northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第2节
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extraordinary。 She never could learn or understand anything
before she was taught； and sometimes not even then； for she was
often inattentive； and occasionally stupid。 Her mother was three
months in teaching her only to repeat the “Beggar’s Petition”； and
after all； her next sister； Sally； could say it better than she did。 Not
that Catherine was always stupid；—by no means； she learnt the
fable of “The Hare and Many Friends” as quickly as any girl in
England。 Her mother wished her to learn music； and Catherine
was sure she should like it； for she was very fond of tinkling the
keys of the old forlorn spinner； so； at eight years old she began。
She learnt a year； and could not bear it；—and Mrs。 Morland； who
did not insist on her daughters being accomplished in spite of
incapacity or distaste； allowed her to leave off。 The day which
dismissed the music…master was one of the happiest of Catherine’s
life。 Her taste for drawing was not superior； though whenever she
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could obtain the outside of a letter from her mother； or seize upon
any other odd piece of paper； she did what she could in that way；
by drawing houses and trees； hens and chickens； all very much
like one another。—Writing and accounts she was taught by her
father； French by her mother： her proficiency in either was not
remarkable； and she shirked her lessons in both whenever she
could。 What a strange； unaccountable character！—for with all
these symptoms of profligacy at ten years old； she had neither a
bad heart nor a bad temper； was seldom stubborn； scarcely ever
quarrelsome； and very kind to the little ones； with few
interruptions of tyranny； she was moreover noisy and wild； hated
confinement and cleanliness； and loved nothing so well in the
world as rolling down the green slope at the back of the house。
Such was Catherine Morland at ten。 At fifteen； appearances
were mending； she began to curl her hair and long for balls； her
complexion improved； her features were softened by plumpness
and colour； her eyes gained more animation； and her figure more
consequence。 Her love of dirt gave way to an inclination for finery；
and she grew clean as she grew smart； she had now the pleasure
of sometimes hearing her father and mother remark on her
personal improvement。 “Catherine grows quite a good…looking
girl；—she is almost pretty today；” were words which caught her
ears now and then； and how welcome were the sounds！ To look
almost pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has
been looking plain the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty
from her cradle can ever receive。
Mrs。 Morland was a very good woman； and wished to see her
children every thing they ought to be； but her time was so much
occupied in lying…in and teaching the little ones； that her elder
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daughters were inevitably left to shift for themselves； and it was
not very wonderful that Catherine； who had by nature nothing
heroic about her； should prefer cricket； base ball； riding on
horseback； and running about the country at the age of fourteen；
to books—or at least books of information—for； provided that
nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them；
provided they were all story and no reflection； she had never any
objection to books at all。 But from fifteen to seventeen she was in
training for a heroine； she read all such works as heroines must
read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so
serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful
lives。
From Pope； she learnt to censure those who
“bear about the mockery of woe。”
From Gray； that
“Many a flower is born to blush unseen；
“And waste its fragrance on the desert air。”
From Thompson； that
—“It is a delightful task
“To teach the young idea how to shoot。”
And from Shakespeare she gained a great store of information—
amongst the rest； that
—“Trifles light as air；
“Are； to the jealous； confirmation strong；
“As proofs of Holy Writ。”
That
“The poor beetle； which we tread upon；
“In corporal sufferance feels a pang as great
“As when a giant dies。”
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And that a young woman in love always looks
—“like Patience on a monument
“Smiling at Grief。”
So far her improvement was sufficient—and in many other
points she came on exceedingly well； for though she could not
write sonnets； she brought herself to read them； and though there
seemed no chance of her throwing a whole party into raptures by
a prelude on the pianoforté； of her own composition； she could
listen to other people’s performance with very little fatigue。 Her
greatest deficiency was in the pencil—she had no notion of
drawing—not enough even to attempt a sketch of her lover’s
profile； that she might be detected in the design。 There she fell
miserably short of the true heroic height。 At present she did not
know her own poverty； for she had no lover to portray。 She had
reached the age of seventeen； without having seen one amiable
youth who could call forth her sensibility； without having inspired
one real passion； and without having excited even any admiration
but what was very moderate and very transient。 This was strange
indeed！ But strange things may be generally accounted for if their
cause be fairly searched out。 There was not one lord in the
neighbourhood； no—not even a baronet。 There was not one family
among their acquaintance who had reared and supported a boy
accidentally found at their door—not one young man whose origin
was unknown。 Her father had no ward； and the squire of the
parish no children。
But when a young lady is to be a heroine； the perverseness of
forty surrounding families cannot prevent her。 Something must
and will happen to throw a hero in her way。
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Mr。 Allen； who owned the chief of the property about Fullerton；
the village in Wiltshire where the Morlands lived； was ordered to
Bath for the benefit of a gouty constitution；—and his lady； a good…
humoured woman； fond of Miss Morland； and probably aware that
if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village； she
must seek them abroad； invited her to go with them。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Morland were all compliance； and Catherine all happiness。
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CHAPTER II
n addition to what has been already said of Catherine
Morland’s personal and mental endowments； when about to
I
be launched into all the difficulties and dangers of a six weeks’
residence in Bath； it may be stated； for the reader’s more certain
information； lest the following pages should otherwise fail of
giving any idea of what her character is meant to be；
