northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第17节
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got you at last？” was her address on Catherine’s entering the box
and sitting by her。 “Now； Mr。 Morland；” for he was close to her on
the other side； “I shall not speak another word to you all the rest of
the evening； so I charge you not to expect it。 My sweetest
Catherine； how have you been this long age？ But I need not ask
you； for you look delightfully。 You really have done your hair in a
more heavenly style than ever； you mischievous creature； do you
want to attract everybody？ I assure you； my brother is quite in
love with you already； and as for Mr。 Tilney—but that is a settled
thing—even your modesty cannot doubt his attachment now； his
coming back to Bath makes it too plain。 Oh！ What would not I give
to see him！ I really am quite wild with impatience。 My mother says
he is the most delightful young man in the world； she saw him this
morning； you know； you must introduce him to me。 Is he in the
house now？—Look about for heaven’s sake！ I assure you； I can
hardly exist till I see him。”
“No；” said Catherine； “he is not here； I cannot see him
anywhere。”
“Oh； horrid！ am I never to be acquainted with him？ How do you
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like my gown？ I think it does not look amiss； the sleeves were
entirely my own thought。 Do you know； I get so immoderately sick
of Bath； your brother and I were agreeing this morning that；
though it is vastly well to be here for a few weeks； we would not
live here for millions。 We soon found out that our tastes were
exactly alike in preferring the country to every other place； really；
our opinions were so exactly the same； it was quite ridiculous！
There was not a single point in which we differed； I would not
have had you by for the world； you are such a sly thing； I am sure
you would have made some droll remark or other about it。”
“No； indeed I should not。”
“Oh； yes you would indeed； I know you better than you know
yourself。 You would have told us that we seemed born for each
other； or some nonsense of that kind； which would have distressed
me beyond conception； my cheeks would have been as red as your
roses； I would not have had you by for the world。”
“Indeed you do me injustice； I would not have made so
improper a remark upon any account； and besides； I am sure it
would never have entered my head。”
Isabella smiled incredulously and talked the rest of the evening
to James。
Catherine’s resolution of endeavouring to meet Miss Tilney
again continued in full force the next morning； and till the usual
moment of going to the Pump…room； she felt some alarm from the
dread of a second prevention。 But nothing of that kind occurred；
no visitors appeared to delay them； and they all three set off in
good time for the Pump…room； where the ordinary course of events
and conversation took place； Mr。 Allen； after drinking his glass of
water； joined some gentlemen to talk over the politics of the day
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and compare the accounts of their newspapers； and the ladies
walked about together； noticing every new face； and almost every
new bonnet in the room。 The female part of the Thorpe family；
attended by James Morland； appeared among the crowd in less
than a quarter of an hour； and Catherine immediately took her
usual place by the side of her friend。 James； who was now in
constant attendance； maintained a similar position； and separating
themselves from the rest of their party； they walked in that
manner for some time； till Catherine began to doubt the happiness
of a situation which； confining her entirely to her friend and
brother； gave her very little share in the notice of either。 They
were always engaged in some sentimental discussion or lively
dispute； but their sentiment was conveyed in such whispering
voices； and their vivacity attended with so much laughter； that
though Catherine’s supporting opinion was not unfrequently
called for by one or the other； she was never able to give any； from
not having heard a word of the subject。 At length however she was
empowered to disengage herself from her friend； by the avowed
necessity of speaking to Miss Tilney； whom she most joyfully saw
just entering the room with Mrs。 Hughes； and whom she instantly
joined； with a firmer determination to be acquainted； than she
might have had courage to command； had she not been urged by
the disappointment of the day before。 Miss Tilney met her with
great civility； returned her advances with equal good will； and they
continued talking together as long as both parties remained in the
room； and though in all probability not an observation was made；
nor an expression used by either which had not been made and
used some thousands of times before； under that roof； in every
Bath season； yet the merit of their being spoken with simplicity
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and truth； and without personal conceit； might be something
uncommon。—
“How well your brother dances！” was an artless exclamation of
Catherine’s towards the close of their conversation； which at once
surprised and amused her companion。
“Henry！” she replied with a smile。 “Yes； he does dance very
well。”
“He must have thought it very odd to hear me say I was
engaged the other evening； when he saw me sitting down。 But I
really had been engaged the whole day to Mr。 Thorpe。” Miss
Tilney could only bow。 “You cannot think；” added Catherine after
a moment’s silence； “how surprized I was to see him again。 I felt so
sure of his being quite gone away。”
“When Henry had the pleasure of seeing you before； he was in
Bath but for a couple of days。 He came only to engage lodgings for
us。”
“That never occurred to me； and of course； not seeing him
anywhere； I thought he must be gone。 Was not the young lady he
danced with on Monday a Miss Smith？”
“Yes； an acquaintance of Mrs。 Hughes。”
“I dare say she was very glad to dance。 Do you think her
pretty？”
“Not very。”
“He never comes to the Pump…room； I suppose？”
“Yes； sometimes； but he has rid out this morning with my
father。”
Mrs。 Hughes now joined them； and asked Miss Tilney if she was
ready to go。 “I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again
soon；” said Catherine。 “Shall you be at the cotillion ball to…
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morrow？”
“Perhaps we—yes； I think we certainly shall。”
“I am glad of it； for we shall all be there。” This civility was duly
returned； and they parted—on Miss Tilney’s side with some
knowledge of her new acquaintance’s feelings； and on Catherine’s；
without the smallest consciousness of having explained them。
She went home very happy。 The morning had answered all her
hopes； and the evening of the following day was now the object of
expectation； the future good。 What gown and what head…dress she
should wear on the occasion became her chief concern。 She
cannot be justified in it。 Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction；
and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim。
Catherine knew all this very well； her great aunt had read her a
