, that on quitting their box at Astley's, my brother took charge of Mrs. John Knightley and little John, and he followed with Miss Smith and Henry; and that at one time they were in such a crowd, as to make Miss Smith rather uneasy.'
He stopped. - Emma dared not attempt any immediate13 reply. To speak, she was sure would be to betray a most unreasonable16 degree of happiness. She must wait a moment, or he would think her mad. Her silence disturbed him; and after observing her a little while, he added,
`Emma, my love, you said that this circumstance would not now make you unhappy; but I am afraid it gives you more pain than you expected. His situation is an evil - but you must consider it as what satisfies your friend; and I will answer for your thinking better and better of him as you know him more. His good sense and good principles would delight you. - As far as the man is concerned, you could not wish your friend in better hands. His rank in society I would alter if I could, which is saying a great deal I assure you, Emma. - You laugh at me about William Larkins; but I could quite as ill spare Robert Martin.'
He wanted her to look up and smile; and having now brought herself not to smile too broadly - she did - cheerfully answering,
`You need not be at any pains to reconcile me to the match. I think Harriet is doing extremely well. Her connexions may be worse than his. In respectability of character, there can be no doubt that they are. I have been silent from surprize merely, excessive surprize. You cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me! how peculiarly unprepared I was! - for I had reason to believe her very lately more determined against him, much more, than she was before.'
`You ought to know your friend best,' replied Mr. Knightley; `but I should say she was a good-tempered, soft-hearted girl, not likely to be very, very determined against any young man who told her he loved her.'
Emma could not help laughing as she answered, `Upon my word, I believe you know her quite as well as I do. - But, Mr. Knightley, are you perfectly17 sure that she has absolutely and downright accepted him. I could suppose she might in time - but can she already? - Did not you misunderstand him? - You were both talking of other things; of business, shows of cattle, or new drills - and might not you, in the confusion of so many subjects, mistake him? - It was not Harriet's hand that he was certain of - it was the dimensions of some famous ox.'
The contrast between the countenance and air of Mr. Knightley and Robert Martin was, at this moment, so strong to Emma's feelings, and so strong was the recollection of all that had so recently passed on Harriet's side, so fresh the sound of those words, spoken with such emphasis, `No, I hope I know better than to think of Robert Martin,' that she was really expecting the intelligence to prove, in some measure, premature19. It could not be otherwise.
`Do you dare say this?' cried Mr. Knightley. `Do you dare to suppose me so great a blockhead, as not to know what a man is talking of? - What do you deserve?'
`Oh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other; and, therefore, you must give me a plain, direct answer. Are you quite sure that you understand the terms on which Mr. Martin and Harriet now are?'
`I am quite sure,' he replied, speaking very distinctly, `that he told me she had accepted him; and that there was no obscurity, nothing doubtful, in the words he used; and I think I can give you a proof that it must be so. He asked my opinion as to what he was now to do. He knew of no one but Mrs. Goddard to whom he could apply for information of her relations or friends. Could I mention any thing more fit to be done, than to go to Mrs. Goddard? I assured him that I could not. Then, he said, he would endeavour to see her in the course of this day.'
`I am perfectly satisfied,' replied Emma, with the brightest smiles, `and most sincerely wish them happy.'
`You are materially changed since we talked on this subject before.'
`I hope so - for at that time I was a fool.'
`And I am changed also; for I am now very willing to grant you all Harriet's good qualities. I have taken some pains for your sake, and for Robert Martin's sake, (whom I have always had reason to believe as much in love with her as ever,) to get acquainted with her. I have often talked to her a good deal. You must have seen that I did. Sometimes, indeed, I have thought you were half suspecting me of pleading poor Martin's cause, which was never the case; but, from all my observations, I am convinced of her being an artless, amiable20 girl, with very good notions, very seriously good principles, and placing her happiness in the affections and utility of domestic life. - Much of this, I have no doubt, she may thank you for.'
`Me!' cried Emma, shaking her head. - `Ah! poor Harriet!'
She checked herself, however, and submitted quietly to a little more praise than she deserved.
