northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第29章
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By the kindness of her first friends； the Allens； she had been
introduced into scenes where pleasures of every kind had met her。
Her feelings； her preferences； had each known the happiness of a
return。 Wherever she felt attachment； she had been able to create
it。 The affection of Isabella was to be secured to her in a sister。 The
Tilneys； they； by whom； above all； she desired to be favourably
thought of； outstripped even her wishes in the flattering measures
by which their intimacy was to be continued。 She was to be their
chosen visitor； she was to be for weeks under the same roof with
the person whose society she mostly prized—and； in addition to all
the rest； this roof was to be the roof of an abbey！—Her passion for
ancient edifices was next in degree to her passion for Henry
Tilney—and castles and abbeys made usually the charm of those
reveries which his image did not fill。 To see and explore either the
ramparts and keep of the one； or the cloisters of the other； had
been for many weeks a darling wish； though to be more than the
visitor of an hour had seemed too nearly impossible for desire。
And yet； this was to happen。 With all the chances against her of
house； hall； place； park； court； and cottage； Northanger turned up
an abbey； and she was to be its inhabitant。 Its long； damp
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passages； its narrow cells and ruined chapel； were to be within her
daily reach； and she could not entirely subdue the hope of some
traditional legends； some awful memorials of an injured and ill…
fated nun。
It was wonderful that her friends should seem so little elated by
the possession of such a home； that the consciousness of it should
be so meekly borne。 The power of early habit only could account
for it。 A distinction to which they had been born gave no pride。
Their superiority of abode was no more to them than their
superiority of person。
Many were the inquiries she was eager to make of Miss Tilney；
but so active were her thoughts； that when these inquiries were
answered； she was hardly more assured than before； of
Northanger Abbey having been a richly…endowed convent at the
time of the Reformation； of its having fallen into the hands of an
ancestor of the Tilneys on its dissolution； of a large portion of the
ancient building still making a part of the present dwelling
although the rest was decayed； or of its standing low in a valley；
sheltered from the north and east by rising woods of oak。
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CHAPTER III
ith a mind thus full of happiness； Catherine was hardly
Waware that two or three days had passed away； without
her seeing Isabella for more than a few minutes
together。 She began first to be sensible of this； and to sigh for her
conversation； as she walked along the Pump…room one morning；
by Mrs。 Allen’s side； without anything to say or to hear； and
scarcely had she felt a five minutes’ longing of friendship； before
the object of it appeared； and inviting her to a secret conference；
led the way to a seat。 “This is my favourite place；” said she as they
sat down on a bench between the doors； which commanded a
tolerable view of every body entering at either； “it is so out of the
way。”
Catherine； observing that Isabella’s eyes were continually bent
towards one door or the other； as in eager expectation； and
remembering how often she had been falsely accused of being
arch； thought the present a fine opportunity for being really so；
and therefore gaily said； “Do not be uneasy； Isabella； James will
soon be here。”
“Psha！ My dear creature；” she replied； “do not think me such a
simpleton as to be always wanting to confine him to my elbow。 It
would be hideous to be always together； we should be the jest of
the place。 And so you are going to Northanger！—I am amazingly
glad of it。 It is one of the finest old places in England； I
understand。 I shall depend upon a most particular description of
it。”
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“You shall certainly have the best in my power to give。 But who
are you looking for？ Are your sisters coming？”
“I am not looking for anybody。 One’s eyes must be somewhere；
and you know what a foolish trick I have of fixing mine； when my
thoughts are an hundred miles off。 I am amazingly absent； I
believe I am the most absent creature in the world。 Tilney says it is
always the case with minds of a certain stamp。”
“But I thought； Isabella； you had something in particular to tell
me？”
“Oh！ yes； and so I have。 But here is a proof of what I was saying。
My poor head； I had quite forgot it。 Well； the thing is this； I have
just had a letter from John；—you can guess the contents。”
“No； indeed； I cannot。”
“My sweet love； do not be so abominably affected。 What can he
write about； but yourself？ You know he is over head and ears in
love with you。”
“With me； dear Isabella！”
“Nay； my sweetest Catherine； this is being quite absurd！
Modesty； and all that； is very well in its way； but really a little
common honesty is sometimes quite as becoming。 I have no idea
of being so overstrained！ It is fishing for compliments。 His
attentions were such as a child must have noticed。 And it was but
half an hour before he left Bath that you gave him the most
positive encouragement。 He says so in this letter； says that he as
good as made you an offer； and that you received his advances in
the kindest way； and now he wants me to urge his suit； and say all
manner of pretty things to you。 So it is in vain to affect ignorance。”
Catherine； with all the earnestness of truth； expressed her
astonishment at such a charge； protesting her innocence of every
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thought of Mr。 Thorpe’s being in love with her； and the
consequent impossibility of her having ever intended to encourage
him。 “As to any attentions on his side； I do declare； upon my
honour； I never was sensible of them for a moment—except just
his asking me to dance the first day of his coming。 And as to
making me an offer； or anything like it； there must be some
unaccountable mistake。 I could not have misunderstood a thing of
that kind； you know！—and； as I ever wish to be believed； I
solemnly protest that no syllable of such a nature ever passed
between us。 The last half hour before he went away！—It must be
all and completely a mistake—for I did not see him once that
whole morning。”
“But that you certainly did； for you spent the whole morning in
Edgar’s…buildings—it was the day your father’s consent came—
and I am pretty sure that you and John were alone in the parlour
some time before you left the house。”
“Are you？ Well； if you say it； it was so； I dare say—but for the
life of me； I cannot recollect it。 I do remember now being with you；
and seeing him as well as the rest—but that we were ever alone for
five minutes—However； it is not worth arguing about； for
whatever might pass on his side； you must be convinced； by my
having no recollection of it； that I never thought； nor expected； nor
wished for anything of the kind from him。 I am excessively
concerned that he should have any regard for me—but indeed it
has been quite unintentional on my side； I never had the smallest
idea of it。 Pray undeceive him as soon as you can； and tell him I
beg his pardon—that is—I do not know what I ought to say—but
make him understand what I mean； in the properest way。 I would
not speak disrespectfully of a brother of yours； Isabella； I am sure；
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but you know very well that if I could think of one man more than
another—he is not the person。” Isabella was silent。 “My dear
friend； you must not be angry with me。 I cannot suppose your
brother cares so very much about me。 And； you know； we shall still
be sisters。”
“Yes； yes” （with a blush） “there are more ways than one of our
being sisters。—But where am I wandering to？—Well； my dear
Catherine； the case seems to be that you are determined against
poor John—is not it so？”
“I certainly cannot return his affection； and as certainly never
meant to encourage it。”
“Since that is the case； I am sure I shall not tease you any
further。 John desired me to speak to you on the subject； and
therefore I have。 But I confess； as soon as I read his letter； I
thought it a very foolish； imprudent business； and not likely to
promote the good of either； for what were you to live upon；
supposing you came together？ You have both of you something； to
be sure； but it is not a trifle that will support a family now…a…days；
and after all that romancers may say； there is no doin
