Volume 2. Chapter 18. Том 2. Глава 18.

"I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of introducing my son to you," said Mr. Weston. 「我希望很快就能有幸向您介紹我的兒子，」韋斯頓先生說。 Mrs. Elton, very willing to suppose a particular compliment intended her by such a hope, smiled most graciously.

"You have heard of a certain Frank Churchill, I presume," he continued--"and know him to be my son, though he does not bear my name." "Oh! yes, and I shall be very happy in his acquaintance. I am sure Mr. Elton will lose no time in calling on him; and we shall both have great pleasure in seeing him at the Vicarage." "You are very obliging.--Frank will be extremely happy, I am sure.--He is to be in town next week, if not sooner. We have notice of it in a letter to-day. I met the letters in my way this morning, and seeing my son's hand, presumed to open it--though it was not directed to me--it was to Mrs. Weston. She is his principal correspondent, I assure you. I hardly ever get a letter." "And so you absolutely opened what was directed to her! Oh! Mr. Weston--(laughing affectedly) I must protest against that.--A most dangerous precedent indeed!--I beg you will not let your neighbours follow your example.--Upon my word, if this is what I am to expect, we married women must begin to exert ourselves!--Oh! Mr. Weston, I could not have believed it of you!" "Aye, we men are sad fellows. You must take care of yourself, Mrs. Elton.--This letter tells us--it is a short letter--written in a hurry, merely to give us notice--it tells us that they are all coming up to town directly, on Mrs. Churchill's account--she has not been well the whole winter, and thinks Enscombe too cold for her--so they are all to move southward without loss of time." 艾爾頓——這封信告訴我們——這是一封簡短的信——寫得匆忙，只是為了通知我們——它告訴我們，他們都直接進城了，因為邱吉爾夫人的緣故——她整個冬天都不太好，她認為恩斯庫姆對她來說太冷了——所以他們要抓緊時間向南移動。” "Indeed!--from Yorkshire, I think. Enscombe is in Yorkshire?" "Yes, they are about one hundred and ninety miles from London. a considerable journey." "Yes, upon my word, very considerable. Sixty-five miles farther than from Maple Grove to London. But what is distance, Mr. Weston, to people of large fortune?--You would be amazed to hear how my brother, Mr. Suckling, sometimes flies about. You will hardly believe me--but twice in one week he and Mr. Bragge went to London and back again with four horses." "The evil of the distance from Enscombe," said Mr. Weston, "is, that Mrs. Churchill,  as we understand , has not been able to leave the sofa for a week together. In Frank's last letter she complained, he said, of being too weak to get into her conservatory without having both his arm and his uncle's! 弗蘭克說，在他的最後一封信中，她抱怨說，如果沒有他和叔叔的手臂，她太虛弱了，無法進入她的音樂學院！ This, you know, speaks a great degree of weakness--but now she is so impatient to be in town, that she means to sleep only two nights on the road.--So Frank writes word. Certainly, delicate ladies have very extraordinary constitutions, Mrs. Elton. 當然，精緻的女士們有著非常非凡的體質，艾爾頓夫人。 You must grant me that." Dat moet je me toestaan. " "No, indeed, I shall grant you nothing. I Always take the part of my own sex. 我總是扮演我自己性別的角色。 I do indeed. I give you notice--You will find me a formidable antagonist on that point. 我通知你——在這一點上你會發現我是一個可怕的對手。 I always stand up for women--and I assure you, if you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at an inn, you would not wonder at Mrs. Churchill's making incredible exertions to avoid it. 我總是為女性挺身而出——我向你保證，如果你知道塞琳娜對在旅館睡覺的感受，你就不會驚訝於邱吉爾夫人做出了令人難以置信的努力來避免這種情況。 Selina says it is quite horror to her--and I believe I have caught a little of her nicety. Selina zegt dat het nogal afschuwelijk voor haar is - en ik geloof dat ik een beetje van haar aardigheid heb opgevangen. 塞琳娜說這對她來說非常可怕——我相信我已經領會到了她的一些善意。 She always travels with her own sheets; an excellent precaution. 她旅行時總是帶著自己的床單；一個極好的預防措施。 Does Mrs. Churchill do the same?" "Depend upon it, Mrs. Churchill does every thing that any other fine lady ever did. Mrs. Churchill will not be second to any lady in the land for"-- Mrs. Elton eagerly interposed with,

