northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第64节
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contempt of her family。
John Thorpe had first misled him。 The General； perceiving his
son one night at the theatre to be paying considerable attention to
Miss Morland； had accidentally inquired of Thorpe if he knew
more of her than her name。 Thorpe； most happy to be on speaking
terms with a man of General Tilney’s importance； had been
joyfully and proudly communicative；—and being at that time not
only in daily expectation of Morland’s engaging Isabella； but
likewise pretty well resolved upon marrying Catherine himself； his
vanity induced him to represent the family as yet more wealthy
than his vanity and avarice had made him believe them。 With
whomsoever he was； or was likely to be connected； his own
consequence always required that theirs should be great； and as
his intimacy with any acquaintance grew； so regularly grew their
fortune。 The expectations of his friend Morland； therefore； from
the first over…rated； had ever since his introduction to Isabella
been gradually increasing； and by merely adding twice as much
for the grandeur of the moment； by doubling what he chose to
think the amount of Mr。 Morland’s preferment； trebling his private
fortune； bestowing a rich aunt； and sinking half the children； he
was able to represent the whole family to the General in a most
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respectable light。 For Catherine； however； the peculiar object of
the General’s curiosity； and his own speculations； he had yet
something more in reserve； and the ten or fifteen thousand
pounds which her father could give her would be a pretty addition
to Mr。 Allen’s estate。 Her intimacy there had made him seriously
determine on her being handsomely legacied hereafter； and to
speak of her therefore as the almost acknowledged future heiress
of Fullerton naturally followed。 Upon such intelligence the
General had proceeded； for never had it occurred to him to doubt
its authority。 Thorpe’s interest in the family； by his sister’s
approaching connection with one of its members； and his own
views on another （circumstances of which he boasted with almost
equal openness）； seemed sufficient vouchers for his truth； and to
these were added the absolute facts of the Allens being wealthy
and childless； of Miss Morland’s being under their care； and—as
soon as his acquaintance allowed him to judge—of their treating
her with parental kindness。 His resolution was soon formed。
Already had he discerned a liking towards Miss Morland in the
countenance of his son； and thankful for Mr。 Thorpe’s
communication； he almost instantly determined to spare no pains
in weakening his boasted interest and ruining his dearest hopes。
Catherine herself could not be more ignorant at the time of all this；
than his own children。 Henry and Eleanor； perceiving nothing in
her situation likely to engage their father’s particular respect； had
seen with astonishment the suddenness； continuance； and extent
of his attention； and though latterly； from some hints which had
accompanied an almost positive command to his son of doing
every thing in his power to attach her； Henry was convinced of his
father’s believing it to be an advantageous connection； it was not
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till the late explanation at Northanger that they had the smallest
idea of the false calculations which had hurried him on。 That they
were false； the General had learnt from the very person who had
suggested them； from Thorpe himself； whom he had chanced to
meet again in town； and who； under the influence of exactly
opposite feelings； irritated by Catherine’s refusal； and yet more by
the failure of a very recent endeavour to accomplish a
reconciliation between Morland and Isabella； convinced that they
were separated forever； and spurning a friendship which could be
no longer serviceable； hastened to contradict all that he had said
before to the advantage of the Morlands；—confessed himself to
have been totally mistaken in his opinion of their circumstances
and character； misled by the rhodomontade of his friend to believe
his father a man of substance and credit； whereas the transactions
of the two or three last weeks proved him to be neither； for after
coming eagerly forward on the first overture of a marriage
between the families； with the most liberal proposals； he had； on
being brought to the point by the shrewdness of the relator； been
constrained to acknowledge himself incapable of giving the young
people even a decent support。 They were； in fact； a necessitous
family； numerous too almost beyond example； by no means
respected in their own neighbourhood； as he had lately had
particular opportunities of discovering； aiming at a style of life
which their fortune could not warrant； seeking to better
themselves by wealthy connections； a forward； bragging； scheming
race。
The terrified General pronounced the name of Allen with an
inquiring look； and here too Thorpe had learnt his error。 The
Allens； he believed； had lived near them too long； and he knew the
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young man on whom the Fullerton estate must devolve。 The
General needed no more。 Enraged with almost everybody in the
world but himself； he set out the next day for the Abbey； where his
performances have been seen。
I leave it to my reader’s sagacity to determine how much of all
this it was possible for Henry to communicate at this time to
Catherine； how much of it he could have learnt from his father； in
what points his own conjectures might assist him； and what
portion must yet remain to be told in a letter from James。 I have
united for their case what they must divide for mine。 Catherine； at
any rate； heard enough to feel that in suspecting General Tilney of
either murdering or shutting up his wife； she had scarcely sinned
against his character； or magnified his cruelty。
Henry； in having such things to relate of his father； was almost
as pitiable as in their first avowal to himself。 He blushed for the
narrow…minded counsel which he was obliged to expose。 The
conversation between them at Northanger had been of the most
unfriendly kind。 Henry’s indignation on hearing how Catherine
had been treated； on comprehending his father’s views； and being
ordered to acquiesce in them； had been open and bold。 The
General； accustomed on every ordinary occasion to give the law in
his family； prepared for no reluctance but of feeling； no opposing
desire that should dare to clothe itself in words； could ill brook the
opposition of his son； steady as the sanction of reason and the
dictate of conscience could make it。 But； in such a cause； his
anger； though it must shock； could not intimidate Henry； who was
sustained in his purpose by a conviction of its justice。 He felt
himself bound as much in honour as in affection to Miss Morland；
and believing that heart to be his own which he had been directed
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to gain； no unworthy retraction of a tacit consent；
