northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第28节
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drawing； and decided on its capability of being formed into
pictures； with all the eagerness of real taste。 Here Catherine was
quite lost。 She knew nothing of drawing—nothing of taste：—and
she listened to them with an attention which brought her little
profit； for they talked in phrases which conveyed scarcely any idea
to her。 The little which she could understand； however； appeared
to contradict the very few notions she had entertained on the
matter before。 It seemed as if a good view were no longer to be
taken from the top of an high hill； and that a clear blue sky was no
longer a proof of a fine day。 She was heartily ashamed of her
ignorance。 A misplaced shame。 Where people wish to attach； they
should always be ignorant。 To come with a well…informed mind is
to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others；
which a sensible person would always wish to avoid。 A woman
especially； if she have the misfortune of knowing anything； should
conceal it as well as she can。
The advantages of natural folly in a beautiful girl have been
already set forth by the capital pen of a sister author；—and to her
treatment of the subject I will only add； in justice to men； that
though to the larger and more trifling part of the sex； imbecility in
females is a great enhancement of their personal charms； there is
a portion of them too reasonable and too well informed themselves
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to desire anything more in woman than ignorance。 But Catherine
did not know her own advantages—did not know that a good…
looking girl； with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind；
cannot fail of attracting a clever young man； unless circumstances
are particularly untoward。 In the present instance； she confessed
and lamented her want of knowledge： declared that she would
give anything in the world to be able to draw； and a lecture on the
picturesque immediately followed； in which his instructions were
so clear that she soon began to see beauty in every thing admired
by him； and her attention was so earnest that he became perfectly
satisfied of her having a great deal of natural taste。 He talked of
fore…grounds； distances； and second distances—side…screens and
perspectives—lights and shades；—and Catherine was so hopeful a
scholar that when they gained the top of Beechen Cliff； she
voluntarily rejected the whole city of Bath as unworthy to make
part of a landscape。 Delighted with her progress； and fearful of
wearying her with too much wisdom at once； Henry suffered the
subject to decline； and by an easy transition from a piece of rocky
fragment and the withered oak which he had placed near its
summit； to oaks in general； to forests； the enclosure of them； waste
lands； crown lands and government； he shortly found himself
arrived at politics； and from politics； it was an easy step to silence。
The general pause which succeeded his short disquisition on the
state of the nation was put an end to by Catherine； who； in rather a
solemn tone of voice； uttered these words； “I have heard that
something very shocking indeed will soon come out in London。”
Miss Tilney； to whom this was chiefly addressed； was startled；
and hastily replied； “Indeed！ And of what nature？”
“That I do not know； nor who is the author。 I have only heard
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that it is to be more horrible than anything we have met with yet。”
“Good heaven！ Where could you hear of such a thing？”
“A particular friend of mine had an account of it in a letter from
London yesterday。 It is to be uncommonly dreadful。 I shall expect
murder and every thing of the kind。”
“You speak with astonishing composure！ But I hope your
friend’s accounts have been exaggerated； and if such a design is
known beforehand； proper measures will undoubtedly be taken by
government to prevent its coming to effect。”
“Government；” said Henry； endeavouring not to smile； “neither
desires nor dares to interfere in such matters。 There must be
murder； and government cares not how much。”
The ladies stared。 He laughed； and added； “Come； shall I make
you understand each other； or leave you to puzzle out an
explanation as you can？ No—I will be noble。 I will prove myself a
man； no less by the generosity of my soul than the clearness of my
head。 I have no patience with such of my sex as disdain to let
themselves sometimes down to the comprehension of yours。
Perhaps the abilities of women are neither sound nor acute—
neither vigorous nor keen。 Perhaps they may want observation；
discernment； judgment； fire； genius； and wit。”
“Miss Morland； do not mind what he says； but have the
goodness to satisfy me as to this dreadful riot。”
“Riot！ What riot？”
“My dear Eleanor； the riot is only in your own brain。 The
confusion there is scandalous。 Miss Morland has been talking of
nothing more dreadful than a new publication which is shortly to
come out； in three duodecimo volumes； two hundred and seventy…
six pages in each； with a frontispiece to the first； of two tombstones
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and a lantern—do you understand？—And you； Miss Morland—my
stupid sister has mistaken all your clearest expressions。 You
talked of expected horrors in London—and instead of instantly
conceiving； as any rational creature would have done； that such
words could relate only to a circulating library； she immediately
pictured to herself a mob of three thousand men assembling in St。
George’s Fields； the Bank attacked； the Tower threatened； the
streets of London flowing with blood； a detachment of the 12th
Light Dragoons； （the hopes of the nation；） called up from
Northampton to quell the insurgents； and the gallant Captain
Frederick Tilney； in the moment of charging at the head of his
troop； knocked off his horse by a brickbat from an upper window。
Forgive her stupidity。 The fears of the sister have added to the
weakness of the woman； but she is by no means a simpleton in
general。”
Catherine looked grave。 “And now； Henry；” said Miss Tilney；
“that you have made us understand each other； you may as well
make Miss Morland understand yourself—unless you mean to
have her think you intolerably rude to your sister； and a great
brute in your opinion of women in general。 Miss Morland is not
used to your odd ways。”
“I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with
them。”
“No doubt；—but that is no explanation of the present。”
“What am I to do？”
“You know what you ought to do。 Clear your character
handsomely before her。 Tell her that you think very highly of the
understanding of women。”
“Miss Morland； I think very highly of the understanding of all
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the women in the world—especially of those—whoever they may
be—with whom I happen to be in company。”
“That is not enough。 Be more serious。”
“Miss Morland； no one can think more highly of the
understanding of women than I do。 In my opinion； nature has
given the
