Эмма / Emma

”

“Dear Harriet, I would have you so firmly established in good society. I want to see you permanently well connected.”

Emma saw no alarming symptoms of love. The young man had been the first admirer and no more, and that there would be no serious difficulty, on Harriet’s side, to oppose any friendly arrangement of her own.

They met Mr. Martin the very next day, as they were walking on the Donwell road. He was on foot, and after looking very respectfully at her, looked with most unfeigned satisfaction at her companion.

Robert Martin’s appearance was very neat, and he looked like a sensible young man, but his person had no other advantage.

They remained but a few minutes together; and Harriet then came running to Emma with a smiling face.

“How very odd! It was quite a chance, he said, that he had not gone round by Randalls. He did not think we ever walked this road. He thought we walked towards Randalls most days. He has not been able to get the Romance of the Forest yet.

Well, Miss Woodhouse, what do you think of him?”

“He is very plain, undoubtedly – remarkably plain: – but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility[34 - his entire want of gentility – полное отсутствие в нём хорошего тона]. I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish.”

“To be sure,” said Harriet, “he is not so genteel as real gentlemen.”

“I think, Harriet, at Hartfield, you have seen well educated, well bred[35 - well bred – благовоспитанный] men.

I should be surprized if, after seeing them, you could be in company with Mr. Martin again without perceiving him to be a very inferior creature. I am sure you must have been struck by his awkward look and abrupt manner.”

“Certainly, he is not like Mr. Knightley. I see the difference plain enough.”

“Mr. Knightley’s air is so remarkably good that it is not fair to compare Mr.

Martin with him. But he is not the only gentleman you have been lately used to. What about Mr. Weston and Mr. Elton? Compare Mr. Martin with either of them. Compare their manner of carrying themselves; of walking; of speaking; of being silent. You must see the difference.”

“Oh yes! – there is a great difference. But Mr. Weston is almost an old man. Mr. Weston must be between forty and fifty.”

“Which makes his good manners the more valuable.