northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第38节
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“But what can your brother mean？ If he knows her
engagement； what can he mean by his behaviour？”
“You are a very close questioner。”
“Am I？—I only ask what I want to be told。”
“But do you only ask what I can be expected to tell？”
“Yes； I think so； for you must know your brother’s heart。”
“My brother’s heart； as you term it； on the present occasion； I
assure you I can only guess at。”
“Well？”
“Well！—Nay； if it is to be guess…work； let us all guess for
ourselves。 To be guided by second…hand conjecture is pitiful。 The
premises are before you。 My brother is a lively and perhaps
sometimes a thoughtless young man； he has had about a week’s
acquaintance with your friend； and he has known her engagement
almost as long as he has known her。”
“Well；” said Catherine； after some moments’ consideration；
“you may be able to guess at your brother’s intentions from all
this； but I am sure I cannot。 But is not your father uncomfortable
about it？—Does not he want Captain Tilney to go away？—Sure； if
your father were to speak to him； he would go。”
“My dear Miss Morland；” said Henry； “in this amiable solicitude
for your brother’s comfort； may you not be a little mistaken？ Are
you not carried a little too far？ Would he thank you； either on his
own account or Miss Thorpe’s； for supposing that her affection； or
at least her good behaviour； is only to be secured by her seeing
nothing of Captain Tilney？ Is he safe only in solitude？—or is her
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heart constant to him only when unsolicited by anyone else？—He
cannot think this—and you may be sure that he would not have
you think it。 I will not say； ‘Do not be uneasy；’ because I know that
you are so； at this moment； but be as little uneasy as you can。 You
have no doubt of the mutual attachment of your brother and your
friend； depend upon it； therefore； that real jealousy never can exist
between them； depend upon it that no disagreement between
them can be of any duration。 Their hearts are open to each other；
as neither heart can be to you； they know exactly what is required
and what can be borne； and you may be certain that one will never
tease the other beyond what is known to be pleasant。”
Perceiving her still to look doubtful and grave； he added；
“Though Frederick does not leave Bath with us； he will probably
remain but a very short time； perhaps only a few days behind us。
His leave of absence will soon expire； and he must return to his
regiment。—And what will then be their acquaintance？—The mess…
room will drink Isabella Thorpe for a fortnight； and she will laugh
with your brother over poor Tilney’s passion for a month。”
Catherine would contend no longer against comfort。 She had
resisted its approaches during the whole length of a speech； but it
now carried her captive。 Henry Tilney must know best。 She
blamed herself for the extent of her fears； and resolved never to
think so seriously on the subject again。
Her resolution was supported by Isabella’s behaviour in their
parting interview。 The Thorpes spent the last evening of
Catherine’s stay in Pulteney…street； and nothing passed between
the lovers to excite her uneasiness； or make her quit them in
apprehension。 James was in excellent spirits； and Isabella most
engagingly placid。 Her tenderness for her friend seemed rather
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the first feeling of her heart； but that at such a moment was
allowable； and once she gave her lover a flat contradiction； and
once she drew back her hand； but Catherine remembered Henry’s
instructions； and placed it all to judicious affection。 The embraces；
tears； and promises of the parting fair ones may be fancied。
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CHAPTER V
r。 and Mrs。 Allen were sorry to lose their young friend；
whose good humour and cheerfulness had made her a
M
valuable companion； and in the promotion of whose
enjoyment their own had been gently increased。 Her happiness in
going with Miss Tilney； however； prevented their wishing it
otherwise； and； as they were to remain only one more week in
Bath themselves； her quitting them now would not long be felt。
Mr。 Allen attended her to Milsom…street； where she was to
breakfast； and saw her seated with the kindest welcome among
her new friends； but so great was her agitation in finding herself
as one of the family； and so fearful was she of not doing exactly
what was right； and of not being able to preserve their good
opinion； that； in the embarrassment of the first five minutes； she
could almost have wished to return with him to Pulteney…street。
Miss Tilney’s manners and Henry’s smile soon did away some
of her unpleasant feelings； but still she was far from being at ease；
nor could the incessant attentions of the General himself entirely
reassure her。 Nay； perverse as it seemed； she doubted whether she
might not have felt less； had she been less attended to。 His anxiety
for her comfort—his continual solicitations that she would eat； and
his often…expressed fears of her seeing nothing to her taste—
though never in her life before had she beheld half such variety on
a breakfast…table—made it impossible for her to forget for a
moment that she was a visitor。 She felt utterly unworthy of such
respect； and knew not how to reply to it。 Her tranquillity was not
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improved by the General’s impatience for the appearance of his
eldest son； nor by the displeasure he expressed at his laziness
when Captain Tilney at last came down。 She was quite pained by
the severity of his father’s reproof； which seemed disproportionate
to the offence； and much was her concern increased when she
found herself the principal cause of the lecture； and that his
tardiness was chiefly resented from being disrespectful to her。
This was placing her in a very uncomfortable situation； and she
felt great compassion for Captain Tilney； without being able to
hope for his good…will。
He listened to his father in silence； and attempted not any
defence； which confirmed her in fearing； that the inquietude of his
mind； on Isabella’s account； might； by keeping him long sleepless；
have been the real cause of his rising late。—It was the first time of
her being decidedly in his company； and she had hoped to be now
able to form her opinion of him； but she scarcely heard his voice
while his father remained in the room； and even afterwards； so
much were his spirits affected； she could distinguish nothing but
these words； in a whisper to Eleanor； “How glad I shall be when
you are all off。”
The bustle of going was not pleasant。—The clock struck ten
while the trunks were carrying down； and the General had fixed to
be out of Milsom…street by that hour。 His great coat； instead of
being brought for him to put on directly； was spread out in the
curricle in which he was to accompany his son。 The middle seat of
the chaise was not drawn out； though there were three people to
go in it； and his daughter’s maid had so crowded it with parcels
that Miss Morland would not have room to sit； a
