northanger abbey-第6章
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She is netting herself the sweetest cloak you can conceive。
I think her as beautiful as an angel； and I am so vexed
with the men for not admiring her！ I scold them all amazingly
about it。〃
〃Scold them！ Do you scold them for not admiring her？〃
〃Yes； that I do。 There is nothing I would not do
for those who are really my friends。 I have no notion
of loving people by halves； it is not my nature。
My attachments are always excessively strong。 I told
Captain Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter that if he
was to tease me all night； I would not dance with him；
unless he would allow Miss Andrews to be as beautiful as
an angel。 The men think us incapable of real friendship；
you know； and I am determined to show them the difference。
Now； if I were to hear anybody speak slightingly of you；
I should fire up in a moment： but that is not at all likely；
for you are just the kind of girl to be a great favourite
with the men。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 cried Catherine； colouring。 〃How can
you say so？〃
〃I know you very well； you have so much animation；
which is exactly what Miss Andrews wants； for I must
confess there is something amazingly insipid about her。
Oh！ I must tell you； that just after we parted yesterday；
I saw a young man looking at you so earnestlyI am
sure he is in love with you。〃 Catherine coloured；
and disclaimed again。 Isabella laughed。 〃It is very true；
upon my honour； but I see how it is； you are indifferent
to everybody's admiration； except that of one gentleman；
who shall be nameless。 Nay； I cannot blame you〃speaking
more seriously〃your feelings are easily understood。
Where the heart is really attached； I know very well how little
one can be pleased with the attention of anybody else。
Everything is so insipid； so uninteresting； that does not
relate to the beloved object！ I can perfectly comprehend
your feelings。〃
〃But you should not persuade me that I think so very
much about Mr。 Tilney； for perhaps I may never see him again。〃
〃Not see him again！ My dearest creature； do not talk
of it。 I am sure you would be miserable if you thought so！〃
〃No； indeed； I should not。 I do not pretend to say
that I was not very much pleased with him； but while I
have Udolpho to read； I feel as if nobody could make
me miserable。 Oh！ The dreadful black veil！ My dear Isabella；
I am sure there must be Laurentina's skeleton behind it。〃
〃It is so odd to me； that you should never have
read Udolpho before； but I suppose Mrs。 Morland objects
to novels。〃
〃No； she does not。 She very often reads Sir Charles
Grandison herself； but new books do not fall in our way。〃
〃Sir Charles Grandison！ That is an amazing horrid book；
is it not？ I remember Miss Andrews could not get through
the first volume。〃
〃It is not like Udolpho at all； but yet I think it
is very entertaining。〃
〃Do you indeed！ You surprise me； I thought it
had not been readable。 But； my dearest Catherine；
have you settled what to wear on your head tonight？ I am
determined at all events to be dressed exactly like you。
The men take notice of that sometimes； you know。〃
〃But it does not signify if they do；〃 said Catherine；
very innocently。
〃Signify！ Oh； heavens！ I make it a rule never to mind
what they say。 They are very often amazingly impertinent
if you do not treat them with spirit； and make them keep
their distance。〃
〃Are they？ Well； I never observed that。 They always
behave very well to me。〃
〃Oh！ They give themselves such airs。 They are
the most conceited creatures in the world； and think
themselves of so much importance！ By the by； though I
have thought of it a hundred times； I have always forgot
to ask you what is your favourite complexion in a man。
Do you like them best dark or fair？〃
〃I hardly know。 I never much thought about it。
Something between both； I think。 Brownnot fair；
andand not very dark。〃
〃Very well； Catherine。 That is exactly he。 I have
not forgot your description of Mr。 Tilney'a brown skin；
with dark eyes； and rather dark hair。' Well； my taste
is different。 I prefer light eyes； and as to complexiondo
you knowI like a sallow better than any other。
You must not betray me； if you should ever meet with one
of your acquaintance answering that description。〃
〃Betray you！ What do you mean？〃
〃Nay； do not distress me。 I believe I have said
too much。 Let us drop the subject。〃
Catherine； in some amazement； complied； and after
remaining a few moments silent； was on the point of
reverting to what interested her at that time rather more
than anything else in the world； Laurentina's skeleton；
when her friend prevented her； by saying； 〃For heaven's
sake！ Let us move away from this end of the room。
Do you know； there are two odious young men who have been
staring at me this half hour。 They really put me quite