Their conversation was soon afterwards closed by the entrance of her father. She was not sorry. She wanted to be alone. Her mind was in a state of flutter and wonder, which made it impossible for her to be collected. She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits; and till she had moved about, and talked to herself, and laughed and reflected, she could be fit for nothing rational.
Her father's business was to announce James's being gone out to put the horses to, preparatory to their now daily drive to Randalls; and she had, therefore, an immediate excuse for disappearing.
The joy, the gratitude21, the exquisite delight of her sensations may be imagined. The sole grievance22 and alloy23 thus removed in the prospect24 of Harriet's welfare, she was really in danger of becoming too happy for security. - What had she to wish for? Nothing, but to grow more worthy25 of him, whose intentions and judgment26 had been ever so superior to her own. Nothing, but that the lessons of her past folly27 might teach her humility28 and circumspection29 in future.
Serious she was, very serious in her thankfulness, and in her resolutions; and yet there was no preventing a laugh, sometimes in the very midst of them. She must laugh at such a close! Such an end of the doleful disappointment of five weeks back! Such a heart - such a Harriet!
Now there would be pleasure in her returning - Every thing would be a pleasure. It would be a great pleasure to know Robert Martin.
High in the rank of her most serious and heartfelt felicities, was the reflection that all necessity of concealment30 from Mr. Knightley would soon be over. The disguise, equivocation31, mystery, so hateful to her to practise, might soon be over. She could now look forward to giving him that full and perfect confidence which her disposition32 was most ready to welcome as a duty.
In the gayest and happiest spirits she set forward with her father; not always listening, but always agreeing to what he said; and, whether in speech or silence, conniving33 at the comfortable persuasion34 of his being obliged to go to Randalls every day, or poor Mrs. Weston would be disappointed.
They arrived. - Mrs. Weston was alone in the drawing-room: - but hardly had they been told of the baby, and Mr. Woodhouse received the thanks for coming, which he asked for, when a glimpse was caught through the blind, of two figures passing near the window.
`It is Frank and Miss Fairfax,' said Mrs. Weston. `I was just going to tell you of our agreeable surprize in seeing him arrive this morning. He stays till to-morrow, and Miss Fairfax has been persuaded to spend the day with us. - They are coming in, I hope.'
In half a minute they were in the room. Emma was extremely glad to see him - but there was a degree of confusion - a number of embarrassing recollections on each side. They met readily and smiling, but with a consciousness which at first allowed little to be said; and having all sat down again, there was for some time such a blank in the circle, that Emma began to doubt whether the wish now indulged, which she had long felt, of seeing Frank Churchill once more, and of seeing him with Jane, would yield its proportion of pleasure. When Mr. Weston joined the party, however, and when the baby was fetched, there was no longer a want of subject or animation35 - or of courage and opportunity for Frank Churchill to draw near her and say,
`I have to thank you, Miss Woodhouse, for a very kind forgiving message in one of Mrs. Weston's letters. I hope time has not made you less willing to pardon. I hope you do not retract36 what you then said.'
`No, indeed,' cried Emma, most happy to begin, `not in the least. I am particularly glad to see and shake hands with you - and to give you joy in person.'
He thanked her with all his heart, and continued some time to speak with serious feeling of his gratitude and happiness.
`Is not she looking well?' said he, turning his eyes towards Jane. `Better than she ever used to do? - You see how my father and Mrs. Weston doat upon her.'
But his spirits were soon rising again, and with laughing eyes, after mentioning the expected return of the Campbells, he named the name of Dixon. - Emma blushed, and forbade its being pronounced in her hearing.
`I can never think of it,' she cried, `without extreme shame.'
`The shame,' he answered, `is all mine, or ought to be. But is it possible that you had no suspicion? - I mean of late. Early, I know, you had none.'
`I never had the smallest, I assure you.'
`That appears quite wonderful. I was once very near - and I wish I had - it would have been better. But though I was always doing wrong things, they were very bad wrong things, and such as did me no service. - It would have been a much better transgression37 had I broken the bond of secrecy38 and told you every thing.'
`It is not now worth a regret,' said Emma.
