northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第71章
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uncandid judge or a resentful heart。 Far from comprehending him
or his sister in their father’s misconduct； Mrs。 Morland had been
always kindly disposed towards each； and instantly； pleased by his
appearance； received him with the simple professions of
unaffected benevolence； thanking him for such an attention to her
daughter； assuring him that the friends of her children were
always welcome there； and intreating him to say not another word
of the past。
He was not ill inclined to obey this request； for； though his
heart was greatly relieved by such unlooked…for mildness； it was
not just at that moment in his power to say any thing to the
purpose。 Returning in silence to his seat； therefore； he remained
for some minutes most civilly answering all Mrs。 Morland’s
common remarks about the weather and roads。 Catherine
meanwhile；—the anxious； agitated； happy； feverish Catherine；—
said not a word； but her glowing cheek and brightened eye made
her mother trust that this good…natured visit would at least set her
heart at ease for a time； and gladly therefore did she lay aside the
first volume of The Mirror for a future hour。
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Desirous of Mr。 Morland’s assistance； as well in giving
encouragement； as in finding conversation for her guest； whose
embarrassment on his father’s account she earnestly pitied； Mrs。
Morland had very early dispatched one of the children to summon
him； but Mr。 Morland was from home—and being thus without
any support； at the end of a quarter of an hour she had nothing to
say。 After a couple of minutes’ unbroken silence； Henry； turning to
Catherine for the first time since her mother’s entrance； asked her；
with sudden alacrity； if Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen were now at Fullerton？
and on developing； from amidst all her perplexity of words in
reply； the meaning； which one short syllable would have given；
immediately expressed his intention of paying his respects to
them； and； with a rising colour； asked her if she would have the
goodness to show him the way。 “You may see the house from this
window； sir；” was information on Sarah’s side； which produced
only a bow of acknowledgment from the gentleman； and a
silencing nod from her mother； for Mrs。 Morland； thinking it
probable； as a secondary consideration in his wish of waiting on
their worthy neighbours； that he might have some explanation to
give of his father’s behaviour； which it must be more pleasant for
him to communicate only to Catherine； would not on any account
prevent her accompanying him。 They began their walk； and Mrs。
Morland was not entirely mistaken in his object in wishing it。
Some explanation on his father’s account he had to give； but his
first purpose was to explain himself； and before they reached Mr。
Allen’s grounds he had done it so well that Catherine did not think
it could ever be repeated too often。 She was assured of his
affection； and that heart in return was solicited； which； perhaps；
they pretty equally knew was already entirely his own； for； though
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Henry was now sincerely attached to her； though he felt and
delighted in all the excellencies of her character and truly loved
her society； I must confess that his affection originated in nothing
better than gratitude； or； in other words； that a persuasion of her
partiality for him had been the only cause of giving her a serious
thought。 It is a new circumstance in romance； I acknowledge； and
dreadfully derogatory of an heroine’s dignity； but if it be as new in
common life； the credit of a wild imagination will at least be all my
own。
A very short visit to Mrs。 Allen； in which Henry talked at
random； without sense or connection； and Catherine； rapt in the
contemplation of her own unutterable happiness； scarcely opened
her lips； dismissed them to the ecstasies of another tête…à…tête； and
before it was suffered to close； she was enabled to judge how far
he was sanctioned by parental authority in his present application。
On his return from Woodston； two days before； he had been met
near the Abbey by his impatient father； hastily informed in angry
terms of Miss Morland’s departure； and ordered to think of her no
more。
Such was the permission upon which he had now offered her
his hand。 The affrighted Catherine； amidst all the terrors of
expectation； as she listened to this account； could not but rejoice
in the kind caution with which Henry had saved her from the
necessity of a conscientious rejection； by engaging her faith before
he mentioned the subject； and as he proceeded to give the
particulars； and explain the motives of his father’s conduct； her
feelings soon hardened into even a triumphant delight。 The
General had had nothing to accuse her of； nothing to lay to her
charge； but her being the involuntary； unconscious object of a
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deception which his pride could not pardon； and which a better
pride would have been ashamed to own。 She was guilty only of
being less rich than he had supposed her to be。 Under a mistaken
persuasion of her possessions and claims； he had courted her
acquaintance in Bath； solicited her company at Northanger； and
designed her for his daughter…in…law。 On discovering his error； to
turn her from the house seemed the best； though to his feelings an
inadequate proof of his resentment towards herself； and his
contempt of her family。
John Thorpe had first misled him。 The General； perceiving his
son one night at the theatre to be paying considerable attention to
Miss Morland； had accidentally inquired of Thorpe if he knew
more of her than her name。 Thorpe； most happy to be on speaking
terms with a man of General Tilney’s importance； had been
joyfully and proudly communicative；—and being at that time not
only in daily expectation of Morland’s engaging Isabella； but
likewise pretty well resolved upon marrying Catherine himself； his
vanity induced him to represent the family as yet more wealthy
than his vanity and avarice had made him believe them。 With
whomsoever he was； or was likely to be connected； his own
consequence always required that theirs should be great； and as
his intimacy with any acquaintance grew； so regularly grew their
fortune。 The expectations of his friend Mo
