northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第26节
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not have the least objection； and she should have great pleasure in
coming。” The General attended her himself to the street…door；
saying every thing gallant as they went downstairs； admiring the
elasticity of her walk； which corresponded exactly with the spirit
of her dancing； and making her one of the most graceful bows she
had ever beheld； when they parted。
Catherine； delighted by all that had passed； proceeded gaily to
Pulteney…street； walking； as she concluded； with great elasticity；
though she had never thought of it before。 She reached home
without seeing anything more of the offended party； and now that
she had been triumphant throughout； had carried her point； and
was secure of her walk； she began （as the flutter of her spirits
subsided） to doubt whether she had been perfectly right。 A
sacrifice was always noble； and if she had given way to their
entreaties； she should have been spared the distressing idea of a
friend displeased； a brother angry； and a scheme of great
happiness to both destroyed； perhaps through her means。 To ease
her mind； and ascertain by the opinion of an unprejudiced person
what her own conduct had really been； she took occasion to
mention before Mr。 Allen the half…settled scheme of her brother
and the Thorpes for the following day。 Mr。 Allen caught at it
directly。 “Well；” said he； “and do you think of going too？”
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“No； I had just engaged myself to walk with Miss Tilney before
they told me of it； and therefore you know I could not go with
them； could I？”
“No； certainly not； and I am glad you do not think of it。 These
schemes are not at all the thing。 Young men and women driving
about the country in open carriages！ Now and then it is very well；
but going to inns and public places together！ It is not right； and I
wonder Mrs。 Thorpe should allow it。 I am glad you do not think of
going； I am sure Mrs。 Morland would not be pleased。 Mrs。 Allen；
are not you of my way of thinking？ Do not you think these kind of
projects objectionable？”
“Yes； very much so indeed。 Open carriages are nasty things。 A
clean gown is not five minutes’ wear in them。 You are splashed
getting in and getting out； and the wind takes your hair and your
bonnet in every direction。 I hate an open carriage myself。”
“I know you do； but that is not the question。 Do not you think it
has an odd appearance； if young ladies are frequently driven about
in them by young men； to whom they are not even related？”
“Yes； my dear； a very odd appearance indeed。 I cannot bear to
see it。”
“Dear madam；” cried Catherine； “then why did not you tell me
so before？ I am sure if I had known it to be improper； I would not
have gone with Mr。 Thorpe at all； but I always hoped you would
tell me； if you thought I was doing wrong。”
“And so I should； my dear； you may depend on it； for as I told
Mrs。 Morland at parting； I would always do the best for you in my
power。 But one must not be over particular。 Young people will be
young people； as your good mother says herself。 You know I
wanted you； when we first came； not to buy that sprigged muslin；
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but you would。 Young people do not like to be always thwarted。”
“But this was something of real consequence； and I do not
think you would have found me hard to persuade。”
“As far as it has gone hitherto； there is no harm done；” said Mr。
Allen； “and I would only advise you； my dear； not to go out with
Mr。 Thorpe any more。”
“That is just what I was going to say；” added his wife。
Catherine； relieved for herself； felt uneasy for Isabella； and after
a moment’s thought； asked Mr。 Allen whether it would not be both
proper and kind in her to write to Miss Thorpe； and explain the
indecorum of which she must be as insensible as herself； for she
considered that Isabella might otherwise perhaps be going to
Clifton the next day； in spite of what had passed。 Mr。 Allen；
however； discouraged her from doing any such thing。 “You had
better leave her alone； my dear； she is old enough to know what
she is about； and if not； has a mother to advise her。 Mrs。 Thorpe is
too indulgent beyond a doubt； but； however； you had better not
interfere。 She and your brother choose to go； and you will be only
getting ill…will。”
Catherine submitted； and though sorry to think that Isabella
should be doing wrong； felt greatly relieved by Mr。 Allen’s
approbation of her own conduct； and truly rejoiced to be
preserved by his advice from the danger of falling into such an
error herself。 Her escape from being one of the party to Clifton
was now an escape indeed； for what would the Tilneys have
thought of her； if she had broken her promise to them in order to
do what was wrong in itself； if she had been guilty of one breach of
propriety； only to enable her to be guilty of another？
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CHAPTER XIV
he next morning was fair； and Catherine almost expected
another attack from the assembled party。 With Mr。 Allen
T
to support her； she felt no dread of the event： but she
would gladly be spared a contest； where victory itself was painful；
and was heartily rejoiced therefore at neither seeing nor hearing
anything of them。 The Tilneys called for her at the appointed time；
and no new difficulty arising； no sudden recollection； no
unexpected summons； no impertinent intrusion to disconcert their
measures； my heroine was most unnaturally able to fulfil her
engagement； though it was made with the hero himself。 They
determined on walking round Beechen Cliff； that noble hill whose
beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it so striking an
object from almost every opening in Bath。
“I never look at it；” said Catherine； as they walked along the
side of the river； “without thinking of the south of France。”
“You have been abroad then？” said Henry； a little surprised。
“Oh！ no； I only mean what I have read about。 It always puts me
in mind of the country that Emily and her father travelled
through； in the “Mysteries of Udolpho”。 But you never read
novels； I dare say？”
“Why not？”
“Because they are not clever enough for you—gentlemen read
better books。”
“The person； be it gentleman or lady； who has not pleasure in a
good novel； must be intolerably stupid。 I have read all Mrs。
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Radcliffe’s works； and most of them with great pleasure。 The
Mysteries of Udolpho； when I had once begun it； I could not lay
down again；—I remember finishing it in two days—my hair
standing on end the whole time。”
“Yes；” added Miss Tilney； “and I remember that you undertook
to read it aloud to me； and that when I was called away for only
five minutes to answer a note； instead of waiting for me； you took
the volume into the Hermitage…walk； and I was obliged to stay till
you had finished it。”
“Thank you； Eleanor；—a most honourable testimony。 You see；
Miss Morland； the injustice of your suspicions。 Here was I； in my
eagerness to get on； refusing to wait only five minutes for my
sister； breaking the promise I had made of reading
