northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第57章
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her。”
“And from these circumstances；” he replied （his quick eye fixed
on her’s）； “you infer perhaps the probability of some negligence—
some—（involuntarily she shook her head）—or it may be—of
something still less pardonable。” She raised her eyes towards him
more fully than she had ever done before。 “My mother’s illness；”
he continued； “the seizure which ended in her death； was sudden。
The malady itself； one from which she had often suffered； a bilious
fever—its cause therefore constitutional。 On the third day； in
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short； as soon as she could be prevailed on； a physician attended
her； a very respectable man； and one in whom she had always
placed great confidence。 Upon his opinion of her danger； two
others were called in the next day； and remained in almost
constant attendance for four and twenty hours。 On the fifth day
she died。 During the progress of her disorder； Frederick and I （we
were both at home） saw her repeatedly； and from our own
observation can bear witness to her having received every possible
attention which could spring from the affection of those about her；
or which her situation in life could command。 Poor Eleanor was
absent； and at such a distance as to return only to see her mother
in her coffin。”
“But your father；” said Catherine； “was he afflicted？”
“For a time； greatly so。 You have erred in supposing him not
attached to her。 He loved her； I am persuaded； as well as it was
possible for him to—we have not all； you know； the same
tenderness of disposition—and I will not pretend to say that while
she lived； she might not often have had much to bear； but though
his temper injured her； his judgment never did。 His value of her
was sincere； and； if not permanently； he was truly afflicted by her
death。”
“I am very glad of it；” said Catherine； “it would have been very
shocking！”—
“If I understand you rightly； you had formed a surmise of such
horror as I have hardly words to —。 Dear Miss Morland； consider
the dreadful nature of the suspicions you have entertained。 What
have you been judging from？ Remember the country and the age
in which we live。 Remember that we are English； that we are
Christians。 Consult your own understanding； your own sense of
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the probable； your own observation of what is passing around you。
Does our education prepare us for such atrocities？ Do our laws
connive at them？ Could they be perpetrated without being known；
in a country like this； where social and literary intercourse is on
such a footing； where every man is surrounded by a
neighbourhood of voluntary spies； and where roads and
newspapers lay every thing open？ Dearest Miss Morland； what
ideas have you been admitting？”
They had reached the end of the gallery； and with tears of
shame she ran off to her own room。
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CHAPTER X
he visions of romance were over。 Catherine was
completely awakened。 Henry’s address； short as it had
T
been； had more thoroughly opened her eyes to the
extravagance of her late fancies than all their several
disappointments had done。 Most grievously was she humbled。
Most bitterly did she cry。 It was not only with herself that she was
sunk—but with Henry。 Her folly； which now seemed even
criminal； was all exposed to him； and he must despise her forever。
The liberty which her imagination had dared to take with the
character of his father； could he ever forgive it？ The absurdity of
her curiosity and her fears； could they ever be forgotten？ She
hated herself more than she could express。 He had—she thought
he had； once or twice before this fatal morning； shown something
like affection for her。—But now—in short； she made herself as
miserable as possible for about half an hour； went down when the
clock struck five； with a broken heart； and could scarcely give an
intelligible answer to Eleanor’s inquiry if she was well。 The
formidable Henry soon followed her into the room； and the only
difference in his behaviour to her was that he paid her rather
more attention than usual。 Catherine had never wanted comfort
more； and he looked as if he was aware of it。
The evening wore away with no abatement of this soothing
politeness； and her spirits were gradually raised to a modest
tranquillity。 She did not learn either to forget or defend the past；
but she learned to hope that it would never transpire farther； and
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that it might not cost her Henry’s entire regard。 Her thoughts
being still chiefly fixed on what she had with such causeless terror
felt and done； nothing could shortly be clearer than that it had
been all a voluntary； self…created delusion； each trifling
circumstance receiving importance from an imagination resolved
on alarm； and every thing forced to bend to one purpose by a mind
which； before she entered the Abbey； had been craving to be
frightened。 She remembered with what feelings she had prepared
for a knowledge of Northanger。 She saw that the infatuation had
been created； the mischief settled； long before her quitting Bath；
and it seemed as if the whole might be traced to the influence of
that sort of reading which she had there indulged。
Charming as were all Mrs。 Radcliffe’s works； and charming
even as were the works of all her imitators； it was not in them
perhaps that human nature； at least in the Midland counties of
England； was to be looked for。 Of the Alps and Pyrenees； with
their pine forests and their vices； they might give a faithful
delineation； and Italy； Switzerland； and the south of France might
be as fruitful in horrors as they were there represented。 Catherine
dared not doubt beyond her own country； and even of that； if hard
pressed； would have yielded the northern and western extremities。
But in the central part of England there was surely some security
for the existence even of a wife not beloved； in the laws of the land；
and the manners of the age。 Murder was not tolerated； servants
were not slaves； and neither poison nor sleeping potions to be
procured； lik
