Edgar and Emma

Edgar and Emma
a tale.


CHAPTER THE FIRST

"I cannot imagine," said Sir Godfrey to his Lady, "why we continue in such deplorable Lodgings as these, in a paltry Market-town, while we have 3 good Houses of our own situated in some of the finest parts of England, and perfectly ready to receive us!"
"'I'm sure, Sir Godfrey," replied Lady Marlow, "it has been much against my inclination that we have staid here so long; or why we should ever have come at all indeed, has been to me a wonder, as none of our Houses have been in the least want of repair."
"Nay, my dear," answered Sir Godfrey, "you are the last person who ought to be displeased with what was always meant as a compliment to you; for you cannot but be sensible of the very great inconvenience your Daughters and I have been put to during the 2 years we have remained crowded in these Lodgings in order to give you pleasure."
"My dear," replied Lady Marlow, "How can you stand and tell such lies, when you very well know that it was merely to oblige the Girls and you, that I left a most commodious House situated in a most delightfull Country and surrounded by a most agreable Neighbourhood, to live 2 years cramped up in Lodgings three pair of stairs high, in a smokey and unwholesome town, which has given me a continual fever and almost thrown me into a Consumption."
As, after a few more speeches on both sides they could not determine which was the most to blame, they prudently laid aside the debate, and having packed up their Cloathes and paid their rent, they set out the next morning with their 2 Daughters for their seat in Sussex.
Sir Godfrey and Lady Marlow were indeed very sensible people and tho' (as in this instance) like many other sensible People, they sometimes did a foolish thing, yet in general their actions were guided by Prudence and regulated by discretion.
After a Journey of two Days and a half they arrived at Marlhurst in good health & high spirits; so overjoyed were they all to inhabit again a place, they had left with mutual regret for two years, that they ordered the bells to be rung and distributed ninepence among the Ringers.
Edgar ed Emma
racconto


CAPITOLO PRIMO

"Non riesco a capire", disse Sir Godfrey a sua Moglie, "perché restiamo in questo deplorevole Appartamento in affitto, in una squallida cittadina di mercato, quando abbiamo 3 belle Case di nostra proprietà situate in alcune delle più belle zone dell'Inghilterra, e perfettamente in grado di accoglierci!"
"Sono certa, Sir Godfrey", replicò Lady Marlow, "che essere rimasti qui così a lungo è stato contro ogni mio desiderio; e per la verità il fatto in sé di esserci venuti, mi è parso un mistero, visto che nessuna delle nostre Case aveva bisogno della pur minima riparazione."
"No, mia cara", rispose Sir Godfrey, "voi siete l'ultima persona a dover essere scontenta per ciò che è sempre stato inteso come un omaggio a voi; perché non potete non essere consapevole del grande disagio che le vostre Figlie e io abbiamo sopportato durante i 2 anni in cui siamo rimasti accalcati in questo Appartamento allo scopo di far piacere a voi."
"Mio caro", replicò Lady Marlow, "Come potete star lì e dire simili bugie, quando sapete molto bene che è stato solo per compiacere le Ragazze e voi, che ho lasciato la più spaziosa della Case situata della più deliziosa delle Regioni e circondata dal più gradevole dei Vicinati, per vivere 2 anni confinata in un Appartamento al terzo piano, in una cittadina fumosa e malsana, che mi ha procurato una febbre continua e mi ha quasi portato alla Consunzione."
Visto che, dopo qualche altra battuta da entrambe le parti non furono capaci di decidere chi fosse più da biasimare, accantonarono prudentemente la discussione, e dopo aver impacchettato gli Abiti e pagato l'affitto, partirono il mattino successivo insieme alle 2 Figlie per la loro residenza nel Sussex.
Sir Godfrey e Lady Marlow erano in verità persone molto assennate e sebbene (come in questo caso) analogamente a molte altre Persone assennate, talvolta facessero delle sciocchezze, in generale i loro comportamenti erano guidati dalla Prudenza e regolati dalla discrezione.
Dopo un Viaggio di due Giorni e mezzo arrivarono a Marlhust in buona salute e di ottimo umore; erano tutti talmente felici di tornare ad abitare in un luogo, che avevano lasciato con mutuo dispiacere per due anni, che ordinarono di far suonare le campane e distribuirono nove pence ai Campanari.
CHAPTER THE SECOND

