愛瑪·伍德豪斯小姐端莊儒雅、才思敏捷、生性歡樂、傢境寬裕，仿佛上蒼將最美好的恩賜集中施與她一身了。她在這世界已經生活了將近二十一年，極少遭遇到苦惱或傷心的事情。
她是兩姊妹中年幼的一個，父親是一位極富慈愛心人，對女兒無比嬌慣溺愛。姐姐出嫁後，她早早便擔當起家庭女主人的角色。她母親很久以前就去世了，母親的愛撫僅僅給她留下一點兒十分模糊的記憶。一位傑出的家庭女教師填補了母親的空缺，它給與的母愛絶不亞於一位母親。
泰勒小姐在伍德豪斯傢生活已經有十六年，她不僅是個家庭女教師，更是這個家庭的朋友。她非常喜愛兩位姑娘，尤其喜歡愛瑪。在她們兩人之間，姐妹親情勝於師生關係。泰勒小姐脾氣溫和，即使在原來執教時期，也難得強加什麽，現在，教師的權威早已煙消雲散，他們就像相依為命的朋友一樣生活在一起，挨駡喜歡做什麽完全由着自己的性子來，雖然她高度尊重泰勒小姐的判斷，但是决定主要由自己作主。……（此處有45字不通順）
悲哀降臨了——僅僅是個輕微的悲哀而已——而且還不是以痛苦的方式降臨的——泰勒小姐出嫁了，首先感到的是失去泰勒小姐的悲傷，在這位親愛的朋友結婚的日子裏，愛瑪纔第一次坐下悲哀的想象着未來，婚禮過後新人離去，飯桌上衹剩下父親和她，不可能指望有第三個人在漫長的夜晚來活躍氣氛，她父親飯後編造早上床安息，她衹有自己在爐前痛惜自己的損失。
她的朋友在這樁婚姻中面臨着種種幸福的前景，維斯頓先生的品格無懈可擊，財産富足，年紀適中，態度謙和，愛瑪想到自己嚮來希望本着自我犧牲精神和慷慨的友誼促成這樁婚姻，就感到些許滿足，但是那天早上的活動對她來說卻是陰鬱的，每天的每個時辰都感到需要泰勒小姐，她回憶其她慈祥的音容笑貌——十六年來一直地那樣和藹慈祥——及其自己五歲其她便開始教授知識，陪自己做遊戲——回憶起她在自己健康時不惜貢獻出全部能力，為了使她高興而時時相伴——在自己幼年生各種疾病時更是百般照料，無微不至，為此她心中時常洋溢感激之情；在伊莎貝拉出嫁後的七年間，傢裏衹剩下她們兩人，兩人平等相待，毫無保留，那更是親切美好的回憶。那是個非常難得的朋友加伴侶，富有才華，知識豐富。樂於主人，態度謙和，對家庭的一切都了如指掌，對傢裏關心的所有事務全都十分不感興趣——愛瑪盡可以將自己的各種念頭統統傾訴給她，而絶對不會發現她的慈愛會産生任何瑕疵。
她該如何忍受這種改變呢？不錯，她的朋友離開他們僅僅不足半英裏遠，但是愛瑪意識到，半英裏之外的維斯頓太太一定與這所房子中那位泰勒小姐有着天壤之別。儘管她天生便具有優越感，後來更加強了優越意識，然而她卻面臨精神孤獨的極大危險，她熱愛自己的父親，但是他並不是她的伴侶，無論進行理智的還是逗樂的交談都無法跟上她的思路。
由於伍德豪斯先生娶親時已不年輕，父女之間年齡的鴻溝被他的老態和習慣襯托的更加顯著，她終生病魔纏身，既不能鍛煉身體，也無暇培養心智。於是未老便已先衰，雖然他的友善心靈和們和的脾氣，處處文明禮貌贏得人們熱愛，但他的天資在任何時候都無法受到恭維。於其他人比較起來，她姐姐並不算嫁得很遠，僅僅是住在離傢十六英裏外的倫敦，然而並不能每日隨意來訪；他不得不在哈特費爾德宅子熬過十月許多漫長的夜晚，最後才能在聖誕節前夕盼來伊莎貝拉夫婦和他們的孩子，享受與人交往的喜悅。
海伯裏是個規模接近城鎮的大村子。儘管哈特費爾德宅子有自己的草坪、灌木叢和自己的名稱，但是它其實屬於海伯裏。然而，在這全村裏也找不到能與她的指揮相配的伴侶。伍德豪斯傢是當地的望族，為重目所矚。由於她父親是一位公認的謙謙君子，她在村裏便有許多熟人。然而這些熟人中沒有哪一位能代替泰勒小姐，哪怕僅僅是半天也不行。面對這令人憂鬱的變化，愛瑪除了鬍思亂想之外，沒有任何辦法好想，直到父親醒來，她纔不得不強裝出歡樂的模樣，他的精神需要有人支持。她適合神經質的男人。有精神憂鬱的傾嚮，喜愛跟自己熟悉的任何人交往，在分手的時候總是感到很難過；他討厭任何變化，由於婚姻是變化之源，所以他從來就不贊成；他自己親女兒的婚姻至今也不能得到他的認可；若不是出於同情，他决不會提起他，儘管那是愛的結合。現在，他又不得不與泰勒小姐分手。他是個稍有些自私自利習慣的人，根本不可能想象別人可能跟自己有不同想法，他傾嚮於認為泰勒小姐作了一件令人傷心的事。他認為她的餘生整個在哈特費爾得度過要幸福的多。愛瑪微笑着，盡量與他進行快樂的交談，以便將他的思緒從這問題上轉移開，但是，茶點端上來時，卻根本無法阻止他一字不差地重複午餐時講過的話。
“可憐的泰勒小姐！--我真希望她能重返這裏，維斯頓先生怎麽會打她的念頭，這多可惜呀！”
“我可不能同意你的看法，爸爸，實在不能同意，維斯頓先生是個傑出的男人，那麽詼諧可愛，絶對配得一位賢惠的妻子，她現在有了自己的傢，難道還可能跟我們生活在一起，容忍我的種種乖僻？”
“她自己的傢！她自己的傢有什麽好？這個傢比她大三倍。再說，我的親寶貝，你絶對沒有任何乖僻啊。”
“我們應當經常去拜訪他們，他們應當常常來看我們，我們應當常來常往，我們必須開始這樣做，經快造訪這隊形婚的伴侶。”
“啊，我的老天，我哪能走那麽遠啊？朗道斯宅子距離這兒那麽遠，我連一半距離也走不完。”
“怎麽啦，爸爸，誰也不想要你親自步行。我們當然要乘馬車去。”
“乘馬車，可是為了走這麽點路，詹姆士不會喜歡套車。我們拜訪的時候，可憐的馬兒該待在什麽地方呢？”
“把它們拴在維斯頓的馬廄裏啊。爸爸，你記得我們早已解决了這個問題啦，昨天晚上我們已經和維斯頓先生談過這事。至於詹姆士，我敢肯定，他永遠喜歡到朗道斯宅子去，因為他的女兒正在那裏做女僕，我不能肯定的衹是除了那個地方他是不是喜歡送我們到其他地方去，那可是你的功勞，爸爸，你給了漢娜那份肥缺，要不是你提起漢娜，誰也不會想到她--詹姆士對你滿心感激呢！”
“我真高興當時想起了她。真是幸運，因為我不願意讓可憐的詹姆士在任何情況下感到自己低人一等，另外，我相信她會是一名好傭人。她是個舉止得體、言談禮貌的姑娘；我對她的評價很高。不論任何時候，衹要我看到她，她便會以相當優雅的姿態嚮我行禮請安；而且你叫她來這兒來做女工的時候，我註意到，她從來都用正確的方式轉動門紐，從不摔響門。我能肯定，她會成為一名了不起的傭人；對於可憐的泰勒小姐來說，身邊有個熟悉的人該是多大的安慰啊。你知道，是要詹姆士去看自己的女兒，她就能聽到我們的消息。他會把我們大傢的情況都告訴她的。”
愛瑪不遺餘力地鼓勵父親娓娓道出這些令人愉快的想法，而且還希望藉助一副五子棋，讓父親度過晚上的時光而不感到厭倦，她要把遺憾藏進內心，不願提起任何不愉快的事，棋桌已經擺好，但是立刻就變得毫無必要，一位客人來造訪了。
奈特利先生是個有理智的人，年紀大約三十七八歲。他不僅是這個家庭親密的老朋友，而且由於他是伊莎貝拉丈夫的兄長，便於這個家庭有一層特殊的關係。他傢距離海伯裏村約一哩遠。他是這個家庭的常客，總是受到歡迎，此刻比平時更受歡迎，因為他是直接從倫敦他們共同的親戚那裏來得。外出幾天返回後，今天午飯吃得很晚，現在到哈特費爾的宅子來通報說，住在不倫瑞剋廣場那邊的傢人全都暗號。這是個愉快的消息，伍德豪斯先生於是興奮了一陣子。奈特利先生的歡樂情緒從來都能讓他感到愉快，他那些關於“可憐的伊莎貝拉”以及關於孩子們的問題全都得到最令人滿意的答復。之一切結束後。伍德豪斯先生一本正經的評論說道：
“奈特利先生，非常感謝您這麽晚了還來看望我們。我真替你擔心，怕你在路上擔驚受怕。”
“根本不會，先生。今晚月光皎潔明亮，而且十分暖和，所以我必須裏你這這爐旺火些。”
“可是路上一定非常潮濕泥濘。希望你不至於着涼。”
“泥濘，先生！看看我的鞋子吧，上面連一點兒污漬都沒沾上。”
“哎呦！這可就怪了，我們吃早飯時這兒下過挺大的雨，有半個小時，雨下的大極了。我甚至想勸他們推遲婚期呢。”
“順便說說--我還沒有嚮你們道賀呢。我完全瞭解你們在體驗着怎樣的痛苦，所以也就不急於嚮你們道喜了。不過，我希望大傢都勇於忍受。讓這是平靜的過去。他傢怎麽樣啊？誰哭得最兇？”
“啊！可憐的泰勒小姐！真是一樁悲傷的事。”
“請你們原諒，伍德豪斯先生和伍德豪斯小姐，我絶對不會說‘可憐的泰勒小姐’。我對您和愛瑪極為尊敬，衹有在依附和獨立問題上是個例外！不管怎麽說，讓一個人滿意要比讓兩個人都滿意要容易的多。”
“尤其是兩個人當中還有一個如此善於空想，如此惹人惱火！”愛瑪戲諺道。“我知道這就是你腦子裏的想法--如果我父親伍在場，你肯定會開口這麽說的。”
“我相信真是這樣的，親愛的，真的，”伍德豪斯先生嘆了口氣說，“恐怕我有時非常善於空想，實在惹人惱火。”
“我最親愛的爸爸！你不至於認為我真的這麽想，也不會認為奈特利先生會有這種想法吧。多麽可怕的念頭！哦，不是這樣的！我說的是我自己。你知道的，奈特利先生喜歡挑我的毛病--那是個玩笑--全是在開玩笑。我們交談從來是想說什麽就說什麽。”
的確，奈特利先生屬於很少幾位能看出愛瑪·伍德豪斯不足之處的人，而且是唯一願意告訴她這些不足的人。儘管愛瑪自己也並不十分喜歡這種還，然而她知道，父親聽了會感到更加不快，所以，她甚至不願意父親稍稍猜疑到大傢認為她並不完美無瑕。
“愛瑪知道我從來不奉承她，”奈特利先生說，“但我並非指責任何人。泰勒小姐已經習慣於讓兩個人感到滿意，可現在衹剩一位可照料。所以她準能從中獲利。”
“喂，”愛瑪願意放過這事不談，“你要想聽聽婚禮的事，我很高興想你講述，因為我們大傢的舉止全都優雅得體。每個人都準時出席，每個人都展示出最佳面貌。沒有流過一滴眼淚，也幾乎沒有看到拉長的面孔。啊！不是嗎？我們大傢都感到衹不過分開半英裏裏的距離，都相形每天都會見面的。”
“愛瑪親親對任何情況都能忍受得了，”她父親說道。“可是，奈特利先生，她失去可憐的泰勒小姐其實非常傷心，我能肯定，她準會想念她的，一定比自己想象的程度深的多。”
愛瑪扭轉臉，強壯出微笑，卻止不住涌出淚水。
“愛瑪不可能不想念那樣一位伴侶，”奈特利先生說，“假如她不想念的話，我們以前也不會那樣喜歡她了。但是，她知道這樁婚姻對泰勒小姐有多麽的有益，也知道泰勒小姐這個歲數上，擁有自己的家庭準是求之不得的事，也知道泰勒小姐能過有保障的舒適生活是多麽重要，因此她準不會讓自己的悲傷壓倒喜悅。泰勒小姐的每一位朋友看到她婚姻如此幸福，一定會感到高興。”
“你忘掉我的一件樂事，”愛瑪說，“而且是一件非常重要的事--是我本人從中牽的綫。你知道嗎，是我在四年前做的媒。當時許多人說維斯頓先生决不會再婚，可我還是促成了這樁喜事，沒有什麽比這事更讓我愜意了。”
奈特利先生衝着她搖了搖頭。她父親糊裏糊塗的回答道：“啊！親愛的，我真希望你沒做過什麽媒，也沒有預言過什麽事情，因為你說的話都會成為現實。求你別再給人做媒了。”
“爸爸，我保證不給我自己作媒。但是我必須為其他人做媒。這可是世界上最大的樂事！特別是在成功之後！--大傢都說，維斯頓先生絶對不會再婚了。啊，天哪，可不是嘛！維斯頓先生已經經鰥居了這麽久，看上去沒有妻子過的舒適極了，總是忙得不可開交，不是在城裏埋頭做生意，就是跟這裏的朋友們消磨時光，不論到哪兒都給人帶去歡樂，都受到大傢歡迎--如果維斯頓先生自己願意的話，一年中他連一個夜晚也用不着獨自度過。咻，可不是嘛！維斯頓先生當然絶對不會再婚。有些人甚至風傳他在妻子死前曾法過誓，另外一些傳言說是他兒子和舅父不準他再婚。關於這事有過各式各樣一本正經的鬍話，可我一樣也不相信。四年前的那一天，我和泰勒小姐在百老會遇到他，天下起了蒙蒙雨，他殷勤地跑開，從農場主米切爾那裏為我們藉來兩把傘。我當時便打定了主意。衹從那時起，我就製定好了做媒計劃。親愛的爸爸，我在這件事情收穫得如此巨大的成功，你不至於認為我會就此放棄做媒吧。”
“我不明白你說的‘成功’，是什麽意思，”奈特利先生說。“成功意味着進行過努力奮鬥。假如說你努力奮鬥了四年纔促成這樁婚姻，那麽你的時間就花得恰到好處，也十分周到。不過，照我想象，你所謂的做媒衹不過是你為這事做了點籌劃而已，你在一個閑得無聊的日子自言自語說：‘我覺得如果維斯頓先生要去泰勒小姐的話，對泰勒小姐來說可是再好不過的事情了。’以後過一陣子就這麽自言自語一番--你有什麽成功可言？你的功績何在？有什麽值得自豪？你不過運氣好碰巧猜中一個麽。無非如此而已。”
難道你從來沒有體會過猜中一個謎的得意和喜悅嗎？我可憐你。我願意為你聰明的多，海象以來你呢，碰巧猜中並不僅僅是運氣而已。其中一定包含着天賦。我用了那個可憐字眼‘成功’，就讓你抓住不妨，沒想到我對這個詞完全沒有使用權。你描繪了兩幅圖畫--不過我認為還可以有第三幅--介於什麽也不做和什麽都做之間。假若我沒有促成維斯頓先生來此做客，沒有給他許多微妙的鼓勵，沒有在於多問題上打圓場，或許根本就不會有任何結果。我認為你必須相當熟悉哈特費爾的宅子，然後才能理解這事。”
“一位像維斯頓那樣誠實而直率的男人，和泰勒小姐那種理智而樸實的女人單獨在一起，可以泰然應付他們自己關心的事情。你涉足其間做的事情可能對他們本無益處，而且可能對你自己還很有害呢。”
“愛瑪幫助別人時從來不考慮自己，”伍德豪斯先生不解其中味，重新打進他們的交談。“但是，我親愛的，請你別再替人作媒了，那不但是犯傻，而且嚴重地破壞人傢的家庭生活。”
“在作一次，爸爸。僅僅替埃爾頓先生作一次，咻，可憐的埃爾頓先生！你喜歡埃爾頓先生的，爸爸。我必須為他物色一位妻子。海伯裏村沒有人配的上他。他在這兒已經生活了整整一年啦，房子安頓的那麽舒適，再獨身一人過下去簡直太可惜了。他們今天握手的時候我便産生了這樣的想法，他看上去仿佛特別希望自己也接受同樣的儀式！我杜埃爾頓先生的印象很好，衹是我替他做點貢獻的唯一方法。”
“埃爾頓先生無疑是個非常漂亮的年輕人，而且是個非常好的青年，我對他極為尊重。但是，親愛的，倘若你願意嚮他表示關心，那就請他改天來與我們共進一餐。那將士更好的方式。我冒昧地說，奈特利先生也許高興見他。”
“極為高興，隨時樂意，”奈特利先生笑道。“我還同意您的說法，那將是更好的方式。愛瑪，請他來吃飯吧，請他吃最上等的雨柔和肌肉，至於說妻子嘛，要留待他自己去選擇。相信他自己吧，一個二十六七歲的男人會照料自己的。”