"Oh! Mr. Weston, do not mistake me. Selina is no fine lady, I assure you. Do not run away with such an idea." "Is not she? Then she is no rule for Mrs. Churchill, who is as thorough a fine lady as any body ever beheld." 那麼對於邱吉爾夫人來說，她就不再是規則了，她是任何人所見過的最優秀的女士。” Mrs. Elton began to think she had been wrong in disclaiming so warmly. 艾爾頓夫人開始認為她如此熱情地否認是錯誤的。 It was by no means her object to have it believed that her sister was  not a fine lady; perhaps there was want of spirit in the pretence of it;--and she was considering in what way she had best retract, when Mr. Weston went on. 她的目的絕不是讓人們相信她的妹妹不是一位優秀的女士；她的目的是讓人們相信她的姐姐不是一個優秀的女士。也許假裝如此缺乏精神；——當韋斯頓先生繼續說時，她正在考慮最好以什麼方式撤回。

"Mrs. Churchill is not much in my good graces, as you may suspect--but this is quite between ourselves. 「正如你可能懷疑的那樣，邱吉爾夫人不太受我的青睞——但這完全是我們之間的事。 She is very fond of Frank, and therefore I would not speak ill of her. 她很喜歡弗蘭克，因此我不會說她的壞話。 Besides, she is out of health now; but  that indeed, by her own account, she has always been. I would not say so to every body, Mrs. Elton, but I have not much faith in Mrs. Churchill's illness." "If she is really ill, why not go to Bath, Mr. Weston?--To Bath, or to Clifton?" "She has taken it into her head that Enscombe is too cold for her. The fact is, I suppose, that she is tired of Enscombe. She has now been a longer time stationary there, than she ever was before, and she begins to want change. 現在，她在那裡停留的時間比以前更長了，她開始想要改變。 It is a retired place. A fine place, but very retired." "Aye--like Maple Grove, I dare say. Nothing can stand more retired from the road than Maple Grove. Such an immense plantation all round it! You seem shut out from every thing--in the most complete retirement.--And Mrs. Churchill probably has not health or spirits like Selina to enjoy that sort of seclusion. Or, perhaps she may not have resources enough in herself to be qualified for a country life. I always say a woman cannot have too many resources--and I feel very thankful that I have so many myself as to be quite independent of society." "Frank was here in February for a fortnight." "So I remember to have heard. He will find an  addition to the society of Highbury when he comes again; that is, if I may presume to call myself an addition. But perhaps he may never have heard of there being such a creature in the world." This was too loud a call for a compliment to be passed by, and Mr. Weston, with a very good grace, immediately exclaimed,

"My dear madam! Nobody but yourself could imagine such a thing possible. Not heard of you!--I believe Mrs. Weston's letters lately have been full of very little else than Mrs. Elton." He had done his duty and could return to his son.

