Dear me! but what shall you do? how shall you employ yourself when you grow old?
If I know myself, Harriet, mine is an active, busy mind, with a great many independent resources; and I do not perceive why I should be more in want of employment at forty or fifty than one-and-twenty. Woman's usual occupations will be as open to me then as they are now. If I draw less, I shall read more; if I give up music, I shall take to carpet-work. I shall be very well off, with all the children of a sister I love so much, to care about. My nephews and nieces! I shall often have a niece with me.
Do you know Miss Bates's niece? That is, I know you must have seen her a hundred times-but are you acquainted?
Oh! yes; Jane Fairfax[47]. Every letter from her is read forty times over; her compliments to all friends go round and round again. I wish Jane Fairfax very well; but she tires me to death.
Harriet could just answer, Oh! yes, yes, before Mr. Elton joined them. They now walked on together quietly, when a sudden resolution of getting Harriet into the house, made Emma find something wrong about her boot. She broke the lace off short, and dexterously throwing it into a ditch, had to ask them about stopping.
Part of my lace is gone, said she, and I do not know how I am to go further. I really am a most troublesome companion to you both. Mr. Elton, I must beg leave to stop at your house, and ask your housekeeper for a bit of ribbon or string, or anything just to keep my boot on.
Mr. Elton looked all happiness at this proposition; and led them into the house with all the alertness and attention anyone could imagine. Emma went after the housekeeper and left Mr. Elton and Harriet alone in the adjacent[48] room; the door between them was open. Emma had to leave the door ajar as she found it; but she fully intended that Mr. Elton should close it. It was not closed, however, it still remained ajar. For ten minutes she could hear nothing but herself. She was then obliged to be finished, and make her appearance.
The lovers were standing together at one of the windows. He had been most agreeable, most delightful, and he had told Harriet nothing serious.
Cautious, very cautious, thought Emma; he advances inch by inch.
Chapter XI
Mr. Elton must now be left to himself. It was no longer in Emma's power to superintend his happiness. The coming of her sister's family was so very near at hand, that it became from that point on her main object of interest.
Mr. Woodhouse was now most nervously and apprehensively happy. He was looking forward to Isabella's visiting. He thought much of the troubles the journey might cause her. Mrs. Knightley was a pretty, elegant little woman, of gentle, quiet manners, and a disposition remarkably amiable and affectionate; a devoted wife, a good mother, and so tenderly attached to her father and sister that a warmer love might have seemed impossible. She could never see a fault in any of them.
Примечания
1
Emma Woodhouse Эмма Вудхаус
2
Taylor Тэйлор
3
in ways по повадкам
4
his talents could not have recommended him at any time он не блистал никакими талантами
5
Isabella Изабелла
6
Highbury Хайбери
7
Hartfield Хартфилд (название поместья)
8
in consequence по положению
9
in lieu of вместо
10
Randalls Рэндалс
11
Backgammon триктрак (игра)
12
Knightley Найтли
13
I made the match myself я сама их сосватала
14
it might not have come to anything after all ничего бы тогда и не вышло
15
Elton Элтон
16
Churchill Черчилл
17
Yorkshire Йоркшир
18
Frank Фрэнк
19
boast предмет гордости
20
Bates Бэйтс
21
Goddard Годдард
22
in a very small way крайне скромно
23
by sight в лицо
24
Harriet Smith Гарриет Смит
25
natural daughter побочная дочь
26
by character по отзывам
27
Donwell Донуэлл
28
Agricultural Reports «Земледельческие ведомости»
29
Elegant Extracts «Извлечения из изящной словесности»
30
Vicar of Wakefield «Векфилдский священник»
31
Romance of the Forest «Лесной роман»
32
get into a scrape попасть в неловкое положение
33
his entire want of gentility полное отсутствие в нём хорошего тона
34
well bred благовоспитанный
35
By all means. Сделайте одолжение.
36
catch cold простудиться
37
naïveté наивность
38
What a precious deposit! Какая драгоценная ноша!
39
as to the wording of it какие слова здесь выбрать
40
Abbey-Mill Farm ферма Эбби-Милл
41
Nobody cares for a letter. Кому какое дело до писем.
42
a very indifferent education весьма посредственное образование
43
has no great loss не много потерял
44
by situation called together предназначены друг другу
45
Vicarage Lane Пастырская дорога
46
inducement мотив
47
Jane Fairfax Джейн Фэрфакс
48
adjacent смежная