CHAPTER XVIII
關燈
小
中
大
Mr.FrankChurchilldidnotcome.Whenthetimeproposeddrewnear,Mrs.Weston’sfearswerejustifiedinthearrivalofaletterofexcuse.Forthepresent,hecouldnotbespared,tohis“verygreatmortificationandregretbutstillhelookedforwardwiththehopeofcomingtoRandallsatnodistantperiod.”
Mrs.Westonwasexceedinglydisappointed—muchmoredisappointed,infact,thanherhusband,thoughherdependenceonseeingtheyoungmanhadbeensomuchmoresober:butasanguinetemper,thoughforeverexpectingmoregoodthanoccurs,doesnotalwayspayforitshopesbyanyproportionatedepression.Itsoonfliesoverthepresentfailure,andbeginstohopeagain.ForhalfanhourMr.WestonwassurprizedandsorrybutthenhebegantoperceivethatFrank’scomingtwoorthreemonthslaterwouldbeamuchbetterplanbettertimeofyearbetterweatherandthathewouldbeable,withoutanydoubt,tostayconsiderablylongerwiththemthanifhehadcomesooner.
Thesefeelingsrapidlyrestoredhiscomfort,whileMrs.Weston,ofamoreapprehensivedisposition,foresawnothingbutarepetitionofexcusesanddelaysandafterallherconcernforwhatherhusbandwastosuffer,sufferedagreatdealmoreherself.
EmmawasnotatthistimeinastateofspiritstocarereallyaboutMr.FrankChurchill’snotcoming,exceptasadisappointmentatRandalls.Theacquaintanceatpresenthadnocharmforher.Shewanted,rather,tobequiet,andoutoftemptationbutstill,asitwasdesirablethatsheshouldappear,ingeneral,likeherusualself,shetookcaretoexpressasmuchinterestinthecircumstance,andenteraswarmlyintoMr.andMrs.Weston’sdisappointment,asmightnaturallybelongtotheirfriendship.
ShewasthefirsttoannounceittoMr.Knightleyandexclaimedquiteasmuchaswasnecessary,(or,beingactingapart,perhapsrathermore,)attheconductoftheChurchills,inkeepinghimaway.Shethenproceededtosayagooddealmorethanshefelt,oftheadvantageofsuchanadditiontotheirconfinedsocietyinSurrythepleasureoflookingatsomebodynewthegala-daytoHighburyentire,whichthesightofhimwouldhavemadeandendingwithreflectionsontheChurchillsagain,foundherselfdirectlyinvolvedinadisagreementwithMr.Knightleyand,tohergreatamusement,perceivedthatshewastakingtheothersideofthequestionfromherrealopinion,andmakinguseofMrs.Weston’sargumentsagainstherself.
“TheChurchillsareverylikelyinfault,”saidMr.Knightley,coolly“butIdaresayhemightcomeifhewould.”
“Idonotknowwhyyoushouldsayso.Hewishesexceedinglytocomebuthisuncleandauntwillnotsparehim.”
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