northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第56节
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you esteem； but it is very difficult to know whom to trust； and
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young men never know their minds two days together。 I rejoice to
say that the young man whom； of all others； I particularly abhor；
has left Bath。 You will know； from this description； I must mean
Captain Tilney； who； as you may remember； was amazingly
disposed to follow and tease me； before you went away。
Afterwards he got worse； and became quite my shadow。 Many
girls might have been taken in； for never were such attentions； but
I knew the fickle sex too well。 He went away to his regiment two
days ago； and I trust I shall never be plagued with him again。 He is
the greatest coxcomb I ever saw； and amazingly disagreeable。 The
last two days he was always by the side of Charlotte Davis： I pitied
his taste； but took no notice of him。 The last time we met was in
Bath…street； and I turned directly into a shop that he might not
speak to me；—I would not even look at him。 He went into the
Pump…room afterwards； but I would not have followed him for all
the world。 Such a contrast between him and your brother！—pray
send me some news of the latter—I am quite unhappy about him；
he seemed so uncomfortable when he went away； with a cold； or
something that affected his spirits。 I would write to him myself；
but have mislaid his direction； and； as I hinted above； am afraid he
took something in my conduct amiss。 Pray explain every thing to
his satisfaction； or； if he still harbours any doubt； a line from
himself to me； or a call at Putney when next in town； might set all
to rights。 I have not been to the rooms this age； nor to the play；
except going in last night with the Hodges； for a frolic； at half
price： they teased me into it； and I was determined they should not
say I shut myself up because Tilney was gone。 We happened to sit
by the Mitchells； and they pretended to be quite surprised to see
me out。 I knew their spite：—at one time they could not be civil to
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me； but now they are all friendship； but I am not such a fool as to
be taken in by them。 You know I have a pretty good spirit of my
own。 Anne Mitchell had tried to put on a turban like mine； as I
wore it the week before at the concert； but made wretched work of
it—it happened to become my odd face； I believe； at least Tilney
told me so at the time； and said every eye was upon me； but he is
the last man whose word I would take。 I wear nothing but purple
now： I know I look hideous in it； but no matter—it is your dear
brother’s favourite colour。 Lose no time； my dearest； sweetest
Catherine； in writing to him and to me；
Who ever am； &c。
Such a strain of shallow artifice could not impose even upon
Catherine。 Its inconsistencies； contradictions； and falsehood
struck her from the very first。 She was ashamed of Isabella； and
ashamed of having ever loved her。 Her professions of attachment
were now as disgusting as her excuses were empty； and her
demands impudent。 “Write to James on her behalf！—No； James
should never hear Isabella’s name mentioned by her again。”
On Henry’s arrival from Woodston； she made known to him and
Eleanor their brother’s safety； congratulating them with sincerity
on it； and reading aloud the most material passages of her letter
with strong indignation。 When she had finished it—“So much for
Isabella；” she cried； “and for all our intimacy！ She must think me
an idiot； or she could not have written so； but perhaps this has
served to make her character better known to me than mine is to
her。 I see what she has been about。 She is a vain coquette； and her
tricks have not answered。 I do not believe she had ever any regard
either for James or for me； and I wish I had never known her。”
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“It will soon be as if you never had；” said Henry。
“There is but one thing that I cannot understand。 I see that she
has had designs on Captain Tilney； which have not succeeded； but
I do not understand what Captain Tilney has been about all this
time。 Why should he pay her such attentions as to make her
quarrel with my brother； and then fly off himself？”
“I have very little to say for Frederick’s motives； such as I
believe them to have been。 He has his vanities as well as Miss
Thorpe； and the chief difference is； that； having a stronger head；
they have not yet injured himself。 If the effect of his behaviour
does not justify him with you； we had better not seek after the
cause。”
“Then you do not suppose he ever really cared about her？”
“I am persuaded that he never did。”
“And only made believe to do so for mischief’s sake？”
Henry bowed his assent。
“Well； then； I must say that I do not like him at all。 Though it
has turned out so well for us； I do not like him at all。 As it happens；
there is no great harm done； because I do not think Isabella has
any heart to lose。 But； suppose he had made her very much in love
with him？”
“But we must first suppose Isabella to have had a heart to
lose—consequently to have been a very different creature； and； in
that case； she would have met with very different treatment。”
“It is very right that you should stand by your brother。”
“And if you would stand by yours； you would not be much
distressed by the disappointment of Miss Thorpe。 But your mind
is warped by an innate principle of general integrity； and therefore
not accessible to the cool reasonings of family partiality； or a
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desire of revenge。”
Catherine was complimented out of further bitterness。
Frederick could not be unpardonably guilty； while Henry made
himself so agreeable。 She resolved on not answering Isabella’s
letter； and tried to think no more of it。
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CHAPTER XIII
oon after this； the General found himself obliged to go to
London for a week； and he left Northanger earnestly
S
regretting that any necessity should rob him even for an
hour of Miss Morland’s company； and anxiously recommending
the study of her comfort and amusement to his children as their
chief object in his absence。 His departure gave Catherine the first
experimental conviction that a loss may be sometimes a gain。 The
happiness with which their time now passed； every employment
voluntary； every laugh indulged； every meal a scene of ease and
good humour； walking where they liked and when they liked； their
hours； pleasures； and fatigues at their own command； made her
thoroughly sensible of the restraint which the General’s presence
had imposed； and most thankfully feel their present release from
it。 Such ease and such delights made her love the place and the
people more and more every day； and had it not been for a dread
of its soon becoming expedient to leave the one； and an
apprehension of not being equally beloved by the other； she would
at each moment of each day