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between _them_ it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
Sorrow came--a gentle sorrow--but not at all in the shape of any disagreeable consciousness. --Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any continuance. The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and herself were left to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father composed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think of what she had lost.
The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering with what self-denying, generous friendship she had always wished and promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness--the kindness, the affection of sixteen years--how she had taught and how she had played with her from five years old--how she had devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in health--and how nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of gratitude was owing here; but the intercourse of the last seven years, the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed Isabella's marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a dearer, tenderer recollection. She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of hers--one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her as could never find fault.
How was she to bear the change?--It was true that her friend was going only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic, she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful.
The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.
Her sister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being settled in London, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily reach; and many a long October and November evening must be struggled through at Hartfield, before Christmas brought the next visit from Isabella and her husband, and their little children, to fill the house, and give her pleasant society again.
Highbury, the large and populous village, almost amounting to a town, to which Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and name, did really belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses were first in consequence there. All looked up to them. She had many acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even half a day. It was a melancholy change; and Emma could not but sigh over it, and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. He was a nervous man, easily depressed; fond of every body that he was used to, and hating to part with them; hating change of every kind. Matrimony, as the origin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yet reconciled to his own daughter's marrying, nor could ever speak of her but with compassion, though it had been entirely a match of affection, when he was now obliged to part with Miss Taylor too; and from his habits of gentle selfishness, and of being never able to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself, he was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for herself as for them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield. Emma smiled and chatted as cheerfully as she could, to keep him from such thoughts; but when tea came, it was impossible for him not to say exactly as he had said at dinner,
"Poor Miss Taylor!--I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that Mr. Weston ever thought of her!"
"I cannot agree with you, papa; you know I cannot. Mr. Weston is such a good-humoured, pleasant, excellent man, that he thoroughly deserves a good wife;--and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for ever, and bear all my odd humours, when she might have a house of her own?"
"A house of her own!--But where is the advantage of a house of her own? This is three times as large. --And you have never any odd humours, my dear. "
"How often we shall be going to see them, and they coming to see us!--We shall be always meeting! _We_ must begin; we must go and pay wedding visit very soon. "
"My dear, how am I to get so far? Randalls is such a distance. I could not walk half so far. "
"No, papa, nobody thought of your walking. We must go in the carriage, to be sure. "
"The carriage! But James will not like to put the horses to for such a little way;--and where are the poor horses to be while we are paying our visit?"
"They are to be put into Mr. Weston's stable, papa. You know we have settled all that already. We talked it all over with Mr. Weston last night. And as for James, you may be very sure he will always like going to Randalls, because of his daughter's being housemaid there. I only doubt whether he will ever take us anywhere else. That was your doing, papa. You got Hannah that good place. Nobody thought of Hannah till you mentioned her--James is so obliged to you!"
"I am very glad I did think of her. It was very lucky, for I would not have had poor James think himself slighted upon any account; and I am sure she will make a very good servant: she is a civil, pretty-spoken girl; I have a great opinion of her. Whenever I see her, she always curtseys and asks me how I do, in a very pretty manner; and when you have had her here to do needlework, I observe she always turns the lock of the door the right way and never bangs it. I am sure she will be an excellent servant; and it will be a great comfort to poor Miss Taylor to have somebody about her that she is used to see. Whenever James goes over to see his daughter, you know, she will be hearing of us. He will be able to tell her how we all are. "
Emma spared no exertions to maintain this happier flow of ideas, and hoped, by the help of backgammon, to get her father tolerably through the evening, and be attacked by no regrets but her own. The backgammon-table was placed; but a visitor immediately afterwards walked in and made it unnecessary.
Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella's husband. He lived about a mile from Highbury, was a frequent visitor, and always welcome, and at this time more welcome than usual, as coming directly from their mutual connexions in London. He had returned to a late dinner, after some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were well in Brunswick Square. It was a happy circumstance, and animated Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed, "It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, to come out at this late hour to call upon us. I am afraid you must have had a shocking walk. "
"Not at all, sir. It is a beautiful moonlight night; and so mild that I must draw back from your great fire. "
"But you must have found it very damp and dirty. I wish you may not catch cold. "
"Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck on them. "
"Well! that is quite surprising, for we have had a vast deal of rain here. It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at breakfast. I wanted them to put off the wedding. "
"By the bye--I have not wished you joy. Being pretty well aware of what sort of joy you must both be feeling, I have been in no hurry with my congratulations; but I hope it all went off tolerably well. How did you all behave? Who cried most?"
"Ah! poor Miss Taylor! 'Tis a sad business. "
"Poor Mr. and Miss Woodhouse, if you please; but I cannot possibly say `poor Miss Taylor. ' I have a great regard for you and Emma; but when it comes to the question of dependence or independence!--At any rate, it must be better to have only one to please than two. "
"Especially when _one_ of those two is such a fanciful, troublesome creature!" said Emma playfully. "That is what you have in your head, I know--and what you would certainly say if my father were not by. "
"I believe it is very true, my dear, indeed, " said Mr. Woodhouse, with a sigh. "I am afraid I am sometimes very fanciful and troublesome. "
"My dearest papa! You do not think I could mean _you_, or suppose Mr. Knightley to mean _you_. What a horrible idea! Oh no! I meant only myself. Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know-- in a joke--it is all a joke. We always say what we like to one another. "
Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them: and though this was not particularly agreeable to Emma herself, she knew it would be so much less so to her father, that she would not have him really suspect such a circumstance as her not being thought perfect by every body.
"Emma knows I never flatter her, " said Mr. Knightley, "but I meant no reflection on any body. Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons to please; she will now have but one. The chances are that she must be a gainer. "
"Well, " said Emma, willing to let it pass--"you want to hear about the wedding; and I shall be happy to tell you, for we all behaved charmingly. Every body was punctual, every body in their best looks: not a tear, and hardly a long face to be seen. Oh no; we all felt that we were going to be only half a mile apart, and were sure of meeting every day. "
"Dear Emma bears every thing so well, " said her father. "But, Mr. Knightley, she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor, and I am sure she _will_ miss her more than she thinks for. "
Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles. "It is impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion, " said Mr. Knightley. "We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow herself to feel so much pain as pleasure. Every friend of Miss Taylor must be glad to have her so happily married. "
"And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me, " said Emma, "and a very considerable one--that I made the match myself. I made the match, you know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again, may comfort me for any thing. "
Mr. Knightley shook his head at her. Her father fondly replied, "Ah! my dear, I wish you would not make matches and foretell things, for whatever you say always comes to pass. Pray do not make any more matches. "
"I promise you to make none for myself, papa; but I must, indeed, for other people. It is the greatest amusement in the world! And after such success, you know!--Every body said that Mr. Weston would never marry again. Oh dear, no! Mr. Weston, who had been a widower so long, and who seemed so perfectly comfortable without a wife, so constantly occupied either in his business in town or among his friends here, always acceptable wherever he went, always cheerful-- Mr. Weston need not spend a single evening in the year alone if he did not like it. Oh no! Mr. Weston certainly would never marry again. Some people even talked of a promise to his wife on her deathbed, and others of the son and the uncle not letting him. All manner of solemn nonsense was talked on the subject, but I believed none of it.
"Ever since the day--about four years ago--that Miss Taylor and I met with him in Broadway Lane, when, because it began to drizzle, he darted away with so much gallantry, and borrowed two umbrellas for us from Farmer Mitchell's, I made up my mind on the subject. I planned the match from that hour; and when such success has blessed me in this instance, dear papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making. "
"I do not understand what you mean by `success, '" said Mr. Knightley. "Success supposes endeavour. Your time has been properly and delicately spent, if you have been endeavouring for the last four years to bring about this marriage. A worthy employment for a young lady's mind! But if, which I rather imagine, your making the match, as you call it, means only your planning it, your saying to yourself one idle day, `I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry her, ' and saying it again to yourself every now and then afterwards, why do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You made a lucky guess; and _that_ is all that can be said. "
"And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess?-- I pity you. --I thought you cleverer--for, depend upon it a lucky guess is never merely luck. There is always some talent in it. And as to my poor word `success, ' which you quarrel with, I do not know that I am so entirely without any claim to it. You have drawn two pretty pictures; but I think there may be a third--a something between the do-nothing and the do-all. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston's visits here, and given many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might not have come to any thing after all. I think you must know Hartfield enough to comprehend that. "
"A straightforward, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than good to them, by interference. "
"Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others, " rejoined Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. "But, my dear, pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family circle grievously. "
"Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa, --I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in Highbury who deserves him--and he has been here a whole year, and has fitted up his house so comfortably, that it would be a shame to have him single any longer--and I thought when he was joining their hands to-day, he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same kind office done for him! I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service. "
"Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young man, and I have a great regard for him. But if you want to shew him any attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will be a much better thing. I dare say Mr. Knightley will be so kind as to meet him. "
"With a great deal of pleasure, sir, at any time, " said Mr. Knightley, laughing, "and I agree with you entirely, that it will be a much better thing. Invite him to dinner, Emma, and help him to the best of the fish and the chicken, but leave him to chuse his own wife. Depend upon it, a man of six or seven-and-twenty can take care of himself. "
她是兩姊妹中年幼的一個，父親是一位極富慈愛心人，對女兒無比嬌慣溺愛。姐姐出嫁後，她早早便擔當起家庭女主人的角色。她母親很久以前就去世了，母親的愛撫僅僅給她留下一點兒十分模糊的記憶。一位傑出的家庭女教師填補了母親的空缺，它給與的母愛絶不亞於一位母親。
泰勒小姐在伍德豪斯傢生活已經有十六年，她不僅是個家庭女教師，更是這個家庭的朋友。她非常喜愛兩位姑娘，尤其喜歡愛瑪。在她們兩人之間，姐妹親情勝於師生關係。泰勒小姐脾氣溫和，即使在原來執教時期，也難得強加什麽，現在，教師的權威早已煙消雲散，他們就像相依為命的朋友一樣生活在一起，挨駡喜歡做什麽完全由着自己的性子來，雖然她高度尊重泰勒小姐的判斷，但是决定主要由自己作主。……（此處有45字不通順）
悲哀降臨了——僅僅是個輕微的悲哀而已——而且還不是以痛苦的方式降臨的——泰勒小姐出嫁了，首先感到的是失去泰勒小姐的悲傷，在這位親愛的朋友結婚的日子裏，愛瑪纔第一次坐下悲哀的想象着未來，婚禮過後新人離去，飯桌上衹剩下父親和她，不可能指望有第三個人在漫長的夜晚來活躍氣氛，她父親飯後編造早上床安息，她衹有自己在爐前痛惜自己的損失。
她的朋友在這樁婚姻中面臨着種種幸福的前景，維斯頓先生的品格無懈可擊，財産富足，年紀適中，態度謙和，愛瑪想到自己嚮來希望本着自我犧牲精神和慷慨的友誼促成這樁婚姻，就感到些許滿足，但是那天早上的活動對她來說卻是陰鬱的，每天的每個時辰都感到需要泰勒小姐，她回憶其她慈祥的音容笑貌——十六年來一直地那樣和藹慈祥——及其自己五歲其她便開始教授知識，陪自己做遊戲——回憶起她在自己健康時不惜貢獻出全部能力，為了使她高興而時時相伴——在自己幼年生各種疾病時更是百般照料，無微不至，為此她心中時常洋溢感激之情；在伊莎貝拉出嫁後的七年間，傢裏衹剩下她們兩人，兩人平等相待，毫無保留，那更是親切美好的回憶。那是個非常難得的朋友加伴侶，富有才華，知識豐富。樂於主人，態度謙和，對家庭的一切都了如指掌，對傢裏關心的所有事務全都十分不感興趣——愛瑪盡可以將自己的各種念頭統統傾訴給她，而絶對不會發現她的慈愛會産生任何瑕疵。
她該如何忍受這種改變呢？不錯，她的朋友離開他們僅僅不足半英裏遠，但是愛瑪意識到，半英裏之外的維斯頓太太一定與這所房子中那位泰勒小姐有着天壤之別。儘管她天生便具有優越感，後來更加強了優越意識，然而她卻面臨精神孤獨的極大危險，她熱愛自己的父親，但是他並不是她的伴侶，無論進行理智的還是逗樂的交談都無法跟上她的思路。
由於伍德豪斯先生娶親時已不年輕，父女之間年齡的鴻溝被他的老態和習慣襯托的更加顯著，她終生病魔纏身，既不能鍛煉身體，也無暇培養心智。於是未老便已先衰，雖然他的友善心靈和們和的脾氣，處處文明禮貌贏得人們熱愛，但他的天資在任何時候都無法受到恭維。於其他人比較起來，她姐姐並不算嫁得很遠，僅僅是住在離傢十六英裏外的倫敦，然而並不能每日隨意來訪；他不得不在哈特費爾德宅子熬過十月許多漫長的夜晚，最後才能在聖誕節前夕盼來伊莎貝拉夫婦和他們的孩子，享受與人交往的喜悅。
海伯裏是個規模接近城鎮的大村子。儘管哈特費爾德宅子有自己的草坪、灌木叢和自己的名稱，但是它其實屬於海伯裏。然而，在這全村裏也找不到能與她的指揮相配的伴侶。伍德豪斯傢是當地的望族，為重目所矚。由於她父親是一位公認的謙謙君子，她在村裏便有許多熟人。然而這些熟人中沒有哪一位能代替泰勒小姐，哪怕僅僅是半天也不行。面對這令人憂鬱的變化，愛瑪除了鬍思亂想之外，沒有任何辦法好想，直到父親醒來，她纔不得不強裝出歡樂的模樣，他的精神需要有人支持。她適合神經質的男人。有精神憂鬱的傾嚮，喜愛跟自己熟悉的任何人交往，在分手的時候總是感到很難過；他討厭任何變化，由於婚姻是變化之源，所以他從來就不贊成；他自己親女兒的婚姻至今也不能得到他的認可；若不是出於同情，他决不會提起他，儘管那是愛的結合。現在，他又不得不與泰勒小姐分手。他是個稍有些自私自利習慣的人，根本不可能想象別人可能跟自己有不同想法，他傾嚮於認為泰勒小姐作了一件令人傷心的事。他認為她的餘生整個在哈特費爾得度過要幸福的多。愛瑪微笑着，盡量與他進行快樂的交談，以便將他的思緒從這問題上轉移開，但是，茶點端上來時，卻根本無法阻止他一字不差地重複午餐時講過的話。
“可憐的泰勒小姐！--我真希望她能重返這裏，維斯頓先生怎麽會打她的念頭，這多可惜呀！”
“我可不能同意你的看法，爸爸，實在不能同意，維斯頓先生是個傑出的男人，那麽詼諧可愛，絶對配得一位賢惠的妻子，她現在有了自己的傢，難道還可能跟我們生活在一起，容忍我的種種乖僻？”
“她自己的傢！她自己的傢有什麽好？這個傢比她大三倍。再說，我的親寶貝，你絶對沒有任何乖僻啊。”
“我們應當經常去拜訪他們，他們應當常常來看我們，我們應當常來常往，我們必須開始這樣做，經快造訪這隊形婚的伴侶。”
“啊，我的老天，我哪能走那麽遠啊？朗道斯宅子距離這兒那麽遠，我連一半距離也走不完。”
“怎麽啦，爸爸，誰也不想要你親自步行。我們當然要乘馬車去。”
“乘馬車，可是為了走這麽點路，詹姆士不會喜歡套車。我們拜訪的時候，可憐的馬兒該待在什麽地方呢？”
“把它們拴在維斯頓的馬廄裏啊。爸爸，你記得我們早已解决了這個問題啦，昨天晚上我們已經和維斯頓先生談過這事。至於詹姆士，我敢肯定，他永遠喜歡到朗道斯宅子去，因為他的女兒正在那裏做女僕，我不能肯定的衹是除了那個地方他是不是喜歡送我們到其他地方去，那可是你的功勞，爸爸，你給了漢娜那份肥缺，要不是你提起漢娜，誰也不會想到她--詹姆士對你滿心感激呢！”
“我真高興當時想起了她。真是幸運，因為我不願意讓可憐的詹姆士在任何情況下感到自己低人一等，另外，我相信她會是一名好傭人。她是個舉止得體、言談禮貌的姑娘；我對她的評價很高。不論任何時候，衹要我看到她，她便會以相當優雅的姿態嚮我行禮請安；而且你叫她來這兒來做女工的時候，我註意到，她從來都用正確的方式轉動門紐，從不摔響門。我能肯定，她會成為一名了不起的傭人；對於可憐的泰勒小姐來說，身邊有個熟悉的人該是多大的安慰啊。你知道，是要詹姆士去看自己的女兒，她就能聽到我們的消息。他會把我們大傢的情況都告訴她的。”
愛瑪不遺餘力地鼓勵父親娓娓道出這些令人愉快的想法，而且還希望藉助一副五子棋，讓父親度過晚上的時光而不感到厭倦，她要把遺憾藏進內心，不願提起任何不愉快的事，棋桌已經擺好，但是立刻就變得毫無必要，一位客人來造訪了。
奈特利先生是個有理智的人，年紀大約三十七八歲。他不僅是這個家庭親密的老朋友，而且由於他是伊莎貝拉丈夫的兄長，便於這個家庭有一層特殊的關係。他傢距離海伯裏村約一哩遠。他是這個家庭的常客，總是受到歡迎，此刻比平時更受歡迎，因為他是直接從倫敦他們共同的親戚那裏來得。外出幾天返回後，今天午飯吃得很晚，現在到哈特費爾的宅子來通報說，住在不倫瑞剋廣場那邊的傢人全都暗號。這是個愉快的消息，伍德豪斯先生於是興奮了一陣子。奈特利先生的歡樂情緒從來都能讓他感到愉快，他那些關於“可憐的伊莎貝拉”以及關於孩子們的問題全都得到最令人滿意的答復。之一切結束後。伍德豪斯先生一本正經的評論說道：
“奈特利先生，非常感謝您這麽晚了還來看望我們。我真替你擔心，怕你在路上擔驚受怕。”
“根本不會，先生。今晚月光皎潔明亮，而且十分暖和，所以我必須裏你這這爐旺火些。”
“可是路上一定非常潮濕泥濘。希望你不至於着涼。”
“泥濘，先生！看看我的鞋子吧，上面連一點兒污漬都沒沾上。”
“哎呦！這可就怪了，我們吃早飯時這兒下過挺大的雨，有半個小時，雨下的大極了。我甚至想勸他們推遲婚期呢。”
“順便說說--我還沒有嚮你們道賀呢。我完全瞭解你們在體驗着怎樣的痛苦，所以也就不急於嚮你們道喜了。不過，我希望大傢都勇於忍受。讓這是平靜的過去。他傢怎麽樣啊？誰哭得最兇？”
“啊！可憐的泰勒小姐！真是一樁悲傷的事。”
“請你們原諒，伍德豪斯先生和伍德豪斯小姐，我絶對不會說‘可憐的泰勒小姐’。我對您和愛瑪極為尊敬，衹有在依附和獨立問題上是個例外！不管怎麽說，讓一個人滿意要比讓兩個人都滿意要容易的多。”
“尤其是兩個人當中還有一個如此善於空想，如此惹人惱火！”愛瑪戲諺道。“我知道這就是你腦子裏的想法--如果我父親伍在場，你肯定會開口這麽說的。”
“我相信真是這樣的，親愛的，真的，”伍德豪斯先生嘆了口氣說，“恐怕我有時非常善於空想，實在惹人惱火。”
“我最親愛的爸爸！你不至於認為我真的這麽想，也不會認為奈特利先生會有這種想法吧。多麽可怕的念頭！哦，不是這樣的！我說的是我自己。你知道的，奈特利先生喜歡挑我的毛病--那是個玩笑--全是在開玩笑。我們交談從來是想說什麽就說什麽。”
的確，奈特利先生屬於很少幾位能看出愛瑪·伍德豪斯不足之處的人，而且是唯一願意告訴她這些不足的人。儘管愛瑪自己也並不十分喜歡這種還，然而她知道，父親聽了會感到更加不快，所以，她甚至不願意父親稍稍猜疑到大傢認為她並不完美無瑕。
“愛瑪知道我從來不奉承她，”奈特利先生說，“但我並非指責任何人。泰勒小姐已經習慣於讓兩個人感到滿意，可現在衹剩一位可照料。所以她準能從中獲利。”
“喂，”愛瑪願意放過這事不談，“你要想聽聽婚禮的事，我很高興想你講述，因為我們大傢的舉止全都優雅得體。每個人都準時出席，每個人都展示出最佳面貌。沒有流過一滴眼淚，也幾乎沒有看到拉長的面孔。啊！不是嗎？我們大傢都感到衹不過分開半英裏裏的距離，都相形每天都會見面的。”
“愛瑪親親對任何情況都能忍受得了，”她父親說道。“可是，奈特利先生，她失去可憐的泰勒小姐其實非常傷心，我能肯定，她準會想念她的，一定比自己想象的程度深的多。”
愛瑪扭轉臉，強壯出微笑，卻止不住涌出淚水。
“愛瑪不可能不想念那樣一位伴侶，”奈特利先生說，“假如她不想念的話，我們以前也不會那樣喜歡她了。但是，她知道這樁婚姻對泰勒小姐有多麽的有益，也知道泰勒小姐這個歲數上，擁有自己的家庭準是求之不得的事，也知道泰勒小姐能過有保障的舒適生活是多麽重要，因此她準不會讓自己的悲傷壓倒喜悅。泰勒小姐的每一位朋友看到她婚姻如此幸福，一定會感到高興。”
“你忘掉我的一件樂事，”愛瑪說，“而且是一件非常重要的事--是我本人從中牽的綫。你知道嗎，是我在四年前做的媒。當時許多人說維斯頓先生决不會再婚，可我還是促成了這樁喜事，沒有什麽比這事更讓我愜意了。”
奈特利先生衝着她搖了搖頭。她父親糊裏糊塗的回答道：“啊！親愛的，我真希望你沒做過什麽媒，也沒有預言過什麽事情，因為你說的話都會成為現實。求你別再給人做媒了。”
“爸爸，我保證不給我自己作媒。但是我必須為其他人做媒。這可是世界上最大的樂事！特別是在成功之後！--大傢都說，維斯頓先生絶對不會再婚了。啊，天哪，可不是嘛！維斯頓先生已經經鰥居了這麽久，看上去沒有妻子過的舒適極了，總是忙得不可開交，不是在城裏埋頭做生意，就是跟這裏的朋友們消磨時光，不論到哪兒都給人帶去歡樂，都受到大傢歡迎--如果維斯頓先生自己願意的話，一年中他連一個夜晚也用不着獨自度過。咻，可不是嘛！維斯頓先生當然絶對不會再婚。有些人甚至風傳他在妻子死前曾法過誓，另外一些傳言說是他兒子和舅父不準他再婚。關於這事有過各式各樣一本正經的鬍話，可我一樣也不相信。四年前的那一天，我和泰勒小姐在百老會遇到他，天下起了蒙蒙雨，他殷勤地跑開，從農場主米切爾那裏為我們藉來兩把傘。我當時便打定了主意。衹從那時起，我就製定好了做媒計劃。親愛的爸爸，我在這件事情收穫得如此巨大的成功，你不至於認為我會就此放棄做媒吧。”
“我不明白你說的‘成功’，是什麽意思，”奈特利先生說。“成功意味着進行過努力奮鬥。假如說你努力奮鬥了四年纔促成這樁婚姻，那麽你的時間就花得恰到好處，也十分周到。不過，照我想象，你所謂的做媒衹不過是你為這事做了點籌劃而已，你在一個閑得無聊的日子自言自語說：‘我覺得如果維斯頓先生要去泰勒小姐的話，對泰勒小姐來說可是再好不過的事情了。’以後過一陣子就這麽自言自語一番--你有什麽成功可言？你的功績何在？有什麽值得自豪？你不過運氣好碰巧猜中一個麽。無非如此而已。”
難道你從來沒有體會過猜中一個謎的得意和喜悅嗎？我可憐你。我願意為你聰明的多，海象以來你呢，碰巧猜中並不僅僅是運氣而已。其中一定包含着天賦。我用了那個可憐字眼‘成功’，就讓你抓住不妨，沒想到我對這個詞完全沒有使用權。你描繪了兩幅圖畫--不過我認為還可以有第三幅--介於什麽也不做和什麽都做之間。假若我沒有促成維斯頓先生來此做客，沒有給他許多微妙的鼓勵，沒有在於多問題上打圓場，或許根本就不會有任何結果。我認為你必須相當熟悉哈特費爾的宅子，然後才能理解這事。”
“一位像維斯頓那樣誠實而直率的男人，和泰勒小姐那種理智而樸實的女人單獨在一起，可以泰然應付他們自己關心的事情。你涉足其間做的事情可能對他們本無益處，而且可能對你自己還很有害呢。”
“愛瑪幫助別人時從來不考慮自己，”伍德豪斯先生不解其中味，重新打進他們的交談。“但是，我親愛的，請你別再替人作媒了，那不但是犯傻，而且嚴重地破壞人傢的家庭生活。”
“在作一次，爸爸。僅僅替埃爾頓先生作一次，咻，可憐的埃爾頓先生！你喜歡埃爾頓先生的，爸爸。我必須為他物色一位妻子。海伯裏村沒有人配的上他。他在這兒已經生活了整整一年啦，房子安頓的那麽舒適，再獨身一人過下去簡直太可惜了。他們今天握手的時候我便産生了這樣的想法，他看上去仿佛特別希望自己也接受同樣的儀式！我杜埃爾頓先生的印象很好，衹是我替他做點貢獻的唯一方法。”
“埃爾頓先生無疑是個非常漂亮的年輕人，而且是個非常好的青年，我對他極為尊重。但是，親愛的，倘若你願意嚮他表示關心，那就請他改天來與我們共進一餐。那將士更好的方式。我冒昧地說，奈特利先生也許高興見他。”
“極為高興，隨時樂意，”奈特利先生笑道。“我還同意您的說法，那將是更好的方式。愛瑪，請他來吃飯吧，請他吃最上等的雨柔和肌肉，至於說妻子嘛，要留待他自己去選擇。相信他自己吧，一個二十六七歲的男人會照料自己的。”
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between _them_ it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
Sorrow came--a gentle sorrow--but not at all in the shape of any disagreeable consciousness. --Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any continuance. The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and herself were left to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father composed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think of what she had lost.
