登陆注册
14324700000047

第47章

Nothing could be farther from my wishes--your attachment to my friend Harriet--your pursuit of her, (pursuit, it appeared,) gave me great pleasure, and I have been very earnestly wishing you success: but had I supposed that she were not your attraction to Hartfield, I should certainly have thought you judged ill in making your visits so frequent. Am I to believe that you have never sought to recommend yourself particularly to Miss Smith?--that you have never thought seriously of her?"

"Never, madam," cried he, affronted in his turn: "never, I assure you.

I think seriously of Miss Smith!--Miss Smith is a very good sort of girl; and I should be happy to see her respectably settled.

I wish her extremely well: and, no doubt, there are men who might not object to--Every body has their level: but as for myself, I am not, I think, quite so much at a loss. I need not so totally despair of an equal alliance, as to be addressing myself to Miss Smith!--

No, madam, my visits to Hartfield have been for yourself only; and the encouragement I received--"

"Encouragement!--I give you encouragement!--Sir, you have been entirely mistaken in supposing it. I have seen you only as the admirer of my friend. In no other light could you have been more to me than a common acquaintance. I am exceedingly sorry: but it is well that the mistake ends where it does. Had the same behaviour continued, Miss Smith might have been led into a misconception of your views; not being aware, probably, any more than myself, of the very great inequality which you are so sensible of. But, as it is, the disappointment is single, and, I trust, will not be lasting.

I have no thoughts of matrimony at present."

He was too angry to say another word; her manner too decided to invite supplication; and in this state of swelling resentment, and mutually deep mortification, they had to continue together a few minutes longer, for the fears of Mr. Woodhouse had confined them to a foot-pace. If there had not been so much anger, there would have been desperate awkwardness; but their straightforward emotions left no room for the little zigzags of embarrassment. Without knowing when the carriage turned into Vicarage Lane, or when it stopped, they found themselves, all at once, at the door of his house; and he was out before another syllable passed.--Emma then felt it indispensable to wish him a good night. The compliment was just returned, coldly and proudly; and, under indescribable irritation of spirits, she was then conveyed to Hartfield.

There she was welcomed, with the utmost delight, by her father, who had been trembling for the dangers of a solitary drive from Vicarage Lane--turning a corner which he could never bear to think of--and in strange hands--a mere common coachman--no James; and there it seemed as if her return only were wanted to make every thing go well: for Mr. John Knightley, ashamed of his ill-humour, was now all kindness and attention; and so particularly solicitous for the comfort of her father, as to seem--if not quite ready to join him in a basin of gruel--perfectly sensible of its being exceedingly wholesome; and the day was concluding in peace and comfort to all their little party, except herself.--But her mind had never been in such perturbation; and it needed a very strong effort to appear attentive and cheerful till the usual hour of separating allowed her the relief of quiet reflection.

同类推荐
  • 陆清献公莅嘉遗迹

    陆清献公莅嘉遗迹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 南湖集

    南湖集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • April Hopes

    April Hopes

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 饮冰室评词

    饮冰室评词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 洛阳缙绅旧闻记

    洛阳缙绅旧闻记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 娱乐圈之女神崛起

    娱乐圈之女神崛起

    长得那么漂亮,一定是整的!没关系,明天去整容医院鉴定。一看穿的就是地摊货!没事,叫这个品牌的设计总监来见我。哼,一看就知道是穷孩子,没教养!没办法,让爸爸把我的身份公开。一看就是个花瓶,肯定只是个木头!“各位,这次金玫瑰奖的得主是顾星曦!”【双强文】爽文。男女主不虐,宠文。
  • 不有星空

    不有星空

    田府婢女流萤在和小姐在后院赏花之际发现一条受伤的白蛇,秉着救人一命胜造七级浮屠的处事原则,救起白蛇,白蛇恢复后竟化身为一条妖龙,欲要报恩却逼着救他的婢女说要嫁给她,五世的羁绊,拉开序幕。
  • 太倾阁

    太倾阁

    太倾阁,一座立于深天无人之境的十二层明朱色悬楼,每一楼都是一个单独的存在,一个绝缘的世界,没有接连的入口,只有拿到神秘人掌有神龙令,才能穿越楼层。太倾阁中人,个个身负异秉,些许原因,去往三界,往事历历,后来种种,一朝情动,一生不复!
  • 快穿之你是我的别想逃

    快穿之你是我的别想逃

    为什么你总是看不到我对你的爱呢?呵呵,果然,你的眼里只有他——幕枫从第一眼见到你的时候我就知道你是我的劫,爱上你我心甘情愿——易潋我爱你们,最爱最爱了,不要伤心了好不好——林箬舒
  • 还是英雄

    还是英雄

    瓦洛兰大陆,德玛西亚与诺克萨斯的争斗已经延续了数百年之久,互不相胜的两方终于牵扯出了一个巨大的阴谋。科技城邦皮尔特沃夫与化学之城祖安的对立,海盗之城比尔吉沃特与和平海岛艾欧尼亚的被迫加入,一些不为人知的故事被慢慢揭开……身材矮小的约德尔人,英勇无畏的蛮族战士,延续千年的冰霜部落……英雄,不该只是游戏。
  • EXO那时你我都年少

    EXO那时你我都年少

    exo那时你我都年少那年的我拼了命的放肆,只为得到你的一个关注的眼神;那年的你心里装的都是别人,无暇顾及;那年的我们都为爱情丢失了自己……时间是一个不听话的小偷,偷走我们所有美好的记忆。如果,时光不老,我们不散,如此可好?
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛
  • 乞者

    乞者

    文章描述了一个小富之人,为了躲避债务,而弃富就穷的故事。乞者本来是g城里小有名气的富汉,只是这两年日子过得太奢侈、太舒服,无所事事,百般无聊,觉得腻味;再就是债主们隔三岔五地向他哭穷,威胁他,对他软硬兼施,把他整得惶惶不可终日,这才暂时弃富就穷,改当乞丐的。
  • TFBOYS之一生一世爱你

    TFBOYS之一生一世爱你

    王俊凯在机场偶遇肖水儿,两人最后会擦出什么爱情火花?肖水儿的闺蜜沈琪、黄梦婷又会和王源、易烊千玺擦出什么爱情火花呢?(小说纯属虚构,读者们不要当真!)
  • 佛转道无疆

    佛转道无疆

    一世为佛一世魔,三千大道转蹉跎苦海无边回头岸,颠颠狂狂属痴魔