northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第62节
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apprehension of evil as from the knowledge of it。 Three months
ago had seen her all this； and now； how altered a being did she
return！
She was received by the Allens with all the kindness which her
unlooked…for appearance； acting on a steady affection； would
naturally call forth； and great was their surprise； and warm their
displeasure； on hearing how she had been treated；—though Mrs。
Morland’s account of it was no inflated representation； no studied
appeal to their passions。 “Catherine took us quite by surprise
yesterday evening；” said she。 “She travelled all the way post by
herself； and knew nothing of coming till Saturday night； for
General Tilney； from some odd fancy or other； all of a sudden grew
tired of having her there； and almost turned her out of the house。
Very unfriendly； certainly； and he must be a very odd man；—but
we are so glad to have her amongst us again！ And it is a great
comfort to find that she is not a poor helpless creature； but can
shift very well for herself。”
Mr。 Allen expressed himself on the occasion with the
reasonable resentment of a sensible friend； and Mrs。 Allen thought
his expressions quite good enough to be immediately made use of
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again by herself。 His wonder； his conjectures； and his explanations
became in succession hers； with the addition of this single
remark—“I really have not patience with the General”—to fill up
every accidental pause。 And； “I really have not patience with the
General；” was uttered twice after Mr。 Allen left the room； without
any relaxation of anger； or any material digression of thought。 A
more considerable degree of wandering attended the third
repetition； and； after completing the fourth； she immediately
added； “Only think； my dear； of my having got that frightful great
rent in my best Mechlin so charmingly mended； before I left Bath；
that one can hardly see where it was。 I must shew it you some day
or other。 Bath is a nice place； Catherine； after all。 I assure you I
did not above half like coming away。 Mrs。 Thorpe’s being there
was such a comfort to us； was not it？ You know； you and I were
quite forlorn at first。”
“Yes； but that did not last long；” said Catherine； her eyes
brightening at the recollection of what had first given spirit to her
existence there。
“Very true： we soon met with Mrs。 Thorpe； and then we wanted
for nothing。 My dear； do not you think these silk gloves wear very
well？ I put them on new the first time of our going to the Lower
Rooms； you know； and I have worn them a great deal since。 Do
you remember that evening？”
“Do I！ Oh！ perfectly。”
“It was very agreeable； was not it？ Mr。 Tilney drank tea with us；
and I always thought him a great addition； he is so very agreeable。
I have a notion you danced with him； but am not quite sure。 I
remember I had my favourite gown on。”
Catherine could not answer； and； after a short trial of other
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subjects； Mrs。 Allen again returned to—“I really have not patience
with the General！ Such an agreeable； worthy man as he seemed to
be！ I do not suppose； Mrs。 Morland； you ever saw a better…bred
man in your life。 His lodgings were taken the very day after he left
them； Catherine。 But no wonder； Milsom…street； you know。”—
As they walked home again； Mrs。 Morland endeavoured to
impress on her daughter’s mind the happiness of having such
steady well…wishers as Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen； and the very little
consideration which the neglect or unkindness of slight
acquaintance like the Tilneys ought to have with her； while she
could preserve the good opinion and affection of her earliest
friends。 There was a great deal of good sense in all this； but there
are some situations of the human mind in which good sense has
very little power； and Catherine’s feelings contradicted almost
every position her mother advanced。 It was upon the behaviour of
these very slight acquaintance that all her present happiness
depended； and while Mrs。 Morland was successfully confirming
her own opinions by the justness of her own representations；
Catherine was silently reflecting that now Henry must have
arrived at Northanger； now he must have heard of her departure；
and now； perhaps； they were all setting off for Hereford。
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CHAPTER XV
atherine’s disposition was not naturally sedentary； nor had
her habits been ever very industrious； but whatever might
C
hitherto have been her defects of that sort； her mother
could not but perceive them now to be greatly increased。 She
could neither sit still nor employ herself for ten minutes together；
walking round the garden and orchard again and again； as if
nothing but motion was voluntary； and it seemed as if she could
even walk about the house rather than remain fixed for any time
in the parlour。 Her loss of spirits was a yet greater alteration。 In
her rambling and her idleness she might only be a caricature of
herself； but in her silence and sadness she was the very reverse of
all that she had been before。
For two days Mrs。 Morland allowed it to pass even without a
hint； but when a third night’s rest had neither restored her
cheerfulness； improved her in useful activity； nor given her a
greater inclination for needlework； she could no longer refrain
from the gentle reproof of； “My dear Catherine； I am afraid you
are growing quite a fine lady。 I do not know when poor Richard’s
cravats would be done； if he had no friend but you。 Your head
runs too much upon Bath； but there is a time for every thing—a
time for balls and plays； and a time for work。 You have had a long
run of amusement； and now you must try to be useful。”
Catherine took up her work directly； saying； in a dejected voice；
that “her head did not run upon Bath—much。”
“Then you are fretting about General Tilney； and that is very
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simple of you； for ten to one whether you ever see him again。 You
should never fret about trifles。” After a short silence—“I hope； my
Catherine； you are not getting out of humour with home because it
is not so grand as Northanger。 That would be turning your visit
into an evil indeed。 Wherever you are you should always be
contented； but especially at home； because there you must spend
the most of your time。 I did not quite like； at breakfast； to hear you
talk so much about the French…bread at Northanger。”
“I am sure I do not care about the bread。 It is all the same to me
what I eat。”
“There is a very clever essay in one of the books upstairs upon
much such a subject； about young girls that have been spoilt for
home by great acquaintance—“The Mirror；” I think。 I will look it
out for you some day or other； because I am sure it will do you
good。”
Catherine said no more； and； with an endeavour to do right；
applied to her work； but； after a few minutes； sunk again； without
knowing it herself； into languor and
