ài mǎ · wǔ dé háo sī xiǎo jiě duān zhuāng rú yǎ、 cái sī mǐn jié、 shēng xìng huān lè、 jiā jìng kuān yù， fǎng fó shàng cāng jiāng zuì měi hǎo de 'ēn cì jí zhōng shī yǔ tā yī shēn liǎo。 tā zài zhè shì jiè yǐ jīng shēng huó liǎo jiāng jìn 'èr shí yī nián， jí shǎo zāo yù dào kǔ nǎo huò shāng xīn de shì qíng。
　　 tā shì liǎng zǐ mèi zhōng nián yòu de yī gè， fù qīn shì yī wèi jí fù cí 'ài xīn rén， duì nǚ 'ér wú bǐ jiāo guàn nì 'ài。 jiě jiě chū jià hòu， tā zǎo zǎo biàn dān dāng qǐ jiā tíng nǚ zhù rén de juésè。 tā mǔ qīn hěn jiǔ yǐ qián jiù qù shì liǎo， mǔ qīn de 'ài fǔ jǐn jǐn gěi tā liú xià yī diǎn 'ér shí fēn mó hú de jì yì。 yī wèi jié chū de jiā tíng nǚ jiào shī tián bǔ liǎo mǔ qīn de kòngquē， tā jǐyǔ de mǔ 'ài jué bù yà yú yī wèi mǔ qīn。
　　 tài lè xiǎo jiě zài wǔ dé háo sī jiā shēng huó yǐ jīng yòu shí liù nián， tā bù jǐn shì gè jiā tíng nǚ jiào shī， gèng shì zhè gè jiā tíng de péng yǒu。 tā fēi cháng xǐ 'ài liǎng wèi gū niàn， yóu qí xǐ huān 'ài mǎ。 zài tā men liǎng rén zhī jiān， jiě mèi qīn qíng shèng yú shī shēng guān xì。 tài lè xiǎo jiě pí qì wēn hé， jí shǐ zài yuán lái zhí jiào shí qī， yě nán dé qiáng jiā shénme， xiàn zài， jiào shī de quán wēi zǎo yǐ yān xiāo yún sàn， tā men jiù xiàng xiāng yǐ wéi mìng de péng yǒu yī yàng shēng huó zài yī qǐ， áimà xǐ huān zuò shénme wán quán yóu zhe zì jǐ de xìng zǐ lái， suī rán tā gāo dù zūn zhòng tài lè xiǎo jiě de pàn duàn， dàn shì jué dìng zhù yào yóu zì jǐ zuò zhù。 ……（ cǐ chù yòu 45 zì bù tōng shùn）
　　 bēi 'āi jiàng lín liǎo héng héng jǐn jǐn shì gè qīng wēi de bēi 'āi 'ér yǐ héng héng 'ér qiě hái bù shì yǐ tòng kǔ de fāng shì jiàng lín de héng héng tài lè xiǎo jiě chū jià liǎo， shǒu xiān gǎn dào de shì shī qù tài lè xiǎo jiě de bēi shāng， zài zhè wèi qīn 'ài de péng yǒu jié hūn de rì zǐ lǐ， ài mǎ cái dì yī cì zuò xià bēi 'āi de xiǎng xiàng zhe wèi lái， hūn lǐ guò hòu xīn rén lí qù， fàn zhuō shàng zhǐ shèng xià fù qīn hé tā， bù kě néng zhǐ wàng yòu dì sān gè rén zài màn cháng de yè wǎn lái huó yuè qì fēn， tā fù qīn fàn hòu biān zào zǎo shàng chuáng 'ān xī， tā zhǐ yòu zì jǐ zài lú qián tòng xī zì jǐ de sǔn shī。
　　 tā de péng yǒu zài zhè zhuāng hūn yīn zhōng miàn lín zhe zhǒng zhǒng xìng fú de qián jǐng， wéi sī dùn xiān shēng de pǐn gé wú xiè kě jī， cái chǎn fù zú， nián jì shì zhōng， tài dù qiān hé， ài mǎ xiǎng dào zì jǐ xiàng lái xī wàng běn zhe zì wǒ xī shēng jīng shén hé kāng kǎi de yǒu yì cù chéng zhè zhuāng hūn yīn， jiù gǎn dào xiē xǔ mǎn zú， dàn shì nà tiān zǎo shàng de huó dòng duì tā lái shuō què shì yīn yù de， měi tiān de měi gè shí chén dū gǎn dào xū yào tài lè xiǎo jiě， tā huí yì qí tā cí xiáng de yīn róng xiào mào héng héng shí liù nián lái yī