northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第16节
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appeared to her that he did not excel in giving those clearer
insights； in making those things plain which he had before made
ambiguous； and； joining to this； the consideration that he would
not really suffer his sister and his friend to be exposed to a danger
from which he might easily preserve them； she concluded at last
that he must know the carriage to be in fact perfectly safe； and
therefore would alarm herself no longer。 By him the whole matter
seemed entirely forgotten； and all the rest of his conversation； or
rather talk； began and ended with himself and his own concerns。
He told her of horses which he had bought for a trifle and sold for
incredible sums； of racing matches； in which his judgment had
infallibly foretold the winner； of shooting parties； in which he had
killed more birds （though without having one good shot） than all
his companions together； and described to her some famous day’s
sport； with the fox…hounds； in which his foresight and skill in
directing the dogs had repaired the mistakes of the most
experienced huntsman； and in which the boldness of his riding；
though it had never endangered his own life for a moment； had
been constantly leading others into difficulties； which he calmly
concluded had broken the necks of many。
Little as Catherine was in the habit of judging for herself； and
unfixed as were her general notions of what men ought to be； she
could not entirely repress a doubt； while she bore with the
effusions of his endless conceit； of his being altogether completely
agreeable。 It was a bold surmise； for he was Isabella’s brother； and
she had been assured by James that his manners would
recommend him to all her sex； but in spite of this； the extreme
weariness of his company； which crept over her before they had
been out an hour； and which continued unceasingly to increase till
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they stopped in Pulteney…street again； induced her； in some small
degree； to resist such high authority； and to distrust his powers of
giving universal pleasure。
When they arrived at Mrs。 Allen’s door； the astonishment of
Isabella was hardly to be expressed； on finding that it was too late
in the day for them to attend her friend into the house：—“Past
three o’clock！” It was inconceivable； incredible； impossible！ And
she would neither believe her own watch； nor her brother’s； nor
the servant’s； she would believe no assurance of it founded on
reason or reality； till Morland produced his watch； and ascertained
the fact； to have doubted a moment longer then would have been
equally inconceivable； incredible； and impossible； and she could
only protest； over and over again； that no two hours and a half had
ever gone off so swiftly before； as Catherine was called on to
confirm； Catherine could not tell a falsehood even to please
Isabella； but the latter was spared the misery of her friend’s
dissenting voice； by not waiting for her answer。 Her own feelings
entirely engrossed her； her wretchedness was most acute on
finding herself obliged to go directly home。—It was ages since she
had had a moment’s conversation with her dearest Catherine； and；
though she had such thousands of things to say to her； it appeared
as if they were never to be together again； so； with sniffles of most
exquisite misery； and the laughing eye of utter despondency； she
bade her friend adieu and went on。
Catherine found Mrs。 Allen just returned from all the busy
idleness of the morning； and was immediately greeted with； “Well；
my dear； here you are；” a truth which she had no greater
inclination than power to dispute； “and I hope you have had a
pleasant airing？”
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“Yes； ma’am； I thank you； we could not have had a nicer day。”
“So Mrs。 Thorpe said； she was vastly pleased at your all going。”
“You have seen Mrs。 Thorpe； then？”
“Yes； I went to the Pump…room as soon as you were gone； and
there I met her； and we had a great deal of talk together。 She says
there was hardly any veal to be got at market this morning； it is so
uncommonly scarce。”
“Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance？”
“Yes； we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent； and there we
met Mrs。 Hughes； and Mr。 and Miss Tilney walking with her。”
“Did you indeed？ And did they speak to you？”
“Yes； we walked along the Crescent together for half an hour。
They seem very agreeable people。 Miss Tilney was in a very pretty
spotted muslin； and I fancy； by what I can learn； that she always
dresses very handsomely。 Mrs。 Hughes talked to me a great deal
about the family。”
“And what did she tell you of them？”
“Oh！ A vast deal indeed； she hardly talked of anything else。”
“Did she tell you what part of Gloucestershire they come
from？”
“Yes； she did； but I cannot recollect now。 But they are very
good kind of people； and very rich。 Mrs。 Tilney was a Miss
Drummond； and she and Mrs。 Hughes were school…fellows； and
Miss Drummond had a very large fortune； and； when she married；
her father gave her twenty thousand pounds； and five hundred to
buy wedding…clothes。 Mrs。 Hughes saw all the clothes after they
came from the warehouse。”
“And are Mr。 and Mrs。 Tilney in Bath？”
“Yes； I fancy they are； but I am not quite certain。 Upon
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recollection； however； I have a notion they are both dead； at least
the mother is； yes； I am sure Mrs。 Tilney is dead； because Mrs。
Hughes told me there was a very beautiful set of pearls that Mr。
Drummond gave his daughter on her wedding…day and that Miss
Tilney has got now； for they were put by for her when her mother
died。”
“And is Mr。 Tilney； my partner； the only son？”
“I cannot be quite positive about that； my dear； I have some
idea he is； but； however； he is a very fine young man； Mrs。 Hughes
says； and likely to do very well。”
Catherine inquired no further； she had heard enough to feel
that Mrs。 Allen had no real intelligence to give； and that she was
most particularly unfortunate herself in having missed such a
meeting with both brother and sister。 Could she have foreseen
such a circumstance； nothing should have persuaded her to go out
with the others； and； as it was； she could only lament her ill luck；
and think over what she had lost； till it was clear to her that the
drive had by no means been very pleasant and that John Thorpe
himself was quite disagreeable。
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CHAPTER X
he Allens； Thorpes； and Morlands all met in the evening at
the theatre； and； as Catherine and Isabella sat together；
T
there was then an opportunity for the latter to utter some
few of the many thousand things which had been collecting within
her for communication in the immeasurable length of time which
had divided them。—“Oh； heavens！ My beloved Catherine； have I
got you at last？” was her address on Catherine’s entering the box
and sitting by her。 “Now； Mr。 Morland；” for he was close to her on
the ot
