章节正文
The letter, whencesprang all this felicity, was short,
containing little more than this assurance of success;
and every particular was deferred till James could write again.
But for particulars Isabella could well afford to wait.
The needful was comprised in Mr. Morland's promise;
his honour was pledged to make everything easy; and by
what means their income was to be formed, whether landed
property were to be resigned, or funded money made over,
was a matter in which her disinterested spirit took
no concern. She knew enough to feel secure of an honourable
and speedyestablishment, and her imagination took a rapid
flight over its attendant felicities. She saw herself at
the end of a few weeks, the gaze and admiration of every
new acquaintance at Fullerton, the envy of every valued
old friend in Putney, with a carriage at her command,
a new name on her tickets, and a brilliant exhibition
of hoop rings on her finger.
When the contents of the letter were ascertained,
John Thorpe, who had only waited its arrival to begin his
journey to London, prepared to set off. "Well, Miss Morland,"
said he, on finding her alone in the parlour, "I am come
to bid you good-bye." Catherine wished him a good journey.
Without appearing to hear her, he walked to the window,
fidgeted about, hummed a tune, and seemed wholly
self-occupied.
"Shall not you be late at Devizes?" said Catherine.
He made no answer; but after a minute's silence burst
out with, "A famous good thing this marrying scheme,
upon my soul! A clever fancy of Morland's and Belle's.
What do you think of it, Miss Morland? I say it is no
bad notion."
"I am sure I think it a very good one."
"Do you? That's honest, by heavens! I am glad you
are no enemy to matrimony, however. Did you ever hear
the old song 'Going to One Wedding Brings on Another?'
I say, you will come to Belle's wedding, I hope."
"Yes; I have promised your sister to be with her,
if possible."
"And then you know"--twisting himself about
and forcing a foolish laugh--"I say, then you know,
we may try the truth of this same old song."
"May we? But I never sing. Well, I wish you a good journey.
I dine with Miss Tilney today, and must now be going home."
"Nay, but there is no such confounded hurry.
Who knows when we may be together again? Not but that I
shall be down again by the end of a fortnight, and a
devilish long fortnight it will appear to me."
"Then why do you stay away so long?"
replied Catherine--finding that he waited for an answer.
"That is kind of you, however--kind and good-natured.
I shall not forget it in a hurry. But you have more good
nature and all that, than anybody living, I believe.
A monstrous deal of good nature, and it is not only
good nature, but you have so much, so much of everything;
and then you have such-- upon my soul, I do not know
anybody like you."
"Oh! dear, there are a great many people like me,
I dare say, only a great deal better. Good morning
to you."
"But I say, Miss Morland, I shall come and pay my
respects at Fullerton before it is long, if not disagreeable."
"Pray do. My father and mother will be very glad
to see you."
"And I hope--I hope, Miss Morland, you will not
be sorry to see me."
"Oh! dear, not at all. There are very few people
I am sorry to see. Company is always cheerful."
"That is just my way of thinking. Give me but a little
cheerful company, let me only have the company of the people
I love, let me only be where I like and with whom I like,
and the devil take the rest, say I. And I am heartily
glad to hear you say the same. But I have a notion,
Miss Morland, you and I think pretty much alike upon
most matters."
"Perhaps we may; but it is more than I ever thought of.
And as to most matters, to say the truth, there are not
many that I know my own mind about."
"By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother
my brains with what does not concern me. My notion
of things is simple enough. Let me only have the girl
I like, say I, with a comfortable house over my head,
and what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing.
I am sure of a good income of my own; and if she had not
a penny, why, so much the better."
"Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good
fortune on one side, there can be no occasion for any on
the other. No matter which has it, so that there is enough.
I hate the idea of one great fortune looking out for another.
And to marry for money I think the wickedest thing
in existence. Good day. We shall be very glad to see
you at Fullerton, whenever it is convenient." And away
she went. It was not in the power of all his gallantry
to detain her longer. With such news to communicate,
and such a visit to prepare for, her departure was not
to be delayed by anything in his nature to urge; and she
hurried away, leaving him to the undivided consciousness
of his own happy address, and her explicit encouragement.
The agitation which she had herself experienced
on first learning her brother's engagement made her
expect to raise no inconsiderable emotion in Mr. and
Mrs. Allen, by the communication of the wonderful event.