"When Frank left us," continued he, "it was quite uncertain when we might see him again, which makes this day's news doubly welcome. It has been completely unexpected. That is,  I always had a strong persuasion he would be here again soon, I was sure something favourable would turn up--but nobody believed me. Dat wil zeggen, ik had altijd een sterke overtuiging dat hij snel weer hier zou zijn, ik wist zeker dat er iets gunstigs zou opduiken - maar niemand geloofde me. He and Mrs. Weston were both dreadfully desponding. 他和韋斯頓夫人都非常沮喪。 'How could he contrive to come? And how could it be supposed that his uncle and aunt would spare him again?' and so forth--I always felt that something would happen in our favour; and so it has, you see. I have observed, Mrs. Elton, in the course of my life, that if things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next." Ik heb in de loop van mijn leven opgemerkt, mevrouw Elton, dat als de dingen de ene maand ongunstig gaan, ze de volgende maand zeker zullen genezen. ' 埃爾頓夫人，我在一生中觀察到，如果某個月事情進展不順利，那麼下個月肯定會好轉。” "Very true, Mr. Weston, perfectly true. It is just what I used to say to a certain gentleman in company in the days of courtship, when, because things did not go quite right, did not proceed with all the rapidity which suited his feelings, he was apt to be in despair, and exclaim that he was sure at this rate it would be  May before Hymen's saffron robe would be put on for us. 這正是我在求愛的日子裡對一位同行的紳士說過的話，當時，由於事情進展不順利，沒有按照他的感受迅速進行，他很容易感到絕望，並大聲喊道，他確信按照這個速度，要到五月，海門的藏紅花長袍才會為我們穿上。 Oh! the pains I have been at to dispel those gloomy ideas and give him cheerfuller views! 我一直在努力消除那些悲觀的想法並給他帶來更樂觀的看法！ The carriage--we had disappointments about the carriage;--one morning, I remember, he came to me quite in despair." 馬車——我們對馬車感到失望；——我記得，有一天早上，他非常絕望地來找我。” She was stopped by a slight fit of coughing, and Mr. Weston instantly seized the opportunity of going on. 她因一陣輕微的咳嗽而停了下來，韋斯頓先生立即抓住機會繼續說下去。

"You were mentioning May. May is the very month which Mrs. Churchill is ordered, or has ordered herself, to spend in some warmer place than Enscombe--in short, to spend in London; so that we have the agreeable prospect of frequent visits from Frank the whole spring--precisely the season of the year which one should have chosen for it: days almost at the longest; weather genial and pleasant, always inviting one out, and never too hot for exercise. When he was here before, we made the best of it; but there was a good deal of wet, damp, cheerless weather; there always is in February, you know, and we could not do half that we intended. 當他以前來的時候，我們充分利用了這一點；但天氣卻很潮濕、悶悶不樂。你知道，二月總是有的，但我們無法完成預期的一半。 Now will be the time. This will be complete enjoyment; and I do not know, Mrs. Elton, whether the uncertainty of our meetings, the sort of constant expectation there will be of his coming in to-day or to-morrow, and at any hour, may not be more friendly to happiness than having him actually in the house. I think it is so. I think it is the state of mind which gives most spirit and delight. Ik denk dat het de gemoedstoestand is die de meeste geest en vreugde geeft. I hope you will be pleased with my son; but you must not expect a prodigy. 我希望你會對我的兒子感到滿意；但你不能指望一個神童。 He is generally thought a fine young man, but do not expect a prodigy. Mrs. Weston's partiality for him is very great, and, as you may suppose, most gratifying to me. 韋斯頓夫人對他非常偏愛，正如你可能想的那樣，這讓我非常滿意。 She thinks nobody equal to him." "And I assure you, Mr. Weston, I have very little doubt that my opinion will be decidedly in his favour. 'En ik verzeker u, meneer Weston, ik twijfel er niet aan dat mijn mening beslist in zijn voordeel zal zijn. I have heard so much in praise of Mr. Frank Churchill.--At the same time it is fair to observe, that I am one of those who always judge for themselves, and are by no means implicitly guided by others. I give you notice that as I find your son, so I shall judge of him.--I am no flatterer." Mr. Weston was musing.

