northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第46节
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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
shewed 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
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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
a great affliction！”
“A great and increasing one；” replied the other； in a low voice。
“I was only thirteen when it happened； and though I felt my loss
perhaps as strongly as one so young could feel it； I did not； I could
not； then know what a loss it was。” She stopped for a moment； and
then added； with great firmness； “I have no sister； you know—and
though Henry—though my brothers are very affectionate； and
Henry is a great deal here； which I am most thankful for； it is
impossible for me not to be often solitary。”
“To be sure you must miss him very much。”
“A mother would have been always present。 A mother would
have been a constant friend； her influence would have been
beyond all other。”
“Was she a very charming woman？ Was she handsome？ Was
there any picture of her in the Abbey？ And why had she been so
partial to that grove？ Was it from dejection of spirits？”—were
questions now eagerly poured forth；—the first three received a
ready affirmative； the two others were passed by； and Catherine’s
interest in the deceased Mrs。 Tilney augmented with every
question； whether answered or not。 Of her unhappiness in
marriage； she felt persuaded。 The General certainly had been an
unkind husband。 He did not love her walk：—could he therefore
have loved her？ And besides； handsome as he was； there was a
something in the turn of his features which spoke his not having
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behaved well to her。
“Her picture； I suppose；” blushing at the consummate art of her
own question； “hangs in your father’s room？”
“No；—it was intended for the drawing…room； but my father was
dissatisfied with the painting； and for some time it had no place。
Soon after her death I obtained it for my own； and hung it in my
bed…chamber—where I shall be happy to show it you； it is very
like。” Here was another proof。 A portrait—very like—of a departed
wife； not valued by the husband！—He must have been dreadfully
cruel to her！
Catherine attempted no longer to hide from herself the nature
of the feelings which； in spite of all his attentions； he had
previously excited； and what had been terror and dislike before；
was now absolute aversion。 Yes； aversion！ His cruelty to such a
charming woman made him odious to her。 She had often read of
such characters； characters which Mr。 Allen had been used to call
unnatural and overdrawn； but here was proof positive of the
contrary。
She had just settled this point when the end of the path brought
them directly upon the General； and in spite of all her virtuous
indignation； she found herself again obliged to walk with him；
listen to him； and even to smile when he smiled。 Being no longer
able； however； to receive pleasure from the surrounding objects；
she soon began to walk with lassitude； the General perceived it；
and with a concern for her health； which seemed to reproach her
for her opinion of him； was most urgent for returning with his
daughter to the house。 He would follow them in a quarter of an
hour。 Again they parted—but Eleanor was called back in half a
minute to receive a strict charge against taking her friend round
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the Abbey till his return。 This second instance of his anxiety to
delay what she so much wished for struck Catherine as very
remarkable。
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CHAPTER VIII
n hour passed away before the General came in； spent； on
Athe part of his young guest； in no very favourable
consideration of his character。—“This lengthened
absence； these solitary rambles； did not speak a mind at ease； or a
conscience void of reproach。”—At length he appeared； and；
whatever might have been the gloom of his meditations； he could
still smile with them。 Miss Tilney； understanding in part her
friend’s curiosity to see the house； soon revived the subject； and
her father being； contrary to Catherine’s expectations； unprovided
with any pretence for further delay； beyond that of stopping five
minutes to order refreshments to be in the room by their return；
was at last ready to escort them。
They set forward； and； with a grandeur of air； a dignified step；
which caught the eye； but could not shake the doubts of the well…
read Catherine； he led the way across the hall； through the
common drawing…room and one useless antechamber； into a room
magnificent both in size and furniture—the real drawing…room；
used only with company of consequence。 It was very noble—very
grand—very charming！—was all that Catherine had to say； for her
indiscriminating eye scarcely discerned the colour of the satin；
and all minuteness of praise； all praise that had much meaning；
was supplied by the General： the costliness or elegance of any
room’s fitting…up could be nothing to her； she cared for no
furniture of a more modern date than the fifteenth century。 When
the General had satisfied his own curiosity； in a close examination
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of every well…known ornament； they proceeded into the library； an
apartment； in its way； of equal magnificence； exhibiting a
collection of books； on which an humble man might have looked
with pride。—Catherine heard； admired； and wondered with more
genuine feeling than before—gathered all that she could from this
storehouse of knowledge； by running over the titles of half a shelf；
and was ready to proceed。 But suites of apartments did not spring
up with her wishes。—Large as was the building； she had already
visited the greatest part； though； on being told that； with the
addition of the kitchen； the six or seven rooms she had now seen
surrounded three sides of the court； she could scarcely believe it；
or overcome the suspicion of there being many chambers secreted。
It was some relief； however； that they were to return to the rooms
in common use； by passing through a few of less importance；
looking into the court； which； with occasional passages； not wholly
unintricate； connected the different sides；—and she was further
soothed in her progress by being told that she was treading what
had once been a cloister； having traces of c