zhí dì nà yàng hé 'ǎi cí xiáng héng héng jí qí zì jǐ wǔ suì qí tā biàn kāi shǐ jiào shòu zhī shí， péi zì jǐ zuò yóu xì héng héng huí yì qǐ tā zài zì jǐ jiàn kāng shí bù xī gòng xiàn chū quán bù néng lì， wèile shǐ tā gāo xīng 'ér shí shí xiāng bàn héng héng zài zì jǐ yòu nián shēng gè zhǒng jí bìng shí gèng shì bǎi bān zhào liào， wú wēi bù zhì， wèicǐ tā xīn zhōng shí cháng yáng yì gǎn jī zhī qíng； zài yī suō bèi lā chū jià hòu de qī nián jiān， jiā lǐ zhǐ shèng xià tā men liǎng rén， liǎng rén píng děng xiāng dài， háo wú bǎo liú， nà gèng shì qīnqiè měi hǎo de huí yì。 nà shì gè fēi cháng nán dé de péng yǒu jiā bàn lǚ， fù yòu cái huá， zhī shí fēng fù。 lè yú zhù rén， tài dù qiān hé， duì jiā tíng de yī qiēdōu liǎo rú zhǐ zhǎng， duì jiā lǐ guān xīn de suǒ yòu shì wù quándōu shí fēn bù gǎn xīng qù héng héng 'ài mǎ jìn kě yǐ jiāng zì jǐ de gè zhǒng niàn tóu tǒng tǒng qīng sù gěi tā， ér jué duì bù huì fā xiàn tā de cí 'ài huì chǎn shēng rèn hé xiá cī。
　　 tā gāi rú hé rěn shòu zhè zhǒng gǎi biàn ní？ bù cuò， tā de péng yǒu lí kāi tā men jǐn jǐn bù zú bàn yīng lǐ yuǎn， dàn shì 'ài mǎ yì shí dào， bàn yīng lǐ zhī wài de wéi sī dùn tài tài yī dìng yǔ zhè suǒ fáng zǐ zhōng nà wèi tài lè xiǎo jiě yòu zhe tiān rǎng zhī bié。 jìn guǎn tā tiān shēng biàn jù yòu yōu yuè gǎn， hòu lái gèng jiā qiáng liǎo yōu yuè yì shí， rán 'ér tā què miàn lín jīng shén gū dú de jí dà wēi xiǎn， tā rè 'ài zì jǐ de fù qīn， dàn shì tā bìng bù shì tā de bàn lǚ， wú lùn jìn xíng lǐ zhì de hái shì dòu lè de jiāo tán dōuwú fǎ gēn shàng tā de sī lù。
　　 yóu yú wǔ dé háo sī xiān shēng qǔ qīn shí yǐ bù nián qīng， fù nǚ zhī jiān nián líng de hóng gōu bèi tā de lǎo tài hé xí guàn chèn tuō de gèng jiā xiǎn zhù， tā zhōng shēng bìng mó chán shēn， jì bù néng duàn liàn shēn tǐ， yě wú xiá péi yǎng xīn zhì。 yú shì wèi lǎo biàn yǐ xiān shuāi， suī rán tā de yǒu shàn xīn líng hé men hé de pí qì， chù chù wén míng lǐ mào yíng dé rén men rè 'ài， dàn tā de tiān zī zài rèn hé shí hòu dōuwú fǎ shòu dào gōng wéi。 yú qí tā rén bǐ jiào qǐ lái， tā jiě jiě bìng bù suàn jià dé hěn yuǎn， jǐn jǐn shì zhù zài lí jiā shí liù yīng lǐ wài de lún dūn， rán 'ér bìng bù néng měi rì suí yì lái fǎng； tā bù dé bù zài hā tè fèi 'ěr dé zhái zǐ 'áo guò shí yuè xǔ duō màn cháng de yè wǎn， zuì hòu cái néng zài shèng dàn jié qián xī pàn lái yī suō bèi lā fū fù hé tā men de hái zǐ， xiǎng shòu yǔ rén jiāo wǎng de xǐ yuè。