"I hope," said he presently, "I have not been severe upon poor Mrs. Churchill. If she is ill I should be sorry to do her injustice; but there are some traits in her character which make it difficult for me to speak of her with the forbearance I could wish. 如果她生病了，我會為對她的不公義感到抱歉；但她性格中的某些特質使我很難以我希望的寬容來談論她。 You cannot be ignorant, Mrs. Elton, of my connexion with the family, nor of the treatment I have met with; and, between ourselves, the whole blame of it is to be laid to her. She was the instigator. 她是煽動者。 Frank's mother would never have been slighted as she was but for her. 如果沒有她，弗蘭克的母親永遠不會像現在這樣受到輕視。 Mr. Churchill has pride; but his pride is nothing to his wife's: his is a quiet, indolent, gentlemanlike sort of pride that would harm nobody, and only make himself a little helpless and tiresome; but her pride is arrogance and insolence! 邱吉爾先生有驕傲；但他的自尊與他妻子的不相上下：他是一種安靜、懶散、紳士般的自尊，不會傷害任何人，只會讓自己變得有點無助和厭倦；但她的驕傲卻是傲慢和無禮！ And what inclines one less to bear, she has no fair pretence of family or blood. 而更讓人難以忍受的是，她沒有公平的家庭或血統假裝。 She was nobody when he married her, barely the daughter of a gentleman; but ever since her being turned into a Churchill she has out-Churchill'd them all in high and mighty claims: but in herself, I assure you, she is an upstart." Ze was niemand toen hij met haar trouwde, nauwelijks de dochter van een heer; maar sinds ze in een Churchill is veranderd, heeft ze ze allemaal overtroffen in hoge en machtige claims: maar in zichzelf, ik verzeker je, is ze een parvenu. ' 當他娶她時，她還算不上什麼人物，只是紳士的女兒。但自從她被變成邱吉爾以來，她在崇高而強大的主張上已經超越了邱吉爾：但就她自己而言，我向你保證，她是一個暴發戶。” "Only think! well, that must be infinitely provoking! 嗯，這一定是無限的刺激！ I have quite a horror of upstarts. 我對暴發戶非常恐懼。 Maple Grove has given me a thorough disgust to people of that sort; for there is a family in that neighbourhood who are such an annoyance to my brother and sister from the airs they give themselves! Your description of Mrs. Churchill made me think of them directly. People of the name of Tupman, very lately settled there, and encumbered with many low connexions, but giving themselves immense airs, and expecting to be on a footing with the old established families. 名叫圖普曼的人最近才在那裡定居，有許多低層的關係，但他們卻自以為是，並希望能與古老的家族站穩腳跟。 A year and a half is the very utmost that they can have lived at West Hall; and how they got their fortune nobody knows. 一年半的時間，已經是他們在西廳最長的居住時間了。沒有人知道他們是如何獲得財富的。 They came from Birmingham, which is not a place to promise much, you know, Mr. Weston. One has not great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound: but nothing more is positively known of the Tupmans, though a good many things I assure you are suspected; and yet by their manners they evidently think themselves equal even to my brother, Mr. Suckling, who happens to be one of their nearest neighbours. 我總是說聲音裡有一些可怕的東西：但是關於圖普曼一家，我們沒有更多的確切信息，儘管我向你保證很多事情都受到懷疑；然而，從他們的行為來看，他們顯然認為自己甚至可以與我的兄弟薩克林先生平等，而薩克林先生恰好是他們最近的鄰居之一。 It is infinitely too bad. Mr. Suckling, who has been eleven years a resident at Maple Grove, and whose father had it before him--I believe, at least--I am almost sure that old Mr. Suckling had completed the purchase before his death." They were interrupted. Tea was carrying round, and Mr. Weston, having said all that he wanted, soon took the opportunity of walking away.