How great was her disappointment! The important affair,
which many words of preparation ushered in, had been
foreseen by them both ever since her brother's arrival;
and all that they felt on the occasion was comprehended
in a wish for the young people's happiness, with a remark,
on the gentleman's side, in favour of Isabella's beauty,
and on the lady's, of her great good luck. It was to
Catherine the most surprising insensibility. The disclosure,
however, of the great secret of James's going to Fullerton
the day before, did raise some emotion in Mrs. Allen.
She could not listen to that with perfect calmness,
but repeatedly regretted the necessity of its concealment,
wished she could have known his intention, wished she could
have seen him before he went, as she should certainly have
troubled him with her best regards to his father and mother,
and her kind compliments to all the Skinners.
CHAPTER 16
Catherine's expectations of pleasure from her visit
in Milsom Street were so very high that disappointment
was inevitable; and accordingly, though she was most
politely received by General Tilney, and kindly welcomed
by his daughter, though Henry was at home, and no one else
of the party, she found, on her return, without spending
many hours in the examination of her feelings, that she
had gone to her appointment preparing for happiness which it
had not afforded. Instead of finding herself improved
in acquaintance with Miss Tilney, from the intercourse of
the day, she seemed hardly so intimate with her as before;
instead of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage
than ever, in the ease of a family party, he had never said
so little, nor been so little agreeable; and, in spite
of their father's great civilities to her--in spite
of his thanks, invitations, and compliments--it had been
a release to get away from him. It puzzled her to account
for all this. It could not be General Tilney's fault.
That he was perfectlyagreeable and good-natured, and
altogether a very charming man, did not admit of a doubt,
for he was tall and handsome, and Henry's father.
He could not be accountable for his children's want
of spirits, or for her want of enjoyment in his company.
The former she hoped at last might have been accidental,
and the latter she could only attribute to her own stupidity.
Isabella, on hearing the particulars of the visit,
gave a different explanation: "It was all pride, pride,
insufferable haughtiness and pride! She had long suspected
the family to be very high, and this made it certain.
Such insolence of behaviour as Miss Tilney's she had
never heard of in her life! Not to do the honours of her
house with common good breeding! To behave to her guest
with such superciliousness! Hardly even to speak to her!"
"But it was not so bad as that, Isabella; there was
no superciliousness; she was very civil."
"Oh! Don't defend her! And then the brother, he,
who had appeared so attached to you! Good heavens! Well,
some people's feelings are incomprehensible. And so he
hardly looked once at you the whole day?"
"I do not say so; but he did not seem in good spirits."
"How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy
is my aversion. Let me entreat you never to think
of him again, my dear Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you."
"Unworthy! I do not suppose he ever thinks of me."
"That is exactly what I say; he never thinks
of you. Such fickleness! Oh! How different to your
brother and to mine! I really believe John has the most
constant heart."
"But as for General Tilney, I assure you it would
be impossible for anybody to behave to me with greater
civility and attention; it seemed to be his only care
to entertain and make me happy."
"Oh! I know no harm of him; I do not suspect him
of pride. I believe he is a very gentleman-like man.
John thinks very well of him, and John's judgment--"
"Well, I shall see how they behave to me this evening;
we shall meet them at the rooms."
"And must I go?"
"Do not you intend it? I thought it was all settled."
"Nay, since you make such a point of it, I can refuse
you nothing. But do not insist upon my being very agreeable,
for my heart, you know, will be some forty miles off.
And as for dancing, do not mention it, I beg; that is
quite out of the question. Charles Hodges will plague me
to death, I dare say; but I shall cut him very short.
Ten to one but he guesses the reason, and that is exactly
what I want to avoid, so I shall insist on his keeping his
conjecture to himself."
Isabella's opinion of the Tilneys did not influence
her friend; she was sure there had been no insolence
in the manners either of brother or sister; and she
did not credit there being any pride in their hearts.
The evening rewarded her confidence; she was met by one with
the same kindness, and by the other with the same attention,
as heretofore: Miss Tilney took pains to be near her,
and Henry asked her to dance.
Having heard the day before in Milsom Street
that their elder brother, Captain Tilney, was expected
almost every hour, she was at no loss for the name of a
very fashionable-looking, handsome young man, whom she
had never seen before, and who now evidently belonged
to their party. She looked at him with great admiration,
and even supposed it possible that some people might think
containing little more than this assurance of success;
and every particular was deferred till James could write again.
But for particulars Isabella could well afford to wait.