　　 hǎi bó lǐ shì gè guī mó jiē jìn chéng zhèn de dà cūn zǐ。 jìn guǎn hā tè fèi 'ěr dé zhái zǐ yòu zì jǐ de cǎo píng、 guàn mù cóng hé zì jǐ de míng chēng， dàn shì tā qí shí shǔ yú hǎi bó lǐ。 rán 'ér， zài zhè quán cūn lǐ yě zhǎo bù dào néng yǔ tā de zhǐ huī xiāng pèi de bàn lǚ。 wǔ dé háo sī jiā shì dāng dì de wàng zú， wéi zhòng mù suǒ zhǔ。 yóu yú tā fù qīn shì yī wèi gōng rèn de qiān qiān jūn zǐ， tā zài cūn lǐ biàn yòu xǔ duō shú rén。 rán 'ér zhè xiē shú rén zhōng méi yòu nǎ yī wèi néng dài tì tài lè xiǎo jiě， nǎ pà jǐn jǐn shì bàn tiān yě bù xíng。 miàn duì zhè lìng rén yōu yù de biàn huà， ài mǎ chú liǎo hú sī luàn xiǎng zhī wài， méi yòu rèn hé bàn fǎ hǎo xiǎng， zhí dào fù qīn xǐng lái， tā cái bù dé bù qiáng zhuāng chū huān lè de múyàng， tā de jīng shén xū yào yòu rén zhī chí。 tā shì hé shén jīng zhì de nán rén。 yòu jīng shén yōu yù de qīng xiàng， xǐ 'ài gēn zì jǐ shú xī de rèn hé rén jiāo wǎng， zài fēn shǒu de shí hòu zǒng shì gǎn dào hěn nán guò； tā tǎo yàn rèn hé biàn huà， yóu yú hūn yīn shì biàn huà zhī yuán， suǒ yǐ tā cóng lái jiù bù zàn chéng； tā zì jǐ qīn nǚ 'ér de hūn yīn zhì jīn yě bù néng dé dào tā de rèn kě； ruò bù shì chū yú tóng qíng， tā jué bù huì tí qǐ tā， jìn guǎn nà shì 'ài de jié hé。 xiàn zài， tā yòu bù dé bù yǔ tài lè xiǎo jiě fēn shǒu。 tā shì gè shāo yòu xiē zì sī zì lì xí guàn de rén， gēn běn bù kě néng xiǎng xiàng bié rén kě néng gēn zì jǐ yòu bù tóng xiǎng fǎ， tā qīng xiàng yú rèn wéi tài lè xiǎo jiě zuò liǎo yī jiàn lìng rén shāng xīn de shì。 tā rèn wéi tā de yú shēng zhěng gè zài hā tè fèi 'ěr dé dù guò yào xìng fú de duō。 ài mǎ wēi xiào zhe， jìn liàng yǔ tā jìn xíng kuài lè de jiāo tán， yǐ biàn jiāng tā de sī xù cóng zhè wèn tí shàng zhuǎn yí kāi， dàn shì， chá diǎn duān shàng lái shí， què gēn běn wú fǎ zǔ zhǐ tā yī zì bùchà dì zhòng fù wǔ cān shí jiǎng guò de huà。
　　“ kě lián de tài lè xiǎo jiě！ -- wǒ zhēn xī wàng tā néng chóngfǎn zhè lǐ， wéi sī dùn xiān shēng zěn me huì dǎ tā de niàn tóu， zhè duō kě xī yā！”
　　“ wǒ kě bù néng tóng yì nǐ de kàn fǎ， bà bà， shí zài bù néng tóng yì， wéi sī dùn xiān shēng shì gè jié chū de nán rén， nà me huī xié kě 'ài， jué duì pèi dé yī wèi xián huì de qī zǐ， tā xiàn zài yòu liǎo zì jǐ de jiā， nán dào hái kě néng gēn wǒ men shēng huó zài yī qǐ， róng rěn wǒ de zhǒng zhǒng guāi pì？”
　　“ tā zì jǐ de jiā！ tā zì jǐ de jiā yòu shénme hǎo？ zhè gè jiā bǐ tā dà sān bèi。 zài shuō， wǒ de qīn bǎo bèi， nǐ jué duì méi yòu rèn hé guāi pì 'ā。”
　　“ wǒ men yīngdāng jīng cháng qù bài fǎng tā men， tā men yīngdāng cháng cháng lái kàn wǒ men， wǒ men yīngdāng cháng lái cháng wǎng， wǒ men bì xū kāi shǐ zhè yàng zuò， jīng kuài zào fǎng zhè duì xíng hūn de bàn lǚ。”
　　“ ā， wǒ de lǎo tiān， wǒ nǎ néng zǒu nà me yuǎn 'ā？ lǎng dào sī zhái zǐ jù lí zhè 'ér nà me yuǎn， wǒ lián yī bàn jù lí yě zǒu bù wán。”
　　“ zěn me lā， bà bà， shuí yě bù xiǎng yào nǐ qīn zì bù xíng。 wǒ men dāng rán yào chéng mǎ chē qù。”