out of countenance。 Let us go and look at the arrivals。
They will hardly follow us there。〃
Away they walked to the book； and while Isabella
examined the names； it was Catherine's employment to watch
the proceedings of these alarming young men。
〃They are not coming this way； are they？ I hope they
are not so impertinent as to follow us。 Pray let me know
if they are coming。 I am determined I will not look up。〃
In a few moments Catherine； with unaffected pleasure；
assured her that she need not be longer uneasy； as the
gentlemen had just left the pump…room。
〃And which way are they gone？〃 said Isabella；
turning hastily round。 〃One was a very good…looking
young man。〃
〃They went towards the church…yard。〃
〃Well； I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them！
And now； what say you to going to Edgar's Buildings
with me； and looking at my new hat？ You said you should
like to see it。〃
Catherine readily agreed。 〃Only；〃 she added；
〃perhaps we may overtake the two young men。〃
〃Oh！ Never mind that。 If we make haste； we shall
pass by them presently； and I am dying to show you my hat。〃
〃But if we only wait a few minutes； there will be
no danger of our seeing them at all。〃
〃I shall not pay them any such compliment； I assure you。
I have no notion of treating men with such respect。
That is the way to spoil them。〃
Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning；
and therefore； to show the independence of Miss Thorpe；
and her resolution of humbling the sex； they set off
immediately as fast as they could walk； in pursuit of the
two young men。
CHAPTER 7
Half a minute conducted them through the pump…yard
to the archway； opposite Union Passage； but here they
were stopped。 Everybody acquainted with Bath may remember
the difficulties of crossing Cheap Street at this point；
it is indeed a street of so impertinent a nature；
so unfortunately connected with the great London
and Oxford roads； and the principal inn of the city；
that a day never passes in which parties of ladies；
however important their business； whether in quest
of pastry； millinery； or even （as in the present case）
of young men； are not detained on one side or other
by carriages； horsemen； or carts。 This evil had been felt
and lamented； at least three times a day； by Isabella
since her residence in Bath； and she was now fated
to feel and lament it once more； for at the very moment
of coming opposite to Union Passage； and within view of
the two gentlemen who were proceeding through the crowds；
and threading the gutters of that interesting alley；
they were prevented crossing by the approach of a gig；
driven along on bad pavement by a most knowing…looking
coachman with all the vehemence that could most fitly
endanger the lives of himself； his companion； and his horse。
〃Oh； these odious gigs！〃 said Isabella； looking up。
〃How I detest them。〃 But this detestation； though so just；
was of short duration； for she looked again and exclaimed；
〃Delightful！ Mr。 Morland and my brother！〃
〃Good heaven！ 'Tis James！〃 was uttered at the same
moment by Catherine； and； on catching the young men's eyes；
the horse was immediately checked with a violence
which almost threw him on his haunches； and the servant
having now scampered up； the gentlemen jumped out；
and the equipage was delivered to his care。
Catherine； by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected；
received her brother with the liveliest pleasure； and he；
being of a very amiable disposition； and sincerely attached
to her； gave every proof on his side of equal satisfaction；
which he could have leisure to do； while the bright eyes
of Miss Thorpe were incessantly challenging his notice；
and to her his devoirs were speedily paid； with a mixture
of joy and embarrassment which might have informed Catherine；
had she been more expert in the development of other
people's feelings； and less simply engrossed by her own；
that her brother thought her friend quite as pretty as she
could do herself。
John Thorpe； who in the meantime had been giving
orders about the horses； soon joined them； and from him she
directly received the amends which were her due； for while
he slightly and carelessly touched the hand of Isabella；
on her he bestowed a whole scrape and half a short bow。
He was a stout young man of middling height； who； with a
plain face and ungraceful form； seemed fearful of being
too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom；
and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he
ought to be civil； and impudent where he might be allowed
to be easy。 He took out his watch： 〃How long do you
think we have been running it from Tetbury； Miss Morland？〃
〃I do not know the distance。〃 Her brother told
her that it was twenty…three miles。
〃Three and twenty！〃 cried Thorpe。 〃Five and twenty if it
