CHAPTER VII
關燈
小
中
大
“Oh!no,Iamsureyouareagreatdealtookindto—butifyouwouldjustadvisemewhatIhadbestdo—No,no,Idonotmeanthat—Asyousay,one’smindoughttobequitemadeup—Oneshouldnotbehesitating—Itisaveryseriousthing.—Itwillbesafertosay‘No,’perhaps.—DoyouthinkIhadbettersay‘No?’”
“Notfortheworld,”saidEmma,smilinggraciously,“wouldIadviseyoueitherway.Youmustbethebestjudgeofyourownhappiness.IfyoupreferMr.Martintoeveryotherpersonifyouthinkhimthemostagreeablemanyouhaveeverbeenincompanywith,whyshouldyouhesitate?Youblush,Harriet.—Doesanybodyelseoccurtoyouatthismomentundersuchadefinition?Harriet,Harriet,donotdeceiveyourselfdonotberunawaywithbygratitudeandcompassion.Atthismomentwhomareyouthinkingof?”
Thesymptomswerefavourable.—Insteadofanswering,Harrietturnedawayconfused,andstoodthoughtfullybythefireandthoughtheletterwasstillinherhand,itwasnowmechanicallytwistedaboutwithoutregard.Emmawaitedtheresultwithimpatience,butnotwithoutstronghopes.Atlast,withsomehesitation,Harrietsaid—
“MissWoodhouse,asyouwillnotgivemeyouropinion,ImustdoaswellasIcanbymyselfandIhavenowquitedetermined,andreallyalmostmadeupmymind—torefuseMr.Martin.DoyouthinkIamright?”
“Perfectly,perfectlyright,mydearestHarrietyouaredoingjustwhatyouought.WhileyouwereatallinsuspenseIkeptmyfeelingstomyself,butnowthatyouaresocompletelydecidedIhavenohesitationinapproving.DearHarriet,Igivemyselfjoyofthis.Itwouldhavegrievedmetoloseyouracquaintance,whichmusthavebeentheconsequenceofyourmarryingMr.Martin.Whileyouwereinthesmallestdegreewavering,Isaidnothingaboutit,becauseIwouldnotinfluencebutitwouldhavebeenthelossofafriendtome.IcouldnothavevisitedMrs.RobertMartin,ofAbbey-MillFarm.NowIamsecureofyouforever.”
Harriethadnotsurmisedherowndanger,buttheideaofitstruckherforcibly.
“Youcouldnothavevisitedme!”shecried,lookingaghast.“No,tobesureyoucouldnotbutIneverthoughtofthatbefore.Thatwouldhavebeentoodreadful!—Whatanescape!—DearMissWoodhouse,Iwouldnotgiveupthepleasureandhonourofbeingintimatewithyouforanythingintheworld.”
“Indeed,Harriet,itwouldhavebeenaseverepangtoloseyoubutitmusthavebeen.Youwouldhavethrownyourselfoutofallgoodsociety.Imusthavegivenyouup.”
“Dearme!—HowshouldIeverhaveborneit!Itwouldhavekilledmenev
