the warsons(华森夫妇)-第12节
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Margaret to Mrs。 Robert in her most languishing tone。—Emma
was quite distress’d by such behaviour；—and she did not like it
better when she heard Margaret five minutes afterwards say to
Elizabeth in a sharp quick accent； totally unlike the first—‘Have
you heard from Pen。 since she went to Chichester？—I had a letter
the other day。—I don’t find she is likely to make anything of it。 I
fancy she’ll come back “Miss Penelope” as she went。’
Such； she feared would be Margaret’s common voice； when the
novelty of her own appearance were over； the tone of artificial
Sensibility was not recommended by the idea。—The Ladies were
invited upstairs to prepare for dinner。 ‘I hope you will find things
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tolerably comfortable Jane’—said Elizabeth as she opened the
door of the spare bedchamber。—‘My good creature；’ replied Jane；
‘use no ceremony with me； I intreat you。 I am one of those who
always take things as they find them。 I hope I can put up with a
small apartment for two or three nights； without making a piece of
work。 I always wish to be treated quite “en famille” when I come
to see you—and now I do hope you have not been getting a great
dinner for us。—Remember we never eat suppers。’—‘I suppose；’
said Margaret rather quickly to Emma； ‘you and I are to be
together； Elizabeth always takes care to have a room to herself。’—
‘No—Elizabeth gives me half her’s。’—‘Oh I’—（in a soften’d voice；
and rather mortified to find she was not ill used） ‘I am sorry I am
not to have the pleasure of your company—especially as it makes
me nervous to be much alone。’
Emma was the first of the females in the parlour again； on
entering it she found her brother alone。—‘So Emma；’ said he； ‘you
are quite the Stranger at home。 It must seem odd enough to you to
be here。—A pretty piece of work your Aunt Turner has made of
it！—By Heaven！ A woman should never be trusted with money。 I
always said she ought to have settled something on you； as soon as
her Husband died。’ ‘But that would have been trusting me with
money；’ replied Emma； ‘and I am a woman too。—’ ‘It might have
been secured to your future use； without your having any power
over it now。—What a blow it must have been upon you！—To find
yourself； instead of heiress of 8 or 9000￡； sent back a weight upon
your family； without a sixpence。—I hope the old woman will smart
for it。’ ‘Do not speak disrespectfully of her—She was very good to
me； and if she has made an imprudent choice； she will suffer more
from it herself； than I can possibly do。’ ‘I do not mean to distress
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you； but you know every body must think her an old fool。—I
thought Turner had been reckoned an extraordinary sensible；
clever man。—How the Devil came he to make such a will？’—‘My
Uncle’s sense is not at all impeached in my opinion； by his
attachment to my Aunt。 She had been an excellent wife to him。
The most Liberal and enlightened Minds are always the most
confiding。—The event has been unfortunate； but my Uncle’s
memory is if possible endeared to me by such a proof of tender
respect for my Aunt。’—‘That’s odd sort of Talking！—He might
have provided decently for his widow； without leaving every thing
that he had to dispose of； or any part of it at her mercy。’—‘My
Aunt may have erred’—said Emma warmly—‘she has erred—but
my Uncle’s conduct was faultless。 I was her own Niece； and he left
to herself the power and the pleasure of providing for me。—‘But
unluckily she has left the pleasure of providing for you； to your
Father； and without the power。—That’s the long and the short of
the business。 After keeping you at a distance from your family for
such a length of time as must do away all natural affection among
us and breeding you up （I suppose） in a superior stile； you are
returned upon their hands without a sixpence。’ ‘You know；’
replied Emma struggling with her tears； ‘my Uncle’s melancholy
state of health。—He was a greater Invalid than my father。 He could
not leave home。’ ‘I do not mean to make you cry。’—said Robert
rather softened—and after a short silence； by way of changing the
subject； he added—‘I am just come from my Father’s room； he
seems very indifferent。 It will be a sad break…up when he dies。
Pity； you can none of you get married！—You must come to
Croydon as well as the rest； and see what you can do there。—I
believe if Margaret had had a thousand or fifteen hundred pounds；
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there was a young man who would have thought of her。’ Emma
was glad when they were joined by the others； it was better to look
at her Sister…in…law’s finery than listen to Robert； who had equally
irritated and grieved her。—Mrs。 Robert exactly as smart as she
had been at her own party； came in with apologies for her dress—
‘I would not make you wait；’ said she； ‘so I put on the first thing I
met with。—I am afraid I am a sad figure。—My dear Mr。 W。—（to
her husband） you have not put any fresh powder in your hair。’—
‘No—I do not intend it。—I think there is powder enough in my
hair for my wife and sisters。’ ‘Indeed you ought to make some
alteration in your dress before dinner when you are out visiting；
tho’ you do not at home。’ ‘Nonsense。’—‘It is very odd you should
not like to do what other gentlemen do。 Mr。 Marshall and Mr。
Hemmings change their dress every day of their Lives before
dinner。 And what was the use of my putting up your last new Coat；
if you are never to wear it。’—‘Do be satisfied with being fine
yourself； and leave your husband alone。’—To put an end to this
altercation； and soften the evident vexation of her sister…in…law；
Emma （tho’ in no Spirits to make such nonsense easy） began to
admire her gown。—It produced immediate complacency。—‘Do you
like it？’—said she。—‘I am very happy。—It has been excessively
admired；—but sometimes I think the pattern too large。—I shall
wear one tomorrow that I think you will prefer to this。—Have you
seen the one I gave Margaret？’
Dinner came； and except when Mrs。 R。 looked at her husband’s
head； she continued gay and flippant； chiding Elizabeth for the
profusion on the Table； and absolutely protesting against the
entrance of the roast Turkey—which formed the only exception to
‘You see your dinner’。—‘I do beg and entreat that no Turkey may
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be seen to…day。 I am really frightened out of my wits with the
number of dishes we have already。 Let us have no Turkey I
beseech you。’ ‘My dear；’ replied Elizabeth ‘the Turkey is roasted；
and it may just as well come in； as stay in the Kitchen。 Besides if it
is cut； I am in hopes my Father may be tempted to eat a bit； for it
is rather a favourite dish。’ ‘You may have it in my dear； but I
assure you I shan’t touch it。’
Mr。 Watson had not been well enough to join the party at
dinner； but was prevailed on to come dow
