Нортенгерское аббатство
Chapter 2
Shehadamostharmlessdelightinbeingfine;andourheroine’sentreeintolifecouldnottakeplacetillafterthreeorfourdayshadbeenspentinlearningwhatwasmostlyworn,andherchaperonewasprovidedwithadressofthenewestfashion.Catherinetoomadesomepurchasesherself,andwhenallthesematterswerearranged,theimportanteveningcamewhichwastousherherintotheUpperRooms.Herhairwascutanddressedbythebesthand,herclothesputonwithcare,andbothMrs.Allenandhermaiddeclaredshelookedquiteassheshoulddo.Withsuchencouragement,Catherinehopedatleasttopassuncensuredthroughthecrowd.Asforadmiration,itwasalwaysverywelcomewhenitcame,butshedidnotdependonit.
Mrs.Allenwassolongindressingthattheydidnotentertheballroomtilllate.Theseasonwasfull,theroomcrowded,andthetwoladiessqueezedinaswellastheycould.AsforMr.Allen,herepaireddirectlytothecard-room,andleftthemtoenjoyamobbythemselves.Withmorecareforthesafetyofhernewgownthanforthecomfortofherprotegee,Mrs.Allenmadeherwaythroughthethrongofmenbythedoor,asswiftlyasthenecessarycautionwouldallow;Catherine,however,keptcloseatherside,andlinkedherarmtoofirmlywithinherfriend’stobetornasunderbyanycommoneffortofastrugglingassembly.
