northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第25节
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another irritated； always distressed； but always steady。
“I did not think you had been so obstinate； Catherine；” said
James； “you were not used to be so hard to persuade； you once
were the kindest； best…tempered of my sisters。”
“I hope I am not less so now；” she replied； very feelingly； “but
indeed I cannot go。 If I am wrong； I am doing what I believe to be
right。”
“I suspect；” said Isabella； in a low voice； “there is no great
struggle。”
Catherine’s heart swelled； she drew away her arm； and Isabella
made no opposition。 Thus passed a long ten minutes； till they were
again joined by Thorpe； who； coming to them with a gayer look；
said； “Well； I have settled the matter； and now we may all go to…
morrow with a safe conscience。 I have been to Miss Tilney； and
made your excuses。”
“You have not！” cried Catherine。
“I have； upon my soul。 Left her this moment。 Told her you had
sent me to say that； having just recollected a prior engagement of
going to Clifton with us tomorrow； you could not have the pleasure
of walking with her till Tuesday。 She said very well； Tuesday was
just as convenient to her； so there is an end of all our difficulties。—
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A pretty good thought of mine—hey？”
Isabella’s countenance was once more all smiles and good
humour； and James too looked happy again。
“A most heavenly thought indeed！ Now； my sweet Catherine； all
our distresses are over； you are honourably acquitted； and we
shall have a most delightful party。”
“This will not do；” said Catherine； “I cannot submit to this。 I
must run after Miss Tilney directly and set her right。”
Isabella； however； caught hold of one hand； Thorpe of the other；
and remonstrances poured in from all three。 Even James was
quite angry。 When every thing was settled； when Miss Tilney
herself said that Tuesday would suit her as well； it was quite
ridiculous； quite absurd； to make any further objection。
“I do not care。 Mr。 Thorpe had no business to invent any such
message。 If I had thought it right to put it off； I could have spoken
to Miss Tilney myself。 This is only doing it in a ruder way； and how
do I know that Mr。 Thorpe has—he may be mistaken again
perhaps； he led me into one act of rudeness by his mistake on
Friday。 Let me go； Mr。 Thorpe； Isabella； do not hold me。
Thorpe told her it would be in vain to go after the Tilneys； they
were turning the corner into Brock…street； when he had overtaken
them； and were at home by this time。
“Then I will go after them；” said Catherine； “wherever they are
I will go after them。 It does not signify talking。 If I could not be
persuaded into doing what I thought wrong； I never will be tricked
into it。” And with these words she broke away and hurried off。
Thorpe would have darted after her； but Morland withheld him。
“Let her go； let her go； if she will go。”
“She is as obstinate as—”
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Thorpe never finished the simile； for it could hardly have been
a proper one。
Away walked Catherine in great agitation； as fast as the crowd
would permit her； fearful of being pursued； yet determined to
persevere。 As she walked； she reflected on what had passed。 It was
painful to her to disappoint and displease them； particularly to
displease her brother； but she could not repent her resistance。
Setting her own inclination apart； to have failed a second time in
her engagement to Miss Tilney； to have retracted a promise
voluntarily made only five minutes before； and on a false pretence
too； must have been wrong。 She had not been withstanding them
on selfish principles alone； she had not consulted merely her own
gratification； that might have been ensured in some degree by the
excursion itself； by seeing Blaize Castle； no； she had attended to
what was due to others； and to her own character in their opinion。
Her conviction of being right； however； was not enough to restore
her composure； till she had spoken to Miss Tilney she could not be
at ease； and quickening her pace when she got clear of the
Crescent； she almost ran over the remaining ground till she gained
the top of Milsom…street。 So rapid had been her movements that in
spite of the Tilneys’ advantage in the outset； they were but just
turning into their lodgings as she came within view of them； and
the servant still remaining at the open door； she used only the
ceremony of saying that she must speak with Miss Tilney that
moment； and hurrying by him proceeded upstairs。 Then； opening
the first door before her； which happened to be the right； she
immediately found herself in the drawing…room with General
Tilney； his son； and daughter。 Her explanation； defective only in
being—from her irritation of nerves and shortness of breath—no
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explanation at all； was instantly given。 “I am come in a great
hurry—It was all a mistake—I never promised to go—I told them
from the first I could not go。—I ran away in a great hurry to
explain it。—I did not care what you thought of me。—I would not
stay for the servant。”
The business； however； though not perfectly elucidated by this
speech； soon ceased to be a puzzle。 Catherine found that John
Thorpe had given the message； and Miss Tilney had no scruple in
owning herself greatly surprised by it。 But whether her brother
had still exceeded her in resentment； Catherine； though she
instinctively addressed herself as much to one as to the other in
her vindication； had no means of knowing。 Whatever might have
been felt before her arrival； her eager declarations immediately
made every look and sentence as friendly as she could desire。
The affair thus happily settled； she was introduced by Miss
Tilney to her father； and received by him with such ready； such
solicitous politeness as recalled Thorpe’s information to her mind；
and made her think with pleasure that he might be sometimes
depended on。 To such anxious attention was the General’s civility
carried； that not aware of her extraordinary swiftness in entering
the house； he was quite angry with the servant whose neglect had
reduced her to open the door of the apartment herself。 “What did
William mean by it？ He should make a point of inquiring into the
matter。” And if Catherine had not most warmly asserted his
innocence； it seemed likely that William would lose the favour of
his master forever； if not his place； by her rapidity。
After sitting with them a quarter of an hour； she rose to take
leave； and was then most agreeably surprised by General Tilney’s
asking her if she would do his daughter the honour of dining and
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spending the rest of the day with her。 Miss Tilney added her own
wishes。 Catherine was greatly obliged； but it was quite out of her
power。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen would expect her back every moment。
The General declared he could say no more； the claims of Mr。 and
Mrs。 Allen were not to be superseded； but on some other day he
trusted； when longer notice could be given； they would not refuse
to spare her to her friend。 “Oh； no； Catherine was sure they would
not have the least objection； and she should have great pleasure in
coming。” The Gener