The news of their arrival being quickly spread throughout the Country, brought them in a few Days visits of congratulation from every family in it.
Amongst the rest came the inhabitants of Willmot Lodge a beautifull Villa not far from Marlhurst. Mr Willmot was the representative of a very ancient Family and possessed besides his paternal Estate, a considerable share in a Lead mine and a ticket in the Lottery. His Lady was an agreable Woman. Their Children were too numerous to be particularly described; it is sufficient to say that in general they were virtuously inclined and not given to any wicked ways. Their family being too large to accompany them in every visit, they took nine with them alternately. When their Coach stopped at Sir Godfrey's door, the Miss Marlow's Hearts throbbed in the eager expectation of once more beholding a family so dear to them. Emma the youngest (who was more particularly interested in their arrival, being attached to their eldest Son) continued at her Dressing-room window in anxious Hopes of seeing young Edgar descend from the Carriage.
Mr and Mrs Willmot with their three eldest Daughters first appeared - Emma began to tremble -. Robert, Richard, Ralph, and Rodolphus followed - Emma turned pale -. Their two youngest Girls were lifted from the Coach - -Emma sunk breathless on a Sopha. A footman came to announce to her the arrival of Company; her heart was too full to contain its afflictions. A confidante was necessary - In Thomas she hoped to experience a faithfull one - for one she must have and Thomas was the only one at Hand. To him she unbosomed herself without restraint and after owning her passion for young Willmot, requested his advice in what manner she should conduct herself in the melancholy Disappointment under which she laboured.
Thomas, who would gladly have been excused from listening to her complaint, begged leave to decline giving any advice concerning it, which much against her will, she was obliged to comply with.
Having dispatched him therefore with many injunctions of secrecy, she descended with a heavy heart into the Parlour, where she found the good Party seated in a social Manner round a blazing fire.
CAPITOLO SECONDO

La notizia del loro arrivo si sparse rapidamente per tutto il Circondario, procurando loro in pochi Giorni visite di congratulazione da tutte le famiglie del luogo.
Fra gli altri vennero i proprietari di Willmot Lodge una bella Villa non lontana da Malhurst. Mr Willmot era il rappresentante di una Famiglia molto antica e possedeva oltre alla Proprietà paterna, una quota considerevole in una miniera di Piombo e un intero biglietto della Lotteria. Sua Moglie era una Donna simpatica. I Figli erano troppo numerosi per essere descritti in dettaglio; è sufficiente dire che nel complesso erano inclini alla virtù e non erano dediti a nessun cattivo comportamento. Essendo la famiglia troppo numerosa per accompagnarli in tutte le visite, ne portavano con loro nove alla volta. Quando la loro Carrozza si fermò davanti alla porta di Sir Godfrey, i Cuori delle signorine Marlow palpitarono nell'impaziente attesa di vedere ancora una volta una famiglia a loro così cara. Emma, la più giovane (che era particolarmente interessata al loro arrivo, essendo innamorata del loro Primogenito) rimase alla finestra del suo Spogliatoio in ansiosa Attesa di vedere il giovane Edgar scendere dalla Carrozza.
Per primi apparvero Mr e Mrs Willmot con le tre Figlie maggiori - Emma cominciò a tremare -. Seguirono Robert, Richard, Ralph e Rodolphus - Emma impallidì -. Le due Ragazze più giovani vennero fatte scendere dalla Carrozza - Emma sprofondò senza fiato in un Sofà. Un valletto venne ad annunciarle l'arrivo della Comitiva; il suo cuore era troppo gonfio per trattenere il tormento. Ci voleva un confidente - In Thomas sperò di trovarne uno fidato - perché qualcuno doveva essere e Thomas era il solo a portata di Mano. A lui aprì il suo cuore senza riserve e dopo aver confessato la sua passione per il giovane Willmot, gli chiese consiglio sul modo di comportarsi nella malinconica Delusione di cui era vittima.
Thomas, che avrebbe preferito essere esonerato dall'ascoltare i suoi lamenti, chiese il permesso di declinare la richiesta di consigli sull'argomento, che molto malvolentieri, ella fu costretta ad accordare.
Quindi, dopo averlo congedato con molte ingiunzioni di segretezza, scese col cuore pesante in Salotto, dove trovò la bella Compagnia seduta cordialmente intorno al fuoco scoppiettante.
CHAPTER THE THIRD

Emma had continued in the Parlour some time before she could summon up sufficient courage to ask Mrs Willmot after the rest of her family; and when she did, it was in so low, so faltering a voice that no one knew she spoke. Dejected by the ill success of her first attempt she made no other, till on Mrs Willmots desiring one of the little Girls to ring the bell for their Carriage, she stepped across the room and seizing the string said in a resolute manner.
"Mrs Willmot, you do not stir from this House till you let me know how all the rest of your family do, particularly your eldest son."
They were all greatly surprised by such an unexpected address and the more so, on account of the manner in which it was spoken; but Emma, who would not be again disappointed, requesting an answer, Mrs Willmot made the following eloquent oration.
"Our children are all extremely well but at present most of them from home. Amy is with my sister Clayton. Sam at Eton. David with his Uncle John. Jem and Will at Winchester. Kitty at Queen's Square. Ned with his Grandmother. Hetty and Patty in a convent at Brussells. Edgar at college, Peter at Nurse, and all the rest (except the nine here) at home."
It was with difficulty that Emma could refrain from tears on hearing of the absence of Edgar; she remained however tolerably composed till the Willmot's were gone when having no check to the overflowings of her greif, she gave free vent to them, and retiring to her own room, continued in tears the remainder of her Life.
F I N I S.

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