the warsons(华森夫妇)-第4节
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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 14
the features be very unlike。’ ‘I know nothing of my Brother’s
Beauty；’ said Emma； ‘for I have not seen him since he was seven
years old—but my father reckons us alike。’ ‘Mr。 Watson！’—cried
Mr。 Edwardes； ‘Well； you astonish me。—There is not the least
likeness in the world； Your brother’s eyes are grey； yours are
brown； he has a long face； and a wide mouth。—My dear； do you
perceive the least resemblance？’—‘Not the least。—Miss Emma
Watson puts me very much in mind of her eldest Sister； and
sometimes I see a look of Miss Penelope—and once or twice there
has been a glance of Mr。 Robert—but I cannot perceive any
likeness to Mr。 Samuel。’ ‘I see the likeness between her and Miss
Watson；’ replied Mr。 E。—‘very strongly—but I am not sensible of
the others。—I do not much think she is like any of the Family but
Miss Watson； but I am very sure there is no resemblance between
her and Sam。’
This matter was settled； and they went to Dinner。—‘Your
Father； Miss Emma； is one of my oldest friends’—said Mr。
Edwardes； as he helped her to wine； when they were drawn round
the fire to enjoy their Desert；—‘We must drink to his better
health。—It is a great concern to me I assure you that he should be
such an Invalid。—I know nobody who likes a game of cards in a
social way； better than he does； and very few people that play a
fairer rubber。—It is a thousand pities that he should be so
deprived of the pleasure。 For now we have a quiet little Whist club
that meets three times a week at the White Hart； and if he could
but have his health； how much he would enjoy it。’ ‘I dare say he
would Sir—and I wish with all my heart he were equal to it。’ ‘Your
Club would be better fitted for an Invalid；’ said Mrs。 E。 ‘if you did
not keep it up so late。’—This was an old grievance。—‘So late； my
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 15
dear； what are you talking of；’ cried the Husband with sturdy
pleasantry。 ‘We are always at home before Midnight。 They would
laugh at Osborne Castle to hear you call that late； they are but just
rising from dinner at midnight。’—‘That is nothing to the
purpose。’—retorted the Lady calmly。 ‘The Osbornes are to be no
rule for us。 You had better meet every night； and break up two
hours sooner。’ So far； the subject was very often carried；—but Mr。
and Mrs。 Edwardes were so wise as never to pass that point； and
Mr。 Edwardes now turned to something else。—He had lived long
enough in the Idleness of a Town to become a little of a Gossip；
and having some curiosity to know more of the Circumstances of
his young Guest than had yet reached him； he began with； ‘I think
Miss Emma； I remember your Aunt very well about thirty years
ago； I am pretty sure I danced with her in the old rooms at Bath；
the year before I married。 She was a very fine woman then—but
like other people I suppose she is grown somewhat older since
that time。—I hope she is likely to be happy in her second choice。’
‘I hope so； I believe so； Sir’—said Emma in some agitation。—
‘Mr。 Turner had not been dead a great while I think？’ ‘About two
years Sir。’ ‘I forget what her name is now？’—‘O’brien。’ ‘Irish！ Ah！ I
remember—and she is gone to settle in Ireland。—I do not wonder
that you should not wish to go with her into that Country Miss
Emma—but it must be a great deprivation to her； poor Lady！—
After bringing you up like a Child of her own。’—‘I was not so
ungrateful Sir；’ said Emma warmly； ‘as to wish to be any where
but with her。—It did not suit them； it did not suit Captain O’brien
that I should be of the party。’ ‘Captain！’—repeated Mrs。 E。 ‘the
Gentleman is in the army then？’ ‘Yes Ma’am。’—‘Aye—there is
nothing like your officers for captivating the Ladies； Young or
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 16
Old。—There is no resisting a Cockade my dear。’—‘I hope there
is。’—said Mrs。 E。 gravely； with a quick glance at her daughter；—
and Emma had just recovered from her own perturbation in time
to see a blush on Miss E。’s cheek； and in remembering what
Elizabeth had said of Captain Hunter； to wonder and waver
between his influence and her brother’s。
‘Elderly Ladies should be careful how they make a second
choice；’ observed Mr。 Edwardes。—‘Carefulness—Discretion—
should not be confined to Elderly Ladies； or to a second choice’
added his wife。 ‘It is quite as necessary to young Ladies in their
first。’—‘Rather more so； my dear’—replied he； ‘because young
Ladies are likely to feel the effects of it longer。 When an old Lady
plays the fool； it is not in the course of nature that she should
suffer from it many years。’ Emma drew her hand across her eyes—
and Mrs。 Edwardes on perceiving it； changed the subject to one of
less anxiety to all。
With nothing to do but to expect the hour of setting off； the
afternoon was long to the two young Ladies； and tho’ Miss
Edwardes was rather discomposed at the very early hour which
her mother always fixed for going； that early hour itself was
watched for with some eagerness。—The entrance of the Tea things
at seven o’clock was some relief—and luckily Mr。 and Mrs。
Edwardes always drank a dish extraordinary； and ate an
additional muffin when they were going to sit up late； which
lengthened the ceremony almost to the wished for moment。 At a
little before eight； the Tomlinsons carriage was heard to go by；
which was the constant signal for Mrs。 Edwardes to order hers to
the door； and in a very few minutes； the party were transported
from the quiet warmth of a snug parlour； to the bustle； noise and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 17
draughts of air of the broad Entrance…passage of an Inn。—Mrs。
Edwardes carefully guarding her own dress； while she attended
with yet greater Solicitude to the proper security of her young
Charges’ Shoulders and Throats； led the way up the wide
staircase； while no sound of a Ball but the first Scrape of one
violin； blessed the ears of her followers； and Miss Edwardes on
hazarding the anxious enquiry of whether there were many people
come yet was told by the Waiter as she knew she should； that ‘Mr。
Tomlinson’s family were in the room。’ In passing along a short
gallery to the Assembly…room； brilliant in lights before them； they
were accosted by a young Man in a morning dress and Boots； who
was standing in the doorway of a Bedchamber； apparently on
purpose to see them go by。—‘Ah！ Mrs。 E。—how do you do？—How
do you do Miss E。？—he cried； with an easy air；—‘You are
determined to be in good time I see； as usual。—The Candles are
but this moment lit。’—‘I like to get a good seat by the fire you
know； Mr。 Musgrave；’ replied Mrs。 E。 ‘I am this moment going to
dress；’ said he—‘I am waiting for my stupid fellow。—We shall have
a famous Bal
