[Emma] Becoming Jane Fairfax

When Jonas Mayer’s first work was published, some book critics criticized his work as taking a slanted sword, consuming the dark side of society and grandstanding. It won’t be long before he will show his true colors without practical knowledge, and then I will not write a better work than the first one, maybe it will stop writing and disappear soon, and Mayer has not published any work for a month before, which is more like confirming the conjecture of book reviewers.

However, just as Lance and Old Jack expected, once the fourth article "The Magnificent Ball" was published, it was like a drop of water falling into a frying pan, and the entire London literary market boiled.Of course, this is also inseparable from Lance's urgent arrangement before the publication, spreading the news of Mayer's new work, and promoting it in multiple directions, first whetting the appetite of readers and book reviewers.

However, "The Magnificent Ball" has been welcomed by many readers. The newspaper office can receive more than 200 letters to Mayer every day, but it has mixed reviews among book reviewers.

Lydia said: "... I think those book reviewers are too harsh, and they cannot evaluate everyone's works at the level of Shakespeare. Some book reviewers said that Mr. Mayer's writing is poor, and the words he chooses are relatively simple. However, they ignore that most readers are not so educated, and they should prefer popular stories to works that insist on words, as long as the stories are exciting enough."

Lydia is a loyal reader of Mayer, but she doesn't know that the author she likes is sitting next to her, "Take me for example, I like reading books, but I haven't finished reading John Milton yet. Paradise Lost, well, to be precise, only a page or two, every time, and Lance laughed at me about it."

Compared to London where newspapers and magazines are popular, in Highbury, there are not many people who read newspapers every day. According to Emma, ​​Mr. Knightley and Mr. Cole read newspapers every day. Her Father, Mr. Woodhouse reads it once or twice a week, but she herself has no interest in newspapers. She has been absent-minded since Lance talked about newspapers, but when she heard Lydia's words, she seemed to have found a confidant excited.

"Me too! I started reading John Milton's "Paradise Lost" last year, and I only read the first page by the end of this year. Mr. Knightley has criticized me for this. He thinks "Paradise Lost" is a It is a book worth studying more carefully than Shakespeare's works, but I just can't read it. Hearing what Miss Amedeo said, I suddenly became interested in this Mr. Jonas Mayer, and I will read his book when I get back. works, maybe I will like them. Mr. Churchill, when you were in London, did you see the works of this gentleman?"

The water in the teapot ran out. While Lydia was talking, Wei Lai picked up the teapot and went quietly to the kitchen. She was the only one in the kitchen, and she could laugh as much as she wanted.

When she was happy enough, she picked up the teapot and went out, and she heard Frank say: "I seem to have read his work in some newspaper. To be honest, I agree with the reviewer's evaluation of him. Miss Woodhouse, read it yourself." I understand that the writing style is really not good. I can only say that the storyline is more curious and a bit fresh. However, I have only read one article and am not interested in reading his other works. I don’t know what happened to the Londoners. I used to read Shakespeare, but now I actually like this kind of novel. So, I want to leave England and go for a walk, maybe my travel notes will also become popular in London.”

Lance wanted to interrupt Frank's criticism at the risk of being impolite, but Wei Lai just came in with a teapot. Thinking of the relationship between her and Frank, he changed his mind, got up and took the teapot from Wei Lai's hand, and gave it to him. Everyone added tea, and after Frank finished speaking, he said lightly: "Like watching Shakespeare doesn't mean you can't like other works."

"I agree with my brother. However, Mr. Churchill is not wrong. Individuals have their own preferences." Lydia quickly eased the atmosphere, "Miss Woodhouse's tea is very fragrant, and I also like black tea from India."

Frank was keenly aware of Lance's unkindness towards him. He suddenly thought that the Amedeo family ran a newspaper, which seemed to be the "Daily Morning News". He didn't think it was intentional, but Lance might have misunderstood it.But even if he misunderstood, Frank didn't care, he pursed his mouth indifferently: "In my opinion, everything in Hatfield is good, every flower is very beautiful, Miss Woodhouse, you should bring your card Well, it's boring for us to sit here and chat, how about we play cards together?"

Emma was the first to agree. She found a deck of cards from the bamboo basket, and when she turned her head and saw Wei Lai's sleepy look, she asked, "Miss Fairfax, would you like to play cards?"

The room was too warm, and she wanted to sleep even more: "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't. I didn't sleep well last night, and I got up early today. I want to go out for a walk. A little cool breeze can wake me up."

"What troubles can make you lose sleep, Miss Fairfax?" Frank fiddled with the teacup, laughing mockingly, "I thought your troubles were all solved."

Everyone present was taken aback, not understanding the meaning of Frank's words. Mr. Knightley and Lance turned their eyes between Wei Lai and Frank, thoughtfully.

Wei Lai gritted his teeth, pursed his lips and smiled: "Yes, Mr. Churchill, my aunt's leg injury is much better. Dr. Perry said that my aunt recovered faster than he expected. To be honest, I have to take care of my aunt these days. I didn't get a good night's sleep, but after hearing Dr. Perry's words, I immediately felt relieved, but it may be due to inertia. I haven't adjusted my physiological time for a while. Mr. Churchill, thank you for your concern for my aunt, I will convey it on my behalf."

