northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第9节
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so earnestly—I am sure he is in love with you。” Catherine
coloured； and disclaimed again。 Isabella laughed。 “It is very true；
upon my honour； but I see how it is； you are indifferent to
everybody’s admiration； except that of one gentleman； who shall
be nameless。 Nay； I cannot blame you—（speaking more
seriously）—your feelings are easily understood。 Where the heart is
really attached； I know very well how little one can be pleased
with the attention of anybody else。 Every thing is so insipid； so
uninteresting； that does not relate to the beloved object！ I can
perfectly comprehend your feelings。”
“But you should not persuade me that I think so very much
about Mr。 Tilney； for perhaps I may never see him again。”
“Not see him again！ My dearest creature； do not talk of it。 I am
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sure you would be miserable if you thought so！”
“No； indeed； I should not。 I do not pretend to say that I was not
very much pleased with him； but while I have Udolpho to read； I
feel as if nobody could make me miserable。 Oh！ The dreadful black
veil！ My dear Isabella； I am sure there must be Laurentina’s
skeleton behind it。”
“It is so odd to me； that you should never have read Udolpho
before； but I suppose Mrs。 Morland objects to novels。”
“No； she does not。 She very often reads Sir Charles Grandison
herself； but new books do not fall in our way。”
“Sir Charles Grandison！ That is an amazing horrid book； is it
not？—I remember Miss Andrews could not get through the first
volume。”
“It is not like Udolpho at all； but yet I think it is very
entertaining。”
“Do you indeed！—you surprize me； I thought it had not been
readable。 But； my dearest Catherine； have you settled what to
wear on your head tonight？ I am determined at all events to be
dressed exactly like you。 The men take notice of that sometimes；
you know。”
“But it does not signify if they do；” said Catherine； very
innocently。
“Signify！ Oh； heavens！ I make it a rule never to mind what they
say。 They are very often amazingly impertinent if you do not treat
them with spirit； and make them keep their distance。”
“Are they？—Well； I never observed that。 They always behave
very well to me。”
“Oh！ They give themselves such airs。 They are the most
conceited creatures in the world； and think themselves of so much
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importance！—By the bye； though I have thought of it a hundred
times； I have always forgot to ask you what is your favourite
complexion in a man。 Do you like them best dark or fair？”
“I hardly know。 I never much thought about it。 Something
between both； I think。 Brown—not fair； and—and not very dark。”
“Very well； Catherine。 That is exactly he。 I have not forgot your
description of Mr。 Tilney—‘a brown skin； with dark eyes； and
rather dark hair。’ Well； my taste is different。 I prefer light eyes；
and as to complexion—do you know—I like a sallow better than
any other。 You must not betray me； if you should ever meet with
one of your acquaintance answering that description。”
“Betray you！—What do you mean？”
“Nay； do not distress me。 I believe I have said too much。 Let us
drop the subject。”
Catherine； in some amazement； complied； and after remaining
a few moments silent； was on the point of reverting to what
interested her at that time rather more than anything else in the
world； Laurentina’s skeleton； when her friend prevented her； by
saying；—“For heaven’s sake！ Let us move away from this end of
the room。 Do you know； there are two odious young men who have
been staring at me this half hour。 They really put me quite out of
countenance。 Let us go and look at the arrivals。 They will hardly
follow us there。”
Away they walked to the book； and while Isabella examined the
names； it was Catherine’s employment to watch the proceedings of
these alarming young men。
“They are not coming this way； are they？ I hope they are not so
impertinent as to follow us。 Pray let me know if they are coming。 I
am determined I will not look up。”
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In a few moments Catherine； with unaffected pleasure； assured
her that she need not be longer uneasy； as the gentlemen had just
left the Pump…room。
“And which way are they gone？” said Isabella； turning hastily
round。 “One was a very good…looking young man。”
“They went towards the churchyard。”
“Well； I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them！ And now；
what say you to going to Edgar’s Buildings with me； and looking at
my new hat？ You said you should like to see it。”
Catherine readily agreed。 “Only；” she added； “perhaps we may
overtake the two young men。”
“Oh！ Never mind that。 If we make haste； we shall pass by them
presently； and I am dying to show you my hat。”
“But if we only wait a few minutes； there will be no danger of
our seeing them at all。”
“I shall not pay them any such compliment； I assure you。 I have
no notion of treating men with such respect。 That is the way to
spoil them。”
Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning； and
therefore； to show the independence of Miss Thorpe； and her
resolution of humbling the sex； they set off immediately as fast as
they could walk； in pursuit of the two young men。
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CHAPTER VII
alf a minute conducted them through the Pump…yard to
the archway； opposite Union…passage； but here they were
Hstopped。 Everybody acquainted with Bath may
remember the difficulties of crossing Cheap…street at this point； it
is indeed a street of so impertinent a nature； so unfortunately
connected with the great London and Oxford roads； and the
principal inn of the city； that a day never passes in which parties of
ladies； however important their business； whether in quest of
pastry； millinery； or even （as in the present case） of young men；
are not detained on one side or other by carriages； horsemen； or
carts。 This evil had been felt and lamented； at least three times a
day； by Isabella since her residence in Bath； and she was now
fated to feel and lament it once more； for at the very moment of
coming opposite to Union…passage； and within view of the two
gentlemen who were proceeding through the crowds； and
threading the gutters of that interesting alley； they were prevented
crossing by the approach of a gig； driven along on bad pavement
by a most knowing…looking coachman with all the vehemence that
could most fitly endanger the lives of himself； his companion； and
his horse。
“Oh； these odious gigs！” said Isabella； looking up。 “How I detest
them。” But this detestation； though so just； was of short duration；
for she looked again and exclaimed； “Delightful！ Mr。 Morland and
my brother！”
“Good heaven！ ’tis James！” was uttered at the same moment by
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Catherine； and； on catching the young men’s eyes； the horse was
immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on
his haunches； and