　　“ chéng mǎ chē， kě shì wèile zǒu zhè me diǎn lù， zhān mǔ shì bù huì xǐ huān tào chē。 wǒ men bài fǎng de shí hòu， kě lián de mǎ 'ér gāi dài zài shénme dì fāng ní？”
　　“ bǎ tā men shuān zài wéi sī dùn de mǎ jiù lǐ 'ā。 bà bà， nǐ jì dé wǒ men zǎo yǐ jiě jué liǎo zhè gè wèn tí lā， zuó tiān wǎn shàng wǒ men yǐ jīng hé wéi sī dùn xiān shēng tán guò zhè shì。 zhì yú zhān mǔ shì， wǒ gǎn kěn dìng， tā yǒng yuǎn xǐ huān dào lǎng dào sī zhái zǐ qù， yīn wéi tā de nǚ 'ér zhèng zài nà lǐ zuò nǚ pú， wǒ bù néng kěn dìng de zhǐ shì chú liǎo nà gè dì fāng tā shì bù shì xǐ huān sòng wǒ men dào qí tā dì fāng qù， nà kě shì nǐ de gōng láo， bà bà， nǐ gěi liǎo hàn nà nà fèn féi quē， yào bù shì nǐ tí qǐ hàn nà， shuí yě bù huì xiǎng dào tā -- zhān mǔ shì duì nǐ mǎn xīn gǎn jī ní！”
　　“ wǒ zhēn gāo xīng dāng shí xiǎng qǐ liǎo tā。 zhēn shì xìng yùn， yīn wéi wǒ bù yuàn yì ràng kě lián de zhān mǔ shì zài rèn hé qíng kuàng xià gǎn dào zì jǐ dī rén yī děng， lìng wài， wǒ xiāng xìn tā huì shì yī míng hǎo yōng rén。 tā shì gè jǔ zhǐ dé tǐ、 yán tán lǐ mào de gū niàn； wǒ duì tā de píng jià hěn gāo。 bù lùn rèn hé shí hòu， zhǐ yào wǒ kàn dào tā， tā biàn huì yǐ xiāng dāng yōu yǎ de zī tài xiàng wǒ xíng lǐ qǐng 'ān； ér qiě nǐ jiào tā lái zhè 'ér lái zuò nǚ gōng de shí hòu， wǒ zhù yì dào， tā cóng lái dū yòng zhèng què de fāng shì zhuàndòng mén niǔ， cóng bù shuāi xiǎng mén。 wǒ néng kěn dìng， tā huì chéng wéi yī míng liǎo bù qǐ de yōng rén； duì yú kě lián de tài lè xiǎo jiě lái shuō， shēn biān yòu gè shú xī de rén gāi shì duō dà de 'ān wèi 'ā。 nǐ zhī dào， shì yào zhān mǔ shì qù kàn zì jǐ de nǚ 'ér， tā jiù néng tīng dào wǒ men de xiāo xī。 tā huì bǎ wǒ men dà jiā de qíng kuàng dū gào sù tā de。”
　　 ài mǎ bù yí yú lì dì gǔ lì fù qīn wěi wěi dào chū zhè xiē lìng rén yú kuài de xiǎng fǎ， ér qiě hái xī wàng jiè zhù yī fù wǔ zǐ qí， ràng fù qīn dù guò wǎn shàng de shí guāng 'ér bù gǎn dào yàn juàn， tā yào bǎ yí hàn cáng jìn nèi xīn， bù yuàn tí qǐ rèn hé bù yú kuài de shì， qí zhuō yǐ jīng bǎi hǎo， dàn shì lì kè jiù biàn dé háo wú bì yào， yī wèi kè rén lái zào fǎng liǎo。
　　 nài tè lì xiān shēng shì gè yòu lǐ zhì de rén， nián jì dà yuē sān shí qī bā suì。 tā bù jǐn shì zhè gè jiā tíng qīn mì de lǎo péng yǒu， ér qiě yóu yú tā shì yī suō bèi lā zhàng fū de xiōng cháng， biàn yú zhè gè jiā tíng yòu yī céng tè shū de guān xì。 tā jiā jù lí hǎi bó lǐ cūn yuē yī li yuǎn。 tā shì zhè gè jiā tíng de cháng kè， zǒng shì shòu dào huān yíng， cǐ kè bǐ píng shí gèng shòu huān yíng， yīn wéi tā shì zhí jiē cóng lún dūn tā men gòng tóng de qīn qī nà lǐ lái dé。 wài chū jǐ tiān fǎn huí hòu， jīn tiān wǔ fàn chīde hěn wǎn， xiàn zài dào hā tè fèi 'ěr de zhái zǐ lái tōng bào shuō， zhù zài bù lún ruì kè guǎng chǎng nà biān de jiā rén quándōu 'àn hào。 