Frank suddenly felt that the Jane in front of him was very strange, different from the girl he met in Weymouth. He was not in the mood to continue, took the card from Emma's hand, and threw it in the center of the table: "Who else is with the girl?" Miss Fairfax, too? You know how to play cards, Miss Smith."

Harriet didn't expect Frank to talk to her suddenly, she nodded awkwardly: "It's not a good game, but I want to give it a try."

Frank started to shuffle the cards, Wei Lai picked up the kettle, added a pot of hot water, and they had already started playing.

As soon as he went out, he was lucky enough to encounter a gust of cold wind. Wei Lai sneezed and closed his clothes tightly.The location of the cabin is good, with mountains and rivers behind it. If it is not the cold winter months, the nearby scenery must be more beautiful.

Wei Lai walked around the hill behind the wooden house. She was afraid of getting lost, so she didn't dare to go far. She felt sleepy and woke up. When she was walking back, she saw a person walking towards her.

Walked in and took a look——

"Mr. Amedeo!?"

Wei Lai didn't realize that her face had been blown red by the cold wind, especially the tip of her nose, which was red. Lance's first glance fell on the tip of her nose, and then he looked down. The reddish lips... He squeezed She clenched her fist and coughed at her mouth: "Miss Fairfax, Miss Woodhouse said you have been out for too long, let me find you back, wear these gloves, your hands are red from the cold gone."

It was only then that Wei Lai noticed that she was holding on to the hem with her hands to prevent the wind from blowing in. The backs of her hands were red from the cold, but she didn't like Dai Lance's gloves, besides, his gloves were too big.

"Mr. Amedeo, thank you for your kindness. You don't need the gloves, just go back and enjoy the fire."

Lance said "um", didn't say much, didn't put on the gloves again, just held them in his hands, with his hands behind his back.

It was easy to go up the mountain and difficult to go down, and the snow on the ground was soft. Lance walked ahead and let Wei Lai follow in his footsteps.But he still felt that it was not enough, so he picked up another branch and handed it over. After a while, the branch trembled, and the people behind him whispered thanks.

"Miss Fairfax doesn't like novels?" asked the person in front suddenly.

Wei Lai was taken aback: "Why do you say that?"

Lance turned back and said, "When we were discussing just now, you didn't speak. I thought you were not interested in this topic."

"No, I like it very much." No matter how thick-skinned she was, she would never be able to sell melons and boast about herself.

"Do you like Mr. Mayer's work? I have a friend who works at the "Daily Morning Post". He said that the "Daily Morning Post" intends to publish a book for Mr. Mayer and will invite him to London. If it wants to open a book If so, is Miss Fairfax interested in attending?"

book club?

Although the reply letter from "Daily Morning News" said that she wanted to invite her to London, she thought it was just a polite remark, but she didn't expect that the newspaper office was already preparing a book club. Did she already have such treatment?

Wei Lai squinted his eyes with a smile: "I can't go to the study club, I have to take care of my aunt, but I think I will go back to London soon. The Dixon couple who were with me at the flower show last time have returned to Ireland, Campbell Madam wrote and said she wanted me to go back soon and stay with them for a while."

The reading club was thought of by Lance on the spur of the moment. Since he took over the newspaper, he has never held a reading club for any author. It's just that when his father was alive, he held a few reading clubs. However, seeing how happy she is, the reading club can be held once.

It's just that everyone thinks that Jonas Mayer is a man, and when a woman appears in front of readers, they don't know what will happen.

"Miss Fairfax, I heard from my friend that the editor of the literary department of the "Daily Morning Post" once guessed that Mayer was not a man, but a lady. I don't know how they guessed, but , they seemed to think it had a good chance of being true."

Wei Lai's heart skipped a beat, she hadn't thought about this question yet, "So what if... it's a lady?"

They had already reached the cabin, and Lance stepped up ahead of her, opened the door for her, and said back, "If it were, I would admire her very much."

Wei Lai glanced at his back, lowered his head, and knocked the snow and mud on the soles of his shoes on the steps. As soon as he entered the door, Emma came over and held her hand: "Oh my god, your hands are so cold! Morning!" I should have given you my gloves when I knew you were going out, Jane, don't go out, we don't play cards anymore, lest Miss Amedeo worry about you, Mr. Amedeo went out to find you, Halle Te just told a story, a real love story, which is very interesting, unfortunately you missed it, but I can retell the general plot to you."

Emma drew Willie to her side, and Frank, who had been sitting next to her before, stood by the oven with his back to them.

Harriet poured her a cup of tea, perhaps because she was too excited to tell the story, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were full of excitement.

Holding the teacup, Wei Lai glanced at Lance opposite him. He was talking to Lydia, and seemed to notice her gaze. He also glanced at her. Wei Lai lowered his eyelids subconsciously, and then heard Lance's voice. laughter.

The author has something to say: It seems that it is normal to not be able to update at 18:00 on time, cover your face...