northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第20节
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some morning or other。 “I shall like it；” she cried； “beyond
anything in the world； and do not let us put it off—let us go to…
morrow。” This was readily agreed to； with only a proviso of Miss
Tilney’s； that it did not rain； which Catherine was sure it would
not。 At twelve o’clock； they were to call for her in Pulteney…street；
and “Remember—twelve o’clock；” was her parting speech to her
new friend。 Of her other； her older； her more established friend；
Isabella； of whose fidelity and worth she had enjoyed a fortnight’s
experience； she scarcely saw anything during the evening。 Yet；
though longing to make her acquainted with her happiness； she
cheerfully submitted to the wish of Mr。 Allen； which took them
rather early away； and her spirits danced within her； as she
danced in her chair all the way home。
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CHAPTER XI
he morrow brought a very sober…looking morning； the sun
making only a few efforts to appear； and Catherine
T
augured from it every thing most favourable to her wishes。
A bright morning so early in the year； she allowed； would
generally turn to rain； but a cloudy one foretold improvement as
the day advanced。 She applied to Mr。 Allen for confirmation of her
hopes； but Mr。 Allen； not having his own skies and barometer
about him； declined giving any absolute promise of sunshine。 She
applied to Mrs。 Allen； and Mrs。 Allen’s opinion was more positive。
“She had no doubt in the world of its being a very fine day； if the
clouds would only go off； and the sun keep out。”
At about eleven o’clock； however； a few specks of small rain
upon the windows caught Catherine’s watchful eye； and “Oh！
dear； I do believe it will be wet；” broke from her in a most
desponding tone。
“I thought how it would be；” said Mrs。 Allen。
“No walk for me to…day；” sighed Catherine；—“but perhaps it
may come to nothing； or it may hold up before twelve。”
“Perhaps it may； but then； my dear； it will be so dirty。”
“Oh！ That will not signify； I never mind dirt。”
“No；” replied her friend very placidly； “I know you never mind
dirt。”
After a short pause； “It comes on faster and faster！” said
Catherine； as she stood watching at a window。
“So it does indeed。 If it keeps raining； the streets will be very
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wet。”
“There are four umbrellas up already。 How I hate the sight of
an umbrella！”
“They are disagreeable things to carry。 I would much rather
take a chair at any time。”
“It was such a nice…looking morning！ I felt so convinced it
would be dry！”
“Anybody would have thought so indeed。 There will be very few
people in the Pump…room； if it rains all the morning。 I hope Mr。
Allen will put on his great coat when he goes； but I dare say he will
not； for he had rather do anything in the world than walk out in a
great coat； I wonder he should dislike it； it must be so
comfortable。”
The rain continued—fast； though not heavy。 Catherine went
every five minutes to the clock； threatening on each return that； if
it still kept on raining another five minutes； she would give up the
matter as hopeless。 The clock struck twelve； and it still rained。—
“You will not be able to go； my dear。”
“I do not quite despair yet。 I shall not give it up till a quarter
after twelve。 This is just the time of day for it to clear up； and I do
think it looks a little lighter。 There； it is twenty minutes after
twelve； and now I shall give it up entirely。 Oh！ That we had such
weather here as they had at Udolpho； or at least in Tuscany and
the south of France！—the night that poor St。 Aubin died！—such
beautiful weather！”
At half past twelve； when Catherine’s anxious attention to the
weather was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its
amendment； the sky began voluntarily to clear。 A gleam of
sunshine took her quite by surprize； she looked round； the clouds
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were parting； and she instantly returned to the window to watch
over and encourage the happy appearance。 Ten minutes more
made it certain that a bright afternoon would succeed； and
justified the opinion of Mrs。 Allen； who had “always thought it
would clear up。” But whether Catherine might still expect her
friends； whether there had not been too much rain for Miss Tilney
to venture； must yet be a question。
It was too dirty for Mrs。 Allen to accompany her husband to the
Pump…room； he accordingly set off by himself； and Catherine had
barely watched him down the street when her notice was claimed
by the approach of the same two open carriages； containing the
same three people that had surprised her so much a few mornings
back。
“Isabella； my brother； and Mr。 Thorpe； I declare！ They are
coming for me perhaps—but I shall not go—I cannot go indeed； for
you know Miss Tilney may still call。” Mrs。 Allen agreed to it。 John
Thorpe was soon with them； and his voice was with them yet
sooner； for on the stairs he was calling out to Miss Morland to be
quick。 “Make haste！ Make haste！” as he threw open the door。—
“Put on your hat this moment—there is no time to be lost—we are
going to Bristol。—How d’ye do； Mrs。 Allen？”
“To Bristol！ Is not that a great way off？—But； however； I cannot
go with you to…day； because I am engaged； I expect some friends
every moment。” This was of course vehemently talked down as no
reason at all； Mrs。 Allen was called on to second him； and the two
others walked in； to give their assistance。 “My sweetest Catherine；
is not this delightful？ We shall have a most heavenly drive。 You
are to thank your brother and me for the scheme； it darted into
our heads at breakfast…time； I verily believe at the same instant；
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and we should have been off two hours ago if it had not been for
this detestable rain。 But it does not signify； the nights are
moonlight； and we shall do delightfully。 Oh！ I am in such ecstasies
at the thoughts of a little country air and quiet！—so much better
than going to the Lower Rooms。 We shall drive directly to Clifton
and dine there； and； as soon as dinner is over； if there is time for it；
go on to Kingsweston。”
“I doubt our being able to do so much；” said Morland。
“You croaking fellow！” cried Thorpe。 “We shall be able to do
ten times more。 Kingsweston！ aye； and Blaize Castle too； and any
thing else we can hear of； but here is your sister says she will not
go。”
“Blaize Castle！” cried Catherine。 “What is that？”
“The finest place in England—worth going fifty miles at any
time to see。”
“What； is it really a castle； an old castle？”
“The oldest in the kingdom。”
“But is it like what one reads of？”
“Exactly—the very same。”
“But now really—are there towers and long galleries？”
“By dozens。”
“Then I should like to see it； but I cannot—I cannot go。
“Not go！—My beloved creature； what do you mean？”
“I cannot go； because”—（looking down as she spoke； fearful of
Isabella’s smile） “I expect Miss Tilney and her brother to call on
me to take a country walk。 They promised to come at twelve； only
i