The needful was comprised in Mr. Morland's promise;
his honour was pledged to make everything easy; and by
what means their income was to be formed, whether landed
property were to be resigned, or funded money made over,
was a matter in which her disinterested spirit took
no concern. She knew enough to feel secure of an honourable
and speedyestablishment, and her imagination took a rapid
flight over its attendant felicities. She saw herself at
the end of a few weeks, the gaze and admiration of every
new acquaintance at Fullerton, the envy of every valued
old friend in Putney, with a carriage at her command,
a new name on her tickets, and a brilliant exhibition
of hoop rings on her finger.
When the contents of the letter were ascertained,
John Thorpe, who had only waited its arrival to begin his
journey to London, prepared to set off. "Well, Miss Morland,"
said he, on finding her alone in the parlour, "I am come
to bid you good-bye." Catherine wished him a good journey.
Without appearing to hear her, he walked to the window,
fidgeted about, hummed a tune, and seemed wholly
self-occupied.
"Shall not you be late at Devizes?" said Catherine.
He made no answer; but after a minute's silence burst
out with, "A famous good thing this marrying scheme,
upon my soul! A clever fancy of Morland's and Belle's.
What do you think of it, Miss Morland? I say it is no
bad notion."
"I am sure I think it a very good one."
"Do you? That's honest, by heavens! I am glad you
are no enemy to matrimony, however. Did you ever hear
the old song 'Going to One Wedding Brings on Another?'
I say, you will come to Belle's wedding, I hope."
"Yes; I have promised your sister to be with her,
if possible."
"And then you know"--twisting himself about
and forcing a foolish laugh--"I say, then you know,
we may try the truth of this same old song."
"May we? But I never sing. Well, I wish you a good journey.
I dine with Miss Tilney today, and must now be going home."
"Nay, but there is no such confounded hurry.
Who knows when we may be together again? Not but that I
shall be down again by the end of a fortnight, and a
devilish long fortnight it will appear to me."
"Then why do you stay away so long?"
replied Catherine--finding that he waited for an answer.
"That is kind of you, however--kind and good-natured.
I shall not forget it in a hurry. But you have more good
nature and all that, than anybody living, I believe.
A monstrous deal of good nature, and it is not only
good nature, but you have so much, so much of everything;
and then you have such-- upon my soul, I do not know
anybody like you."
"Oh! dear, there are a great many people like me,
I dare say, only a great deal better. Good morning
to you."
"But I say, Miss Morland, I shall come and pay my
respects at Fullerton before it is long, if not disagreeable."
"Pray do. My father and mother will be very glad
to see you."
"And I hope--I hope, Miss Morland, you will not
be sorry to see me."
"Oh! dear, not at all. There are very few people
I am sorry to see. Company is always cheerful."
"That is just my way of thinking. Give me but a little
cheerful company, let me only have the company of the people
I love, let me only be where I like and with whom I like,
and the devil take the rest, say I. And I am heartily
glad to hear you say the same. But I have a notion,
Miss Morland, you and I think pretty much alike upon
most matters."
"Perhaps we may; but it is more than I ever thought of.
And as to most matters, to say the truth, there are not
many that I know my own mind about."
"By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother
my brains with what does not concern me. My notion
of things is simple enough. Let me only have the girl
I like, say I, with a comfortable house over my head,
and what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing.
I am sure of a good income of my own; and if she had not
a penny, why, so much the better."
"Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good
fortune on one side, there can be no occasion for any on
the other. No matter which has it, so that there is enough.
I hate the idea of one great fortune looking out for another.
And to marry for money I think the wickedest thing
in existence. Good day. We shall be very glad to see
you at Fullerton, whenever it is convenient." And away
she went. It was not in the power of all his gallantry
to detain her longer. With such news to communicate,
and such a visit to prepare for, her departure was not
to be delayed by anything in his nature to urge; and she
hurried away, leaving him to the undivided consciousness
of his own happy address, and her explicit encouragement.
The agitation which she had herself experienced
on first learning her brother's engagement made her
expect to raise no inconsiderable emotion in Mr. and
Mrs. Allen, by the communication of the wonderful event.