The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering with what self-denying, generous friendship she had always wished and promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness--the kindness, the affection of sixteen years--how she had taught and how she had played with her from five years old--how she had devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in health--and how nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of gratitude was owing here; but the intercourse of the last seven years, the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed Isabella's marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a dearer, tenderer recollection. She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of hers--one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her as could never find fault.
How was she to bear the change?--It was true that her friend was going only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic, she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful.
The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.
Her sister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being settled in London, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily reach; and many a long October and November evening must be struggled through at Hartfield, before Christmas brought the next visit from Isabella and her husband, and their little children, to fill the house, and give her pleasant society again.
Highbury, the large and populous village, almost amounting to a town, to which Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and name, did really belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses were first in consequence there. All looked up to them. She had many acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even half a day. It was a melancholy change; and Emma could not but sigh over it, and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. He was a nervous man, easily depressed; fond of every body that he was used to, and hating to part with them; hating change of every kind. Matrimony, as the origin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yet reconciled to his own daughter's marrying, nor could ever speak of her but with compassion, though it had been entirely a match of affection, when he was now obliged to part with Miss Taylor too; and from his habits of gentle selfishness, and of being never able to suppose that other people could feel differently from himself, he was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor had done as sad a thing for herself as for them, and would have been a great deal happier if she had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield. Emma smiled and chatted as cheerfully as she could, to keep him from such thoughts; but when tea came, it was impossible for him not to say exactly as he had said at dinner,
"Poor Miss Taylor!--I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that Mr. Weston ever thought of her!"
"I cannot agree with you, papa; you know I cannot. Mr. Weston is such a good-humoured, pleasant, excellent man, that he thoroughly deserves a good wife;--and you would not have had Miss Taylor live with us for ever, and bear all my odd humours, when she might have a house of her own?"
"A house of her own!--But where is the advantage of a house of her own? This is three times as large. --And you have never any odd humours, my dear. "
"How often we shall be going to see them, and they coming to see us!--We shall be always meeting! _We_ must begin; we must go and pay wedding visit very soon. "
"My dear, how am I to get so far? Randalls is such a distance. I could not walk half so far. "
"No, papa, nobody thought of your walking. We must go in the carriage, to be sure. "
"The carriage! But James will not like to put the horses to for such a little way;--and where are the poor horses to be while we are paying our visit?"
"They are to be put into Mr. Weston's stable, papa. You know we have settled all that already. We talked it all over with Mr. Weston last night. And as for James, you may be very sure he will always like going to Randalls, because of his daughter's being housemaid there. I only doubt whether he will ever take us anywhere else. That was your doing, papa. You got Hannah that good place. Nobody thought of Hannah till you mentioned her--James is so obliged to you!"
"I am very glad I did think of her. It was very lucky, for I would not have had poor James think himself slighted upon any account; and I am sure she will make a very good servant: she is a civil, pretty-spoken girl; I have a great opinion of her. Whenever I see her, she always curtseys and asks me how I do, in a very pretty manner; and when you have had her here to do needlework, I observe she always turns the lock of the door the right way and never bangs it. I am sure she will be an excellent servant; and it will be a great comfort to poor Miss Taylor to have somebody about her that she is used to see. Whenever James goes over to see his daughter, you know, she will be hearing of us. He will be able to tell her how we all are. "
Emma spared no exertions to maintain this happier flow of ideas, and hoped, by the help of backgammon, to get her father tolerably through the evening, and be attacked by no regrets but her own. The backgammon-table was placed; but a visitor immediately afterwards walked in and made it unnecessary.
Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella's husband. He lived about a mile from Highbury, was a frequent visitor, and always welcome, and at this time more welcome than usual, as coming directly from their mutual connexions in London. He had returned to a late dinner, after some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were well in Brunswick Square. It was a happy circumstance, and animated Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed, "It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, to come out at this late hour to call upon us. I am afraid you must have had a shocking walk. "
"Not at all, sir. It is a beautiful moonlight night; and so mild that I must draw back from your great fire. "
"But you must have found it very damp and dirty. I wish you may not catch cold. "
"Dirty, sir! Look at my shoes. Not a speck on them. "
"Well! that is quite surprising, for we have had a vast deal of rain here. It rained dreadfully hard for half an hour while we were at breakfast. I wanted them to put off the wedding. "
"By the bye--I have not wished you joy. Being pretty well aware of what sort of joy you must both be feeling, I have been in no hurry with my congratulations; but I hope it all went off tolerably well. How did you all behave? Who cried most?"
"Ah! poor Miss Taylor! 'Tis a sad business. "
"Poor Mr. and Miss Woodhouse, if you please; but I cannot possibly say `poor Miss Taylor. ' I have a great regard for you and Emma; but when it comes to the question of dependence or independence!--At any rate, it must be better to have only one to please than two. "
"Especially when _one_ of those two is such a fanciful, troublesome creature!" said Emma playfully. "That is what you have in your head, I know--and what you would certainly say if my father were not by. "
"I believe it is very true, my dear, indeed, " said Mr. Woodhouse, with a sigh. "I am afraid I am sometimes very fanciful and troublesome. "
"My dearest papa! You do not think I could mean _you_, or suppose Mr. Knightley to mean _you_. What a horrible idea! Oh no! I meant only myself. Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know-- in a joke--it is all a joke. We always say what we like to one another. "
Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse, and the only one who ever told her of them: and though this was not particularly agreeable to Emma herself, she knew it would be so much less so to her father, that she would not have him really suspect such a circumstance as her not being thought perfect by every body.
"Emma knows I never flatter her, " said Mr. Knightley, "but I meant no reflection on any body. Miss Taylor has been used to have two persons to please; she will now have but one. The chances are that she must be a gainer. "
"Well, " said Emma, willing to let it pass--"you want to hear about the wedding; and I shall be happy to tell you, for we all behaved charmingly. Every body was punctual, every body in their best looks: not a tear, and hardly a long face to be seen. Oh no; we all felt that we were going to be only half a mile apart, and were sure of meeting every day. "
"Dear Emma bears every thing so well, " said her father. "But, Mr. Knightley, she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor, and I am sure she _will_ miss her more than she thinks for. "
Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles. "It is impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion, " said Mr. Knightley. "We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow herself to feel so much pain as pleasure. Every friend of Miss Taylor must be glad to have her so happily married. "
"And you have forgotten one matter of joy to me, " said Emma, "and a very considerable one--that I made the match myself. I made the match, you know, four years ago; and to have it take place, and be proved in the right, when so many people said Mr. Weston would never marry again, may comfort me for any thing. "
Mr. Knightley shook his head at her. Her father fondly replied, "Ah! my dear, I wish you would not make matches and foretell things, for whatever you say always comes to pass. Pray do not make any more matches. "
"I promise you to make none for myself, papa; but I must, indeed, for other people. It is the greatest amusement in the world! And after such success, you know!--Every body said that Mr. Weston would never marry again. Oh dear, no! Mr. Weston, who had been a widower so long, and who seemed so perfectly comfortable without a wife, so constantly occupied either in his business in town or among his friends here, always acceptable wherever he went, always cheerful-- Mr. Weston need not spend a single evening in the year alone if he did not like it. Oh no! Mr. Weston certainly would never marry again. Some people even talked of a promise to his wife on her deathbed, and others of the son and the uncle not letting him. All manner of solemn nonsense was talked on the subject, but I believed none of it.
