the warsons(华森夫妇)-第2节
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Stanton just as you were coming home after so many years
absence。’—‘No indeed； I had not the smallest suspicion of it。 I
considered her engagement to Mrs。 Shaw just at that time as very
unfortunate for me。 I had hoped to find all my sisters at home； to
be able to make an immediate friend of each。’—‘I suspect the Dr。
to have an attack of the Asthma；—and that she was hurried away
on that account—the Shaws are quite on her side。—At least I
believe so—but she tells me nothing。 She professes to keep her
own counsel； she says； and truly enough； that “too many Cooks
spoil the Broth”。’—‘I am sorry for her anxieties；’ said Emma；—‘but
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I do not like her plans or her opinions。 I shall be afraid of her。—
She must have too masculine and bold a temper。—To be so bent
on Marriage—to pursue a Man merely for the sake of situation—is
a sort of thing that shocks me； I cannot understand it。 Poverty is a
great Evil； but to a woman of Education and feeling it ought not； it
cannot be the greatest。—I would rather be Teacher at a school
（and I can think of nothing worse） than marry a Man I did not
like。’—‘I would rather do any thing than be Teacher at a school’—
said her sister。 ‘I have been at school； Emma； and know what a
Life they lead； you never have。—I should not like marrying a
disagreable Man any more than yourself；—but I do not think there
are many very disagreable Men；—I think I could like any good
humoured Man with a comfortable Income。—I suppose my Aunt
brought you up to be rather refined。’ ‘Indeed I do not know。—My
conduct must tell you how I have been brought up。 I am no judge
of it myself。 I cannot compare my Aunt’s method with any other
persons； because I know no other。’—‘But I can see in a great many
things that you are very refined。 I have observed it ever since you
came home； and I am afraid it will not be for your happiness。
Penelope will laugh at you very much。’ ‘That will not be for my
happiness I am sure。—If my opinions are wrong； I must correct
them—if they are above my situation； I must endeavour to conceal
them。—But I doubt whether Ridicule；—Has Penelope much
wit？’—‘Yes—she has great spirits； and never cares what she
says。’—‘Margaret is more gentle I imagine？’—‘Yes—especially in
company； she is all gentleness and mildness when anybody is
by。—But she is a little fretful and perverse among ourselves。—
Poor creature！ she is possessed with the notion of Tom Musgrave’s
being more seriously in love with her； than he ever was with any
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 8
body else； and is always expecting him to come to the point。 This is
the second time within this twelvemonth that she has gone to
spend a month with Robert and Jane on purpose to egg him on； by
her absence—but I am sure she is mistaken； and that he will no
more follow her to Croydon now than he did last March。—He will
never marry unless he can marry somebody very great； Miss
Osborne perhaps； or something in that stile。’ ‘Your account of this
Tom Musgrave； Elizabeth； gives me very little inclination for his
acquaintance。’ ‘You are afraid of him； I do not wonder at you。’—
‘No indeed—I dislike and despise him。’—‘Dislike and Despise Tom
Musgrave！ No； that you never can。 I defy you not to be delighted
with him if he takes notice of you。—I hope he will dance with
you—and I dare say he will； unless the Osbornes come with a large
party； and then he will not speak to any body else。’ ‘He seems to
have most engaging manners！’—said Emma。—‘Well； we shall see
how irresistable Mr。 Tom Musgrave and I find each other。—I
suppose I shall know him as soon as I enter the Ball…room； he must
carry some of his Charm in his face。’—‘You will not find him in the
Ball…room I can tell you； You will go early that Mrs。 Edwardes may
get a good place by the fire； and he never comes till late； and if the
Osbornes are coming； he will wait in the Passage； and come in
with them。—I should like to look in upon you Emma。 If it was but
a good day with my Father； I would wrap myself up； and James
should drive me over； as soon as I had made Tea for him； and I
should be with you by the time the Dancing began。’ ‘What！ would
you come late at night in this Chair？’—‘To be sure I would。—
There； I said you were very refined；—and that’s an instance of
it。’—Emma for a moment made no answer—at last she said—‘I
wish Elizabeth； you had not made a point of my going to this Ball；
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I wish you were going instead of me。 Your pleasure would be
greater than mine。 I am a stranger here； and know nobody but the
Edwardes； my Enjoyment therefore must be very doubtful。 Yours
among all your acquaintance would be certain。—It is not too late
to change。 Very little apology could be requisite to the Edwardes；
who must be more glad of your company than of mine； and I
should most readily return to my Father； and should not be at all
afraid to drive this quiet old Creature； home。 Your Cloathes I
would undertake to find means of sending to you。’—‘My dearest
Emma’ cried Elizabeth warmly—‘do you think I would do such a
thing？ Not for the Universe—but I shall never forget your
goodnature in proposing it。 You must have a sweet temper
indeed；—I never met with any thing like it！—And would you really
give up the Ball； that I might be able to go to it！—Believe me
Emma； I am not so selfish as that comes to。 No； tho’ I am nine
years older than you are； I would not be the means of keeping you
from being seen。—You are very pretty； and it would be very hard
that you should not have as fair a chance as we have all had； to
make your fortune。—No Emma； whoever stays at home this
winter； it shan’t be you。 I am sure I should never have forgiven the
person who kept me from a Ball at nineteen。’ Emma expressed her
gratitude； and for a few minutes they jogged on in silence。—
Elizabeth first spoke。—‘You will take notice who Mary Edwardes
dances with。’—‘I will remember her partners if I can—but you
know they will be all strangers to me。’ ‘Only observe whether she
dances with Captain Hunter； more than once； I have my fears in
that quarter。 Not that her Father or Mother like officers； but if she
does you know； it is all over with poor Sam。—And I have promised
to write him word who she dances with。’ ‘Is Sam attached to Miss
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Edwardes？’—‘Did not you know that？’—‘How should I know it？
How should I know in Shropshire； what is passing of that nature
in Surry？ It is not likely that circumstances of such delicacy
should make any part of the scanty communication which passed
between you and me for the last fourteen years。’ ‘I wonder I never
mentioned it when I wrote。 Since you have been at home； I have
been so busy with my poor Father and our great wash that I have
had no leisure to tell you anything—but indeed I concluded you
knew it all。—He has been very much in love with her these two
years； and it is a great disappointment to him that he cannot
always
