northanger abbey-第16章
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they were habituated to the finer performances of the
London stage； which she knew； on Isabella's authority；
rendered everything else of the kind 〃quite horrid。〃
She was not deceived in her own expectation of pleasure；
the comedy so well suspended her care that no one；
observing her during the first four acts； would have supposed
she had any wretchedness about her。 On the beginning
of the fifth； however； the sudden view of Mr。 Henry Tilney
and his father； joining a party in the opposite box；
recalled her to anxiety and distress。 The stage could
no longer excite genuine merrimentno longer keep her
whole attention。 Every other look upon an average was
directed towards the opposite box； and； for the space
of two entire scenes； did she thus watch Henry Tilney；
without being once able to catch his eye。 No longer could
he be suspected of indifference for a play； his notice was
never withdrawn from the stage during two whole scenes。
At length； however； he did look towards her； and he
bowedbut such a bow！ No smile； no continued observance
attended it； his eyes were immediately returned to their
former direction。 Catherine was restlessly miserable；
she could almost have run round to the box in which he sat
and forced him to hear her explanation。 Feelings rather
natural than heroic possessed her； instead of considering
her own dignity injured by this ready condemnationinstead
of proudly resolving； in conscious innocence； to show her
resentment towards him who could harbour a doubt of it；
to leave to him all the trouble of seeking an explanation；
and to enlighten him on the past only by avoiding his sight；
or flirting with somebody elseshe took to herself all
the shame of misconduct； or at least of its appearance；
and was only eager for an opportunity of explaining
its cause。
The play concludedthe curtain fellHenry Tilney
was no longer to be seen where he had hitherto sat； but his
father remained； and perhaps he might be now coming round
to their box。 She was right； in a few minutes he appeared；
and； making his way through the then thinning rows；
spoke with like calm politeness to Mrs。 Allen and her friend。
Not with such calmness was he answered by the latter：
〃Oh！ Mr。 Tilney； I have been quite wild to speak to you；
and make my apologies。 You must have thought me so rude；
but indeed it was not my own fault； was it； Mrs。 Allen？
Did not they tell me that Mr。 Tilney and his sister were
gone out in a phaeton together？ And then what could I do？
But I had ten thousand times rather have been with you；
now had not I； Mrs。 Allen？〃
〃My dear； you tumble my gown；〃 was Mrs。 Allen's reply。
Her assurance； however； standing sole as it did；
was not thrown away； it brought a more cordial；
more natural smile into his countenance； and he replied
in a tone which retained only a little affected reserve：
〃We were much obliged to you at any rate for wishing us
a pleasant walk after our passing you in Argyle Street：
you were so kind as to look back on purpose。〃
〃But indeed I did not wish you a pleasant walk；
I never thought of such a thing； but I begged Mr。 Thorpe
so earnestly to stop； I called out to him as soon as ever I
saw you； now； Mrs。 Allen； did not Oh！ You were not there；
but indeed I did； and； if Mr。 Thorpe would only have stopped；
I would have jumped out and run after you。〃
Is there a Henry in the world who could be insensible
to such a declaration？ Henry Tilney at least was not。
With a yet sweeter smile； he said everything that need
be said of his sister's concern； regret； and dependence
on Catherine's honour。 〃Oh！ Do not say Miss Tilney was
not angry；〃 cried Catherine； 〃because I know she was；
for she would not see me this morning when I called；
I saw her walk out of the house the next minute after
my leaving it； I was hurt； but I was not affronted。
Perhaps you did not know I had been there。〃
〃I was not within at the time； but I heard of it
from Eleanor； and she has been wishing ever since to
see you； to explain the reason of such incivility；
but perhaps I can do it as well。 It was nothing more than
that my fatherthey were just preparing to walk out；
and he being hurried for time； and not caring to have it
put offmade a point of her being denied。 That was all；
I do assure you。 She was very much vexed； and meant
to make her apology as soon as possible。〃
Catherine's mind was greatly eased by this information；
yet a something of solicitude remained； from which sprang
the following question； thoroughly artless in itself；
though rather distressing to the gentleman： 〃But； Mr。 Tilney；
why were you less generous than your sister？ If she felt
such confidence in my good intentions； and could suppose
it to be only a mistake； why should you be so ready
to take offence？〃
〃Me！ I take offence！〃
〃Nay； I am sure by your look； when you came into
the box； you were angry。〃
