爱玛 01~03

this story takes place in the late 1700's, in a small town in England called Highbury. The main character is a charming, intelligent, and rich young woman named Emma Woodhouse- She is a confident girl of twenty-one years old, and is the younger of two daughters. Although Emma's older sister, Isabella, married Mr.John Knightley, and moved away many years ago, Emma has declared that she will never marry. She and her father live alone at Hartfield manor.Her father is quite content with her decision not to many because he hates change of any kind, and is happy to continue living with his youngest daughter for the rest of his life. Mr.Woodhouse believes Emma is the most intelligent and gentle young woman in the world.
Emma's mother died when Emma was five years old. Since that time, Emma and her sister had been cared for by a nanny,someone to watch over and care for them. Their nanny's name was Miss Taylor, who loved Emma and Isabella as a mother would- Eight years later, Isabella married and moved to London, sixteen miles away from Hartfield, Throughout the next seven years, Miss Taylor became Emma's best friend, and the two women spent every day together. Mr. Woodhouseand Miss Taylor gave Emma all she desired, and always agreed with Emma.Therefore, Emma, as well, believed her opinions to be correct and fair.
When Emma was twenty-one years old, Miss Taylor married Mr. Weston, a man of fifty years old, living in Highbury.
Emma was a bit upset after Miss Taylor got married because Miss Taylor was her best friend, who she spend every day with. After Miss Taylor married, she moved to Mr. Weston's home, so Emma had only her father to talk to and dine with everyday. Mr. Woodhouse was upset, as well, because he hated any changes in his life, and loved Miss Taylor almost as a daughter,

Emma loved her father very much, but Miss Taylor was her best friend, and throughout her life, Miss Taylor was the person she would talk to most. Every evening, after finishing dinner, Emma's father would go to sleep, and Emma would then sit alone, thinking about how much she missed Miss Taylor. October and November were especially lonely for Emma because her sister would not come to Hartfield until Christmas with her husband and children.


Emma smiled and laughed with her father, so he would not be upset that Miss Taylor had moved away, but Mr Woodhouse believed Miss Taylor was unhappy with her decision because it was a change in her life, and Mr.Woodhouse believed everyone shared his beliefs.


“Poor Miss Taylor! I wish she were here again. What a pity it is that Mr. Weston thought to marry her!”
"I cannot agree with you, papa; you know I cannot- Mr. Weston is such a happy and pleasant man；he deserves a good wife.”
The night after Miss Taylor left the Woodhouse home, Emma and her father were unhappy about Miss Taylor's leaving. The two decided to play a game, but Mr. George Knightley, the older brother of Isabella's husband, came to visit. George Knightley lived a mile away, at Donwell manor, and often came to visit the Woodhouse home He knew Mr. Woodhouse and his daughter would be upset about MissTaylo’s leaving, so he came to entertain them.
Mr .Knightley thought Emma was intelligent and caring, as everyone who knew Emma did, but he knew Emma had faults, which no one else believed .He told Emma his opinions, although he often disagreed with her, while most others agreed with her completely.
Knightley loves to find fault with me, you know — in a joke — it is all a joke," Emma told her father that night.
"Emma knows I never flatter her," said Mr. Knightley.
Although Emma is upset that Miss Taylor has moved away, she is content with herself because she introduced Miss Taylor to her new husband, Mr. Weston, four years before. Emma believes that she is responsible for the happiness between Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston because the two met through Emma. Mr. Knightley disagrees with Emma; he believes Emma is not responsible for the marriage because it was luck, not Emma, who decided the match. Though Emma and Mr.Knightley disagree on who is responsible for the marriage, Mr .Woodhouse dislikes any further match-making- As Mr. Woodhouse hates any changes in his life, he wants Emma to stop finding husbands and wives for her in ends,
"But, my dear, pray do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up families."
“Only one more, papa, only for Mr. Elton/'
Mr. Elton had lived in Highbury for over a year, but was still unmarried at the age of twenty-six or seven. He was charming, handsome, and respected in Highbury, but still hadn't found a wife.
Mr. Knightley agrees with Mr. Woodhouse's dislike for Emma's match-making .Leave him to choose his own wife."

CHAPTER TWO
Mr. weston was born in Highbury, and spent his life living and working there. Everyone who knew him loved him dearly. Many years ago, he had been in military service, and was called Captain Weston. During that time, he met his first wife, Miss Churchill, who fell in love with him very quickly. The two married, but Miss Churchill's parents were not happy. They believed their daughter could marry someone with more wealth, but Miss Churchill had made her decision. Unfortunalely,  Miss Churchill soon missed the riches of her life as a Churchill.
After three years, Mrs. Weston died, and Mr. Weston had a young child, Frank, to care for. However, Mrs. Weston's parents, the Churchills, agreed to raise the boy as their son. Soon after, Mr. Weston left the military. For the next eighteen to twenty years, he lived cheerfully in Highbury. He would spend his time doing what he pleased. Many years later, he met Miss Taylor, who he fell in love with and married.
Mr. Weston had planned for many years to buy a piece of land, which was called " Randalls." He decided that he would not marry again until he bought the land, He had never been an unhappy man, but after he bought Randalls and married again, he was content with his life.
Mr Weston's son, Frank, had been living with the Churchills, and had never visited Highbury since. The people of Highbury were all curious lo meet this young man. Young Frank had become a Churchill in every way, and when he became an adult, took the name Frank Churchill, Everyone in Highbury believed that Frank would come to visit for his father's wedding. Young Frank had written his new mother a letter, a handsome-looking letter that the towns people talked of often.


The new Mrs- Weston was excited about her good fortune in marrying Mr. Weston, but often thought of Emma. Mrs. Weston knew Emma missed her, but believed Emma had a strong spirit.
CHAPTER THREE
Mr Woodhouse was a social man, who loved when his friends visited his home. Although, leaving his home late in the evening often frightened him, and .he hated large groups of people. Very often, the Woodhouses invited some close friends to their home to dine. Emma was pleased with these dinner parties because Mrs. Weston frequently came, as well as Mr. George Knightley, who lived nearby at Donwell Abbey manor. Young Mr. Elton always came for the evening parties, as well as Mrs. and Miss Bates, and Mrs. Goddard. Mrs. Bates, a widow of the former minister of Highbury, lived with her unmarried daughter, Miss Bates. Mrs. Goddard was in charge of a local school for girls.


One morning, Mrs. Goddard sent Emma a note, requesting to bring a student, Miss Harriet Smith. Emma was delighted to have the seventeen-year-old girl come- She had seen Miss Smith many times, but had never spoken to the young beauty- Miss Smith had lived at Mrs. Goddard's school for many years. Her parents were unknown to everyone in Highbury, including herself


During the dinner party, Mr. Woodhouse was upset because he thought large dinners to be unhealthy. Throughout the dinner, he made suggestions to guests to keep in good health.


I do not think you should eat the custard .Mrs. GoddaM, what say you to half a glass of wine?"


Emma admired Miss Smith's beauty and manners throughout the dinner Emma soon decided she would find the young Miss Smith a husband. Emma had heard that Miss Smith had been spending time with a young man called Mr. Robert Martin- His family was renting a farm from ML Knightley, who thought the family was quite respectable- However, Emma believed the young Miss Harriet Smith could find a better husband, one with more education and wealth. Harriet was pleased to be invited to such a fancy dinner party, and hoped to become good friends with Emma Woodhouse.