How great was her disappointment! The important affair,
which many words of preparation ushered in, had been
foreseen by them both ever since her brother's arrival;
and all that they felt on the occasion was comprehended
in a wish for the young people's happiness, with a remark,
on the gentleman's side, in favour of Isabella's beauty,
and on the lady's, of her great good luck. It was to
Catherine the most surprising insensibility. The disclosure,
however, of the great secret of James's going to Fullerton
the day before, did raise some emotion in Mrs. Allen.
She could not listen to that with perfect calmness,
but repeatedly regretted the necessity of its concealment,
wished she could have known his intention, wished she could
have seen him before he went, as she should certainly have
troubled him with her best regards to his father and mother,
and her kind compliments to all the Skinners.
CHAPTER 16
Catherine's expectations of pleasure from her visit
in Milsom Street were so very high that disappointment
was inevitable; and accordingly, though she was most
politely received by General Tilney, and kindly welcomed
by his daughter, though Henry was at home, and no one else
of the party, she found, on her return, without spending
many hours in the examination of her feelings, that she
had gone to her appointment preparing for happiness which it
had not afforded. Instead of finding herself improved
in acquaintance with Miss Tilney, from the intercourse of
the day, she seemed hardly so intimate with her as before;
instead of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage
than ever, in the ease of a family party, he had never said
so little, nor been so little agreeable; and, in spite
of their father's great civilities to her--in spite
of his thanks, invitations, and compliments--it had been
a release to get away from him. It puzzled her to account
for all this. It could not be General Tilney's fault.
That he was perfectlyagreeable and good-natured, and
altogether a very charming man, did not admit of a doubt,
for he was tall and handsome, and Henry's father.
He could not be accountable for his children's want
of spirits, or for her want of enjoyment in his company.
The former she hoped at last might have been accidental,
and the latter she could only attribute to her own stupidity.
Isabella, on hearing the particulars of the visit,
gave a different explanation: "It was all pride, pride,
insufferable haughtiness and pride! She had long suspected
the family to be very high, and this made it certain.
Such insolence of behaviour as Miss Tilney's she had
never heard of in her life! Not to do the honours of her
house with common good breeding! To behave to her guest
with such superciliousness! Hardly even to speak to her!"
"But it was not so bad as that, Isabella; there was
no superciliousness; she was very civil."
"Oh! Don't defend her! And then the brother, he,
who had appeared so attached to you! Good heavens! Well,
some people's feelings are incomprehensible. And so he
hardly looked once at you the whole day?"
"I do not say so; but he did not seem in good spirits."
"How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy
is my aversion. Let me entreat you never to think
of him again, my dear Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you."
"Unworthy! I do not suppose he ever thinks of me."
"That is exactly what I say; he never thinks
of you. Such fickleness! Oh! How different to your
brother and to mine! I really believe John has the most
constant heart."
"But as for General Tilney, I assure you it would
be impossible for anybody to behave to me with greater
civility and attention; it seemed to be his only care
to entertain and make me happy."
"Oh! I know no harm of him; I do not suspect him
of pride. I believe he is a very gentleman-like man.
John thinks very well of him, and John's judgment--"
"Well, I shall see how they behave to me this evening;
we shall meet them at the rooms."
"And must I go?"
"Do not you intend it? I thought it was all settled."
"Nay, since you make such a point of it, I can refuse
you nothing. But do not insist upon my being very agreeable,
for my heart, you know, will be some forty miles off.
And as for dancing, do not mention it, I beg; that is
quite out of the question. Charles Hodges will plague me
to death, I dare say; but I shall cut him very short.
Ten to one but he guesses the reason, and that is exactly
what I want to avoid, so I shall insist on his keeping his
conjecture to himself."
Isabella's opinion of the Tilneys did not influence
her friend; she was sure there had been no insolence
in the manners either of brother or sister; and she
did not credit there being any pride in their hearts.
The evening rewarded her confidence; she was met by one with
the same kindness, and by the other with the same attention,
as heretofore: Miss Tilney took pains to be near her,
and Henry asked her to dance.
