Эмма. Уровень 3 / Emma

Emma continued:

“You want to marry him. Am I right?”

“No, I do not; that is, I do not mean-What shall I do? What would you advise me to do? Pray, dear Miss Woodhouse, tell me what I ought to do.”

“I shall not give you any advice, Harriet. I will have nothing to do with it.”

“I did not think that he liked me so very much,” said Harriet, contemplating the letter.

Emma said,

“I am sure, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him.

If she can hesitate as to 'Yes,' she ought to say 'No' directly. I thought it my duty as a friend, and older than yourself, to say this to you. But I do not want to influence you.”

“Oh! no, I am sure you are very kind to me-but if you would… It is a very serious thing. It will be safer to say 'No,' perhaps. Do you think I had better say 'No?'”

“Dear Harriet,” said Emma, smiling graciously, “you must be the best judge of your own happiness. If you prefer Mr.

Martin to every other person; if you think him the most agreeable man you have ever been in company with, why should you hesitate? You blush, Harriet. Harriet, Harriet, do not deceive yourself. At this moment whom are you thinking of?”

Instead of answering, Harriet turned away confused, and stood thoughtfully by the fire; and though the letter was still in her hand, it was now mechanically twisted about without a thought. Emma waited the result with impatience. At last, with some hesitation, Harriet said-

“Miss Woodhouse, I have now quite determined, and really almost made up my mind-to refuse Mr.

Martin. Do you think I am right?”

“Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just what you ought. Dear Harriet, I am so glad. It would have grieved me to say goodbye to you, which must have been the consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin. I could not have visited Mrs. Robert Martin, of Abbey-Mill Farm[40 - Abbey-Mill Farm – ферма Эбби-Милл].

”

The idea of it struck Harriet forcibly.

“You could not have visited me!” she cried. “No, to be sure you could not; but I never thought of that before. That would have been too dreadful! – What an escape! – Dear Miss Woodhouse, I would not give up the pleasure and honour of being intimate with you for anything in the world.”

“Indeed, Harriet, you would have thrown yourself out of all good society.