northanger abbey-第24节
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waste lands； crown lands and government； he shortly
found himself arrived at politics； and from politics；
it was an easy step to silence。 The general pause
which succeeded his short disquisition on the state of
the nation was put an end to by Catherine； who； in rather
a solemn tone of voice； uttered these words； 〃I have
heard that something very shocking indeed will soon
come out in London。〃
Miss Tilney； to whom this was chiefly addressed；
was startled； and hastily replied； 〃Indeed！ And of
what nature？〃 〃That I do not know； nor who is the author。
I have only heard that it is to be more horrible than
anything we have met with yet。〃
〃Good heaven！ Where could you hear of such a thing？〃
〃A particular friend of mine had an account of it in a
letter from London yesterday。 It is to be uncommonly dreadful。
I shall expect murder and everything of the kind。〃
〃You speak with astonishing composure！ But I hope
your friend's accounts have been exaggerated； and if such a
design is known beforehand； proper measures will undoubtedly
be taken by government to prevent its coming to effect。〃
〃Government；〃 said Henry； endeavouring not to smile；
〃neither desires nor dares to interfere in such matters。
There must be murder； and government cares not how much。〃
The ladies stared。 He laughed； and added；
〃Come； shall I make you understand each other； or leave
you to puzzle out an explanation as you can？ NoI will
be noble。 I will prove myself a man； no less by the
generosity of my soul than the clearness of my head。
I have no patience with such of my sex as disdain to let
themselves sometimes down to the comprehension of yours。
Perhaps the abilities of women are neither sound nor
acuteneither vigorous nor keen。 Perhaps they may
want observation； discernment； judgment； fire； genius； and wit。〃
〃Miss Morland； do not mind what he says； but have
the goodness to satisfy me as to this dreadful riot。〃
〃Riot！ What riot？〃
〃My dear Eleanor； the riot is only in your own brain。
The confusion there is scandalous。 Miss Morland has been
talking of nothing more dreadful than a new publication
which is shortly to come out； in three duodecimo volumes；
two hundred and seventy…six pages in each； with a frontispiece
to the first； of two tombstones and a lanterndo you
understand？ And you； Miss Morlandmy stupid sister has
mistaken all your clearest expressions。 You talked
of expected horrors in Londonand instead of instantly
conceiving； as any rational creature would have done；
that such words could relate only to a circulating library；
she immediately pictured to herself a mob of three thousand
men assembling in St。 George's Fields； the Bank attacked；
the Tower threatened； the streets of London flowing
with blood； a detachment of the Twelfth Light Dragoons （the
hopes of the nation） called up from Northampton to quell
the insurgents； and the gallant Captain Frederick Tilney；
in the moment of charging at the head of his troop；
knocked off his horse by a brickbat from an upper window。
Forgive her stupidity。 The fears of the sister have added
to the weakness of the woman； but she is by no means
a simpleton in general。〃
Catherine looked grave。 〃And now； Henry；〃 said Miss Tilney；
〃that you have made us understand each other； you may
as well make Miss Morland understand yourselfunless you
mean to have her think you intolerably rude to your sister；
and a great brute in your opinion of women in general。
Miss Morland is not used to your odd ways。〃
〃I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted
with them。〃
〃No doubt； but that is no explanation of the present。〃
〃What am I to do？〃
〃You know what you ought to do。 Clear your character handsomely
before her。 Tell her that you think very highly of the understanding of women。〃
〃Miss Morland； I think very highly of the understanding
of all the women in the worldespecially of thosewhoever
they may bewith whom I happen to be in company。〃
〃That is not enough。 Be more serious。〃
〃Miss Morland； no one can think more highly of
the understanding of women than I do。 In my opinion；
nature has given them so much that they never find it
necessary to use more than half。〃
〃We shall get nothing more serious from him now；
Miss Morland。 He is not in a sober mood。 But I do assure
you that he must be entirely misunderstood； if he can
ever appear to say an unjust thing of any woman at all；
or an unkind one of me。〃
It was no effort to Catherine to believe that Henry Tilney
could never be wrong。 His manner might sometimes surprise；
but his meaning must always be just： and what she did
not understand； she was almost as ready to admire；
as what she did。 The whole walk was delightful； and though
it ended too soon； its conclusion was delightful too；
her friends attended her into the house； and Miss Tilney；
before they parted； addressing herself with respectful form；
as much to Mrs。 Allen as to Catherine； petitioned for
the pleasure of her company to dinner on the day after
the next。 No difficulty was made on Mrs。 Allen's side；
and the only difficulty on Catherine's was in concealing
the excess of her pleasure。
The morning had passed away so charmingly as to banish
all her friendship and natural affection； for no thought
of Isabella or James had crossed her during their walk。
When the Tilneys were gone； she became amiable again；
but she was amiable for some time to little effect；
Mrs。 Allen had no intelligence to give that could relieve
her anxiety； she had heard nothing of any of them。
Towards the end of the morning； however； Catherine；
having occasion for some indispensable yard of ribbon
which must be bought without a moment's delay； walked out
into the town； and in Bond Street overtook the second
Miss Thorpe as she was loitering towards Edgar's
Buildings between two of the sweetest girls in the world；
who had been her dear friends all the morning。 From her；
she soon learned that the party to Clifton had taken place。
〃They set off at eight this morning；〃 said Miss Anne；
〃and I am sure I do not envy them their drive。 I think
you and I are very well off to be out of the scrape。
it must be the dullest thing in the world； for there is not
a soul at Clifton at this time of year。 Belle went with
your brother； and John drove Maria。〃
Catherine spoke the pleasure she really felt
on hearing this part of the arrangement。
〃Oh！ yes；〃 rejoined the other； 〃Maria is gone。
She was quite wild to go。 She thought it would be
something very fine。 I cannot say I admire her taste；
and for my part； I was determined from the first not to go；
if they pressed me ever so much。〃
Catherine； a little doubtful of this； could not
help answering； 〃I wish you could have gone too。
It is a pity you could not all go。〃
〃Thank you； but it is quite a matter of indifference
to me。 Indeed； I would not have gone on any account。
I was saying so to Emily and Sophia when you overtook us。
Catherine was still unconvinced； but glad that Anne
should have the friendship of an Emily and a Sophia to
console her； she bade her adieu without much uneasiness；
and returned home； pleased that the party had not been
prevented by her refusing to join it； and very heartily
wishing that it might be too pleasant to allow either
James or Isabella to resent her resistance any longer。
CHAPTER 15
Early the next day； a note from Isabella；
speaking peace and tenderness in every line； and entreating
the immediate presence of her friend on a matter of the
utmost importance； hastened Catherine； in the happiest
state of confidence and curiosity； to Edgar's Buildings。
The two youngest Miss Thorpes were by themselves in
the parlour； and； on Anne's quitting it to call her sister；
Catherine took the opportunity of asking the other
for some particulars of their yesterday's party。
Maria desired no greater pleasure than to speak of it；
and Catherine immediately learnt that it had been altogether
the most delightf