After tea, Mr. and Mrs. Weston, and Mr. Elton sat down with Mr. Woodhouse to cards. The remaining five were left to their own powers, and Emma doubted their getting on very well; for Mr. Knightley seemed little disposed for conversation; Mrs. Elton was wanting notice, which nobody had inclination to pay, and she was herself in a worry of spirits which would have made her prefer being silent. 剩下的五個人就靠自己的力量，艾瑪懷疑他們相處得很好。因為奈特利先生似乎不太願意交談。艾爾頓夫人想要得到通知，但沒有人願意付錢，而且她自己也擔心精神，這會讓她寧願保持沉默。

Mr. John Knightley proved more talkative than his brother. He was to leave them early the next day; and he soon began with--

"Well, Emma, I do not believe I have any thing more to say about the boys; but you have your sister's letter, and every thing is down at full length there we may be sure. My charge would be much more concise than her's, and probably not much in the same spirit; all that I have to recommend being comprised in, do not spoil them, and do not physic them." "I rather hope to satisfy you both," said Emma, "for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic." 「我寧願讓你們倆都滿意，」愛瑪說，“因為我會盡我所能讓他們幸福，這對伊莎貝拉來說就足夠了；而幸福必須排除錯誤的放縱和治療。” "And if you find them troublesome, you must send them home again." "That is very likely. You think so, do not you?" "I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father--or even may be some encumbrance to you, if your visiting engagements continue to increase as much as they have done lately." “我希望我知道它們對你父親來說可能太吵了——或者甚至可能對你來說是一些負擔，如果你的探訪活動繼續像他們最近那樣增加的話。” "Increase!" "Certainly; you must be sensible that the last half-year has made a great difference in your way of life." "Difference! No indeed I am not." "There can be no doubt of your being much more engaged with company than you used to be. Witness this very time. Here am I come down for only one day, and you are engaged with a dinner-party!--When did it happen before, or any thing like it? Your neighbourhood is increasing, and you mix more with it. A little while ago, every letter to Isabella brought an account of fresh gaieties; dinners at Mr. Cole's, or balls at the Crown. Een tijdje geleden bracht elke brief aan Isabella een verslag van nieuwe vrolijkheid; diners bij Mr. Cole, of ballen bij de Crown. 不久前，每封寫給伊莎貝拉的信都充滿了新鮮的歡樂。在科爾先生家吃晚飯，或在皇冠酒店舉行舞會。 The difference which Randalls, Randalls alone makes in your goings-on, is very great." "Yes," said his brother quickly, "it is Randalls that does it all." "Very well--and as Randalls, I suppose, is not likely to have less influence than heretofore, it strikes me as a possible thing, Emma, that Henry and John may be sometimes in the way. 「很好——我想蘭德爾斯的影響力不會比以前小，艾瑪，我覺得亨利和約翰有時可能會妨礙我，這對我來說是可能的。 And if they are, I only beg you to send them home." "No," cried Mr. Knightley, "that need not be the consequence. Let them be sent to Donwell. I shall certainly be at leisure." "Upon my word," exclaimed Emma, "you amuse me! 「說實話，」艾瑪驚呼道，「你讓我很開心！ I should like to know how many of all my numerous engagements take place without your being of the party; and why I am to be supposed in danger of wanting leisure to attend to the little boys. These amazing engagements of mine--what have they been? Dining once with the Coles--and having a ball talked of, which never took place. I can understand you--(nodding at Mr. John Knightley)--your good fortune in meeting with so many of your friends at once here, delights you too much to pass unnoticed. But you, (turning to Mr. Knightley,) who know how very, very seldom I am ever two hours from Hartfield, why you should foresee such a series of dissipation for me, I cannot imagine. 但是你（轉向奈特利先生）知道我離哈特菲爾德只有兩個小時的路程是多麼非常非常少，為什麼你會預見到我會經歷這樣一系列的放蕩，我無法想像。 And as to my dear little boys, I must say, that if Aunt Emma has not time for them, I do not think they would fare much better with Uncle Knightley, who is absent from home about five hours where she is absent one--and who, when he is at home, is either reading to himself or settling his accounts." Mr. Knightley seemed to be trying not to smile; and succeeded without difficulty, upon Mrs. Elton's beginning to talk to him.