[Emma] Becoming Jane Fairfax

"Jane, don't be afraid." Frank whispered in Wei Lai's ear.

Wei Lai had already beaten him up in his heart and gave him a blank look.

[I said, brother, you are covering my mouth like a robber, can I not be afraid? 】

Wei Lai struggled twice, and Frank's hand began to loosen, but he still didn't let her go. She raised her elbow and pressed it hard against his stomach. Frank didn't expect Jane to do this, and cried out "ah".

Wei Lai's heart stopped beating in fright.

Harriet was still in the study.

"Miss Fairfax, are you there? Are you calling?" Harriet's footsteps came from far and near.

Wei Lai panicked, it was already too late to hide such a living person as Frank.

Harriet's footsteps came closer and closer.

Getting closer……

more and more...

"Miss Smith." Wei Lai stood up suddenly, Harriet was startled.

"Miss Fairfax, are you still here? Are you okay? I was frightened just now. Did you hear that? Someone called out. Who could it be?"

"It's me." Wei Lai said, "I called you. It's really rude. I was also scared just now. When I came here, I found that there was another person in the study."

Harriet clutched her chest in horror: "God, there is another person...Mr. Frank Churchill!?"

Frank appeared behind Wei Lai and deliberately stood away from her: "I'm so sorry for scaring you. I didn't expect someone else to come in the study. I came to talk to Mr. Knightley. I left, but I heard that Donwell's study room is worth seeing, so I thought I'd already come, so I came in, and apologized to you again."

The person in the study room was Frank Churchill. Harriet heaved a sigh of relief, smiled and waved her hands: "It's okay, Mr. Churchill, I thought Donwell was a thief. I heard that there was another one in Highbury a few days ago." A house has been broken into by burglars, it's terrible. I can't sleep at night, and Miss Woodhouse is very kind, and knows I'm afraid, and invites me to stay at Hatfield for a few days, but how can I bother her so easily, oh, It's scary just thinking about it."

Wei Lai didn't hear the news that someone in Highbury was burglarized, so she said absently: "Yeah, it's terrible, you better be careful."

She chose a novel and sat with Harriet by the window.Frank didn't leave, but also found a chair and sat down to read a book.

Flipping through the novel page by page, Wei Lai didn't read a single word. She suddenly felt tired and didn't know the meaning of the tug-of-war between herself and Frank.

During this period of time, he didn't come to her, and he didn't bring up the matter of getting married again. She naively thought that her method of procrastination had begun to work. After a while, she would add more fire, and the matter of the marriage contract could be dropped .Unexpectedly, Frank just held back, otherwise he would not have come to Tangwell quietly.

It wasn't that she was narcissistic, she really didn't believe that Frank had come to talk to Mr. Knightley.

Wei Lai was upset and wanted to grab a handful of hair and scream a few more times.

Suddenly, Frank stood up, and the chair made a harsh sound on the ground.Wei Lai and Harriet looked up at him from the book at the same time.

Frank took the book and walked towards Wei Lai.

What does he want to do?

Wei Lai shrank back subconsciously.

"Miss Fairfax, I heard that you are very knowledgeable. I have a question that I don't understand. Can you answer one or two questions for me?"

"Mr. Churchill has won the award. I can't be considered a erudition. It is precisely because I don't understand a lot of knowledge that I came to Downwell to borrow books from Mr. Knightley."

"Miss Fairfax, you are too modest." Harriet interrupted suddenly, "If you are not learned and talented, then someone like me is really useless, Miss Fairfax, you can help Mr. Churchill Let's take a look."

Harriet knew that Jane wanted to help her, and she was also willing to help her spread the word.

When Harriet said this, Wei Lai's intention to refuse was too obvious.

"Miss Fairfax, thank you in advance, this is it." Frank put the open book in front of her, and nodded.

Wei Lai took a deep breath and looked down——

WTF? ? ?

again!

There was a note in the book, this time it was not blank paper, but a few lines of words were clearly written on it.