zhè shì gè yú kuài de xiāo xī， wǔ dé háo sī xiān shēng yú shì xīng fèn liǎo yī zhèn zǐ。 nài tè lì xiān shēng de huān lè qíng xù cóng láidōu néng ràng tā gǎn dào yú kuài， tā nà xiē guān yú“ kě lián de yī suō bèi lā” yǐ jí guān yú hái zǐ men de wèn tí quándōu dé dào zuì lìng rén mǎn yì de dá fù。 zhī yī qiē jié shù hòu。 wǔ dé háo sī xiān shēng yī běn zhèng jīng de píng lùn shuō dào：
　　“ nài tè lì xiān shēng， fēi cháng gǎn xiè nín zhè me wǎn liǎo hái lái kàn wàng wǒ men。 wǒ zhēn tì nǐ dān xīn， pà nǐ zài lù shàng dān jīng shòu pà。”
　　“ gēn běn bù huì， xiān shēng。 jīn wǎn yuè guāng jiǎo jié míng liàng， ér qiě shí fēn nuǎnhuo， suǒ yǐ wǒ bì xū lǐ nǐ zhè zhè lú wàng huǒ xiē。”
　　“ kě shì lù shàng yī dìng fēi cháng cháo shī ní nìng。 xī wàng nǐ bù zhì yú zháoliáng。”
　　“ ní nìng， xiān shēng！ kàn kàn wǒ de xié zǐ bā， shàng miàn lián yī diǎn 'ér wū zì dōuméi zhān shàng。”
　　“ āi yōu！ zhè kě jiù guài liǎo， wǒ men chī zǎo fàn shí zhè 'ér xià guò tǐng dà de yǔ， yòu bàn gè xiǎo shí， yǔ xià de dà jí liǎo。 wǒ shèn zhì xiǎng quàn tā men tuī chí hūn qī ní。”
　　“ shùn biàn shuō shuō -- wǒ hái méi yòu xiàng nǐ men dào hè ní。 wǒ wán quán liǎo jiě nǐ men zài tǐ yàn zhe zěn yàng de tòng kǔ， suǒ yǐ yě jiù bù jí yú xiàng nǐ men dào xǐ liǎo。 bù guò， wǒ xī wàng dà jiādōu yǒng yú rěn shòu。 ràng zhè shì píng jìng de guò qù。 tā jiā zěn me yàng 'ā？ shuí kū dé zuì xiōng？”
　　“ ā！ kě lián de tài lè xiǎo jiě！ zhēn shì yī zhuāng bēi shāng de shì。”
　　“ qǐng nǐ men yuán liàng， wǔ dé háo sī xiān shēng hé wǔ dé háo sī xiǎo jiě， wǒ jué duì bù huì shuō ‘ kě lián de tài lè xiǎo jiě ’。 wǒ duì nín hé 'ài mǎ jí wéi zūn jìng， zhǐ yòu zài yǐ fùhè dú lì wèn tí shàng shì gè lì wài！ bù guǎn zěn me shuō， ràng yī gè rén mǎn yì yào bǐ ràng liǎng gè réndōu mǎn yì yào róng yì de duō。”
　　“ yóu qí shì liǎng gè rén dāng zhōng hái yòu yī gè rú cǐ shàn yú kōng xiǎng， rú cǐ rě rén nǎo huǒ！” ài mǎ xì yàn dào。“ wǒ zhī dào zhè jiù shì nǐ nǎo zǐ lǐ de xiǎng fǎ -- rú guǒ wǒ fù qīn wǔ zài chǎng， nǐ kěn dìng huì kāi kǒu zhè me shuō de。”
　　“ wǒ xiāng xìn zhēn shì zhè yàng de， qīn 'ài de， zhēn de，” wǔ dé háo sī xiān shēng tàn liǎo kǒu qì shuō，“ kǒng pà wǒ yòu shí fēi cháng shàn yú kōng xiǎng， shí zài rě rén nǎo huǒ。”
　　“ wǒ zuì qīn 'ài de bà bà！ nǐ bù zhì yú rèn wéi wǒ zhēn de zhè me xiǎng， yě bù huì rèn wéi nài tè lì xiān shēng huì yòu zhè zhǒng xiǎng fǎ bā。 duō me kě pà de niàn tóu！ ò， bù shì zhè yàng de！ wǒ shuō de shì wǒ zì jǐ。 nǐ zhī dào de， nài tè lì xiān shēng xǐ huān tiǎo wǒ de máo bìng -- nà shì gè wán xiào -- quán shì zài kāi wán xiào。 wǒ men jiāo tán cóng lái shì xiǎng shuō shénme jiù shuō shénme。”
