爱玛:EMMA

VOLUME I

CHAPTER1

CHAPTER2

CHAPTER3

CHAPTER4

CHAPTER5

CHAPTER6

CHAPTER7

CHAPTER8

CHAPTER9

CHAPTER10

CHAPTER11

CHAPTER12

CHAPTER13

CHAPTER14

CHAPTER15

CHAPTER16

CHAPTER17

CHAPTER18

VOLUME II

VOLUME III

【书摘与插画】

CHAPTER 1

EmmaWoodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happydisposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and hadlived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vexher.

Shewas 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 housefrom a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have morethan an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been suppliedby an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother inaffection.

Sixteenyears had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse’s family, less as a governess thana friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between themit was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased tohold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardlyallowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now longpassed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutuallyattached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor’sjudgment, but directed chiefly by her own.

Thereal evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather toomuch 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. Thedanger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any meansrank as misfortunes with her.

Sorrowcame—a gentle sorrow—but not at all in the shape of any disagreeableconsciousness. —Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor’s loss which firstbrought grief. It was on the weddingday of this beloved friend that Emma firstsat in mournful thought of any continuance. The wedding over, and thebridepeople gone, her father and herself were left to dine together, with noprospect of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father composed himself tosleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think of whatshe had lost.

Theevent had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston was a man ofunexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners;and there was some satisfaction in considering with what self-denying, generousfriendship she had always wished and promoted the match; but it was a blackmorning’s work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour ofevery day. She recalled her past kindness—the kindness, the affection ofsixteen years—how she had taught and how she had played with her from fiveyears old—howshe had devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in health—and how nursedher through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of gratitude wasowing here; but the intercourse of the last seven years, the equal footing andperfect unreserve which had soon followed Isabella’s marriage, on their beingleft to each other, was yet a dearer, tenderer recollection. It had been afriend and companion such as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful,gentle, knowing all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, andpeculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of hers—oneto whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such anaffection for her as could never find fault.

Howwas she to bear the change? It was true that her friend was going only half amile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the difference between aMrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss Taylor in the house; andwith all her advantages, natural and domestic, she was now in great danger ofsuffering from intellectual solitude. She dearly loved her father, but he wasno companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational orplayful.

Theevil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not marriedearly) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been avaletudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a mucholder man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for thefriendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not haverecommended him at any time.

Hersister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being settled inLondon, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily reach; and many along October and November evening must be struggled through at Hartfield,before Christmas brought the next visit from Isabella and her husband, andtheir little children, to fill the house, and give her pleasant society again.

Highbury, the large and populous village, almost amounting to a town, towhich Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and name, didreally belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses were first in consequencethere. All looked up to them. She had many acquaintance in the place, for herfather was universally civil, but not one among them who could be accepted inlieu of Miss Taylor for even half a day. It was a melancholy change; and Emmacould not but sigh over it, and wish for impossible things, till her fatherawoke, and made it necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support. Hewas 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 theorigin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yetreconciled to his own daughter’s marrying, nor could ever speak of her but withcompassion, though it had been entirely a match of affection, when he was nowobliged to part with Miss Taylor too; and from his habits of gentleselfishness, and of being never able to suppose that other people could feeldifferently from himself, he was very much disposed to think Miss Taylor haddone as sad a thing for herself as for them, and would have been a great dealhappier if she had spent all the rest of her life at Hartfield. Emma smiled andchatted as cheerfully as she could, to keep him from such thoughts; but whentea came, it was impossible for him not to say exactly as he had said atdinner, “Poor Miss Taylor! I wish she were here again. What a pity it is thatMr. Weston ever thought of her!”