northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第32节
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since her brother’s arrival； and all that they felt on the occasion
was comprehended in a wish for the young people’s happiness；
with a remark； on the gentleman’s side； in favour of Isabella’s
beauty； and on the lady’s； of her great good luck。 It was to
Catherine the most surprizing insensibility。 The disclosure；
however； of the great secret of James’s going to Fullerton the day
before； did raise some emotion in Mrs。 Allen。 She could not listen
to that with perfect calmness； but repeatedly regretted the
necessity of its concealment； wished she could have known his
intention； wished she could have seen him before he went； as she
should certainly have troubled him with her best regards to his
father and mother； and her kind compliments to all the Skinners。
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VOLUME II
CHAPTER I
atherine’s expectations of pleasure from her visit in
Milsom…street were so very high； that disappointment was
C
inevitable； and accordingly； though she was most politely
received by General Tilney； and kindly welcomed by his daughter；
though Henry was at home； and no one else of the party； she
found； on her return； without spending many hours in the
examination of her feelings； that she had gone to her appointment
preparing for happiness which it had not afforded。 Instead of
finding herself improved in acquaintance with Miss Tilney； from
the intercourse of the day； she seemed hardly so intimate with her
as before； instead of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage
than ever； in the ease of a family party； he had never said so little；
nor been so little agreeable； and； in spite of their father’s great
civilities to her—in spite of his thanks； invitations； and
compliments—it had been a release to get away from him。 It
puzzled her to account for all this。 It could not be General Tilney’s
fault。 That he was perfectly agreeable and good…natured； and
altogether a very charming man； did not admit of a doubt； for he
was tall and handsome； and Henry’s father。 He could not be
accountable for his children’s want of spirits； or for her want of
enjoyment in his company。 The former she hoped at last might
have been accidental； and the latter she could only attribute to her
own stupidity。 Isabella； on hearing the particulars of the visit； gave
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a different explanation： “It was all pride； pride； insufferable
haughtiness and pride！ She had long suspected the family to be
very high； and this made it certain。 Such insolence of behaviour as
Miss Tilney’s she had never heard of in her life！ Not to do the
honours of her house with common good breeding！—To behave to
her guest with such superciliousness！—Hardly even to speak to
her！”
“But it was not so bad as that； Isabella； there was no
superciliousness； she was very civil。”
“Oh！ Don’t defend her！ And then the brother； he； who had
appeared so attached to you！ Good heavens！ Well； some people’s
feelings are incomprehensible。 And so he hardly looked once at
you the whole day？”
“I do not say so： but he did not seem in good spirits。”
“How contemptible！ Of all things in the world inconstancy is my
aversion。 Let me entreat you never to think of him again； my dear
Catherine； indeed he is unworthy of you。”
“Unworthy！ I do not suppose he ever thinks of me。”
“That is exactly what I say； he never thinks of you。 Such
fickleness！ Oh！ how different to your brother and to mine！ I really
believe John has the most constant heart。”
“But as for General Tilney； I assure you it would be impossible
for anybody to behave to me with greater civility and attention； it
seemed to be his only care to entertain and make me happy。”
“Oh！ I know no harm of him； I do not suspect him of pride。 I
believe he is a very gentleman…like man。 John thinks very well of
him； and John’s judgment—”
“Well； I shall see how they behave to me this evening； we shall
meet them at the rooms。”
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“And must I go？”
“Do not you intend it？ I thought it was all settled。”
“Nay； since you make such a point of it； I can refuse you
nothing。 But do not insist upon my being very agreeable； for my
heart； you know； will be some forty miles off。 And as for dancing；
do not mention it； I beg； that is quite out of the question。 Charles
Hodges will plague me to death； I dare say； but I shall cut him very
short。 Ten to one but he guesses the reason； and that is exactly
what I want to avoid； so I shall insist on his keeping his conjecture
to himself。”
Isabella’s opinion of the Tilneys did not influence her friend；
she was sure there had been no insolence in the manners either of
brother or sister； and she did not credit there being any pride in
their hearts。 The evening rewarded her confidence； she was met
by one with the same kindness； and by the other with the same
attention； as heretofore： Miss Tilney took pains to be near her； and
Henry asked her to dance。
Having heard the day before in Milsom…street that their elder
brother； Captain Tilney； was expected almost every hour； she was
at no loss for the name of a very fashionable…looking； handsome
young man； whom she had never seen before； and who now
evidently belonged to their party。 She looked at him with great
admiration； and even supposed it possible that some people might
think him handsomer than his brother； though； in her eyes； his air
was more assuming； and his countenance less prepossessing。 His
taste and manners were beyond a doubt decidedly inferior； for；
within her hearing； he not only protested against every thought of
dancing himself； but even laughed openly at Henry for finding it
possible。 From the latter circumstance it may be presumed that；
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whatever might be our heroine’s opinion of him； his admiration of
her was not of a very dangerous kind； not likely to produce
animosities between the brothers； nor persecutions to the lady。 He
cannot be the instigator of the three villains in horsemen’s great
coats； by whom she will hereafter be forced into a travelling…chaise
and four； which will drive off with incredible speed。 Catherine；
meanwhile； undisturbed by presentiments of such an evil； or of
any evil at all； except that of having but a short set to dance down；
enjoyed her usual happiness with Henry Tilney； listening with
sparkling eyes to every thing he said； and； in finding him
irresistible； becoming so herself。
At the end of the first dance； Captain Tilney came towards them
again； and； much to Catherine’s dissatisfaction； pulled his brother
away。 They retired whispering together； and； though her delicate
sensibility did not take immediate alarm； and lay it down as fact；
that Captain Tilney must have heard some malevolent
misrepresentation of her； which he now hastened to communicate
to his brother； in the hope of separating them forever； she could
not have her partner conveyed from her sight without very uneasy
sensations。 Her suspense
