northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第14节
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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 her distress； for when there
she immediately fell into a sound sleep which lasted nine hours；
and from which she awoke perfectly revived； in excellent spirits；
with fresh hopes and fresh schemes。 The first wish of her heart
was to improve her acquaintance with Miss Tilney； and almost her
first resolution； to seek her for that purpose； in the Pump…room at
noon。 In the Pump…room； one so newly arrived in Bath must be
met with； and that building she had already found so favourable
for the discovery of female excellence； and the completion of
female intimacy； so admirably adapted for secret discourses and
unlimited confidence； that she was most reasonably encouraged to
expect another friend from within its walls。 Her plan for the
morning thus settled； she sat quietly down to her book after
breakfast； resolving to remain in the same place and the same
employment till the clock struck one； and from habitude very little
incommoded by the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs。 Allen； whose
vacancy of mind and incapacity for thinking were such； that as she
never talked a great deal； so she could never be entirely silent；
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and； therefore； while she sat at her work； if she lost her needle or
broke her thread； if she heard a carriage in the street； or saw a
speck upon her gown； she must observe it aloud； whether there
were anyone at leisure to answer her or not。 At about half past
twelve； a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste to the window；
and scarcely had she time to inform Catherine of there being two
open carriages at the door； in the first only a servant； her brother
driving Miss Thorpe in the second； before John Thorpe came
running upstairs； calling out； “Well； Miss Morland； here I am。
Have you been waiting long？ We could not come before； the old
devil of a coachmaker was such an eternity finding out a thing fit
to be got into； and now it is ten thousand to one but they break
down before we are out of the street。 How do you do； Mrs。 Allen？ a
famous ball last night； was not it？ Come； Miss Morland； be quick；
for the others are in a confounded hurry to be off。 They want to get
their tumble over。”
“What do you mean？” said Catherine。 “Where are you all going
to？”
“Going to？ Why； you have not forgot our engagement！ Did not
we agree together to take a drive this morning？ What a head you
have！ We are going up Claverton Down。”
“Something was said about it； I remember；” said Catherine；
looking at Mrs。 Allen for her opinion； “but really I did not expect
you。”
“Not expect me！ that’s a good one！ And what a dust you would
have made； if I had not come。”
Catherine’s silent appeal to her friend； meanwhile； was entirely
thrown away； for Mrs。 Allen； not being at all in the habit of
conveying any expression herself by a look； was not aware of its
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being ever intended by anybody else； and Catherine； whose desire
of seeing Miss Tilney again could at that moment bear a short
delay in favour of a drive； and who thought there could be no
impropriety in her going with Mr。 Thorpe； as Isabella was going at
the same time with James； was therefore obliged to speak plainer。
“Well； ma’am； what do you say to it？ Can you spare me for an hour
or two？ Shall I go？”
“Do just as you please； my dear；” replied Mrs。 Allen； with the
most placid indifference。 Catherine took the advice； and ran off to
get ready。 In a very few minutes she reappeared； having scarcely
allowed the two others time enough to get through a few short
sentences in her praise； after Thorpe had procured Mrs。 Allen’s
admiration of his gig； and then receiving her friend’s parting good
wishes； they both hurried downstairs。 “My dearest creature；” cried
Isabella； to whom the duty of friendship immediately called her
before she could get into the carriage； “you have been at least
three hours getting ready。 I was afraid you were ill。 What a
delightful ball we had last night。 I have a thousand things to say to
you； but make haste and get in； for I long to be off。”
Catherine followed her orders and turned away； but not too
soon to hear her friend exclaim aloud to James； “What a sweet girl
she is！ I quite doat on her。”
“You will not be frightened； Miss Morland；” said Thorpe； as he
handed her in； “if my horse should dance about a little at first
setting off。 He will； most likely； give a plunge or two； and perhaps
take the rest for a minute； but he will soon know his master。 He is
full of spirits； playful as can be； but there is no vice in him。”
Catherine did not think the portrait a very inviting one； but it
was too late to retreat； and she was too young to own herself
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