　　 díquè， nài tè lì xiān shēng shǔ yú hěn shǎo jǐ wèi néng kàn chū 'ài mǎ · wǔ dé háo sī bù zú zhī chù de rén， ér qiě shì wéi yī yuàn yì gào sù tā zhè xiē bù zú de rén。 jìn guǎn 'ài mǎ zì jǐ yě bìng bù shí fēn xǐ huān zhè zhǒng hái， rán 'ér tā zhī dào， fù qīn tīng liǎo huì gǎn dào gèng jiā bù kuài， suǒ yǐ， tā shèn zhì bù yuàn yì fù qīn shāo shāo cāi yí dào dà jiā rèn wéi tā bìng bù wán měi wú xiá。
　　“ ài mǎ zhī dào wǒ cóng lái bù fèng chéng tā，” nài tè lì xiān shēng shuō，“ dàn wǒ bìng fēi zhǐ zé rèn hé rén。 tài lè xiǎo jiě yǐ jīng xí guàn yú ràng liǎng gè rén gǎn dào mǎn yì， kě xiàn zài zhǐ shèng yī wèi kě zhào liào。 suǒ yǐ tā zhǔn néng cóng zhōng huò lì。”
　　“ wèi，” ài mǎ yuàn yì fàng guò zhè shì bù tán，“ nǐ yào xiǎng tīng tīng hūn lǐ de shì， wǒ hěn gāo xīng xiǎng nǐ jiǎng shù， yīn wéi wǒ men dà jiā de jǔ zhǐ quándōu yōu yǎ dé tǐ。 měi gè réndōu zhǔn shí chū xí， měi gè réndōu zhǎn shì chū zuì jiā miàn mào。 méi yòu liú guò yī dī yǎn lèi， yě jīhū méi yòu kàn dào lā cháng de miàn kǒng。 ā！ bù shì má？ wǒ men dà jiādōu gǎn dào zhǐ bù guò fēn kāi bàn yīng lǐ lǐ de jù lí， dū xiāng xíng měi tiān dū huì jiàn miàn de。”
　　“ ài mǎ qīn qīn duì rèn hé qíng kuàng dōunéng rěn shòu dé liǎo，” tā fù qīn shuō dào。“ kě shì， nài tè lì xiān shēng， tā shī qù kě lián de tài lè xiǎo jiě qí shí fēi cháng shāng xīn， wǒ néng kěn dìng， tā zhǔn huì xiǎng niàn tā de， yī dìng bǐ zì jǐ xiǎng xiàng de chéng dù shēn de duō。”
　　 ài mǎ niǔ zhuǎn liǎn， qiáng zhuàng chū wēi xiào， què zhǐ bù zhù yǒng chū lèi shuǐ。
　　“ ài mǎ bù kě néng bù xiǎng niàn nà yàng yī wèi bàn lǚ，” nài tè lì xiān shēng shuō，“ jiǎ rú tā bù xiǎng niàn de huà， wǒ men yǐ qián yě bù huì nà yàng xǐ huān tā liǎo。 dàn shì， tā zhī dào zhè zhuāng hūn yīn duì tài lè xiǎo jiě yòu duō me de yòu yì， yě zhī dào tài lè xiǎo jiě zhè gè suì shù shàng， yōng yòu zì jǐ de jiā tíng zhǔn shì qiú zhī bù dé de shì， yě zhī dào tài lè xiǎo jiě néng guò yòu bǎo zhàng de shū shì shēng huó shì duō me zhòng yào， yīn cǐ tā zhǔn bù huì ràng zì jǐ de bēi shāng yā dǎo xǐ yuè。 tài lè xiǎo jiě de měi yī wèi péng yǒu kàn dào tā hūn yīn rú cǐ xìng fú， yī dìng huì gǎn dào gāo xīng。”
　　“ nǐ wàng diào wǒ de yī jiàn lè shì，” ài mǎ shuō，“ ér qiě shì yī jiàn fēi cháng zhòng yào de shì -- shì wǒ běn rén cóng zhōng qiān de xiàn。 nǐ zhī dào má， shì wǒ zài sì nián qián zuò de méi。 dāng shí xǔ duō rén shuō wéi sī dùn xiān shēng jué bù huì zài hūn， kě wǒ hái shì cù chéng liǎo zhè zhuāng xǐ shì， méi yòu shénme bǐ zhè shì gèng ràng wǒ qiè yì liǎo。”
　　 nài tè lì xiān shēng chòngzhe tā yáo liǎo yáo tóu。 tā fù qīn hú lǐ hú tú de huí dá dào：“ ā！ qīn 'ài de， wǒ zhēn xī wàng nǐ méi zuò guò shénme méi， yě méi yòu yù yán guò shénme shì qíng， yīn wéi nǐ shuō de huà dū huì chéng wéi xiàn shí。 qiú nǐ bié zài gěi rén zuò méi liǎo。”