`I have some hope,' resumed he, `of my uncle's being persuaded to pay a visit at Randalls; he wants to be introduced to her. When the Campbells are returned, we shall meet them in London, and continue there, I trust, till we may carry her northward39. - But now, I am at such a distance from her - is not it hard, Miss Woodhouse? - Till this morning, we have not once met since the day of reconciliation40. Do not you pity me?'
Emma spoke18 her pity so very kindly41, that with a sudden accession of gay thought, he cried,
`Ah! by the bye,' then sinking his voice, and looking demure42 for the moment - `I hope Mr. Knightley is well?' He paused. - She coloured and laughed. - `I know you saw my letter, and think you may remember my wish in your favour. Let me return your congratulations. - I assure you that I have heard the news with the warmest interest and satisfaction. - He is a man whom I cannot presume to praise.'
Emma was delighted, and only wanted him to go on in the same style; but his mind was the next moment in his own concerns and with his own Jane, and his next words were,
`Did you ever see such a skin? - such smoothness! such delicacy43! - and yet without being actually fair. - One cannot call her fair. It is a most uncommon44 complexion45, with her dark eye-lashes and hair - a most distinguishing complexion! So peculiarly the lady in it. - Just colour enough for beauty.'
`I have always admired her complexion,' replied Emma, archly; `but do not I remember the time when you found fault with her for being so pale? - When we first began to talk of her. - Have you quite forgotten?'
`Oh! no - what an impudent46 dog I was! - How could I dare - '
But he laughed so heartily47 at the recollection, that Emma could not help saying,
`I do suspect that in the midst of your perplexities at that time, you had very great amusement in tricking us all. - I am sure you had. - I am sure it was a consolation48 to you.'
`Oh! no, no, no - how can you suspect me of such a thing? I was the most miserable49 wretch50!'
`Not quite so miserable as to be insensible to mirth. I am sure it was a source of high entertainment to you, to feel that you were taking us all in. - Perhaps I am the readier to suspect, because, to tell you the truth, I think it might have been some amusement to myself in the same situation. I think there is a little likeness51 between us.'
He bowed.
`If not in our dispositions,' she presently added, with a look of true sensibility, `there is a likeness in our destiny; the destiny which bids fair to connect us with two characters so much superior to our own.'
`True, true,' he answered, warmly. `No, not true on your side. You can have no superior, but most true on mine. - She is a complete angel. Look at her. Is not she an angel in every gesture? Observe the turn of her throat. Observe her eyes, as she is looking up at my father. - You will be glad to hear (inclining his head, and whispering seriously) that my uncle means to give her all my aunt's jewels. They are to be new set. I am resolved to have some in an ornament52 for the head. Will not it be beautiful in her dark hair?'
`Very beautiful, indeed,' replied Emma; and she spoke so kindly, that he gratefully burst out,
`How delighted I am to see you again! and to see you in such excellent looks! - I would not have missed this meeting for the world. I should certainly have called at Hartfield, had you failed to come.'
The others had been talking of the child, Mrs. Weston giving an account of a little alarm she had been under, the evening before, from the infant's appearing not quite well. She believed she had been foolish, but it had alarmed her, and she had been within half a minute of sending for Mr. Perry. Perhaps she ought to be ashamed, but Mr. Weston had been almost as uneasy as herself. - In ten minutes, however, the child had been perfectly well again. This was her history; and particularly interesting it was to Mr. Woodhouse, who commended her very much for thinking of sending for Perry, and only regretted that she had not done it. `She should always send for Perry, if the child appeared in the slightest degree disordered, were it only for a moment. She could not be too soon alarmed, nor send for Perry too often. It was a pity, perhaps, that he had not come last night; for, though the child seemed well now, very well considering, it would probably have been better if Perry had seen it.'
Frank Churchill caught the name.
`Perry!' said he to Emma, and trying, as he spoke, to catch Miss Fairfax's eye. `My friend Mr. Perry! What are they saying about Mr. Perry? - Has he been here this morning? - And how does he travel now? - Has he set up his carriage?'
Emma soon recollected53, and understood him; and while she joined in the laugh, it was evident from Jane's countenance that she too was really hearing him, though trying to seem deaf.