Having heard the day before in Milsom Street
that their elder brother, Captain Tilney, was expected
almost every hour, she was at no loss for the name of a
very fashionable-looking, handsome young man, whom she
had never seen before, and who now evidently belonged
to their party. She looked at him with great admiration,
and even supposed it possible that some people might think
- sprang [spræŋ]
spring 的过去式 (初中英语单词) - income [´inkʌm] n.收入，所得 (初中英语单词)
- establishment [i´stæbliʃmənt] n.建(成)立；研究所 (初中英语单词)
- imagination [i,mædʒi´neiʃən] n.想象(力) (初中英语单词)
- attendant [ə´tendənt] n.随员 a.伴随的 (初中英语单词)
- admiration [,ædmə´reiʃən] n.赞赏，钦佩 (初中英语单词)
- acquaintance [ə´kweintəns] n.相识；熟人，相识的人 (初中英语单词)
- carriage [´kæridʒ] n.马车；客车；货运 (初中英语单词)
- brilliant [´briliənt] a.灿烂的；杰出的 (初中英语单词)
- contents [´kɔ:ntents] n.容纳物；要旨 (初中英语单词)
- arrival [ə´raivəl] n.到达；到达的人(物) (初中英语单词)
- wedding [´wediŋ] n.婚礼，结婚 (初中英语单词)
- existence [ig´zistəns] n.存在；生存；生活 (初中英语单词)
- whenever [wen´evə] conj.&ad.无论何时 (初中英语单词)
- departure [di´pɑ:tʃə] n.离开，出发 (初中英语单词)
- learning [´lə:niŋ] n.学习；学问；知识 (初中英语单词)
- engagement [in´geidʒmənt] n.婚约；雇用；受聘 (初中英语单词)
- emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)
- communication [kə,mju:ni´keiʃən] n.通信；通讯联系 (初中英语单词)
- preparation [,prepə´reiʃən] n.准备；预习(时间) (初中英语单词)
- surprising [sə´praiziŋ] a.惊人的；意外的 (初中英语单词)
- intention [in´tenʃən] n.意图；打算；意义 (初中英语单词)
- accordingly [ə´kɔ:diŋli] ad.因此；从而；依照 (初中英语单词)
- examination [ig,zæmi´neiʃən] n.检查；考试；检验 (初中英语单词)
- intimate [´intimit] a.亲密的 n.知己 (初中英语单词)
- agreeable [ə´gri:əbəl] a.适合的；符合的 (初中英语单词)
- release [ri´li:s] vt&n.释放；放松；赦免 (初中英语单词)
- charming [´tʃɑ:miŋ] a.可爱的；极好的 (初中英语单词)
- attribute [ə´tribju:t] n.象征 vt.归因于 (初中英语单词)
- explanation [,eksplə´neiʃən] n.解释；说明；辩解 (初中英语单词)
- behave [bi´heiv] v.举止；表现；举止端正 (初中英语单词)
- entertain [,entə´tein] vt.招待；娱乐；使高兴 (初中英语单词)
- suspect [´sʌspekt, sə´spekt] v.怀疑；觉得 n.嫌疑犯 (初中英语单词)
- evidently [´evidəntli] ad.明显地 (初中英语单词)
- supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)
- assurance [ə´ʃuərəns] n.保证；自信；信任 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- fortnight [´fɔ:tnait] n.两星期 (高中英语单词)
- monstrous [´mɔnstrəs] a.怪异的；庞大的 (高中英语单词)
- detain [di´tein] vt.留住；拘留 (高中英语单词)
- agitation [,ædʒi´teiʃən] n.鼓动；摇动；焦虑 (高中英语单词)
- inevitable [i´nevitəbəl] a.不可避免的 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- perfectly [´pə:fiktli] ad.理想地；完美地 (高中英语单词)
- enjoyment [in´dʒɔimənt] n.享受；愉快；乐趣 (高中英语单词)
- hearing [´hiəriŋ] n.听力；听证会；审讯 (高中英语单词)
- plague [pleig] n.瘟疫 vt.使...染疫 (高中英语单词)
- whence [wens] ad.从何处；从那里 (英语四级单词)
- speedy [´spi:di] a.快的，迅速的 (英语四级单词)
- repeatedly [ri´pi:tidli] ad.反复地；再三地 (英语四级单词)
- intercourse [´intəkɔ:s] n.交际；往来；交流 (英语四级单词)
- good-natured [´gud-´neitʃəd] a.脾气好的，温厚的 (英语四级单词)
- entreat [in´tri:t] vt.恳求，恳请 (英语四级单词)
- unworthy [ʌn´wə:ði] a.不值得的；不足道的 (英语四级单词)
- heretofore [,hiətu´fɔ:] ad.以前，迄今为止 (英语四级单词)
- felicity [fi´lisiti] n.幸福；(措词)适当 (英语六级单词)
- insolence [´insələns] n.傲慢；无礼 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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