　　“ bà bà， wǒ bǎo zhèng bù gěi wǒ zì jǐ zuò méi。 dàn shì wǒ bì xū wéi qí tā rén zuò méi。 zhè kě shì shì jiè shàng zuì dà de lè shì！ tè bié shì zài chéng gōng zhī hòu！ -- dà jiādōu shuō， wéi sī dùn xiān shēng jué duì bù huì zài hūn liǎo。 ā， tiān nǎ， kě bù shì má！ wéi sī dùn xiān shēng yǐ jīng jīng guān jū liǎo zhè me jiǔ， kàn shàng qù méi yòu qī zǐ guò de shū shì jí liǎo， zǒng shì máng dé bù kě kāi jiāo， bù shì zài chéng lǐ mái tóu zuò shēng yì， jiù shì gēn zhè lǐ de péng yǒu men xiāo mó shí guāng， bù lùn dào nǎ 'ér dū gěi rén dài qù huān lè， dū shòu dào dà jiā huān yíng -- rú guǒ wéi sī dùn xiān shēng zì jǐ yuàn yì de huà， yī nián zhōng tā lián yī gè yè wǎn yě yòng bù zhe dú zì dù guò。 xiū， kě bù shì má！ wéi sī dùn xiān shēng dāng rán jué duì bù huì zài hūn。 yòu xiē rén shèn zhì fēng chuán tā zài qī zǐ sǐ qián céng fǎ guò shì， lìng wài yī xiē chuán yán shuō shì tā 'ér zǐ hé jiù fù bù zhǔn tā zài hūn。 guān yú zhè shì yòu guò gè shì gè yàng yī běn zhèng jīng de hú huà， kě wǒ yī yàng yě bù xiāng xìn。 sì nián qián de nà yī tiān， wǒ hé tài lè xiǎo jiě zài bǎi lǎo huì yù dào tā， tiān xià qǐ liǎo méng méng yǔ， tā yīn qín dì páo kāi， cóng nóng chǎng zhù mǐ qiē 'ěr nà lǐ wèiwǒ men jiè lái liǎng bǎ sǎn。 wǒ dāng shí biàn dǎ dìng liǎo zhù yì。 zhǐ cóng nà shí qǐ， wǒ jiù zhì dìng hǎo liǎo zuò méi jìhuà。 qīn 'ài de bà bà， wǒ zài zhè jiàn shì qíng shōu huò dé rú cǐ jù dà de chéng gōng， nǐ bù zhì yú rèn wéi wǒ huì jiù cǐ fàng qì zuò méi bā。”
　　“ wǒ bù míng bái nǐ shuō de‘ chéng gōng’， shì shénme yì sī，” nài tè lì xiān shēng shuō。“ chéng gōng yì wèi zhe jìn xíng guò nǔ lì fèn dǒu。 jiǎ rú shuō nǐ nǔ lì fèn dǒu liǎo sì nián cái cù chéng zhè zhuāng hūn yīn， nà me nǐ de shí jiān jiù huā dé qià dào hǎo chù， yě shí fēn zhōu dào。 bù guò， zhào wǒ xiǎng xiàng， nǐ suǒ wèi de zuò méi zhǐ bù guò shì nǐ wéi zhè shì zuò liǎo diǎn chóuhuà 'ér yǐ， nǐ zài yī gè xián dé wú liáo de rì zǐ zì yán zì yǔ shuō：‘ wǒ jué dé rú guǒ wéi sī dùn xiān shēng yào qù tài lè xiǎo jiě de huà， duì tài lè xiǎo jiě lái shuō kě shì zài hǎo bù guò de shì qíng liǎo。’ yǐ hòu guò yī zhèn zǐ jiù zhè me zì yán zì yǔ yī fān -- nǐ yòu shénme chéng gōng kě yán？ nǐ de gōng jì hé zài？ yòu shénme zhí dé zì háo？ nǐ bù guò yùn qì hǎo pèng qiǎo cāi zhōng yī gè me。 wú fēi rú cǐ 'ér yǐ。”
