northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第10节
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immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on
his haunches； and the servant having now scampered up； the
gentlemen jumped out； and the equipage was delivered to his care。
Catherine； by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected；
received her brother with the liveliest pleasure； and he； being of a
very amiable disposition； and sincerely attached to her； gave every
proof on his side of equal satisfaction； which he could have leisure
to do； while the bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly
challenging his notice； and to her his devoirs were speedily paid；
with a mixture of joy and embarrassment which might have
informed Catherine； had she been more expert in the development
of other people’s feelings； and less simply engrossed by her own；
that her brother thought her friend quite as pretty as she could do
herself。
John Thorpe； who in the mean time had been giving orders
about the horses； soon joined them； and from him she directly
received the amends which were her due； for while he slightly and
carelessly touched the hand of Isabella； on her he bestowed a
whole scrape and half a short bow。 He was a stout young man of
middling height； who； with a plain face and ungraceful form；
seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of
a groom； and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy
where he ought to be civil； and impudent where he might be
allowed to be easy。 He took out his watch： “How long do you think
we have been running it from Tetbury； Miss Morland？”
“I do not know the distance。” Her brother told her that it was
twenty…three miles。
“Three…and…twenty！” cried Thorpe； “five and twenty if it is an
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inch。” Morland remonstrated； pleaded the authority of road…books；
innkeepers； and milestones； but his friend disregarded them all；
he had a surer test of distance。 “I know it must be five and
twenty；” said he； “by the time we have been doing it。 It is now half
after one； we drove out of the inn…yard at Tetbury as the town
clock struck eleven； and I defy any man in England to make my
horse go less than ten miles an hour in harness； that makes it
exactly twenty…five。”
“You have lost an hour；” said Morland； “it was only ten o’clock
when we came from Tetbury。”
“Ten o’clock！ It was eleven； upon my soul！ I counted every
stroke。 This brother of yours would persuade me out of my senses；
Miss Morland； do but look at my horse； did you ever see an animal
so made for speed in your life？” （The servant had just mounted
the carriage and was driving off。） “Such true blood！ Three hours
and a half indeed coming only three…and…twenty miles！ Look at
that creature； and suppose it possible if you can。”
“He does look very hot； to be sure。”
“Hot！ He had not turned a hair till we came to Walcot Church；
but look at his forehand； look at his loins； only see how he moves；
that horse cannot go less than ten miles an hour： tie his legs and he
will get on。 What do you think of my gig； Miss Morland？ A neat
one； is not it？ Well hung； town…built； I have not had it a month。 It
was built for a Christchurch man； a friend of mine； a very good
sort of fellow； he ran it a few weeks； till； I believe； it was
convenient to have done with it。 I happened just then to be looking
out for some light thing of the kind； though I had pretty well
determined on a curricle too； but I chanced to meet him on
Magdalen Bridge； as he was driving into Oxford； last term： ‘Ah！
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Thorpe；’ said he； ‘do you happen to want such a little thing as this？
it is a capital one of the kind； but I am cursed tired of it。’ ‘Oh！ d—；’
said I； ‘I am your man； what do you ask？’ And how much do you
think he did； Miss Morland？”
“I am sure I cannot guess at all。”
“Curricle…hung； you see； seat； trunk； sword…case； splashing…
board； lamps； silver moulding； all you see complete； the iron…work
as good as new； or better。 He asked fifty guineas； I closed with him
directly； threw down the money； and the carriage was mine。”
“And I am sure；” said Catherine； “I know so little of such things
that I cannot judge whether it was cheap or dear。”
“Neither one nor t’other； I might have got it for less I dare say；
but I hate haggling； and poor Freeman wanted cash。”
“That was very good…natured of you；” said Catherine； quite
pleased。
“Oh！ d— it； when one has the means of doing a kind thing by a
friend； I hate to be pitiful。”
An inquiry now took place into the intended movements of the
young ladies； and； on finding whither they were going； it was
decided that the gentlemen should accompany them to Edgar’s
Buildings； and pay their respects to Mrs。 Thorpe。 James and
Isabella led the way； and so well satisfied was the latter with her
lot； so contentedly was she endeavouring to ensure a pleasant
walk to him who brought the double recommendation of being her
brother’s friend； and her friend’s brother； so pure and
uncoquettish were her feelings； that； though they overtook and
passed the two offending young men in Milsom…street； she was so
far from seeking to attract their notice； that she looked back at
them only three times。
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John Thorpe kept of course with Catherine； and； after a few
minutes’ silence； renewed the conversation about his gig。 “You
will find； however； Miss Morland； it would be reckoned a cheap
thing by some people； for I might have sold it for ten guineas more
the next day； Jackson； of Oriel； bid me sixty at once； Morland was
with me at the time。”
“Yes；” said Morland； who overheard this； “but you forget that
your horse was included。”
“My horse！ Oh； d— it！ I would not sell my horse for a hundred。
Are you fond of an open carriage； Miss Morland？”
“Yes； very； I have hardly ever an opportunity of being in one；
but I am particularly fond of it。”
“I am glad of it； I will drive you out in mine every day。”
“Thank you；” said Catherine； in some distress； from a doubt of
the propriety of accepting such an offer。
“I will drive you up Lansdown Hill to…morrow。”
“Thank you； but will not your horse want rest？”
“Rest！ He has only come three…and…twenty miles today； all
nonsense； nothing ruins horses so much as rest； nothing knocks
them up so soon。 No； no； I shall exercise mine at the average of
four hours every day while I am here。”
“Shall you indeed！” said Catherine very seriously。 “That will be
forty miles a day。”
“Forty！ Aye； fifty； for what I care。 Well； I will drive you up
Lansdown to…morrow； mind； I am engaged。”
“How delightful that will be！” cried Isabella； turning round。
“My dearest Catherine； I quite envy you； but I am afraid； brother；
you will not have room for a third。”
“A third indeed！ no； no； I did not come to Bath to drive my
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sisters about； that would be a good joke； faith！ Morland must take
care of you。”
This brought on a dialogue of civilities between the other two；
but Catherine heard neither the particulars nor the result。 Her
companion’s discou