Wei Lai was in no mood to read what was written on the note, her inner anxiety expanded infinitely, and she just wanted to kill Frank Churchill.

Didn't he see Harriet sitting there?He was still playing such tricks under Harriet's nose.Can her distressed and anxious appearance please him?

"Miss Fairfax, can you answer me?" Frank urged her.

Wei Lai closed his eyes, thinking that it would be a one-shot anyway, and the worst result would be that their engagement would be known by the public before it was cancelled. She is a modern person, what are you afraid of!

She simply took the book, picked up the note, and read it openly.

Frank hadn't expected her to do this, and was a little surprised.

【Dear Jane, I have received a letter from my aunt. Her condition has worsened. I have to leave Highbury. When I go back this time, I will confess everything to my uncle and aunt and tell them about our engagement.I believe that we will be able to be together in a fair and bright manner in the near future. 】

Wei Lai's brain exploded with a bang.

It's over, it's over, it's no use asking God to bless you.

At this moment, she really hoped that Harriet would leave the study. She could have a good discussion with Frank, or have a big fight.

thump—

A big clock in the corner of the study struck the hour on the hour, as if telling Wei Lai that everything was coming to an end.

"Mr. Churchill, I'm sorry, my ability is limited, and I can't answer your question." Wei Lai closed the book calmly and returned it to him. Without looking at him, he turned to Harriet and said, "I found I need a book and I'm going home, Miss Smith, do you want to come together?"

"Of course." Harriet hurriedly stood up, "Mr. Churchill, let's go first, Miss Fairfax, please wait for me."

Frank left two days later, and as soon as he left, the dance that the folks in Highbury were eagerly looking forward to was put on hold indefinitely, and Emma was the most disappointed.

Harriet told Wei Lai: "Miss Woodhouse has been sad for several days because of the cancellation of the ball. No wonder, everything is good in Highbury, but there is a lack of suitable social activities. The ball is so beautiful, it makes people happy to think about it. Miss Woodhouse did not go to deliver bread and potatoes to those poor poor people, but Mrs. Weston and I, she was never absent, so it can be seen that she was really sad because of the cancellation of the ball. , poor Miss Woodhouse."

Ever since Wei Lai helped Harriet once, Harriet regarded her as a friend as important as Emma, ​​and came back to Bates' house as a guest from time to time.

Frank wanted to tell his aunt about the engagement, and Wei Lai finally came out of his depressed and irritable mood after being depressed for a few days because——

She's about to get paid.

Coming out of the post office, Wei Lai found a secluded place without waiting to go home, and couldn't wait to see how much of the first money she earned in this era.

She frantically took out the money—

1 pound 20 shillings.

Looking at the real coins lying in his hand, Wei Lai felt a little at a loss for a while.

The son of Mrs. Johnson next door got married and bought a pair of rings for £3, which Miss Bates envied for a long time.In this way, her monthly manuscript fee can buy a ring.

That is to say-

She can support herself now!

At least you don't have to rely on the meager property of the Bates family to eat, and you can even buy things for Miss Bates and Mrs. Bates.

The gloom of the past few days was swept away by this 1 pound.

Wei Lai put away the money and the letter, and hummed a little tune in her heart. After walking two steps, she suddenly heard someone calling her: "Miss Fairfax, Miss Fairfax—"

This noisy voice...

Oh My God.

A strong smell of perfume hit his face, and Wei Lai almost couldn't open his eyes.

Mrs. Elton was dressed like a Christmas tree, and Mr. Elton walked beside her like a eunuch with his hands on his shoulders.

"Miss Fairfax, are you alone?"

Wei Lai smiled politely: "Yes, Mr. Elton, Mrs. Elton, I went for a walk alone. Have you gone shopping?"

"Yes, I bought some things for our new house. After shopping for a long time, I found that there was nothing to buy." Mrs. Elton took Wei Lai's arm as she spoke.

Wei Lai: "........."

Her whole body stiffened, and Mrs. Elton did not notice it.

