Нортенгерское аббатство
Chapter 16
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“Well,then,Ionlymeantthatyourattributingmybrother’swishofdancingwithMissThorpetogoodnaturealoneconvincedmeofyourbeingsuperioringoodnatureyourselftoalltherestoftheworld.”
Catherineblushedanddisclaimed,andthegentleman’spredictionswereverified.Therewasasomething,however,inhiswordswhichrepaidherforthepainofconfusion;andthatsomethingoccupiedhermindsomuchthatshedrewbackforsometime,forgettingtospeakortolisten,andalmostforgettingwhereshewas;till,rousedbythevoiceofIsabella,shelookedupandsawherwithCaptainTilneypreparingtogivethemhandsacross.
Isabellashruggedhershouldersandsmiled,theonlyexplanationofthisextraordinarychangewhichcouldatthattimebegiven;butasitwasnotquiteenoughforCatherine’scomprehension,shespokeherastonishmentinveryplaintermstoherpartner.
“Icannotthinkhowitcouldhappen!Isabellawassodeterminednottodance.”
“AnddidIsabellaneverchangehermindbefore?”
“Oh!But,because—Andyourbrother!Afterwhatyoutoldhimfromme,howcouldhethinkofgoingtoaskher?”
“Icannottakesurprisetomyselfonthathead.Youbidmebesurprisedonyourfriend’saccount,andthereforeIam;butasformybrother,hisconductinthebusiness,Imustown,hasbeennomorethanIbelievedhimperfectlyequalto.Thefairnessofyourfriendwasanopenattraction;herfirmness,youknow,couldonlybeunderstoodbyyourself.”
“Youarelaughing;but,Iassureyou,Isabellaisveryfirmingeneral.”
“Itisasmuchasshouldbesaidofanyone.
