northanger abbey-第12章
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and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson;
that to go previously engaged to a ball does not necessarily
increase either the dignity or enjoyment of a young lady。
From such a moralizing strain as this; she was suddenly
roused by a touch on the shoulder; and turning round;
perceived Mrs。 Hughes directly behind her; attended by Miss
Tilney and a gentleman。 〃I beg your pardon; Miss Morland;〃
said she; 〃for this libertybut I cannot anyhow get to
Miss Thorpe; and Mrs。 Thorpe said she was sure you would
not have the least objection to letting in this young lady
by you。〃 Mrs。 Hughes could not have applied to any creature
in the room more happy to oblige her than Catherine。
The young ladies were introduced to each other; Miss Tilney
expressing a proper sense of such goodness; Miss Morland
with the real delicacy of a generous mind making light
of the obligation; and Mrs。 Hughes; satisfied with having
so respectably settled her young charge; returned to
her party。
Miss Tilney had a good figure; a pretty face;
and a very agreeable countenance; and her air; though it
had not all the decided pretension; the resolute
stylishness of Miss Thorpe's; had more real elegance。
Her manners showed good sense and good breeding;
they were neither shy nor affectedly open; and she
seemed capable of being young; attractive; and at a ball
without wanting to fix the attention of every man
near her; and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic
delight or inconceivable vexation on every little
trifling occurrence。 Catherine; interested at once
by her appearance and her relationship to Mr。 Tilney;
was desirous of being acquainted with her; and readily
talked therefore whenever she could think of anything
to say; and had courage and leisure for saying it。
But the hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy;
by the frequent want of one or more of these requisites;
prevented their doing more than going through the first
rudiments of an acquaintance; by informing themselves how well
the other liked Bath; how much she admired its buildings
and surrounding country; whether she drew; or played;
or sang; and whether she was fond of riding on horseback。
The two dances were scarcely concluded before Catherine
found her arm gently seized by her faithful Isabella;
who in great spirits exclaimed; 〃At last I have got you。
My dearest creature; I have been looking for you this hour。
What could induce you to come into this set; when you
knew I was in the other? I have been quite wretched
without you。〃
〃My dear Isabella; how was it possible for me to get
at you? I could not even see where you were。〃
〃So I told your brother all the timebut he would
not believe me。 Do go and see for her; Mr。 Morland;
said Ibut all in vainhe 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 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 commonplace 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 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 thema 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 Catherine; 〃I dare say she
thought I was speaking of her so