northanger abbey-第38节
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solely on this living； he would not be ill…provided for。
Perhaps it may seem odd； that with only two younger children；
I should think any profession necessary for him；
and certainly there are moments when we could all wish him
disengaged from every tie of business。 But though I may
not exactly make converts of you young ladies； I am sure
your father； Miss Morland； would agree with me in thinking
it expedient to give every young man some employment。
The money is nothing； it is not an object； but employment
is the thing。 Even Frederick； my eldest son； you see；
who will perhaps inherit as considerable a landed property
as any private man in the county； has his profession。〃
The imposing effect of this last argument was
equal to his wishes。 The silence of the lady proved
it to be unanswerable。
Something had been said the evening before of her
being shown over the house； and he now offered himself
as her conductor； and though Catherine had hoped to explore
it accompanied only by his daughter； it was a proposal
of too much happiness in itself； under any circumstances；
not to be gladly accepted； for she had been already
eighteen hours in the abbey； and had seen only a few of
its rooms。 The netting…box； just leisurely drawn forth；
was closed with joyful haste； and she was ready to
attend him in a moment。 〃And when they had gone over
the house； he promised himself moreover the pleasure
of accompanying her into the shrubberies and garden。〃
She curtsied her acquiescence。 〃But perhaps it might be
more agreeable to her to make those her first object。
The weather was at present favourable； and at this time
of year the uncertainty was very great of its continuing so。
Which would she prefer？ He was equally at her service。
Which did his daughter think would most accord with her
fair friend's wishes？ But he thought he could discern。
Yes； he certainly read in Miss Morland's eyes a judicious
desire of making use of the present smiling weather。
But when did she judge amiss？ The abbey would be always
safe and dry。 He yielded implicitly； and would fetch
his hat and attend them in a moment。〃 He left the room；
and Catherine； with a disappointed； anxious face；
began to speak of her unwillingness that he should be
taking them out of doors against his own inclination；
under a mistaken idea of pleasing her； but she was stopped
by Miss Tilney's saying； with a little confusion； 〃I believe
it will be wisest to take the morning while it is so fine；
and do not be uneasy on my father's account； he always walks
out at this time of day。〃
Catherine did not exactly know how this was
to be understood。 Why was Miss Tilney embarrassed？
Could there be any unwillingness on the general's side
to show her over the abbey？ The proposal was his own。
And was not it odd that he should always take his walk
so early？ Neither her father nor Mr。 Allen did so。
It was certainly very provoking。 She was all impatience
to see the house； and had scarcely any curiosity about
the grounds。 If Henry had been with them indeed！ But now
she should not know what was picturesque when she saw it。
Such were her thoughts； but she kept them to herself；
and put on her bonnet in patient discontent。
She was struck； however； beyond her expectation；
by the grandeur of the abbey； as she saw it for the first time
from the lawn。 The whole building enclosed a large court；
and two sides of the quadrangle； rich in Gothic ornaments；
stood forward for admiration。 The remainder was shut
off by knolls of old trees； or luxuriant plantations；
and the steep woody hills rising behind； to give it shelter；
were beautiful even in the leafless month of March。
Catherine had seen nothing to compare with it； and her
feelings of delight were so strong； that without waiting
for any better authority； she boldly burst forth in wonder
and praise。 The general listened with assenting gratitude；
and it seemed as if his own estimation of Northanger had
waited unfixed till that hour。
The kitchen…garden was to be next admired； and he
led the way to it across a small portion of the park。
The number of acres contained in this garden was
such as Catherine could not listen to without dismay；
being more than double the extent of all Mr。 Allen's；
as well her father's； including church…yard and orchard。
The walls seemed countless in number； endless in length；
a village of hot…houses seemed to arise among them；
and a whole parish to be at work within the enclosure。
The general was flattered by her looks of surprise；
which told him almost as plainly； as he soon forced her
to tell him in words； that she had never seen any gardens
at all equal to them before； and he then modestly owned that；
〃without any ambition of that sort himselfwithout any
solicitude about ithe did believe them to be unrivalled
in the kingdom。 If he had a hobby…horse； it was that。
He loved a garden。 Though careless enough in most
matters of eating； he loved good fruitor if he did not；
his friends and children did。 There were great vexations；
however； attending such a garden as his。 The utmost
care could not always secure the most valuable fruits。
The pinery had yielded only one hundred in the last year。
Mr。 Allen； he supposed； must feel these inconveniences as well
as himself。〃
〃No； not at all。 Mr。 Allen did not care about
the garden； and never went into it。〃
With a triumphant smile of self…satisfaction；
the general wished he could do the same； for he never
entered his； without being vexed in some way or other；
by its falling short of his plan。
〃How were Mr。 Allen's succession…houses worked？〃
describing the nature of his own as they entered them。
〃Mr。 Allen had only one small hot…house； which
Mrs。 Allen had the use of for her plants in winter；
and there was a fire in it now and then。〃
〃He is a happy man！〃 said the general； with a look
of very happy contempt。
Having taken her into every division； and led her
under every wall； till she was heartily weary of seeing
and wondering； he suffered the girls at last to seize
the advantage of an outer door； and then expressing his
wish to examine the effect of some recent alterations
about the tea…house； proposed it as no unpleasant
extension of their walk； if Miss Morland were not tired。
〃But where are you going； Eleanor？ Why do you choose
that cold； damp path to it？ Miss Morland will get wet。
Our best way is across the park。〃
〃This is so favourite a walk of mine；〃 said Miss Tilney；
〃that I always think it the best and nearest way。
But perhaps it may be damp。〃
It was a narrow winding path through a thick grove of old
Scotch firs； and Catherine； struck by its gloomy aspect；
and eager to enter it； could not； even by the general's
disapprobation； be kept from stepping forward。 He perceived
her inclination； and having again urged the plea of health
in vain； was too polite to make further opposition。
He excused himself； however； from attending them： 〃The
rays of the sun were not too cheerful for him； and he
would meet them by another course。〃 He turned away；
and Catherine was shocked to find how much her spirits
were relieved by the separation。 The shock； however；
being less real than the relief； offered it no injury；
and she began to talk with easy gaiety of the delightful
melancholy which such a grove inspired。
〃I am particularly fond of this spot；〃 said her companion；
with a sigh。 〃It was my mother's favourite walk。〃
Catherine had never heard Mrs。 Tilney mentioned in
the family before； and the interest excited by this tender
remembrance showed itself directly in her altered countenance；
and in the attentive pause with which she waited for something more。
〃I used to walk here so often with her！〃 added Eleanor；
〃though I never loved it then； as I have loved it since。
At that time indeed I used to wonder at her choice。
But her memory endears it now。〃
〃And ought it not；〃 reflected Catherine； 〃to endear
it to her husband？ Yet the general would not enter it。〃
Miss Tilney continuing silent； she ventured to say；
〃Her death must have been
