northanger abbey-第38章
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down to a middling one for one day could not signify。〃
〃I wish I could reason like you； for his sake and my own。
Good…bye。 As tomorrow is Sunday； Eleanor； I shall not return。〃
He went； and； it being at any time a much simpler
operation to Catherine to doubt her own judgment than
Henry's； she was very soon obliged to give him credit
for being right； however disagreeable to her his going。
But the inexplicability of the general's conduct dwelt
much on her thoughts。 That he was very particular in
his eating； she had； by her own unassisted observation；
already discovered； but why he should say one thing
so positively； and mean another all the while；
was most unaccountable！ How were people； at that rate；
to be understood？ Who but Henry could have been aware
of what his father was at？
From Saturday to Wednesday； however； they were now
to be without Henry。 This was the sad finale of every
reflection： and Captain Tilney's letter would certainly come
in his absence； and Wednesday she was very sure would be wet。
The past； present； and future were all equally in gloom。
Her brother so unhappy； and her loss in Isabella so great；
and Eleanor's spirits always affected by Henry's absence！
What was there to interest or amuse her？ She was tired of
the woods and the shrubberiesalways so smooth and so dry；
and the abbey in itself was no more to her now than any
other house。 The painful remembrance of the folly it
had helped to nourish and perfect was the only emotion
which could spring from a consideration of the building。
What a revolution in her ideas！ She； who had so longed
to be in an abbey！ Now； there was nothing so charming
to her imagination as the unpretending comfort of a
well…connected parsonage； something like Fullerton；
but better： Fullerton had its faults； but Woodston probably
had none。 If Wednesday should ever come！
It did come； and exactly when it might be reasonably
looked for。 It cameit was fineand Catherine trod
on air。 By ten o'clock； the chaise and four conveyed
the two from the abbey； and； after an agreeable drive
of almost twenty miles； they entered Woodston； a large
and populous village； in a situation not unpleasant。
Catherine was ashamed to say how pretty she thought it；
as the general seemed to think an apology necessary for
the flatness of the country； and the size of the village；
but in her heart she preferred it to any place she had ever
been at； and looked with great admiration at every neat
house above the rank of a cottage； and at all the little
chandler's shops which they passed。 At the further end
of the village； and tolerably disengaged from the rest of it；
stood the parsonage； a new…built substantial stone house；
with its semicircular sweep and green gates； and； as they
drove up to the door； Henry； with the friends of his solitude；
a large Newfoundland puppy and two or three terriers；
was ready to receive and make much of them。
Catherine's mind was too full； as she entered
the house； for her either to observe or to say a
great deal； and； till called on by the general for her
opinion of it； she had very little idea of the room
in which she was sitting。 Upon looking round it then；
she perceived in a moment that it was the most comfortable
room in the world； but she was too guarded to say so；
and the coldness of her praise disappointed him。
〃We are not calling it a good house；〃 said he。
〃We are not comparing it with Fullerton and Northangerwe
are considering it as a mere parsonage； small and confined；
we allow； but decent； perhaps； and habitable； and altogether
not inferior to the generality； or； in other words；
I believe there are few country parsonages in England half
so good。 It may admit of improvement； however。 Far be
it from me to say otherwise； and anything in reasona
bow thrown out； perhapsthough； between ourselves；
if there is one thing more than another my aversion；
it is a patched…on bow。〃
Catherine did not hear enough of this speech to understand
or be pained by it； and other subjects being studiously
brought forward and supported by Henry； at the same time that
a tray full of refreshments was introduced by his servant；
the general was shortly restored to his complacency；
and Catherine to all her usual ease of spirits。
The room in question was of a commodious；
well…proportioned size； and handsomely fitted up as
a dining…parlour； and on their quitting it to walk round
the grounds； she was shown； first into a smaller apartment；
belonging peculiarly to the master of the house； and made
unusually tidy on the occasion； and afterwards into what
was to be the drawing…room； with the appearance of which；
though unfurnished； Catherine was delighted enough even
to satisfy the general。 It was a prettily shaped room；