`Such an extraordinary dream of mine!' he cried. `I can never think of it without laughing. - She hears us, she hears us, Miss Woodhouse. I see it in her cheek, her smile, her vain attempt to frown. Look at her. Do not you see that, at this instant, the very passage of her own letter, which sent me the report, is passing under her eye - that the whole blunder is spread before her - that she can attend to nothing else, though pretending to listen to the others?'
Jane was forced to smile completely, for a moment; and the smile partly remained as she turned towards him, and said in a conscious, low, yet steady voice,
`How you can bear such recollections, is astonishing to me! - They will sometimes obtrude54 - but how you can court them!'
He had a great deal to say in return, and very entertainingly; but Emma's feelings were chiefly with Jane, in the argument; and on leaving Randalls, and falling naturally into a comparison of the two men, she felt, that pleased as she had been to see Frank Churchill, and really regarding him as she did with friendship, she had never been more sensible of Mr. Knightley's high superiority of character. The happiness of this most happy day, received its completion, in the animated55 contemplation of his worth which this comparison produced.
时光荏苒。再过几天，伦敦的那伙人就要到了。这是个惊人的变化。一天早上爱玛在想，那一定会使她大为焦虑，大为烦恼，这时奈特利先生走了进来，于是她把这些伤脑筋的事抛到了一边。奈特利先生先是快活地聊了几句，然后就默不做声了。随即，他用一本正经的口吻说道：
“我有件事告诉你，爱玛，一条消息。”
“好消息还是坏消息？”爱玛连忙问道，一边抬起头来瞅着他的脸。
“我不知道该怎么说。”
“哦！我看一定是好消息。我从你脸上看得出来。你在忍住笑。”
“我担心，”奈特利先生沉着脸说道，“我很担心，亲爱的爱玛，你听了会笑不起来。”
“真的吗！为什么？我很难想象，有什么能使你高兴，或者逗你笑，却不能使我也高兴，不能逗我笑。”
“有一件事，”奈特利先生答道，“但愿只有这一件，我们的看法不一样。”他顿了一下，又笑了笑，两眼盯着爱玛的脸。“你没想到吗？你记不起来啦？哈丽特·史密斯。”
爱玛一听到这个名字，脸顿时红了。她心里觉得害怕，虽说不知道怕什么。
“你今天早上接到她的信了吗？”奈特利先生大声问道。“我想你一定接到了，什么都清楚了。”
“没有，没接到。我什么也不知道，快告诉我吧。”
“我看你已经有了听到最坏消息的思想准备——消息的确很糟糕。哈丽特·史密斯要嫁给罗伯特-马丁了。”
爱玛吓了一跳，看来她好像没有思想准备——她两眼急巴巴地瞪着奈特利先生，像是在说：“不，这不可能！”但嘴巴却紧闭着。
“是这样，千真万确，”奈特利先生接着又说。“我是听罗伯特·马丁亲口说的。我们分别还不到半个小时。”
爱玛仍然万分惊讶地望着他。
“正如我所担心的，我的爱玛，你不喜欢这件事。但愿我们的看法能一致。不过到时候会一致的。你等着瞧吧。过些时候，我们两人中准会有一个人改变看法的。在这之前，我们不必多谈这件事。”
“你误解我了，完全误解我了，”爱玛竭力表白说。“现在我不会为这样的事不高兴的，而是我不敢相信。这似乎是不可能的！你不会是说哈丽特-史密斯已经答应嫁给罗伯特·马丁了吧。你不会是说罗伯特·马丁又向她求婚了吧。你只是说他打算这么做吧。”
“我是说他已经这么做了，”奈特利先生喜气洋洋而又斩钉截铁地说，“而且女方已经答应了。”