〃I angry！ I could have no right。〃
〃Well； nobody would have thought you had no right
who saw your face。〃 He replied by asking her to make
room for him； and talking of the play。
He remained with them some time； and was only too
agreeable for Catherine to be contented when he went away。
Before they parted； however； it was agreed that the projected
walk should be taken as soon as possible； and； setting aside
the misery of his quitting their box； she was； upon the whole；
left one of the happiest creatures in the world。
While talking to each other； she had observed with
some surprise that John Thorpe； who was never in the same
part of the house for ten minutes together； was engaged
in conversation with General Tilney； and she felt something
more than surprise when she thought she could perceive
herself the object of their attention and discourse。
What could they have to say of her？ She feared General
Tilney did not like her appearance： she found it was
implied in his preventing her admittance to his daughter；
rather than postpone his own walk a few minutes。 〃How came
Mr。 Thorpe to know your father？〃 was her anxious inquiry；
as she pointed them out to her companion。 He knew nothing
about it； but his father； like every military man；
had a very large acquaintance。
When the entertainment was over； Thorpe came to assist
them in getting out。 Catherine was the immediate object
of his gallantry； and； while they waited in the lobby
for a chair； he prevented the inquiry which had travelled
from her heart almost to the tip of her tongue； by asking；
in a consequential manner； whether she had seen him
talking with General Tilney： 〃He is a fine old fellow；
upon my soul！ Stout； activelooks as young as his son。
I have a great regard for him； I assure you： a gentleman…like；
good sort of fellow as ever lived。〃
〃But how came you to know him？〃
〃Know him！ There are few people much about town that I
do not know。 I have met him forever at the Bedford；
and I knew his face again today the moment he came into
the billiard…room。 One of the best players we have；
by the by； and we had a little touch together； though I
was almost afraid of him at first： the odds were five
to four against me； and； if I had not made one of the
cleanest strokes that perhaps ever was made in this
worldI took his ball exactlybut I could not make you
understand it without a table； however； I did beat him。
A very fine fellow； as rich as a Jew。 I should like
to dine with him； I dare say he gives famous dinners。
But what do you think we have been talking of？ You。
Yes； by heavens！ And the general thinks you the finest
girl in Bath。〃
〃Oh！ Nonsense！ How can you say so？〃
〃And what do you think I said？〃lowering his
voice〃well done； general； said I； I am quite of your mind。〃
Here Catherine； who was much less gratified by his
admiration than by General Tilney's； was not sorry to be
called away by Mr。 Allen。 Thorpe； however； would see her to
her chair； and； till she entered it； continued the same kind
of delicate flattery； in spite of her entreating him to have done。
That General Tilney； instead of disliking；
should admire her； was very delightful； and she joyfully
thought that there was not one of the family whom she need
now fear to meet。 The evening had done more； much more；
for her than could have been expected。
CHAPTER 13
Monday； Tuesday； Wednesday； Thursday； Friday； and Saturday
have now passed in review before the reader； the events of
each day； its hopes and fears； mortifications and pleasures；
have been separately stated； and the pangs of Sunday
only now remain to be described； and close the week。
The Clifton scheme had been deferred； not relinquished；
and on the afternoon's crescent of this day； it was
brought forward again。 In a private consultation between
Isabella and James； the former of whom had particularly
set her heart upon going； and the latter no less anxiously
placed his upon pleasing her； it was agreed that；
provided the weather were fair； the party should take
place on the following morning； and they were to set
off very early； in order to be at home in good time。
The affair thus determined； and Thorpe's approbation secured；
Catherine only remained to be apprised of it。 She had
left them for a few minutes to speak to Miss Tilney。
In that interval the plan was completed； and as soon as she
came again； her agreement was demanded； but instead of the gay
acquiescence expected by Isabella； Catherine looked grave；
was very sorry； but could not go。 The engagement which
ought to have kept her from joining in the former attempt
would make it impossible for her to accompany them now。
She had that moment settled with Miss Tilney to take
their proposed walk tomorrow； it was quite determined；
and she would not； upon any account； retract。 But that
she must and should retract was instantly the eager cry
of both the Thorpes； they must go to Clifton tomorrow；
they would n
