northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第16章
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had the honour of making the inquiry before？”
“Yes； quite—more so； indeed。”
“More so！—Take care； or you will forget to be tired of it at the
proper time。—You ought to be tired at the end of six weeks。”
“I do not think I should be tired； if I were to stay here six
months。”
“Bath； compared with London； has little variety； and so every
body finds out every year。 ‘For six weeks； I allow Bath is pleasant
enough； but beyond that； it is the most tiresome place in the
world。’ You would be told so by people of all descriptions； who
come regularly every winter； lengthen their six weeks into ten or
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twelve； and go away at last because they can afford to stay no
longer。”
“Well； other people must judge for themselves； and those who
go to London may think nothing of Bath。 But I； who live in a small
retired village in the country； can never find greater sameness in
such a place as this than in my own home； for here are a variety of
amusements； a variety of things to be seen and done all day long；
which I can know nothing of there。”
“You are not fond of the country。”
“Yes； I am。 I have always lived there； and always been very
happy。 But certainly there is much more sameness in a country
life than in a Bath life。 One day in the country is exactly like
another。”
“But then you spend your time so much more rationally in the
country。”
“Do I？”
“Do you not？”
“I do not believe there is much difference。”
“Here you are in pursuit only of amusement all day long。”
“And so I am at home—only I do not find so much of it。 I walk
about here； and so I do there；—but here I see a variety of people in
every street； and there I can only go and call on Mrs。 Allen。”
Mr。 Tilney was very much amused。
“Only go and call on Mrs。 Allen！” he repeated。 “What a picture
of intellectual poverty！ However； when you sink into this abyss
again； you will have more to say。 You will be able to talk of Bath；
and of all that you did here。”
“Oh！ yes。 I shall never be in want of something to talk of again
to Mrs。 Allen； or anybody else。 I really believe I shall always be
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talking of Bath； when I am at home again—I do like it so very
much。 If I could but have papa and mamma； and the rest of them
here； I suppose I should be too happy！ James’s coming （my eldest
brother） is quite delightful—and especially as it turns out that the
very family we are just got so intimate with are his intimate
friends already。 Oh！ who can ever be tired of Bath？”
“Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every sort to it as
you do。 But papas and mammas； and brothers； and intimate
friends are a good deal gone by； to most of the frequenters of
Bath—and the honest relish of balls and plays； and every…day
sights； is past with them。”
Here their conversation closed； the demands of the dance
becoming now too importunate for a divided attention。
Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set； Catherine
perceived herself to be earnestly regarded by a gentleman who
stood among the lookers…on； immediately behind her partner。 He
was a very handsome man； of a commanding aspect； past the
bloom； but not past the vigour of life； and with his eye still directed
towards her； she saw him presently address Mr。 Tilney in a
familiar whisper。 Confused by his notice； and blushing from the
fear of its being excited by something wrong in her appearance；
she turned away her head。 But while she did so； the gentleman
retreated； and her partner； coming nearer； said； “I see that you
guess what I have just been asked。 That gentleman knows your
name； and you have a right to know his。 It is General Tilney； my
father。”
Catherine’s answer was only “Oh！”—but it was an “Oh！”
expressing every thing needful； attention to his words； and perfect
reliance on their truth。 With real interest and strong admiration
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did her eye now follow the General； as he moved through the
crowd； and “How handsome a family they are！” was her secret
remark。
In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded； a
new source of felicity arose to her。 She had never taken a country
walk since her arrival in Bath。 Miss Tilney； to whom all the
commonly frequented environs were familiar； spoke of them in
terms which made her all eagerness to know them too； and on her
openly fearing that she might find nobody to go with her； it was
proposed by the brother and sister that they should join in a walk；
some morning or other。 “I shall like it；” she cried； “beyond
anything in the world； and do not let us put it off—let us go to…
morrow。” This was readily agreed to； with only a proviso of Miss
Tilney’s； that it did not rain； which Catherine was sure it would
not。 At twelve o’clock； they were to call for her in Pulteney…street；
and “Remember—twelve o’clock；” was her parting speech to her
new friend。 Of her other； her older； her more established friend；
Isabella； of whose fidelity and worth she had enjoyed a fortnight’s
experience； she scarcely saw anything during the evening。 Yet；
though longing to make her acquainted with her happiness； she
cheerfully submitted to the wish of Mr。 Allen； which took them
rather early away； and her spirits danced within her； as she
danced in her chair all the way home。
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CHAPTER XI
he morrow brought a very sober…looking morning； the sun
making only a few efforts to appear； and Catherine
T
augured from it every thing most favourable to her wishes。
A bright morning so early in the year； she allowed； would
generally turn to rain； but a cloudy one foretold improvement as
the day advanced。 She applied to Mr。 Allen for confirmation of her
hopes； but Mr。 Allen； not having his own skies and barometer
about him； declined giving any absolute promise of sunshine。 She
applied to Mrs。 Allen； and Mrs。 Allen’s opinion was more positive。
“She had no doubt in the world of its being a very fine day； if the
clouds would only go off； and the sun keep out。”
At about eleven o’clock； however； a few specks of small rain
upon the windows caught Catherine’s watchful eye； and “Oh！
dear； I do believe it will be wet；” broke from her in a most
desponding tone。
“I thought how it would be；” said Mrs。 Allen。
“No walk for me to…day；” sighed Catherine；—“but perhaps it
may come to nothing； or it may hold up before twelve。”
“Perhaps it may； but then； my dear； it will be so dirty。”
“Oh！ That will not signify； I never mind dirt。”
“No；” replied her friend very placidly； “I know you never mind
dirt。”
After a short pause； “It comes on faster and faster！” said
Catherine； as she stood watching at a window。
“So it does indeed。 If it keeps raining； the streets will be very
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wet。”
“There are four umbrellas up already。 How I hate the sight of
an umbrella！”
“They are disagreeable things to carry。 I would much rather
take a chair at any time。”
“It was such a nice…looking morning！ I felt so convinced it
would be dry！”
“Anybody would have thought so indeed。 There will be very few
people in the Pump…room； if it rains all the morning。 I hope Mr。
Allen will put on his great coat when he goes； but I dare say he will
not； for he had rather do anything in the world than walk out in a
great coat； I wonder he should dislike it； it must be so
comfortable。”
The rain continued—fast； though not heavy。 Catherine went
every five minutes to the clock； threatening on each return that； if
it still kept on raining another five minutes； she would give up the
matter as hopeless。 The clock struck twelve； and it still rained。—
“You will not be able to go； my dear。”
“I do not quite despair yet。 I shall not give it up till a quarter
after twelve。 This is just the time of day for it to clear up； and I do
think it looks a little lighter。 There； it is twenty minutes after
twelve； and now I shall give it up entirely。 Oh！ That we had such
weather here as they had at Udolpho； or at least in Tuscany and
the south of France！—the night that poor St。 Aubin died！—such
beautiful weather！”
At half past twelve； when Catherine’s anxious attention to the
weather was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its
amendment； the sky began voluntarily to clear。 A gleam of
sunshine took her quite by surprize； she looked round； the clouds