"Ever since the day--about four years ago--that Miss Taylor and I met with him in Broadway Lane, when, because it began to drizzle, he darted away with so much gallantry, and borrowed two umbrellas for us from Farmer Mitchell's, I made up my mind on the subject. I planned the match from that hour; and when such success has blessed me in this instance, dear papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making. "
"I do not understand what you mean by `success, '" said Mr. Knightley. "Success supposes endeavour. Your time has been properly and delicately spent, if you have been endeavouring for the last four years to bring about this marriage. A worthy employment for a young lady's mind! But if, which I rather imagine, your making the match, as you call it, means only your planning it, your saying to yourself one idle day, `I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry her, ' and saying it again to yourself every now and then afterwards, why do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You made a lucky guess; and _that_ is all that can be said. "
"And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess?-- I pity you. --I thought you cleverer--for, depend upon it a lucky guess is never merely luck. There is always some talent in it. And as to my poor word `success, ' which you quarrel with, I do not know that I am so entirely without any claim to it. You have drawn two pretty pictures; but I think there may be a third--a something between the do-nothing and the do-all. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston's visits here, and given many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might not have come to any thing after all. I think you must know Hartfield enough to comprehend that. "
"A straightforward, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than good to them, by interference. "
"Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others, " rejoined Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. "But, my dear, pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family circle grievously. "
"Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa, --I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in Highbury who deserves him--and he has been here a whole year, and has fitted up his house so comfortably, that it would be a shame to have him single any longer--and I thought when he was joining their hands to-day, he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same kind office done for him! I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service. "
"Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young man, and I have a great regard for him. But if you want to shew him any attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will be a much better thing. I dare say Mr. Knightley will be so kind as to meet him. "
"With a great deal of pleasure, sir, at any time, " said Mr. Knightley, laughing, "and I agree with you entirely, that it will be a much better thing. Invite him to dinner, Emma, and help him to the best of the fish and the chicken, but leave him to chuse his own wife. Depend upon it, a man of six or seven-and-twenty can take care of himself. "
維斯頓先生出身於海伯裏一個鄉紳門第。他的傢族在過去的兩三代中逐漸積纍起財富，成為體面的上流人傢。他受過良好的教育，早年接受到一小筆遺産不必自食其力後，厭倦了兄弟們從事的傢族傳統生計，遂從軍效力於國傢，他活潑歡快的天性和熱衷社交活動的性格因而得到滿足。
維斯頓上尉是個廣受喜愛的人物。藉軍隊活動之便，他有機會結識了約剋郡一個望族--丘吉爾傢的小姐，丘吉爾小姐愛上他沒有讓任何人感到意外，衹有她的兄嫂頗感吃驚，他們從來未與他某過面，但是這對自是清高，傲慢自負的夫婦認為，這種關係對他們的地位是一種冒犯。
然而，丘吉爾小姐已經成年，對自己的財産享有自主權--她的財産再傢族産業中所占比例甚小--誰的勸說也休想阻止這樁婚事。結果婚禮在丘吉爾先生和丘吉爾太太極端惱恨的情況下舉行後，兩人便以體面的方式將她逐出傢門。這樁婚事並不合適，也沒有帶來多少幸福。因為她熱心而善良的丈夫對她作出巨大的犧牲的愛，一嚮以面面俱到的關懷來回報。然而，儘管她不乏一種精神，卻並不具備種種最佳品質。她有足夠堅定的决心不顧兄長的反對堅持自己的意願，但是，兄長毫無道理的憤怒激發出她心中不合情理的遺憾，卻是她的决心所無法剋服的，對過去那個傢的奢華生活她也不無懷念之情。他們過着支出大於收入的生活，即使如此，也無法與恩斯康伯宅子裏的生活相提並論。她並沒有移情別戀，但是，她既想作維斯頓上尉的妻子，又像同時作恩斯康伯宅子的丘吉爾小姐。
維斯頓上尉在大傢的心目中--尤其在丘吉爾傢人的心目中--是個門當戶對的佳偶，結果證明，這宗交易糟糕之至，她的妻子婚後的三年去世時，他比婚前更加貧寒，而且還得養育一個孩子。不過，他不久就用不着為養孩子的費用操心了。孩子後來成了和解的使者，母親長期病痛軟化了其兄嫂的強硬態度，加上丘吉爾先生和太太自己無嗣，傢族裏也沒有其他晚輩可供他們照顧，她去世後不久，他們便提出對弗蘭剋的一切全盤負責。喪偶後的父親自然會生出種種顧慮和不情願，但是其他考慮占了上風，孩子便被送到富有的丘吉爾傢接受照料。他現在衹需追求自身的舒適，也衹有自己的境遇需要盡力改善。
他的生活急需一場徹底改變，他便棄戎從商。幾個兄弟在倫敦已經奠定了堅實的商業基礎，他因而獲得開業的有利條件。那衹是個區區小店，剛能保證他有事可作。他在海伯裏有一所小房子，他的大多數閑暇時日就在那裏度過。在繁忙的事務和交友的歡樂時光更迭之間，他又愉快的度過了十八到二十年。到了這時候，他的財産日漸充盈--足夠買下於海伯裏相鄰的一小片地産，那時他長期以來渴望得到的--也足夠與一位像泰勒小姐那種沒有陪嫁的女人結婚，然後隨着自己的意願，由着他本人的友好而善於社交的性格生活下去。。
泰勒小姐開始影響他的計劃已經有些時日，但並不是年輕人對年輕人所施加的那種統治性的影響，並沒有動搖他買下朗道斯宅子前不定終生的决心。他就已盼望購買朗道斯宅子，她心中懷着這個目標，穩紮穩打地幹下去，直到使之成為現實。他獲得了屬於自己的財富，買到了房子，娶到了妻子，開始了新生活，比以前任何時期都具有獲得更多幸福的機會。他從來就不是個不愉快的人，這是他的脾性使然，即使在他的一次婚姻中也是這樣。但是，他的第二次婚姻準能像他證明，以為獨具慧眼、和藹可親的女人能給他多大的喜悅；也能像他證明主動選擇比被對方選中要愉快的多，使對方産生感激之情也比感激對方更加愉快。
他喜歡做什麽都隨自己的心願，他的財産完全屬於自己。至於弗蘭剋，他已經不靜靜事心照不宣地作為他舅舅的子嗣得到培養，領養關係已經公開聲明過，並且要在成年使用丘吉爾的姓氏。因此，他需要父親幫助的可能性微乎其微。他父親對此絲毫也不擔憂。那位舅母是位擴悍的女人實實在在統治者自己的丈夫。維斯頓先生自然像不出，即使一個悍婦，對如此親愛的人又能有什麽害，他相信他們之間的親情是理所當然的。他每年都要在倫敦見兒子一面，並且為他感到自豪。他嚮海伯裏訴說自己的兒子已經是個標志的年輕人，大傢也都替他感到某種驕傲。大傢都認為他完全屬於本的，他的成就和未來也是大傢關心的內容。佛蘭剋·丘吉爾先生成了海波裏衆多值得誇耀的事情之一，渴望見到他的好奇心漸漸凝成大傢的心事。然而種種恭維受到的匯報的希望及其渺茫，他直徑從未光臨。大傢常常談起他即將拜訪父親，但這事從來沒有成為現實。
現在，大傢普遍認為，父親新婚電力是個最值得關註的事件，兒子來此拜訪應當成行。在這個問題上，大傢沒有任何不同意見，不論是在佩裏太太與貝茲太太和貝茲小姐共進茶點時，還是在貝茲太太和貝茲小姐回訪時。都沒有異議。現在弗蘭剋·丘吉爾先生應該到他們中間來啦。這種希望由於得知他給新婚母親寫過賀信而得到了加強。一連幾天，海伯裏串門拜訪之間的寒暄中都少不了提到維斯頓太太收到的那封內容友好的來信：“我猜哪，你準聽說過佛蘭剋·丘吉爾先生寫給維斯頓太太的那封漂亮的信吧？我知道那準是一封美好的信，是伍德豪斯先生告訴我的。伍德豪斯先生看過那封信，他說他一輩子從來沒看過那麽好的信。”
那封信的確收到高度重視。當然，維斯頓太太因此對這位年輕人形成了非常美好的印象。寫信的口吻禮貌倍至令人愉快，完全真名他又極好的良知。他們的婚姻受到各種渠道和各種方式的恭賀，這封賀信則是最受歡迎的。她感到自己是世界上最幸運的女人。她的年紀已經足夠成熟，侍奉清楚大傢對它的幸運又怎言的看法，然而，唯一的缺憾便是與朋友們在一定程度上的分離，不過朋友與她之間的友誼絶對不會冷淡下去，誰能忍受得了與她分手呢！
她知道，愛瑪會不時的想念她。她也不無痛苦地想念她。她也不無痛苦地想象愛瑪沒有她的陪伴，失去一樁樂事，或者說遭受一時的無聊會是怎樣的情形；但是可愛的愛瑪性格並不懦弱；對於面臨的局面她比大多數的姑娘更有應付能力；而且她有理智，有能力，也有精神，能夠以愉快的心情去剋服小小的睏難和悵然。她頗感安慰的想到朗道斯宅子與哈特費爾德宅子之間的距離如此近捷，即使一個女人獨自步行也很方便；維斯頓先生的脾氣和藹，經濟狀況寬鬆；這些條件不會妨礙他們未來每周在一起消磨半數夜晚的時光。
她為自己等成為維斯頓太太而心中長時間充滿感恩知情，衹有幾個片刻稍敢遺憾。她的滿足——不止是滿足而已--她愉快的樂趣都是那樣的真實而明確。
儘管愛瑪對自己的父親非常瞭解，但當在他們具備各種舒適條件的朗道斯宅子與她道別，或者晚上目送她由丈夫陪同登上她自傢的馬車時，聽到父親仍然用“可憐的泰勒小姐”表示惋惜，愛瑪還是不禁感到十分詫異。她離開時，伍德豪斯先生沒有那一次不溫和的嘆一口氣，說：
“唉！可憐的泰勒小姐。她要嫩留下來，心中準會感到高興。”
泰勒小姐的損失一進步可輓回——也沒有跡象顯示他從此不再對她表示憐憫。但是幾個星期的交往給伍德豪斯帶來些許安慰。鄰居們的恭賀之聲已經消散；人們也不再藉如此傷心的事件為話柄以祝賀來嘲弄他；讓他感到極為沮喪的婚禮蛋糕終於吃光。它的胃口在也填不進更多油膩，他絶不相信別人可能與他不同。凡是對他有害的東西，他便認為對其他人也不利，於是，他態度誠懇地勸說人們卻對不要製作婚禮蛋糕，這項嘗試以失敗告終後，他又誠懇地設法勸阻任何人吃蛋糕。他甚至不厭其煩地就此嚮佩裏醫生請教。佩裏醫生是一位知識豐富的紳士，他的頻繁拜訪是伍德豪斯先生生活的一項慰藉；佩裏醫生一再受到追問後，儘管看上去顯得頗為不情願，但是不得不承認說，婚禮蛋糕或許的確對許多人——或許對大多數人都不適宜，除非食用量有所節制。這個觀點自然佐證了伍德豪斯先生自己的看法，於是他便希望影響新婚夫婦的每一位訪客；然而，蛋糕還是吃光了；他那善意的神經直到蛋糕消失淨盡前一直無法鬆弛下來。
海伯裏流傳着一種奇怪的謠言，說是有人看見佩裏傢的孩子滅人手中拿過一塊維斯頓太太的婚禮蛋糕。但是伍德豪斯先生絶對不相信這種無稽之談。
Captain Weston was a general favourite; and when the chances of his military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill, of a great Yorkshire family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were full of pride and importance, which the connexion would offend.
Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her fortune--though her fortune bore no proportion to the family-estate--was not to be dissuaded from the marriage, and it took place, to the infinite mortification of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with due decorum. It was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much happiness. Mrs. Weston ought to have found more in it, for she had a husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him think every thing due to her in return for the great goodness of being in love with him; but though she had one sort of spirit, she had not the best. She had resolution enough to pursue her own will in spite of her brother, but not enough to refrain from unreasonable regrets at that brother's unreasonable anger, nor from missing the luxuries of her former home. They lived beyond their income, but still it was nothing in comparison of Enscombe: she did not cease to love her husband, but she wanted at once to be the wife of Captain Weston, and Miss Churchill of Enscombe.
Captain Weston, who had been considered, especially by the Churchills, as making such an amazing match, was proved to have much the worst of the bargain; for when his wife died, after a three years' marriage, he was rather a poorer man than at first, and with a child to maintain. From the expense of the child, however, he was soon relieved. The boy had, with the additional softening claim of a lingering illness of his mother's, been the means of a sort of reconciliation; and Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the little Frank soon after her decease. Some scruples and some reluctance the widower-father may be supposed to have felt; but as they were overcome by other considerations, the child was given up to the care and the wealth of the Churchills, and he had only his own comfort to seek, and his own situation to improve as he could.
