Эмма / Emma

Weston, who had been a widower so long, and who seemed so perfectly comfortable without a wife, so constantly occupied either in his business in town or among his friends here! Oh no! All manner of nonsense was talked on the subject, but I believed none of it. I planned the match, and when such success has blessed me, dear papa, you cannot think that I shall leave off match-making.”

“I do not understand what you mean by �success,’” said Mr. Knightley. “Success supposes endeavour. Why do you talk of success? Where is your merit? What are you proud of? You made a lucky guess; and that is all that can be said.

”

“And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess? – I pity you. If I had not promoted Mr. Weston’s visits here, and given many little encouragements, and smoothed many little matters, it might not have come to anything after all[16 - it might not have come to anything after all – ничего бы тогда и не вышло].”

“Emma, my dear,” said Mr.

Woodhouse, “pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one’s family circle grievously.”

“Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton[17 - Elton – Элтон]. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa, – I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in Highbury who deserves him. I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service.”

“Mr. Elton is a very pretty young man, to be sure, and a very good young man, and I have a great regard for him.

But if you want to show him any attention, my dear, ask him to come and dine with us some day. That will be a much better thing.”

Chapter II

Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury, and born of a respectable family, which for the last two or three generations had been rising into gentility and property. When the chances of his military life had introduced him to Miss Churchill[18 - Churchill – Черчилл], of a great Yorkshire[19 - Yorkshire – Йоркшир] family, and Miss Churchill fell in love with him, nobody was surprized, except her brother and his wife, who had never seen him, and who were full of pride and importance.

Miss Churchill, however, being of age, and with the full command of her fortune, was not to be dissuaded from the marriage, and it took place, to the infinite mortification of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who threw her off with due decorum.