northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第26章
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again by the end of a fortnight； and a devilish long fortnight it will
appear to me。”
“Then why do you stay away so long？” replied Catherine—
finding that he waited for an answer。
“That is kind of you； however—kind and good…natured。—I shall
not forget it in a hurry。—But you have more good nature and all
that； than anybody living； I believe。 A monstrous deal of good
nature； and it is not only good nature； but you have so much； so
much of every thing； and then you have such—upon my soul I do
not know anybody like you。”
“Oh！ dear； there are a great many people like me； I dare say；
only a great deal better。 Good morning to you。”
“But I say； Miss Morland； I shall come and pay my respects at
Fullerton before it is long； if not disagreeable。”
“Pray do。—My father and mother will be very glad to see you。”
“And I hope—I hope； Miss Morland； you will not be sorry to see
me。”
“Oh！ dear； not at all。 There are very few people I am sorry to
see。 Company is always cheerful。”
“That is just my way of thinking。 Give me but a little cheerful
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company； let me only have the company of the people I love； let
me only be where I like and with whom I like； and the devil take
the rest； say I。—And I am heartily glad to hear you say the same。
But I have a notion； Miss Morland； you and I think pretty much
alike upon most matters。”
“Perhaps we may； but it is more than I ever thought of。 And as
to most matters； to say the truth； there are not many that I know
my own mind about。”
“By Jove； no more do I。 It is not my way to bother my brains
with what does not concern me。 My notion of things is simple
enough。 Let me only have the girl I like； say I； with a comfortable
house over my head； and what care I for all the rest？ Fortune is
nothing。 I am sure of a good income of my own； and if she had not
a penny； why； so much the better。”
“Very true。 I think like you there。 If there is a good fortune on
one side； there can be no occasion for any on the other。 No matter
which has it； so that there is enough。 I hate the idea of one great
fortune looking out for another。 And to marry for money I think
the wickedest thing in existence。—Good day。—We shall be very
glad to see you at Fullerton； whenever it is convenient。” And away
she went。 It was not in the power of all his gallantry to detain her
longer。 With such news to communicate； and such a visit to
prepare for； her departure was not to be delayed by anything in
his nature to urge； and she hurried away； leaving him to the
undivided consciousness of his own happy address； and her
explicit encouragement。
The agitation which she had herself experienced on first
learning her brother’s engagement made her expect to raise no
inconsiderable emotion in Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen； by the
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communication of the wonderful event。 How great was her
disappointment！ The important affair； which many words of
preparation ushered in； had been foreseen by them both ever
since her brother’s arrival； and all that they felt on the occasion
was comprehended in a wish for the young people’s happiness；
with a remark； on the gentleman’s side； in favour of Isabella’s
beauty； and on the lady’s； of her great good luck。 It was to
Catherine the most surprizing insensibility。 The disclosure；
however； of the great secret of James’s going to Fullerton the day
before； did raise some emotion in Mrs。 Allen。 She could not listen
to that with perfect calmness； but repeatedly regretted the
necessity of its concealment； wished she could have known his
intention； wished she could have seen him before he went； as she
should certainly have troubled him with her best regards to his
father and mother； and her kind compliments to all the Skinners。
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VOLUME II
CHAPTER I
atherine’s expectations of pleasure from her visit in
Milsom…street were so very high； that disappointment was
C
inevitable； and accordingly； though she was most politely
received by General Tilney； and kindly welcomed by his daughter；
though Henry was at home； and no one else of the party； she
found； on her return； without spending many hours in the
examination of her feelings； that she had gone to her appointment
preparing for happiness which it had not afforded。 Instead of
finding herself improved in acquaintance with Miss Tilney； from
the intercourse of the day； she seemed hardly so intimate with her
as before； instead of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage
than ever； in the ease of a family party； he had never said so little；
nor been so little agreeable； and； in spite of their father’s great
civilities to her—in spite of his thanks； invitations； and
compliments—it had been a release to get away from him。 It
puzzled her to account for all this。 It could not be General Tilney’s
fault。 That he was perfectly agreeable and good…natured； and
altogether a very charming man； did not admit of a doubt； for he
was tall and handsome； and Henry’s father。 He could not be
accountable for his children’s want of spirits； or for her want of
enjoyment in his company。 The former she hoped at last might
have been accidental； and the latter she could only attribute to her
own stupidity。 Isabella； on hearing the particulars of the visit； gave
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a different explanation： “It was all pride； pride； insufferable
haughtiness and pride！ She had long suspected the family to be
very high； and this made it certain。 Such insolence of behaviour as
Miss Tilney’s she had never heard of in her life！ Not to do the
honours of her house with common good breeding！—To behave to
her guest with such superciliousness！—Hardly even to speak to
her！”
“But it was not so bad as that； Isabella； there was no
superciliousness； she was very civil。”
“Oh！ Don’t defend her！ And then the brother； he； who had
appeared so attached to you！ Good heavens！ Well； some people’s
feelings are incomprehensible。 And so he hardly looked once at
you the whole day？”
“I do not say so： but he did not seem in good spirits。”
“How contemptible！ Of all things in the world inconstancy is my
aversion。 Let me entreat you never to think of him again； my dear
Catherine； indeed he is unworthy of you。”
“Unworthy！ I do not suppose he ever thinks of me。”
“That is exactly what I say； he never thinks of you。 Such
fickleness！ Oh！ how different to your brother and to mine！ I really
believe John has the most constant heart。”
“But as for General Tilney； I assure you it would be impossible
for anybody to behave to me with greater civility and attention； it
seemed to be his only care to entertain and make me happy。”
“Oh！ I know no harm of him； I do not suspect him of pride。 I
believe he is a very gentleman…like man。 John thinks very well of
him； and John’s judgment—”
“Well； I shall see how they behave to me this evening； we shall
meet them at the rooms。”
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“And must I go？”
“Do not you intend it？ I thought it was all settled。”
“Nay； since you make such a point of it； I can refuse you
nothing。 But do not insist upon my being very agreeable； for my
heart； you know； will be some forty miles off。 And as for dancing；
do not mention it； I beg； that is quite out of the question。 Charles
Hodges will plague me to death； I dare say； but I shall cut him very
short。 Ten to one but he guesses the reason； and that is exactly
what I want to avoid； so I shall insist on his keeping his conjecture
to himself。”
Isabella’s opinion of the Tilneys did not influence her friend；
she was sure there had been no insolence in the manners either of
brother or sister； and she did not credit there being any pride in
their hearts。 The evening rewarded her confidence； she was met
by one with the same kindness； and by the other with the same
attention； as heretofore： Miss Tilney took pains to be near her； and
Henry asked her to dance。
Having heard the day before in Milsom…street that their elder
brother； Captain Tilney； was expected almost every hour； she was
at no loss for the name of a very fashionable…looking； handsome
young man； whom she had never seen before； and who now
evidently belonged to their party。 She looked at him with great
admiration； and even supposed it possible that some people might
think him handsomer than his brother； though； in her eyes； his air
was more assuming； a