A complete change of life became desirable. He quitted the militia and engaged in trade, having brothers already established in a good way in London, which afforded him a favourable opening. It was a concern which brought just employment enough. He had still a small house in Highbury, where most of his leisure days were spent; and between useful occupation and the pleasures of society, the next eighteen or twenty years of his life passed cheerfully away. He had, by that time, realised an easy competence--enough to secure the purchase of a little estate adjoining Highbury, which he had always longed for--enough to marry a woman as portionless even as Miss Taylor, and to live according to the wishes of his own friendly and social disposition.
It was now some time since Miss Taylor had begun to influence his schemes; but as it was not the tyrannic influence of youth on youth, it had not shaken his determination of never settling till he could purchase Randalls, and the sale of Randalls was long looked forward to; but he had gone steadily on, with these objects in view, till they were accomplished. He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through. He had never been an unhappy man; his own temper had secured him from that, even in his first marriage; but his second must shew him how delightful a well-judging and truly amiable woman could be, and must give him the pleasantest proof of its being a great deal better to choose than to be chosen, to excite gratitude than to feel it.
He had only himself to please in his choice: his fortune was his own; for as to Frank, it was more than being tacitly brought up as his uncle's heir, it had become so avowed an adoption as to have him assume the name of Churchill on coming of age. It was most unlikely, therefore, that he should ever want his father's assistance. His father had no apprehension of it. The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her husband entirely; but it was not in Mr. Weston's nature to imagine that any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear, and, as he believed, so deservedly dear. He saw his son every year in London, and was proud of him; and his fond report of him as a very fine young man had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too. He was looked on as sufficiently belonging to the place to make his merits and prospects a kind of common concern.
Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury, and a lively curiosity to see him prevailed, though the compliment was so little returned that he had never been there in his life. His coming to visit his father had been often talked of but never achieved.
Now, upon his father's marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a most proper attention, that the visit should take place. There was not a dissentient voice on the subject, either when Mrs. Perry drank tea with Mrs. and Miss Bates, or when Mrs. and Miss Bates returned the visit. Now was the time for Mr. Frank Churchill to come among them; and the hope strengthened when it was understood that he had written to his new mother on the occasion. For a few days, every morning visit in Highbury included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs. Weston had received. "I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr. Frank Churchill has written to Mrs. Weston? I understand it was a very handsome letter, indeed. Mr. Woodhouse told me of it. Mr. Woodhouse saw the letter, and he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his life. "
It was, indeed, a highly prized letter. Mrs. Weston had, of course, formed a very favourable idea of the young man; and such a pleasing attention was an irresistible proof of his great good sense, and a most welcome addition to every source and every expression of congratulation which her marriage had already secured. She felt herself a most fortunate woman; and she had lived long enough to know how fortunate she might well be thought, where the only regret was for a partial separation from friends whose friendship for her had never cooled, and who could ill bear to part with her.
She knew that at times she must be missed; and could not think, without pain, of Emma's losing a single pleasure, or suffering an hour's ennui, from the want of her companionableness: but dear Emma was of no feeble character; she was more equal to her situation than most girls would have been, and had sense, and energy, and spirits that might be hoped would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and privations. And then there was such comfort in the very easy distance of Randalls from Hartfield, so convenient for even solitary female walking, and in Mr. Weston's disposition and circumstances, which would make the approaching season no hindrance to their spending half the evenings in the week together.
Her situation was altogether the subject of hours of gratitude to Mrs. Weston, and of moments only of regret; and her satisfaction--her more than satisfaction--her cheerful enjoyment, was so just and so apparent, that Emma, well as she knew her father, was sometimes taken by surprize at his being still able to pity `poor Miss Taylor, ' when they left her at Randalls in the centre of every domestic comfort, or saw her go away in the evening attended by her pleasant husband to a carriage of her own. But never did she go without Mr. Woodhouse's giving a gentle sigh, and saying, "Ah, poor Miss Taylor! She would be very glad to stay. "
There was no recovering Miss Taylor--nor much likelihood of ceasing to pity her; but a few weeks brought some alleviation to Mr. Woodhouse. The compliments of his neighbours were over; he was no longer teased by being wished joy of so sorrowful an event; and the wedding-cake, which had been a great distress to him, was all eat up. His own stomach could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be different from himself. What was unwholesome to him he regarded as unfit for any body; and he had, therefore, earnestly tried to dissuade them from having any wedding-cake at all, and when that proved vain, as earnestly tried to prevent any body's eating it. He had been at the pains of consulting Mr. Perry, the apothecary, on the subject. Mr. Perry was an intelligent, gentlemanlike man, whose frequent visits were one of the comforts of Mr. Woodhouse's life; and upon being applied to, he could not but acknowledge (though it seemed rather against the bias of inclination) that wedding-cake might certainly disagree with many--perhaps with most people, unless taken moderately. With such an opinion, in confirmation of his own, Mr. Woodhouse hoped to influence every visitor of the newly married pair; but still the cake was eaten; and there was no rest for his benevolent nerves till it was all gone.
There was a strange rumour in Highbury of all the little Perrys being seen with a slice of Mrs. Weston's wedding-cake in their hands: but Mr. Woodhouse would never believe it.
維斯頓上尉是個廣受喜愛的人物。藉軍隊活動之便，他有機會結識了約剋郡一個望族--丘吉爾傢的小姐，丘吉爾小姐愛上他沒有讓任何人感到意外，衹有她的兄嫂頗感吃驚，他們從來未與他某過面，但是這對自是清高，傲慢自負的夫婦認為，這種關係對他們的地位是一種冒犯。
然而，丘吉爾小姐已經成年，對自己的財産享有自主權--她的財産再傢族産業中所占比例甚小--誰的勸說也休想阻止這樁婚事。結果婚禮在丘吉爾先生和丘吉爾太太極端惱恨的情況下舉行後，兩人便以體面的方式將她逐出傢門。這樁婚事並不合適，也沒有帶來多少幸福。因為她熱心而善良的丈夫對她作出巨大的犧牲的愛，一嚮以面面俱到的關懷來回報。然而，儘管她不乏一種精神，卻並不具備種種最佳品質。她有足夠堅定的决心不顧兄長的反對堅持自己的意願，但是，兄長毫無道理的憤怒激發出她心中不合情理的遺憾，卻是她的决心所無法剋服的，對過去那個傢的奢華生活她也不無懷念之情。他們過着支出大於收入的生活，即使如此，也無法與恩斯康伯宅子裏的生活相提並論。她並沒有移情別戀，但是，她既想作維斯頓上尉的妻子，又像同時作恩斯康伯宅子的丘吉爾小姐。
維斯頓上尉在大傢的心目中--尤其在丘吉爾傢人的心目中--是個門當戶對的佳偶，結果證明，這宗交易糟糕之至，她的妻子婚後的三年去世時，他比婚前更加貧寒，而且還得養育一個孩子。不過，他不久就用不着為養孩子的費用操心了。孩子後來成了和解的使者，母親長期病痛軟化了其兄嫂的強硬態度，加上丘吉爾先生和太太自己無嗣，傢族裏也沒有其他晚輩可供他們照顧，她去世後不久，他們便提出對弗蘭剋的一切全盤負責。喪偶後的父親自然會生出種種顧慮和不情願，但是其他考慮占了上風，孩子便被送到富有的丘吉爾傢接受照料。他現在衹需追求自身的舒適，也衹有自己的境遇需要盡力改善。
他的生活急需一場徹底改變，他便棄戎從商。幾個兄弟在倫敦已經奠定了堅實的商業基礎，他因而獲得開業的有利條件。那衹是個區區小店，剛能保證他有事可作。他在海伯裏有一所小房子，他的大多數閑暇時日就在那裏度過。在繁忙的事務和交友的歡樂時光更迭之間，他又愉快的度過了十八到二十年。到了這時候，他的財産日漸充盈--足夠買下於海伯裏相鄰的一小片地産，那時他長期以來渴望得到的--也足夠與一位像泰勒小姐那種沒有陪嫁的女人結婚，然後隨着自己的意願，由着他本人的友好而善於社交的性格生活下去。。
泰勒小姐開始影響他的計劃已經有些時日，但並不是年輕人對年輕人所施加的那種統治性的影響，並沒有動搖他買下朗道斯宅子前不定終生的决心。他就已盼望購買朗道斯宅子，她心中懷着這個目標，穩紮穩打地幹下去，直到使之成為現實。他獲得了屬於自己的財富，買到了房子，娶到了妻子，開始了新生活，比以前任何時期都具有獲得更多幸福的機會。他從來就不是個不愉快的人，這是他的脾性使然，即使在他的一次婚姻中也是這樣。但是，他的第二次婚姻準能像他證明，以為獨具慧眼、和藹可親的女人能給他多大的喜悅；也能像他證明主動選擇比被對方選中要愉快的多，使對方産生感激之情也比感激對方更加愉快。
他喜歡做什麽都隨自己的心願，他的財産完全屬於自己。至於弗蘭剋，他已經不靜靜事心照不宣地作為他舅舅的子嗣得到培養，領養關係已經公開聲明過，並且要在成年使用丘吉爾的姓氏。因此，他需要父親幫助的可能性微乎其微。他父親對此絲毫也不擔憂。那位舅母是位擴悍的女人實實在在統治者自己的丈夫。維斯頓先生自然像不出，即使一個悍婦，對如此親愛的人又能有什麽害，他相信他們之間的親情是理所當然的。他每年都要在倫敦見兒子一面，並且為他感到自豪。他嚮海伯裏訴說自己的兒子已經是個標志的年輕人，大傢也都替他感到某種驕傲。大傢都認為他完全屬於本的，他的成就和未來也是大傢關心的內容。佛蘭剋·丘吉爾先生成了海波裏衆多值得誇耀的事情之一，渴望見到他的好奇心漸漸凝成大傢的心事。然而種種恭維受到的匯報的希望及其渺茫，他直徑從未光臨。大傢常常談起他即將拜訪父親，但這事從來沒有成為現實。
現在，大傢普遍認為，父親新婚電力是個最值得關註的事件，兒子來此拜訪應當成行。在這個問題上，大傢沒有任何不同意見，不論是在佩裏太太與貝茲太太和貝茲小姐共進茶點時，還是在貝茲太太和貝茲小姐回訪時。都沒有異議。現在弗蘭剋·丘吉爾先生應該到他們中間來啦。這種希望由於得知他給新婚母親寫過賀信而得到了加強。一連幾天，海伯裏串門拜訪之間的寒暄中都少不了提到維斯頓太太收到的那封內容友好的來信：“我猜哪，你準聽說過佛蘭剋·丘吉爾先生寫給維斯頓太太的那封漂亮的信吧？我知道那準是一封美好的信，是伍德豪斯先生告訴我的。伍德豪斯先生看過那封信，他說他一輩子從來沒看過那麽好的信。”
那封信的確收到高度重視。當然，維斯頓太太因此對這位年輕人形成了非常美好的印象。寫信的口吻禮貌倍至令人愉快，完全真名他又極好的良知。他們的婚姻受到各種渠道和各種方式的恭賀，這封賀信則是最受歡迎的。她感到自己是世界上最幸運的女人。她的年紀已經足夠成熟，侍奉清楚大傢對它的幸運又怎言的看法，然而，唯一的缺憾便是與朋友們在一定程度上的分離，不過朋友與她之間的友誼絶對不會冷淡下去，誰能忍受得了與她分手呢！
她知道，愛瑪會不時的想念她。她也不無痛苦地想念她。她也不無痛苦地想象愛瑪沒有她的陪伴，失去一樁樂事，或者說遭受一時的無聊會是怎樣的情形；但是可愛的愛瑪性格並不懦弱；對於面臨的局面她比大多數的姑娘更有應付能力；而且她有理智，有能力，也有精神，能夠以愉快的心情去剋服小小的睏難和悵然。她頗感安慰的想到朗道斯宅子與哈特費爾德宅子之間的距離如此近捷，即使一個女人獨自步行也很方便；維斯頓先生的脾氣和藹，經濟狀況寬鬆；這些條件不會妨礙他們未來每周在一起消磨半數夜晚的時光。
她為自己等成為維斯頓太太而心中長時間充滿感恩知情，衹有幾個片刻稍敢遺憾。她的滿足——不止是滿足而已--她愉快的樂趣都是那樣的真實而明確。
儘管愛瑪對自己的父親非常瞭解，但當在他們具備各種舒適條件的朗道斯宅子與她道別，或者晚上目送她由丈夫陪同登上她自傢的馬車時，聽到父親仍然用“可憐的泰勒小姐”表示惋惜，愛瑪還是不禁感到十分詫異。她離開時，伍德豪斯先生沒有那一次不溫和的嘆一口氣，說：
“唉！可憐的泰勒小姐。她要嫩留下來，心中準會感到高興。”
