northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第15章
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could not even see where you were。”
“So I told your brother all the time—but he would not believe
me。 Do go and see for her； Mr。 Morland； said I—but all in vain—he
would not stir an inch。 Was not it so； Mr。 Morland？ But you men
are all so immoderately lazy！ I have been scolding him to such a
degree； my dear Catherine； you would be quite amazed。—You
know I never stand upon ceremony with such people。”
“Look at that young lady with the white beads round her head；”
whispered Catherine； detaching her friend from James—“It is Mr。
Tilney’s sister。”
“Oh！ Heavens！ You don’t say so！ Let me look at her this
moment。 What a delightful girl！ I never saw anything half so
beautiful！ But where is her all…conquering brother？ Is he in the
room？ Point him out to me this instant； if he is。 I die to see him。
Mr。 Morland； you are not to listen。 We are not talking about you。”
“But what is all this whispering about？ What is going on？”
“There now； I knew how it would be。 You men have such
restless curiosity！ Talk of the curiosity of women； indeed！—’tis
nothing。 But be satisfied； for you are not to know anything at all of
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the matter。”
“And is that likely to satisfy me； do you think？”
“Well； I declare I never knew anything like you。 What can it
signify to you； what we are talking of。 Perhaps we are talking
about you； therefore I would advise you not to listen； or you may
happen to hear something not very agreeable。”
In this common…place chatter； which lasted some time； the
original subject seemed entirely forgotten； and though Catherine
was very well pleased to have it dropped for a while； she could not
avoid a little suspicion at the total suspension of all Isabella’s
impatient desire to see Mr。 Tilney。 When the orchestra struck up a
fresh dance； James would have led his fair partner away； but she
resisted。 “I tell you； Mr。 Morland；” she cried； “I would not do such
a thing for all the world。 How can you be so teasing； only conceive；
my dear Catherine； what your brother wants me to do。 He wants
me to dance with him again； though I tell him that it is a most
improper thing； and entirely against the rules。 It would make us
the talk of the place； if we were not to change partners。”
“Upon my honour；” said James； “in these public assemblies； it
is as often done as not。”
“Nonsense； how can you say so？ But when you men have a
point to carry； you never stick at anything。 My sweet Catherine； do
support me； persuade your brother how impossible it is。 Tell him
that it would quite shock you to see me do such a thing； now
would not it？”
“No； not at all； but if you think it wrong； you had much better
change。”
“There；” cried Isabella； “you hear what your sister says； and yet
you will not mind her。 Well； remember that it is not my fault； if we
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set all the old ladies in Bath in a bustle。 Come along； my dearest
Catherine； for heaven’s sake； and stand by me。” And off they went；
to regain their former place。 John Thorpe； in the meanwhile； had
walked away； and Catherine； ever willing to give Mr。 Tilney an
opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already
flattered her once； made her way to Mrs。 Allen and Mrs。 Thorpe as
fast as she could； in the hope of finding him still with them—a
hope which； when it proved to be fruitless； she felt to have been
highly unreasonable。 “Well； my dear；” said Mrs。 Thorpe； impatient
for praise of her son； “I hope you have had an agreeable partner。”
“Very agreeable； madam。”
“I am glad of it。 John has charming spirits； has not he？”
“Did you meet Mr。 Tilney； my dear？” said Mrs。 Allen。
“No； where is he？”
“He was with us just now； and said he was so tired of lounging
about； that he was resolved to go and dance； so I thought perhaps
he would ask you； if he met with you。”
“Where can he be？” said Catherine； looking round； but she had
not looked round long before she saw him leading a young lady to
the dance。
“Ah！ he has got a partner； I wish he had asked you；” said Mrs。
Allen； and after a short silence； she added； “he is a very agreeable
young man。”
“Indeed he is； Mrs。 Allen；” said Mrs。 Thorpe； smiling
complacently； “I must say it； though I am his mother； that there is
not a more agreeable young man in the world。”
This inapplicable answer might have been too much for the
comprehension of many； but it did not puzzle Mrs。 Allen； for after
only a moment’s consideration； she said； in a whisper to
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Catherine； “I dare say she thought I was speaking of her son。”
Catherine was disappointed and vexed。 She seemed to have
missed by so little the very object she had had in view； and this
persuasion did not incline her to a very gracious reply； when John
Thorpe came up to her soon afterwards and said； “Well； Miss
Morland； I suppose you and I are to stand up and jig it together
again。”
“Oh； no； I am much obliged to you； our two dances are over；
and； besides； I am tired； and do not mean to dance any more。”
“Do not you？—then let us walk about and quiz people。 Come
along with me； and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in
the room； my two younger sisters and their partners。 I have been
laughing at them this half hour。”
Again Catherine excused herself； and at last he walked off to
quiz his sisters by himself。 The rest of the evening she found very
dull； Mr。 Tilney was drawn away from their party at tea； to attend
that of his partner； Miss Tilney； though belonging to it； did not sit
near her； and James and Isabella were so much engaged in
conversing together that the latter had no leisure to bestow more
on her friend than one smile； one squeeze； and one “dearest
Catherine。”
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CHAPTER IX
he progress of Catherine’s unhappiness from the events of
the evening was as follows。 It appeared first in a general
T
dissatisfaction with everybody about her； while she
remained in the rooms； which speedily brought on considerable
weariness and a violent desire to go home。 This； on arriving in
Pulteney…street； took the direction of extraordinary hunger； and
when that was appeased； changed into an earnest longing to be in
bed； such was the extreme point of
