Donde conocemos sobre
Emma Woodhouse, cómo vivió, sin madre, con la colaboración de un padre
afectuoso y una institutriz generosa. Ahora Miss Taylor, la institutriz, se
casaba y Emma sentía la soledad. Del original ingles Emma,
de Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a
comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best
blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with
very little to distress her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most
affectionate, tolerant father; and had, in consequence of her sister's
marriage, been mistress of his house
from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more
than an indistinct memory of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by
an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in
affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's
family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but
particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the intimacy of
sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of
governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any
restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had
been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma
doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but
directed chiefly by her own.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were
the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a
little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened her
many pleasures. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they
did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
Acuarela de Jane Austen, Wikipedia |
Sorrow came—a gentle sorrow—but not at all in the
shape of any disagreeable consciousness.—Miss Taylor married. It was Miss
Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this
beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any persistence. The
wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and herself were left to
dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father
composed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit
and think of what she had lost.
The event had every promise of happiness for her
friend. Mr. Weston was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune,
suitable age, and pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in
considering with what noble, generous friendship she had always wished and
promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every
hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness—the kindness, the affection
of sixteen years—how she had taught and how she had played with her from five
years old—how she had devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in
health—and how nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large
debt of gratitude was owing here; but the intercourse of the last seven years,
the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed Isabella's
marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a dearer, tenderer
recollection. She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed:
intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing all the ways of the family,
interested in all its concerns, and peculiarly interested in herself, in every
pleasure, every scheme of hers—one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection
for her as could never find fault.
How was she to bear the change?—It was true that
her friend was going only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great
must be the difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a
Miss Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic,
she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She dearly
loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in
conversation, rational or playful.
The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and
Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and
habits; for having been a valetudinarian
all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways
than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart
and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time. (párrafos adaptados a un ingles más fácil)
Vocabulario
mistress want arose valetudinarian
Ideas principales
Emma feels sad. Her governess, Miss Taylor, has
married and Emma is left alone with her father. Her mother is dead and her
father is old. Her only sister is married. Although they live near her house it
is not the same as before.
Miss Taylor, the governess, has been like a friend
to Emma. She replaced her mother and nursed her from her childhood for about
sixteen years.
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