northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第19节
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woman； formed for the advantage of each； and that when once
entered into； they belong exclusively to each other till the moment
of its dissolution； that it is their duty； each to endeavour to give the
other no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves
elsewhere； and their best interest to keep their own imaginations
from wandering towards the perfections of their neighbours； or
fancying that they should have been better off with anyone else。
You will allow all this？”
“Yes； to be sure； as you state it； all this sounds very well； but
still they are so very different。—I cannot look upon them at all in
the same light； nor think the same duties belong to them。”
“In one respect； there certainly is a difference。 In marriage； the
man is supposed to provide for the support of the woman； the
woman to make the home agreeable to the man； he is to purvey；
and she is to smile。 But in dancing； their duties are exactly
changed； the agreeableness； the compliance are expected from
him； while she furnishes the fan and the lavender water。 That； I
suppose； was the difference of duties which struck you； as
rendering the conditions incapable of comparison。”
“No； indeed； I never thought of that。”
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“Then I am quite at a loss。 One thing； however； I must observe。
This disposition on your side is rather alarming。 You totally
disallow any similarity in the obligations； and may I not thence
infer that your notions of the duties of the dancing state are not so
strict as your partner might wish？ Have I not reason to fear that if
the gentleman who spoke to you just now were to return； or if any
other gentleman were to address you； there would be nothing to
restrain you from conversing with him as long as you chose？”
“Mr。 Thorpe is such a very particular friend of my brother’s；
that if he talks to me； I must talk to him again； but there are hardly
three young men in the room besides him that I have any
acquaintance with。”
“And is that to be my only security？ Alas； alas！”
“Nay； I am sure you cannot have a better； for if I do not know
anybody； it is impossible for me to talk to them； and； besides； I do
not want to talk to anybody。”
“Now you have given me a security worth having； and I shall
proceed with courage。 Do you find Bath as agreeable as when I
had the honour of making the inquiry before？”
“Yes； quite—more so； indeed。”
“More so！—Take care； or you will forget to be tired of it at the
proper time。—You ought to be tired at the end of six weeks。”
“I do not think I should be tired； if I were to stay here six
months。”
“Bath； compared with London； has little variety； and so every
body finds out every year。 ‘For six weeks； I allow Bath is pleasant
enough； but beyond that； it is the most tiresome place in the
world。’ You would be told so by people of all descriptions； who
come regularly every winter； lengthen their six weeks into ten or
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twelve； and go away at last because they can afford to stay no
longer。”
“Well； other people must judge for themselves； and those who
go to London may think nothing of Bath。 But I； who live in a small
retired village in the country； can never find greater sameness in
such a place as this than in my own home； for here are a variety of
amusements； a variety of things to be seen and done all day long；
which I can know nothing of there。”
“You are not fond of the country。”
“Yes； I am。 I have always lived there； and always been very
happy。 But certainly there is much more sameness in a country
life than in a Bath life。 One day in the country is exactly like
another。”
“But then you spend your time so much more rationally in the
country。”
“Do I？”
“Do you not？”
“I do not believe there is much difference。”
“Here you are in pursuit only of amusement all day long。”
“And so I am at home—only I do not find so much of it。 I walk
about here； and so I do there；—but here I see a variety of people in
every street； and there I can only go and call on Mrs。 Allen。”
Mr。 Tilney was very much amused。
“Only go and call on Mrs。 Allen！” he repeated。 “What a picture
of intellectual poverty！ However； when you sink into this abyss
again； you will have more to say。 You will be able to talk of Bath；
and of all that you did here。”
“Oh！ yes。 I shall never be in want of something to talk of again
to Mrs。 Allen； or anybody else。 I really believe I shall always be
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talking of Bath； when I am at home again—I do like it so very
much。 If I could but have papa and mamma； and the rest of them
here； I suppose I should be too happy！ James’s coming （my eldest
brother） is quite delightful—and especially as it turns out that the
very family we are just got so intimate with are his intimate
friends already。 Oh！ who can ever be tired of Bath？”
“Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every sort to it as
you do。 But papas and mammas； and brothers； and intimate
friends are a good deal gone by； to most of the frequenters of
Bath—and the honest relish of balls and plays； and every…day
sights； is past with them。”
Here their conversation closed； the demands of the dance
becoming now too importunate for a divided attention。
Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set； Catherine
perceived herself to be earnestly regarded by a gentleman who
stood among the lookers…on； immediately behind her partner。 He
was a very handsome man； of a commanding aspect； past the
bloom； but not past the vigour of life； and with his eye still directed
towards her； she saw him presently address Mr。 Tilney in a
familiar whisper。 Confused by his notice； and blushing from the
fear of its being excited by something wrong in her appearance；
she turned away her head。 But while she did so； the gentleman
retreated； and her partner； coming nearer； said； “I see that you
guess what I have just been asked。 That gentleman knows your
name； and you have a right to know his。 It is General Tilney； my
father。”
Catherine’s answer was only “Oh！”—but it was an “Oh！”
expressing every thing needful； attention to his words； and perfect
reliance on their truth。 With real interest and strong admiration
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did her eye now follow the General； as he moved through the
crowd； and “How handsome a family they are！” was her secret
remark。
In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded； a
new source of felicity arose to her。 She had never taken a country
walk since her arrival in Bath。 Miss Tilney； to whom all the
commonly frequented environs were familiar； spoke of them in
terms which made her all eagerness to know them too； and on her
openly fearing that she might find nobody to go with her； it was
proposed by the brother and sister that they should join in a walk；
some morning or other。 “I shall like it；” she cried； “beyond
anything in the w