“天哪！”爱玛嚷了起来。“唉！”然后求助于针线篮，趁机低下头去，借以掩饰脸上又高兴又好笑的微妙神情，她知道自己一定流露出了这样的神情。她随即义说：“好吧，把一切都告诉我吧，跟我讲清楚一些。怎么回事，什么地方，什么时候，一五一十地都告诉我。我从来没有这么惊奇过——可是我并没有因此不高兴，你尽管放心。这怎么——怎么可能呢？”
“事情很简单。三天前马丁有事进城去，我有几份文件想托他带给约翰。他把文件送到约翰家里，约翰请他当晚跟他们一道去阿斯特利剧场。他们准备带两个大孩子去。同去的有我弟弟、弟媳、亨利、约翰——还有史密斯小姐。我的朋友罗伯特没法推却，他们顺路去叫了他。大家都玩得很开心。我弟弟请他第二天跟他们一起吃饭——他真去了——我想就在这过程中，他找到了跟哈丽特说话的机会，而且他确实没有白说。哈丽特答应了他，使他高兴得不得了，他也应该高兴。他乘昨天的车子回来，今天早上一吃好早饭就来找我，谈了他办的事情，先是我交代的事，然后是他自己的事。怎么回事，什么地方，什么时间，我能说的就这么一些。你见到你的朋友哈丽特的时候，她会把来龙去脉讲得详细得多。她会把详情细节都讲出来，这些细枝末节只有女人讲起来才有趣。我们只讲些大概的情况。不过，我得说一句，在我看来，罗伯特·马丁似乎大喜过望。他提起一件完全无关的事情，说离开阿斯特利的包厢时，我弟弟带着他太太和小约翰在前面走，他跟史密斯小姐和亨利跟在后面。有一阵挤在人群中，搞得史密斯小姐很不自在。”
奈特利先生住口不说了。爱玛不敢马上答话。她知道，一张口准会暴露出自己的喜不自禁。她得等一等，否则他会认为她发疯了。她的沉默引起了他的不安。他观察了她一会，然后说道：
“爱玛，我亲爱的，你刚才说这件事现在不会使你不高兴，可是我担心，你感受的痛苦比你预料的要多。马丁不幸没有地位——但是你得把这看成使你的朋友满意的事。而且我敢担保，你跟他熟悉了以后，会越来越觉得他好。你会喜欢他的聪明和品德。就人品而言，你无法期望你的朋友嫁一个比他更好的人了。只要我做得到，我定会愿意改变他的社会地位。这总可以了吧，爱玛。你常笑我太信任威廉·拉金斯，可我也同样离不开罗伯特·马丁啊。”
他要爱玛抬起头来笑笑。爱玛这时已经克制住了自己，不会无拘无束地笑了——但她还是照办了——快活地答道：
“你不必煞费苦心地来劝说我赞成这门亲事。我看哈丽特做得好极了。她的家世也许还不如马丁的呢。就人品而言，她的亲戚无疑不如马丁的。我所以沉默不语，只是因为感到惊奇——太惊奇了。你想象不到我觉得这件事来得多么突然！我是一点思想准备也没有啊！因为我有理由相信，哈丽特最近对他越发反感，比以前反感得多。”
“你应该最了解你的朋友，”奈特利先生答道。“不过我要说，她是个性情和善、心地温柔的姑娘，不会反感一个向她吐露过真情的年轻人。”
爱玛忍不住笑了，答道：“说真的，我相信你跟我一样了解她。不过，奈特利先生，你是不是百分之百地相信她已经不折不扣地答应他了？我想她到时候也许会答应——可她已经答应了吗？你没有误会他的意思吧。你们俩都在谈别的事情，谈生意，谈家畜展览，谈新播种机——这么多事情混在一起，你不会误会他的意思吧？他能肯定的不是哈丽特答应嫁给他～—而是哪一条良种公牛有多高多大。”
这时，爱玛强烈地感受到奈特利先生和罗伯特·马丁两人在仪表风度上的鲜明对比，想起了哈丽特不久前所表的态，特别是她一字一顿说的那句话，还回响在她耳边：“不，我想我是不会把罗伯特·马丁放在心上的。”所以，她真心希望这消息能在某种程度上证明是不可靠的，此外没有其他可能。
“你敢说这话？”奈特利先生大声嚷道。“你敢把我当成个大傻瓜，连别人说的话都听不明白吗？你该得到什么样的报应啊？”
“啊！我总是应该得到最好的报应，因为我从来不能容忍。因此，你得给我一个明明白白、直截了当的回答。你敢肯定你很了解马丁先生和哈丽特现在的关系吗？”
“我敢肯定，”奈特利先生一清二楚地答道。“他告诉我哈丽特已经答应他了，言词里没有什么晦涩和含糊的地方。我想我可以给你提供一个证据，说明事实就是这样。他征求我的意见，问我他现在该怎么办。除了戈达德太太以外，他不认识什么人，没法去了解哈丽特亲戚朋友的情况。我除了建议他去找戈达德太太以外，还能提出什么更好的办法呢？我实话跟他说，我想不出别的办法。于是他说，他只好今天去找哈丽特。”
“我这就放心了，”爱玛喜笑颜开地答道，“并且衷心地祝愿他们幸福。”
“从我们上次谈论这个问题以来，你的变化真大。”
“但愿如此——那时候我是个傻瓜。”
“我也变了，因为我现在愿意把哈丽特的好品性全部归功于你。为了你，也是为了罗伯特·马丁（我一向认为他仍像以前一样爱哈丽特），我在想方设法了解哈丽特。我常常与她交往。这你一定看到了。有时候，我的确觉得你有点怀疑我在替可怜的马丁辩解，其实没有这回事。据我多方观察，我认定她是个天真单纯、和蔼可亲的姑娘，既有见识，又讲究道德，把自己的幸福寄托在温馨美满的家庭生活中。毫无疑问，她在很大程度上还得感谢你。”
“哦！”爱玛摇摇头说。“啊！可怜的哈丽特！”
然后她没说下去，默默地接受了对她的溢美之词。
没过多久，伍德豪斯先生进来了，打断了他们的谈话。爱玛并不感到遗憾，她想一个人待着。她心里又激动又惊异，没法安静下来。她简直要翩翩起舞，要放声歌唱，要大叫大嚷。她除了走来走去，自言自语，笑笑想想，做不出什么合理的事来。
