northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第15章
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tenderness towards the spotted； the sprigged； the mull； or the
jackonet。 Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone。 No man
will admire her the more； no woman will like her the better for it。
Neatness and fashion are enough for the former； and a something
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of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the
latter。—But not one of these grave reflections troubled the
tranquillity of Catherine。
She entered the rooms on Thursday evening with feelings very
different from what had attended her thither the Monday before。
She had then been exulting in her engagement to Thorpe； and was
now chiefly anxious to avoid his sight； lest he should engage her
again； for though she could not； dared not expect that Mr。 Tilney
should ask her a third time to dance； her wishes； hopes； and plans
all centred in nothing less。 Every young lady may feel for my
heroine in this critical moment； for every young lady has at some
time or other known the same agitation。 All have been； or at least
all have believed themselves to be； in danger from the pursuit of
someone whom they wished to avoid； and all have been anxious
for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please。 As soon
as they were joined by the Thorpes； Catherine’s agony began； she
fidgeted about if John Thorpe came towards her； hid herself as
much as possible from his view； and when he spoke to her
pretended not to hear him。 The cotillions were over； the country…
dancing beginning； and she saw nothing of the Tilneys。 “Do not be
frightened； my dear Catherine；” whispered Isabella； “but I am
really going to dance with your brother again。 I declare positively
it is quite shocking。 I tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself；
but you and John must keep us in countenance。 Make haste； my
dear creature； and come to us。 John is just walked off； but he will
be back in a moment。”
Catherine had neither time nor inclination to answer。 The
others walked away； John Thorpe was still in view； and she gave
herself up for lost。 That she might not appear； however； to observe
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or expect him； she kept her eyes intently fixed on her fan； and a
self…condemnation for her folly； in supposing that among such a
crowd they should even meet with the Tilneys in any reasonable
time； had just passed through her mind； when she suddenly found
herself addressed and again solicited to dance； by Mr。 Tilney
himself。 With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she granted
his request； and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went with
him to the set； may be easily imagined。 To escape； and； as she
believed； so narrowly escape John Thorpe； and to be asked； so
immediately on his joining her； asked by Mr。 Tilney； as if he had
sought her on purpose！—it did not appear to her that life could
supply any greater felicity。
Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession
of a place； however； when her attention was claimed by John
Thorpe； who stood behind her。 “Hey…day； Miss Morland！” said he。
“What is the meaning of this？—I thought you and I were to dance
together。”
“I wonder you should think so； for you never asked me。”
“That is a good one； by Jove！—I asked you as soon as I came
into the room； and I was just going to ask you again； but when I
turned round； you were gone！—this is a cursed shabby trick！ I
only came for the sake of dancing with you； and I firmly believe
you were engaged to me ever since Monday。 Yes； I remember； I
asked you while you were waiting in the lobby for your cloak。 And
here have I been telling all my acquaintance that I was going to
dance with the prettiest girl in the room； and when they see you
standing up with somebody else； they will quiz me famously。”
“Oh； no； they will never think of me； after such a description as
that。”
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“By heavens； if they do not； I will kick them out of the room for
blockheads。 What chap have you there？” Catherine satisfied his
curiosity。 “Tilney；” he repeated。 “Hum—I do not know him。 A
good figure of a man； well put together。—Does he want a horse？
Here is a friend of mine； Sam Fletcher； has got one to sell that
would suit anybody。 A famous clever animal for the road—only
forty guineas。 I had fifty minds to buy it myself； for it is one of my
maxims always to buy a good horse when I meet with one； but it
would not answer my purpose； it would not do for the field。 I
would give any money for a real good hunter。 I have three now；
the best that ever were backed。 I would not take eight hundred
guineas for them。 Fletcher and I mean to get a house in
Leicestershire； against the next season。 It is so d— uncomfortable；
living at an inn。”
This was the last sentence by which he could weary Catherine’s
attention； for he was just then borne off by the resistless pressure
of a long string of passing ladies。 Her partner now drew near； and
said； “That gentleman would have put me out of patience； had he
stayed with you half a minute longer。 He has no business to
withdraw the attention of my partner from me。 We have entered
into a contract of mutual agreeableness for the space of an
evening； and all our agreeableness belongs solely to each other for
that time。 Nobody can fasten themselves on the notice of one；
without injuring the rights of the other。 I consider a country…dance
as an emblem of marriage。 Fidelity and complaisance are the
principal duties of both； and those men who do not choose to
dance or marry themselves； have no business with the partners or
wives of their neighbours。”
“But they are such very different things！—”
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“—That you think they cannot be compared together。”
“To be sure not。 People that marry can never part； but must go
and keep house together。 People that dance only stand opposite
each other in a long room for half an hour。”
“And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing。 Taken
in that light certainly； their resemblance is not striking； but I think
I could place them in such a view。—You will allow； that in both；
man has the advantage of choice； woman only the power of
refusal； that in both； it is an engagement between man and
woman； formed for the advantage of each； and that when once
entered into； they belong exclusively to each other till the moment
of its dissolution； that it is their duty； each to endeavour to give the
other no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves
elsewhere； and their best interest to keep their own imaginations
from wandering towards the perfections of their neighbours； or
fancying that they should have been better off with anyone else。
You will allow all this？”
“Yes； to be sure； as you state it； all this sounds very well； but
still they are so very different。—I cannot look upon them at all in
the same light； nor think the same duties belong to them。”
“In one respect； there certainly is a difference。 In marriage； the
man is supposed to provide for the support of the woman； the
woman to make the home agreeable to the man； he is to purvey；
and she is to smile。 But in dancing； their duties are exactly
changed； the agreeableness； the compliance are expected from
him； while she furnishes the fan and the lavender water。 That； I
suppose； was the difference of duties which struck you； as
rendering the conditions incapable of comparison。”
“No； indeed； I never thought of that。”
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“Then I am quite at a loss。 One thing； however； I must observe。
This disposition on your side is rather alarming。 You totally
disallow any similarity in the obligations； and may I not thence
infer that your notions of the duties of the dancing state are not so
strict as your partner might wish？ Have I not reason to fear that if
the gentleman who spoke to you just now were to return； or if any
other gentleman were to address you； there would be nothing to
restrain you from conversing with him as long as you chose？”
“Mr。 Thorpe is such a very particular friend of my brother’s；
that if he talks to me； I must talk to him again； but there are hardly
three young men in the room besides him that I have any
acquaintance with。”
“And is that to be my only security？ Alas； alas！”
“Nay； I am sure you cannot have a better； for if I do not know
anybody； it is impossible for me to talk to them； and； besides； I do
not want to talk to anybody。”
“Now you have given me a security worth having； and I shall
proceed with courage。 Do you find Bath as agreeable as when I
had the honour of making the inquiry before？”
“Yes； quite—m
