northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第21节
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Isabella’s smile） “I expect Miss Tilney and her brother to call on
me to take a country walk。 They promised to come at twelve； only
it rained； but now； as it is so fine； I dare say they will be here
soon。”
“Not they indeed；” cried Thorpe； “for； as we turned into Broad…
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street； I saw them—does he not drive a phaeton with bright
chestnuts？”
“I do not know indeed。”
“Yes； I know he does； I saw him。 You are talking of the man you
danced with last night； are not you？”
“Yes。
“Well； I saw him at that moment turn up the Lansdown Road；—
driving a smart…looking girl。”
“Did you indeed？”
“Did upon my soul； knew him again directly； and he seemed to
have got some very pretty cattle too。”
“It is very odd！ But I suppose they thought it would be too dirty
for a walk。”
“And well they might； for I never saw so much dirt in my life。
Walk！ You could no more walk than you could fly！ It has not been
so dirty the whole winter； it is ankle…deep everywhere。”
Isabella corroborated it：—“My dearest Catherine； you cannot
form an idea of the dirt； come； you must go； you cannot refuse
going now。”
“I should like to see the castle； but may we go all over it？ May
we go up every staircase； and into every suite of rooms？”
“Yes； yes； every hole and corner。”
“But then；—if they should only be gone out for an hour till it is
dryer； and call by and by？”
“Make yourself easy； there is no danger of that； for I heard
Tilney hallooing to a man who was just passing by on horseback；
that they were going as far as Wick Rocks。”
“Then I will。 Shall I go； Mrs。 Allen？”
“Just as you please； my dear。”
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“Mrs。 Allen； you must persuade her to go；” was the general cry。
Mrs。 Allen was not inattentive to it：—“Well； my dear；” said she；
“suppose you go。”—And in two minutes they were off。
Catherine’s feelings； as she got into the carriage； were in a very
unsettled state； divided between regret for the loss of one great
pleasure； and the hope of soon enjoying another； almost its equal
in degree； however unlike in kind。 She could not think the Tilneys
had acted quite well by her； in so readily giving up their
engagement； without sending her any message of excuse。 It was
now but an hour later than the time fixed on for the beginning of
their walk； and； in spite of what she had heard of the prodigious
accumulation of dirt in the course of that hour； she could not from
her own observation help thinking that they might have gone with
very little inconvenience。 To feel herself slighted by them was very
painful。 On the other hand； the delight of exploring an edifice like
Udolpho； as her fancy represented Blaize Castle to be； was such a
counterpoise of good as might console her for almost anything。
They passed briskly down Pulteney…street； and through Laura…
place； without the exchange of many words。 Thorpe talked to his
horse； and she meditated； by turns； on broken promises and
broken arches； phaetons and false hangings； Tilneys and trap…
doors。 As they entered Argyle…buildings； however； she was roused
by this address from her companion； “Who is that girl who looked
at you so hard as she went by？”
“Who？—where？”
“On the right…hand pavement—she must be almost out of sight
now。” Catherine looked round and saw Miss Tilney leaning on her
brother’s arm； walking slowly down the street。 She saw them both
looking back at her。 “Stop； stop； Mr。 Thorpe；” she impatiently
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cried； “it is Miss Tilney； it is indeed。—How could you tell me they
were gone？—Stop； stop； I will get out this moment and go to
them。” But to what purpose did she speak？ Thorpe only lashed his
horse into a brisker trot； the Tilneys； who had soon ceased to look
after her； were in a moment out of sight round the corner of
Laura…place； and in another moment she was herself whisked into
the Market…place。 Still； however； and during the length of another
street； she entreated him to stop。 “Pray； pray stop； Mr。 Thorpe。—I
cannot go on。—I will not go on。—I must go back to Miss Tilney。”
But Mr。 Thorpe only laughed； smacked his whip； encouraged his
horse； made odd noises； and drove on； and Catherine； angry and
vexed as she was； having no power of getting away； was obliged to
give up the point and submit。 Her reproaches； however； were not
spared。 “How could you deceive me so； Mr。 Thorpe？—How could
you say that you saw them driving up the Lansdown Road？—I
would not have had it happen so for the world。—They must think
it so strange； so rude of me！ to go by them； too； without saying a
word！ You do not know how vexed I am。—I shall have no pleasure
at Clifton； nor in anything else。 I had rather； ten thousand times
rather； get out now； and walk back to them。 How could you say
you saw them driving out in a phaeton？” Thorpe defended himself
very stoutly； declared he had never seen two men so much alike in
his life； and would hardly give up the point of its having been
Tilney himself。
Their drive； even when this subject was over； was not likely to
be very agreeable。 Catherine’s complaisance was no longer what it
had been in their former airing。 She listened reluctantly； and her
replies were short。 Blaize Castle remained her only comfort；
towards that； she still looked at intervals with pleasure； though
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rather than be disappointed of the promised walk； and especially
rather than be thought ill of by the Tilneys； she would willingly
have given up all the happiness which its walls could supply—the
happiness of a progress through a long suite of lofty rooms；
exhibiting the remains of magnificent furniture； though now for
many years deserted—the happiness of being stopped in their way
along narrow； winding vaults； by a low； grated door； or even of
having their lamp； their only lamp； extinguished by a sudden gust
of wind； and of being left in total darkness。 In the meanwhile； they
proceeded on their journey without any mischance； and were
within view of the town of Keynsham； when a halloo from
Morland； who was behind them； made his friend pull up； to know
what was the matter。 The others then came close enough for
conversation； and Morland said； “We had better go back； Thorpe；
it is too late to go on today； your sister thinks so as well as I。 We
have been exactly an hour coming from Pulteney…street； very little
more than seven miles； and； I suppose； we have at least eight more
to go。 It will never do。 We set out a great deal too late。 We had
much better put it off till another day； and turn round。”
“It is all one to me；” replied Thorpe rather angrily； and
instantly turning his horse； they were on their way back to Bath。
“If your brother had not got such a d— beast to drive；” said he
soon afterwards； “we might have done it very well。 My horse
would have trotted to Clifton within the hour； if left to himself； and
I have almost broke my arm with pulling him in to that cursed
broken…winded jade’s pace。 Morland is a fool for not keeping a
horse and gig of his own。”
“No； he is not；” said Catherine warmly； “for I am sure he could
not afford it。”
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