"It may be that I have lived in Bath for too long, and I have inadvertently compared everything with Bath. The variety of goods in the Highbury store is really lacklustre. I still have to go to London when I have time. Although it is very troublesome, Egypt Mr. Leon will never allow me to be so tired, but there are some things that a home must have, so that it can be called a home." Wei Lai walked in the direction of home, and she followed, "Oh, yes, Jane, I listen Said you were going to be a governess, didn't you?"

simple?

Wei Lai looked at her speechlessly. We've only met for the second time. The relationship has advanced by leaps and bounds to the point of calling her by name?

"Yeah, that's what I intended."

"What a fine girl, a governess would be perfect for you. Jane, do you need my help?"

"Need not……"

"I know a lot of friends in Bath, and I only need a letter or two to introduce you to a good family." Mrs. Elton remembered something, her eyes lit up with surprise, "By the way, it should be Well, Jane, listen to me, a good friend of mine, now Mrs. Patrick, has just given birth to a daughter and is in need of a governess, why don't I introduce you to her..."

"Mrs. Elton, no need..."

"No trouble, really no trouble, I will definitely help you find a good job, that's it, believe me, Mrs. Patrick is very..."

What a hell!

Can you stop talking to yourself?

"Mrs. Elton!" Wei Lai shouted unbearably.

Both the Eltons were stunned, and Mrs. Elton smiled awkwardly: "Jane?"

Wei Lai softened his tone and pointed upwards: "My house has arrived."

"This is your home. I heard you live with your grandmother and aunt, isn't it?" Mrs. Elton glanced up contemptuously. "Miss Fairfax, please forgive me for not being able to visit Bates. Mrs. and Miss Bates are gone, and my husband has carried too much, and I can't bear him to be tired. Let us go, my dear, Miss Fairfax, and good-bye."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Emma, ​​Harriet and Mr. Knightley walking over with things.

"Miss Fairfax, have you gone for a walk? Just in time, you see—" Harriet held up a sack. "Here are oranges from Manchester, sent by Mr. Knightley." Yes, there is also the beef from Emma's family, which was just killed yesterday, and it is all given to your family."

"Thank you so much." Wei Lai took the things over, and the Christmas tree sprang out from behind her.

"Oranges from Manchester?" Mrs. Elton looked into the sack curiously.

Mr. Knightley nodded politely in response, then turned to Wei Lai and said, "It's the oranges that Lance sent today. There are two big boxes. I can't finish them all by myself."

"These oranges are juicy and sweet. I tasted them at Donwell last night, when Mr. Amedeo brought them, and believe me, they are very good." Emma regained her old vigor.

What made Wei Lai even more happy was that she was with Mr. Knightley last night.

Mrs. Elton was unwilling to be forgotten: "Mr. Amedeo? Who is it? Also a resident of Highbury?"

Emma turned her head and refused to answer.

"No, it's my friend, he lives in London," Knightley said.

Mrs. Elton didn't ask any more questions, her eyes rolled around, showing obvious interest in Mr. Amedeo.

Wei Lai was not interested in chatting with her anymore: "Miss Woodhouse, Miss Smith, Mr. Knightley, please go upstairs and sit down. You have generously sent so many good things, I should treat you well."

Mr. Knightley opened the door for the ladies in a gentlemanly manner.

Wei Lai was the first to enter.

Suddenly, a hand behind her reached out to take her arm, and Mrs. Elton said: "Honey, you go home first, everyone is here, I can't be absent, Jane is my friend, I should Go and visit her family, or it will look rude to us."

"simple?"

Emma and Harriet were slightly taken aback.

Wei Lai staggered and almost fell.

The author has something to say: Regarding the manuscript fee, the information I found is that Jane Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice" got 110 pounds, and her publisher made 450 pounds on this book. It was a lot of money, and the annual salary of a tutor at that time was 20-30 pounds.

However, I haven’t found out how much the short stories in newspapers or magazines cost, so it shouldn’t be too low. Dickens was famous for writing serials for newspapers, and he supported his family on the royalties.