Нортенгерское аббатство
Chapter 13
CatherinefoundthatJohnThorpehadgiventhemessage;andMissTilneyhadnoscrupleinowningherselfgreatlysurprisedbyit.Butwhetherherbrotherhadstillexceededherinresentment,Catherine,thoughsheinstinctivelyaddressedherselfasmuchtooneastotheotherinhervindication,hadnomeansofknowing.Whatevermighthavebeenfeltbeforeherarrival,hereagerdeclarationsimmediatelymadeeverylookandsentenceasfriendlyasshecoulddesire.
Theaffairthushappilysettled,shewasintroducedbyMissTilneytoherfather,andreceivedbyhimwithsuchready,suchsolicitouspolitenessasrecalledThorpe’sinformationtohermind,andmadeherthinkwithpleasurethathemightbesometimesdependedon.Tosuchanxiousattentionwasthegeneral’scivilitycarried,thatnotawareofherextraordinaryswiftnessinenteringthehouse,hewasquiteangrywiththeservantwhoseneglecthadreducedhertoopenthedooroftheapartmentherself.“WhatdidWilliammeanbyit?Heshouldmakeapointofinquiringintothematter.”AndifCatherinehadnotmostwarmlyassertedhisinnocence,itseemedlikelythatWilliamwouldlosethefavourofhismasterforever,ifnothisplace,byherrapidity.
Aftersittingwiththemaquarterofanhour,sherosetotakeleave,andwasthenmostagreeablysurprisedbyGeneralTilney’saskingherifshewoulddohisdaughterthehonourofdiningandspendingtherestofthedaywithher.MissTilneyaddedherownwishes.Catherinewasgreatlyobliged;butitwasquiteoutofherpower.Mr.andMrs.Allenwouldexpectherbackeverymoment.
