the warsons(华森夫妇)-第3部分
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sounds of Miss Watson’s voice； before they passed thro’ the
Turnpike gate and entered on the pitching of the Town—the
jumbling and noise of which made farther Conversation most
thoroughly undesirable。—The old Mare trotted heavily on；
wanting no direction of the reins to take the right Turning； and
making only one Blunder； in proposing to stop at the Milleners；
before she drew up towards Mr。 Edwardes’ door。—Mr。 E。 lived in
the best house in the Street； and the best in the place； if Mr。
Tomlinson the Banker might be indulged in calling his newly
erected House at the end of the Town with a Shrubbery and sweep
in the Country。—Mr。 E。’s House was higher than most of its
neighbours with two windows on each side the door； the windows
guarded by posts and chain； the door approached by a flight of
stone steps。—‘Here we are’—said Elizabeth—as the Carriage
ceased moving—‘safely arrived；—and by the Market Clock； we
have been only five and thirty minutes coming；—which I think is
doing pretty well； tho’ it would be nothing for Penelope。—Is not it
a nice Town？—The Edwardes’ have a noble house you see； and
they live quite in stile。 The door will be opened by a Man in Livery
with a powder’d head； I can tell you。’
Emma had seen the Edwardes only one morning at Stanton；
they were therefore all but Strangers to her； and tho’ her spirits
were by no means insensible to the expected joys of the Evening；
she felt a little uncomfortable in the thought of all that was to
precede them。 Her conversation with Elizabeth too giving her
some very unpleasant feelings； with respect to her own family； had
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made her more open to disagreable impressions from any other
cause； and increased her sense of the awkwardness of rushing into
Intimacy on so slight an acquaintance。—There was nothing in the
manners of Mrs。 or Miss Edwardes to give immediate change to
these Ideas；—the Mother tho’ a very friendly woman； had a
reserved air； and a great deal of formal Civility—and the daughter；
a genteel looking girl of twenty…two； with her hair in papers；
seemed very naturally to have caught something of the stile of the
Mother who had brought her up。—Emma was soon left to know
what they could be； by Elizabeth’s being obliged to hurry away—
and some very； very languid remarks on the probable Brilliancy of
the Ball； were all that broke at intervals a silence of half an hour
before they were joined by the Master of the house。—Mr。
Edwardes had a much easier； and more communicative air than
the Ladies of the Family； he was fresh from the Street； and he
came ready to tell what ever might interest。—After a cordial
reception of Emma； he turned to his daughter with ‘Well Mary； I
bring you good news。—The Osbornes will certainly be at the Ball
tonight。—Horses for two Carriages are ordered from the White
Hart； to be at Osborne Castle by nine。’ ‘I am glad of it’—observed
Mrs。 E。； ‘because their coming gives a credit to our Assemblies。
The Osbornes being known to have been at the first Ball； will
dispose a great many people to attend the second。—It is more than
they deserve； for in fact they add nothing to the pleasure of the
Evening； they come so late； and go so early；—but Great People
have always their charm。’—Mr。 Edwardes proceeded to relate
every other little article of news which his morning’s lounge had
supplied him with； and they chatted with greater briskness； till
Mrs。 E。’s moment for dressing arrived； and the young Ladies were
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carefully recommended to lose no time。 Emma was shewn to a
very comfortable apartment； and as soon as Mrs。 E。’s civilities
could leave her to herself； the happy occupation； the first Bliss of a
Ball began。—The girls； dressing in some measure together； grew
unavoidably better acquainted； Emma found in Miss E。—the shew
of good sense； a modest unpretending mind； and a great wish of
obliging—and when they returned to the parlour where Mrs。 E。
was sitting respectably attired in one of the two Sattin gowns
which went thro’ the winter； and a new cap from the Milliners；
they entered it with much easier feelings and more natural smiles
than they had taken away。—Their dress was now to be examined；
Mrs。 Edwards acknowledged herself too old…fashioned to approve
of every modern extravagance however sanctioned—and tho’
complacently viewing her daughter’s good looks； would give but a
qualified admiration； and Mr。 E。 not less satisfied with Mary； paid
some Compliments of good humoured Gallantry to Emma at her
expence。—The discussion led to more intimate remarks； and Miss
Edwardes gently asked Emma if she were not often reckoned very
like her youngest brother。—Emma thought she could perceive a
faint blush accompany the question； and there seemed something
still more suspicious in the manner in which Mr。 E。 took up the
subject。—‘You are paying Miss Emma no great compliment I think
Mary；’ said he hastily。 ‘Mr。 Sam Watson is a very good sort of
young Man； and I dare say a very clever Surgeon； but his
complexion has been rather too much exposed to all weathers； to
make a likeness to him very flattering。’ Mary apologized in some
confusion。 ‘She had not thought a strong Likeness at all
incompatible with very different degrees of Beauty。—There might
be resemblance in Countenance； and the complexion； and even
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Jane Austen： The Watsons 14
the features be very unlike。’ ‘I know nothing of my Brother’s
Beauty；’ said Emma； ‘for I have not seen him since he was seven
years old—but my father reckons us alike。’ ‘Mr。 Watson！’—cried
Mr。 Edwardes； ‘Well； you astonish me。—There is not the least
likeness in the world； Your brother’s eyes are grey； yours are
brown； he has a long face； and a wide mouth。—My dear； do you
perceive the least resemblance？’—‘Not the least。—Miss Emma
Watson puts me very much in mind of her eldest Sister； and
sometimes I see a look of Miss Penelope—and once or twice there
has been a glance of Mr。 Robert—but I cannot perceive any
likeness to Mr。 Samuel。’ ‘I see the likeness between her and Miss
Watson；’ replied Mr。 E。—‘very strongly—but I am not sensible of
the others。—I do not much think she is like any of the Family but
Miss Watson； but I am very sure there is no resemblance between
her and Sam。’
This matter was settled； and they went to Dinner。—‘Your
Father； Miss Emma； is one of my oldest friends’—said Mr。
Edwardes； as he helped her to wine； when they were drawn round
the fire to enjoy their Desert；—‘We must drink to his better
health。—It is a great concern to me I assure you that he should be
such an Invalid。—I know nobody who likes a game of cards in a
social way； better than he does； and very few people that play a
fairer rubber。—It is a thousand pities that he should be so
deprived of the pleasure。 For now we have a quiet little Whist club
that meets three times a week at the White Hart； and if he could
but have his health； how much he would enjoy it。’ ‘I dare say he
would Sir—and I wish with all my heart he were equal to it。’ ‘Your
Club would be better fitted for an Invalid；’ said Mrs。 E。 ‘if you did
not keep it up so late。’—This was an old grievance。—‘So late； my
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dear； what are you talking of；’ cried the Husband with sturdy
pleasantry。 ‘We are always at home before Midnight。 They would
laugh at Osborne Castle to hear you call that late； they are but just
rising from dinner at midnight。’—‘That is nothing to the
purpose。’—retorted the Lady calmly。 ‘The Osbornes are to be no
rule for us。 You had better meet every night； and break u
