Эмма / Emma

”

Chapter X

Though now the middle of December, there had yet been no weather to prevent the young ladies from tolerably regular exercise; and Emma had a charitable visit to pay to a poor sick family, who lived a little way out of Highbury.

Their road was down Vicarage Lane[47 - Vicarage Lane – Пастырская дорога], containing the blessed abode of Mr. Elton. Emma’s remark was —

“There it is. There you will go some day.”

Harriet’s was —

“Oh, what a sweet house! – How beautiful! – There are the yellow curtains that Miss Nash admires so much.

”

“I do not often walk this way now,” said Emma, as they proceeded, “but then there will be an inducement.”

Harriet said,

“I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married, or going to be married! so charming as you are!”

Emma laughed, and replied,

“If I am charming, Harriet, it is not quite enough to marry; I must find other people charming – one other person at least.

And I am not only, not going to be married, at present, but have very little intention of ever marrying at all.”

“Ah! – so you say; but I cannot believe it.”

“I must see somebody very superior to anyone I have seen yet, to be tempted; Mr. Elton, you know, is out of the question: and I do not wish to see any such person. I would rather not be tempted. If I were to marry, I must expect to repent it.”

“Dear me! – it is so odd to hear a woman talk so!”

“I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry.

Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! but I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine. Fortune I do not want; employment I do not want; consequence I do not want: I believe few married women are half as much mistress of their husband’s house as I am of Hartfield; and never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved and important in any man’s eyes as I am in my father’s. ”

“But then, to be an old maid at last, like Miss Bates!”

“That is a terrible image, Harriet; and if I thought I should ever be like Miss Bates! so silly – so satisfied – so smiling – so undistinguishing and unfastidious – and so apt to tell everything relative to everybody about me, I would marry tomorrow.