CHAPTER IX
關燈
小
中
大
otherviewofman,mysecondbrings,
Beholdhimthere,themonarchoftheseas!
Butah!united,whatreversewehave!
Man’sboastedpowerandfreedom,allareflown
Lordoftheearthandsea,hebendsaslave,
Andwoman,lovelywoman,reignsalone.
Thyreadywitthewordwillsoonsupply,
Mayitsapprovalbeaminthatsofteye!
Shecasthereyeoverit,pondered,caughtthemeaning,readitthroughagaintobequitecertain,andquitemistressofthelines,andthenpassingittoHarriet,sathappilysmiling,andsayingtoherself,whileHarrietwaspuzzlingoverthepaperinalltheconfusionofhopeanddulness,“Verywell,Mr.Elton,verywellindeed.Ihavereadworsecharades.Courtship—averygoodhint.Igiveyoucreditforit.Thisisfeelingyourway.Thisissayingveryplainly—‘Pray,MissSmith,givemeleavetopaymyaddressestoyou.Approvemycharadeandmyintentionsinthesameglance.’
Mayitsapprovalbeaminthatsofteye!
Harrietexactly.Softistheverywordforhereye—ofallepithets,thejustestthatcouldbegiven.
Thyreadywitthewordwillsoonsupply.
Humph—Harriet’sreadywit!Allthebetter.Amanmustbeverymuchinlove,indeed,todescribeherso.Ah!Mr.Knightley,IwishyouhadthebenefitofthisIthinkthiswouldconvinceyou.Foronceinyourlifeyouwouldbeobligedtoownyourselfmistaken.Anexcellentcharadeindeed!andverymuchtothepurpose.Thingsmustcometoacrisissoonnow.”
Shewasobligedtobreakofffromtheseverypleasantobservations,whichwereotherwiseofasorttorunintogreatlength,bytheeagernessofHarriet’swonderingquestions.
“Whatcanitbe,MissWoodhouse?—whatcanitbe?Ihavenotanidea—Icannotguessitintheleast.Whatcanitpossiblybe?Dotrytofinditout,MissWoodhouse.Dohelpme.Ineversawanythingsohard.Isitkingdom?Iwonderwhothefriendwas—andwhocouldbetheyounglady.Doyouthinkitisagoodone?Canitbewoman?
Andwoman,lovelywoman,reignsalone.
CanitbeNeptune?
Beholdhimthere,themonarchoftheseas!
Oratrident?oramermaid?orashark?Oh,no!sharkisonlyonesyllable.Itmustbeveryclever,orhewouldnothavebroughtit.Oh!MissWoodhouse,doyouthinkweshalleverfinditout?”
“Mermaidsandsharks!Nonsense!MydearHarriet,whatareyouthinkingof?Wherewouldbetheuseofhisbringingusacharademadebyafrienduponamermaidorashark?Givemethepaperandlisten.
ForMiss———,readMissSmith.
Myfirstdisplaysthewealthandpompofkings,
Lordsoftheearth!theirluxuryandease.
Thatiscourt.
Anotherviewofman,mysecondbrings
Beholdhimthere,themonarchoftheseas!
Thatisship—plainasitcanbe.—Nowforthecream.
Butah!united,(courtship,youknow,)whatreversewehave!
Man’sboastedpowerandfreedom,allareflown.
Lordoftheearthandsea,hebendsaslave,
Andwoman,lovelywoman,reignsalone.
Averypropercompliment!—andthenfollowstheapplication,whichIthink,mydearHarriet,youcannotfindmuchdifficultyincomprehending.Readitincomforttoyourself.Therecanbenodoubtofitsbeingwrittenforyouandtoyou.”
Harrietcouldnotlongresistsodelightfulapersuasion.Shereadtheconcludinglines,andwasallflutterandhappiness.Shecouldnotspeak.Butshewasnotwantedtospeak.Itwasenoughforhertofeel.Emmaspokeforher.
“Thereissopointed,andsoparticularameaninginthiscompliment,”saidshe,“thatIcannothaveadoubtastoMr.Elton’sintentions.Youarehisobject—andyouwillsoonreceivethecompletestproofofit.Ithoughtitmustbeso.IthoughtIcouldnotbesodeceivedbutnow,itisclearthestateofhismindisasclearanddecided,asmywishesonthesubjecthavebeeneversinceIknewyou.Yes,Harriet,justsolonghaveIbeenwantingtheverycircumstancetohappenthathashappened.IcouldnevertellwhetheranattachmentbetweenyouandMr.Eltonweremostdesirableormostnatural.Itsprobabilityanditseligibilityhavereallysoequalledeachother!Iamveryhappy.Icongratulateyou,mydearHarriet,withallmyheart.Thisisanattachmentwhichawomanmaywellfeelprideincreating.Thisisaconnexionwhichoffersnothingbutgood.Itwillgiveyoueverythingthatyouwant—consideration,independence,aproperhome—itwillfixyouinthecentreofallyourrealfriends,closetoHartfieldandtome,andconfirmourintimacyforever.This,Harriet,isanalliancewhichcanneverraiseablushineitherofus.”
“DearMissWoodhouse!”—and“DearMissWoodhouse,”wasallthatHarriet,withmanytenderembracescouldarticulateatfirstbutwhentheydidarriveatsomethingmorelikeconversation,itwassufficientlycleartoherfriendthatshesaw,felt,anticipated,andrememberedjustassheought.Mr.Elton’ssuperiorityhadveryampleacknowledgment.
“Whateveryousayisalwaysright,”criedHarriet,“andthereforeIsuppose,andbelieve,andhopeitmustbesobutotherwis
