[Emma] Becoming Jane Fairfax

The short story published in "World News" is called "Dream Dancer". Wei Lai's original manuscript did not have a title, because it was her contact manuscript.This paragraph is the first quarter of the whole article. I don’t know if this little-known newspaper did not release the whole article on purpose, or the person who stole the manuscript only gave a quarter.

Wei Lai has already determined that someone has stolen her manuscript, because the manuscript was placed in her bedroom at Bates' house in Highbury, and she kept it in the back of the bookcase.

This was an exercise I did when I was taking care of Miss Bates. Compared with other submissions, this article has a bold style of writing, with many explicit descriptions. She never thought of submitting it, so she can write whatever she wants.

Miss Bates and Mrs. Bates never came into her room casually, Patty was illiterate, they would not rummage through her things, she was not ready to tell the Campbells about her work at that time, and she did not want them to have Chance had discovered her manuscript, and she had left her practice papers in Highbury for that reason, but how could it be in the London papers now?

The person who stole the manuscript should be very clear that ordinary newspapers would not accept such novels with a slightly voluptuous language and plot. Only small newspapers would take a slant in order to attract readers. Then this person must be very familiar with the London literary market and know Jane Fairfax is Jonas Mayer.

An idea flashed through Wei Lai's mind - Frank and Mr. Green.

I found the end of the thread in the mess, and before Wei Lai pulled it out, I remembered that I was still in the colonel's study. Colonel Campbell looked at her with a gloomy expression, and Jane admitted that this was her novel.

Colonel Campbell's nostrils were full of anger. Jane was never a worry-free girl. Alice was one year older than her, but most of the time, Jane was more like a sister. She always knew the rules and was down-to-earth. Colonel Campbell It never occurred to her that she would write novels to earn money and cause so many things: "After your contract with the "Daily Morning News" ends, this job should stop, you need to think about what you want to do ?”

After being criticized, Wei Lai felt uncomfortable, took the newspaper back to the room, stayed for a while, unfolded the newspaper, and carefully sorted out the clues.

This would make sense if it were Frank and Green.Both of them knew her, and they knew her two identities just by asking casually.

The motive is also easy to guess. Her insistence on canceling the engagement has greatly hurt Frank's self-esteem and feelings. He wants to take revenge on her. In Wei Lai's view, Frank is prone to emotional things, just like he will live his life privately without considering the consequences.

"Stealing manuscripts" does not conform to the education he has received since he was a child, but it is not surprising to have such outrageous behavior under the mood of anger and hatred. He certainly would not really steal it. Methods.

what is it then?

However, these are all her guesses, and there is no real evidence, unless Frank and Green admit to her personally, but how is this possible?

"Ah!" Wei Lai threw the newspaper into the drawer, fell on the bed, and scratched two handfuls of hair irritably.Does Lance know?Would he believe that she did it?

Lance came to the newspaper office early the next morning. He hadn't taken off his coat when he entered the office. Old Jack knocked on the door hurriedly with two newspapers. Perhaps he walked too fast, his hair was messed up, and he looked a little funny.

Lance was about to laugh, but when he took a look at the newspaper, his smile sank immediately: ""Le Monde"? This is..."

Of the two newspapers Jack Sr. had brought, one published a novel purporting to be Mayer's, and the other published a statement claiming that they had a manuscript written by Mayer himself.

"Mr. Amedeo, it's spread all over the outside world now. Usually, the newsstand downstairs in my house wouldn't sell a nameless tabloid like "Le Monde", but today I almost couldn't get it." Old Jack was worried, "I don't either. I know it's true or not, but I believe Miss Fairfax, but how can this be explained? According to the regulations of the newspaper, I should write to Miss Fairfax to inquire, or ask her to come to the newspaper."

Lance understood what he meant, and for a moment he couldn't figure out what was going on.

"Will the fifth article be published the day after tomorrow as originally planned?" Old Jack was worried that once the "Le Monde" came out, their fifth article would lose its appeal.

Lance thought for a while: "It's not clear whether the novel in "Le Monde" is true. We don't need to change the plan, otherwise we have proved the authenticity for "Le Monde."

After Lance spoke, Old Jack returned to the editorial room to work with peace of mind. The other young editors couldn't sit still until they knew that he had taken the newspaper to the boss's office, and they all surrounded him, asking questions non-stop. After conveying Lance's meaning, the editors couldn't believe it with a smile. The cash cow is going to be poached. It's still a small newspaper. How can the boss be so good-tempered?

