Emma
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Chapter 1 of Emma. This is a LibriVox recording. All our recordings belong to the public domain. To learn more about our subject or to participate, visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Lore. Emma by Jane Austen. Translated by Pierre de Puliga. Chapter 1. Emma Woodhouse. Beautiful, intelligent, gifted with a natural happiness, having a wide horizon, seemed to gather in her head the best gifts of existence. She had reached her 21st year without even a slight suffering had bloomed. Daughter of a very affectionate and indulgent father, she had found happiness after the marriage of her late sister, invested in the role of housemaid. Still in her early age, she had lost her mother and kept only an indistinct memory of her, far away caresses. The place of Madame Woodhouse was occupied by a governess who had surrounded the child with an almost impertinent infection. Miss Taylor had stayed 16 years in the house of Mr. Woodhouse, less as a teacher than as a friend. Very attached to the two young girls, she cherished particularly Emma. Before even that Miss Taylor had ceased to officially hold the role of governess, the softness of her character made it difficult for her to inspire some constraints. This shadow of authority had quickly spread, and the two women had lived for a long time on a foot of equality. While having great consideration for the judgment of Miss Taylor, Emma relied exclusively on her. The only source of the situation of the young girl was precisely the absence of any influence and any hindrance, and a predisposition to have excessive self-confidence. However, for the moment she had no conscience of disadvantages that threatened to tarnish her happiness one day. The grief arrived in a rather blessed form. Miss Taylor got married. For the first time on the day of the wedding of her beloved friend, Emma was beset with sad thoughts of how she would last. The ceremony was over and the guests had left. Her father and she were left alone, without the prospect of a third to wake up the long evening. Mr. Woodhouse was in a daze after dinner, as usual, and Emma was able to measure the extent of her isolation. She mentioned her 16 years of tireless affection. She thought tenderly of the one who had directed her games and studies, bringing as much ardor to amuse her as to instruct her, and that he had treated her with absolute devotion during the various illnesses of childhood. As a result, she had contracted a great debt of gratitude towards Miss Taylor, but Emma kept from the period of perfect confidence that had succeeded an even sweeter memory. She wondered how she would endure this change. Despite all her personal advantages and her situation, she was going to be isolated intellectually. Her father, indeed, could not keep up with her on the ground of a serious or enjoyable conversation. The great disproportion of their age, Mr. Woodhouse was not