northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第6节
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They danced again； and； when the assembly closed； parted； on
the lady’s side at least； with a strong inclination for continuing the
acquaintance。 Whether she thought of him so much； while she
drank her warm wine and water； and prepared herself for bed； as
to dream of him when there； cannot be ascertained； but I hope it
was no more than in a slight slumber； or a morning doze at most；
for if it be true； as a celebrated writer has maintained； that no
young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman’s
love is declared； it must be very improper that a young lady should
dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have
dreamt of her。 How proper Mr。 Tilney might be as a dreamer or a
lover had not yet perhaps entered Mr。 Allen’s head； but that he
was not objectionable as a common acquaintance for his young
charge he was on inquiry satisfied； for he had early in the evening
taken pains to know who her partner was； and had been assured
of Mr。 Tilney’s being a clergyman； and of a very respectable family
in Gloucestershire。
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CHAPTER IV
ith more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to
Wthe Pump…room the next day； secure within herself of
seeing Mr。 Tilney there before the morning were over；
and ready to meet him with a smile：—but no smile was
demanded—Mr。 Tilney did not appear。 Every creature in Bath；
except himself； was to be seen in the room at different periods of
the fashionable hours； crowds of people were every moment
passing in and out； up the steps and down； people whom nobody
cared about； and nobody wanted to see； and he only was absent。
“What a delightful place Bath is；” said Mrs。 Allen as they sat down
near the great clock； after parading the room till they were tired；
“and how pleasant it would be if we had any acquaintance here。”
This sentiment had been uttered so often in vain that Mrs。
Allen had no particular reason to hope it would be followed with
more advantage now； but we are told to “despair of nothing we
would attain；” as “unwearied diligence our point would gain；” and
the unwearied diligence with which she had every day wished for
the same thing was at length to have its just reward； for hardly had
she been seated ten minutes before a lady of about her own age；
who was sitting by her； and had been looking at her attentively for
several minutes； addressed her with great complaisance in these
words：—“I think； madam； I cannot be mistaken； it is a long time
since I had the pleasure of seeing you； but is not your name
Allen？” This question answered； as it readily was； the stranger
pronounced hers to be Thorpe； and Mrs。 Allen immediately
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recognized the features of a former school…fellow and intimate；
whom she had seen only once since their respective marriages；
and that many years ago。 Their joy on this meeting was very great；
as well it might； since they had been contented to know nothing of
each other for the last fifteen years。 Compliments on good looks
now passed； and； after observing how time had slipped away since
they were last together； how little they had thought of meeting in
Bath； and what a pleasure it was to see an old friend； they
proceeded to make inquiries and give intelligence as to their
families； sisters； and cousins； talking both together； far more ready
to give than to receive information； and each hearing very little of
what the other said。 Mrs。 Thorpe； however； had one great
advantage as a talker； over Mrs。 Allen； in a family of children； and
when she expatiated on the talents of her sons； and the beauty of
her daughters；—when she related their different situations and
views；—that John was at Oxford； Edward at Merchant Taylors’；
and William at sea；—and all of them more beloved and respected
in their different station than any other three beings ever were；
Mrs。 Allen had no similar information to give； no similar triumphs
to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend； and
was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal
effusions； consoling herself； however； with the discovery； which
her keen eye soon made； that the lace on Mrs。 Thorpe’s pelisse
was not half so handsome as that on her own。
“Here come my dear girls；” cried Mrs。 Thorpe； pointing at three
smart looking females who； arm in arm； were then moving
towards her。 “My dear Mrs。 Allen； I long to introduce them； they
will be so delighted to see you： the tallest is Isabella； my eldest； is
not she a fine young woman？ The others are very much admired
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too； but I believe Isabella is the handsomest。”
The Miss Thorpes were introduced； and Miss Morland； who
had been for a short time forgotten； was introduced likewise。 The
name seemed to strike them all； and； after speaking to her with
great civility； the eldest young lady observed aloud to the rest；
“How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is！”
“The very picture of him indeed！” cried the mother—and “I
should have known her anywhere for his sister！” was repeated by
them all； two or three times over。 For a moment Catherine was
surprized； but Mrs。 Thorpe and her daughters had scarcely begun
the history of their acquaintance with Mr。 James Morland； before
she remembered that her eldest brother had lately formed an
intimacy with a young man of his own college； of the name of
Thorpe； and that he had spent the last week of the Christmas
vacation with his family； near London。
The whole being explained； many obliging things were said by
the Miss Thorpes of their wish of being better acquainted with
her； of being considered as already friends； through the friendship
of their brothers； &c。； which Catherine heard with pleasure； and
answered with all the pretty expressions she could command； and；
as the first proof of amity； she was soon invited to accept an arm of
the eldest Miss Thorpe； and take a turn with her about the room。
Catherine was delighted with this extension of her Bath
acquaintance； and almost forgot Mr。 Tilney while she talked to
Miss Thorpe。 Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs
of disappointed love。
Their conversation turned upon those subjects； of which the
free discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden
intimacy between two young ladies； such as dress； balls； flirtations；
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and quizzes。 Miss Thorpe； however； being four years older than
Miss Morland； and at least four years better informed； had a very
decided advantage in discussing such points； she could compare
the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge； its fashions with the
fashions of London； could rectify the opinions of her new friend in
many articles of tasteful attire； could discover a flirtation between
any gentleman and lady who only smiled on each other； and point
out a quiz through the thickness of a crowd。 These powers
received due admiration from Catherine； to whom they were
entirely new； and the respect which they naturally inspired might
have been too great for familiarity； had not the easy gaiety of Miss
T