the windows reaching to the ground； and the view
from them pleasant； though only over green meadows；
and she expressed her admiration at the moment with
all the honest simplicity with which she felt it。
〃Oh！ Why do not you fit up this room； Mr。 Tilney？ What
a pity not to have it fitted up！ It is the prettiest
room I ever saw； it is the prettiest room in the world！〃
〃I trust；〃 said the general； with a most satisfied smile；
〃that it will very speedily be furnished： it waits only for
a lady's taste！〃
〃Well； if it was my house； I should never sit
anywhere else。 Oh！ What a sweet little cottage there is
among the treesapple trees； too！ It is the prettiest cottage！〃
〃You like ityou approve it as an objectit is enough。
Henry； remember that Robinson is spoken to about it。
The cottage remains。〃
Such a compliment recalled all Catherine's consciousness；
and silenced her directly； and； though pointedly applied
to by the general for her choice of the prevailing colour
of the paper and hangings； nothing like an opinion
on the subject could be drawn from her。 The influence
of fresh objects and fresh air； however； was of great
use in dissipating these embarrassing associations；
and； having reached the ornamental part of the premises；
consisting of a walk round two sides of a meadow； on which
Henry's genius had begun to act about half a year ago；
she was sufficiently recovered to think it prettier than any
pleasure…ground she had ever been in before； though there
was not a shrub in it higher than the green bench in the corner。
A saunter into other meadows； and through part
of the village； with a visit to the stables to examine
some improvements； and a charming game of play with a
litter of puppies just able to roll about； brought them
to four o'clock； when Catherine scarcely thought it could
be three。 At four they were to dine； and at six to set
off on their return。 Never had any day passed so quickly！
She could not but observe that the abundance of the
dinner did not seem to create the smallest astonishment
in the general； nay； that he was even looking at the
side…table for cold meat which was not there。 His son
and daughter's observations were of a different kind。
They had seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table
but his own； and never before known him so little
disconcerted by the melted butter's being oiled。
At six o'clock； the general having taken his coffee；
the carriage again received them； and so gratifying had been
the tenor of his conduct throughout the whole visit； so well
assured was her mind on the subject of his expectations；
that； could she have felt equally confident of the wishes
of his son； Catherine would have quitted Woodston with
little anxiety as to the How or the When she might return to it。
CHAPTER 27
The next morning brought the following very unexpected
letter from Isabella：
Bath； April
My dearest Catherine； I received your two kind
letters with the greatest delight； and have a thousand
apologies to make for not answering them sooner。
I really am quite ashamed of my idleness； but in
this horrid place one can find time for nothing。
I have had my pen in my hand to begin a letter to
you almost every day since you left Bath； but have
always been prevented by some silly trifler or other。
Pray write to me soon； and direct to my own home。
Thank God； we leave this vile place tomorrow。 Since
you went away； I have had no pleasure in itthe
dust is beyond anything； and everybody one cares
for is gone。 I believe if I could see you I should
not mind the rest； for you are dearer to me than
anybody can conceive。 I am quite uneasy about your
dear brother； not having heard from him since he
went to Oxford； and am fearful of some
misunderstanding。 Your kind offices will set all
right： he is the only man I ever did or could love；
and I trust you will convince him of it。 The spring
fashions are partly down； and the hats the most
frightful you can imagine。 I hope you spend your
time pleasantly； but am afraid you never think of
me。 I will not say all that I could of the family
you are with； because I would not be ungenerous； or
set you against those you esteem； but it is very
difficult to know whom to trust； and young men never
know their minds two days together。 I rejoice to
say that the young man whom； of all others； I
particularly abhor； has left Bath。 You will know；
from this description； I must mean Captain Tilney；
who； as you may remember； was amazingly disposed to
follow and tease me； before you went away。 Afterwards
he got worse； and became quite my shadow。 Many
girls might have been taken in； for never were such
attentions； but I knew the fickle sex too well。 He
went away to his regiment two days ago； and I trust
I shall never be plagued with him again。 He is the
greatest coxcomb I ever saw； and amazingly
disagreeable。 The last two