　　 nán dào nǐ cóng lái méi yòu tǐ huì guò cāi zhōng yī gè mí de dé yì hé xǐ yuè má？ wǒ kě lián nǐ。 wǒ yuàn yì wéi nǐ cōng míng de duō， hǎi xiàng yǐ lái nǐ ní， pèng qiǎo cāi zhōng bìng bù jǐn jǐn shì yùn qì 'ér yǐ。 qí zhōng yī dìng bāo hán zhe tiān fù。 wǒ yòng liǎo nà gè kě lián zì yǎn‘ chéng gōng’， jiù ràng nǐ zhuā zhù bù fáng， méi xiǎng dào wǒ duì zhè gè cí wán quán méi yòu shǐ yòng quán。 nǐ miáo huì liǎo liǎng fú tú huà -- bù guò wǒ rèn wéi hái kě yǐ yòu dì sān fú -- jiè yú shénme yě bù zuò hé shénme dū zuò zhī jiān。 jiǎ ruò wǒ méi yòu cù chéng wéi sī dùn xiān shēng lái cǐ zuò kè， méi yòu gěi tā xǔ duō wēi miào de gǔ lì， méi yòu zài yú duō wèn tí shàng dǎ yuán chǎng， huò xǔ gēn běn jiù bù huì yòu rèn hé jiēguǒ。 wǒ rèn wéi nǐ bì xū xiāng dāng shú xī hā tè fèi 'ěr de zhái zǐ， rán hòu cái néng lǐ jiě zhè shì。”
　　“ yī wèi xiàng wéi sī dùn nà yàng chéng shí 'ér zhí shuài de nán rén， hé tài lè xiǎo jiě nà zhǒng lǐ zhì 'ér pǔ shí de nǚ rén dān dú zài yī qǐ， kě yǐ tài rán yìng fù tā men zì jǐ guān xīn de shì qíng。 nǐ shè zú qí jiān zuò de shì qíng kě néng duì tā men běn wú yì chù， ér qiě kě néng duì nǐ zì jǐ hái hěn yòu hài ní。”
　　“ ài mǎ bāng zhù bié rén shí cóng lái bù kǎo lǜ zì jǐ，” wǔ dé háo sī xiān shēng bù jiě qí zhōng wèi， chóngxīn dǎ jìn tā men de jiāo tán。“ dàn shì， wǒ qīn 'ài de， qǐng nǐ bié zài tì rén zuò méi liǎo， nà bù dàn shì fàn shǎ， ér qiě yán zhòng dì pò huài rén jiā de jiā tíng shēng huó。”
　　“ zài zuò yī cì， bà bà。 jǐn jǐn tì 'āi 'ěr dùn xiān shēng zuò yī cì， xiū， kě lián de 'āi 'ěr dùn xiān shēng！ nǐ xǐ huān 'āi 'ěr dùn xiān shēng de， bà bà。 wǒ bì xū wèitā wù sè yī wèi qī zǐ。 hǎi bó lǐ cūn méi yòu rén pèi de shàng tā。 tā zài zhè 'ér yǐ jīng shēng huó liǎo zhěng zhěng yī nián lā， fáng zǐ 'ān dùn de nà me shū shì， zài dú shēn yī rén guò xià qù jiǎn zhí tài kě xī liǎo。 tā men jīn tiān wò shǒu de shí hòu wǒ biàn chǎn shēng liǎo zhè yàng de xiǎng fǎ， tā kàn shàng qù fǎng fó tè bié xī wàng zì jǐ yě jiē shòu tóng yàng de yí shì！ wǒ dù 'āi 'ěr dùn xiān shēng de yìn xiàng hěn hǎo， zhǐ shì wǒ tì tā zuò diǎn gòng xiàn de wéi yī fāng fǎ。”
　　“ āi 'ěr dùn xiān shēng wú yí shì gè fēi cháng piào liàng de nián qīng rén， ér qiě shì gè fēi cháng hǎo de qīng nián， wǒ duì tā jí wéi zūn zhòng。 dàn shì， qīn 'ài de， cháng ruò nǐ yuàn yì xiàng tā biǎo shì guān xīn， nà jiù qǐng tā gǎi tiān lái yǔ wǒ men gòng jìn yī cān。 nà jiàngshì gèng hǎo de fāng shì。 wǒ mào mèi dì shuō， nài tè lì xiān shēng yě xǔ gāo xīng jiàn tā。”
　　“ jí wéi gāo xīng， suí shí lè yì，” nài tè lì xiān shēng xiào dào。“ wǒ hái tóng yì nín de shuō fǎ， nà jiāng shì gèng hǎo de fāng shì。 ài mǎ， qǐng tā lái chī fàn bā， qǐng tā chī zuì shàng děng de yǔ róu hé jī ròu， zhì yú shuō qī zǐ má， yào liú dài tā zì jǐ qù xuǎn zé。 xiāng xìn tā zì jǐ bā， yī gè 'èr shí liù qī suì de nán rén huì zhào liào zì jǐ de。”

　　Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.
　　 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. "