泰勒小姐的損失一進步可輓回——也沒有跡象顯示他從此不再對她表示憐憫。但是幾個星期的交往給伍德豪斯帶來些許安慰。鄰居們的恭賀之聲已經消散；人們也不再藉如此傷心的事件為話柄以祝賀來嘲弄他；讓他感到極為沮喪的婚禮蛋糕終於吃光。它的胃口在也填不進更多油膩，他絶不相信別人可能與他不同。凡是對他有害的東西，他便認為對其他人也不利，於是，他態度誠懇地勸說人們卻對不要製作婚禮蛋糕，這項嘗試以失敗告終後，他又誠懇地設法勸阻任何人吃蛋糕。他甚至不厭其煩地就此嚮佩裏醫生請教。佩裏醫生是一位知識豐富的紳士，他的頻繁拜訪是伍德豪斯先生生活的一項慰藉；佩裏醫生一再受到追問後，儘管看上去顯得頗為不情願，但是不得不承認說，婚禮蛋糕或許的確對許多人——或許對大多數人都不適宜，除非食用量有所節制。這個觀點自然佐證了伍德豪斯先生自己的看法，於是他便希望影響新婚夫婦的每一位訪客；然而，蛋糕還是吃光了；他那善意的神經直到蛋糕消失淨盡前一直無法鬆弛下來。
海伯裏流傳着一種奇怪的謠言，說是有人看見佩裏傢的孩子滅人手中拿過一塊維斯頓太太的婚禮蛋糕。但是伍德豪斯先生絶對不相信這種無稽之談。
Captain Weston was a general favourite; and when the chances of his military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill, of a great Yorkshire family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were full of pride and importance, which the connexion would offend.
Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her fortune--though her fortune bore no proportion to the family-estate--was not to be dissuaded from the marriage, and it took place, to the infinite mortification of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with due decorum. It was an unsuitable connexion, and did not produce much happiness. Mrs. Weston ought to have found more in it, for she had a husband whose warm heart and sweet temper made him think every thing due to her in return for the great goodness of being in love with him; but though she had one sort of spirit, she had not the best. She had resolution enough to pursue her own will in spite of her brother, but not enough to refrain from unreasonable regrets at that brother's unreasonable anger, nor from missing the luxuries of her former home. They lived beyond their income, but still it was nothing in comparison of Enscombe: she did not cease to love her husband, but she wanted at once to be the wife of Captain Weston, and Miss Churchill of Enscombe.
Captain Weston, who had been considered, especially by the Churchills, as making such an amazing match, was proved to have much the worst of the bargain; for when his wife died, after a three years' marriage, he was rather a poorer man than at first, and with a child to maintain. From the expense of the child, however, he was soon relieved. The boy had, with the additional softening claim of a lingering illness of his mother's, been the means of a sort of reconciliation; and Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the little Frank soon after her decease. Some scruples and some reluctance the widower-father may be supposed to have felt; but as they were overcome by other considerations, the child was given up to the care and the wealth of the Churchills, and he had only his own comfort to seek, and his own situation to improve as he could.
A complete change of life became desirable. He quitted the militia and engaged in trade, having brothers already established in a good way in London, which afforded him a favourable opening. It was a concern which brought just employment enough. He had still a small house in Highbury, where most of his leisure days were spent; and between useful occupation and the pleasures of society, the next eighteen or twenty years of his life passed cheerfully away. He had, by that time, realised an easy competence--enough to secure the purchase of a little estate adjoining Highbury, which he had always longed for--enough to marry a woman as portionless even as Miss Taylor, and to live according to the wishes of his own friendly and social disposition.
It was now some time since Miss Taylor had begun to influence his schemes; but as it was not the tyrannic influence of youth on youth, it had not shaken his determination of never settling till he could purchase Randalls, and the sale of Randalls was long looked forward to; but he had gone steadily on, with these objects in view, till they were accomplished. He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through. He had never been an unhappy man; his own temper had secured him from that, even in his first marriage; but his second must shew him how delightful a well-judging and truly amiable woman could be, and must give him the pleasantest proof of its being a great deal better to choose than to be chosen, to excite gratitude than to feel it.
He had only himself to please in his choice: his fortune was his own; for as to Frank, it was more than being tacitly brought up as his uncle's heir, it had become so avowed an adoption as to have him assume the name of Churchill on coming of age. It was most unlikely, therefore, that he should ever want his father's assistance. His father had no apprehension of it. The aunt was a capricious woman, and governed her husband entirely; but it was not in Mr. Weston's nature to imagine that any caprice could be strong enough to affect one so dear, and, as he believed, so deservedly dear. He saw his son every year in London, and was proud of him; and his fond report of him as a very fine young man had made Highbury feel a sort of pride in him too. He was looked on as sufficiently belonging to the place to make his merits and prospects a kind of common concern.
Mr. Frank Churchill was one of the boasts of Highbury, and a lively curiosity to see him prevailed, though the compliment was so little returned that he had never been there in his life. His coming to visit his father had been often talked of but never achieved.
Now, upon his father's marriage, it was very generally proposed, as a most proper attention, that the visit should take place. There was not a dissentient voice on the subject, either when Mrs. Perry drank tea with Mrs. and Miss Bates, or when Mrs. and Miss Bates returned the visit. Now was the time for Mr. Frank Churchill to come among them; and the hope strengthened when it was understood that he had written to his new mother on the occasion. For a few days, every morning visit in Highbury included some mention of the handsome letter Mrs. Weston had received. "I suppose you have heard of the handsome letter Mr. Frank Churchill has written to Mrs. Weston? I understand it was a very handsome letter, indeed. Mr. Woodhouse told me of it. Mr. Woodhouse saw the letter, and he says he never saw such a handsome letter in his life. "
It was, indeed, a highly prized letter. Mrs. Weston had, of course, formed a very favourable idea of the young man; and such a pleasing attention was an irresistible proof of his great good sense, and a most welcome addition to every source and every expression of congratulation which her marriage had already secured. She felt herself a most fortunate woman; and she had lived long enough to know how fortunate she might well be thought, where the only regret was for a partial separation from friends whose friendship for her had never cooled, and who could ill bear to part with her.
She knew that at times she must be missed; and could not think, without pain, of Emma's losing a single pleasure, or suffering an hour's ennui, from the want of her companionableness: but dear Emma was of no feeble character; she was more equal to her situation than most girls would have been, and had sense, and energy, and spirits that might be hoped would bear her well and happily through its little difficulties and privations. And then there was such comfort in the very easy distance of Randalls from Hartfield, so convenient for even solitary female walking, and in Mr. Weston's disposition and circumstances, which would make the approaching season no hindrance to their spending half the evenings in the week together.
Her situation was altogether the subject of hours of gratitude to Mrs. Weston, and of moments only of regret; and her satisfaction--her more than satisfaction--her cheerful enjoyment, was so just and so apparent, that Emma, well as she knew her father, was sometimes taken by surprize at his being still able to pity `poor Miss Taylor, ' when they left her at Randalls in the centre of every domestic comfort, or saw her go away in the evening attended by her pleasant husband to a carriage of her own. But never did she go without Mr. Woodhouse's giving a gentle sigh, and saying, "Ah, poor Miss Taylor! She would be very glad to stay. "
There was no recovering Miss Taylor--nor much likelihood of ceasing to pity her; but a few weeks brought some alleviation to Mr. Woodhouse. The compliments of his neighbours were over; he was no longer teased by being wished joy of so sorrowful an event; and the wedding-cake, which had been a great distress to him, was all eat up. His own stomach could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be different from himself. What was unwholesome to him he regarded as unfit for any body; and he had, therefore, earnestly tried to dissuade them from having any wedding-cake at all, and when that proved vain, as earnestly tried to prevent any body's eating it. He had been at the pains of consulting Mr. Perry, the apothecary, on the subject. Mr. Perry was an intelligent, gentlemanlike man, whose frequent visits were one of the comforts of Mr. Woodhouse's life; and upon being applied to, he could not but acknowledge (though it seemed rather against the bias of inclination) that wedding-cake might certainly disagree with many--perhaps with most people, unless taken moderately. With such an opinion, in confirmation of his own, Mr. Woodhouse hoped to influence every visitor of the newly married pair; but still the cake was eaten; and there was no rest for his benevolent nerves till it was all gone.
There was a strange rumour in Highbury of all the little Perrys being seen with a slice of Mrs. Weston's wedding-cake in their hands: but Mr. Woodhouse would never believe it.