爱玛 27~30

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Emma was very pleased with the Coles' dinner party. The next day, Harriet came to the Woodhouse home for a visit.
“Oh, I wish I could play as well as you and Miss Fairfax! Harriet told her friend,
“ Harriet, you know Miss Fairfax's playing is well above mine."
"Oh no, I think you play better than Miss Fairfax/'
"That is quite impossible, Harriet."
After some lime, Harriet told Emma she had heard the night before that Mr. Martin had dined with the Coxes, who have an unmarried daughter, Anne Cox. This news upset the poor girl that evening.
“ Perhaps Anne Cox would be very glad to marry Mr. Martin," Harriet said, worriedly.
“ That is possible; she is the most impolite girl in Highbury."
That day, Harriet had to return to Ford's, where she had last seen Mr. Martin- Emma thought she should go with her friend; she was afraid Harriet might see Mr. Martin. While at Ford's, the girls met Mrs. Weston and Miss Batea, who invited them to the Bates' home to hear Jane play the pianoforte. Jane was waiting at the Bate/ home with Mr. Frank Churchill and Mrs. Bates.
On the walk back to the Bales' home, Miss Bates told the women about Mr. Knightley's visit to their home yesterday. He had apples brought to the house; he knew the Bates often cooked apples, and thought they might enjoy some. Emma remembered her conversation with Mrs. Weston; perhaps Mr. Knightley was in love with Jane Fairfax,


CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The Bates sitting room was quite peaceful when Mrs.Weston and Miss Bates returned with Emma and Harriet. Frank Churchill had been fixing Mrs. Bates glasses, while Jane was playing the pianoforte.
“ What! '' said Mrs. Weston, “ Frank, you have not finished fixing Mrs. Bates glasses yet? You started fixing them before we left the house/*
"I stopped to help Miss Fairfax in making her instrument stand steadily," he replied, and then continued, " Miss Fairfax, it would give us all pleasure if you would play one of the songs we danced to last night. Although, you looked rather tired the whole evening, but I was so upset when you stopped dancing."
She played.
"What happiness this song brings me. I believe we danced to this song at Weymouth." he said.
She looked up at him for a moment, quite surprised, and played somethmg else. He took some of her music, and turned to Emma to say:
"This music was sent with the instrument. Whoever sent this knew that Miss Fairfax has no music here. It shows that this person cares deeply for Miss Fairfax."
Emma wished he would stop discussing the pianoforte. When Emma turned to Jane Fairfax, she saw her smiling, a smile of secret delight. Emma knew Jane Fairfax was delighted with some forbidden pleasure, which she assumed to be Jane's supposed love for Mr- Dixon.
"Jane must understand you are speaking of Mr. Dixon, you are embarrassing her,” Emma warned Mr. ChurchilL
"I hope she understands my meaning, I am not ashamed.”
Shortly afterwards, Miss Bates saw Mr. Knightley nearby outside.
Mr. Knightley, please come in for a visit," Miss Bates called to him.
"How do you do? How is your niece, the lovely Miss Fairfax? How is she today? Tell me how Miss Fairfax is?” he began.
"Oh, please do come in," she again requested,
“ Well," said he, “ How come in for five minutes, perhaps.”
"Mrs. Weston and Mr- Frank Churchill are here, loo!”
“No, not now, I must go now. I must go immediately, goodbye/' and Mr. Knightley then left immediately.


CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Frank Churchill had danced once at Highbury, and wished to dance again. One evening at the Westons, he suggested that they plan another dance. The Westons and Miss Woodhouse thought another dance would be a wonderful idea, Mr. Woodhouse, however, disagreed.
“Oh, no," said he, "Emma would catch a cold, and so would poor little Harriet, and so would you all. Do not tell his father, but young Mr. Churchill (speaking in a quiet voice) is quite thoughtless/
Some time later, Mr. Churchill began, “ Well, Miss Woodhouse, I hope you will dance with me at the next dance,"
Emma was delighted. Soon after, she heard Mr. Weston whisper to his wife:
 He has asked her, my dear. I knew he would!”
The Westons, Mr. Churchill, and Miss Woodhouse began to make plans for the dance. Frank sent a letter to his aunt and uncle, requesting to stay in Highbury for a few days longer, which they could not refuse. And a delightful dance was planned.


CHAPTER THIRTY
AIthough Frank Churchill sent a letter to his relatives, requesting a few days longer in Highbury, Emma feared that the Churchills might not allow him to stay. The Churchills were upset about his long stay, but they did allow it which pleased Emma. Soon, she announced the plans for the dance to Mr. George Knightley. Of course, he did not share in her excitement. Perhaps he was upset he was not invited to plan the event, or perhaps he just did not enjoy dances- The dance did not seem to interest him.
“Yes, I will join the party, but I would much prefer to sit at home reading."
It upset Emma that he did not share her excitement, but she was content that he would prefer to sit home reading than spend time with Jane Fairfax- She was more and more convinced that Mrs. Weston was mistaken. Emma felt that Mr. Knightley was not interested in Jane Fairfax.
Two days after the planning began, a letter arrived from Mr. Churchill, explaining to his nephew, that Mrs. Churchill was quite ill. The letter requested that Frank Churchill return home immediately. He could not refuse the request. Frank Churchill was not upset; he knew her illnesses occurred for her own convenience. She could not refuse her nephew's request to remain in Highbury longer, so she used her illness to force his return.
Before his departure, he visited the Westons' friends in Highbury to say his goodbyes. Soon after breakfast, he arrived at the Woodhouse home to say goodbye.
“You must return to Highbury soon,' Emma told him.
"I do not know when I shall return. Perhaps if my uncle and aunt travel this spring, but I am afraid they may not travel/*
“ Now we must forget about our dance/' she said, disappointed.
“If I come again. we will have our dance, but soon my father will join me here, and I will return to the Churchills”
You will not visit Miss Fairfax and Miss Bates?
 “Yes, I have visited them, but Miss Bates was out- I felt it impossible to go in until she returned. It was better to pay my visit, then —”
He stopped, and then walked to the window.
“Miss Woodhouse, I think you can understand —”
He looked at her. She did not know what to say. He seemed to want to tell her something important.
Yes, you are right to visit the Bates and Miss Fairfax, then —“
He was silent. She believed he was looking at her, proba¬bly thinking of what she said. She heard him sigh. He stood up and looked at her. He was more in love with her than Emma had thought. Then, before either spoke, Mr. Woodhouse came in the room. Mr. Weston arrived shortly after, and a friendly goodbye was said.
Emma was sad that he left. They had met almost every day since his arrival. And, before his departure, lie had almost told her he loved her. She decided that perhaps she must be a little in love with him, as well,
Well/ she thought to herself, “Mr Knightley will be happy there .will be no dance. Now, he can sit at home reading if he likes.”
The next time she saw Jane Fairfax, the girl looked quite ill. Her aunt declared that if the dance had taken place, her sick niece could not attend, being in such poor health.