父亲进来是要告诉她，詹姆斯备马去了，准备进行一天一次的去兰多尔斯。她恰好以此为借口，立即走开了。
她心中的快活、感激和极度的喜幸之情，是可想而知的。影响哈丽特未来幸福的唯一苦恼和障碍，现在就这样消除了，她真要欣喜若狂了。她还希望什么呢？什么也不希望，只希望自己更能配得上他，他的筹划和明断一直比她来得高明。什么也不希望，只希望她过去干的傻事能给她带来教训，今后能谦虚谨慎。
她感激也好，下决心也好，都是一本正经的。然而她还是禁不住要笑，有时即使一本正经的当儿也要笑。她一定是在为这样的结局而发笑！五个星期以来她是那样悲观失望，现在却有了这样一个结局！这样的一颗心——这样的一个哈丽特！
如今，她回来将是一件乐事。一切都将是乐事。熟悉罗伯特·马丁也将是一大乐事。
她打心眼里感到最快活的一件事，是觉得不久以后，她就没有必要再向奈特利先生隐瞒任何事情了。她最讨厌的装模作样、含糊其辞、神神秘秘，也马上就要结束了。现在她可以期盼向他完完全全地推心置腹了，就性情而言，她最愿意履行这样的职责。
她怀着欢天喜地的心情，跟父亲一道出发了。她并非一直在听父亲说话，却始终在对他说的话表示赞同。不管是明言表示，还是默许，反正她听任他对自己好言相劝，说他每天都得去一趟兰多尔斯，否则可怜的韦斯顿太太就要失望。
他们到了兰多尔斯。韦斯顿太太一个人待在客厅里。她先说了说孩子的情况，并对伍德豪斯先生来看她表示感谢（这也正是他所需要的），话音刚落，只见窗外晃过两个人。
“是弗兰克和费尔法克斯小姐，”韦斯顿太太说。“我刚想告诉你们，看到他今天一早就来了，我们不禁又惊又喜。他要待到明天，我们就动员费尔法克斯小姐也来玩一天。我想他们这就进来了。”
转眼间，他们就到了屋里。爱玛见到他非常高兴——但是难免有几分尴尬——彼此都有一些令人发窘的回忆。他们当即笑嘻嘻地见了面，但却有点不好意思，所以一开始没说什么话。大家坐下以后，先是沉默了一阵，爱玛不由得心里在想：她本来早就盼望再一次见到弗兰克·邱吉尔，见到他和简在一起，现在愿望成真了，她却怀疑是否会感到应有的快慰。然而，等韦斯顿先生来了，孩子也抱进来以后，也就不再缺乏话题了，气氛也活跃了——弗兰克·邱吉尔也有了勇气，抓住机会凑到爱玛身边，说道：
“我得谢谢你，伍德豪斯小姐，韦斯顿太太来信说你好心宽恕了我。希望随着时间的推移，你不会不愿宽恕我了。希望你不要收回当时说的话。”
“决不会，”爱玛兴冲冲地开口了，大声说道，“绝对不会。能见见你，跟你握握手——当面向你道喜，我再高兴不过了。”
弗兰克由衷地感激她，并且满怀喜幸之情，又说了一阵。
“她的气色不是很好吗？”他把目光转向简，说道，“比以前还好吧？你瞧我父亲和韦斯顿太太多疼爱她。”
过了不久，他的兴致又高了起来，先说了声坎贝尔夫妇很快就要回来，然后便眉开眼笑地提起了迪克逊的名字。爱玛脸一红，不许他在她面前说这个名字。
“一想到这个名字，”她嚷道，“我就羞愧难言。”
“有愧的是我，”弗兰克答道，“或者说应该是我。不过你真的没猜疑吗？我是说最近。我知道你起初没有猜疑。”
“跟你说真的，我丝毫没有猜疑过。”
“事情似乎很令人惊奇。我有一次差一点——我倒希望那样——那样会好一些。不过我常常做错事，很荒谬的错事，对我毫无好处的错事。我当初要是向你透露了秘密，把一切全告诉你，过失就会少得多。”
“现在用不着后悔，”爱玛说。
“我有可能说服我舅舅到兰多尔斯来，”弗兰克又说，“他想见见她。等坎贝尔夫妇回来以后，我们去伦敦跟他们会面，我想可以在那儿待一段时间，然后把她带到北方去。可现在我离她太远了——这不叫人难受吗，伍德豪斯小姐？从和好那天以来，我们直到今天上午才见面。难道你不可怜我吗？”
爱玛十分亲切地表示了自己的怜悯之情，弗兰克心里一阵高兴，不由得嚷了起来：
“啊！顺便问一声，”随即压低声音，装出一本正经的样子，“我想奈特利先生身体好吧？”他顿住不说了。爱玛脸上一红，笑了笑。“我知道你看了我的信，我想你也许还记得我对你的一片好心。让我也向你道喜吧。说真的，我听到这条消息，心里好激动，好高兴。他是个我不敢妄加称赞的人。”
爱玛听了满心高兴，只希望他继续说下去，不料他的心思一下子就转到自己的事情上，转到他的简身上，只听他接着说道：
“你看见过这样的皮肤吗？这样光滑！这样娇嫩！然而又算不上白皙。你不能说她白。配上黑睫毛和黑头发，这是一种很不平常的肤色——一种极其特别的肤色！女士有这样的肤色，真不寻常。这肤色恰到好处，真叫美。”
“我一向羡慕她的肤色，”爱玛调皮地说。“可是我记得你以前嫌她皮肤苍白吧？那是我们第一次谈起她的时候。你完全忘记了吗？”
“哦！没有——我真是个冒失鬼啊！我怎么竟敢——”
弗兰克一想到这里，不由得哈哈大笑起来，爱玛忍不住说：
“我想你当时处境尴尬，骗一骗我们大家还挺有意思吧。我想一定是这么回事。我想这对你来说一定是一种安慰。”
“哦！不，不，不——你怎么能怀疑我做出这种事情呢？那时候，我真是个最可怜的人啊。”
“还没可怜到不会取乐的地步吧。我想你把我们大家蒙在鼓里，一定觉得很快活吧。也许，我比较喜欢猜测，因为说实话，我要是处在你那个地位，我想也会觉得很有趣。我看我们俩有点相像。”
弗兰克鞠了个躬。
