📝 您未登录，登录后完成练习可保存成绩、查看最佳记录。
总字符
0
正确字符
0
错误字符
0
错误率
0.00%
耗时(秒)
0
速度 WPM
0
0 / 70
1There could hardly be a happier creature in the world than Mrs. John Knightley, in this short visit to Hartfield, going
2about every morning among her old acquaintance with her five children, and talking over what she had done every evening
3with her father and sister. She had nothing to wish otherwise, but that the days did not pass so swiftly. It was a
4delightful visit;--perfect, in being much too short. In general their evenings were less engaged with friends than their
5mornings; but one complete dinner engagement, and out of the house too, there was no avoiding, though at Christmas. Mr.
6Weston would take no denial; they must all dine at Randalls one day;--even Mr. Woodhouse was persuaded to think it a
7possible thing in preference to a division of the party. How they were all to be conveyed, he would have made a
8difficulty if he could, but as his son and daughter's carriage and horses were actually at Hartfield, he was not able to
9make more than a simple question on that head; it hardly amounted to a doubt; nor did it occupy Emma long to convince
10him that they might in one of the carriages find room for Harriet also. Harriet, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Knightley, their own
11especial set, were the only persons invited to meet them;--the hours were to be early, as well as the numbers few; Mr.
12Woodhouse's habits and inclination being consulted in every thing. The evening before this great event (for it was a
13very great event that Mr. Woodhouse should dine out, on the 24th of December) had been spent by Harriet at Hartfield,
14and she had gone home so much indisposed with a cold, that, but for her own earnest wish of being nursed by Mrs.
15Goddard, Emma could not have allowed her to leave the house. Emma called on her the next day, and found her doom already
16signed with regard to Randalls. She was very feverish and had a bad sore throat: Mrs. Goddard was full of care and
17affection, Mr. Perry was talked of, and Harriet herself was too ill and low to resist the authority which excluded her
18from this delightful engagement, though she could not speak of her loss without many tears. Emma sat with her as long as
19she could, to attend her in Mrs. Goddard's unavoidable absences, and raise her spirits by representing how much Mr.
20Elton's would be depressed when he knew her state; and left her at last tolerably comfortable, in the sweet dependence
21of his having a most comfortless visit, and of their all missing her very much. She had not advanced many yards from
22Mrs. Goddard's door, when she was met by Mr. Elton himself, evidently coming towards it, and as they walked on slowly
23together in conversation about the invalid--of whom he, on the rumour of considerable illness, had been going to
24inquire, that he might carry some report of her to Hartfield--they were overtaken by Mr. John Knightley returning from
25the daily visit to Donwell, with his two eldest boys, whose healthy, glowing faces shewed all the benefit of a country
26run, and seemed to ensure a quick despatch of the roast mutton and rice pudding they were hastening home for. They
27joined company and proceeded together. Emma was just describing the nature of her friend's complaint;--"a throat very
28much inflamed, with a great deal of heat about her, a quick, low pulse, &c. and she was sorry to find from Mrs. Goddard
29that Harriet was liable to very bad sore-throats, and had often alarmed her with them." Mr. Elton looked all alarm on
30the occasion, as he exclaimed, "A sore-throat!--I hope not infectious. I hope not of a putrid infectious sort. Has Perry
31seen her? Indeed you should take care of yourself as well as of your friend. Let me entreat you to run no risks. Why
32does not Perry see her?" Emma, who was not really at all frightened herself, tranquillised this excess of apprehension
33by assurances of Mrs. Goddard's experience and care; but as there must still remain a degree of uneasiness which she
34could not wish to reason away, which she would rather feed and assist than not, she added soon afterwards--as if quite
35another subject, "It is so cold, so very cold--and looks and feels so very much like snow, that if it were to any other
36place or with any other party, I should really try not to go out to-day--and dissuade my father from venturing; but as
37he has made up his mind, and does not seem to feel the cold himself, I do not like to interfere, as I know it would be
38so great a disappointment to Mr. and Mrs. Weston. But, upon my word, Mr. Elton, in your case, I should certainly excuse
39myself. You appear to me a little hoarse already, and when you consider what demand of voice and what fatigues to-morrow
40will bring, I think it would be no more than common prudence to stay at home and take care of yourself to-night." Mr.
41Elton looked as if he did not very well know what answer to make; which was exactly the case; for though very much
42gratified by the kind care of such a fair lady, and not liking to resist any advice of her's, he had not really the
43least inclination to give up the visit;--but Emma, too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to hear
44him impartially, or see him with clear vision, was very well satisfied with his muttering acknowledgment of its being
45"very cold, certainly very cold," and walked on, rejoicing in having extricated him from Randalls, and secured him the
46power of sending to inquire after Harriet every hour of the evening. "You do quite right," said she;--"we will make your
47apologies to Mr. and Mrs. Weston." But hardly had she so spoken, when she found her brother was civilly offering a seat
48in his carriage, if the weather were Mr. Elton's only objection, and Mr. Elton actually accepting the offer with much
49prompt satisfaction. It was a done thing; Mr. Elton was to go, and never had his broad handsome face expressed more
50pleasure than at this moment; never had his smile been stronger, nor his eyes more exulting than when he next looked at
51her. "Well," said she to herself, "this is most strange!--After I had got him off so well, to chuse to go into company,
52and leave Harriet ill behind!--Most strange indeed!--But there is, I believe, in many men, especially single men, such
53an inclination--such a passion for dining out--a dinner engagement is so high in the class of their pleasures, their
54employments, their dignities, almost their duties, that any thing gives way to it--and this must be the case with Mr.
55Elton; a most valuable, amiable, pleasing young man undoubtedly, and very much in love with Harriet; but still, he
56cannot refuse an invitation, he must dine out wherever he is asked. What a strange thing love is! he can see ready wit
57in Harriet, but will not dine alone for her." Soon afterwards Mr. Elton quitted them, and she could not but do him the
58justice of feeling that there was a great deal of sentiment in his manner of naming Harriet at parting; in the tone of
59his voice while assuring her that he should call at Mrs. Goddard's for news of her fair friend, the last thing before he
60prepared for the happiness of meeting her again, when he hoped to be able to give a better report; and he sighed and
61smiled himself off in a way that left the balance of approbation much in his favour. After a few minutes of entire
62silence between them, John Knightley began with-- "I never in my life saw a man more intent on being agreeable than Mr.
63Elton. It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned. With men he can be rational and unaffected, but when he
64has ladies to please, every feature works." "Mr. Elton's manners are not perfect," replied Emma; "but where there is a
65wish to please, one ought to overlook, and one does overlook a great deal. Where a man does his best with only moderate
66powers, he will have the advantage over negligent superiority. There is such perfect good-temper and good-will in Mr.
67Elton as one cannot but value." "Yes," said Mr. John Knightley presently, with some slyness, "he seems to have a great
68deal of good-will towards you." "Me!" she replied with a smile of astonishment, "are you imagining me to be Mr. Elton's
69object?" "Such an imagination has crossed me, I own, Emma; and if it never occurred to you before, you may as well take
70it into consideration now." "Mr. Elton in love with me!--What an idea!"
🎉 全部完成！共 70 行