northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第37章
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profession。”
The imposing effect of this last argument was equal to his
wishes。 The silence of the lady proved it to be unanswerable。
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Something had been said the evening before of her being
shewn over the house； and he now offered himself as her
conductor； and though Catherine had hoped to explore it
accompanied only by his daughter； it was a proposal of too much
happiness in itself； under any circumstances； not to be gladly
accepted； for she had been already eighteen hours in the abbey；
and had seen only a few of its rooms。 The netting…box； just
leisurely drawn forth； was closed with joyful haste； and she was
ready to attend him in a moment。 “And when they had gone over
the house； he promised himself moreover the pleasure of
accompanying her into the shrubberies and garden。” She curtsied
her acquiescence。 “But perhaps it might be more agreeable to her
to make those her first object。 The weather was at present
favourable； and at this time of year the uncertainty was very great
of its continuing so。—Which would she prefer？ He was equally at
her service。—Which did his daughter think would most accord
with her fair friend’s wishes？—But he thought he could discern。—
Yes； he certainly read in Miss Morland’s eyes a judicious desire of
making use of the present smiling weather。—But when did she
judge amiss？—The Abbey would be always safe and dry。—He
yielded implicitly； and would fetch his hat and attend them in a
moment。” He left the room； and Catherine； with a disappointed；
anxious face； began to speak of her unwillingness that he should
be taking them out of doors against his own inclination； under a
mistaken idea of pleasing her； but she was stopped by Miss
Tilney’s saying； with a little confusion； “I believe it will be wisest to
take the morning while it is so fine； and do not be uneasy on my
father’s account； he always walks out at this time of day。”
Catherine did not exactly know how this was to be understood。
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Why was Miss Tilney embarrassed？ Could there be any
unwillingness on the General’s side to shew her over the Abbey？
The proposal was his own。 And was not it odd that he should
always take his walk so early？ Neither her father nor Mr。 Allen did
so。 It was certainly very provoking。 She was all impatience to see
the house； and had scarcely any curiosity about the grounds。 If
Henry had been with them indeed！—But now she should not
know what was picturesque when she saw it。 Such were her
thoughts； but she kept them to herself； and put on her bonnet in
patient discontent。
She was struck； however； beyond her expectation； by the
grandeur of the Abbey； as she saw it for the first time from the
lawn。 The whole building enclosed a large court； and two sides of
the quadrangle； rich in Gothic ornaments； stood forward for
admiration。 The remainder was shut off by knolls of old trees； or
luxuriant plantations； and the steep woody hills rising behind； to
give it shelter； were beautiful even in the leafless month of March。
Catherine had seen nothing to compare with it； and her feelings of
delight were so strong； that without waiting for any better
authority； she boldly burst forth in wonder and praise。 The
General listened with assenting gratitude； and it seemed as if his
own estimation of Northanger had waited unfixed till that hour。
The kitchen…garden was to be next admired； and he led the way
to it across a small portion of the park。
The number of acres contained in this garden was such as
Catherine could not listen to without dismay； being more than
double the extent of all Mr。 Allen’s； as well her father’s； including
church…yard and orchard。 The walls seemed countless in number；
endless in length； a village of hot…houses seemed to arise among
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them； and a whole parish to be at work within the enclosure。 The
General was flattered by her looks of surprise； which told him
almost as plainly； as he soon forced her to tell him in words； that
she had never seen any gardens at all equal to them before；—and
he then modestly owned that； “without any ambition of that sort
himself—without any solicitude about it—he did believe them to
be unrivalled in the kingdom。 If he had a hobby…horse； it was that。
He loved a garden。 Though careless enough in most matters of
eating； he loved good fruit—or if he did not； his friends and
children did。 There were great vexations； however； attending such
a garden as his。 The utmost care could not always secure the most
valuable fruits。 The pinery had yielded only one hundred in the
last year。 Mr。 Allen； he supposed； must feel these inconveniences
as well as himself。”
“No； not at all。 Mr。 Allen did not care about the garden； and
never went into it。”
With a triumphant smile of self…satisfaction； the General wished
he could do the same； for he never entered his； without being
vexed in some way or other； by its falling short of his plan。
“How were Mr。 Allen’s succession…houses worked？” describing
the nature of his own as they entered them。
“Mr。 Allen had only one small hot…house； which Mrs。 Allen had
the use of for her plants in winter； and there was a fire in it now
and then。”
“He is a happy man！” said the General； with a look of very
happy contempt。
Having taken her into every division； and led her under every
wall； till she was heartily weary of seeing and wondering； he
suffered the girls at last to seize the advantage of an outer door；
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and then expressing his wish to examine the effect of some recent
alterations about the tea…house； proposed it as no unpleasant
extension of their walk； if Miss Morland were not tired。 “But
where are you going； Eleanor？—Why do you choose that cold；
damp path to it？ Miss Morland will get wet。 Our best way is across
the park。”
“This is so favourite a walk of mine；” said Miss Tilney； “that I
always think it the best and nearest way。 But perhaps it may be
damp。”
It was a narrow winding path through a thick grove of old
Scotch firs； and Catherine； struck by its gloomy aspect； and eager
to enter it； could not； even by the General’s disapprobation； be
kept from stepping forward。 He perceived her inclination； and
having again urged the plea of health in vain； was too polite to
make further opposition。 He excused himself； however； from
attending them：—“The rays of the sun were not too cheerful for
him； and he would meet them by another course。” He turned
away； and Catherine was shocked to find how much her spirits
were relieved by the separation。 The shock； however； being less
real than the relief； offered it no injury； and she began to talk with
easy gaiety of the delightful melancholy which such a grove
inspired。
“I am particularly fond of this spot；” said her companion； with a
sigh。 “It was my mother’s favourite walk。”
Catherine had never heard Mrs。 Tilney mentioned in the family
before； and the interest excited by this tender remembrance
shewed itself directly in her altered countenance； and in the
attentive pause with which she waited for something more。
“I used to walk here so often with her！” added Eleanor； “though
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I never loved it then； as I have loved it since。 At that time indeed I
used to wonder at her choice。 But her memory endears it now。”
“And ought it not；” reflected Catherine； “to endear it to her
husband？ Yet the General would not enter it。” Miss Tilney
continuing silent； she ventured to say； “Her death must have been
a great affliction！”
“A great and increasing one；” replied the other； in a low voice。
“I was only thirteen when it happened； and though I felt my loss
perhaps as strongly as one so young could feel it； I did not； I could
not； then know what a loss it was。” She stopped for a moment； and
then added； with great firmness； “I have no sister； you know—and
though Henry—though my brothers are very affectionate； and
Henry is a great deal here； which I am most thankful for； it is
impossible for me not to be often solitary。”
“To be sure you must miss him very much。”
“A mother would have been always present。 A mother would
have been a constant friend； her influence would have been
beyond all other。”
“Was she a very charming woman？ Was she handsome？ Was
there any picture of her in the Abbey？ And why had she been so
partia