She also said that Ms. Mayer looked quite elegant, but she didn't expect her to have so much heart. Sure enough, women couldn't believe that she was honestly married, had children, and wrote novels.

The more he said it, the more people couldn't listen to it. Old Jack slammed the table heavily, and everyone fell silent, but they all looked back.

Lance stood at the door with a cold face. He didn't know how long he had been here and how much he had listened to. The editors who were talking vigorously just shrunk their necks and tiptoed back to work.

Lance called old Jack away and asked him to pay attention to the situation of the newspaper office. If Jane received a letter, please put it away for him and read it when he comes back.Compared with when the novel will be published, Lance is more worried that Mr. Lewis will take the opportunity to lower the price.

Mr. Lewis was a veteran of the mall, and even Lance's father had said to be more careful when dealing with him.Lance had been using the sales of the "Daily Morning Post" as a bargaining chip before, and now Lewis can use the same method to lower the price.

The two of them tacitly agreed, drinking tea and chatting politely, and neither of them took the initiative to talk about business.Mr. Lewis put a piece of "Le Monde" by his hand, and his hand wearing a gold ring clicked on the newspaper from time to time. Lance pretended not to see it, and waited patiently for him to speak.Finally, Mr. Lewis couldn't wait, and cut the price in half as soon as he opened his mouth.

Lance sold the newspaper to pay for the land and textile machines in Manchester. If it was less than half, not to mention whether the money for the machines could be paid for, the money for the land would not be enough.He has already paid the deposit. If he repents at this time, he will lose not only the land but also his reputation. Even if he is willing to return to London to continue running the newspaper, he may be in a difficult position.

It seemed that his only option now was to accept Mr. Lewis's price, sell the newspaper amiably, and mortgage the house to the bank, which might pay off the balance of the land machine.

When Lance returns home, Mrs. Amedeo and Lydia already know about it.

Mrs. Amedeo originally invited Mrs. Kingsley and others to visit her home, but Mrs. Kingsley temporarily excused herself from feeling unwell and was unable to go out.This was no more than an excuse. Mrs. Amedeo knew that Mrs. James had visited the Kingsleys, and she had reason to believe that Mrs. Kingsley's indifference had much to do with the sudden predicament of the Daily Morning Post.

Before Lance went home, she had yelled at Jonas Mayer, Mrs. Kingsley and Mrs. James angrily, but now all she had was worry and anxiety.

"Although I never approve of you going to Manchester to set up a factory, I can't stop you, and I can't just watch the Amedeo family fall into trouble. The Manchester land must be bought. Don't let those people Look at the jokes of our Amedeo family, ruin your reputation, if the family has no money, take this house for mortgage, this is the only way."

Lance felt uncomfortable when he heard this: "Mom, I just took this house back from the bank, and I won't take it as a mortgage. The factory won't be able to run for a while, and the bank will take over the house. You and Lydia Where do you live? Don't worry, I will think of a solution."

"What else can I do at this time, you don't have to lie to me." Mrs. Amedeo wanted to persuade Lance, when Lydia came in with tea, she turned her face away immediately, she hadn't accepted Lydia's request Marrying Drake Johnson and not forgiving a bold daughter.

Lydia pulled Lance to the study room, stuffed a folded letter into his hand, and whispered: "I received this afternoon, Jane's letter, I didn't open it, you can read it quickly. I don't believe she would do such a thing."

Wei Lai explained the matter clearly in the letter, including her guess. The more Lance looked at it, his frown became deeper. Lydia couldn't believe it, "This is impossible!"

"Lydia, don't worry, it's not what you think." Lance folded the letter and put it in the envelope, "I didn't doubt her, and she didn't live up to our trust. This matter is very complicated, and she is also a victim. .Jane has an idea, but it's going to damage Jonas Mayer's reputation, and I'll have to think about it."

The two of them thought of one thing at the same time. Wei Lai also received Lance's letter. The short five lines were written a bit scribbled, but it could still be seen that the writer had a good handwriting.

Lance told her not to worry, he would take care of it.Wei Lai read the letter again and again, his eyes were wet several times, and the big stone in his heart that had been hanging all night was finally able to fall.

Her letter also came up with an idea to lure the snake out of the hole, and I don't know if Lance will adopt it.

The next day, a piece of news spread in London - "Daily Morning News" will terminate the contract with the popular author Jonas Mayer.

That afternoon, Wei Lai received a letter from Mr. Green.