“即使我们在性情方面不相像，”爱玛马上又说，脸上露出深有感触的神情，“我们的命运还是相像的。命运将我们同两个比我们强得多的人联系在一起。”
“对呀，对呀，”弗兰克激动地答道。“不，你不是这样。没有比你更强的人了，但我倒是一点不假。她是个十全十美的天使。你瞧，她的一举一动不都像个天使吗？你瞧她喉部的形状。瞧她望着我父亲时的那双眼睛。你听了一定会很高兴，”他低下头，一本正经地小声说道，“我舅舅打算把舅妈的珠宝全给她，准备重新镶嵌一下。我决定把其中一些用作头饰。配上她那黑头发，岂不是很美吗？”
“真的很美，”爱玛答道。她说得非常亲切，弗兰克不胜感激地连忙说道：
“又见到了你，我有多高兴啊！还看到你气色这么好！我再怎么也不愿错过这次见面的机会。即使你不来，我也一定会到哈特菲尔德登门拜访的。”
别人都在议论孩子，韦斯顿太太说起昨晚孩子似乎不大舒服，让她受了一点惊。她觉得自己太傻，居然惊慌起来，差一点打发人去请佩里先生。也许她应该感到羞愧，可是韦斯顿先生几乎跟她一样坐立不安。不过，十分钟以后，孩子又太平无事了。这是韦斯顿太太讲述的，伍德豪斯先生听了特别感兴趣，极力夸奖她想到要请佩里先生，只可惜她没派人去请。“孩子看上去一有点不舒服，哪怕只是一会儿工夫，你也应该去请佩里先生。你再怎么担忧都不会过分，请佩里请得越多越好，昨晚他没来，也许挺可惜的，别看孩子现在看上去挺好的，要是佩里来看过了，八成会更好。”
弗兰克·邱吉尔听到了佩里的名字。
“佩里！”他对爱玛说，一边说一边想引起费尔法克斯小姐的注意。“我的朋友佩里先生！他们在说佩里先生什么呀？他今天早上来过了？他现在怎么出门呀？他的马车装好了没有？”
爱玛马上想起来了，明白了他的意思。她跟着笑起来了，而简的脸色表明，她也听见了弗兰克说的话，只不过假装像是没听见。
“我做了那么奇特的一个梦！”弗兰克说。“每次一想起来就忍不住笑。她听见我们说话了，她听见了，伍德豪斯小姐。我从她的脸上，她的笑容，她那副徒然想皱眉头的样子上看出来了。你瞧瞧她。她信里告诉我的那件事，这当儿正在她眼前闪过——那整个过错都展现在她面前——别看她假装在听别人说话，她却没法注意别的事，难道你看不出来吗？”
简一时忍不住笑了。她转身朝向弗兰克时，脸上还挂着笑，不好意思地以低微而平稳的语调说道：
“你怎么还记得这些事，真让我吃惊！记忆有时候是会冒出来——可你怎么还勾起这些回忆呀！”
弗兰克有一大堆话好回答，而且还很有趣。可是在这场争辩中，爱玛的心多半还是向着简。离开兰多尔斯以后，她自然而然地将两个男人做了一番比较。虽说她见到弗兰克·邱吉尔感到很高兴，而且也确实把他当朋友看待，她还从未像现在这样深感奈特利先生人品出类拔萃。这一比较导致的对他高贵品质的积极思索，使这最快活的一人快活到了极点。
收听单词发音 |
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agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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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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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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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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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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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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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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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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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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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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alloy
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| n.合金，(金属的)成色 | |
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prospect
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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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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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folly
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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circumspection
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| n.细心，慎重 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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equivocation
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| n.模棱两可的话，含糊话 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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conniving
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| v.密谋 ( connive的现在分词 )；搞阴谋；默许；纵容 | |
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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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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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transgression
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| n.违背；犯规；罪过 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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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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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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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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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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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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obtrude
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| v.闯入；侵入；打扰 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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