northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第11节
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but Catherine heard neither the particulars nor the result。 Her
companion’s discourse now sunk from its hitherto animated pitch
to nothing more than a short decisive sentence of praise or
condemnation on the face of every woman they met； and
Catherine； after listening and agreeing as long as she could； with
all the civility and deference of the youthful female mind； fearful of
hazarding an opinion of its own in opposition to that of a self…
assured man； especially where the beauty of her own sex is
concerned； ventured at length to vary the subject by a question
which had been long uppermost in her thoughts； it was； “Have you
ever read Udolpho； Mr。 Thorpe？”
“Udolpho！ Oh； Lord！ not I； I never read novels； I have
something else to do。”
Catherine； humbled and ashamed； was going to apologize for
her question； but he prevented her by saying； “Novels are all so
full of nonsense and stuff； there has not been a tolerably decent
one come out since Tom Jones； except The Monk； I read that
t’other day； but as for all the others； they are the stupidest things
in creation。”
“I think you must like Udolpho； if you were to read it； it is so
very interesting。”
“Not I； faith！ No； if I read any； it shall be Mrs。 Radcliffe’s； her
novels are amusing enough； they are worth reading； some fun and
nature in them。”
“Udolpho was written by Mrs。 Radcliffe；” said Catherine； with
some hesitation； from the fear of mortifying him。
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“No sure； was it？ Aye； I remember； so it was； I was thinking of
that other stupid book； written by that woman they make such a
fuss about； she who married the French emigrant。”
“I suppose you mean Camilla？”
“Yes； that’s the book； such unnatural stuff！ An old man playing
at see…saw； I took up the first volume once and looked it over； but I
soon found it would not do； indeed I guessed what sort of stuff it
must be before I saw it： as soon as I heard she had married an
emigrant； I was sure I should never be able to get through it。”
“I have never read it。”
“You had no loss； I assure you； it is the horridest nonsense you
can imagine； there is nothing in the world in it but an old man’s
playing at see…saw and learning Latin； upon my soul there is not。”
This critique； the justness of which was unfortunately lost on
poor Catherine； brought them to the door of Mrs。 Thorpe’s
lodgings； and the feelings of the discerning and unprejudiced
reader of Camilla gave way to the feelings of the dutiful and
affectionate son； as they met Mrs。 Thorpe； who had descried them
from above； in the passage。 “Ah； Mother！ How do you do？” said
he； giving her a hearty shake of the hand： “where did you get that
quiz of a hat？ It makes you look like an old witch。 Here is Morland
and I come to stay a few days with you； so you must look out for a
couple of good beds somewhere near。” And this address seemed to
satisfy all the fondest wishes of the mother’s heart； for she
received him with the most delighted and exulting affection。 On
his two younger sisters he then bestowed an equal portion of his
fraternal tenderness； for he asked each of them how they did； and
observed that they both looked very ugly。
These manners did not please Catherine； but he was James’s
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friend and Isabella’s brother； and her judgment was further
bought off by Isabella’s assuring her； when they withdrew to see
the new hat； that John thought her the most charming girl in the
world； and by John’s engaging her before they parted to dance
with him that evening。 Had she been older or vainer； such attacks
might have done little； but； where youth and diffidence are united；
it requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction
of being called the most charming girl in the world； and of being so
very early engaged as a partner； and the consequence was that；
when the two Morlands； after sitting an hour with the Thorpes； set
off to walk together to Mr。 Allen’s； and James； as the door was
closed on them； said； “Well； Catherine； how do you like my friend
Thorpe？” instead of answering； as she probably would have done；
had there been no friendship and no flattery in the case； “I do not
like him at all；” she directly replied； “I like him very much； he
seems very agreeable。”
“He is as good…natured a fellow as ever lived； a little of a rattle；
but that will recommend him to your sex； I believe： and how do
you like the rest of the family？”
“Very； very much indeed： Isabella particularly。”
“I am very glad to hear you say so； she is just the kind of young
woman I could wish to see you attached to； she has so much good
sense； and is so thoroughly unaffected and amiable； I always
wanted you to know her； and she seems very fond of you。 She said
the highest things in your praise that could possibly be； and the
praise of such a girl as Miss Thorpe even you； Catherine；” taking
her hand with affection； “may be proud of。”
“Indeed I am；” she replied； “I love her exceedingly； and am
delighted to find that you like her too。 You hardly mentioned
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anything of her when you wrote to me after your visit there。”
“Because I thought I should soon see you myself。 I hope you
will be a great deal together while you are in Bath。 She is a most
amiable girl； such a superior understanding！ How fond all the
family are of her； she is evidently the general favourite； and how
much she must be admired in such a place as this—is not she？”
“Yes； very much indeed； I fancy； Mr。 Allen thinks her the
prettiest girl in Bath。”
“I dare say he does； and I do not know any man who is a better
judge of beauty than Mr。 Allen。 I need not ask you whether you are
happy here； my dear Catherine； with such a companion and friend
as Isabella Thorpe； it would be impossible for you to be otherwise；
and the Allens； I am sure； are very kind to you？”
“Yes； very kind； I never was so happy before； and now you are
come it will be more delightful than ever； how good it is of you to
come so far on purpose to see me。”
James accepted this tribute of gratitude； and qualified his
conscience for accepting it too； by saying with perfect sincerity；
“Indeed； Catherine； I love you dearly。”
Inquiries and communications concerning brothers and sisters；
the situation of some； the growth of the rest； and other family
matters now passed between them； and continued； with only one
small digression on James’s part； in praise of Miss Thorpe； till they
reached Pulteney…street； where he was welcomed with great
kindness by Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen； invited by the former to dine with
them； and summoned by the latter to guess the price and weigh
the merits of a new muff and tippet。 A pre…engagement in Edgar’s
Buildings prevented his accepting the invitation of one friend； and
obliged him to hurry away as soon as he had satisfied the demands
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of the other。 The time of the two parties uniting in the Octagon
Room being correctly adjusted； Catherine was then left to the
luxury of a raised； restless； and frightened imagination over the
pages of Udolpho； l
