Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 13
”
Catherine’sheartswelled;shedrewawayherarm,andIsabellamadenoopposition.Thuspassedalongtenminutes,tilltheywereagainjoinedbyThorpe,who,comingtothemwithagayerlook,said,“Well,Ihavesettledthematter,andnowwemayallgotomorrowwithasafeconscience.IhavebeentoMissTilney,andmadeyourexcuses.”
“Youhavenot!”criedCatherine.
“Ihave,uponmysoul.Leftherthismoment.Toldheryouhadsentmetosaythat,havingjustrecollectedapriorengagementofgoingtoCliftonwithustomorrow,youcouldnothavethepleasureofwalkingwithhertillTuesday.Shesaidverywell,Tuesdaywasjustasconvenienttoher;sothereisanendofallourdifficulties.Aprettygoodthoughtofmine—hey?”
Isabella’scountenancewasoncemoreallsmilesandgoodhumour,andJamestoolookedhappyagain.
“Amostheavenlythoughtindeed!Now,mysweetCatherine,allourdistressesareover;youarehonourablyacquitted,andweshallhaveamostdelightfulparty.”
“Thiswillnotdo,”saidCatherine;“Icannotsubmittothis.ImustrunafterMissTilneydirectlyandsetherright.”
Isabella,however,caughtholdofonehand,Thorpeoftheother,andremonstrancespouredinfromallthree.EvenJameswasquiteangry.Wheneverythingwassettled,whenMissTilneyherselfsaidthatTuesdaywouldsuitheraswell,itwasquiteridiculous,quiteabsurd,tomakeanyfurtherobjection.
“Idonotcare.Mr.Thorpehadnobusinesstoinventanysuchmessage.IfIhadthoughtitrighttoputitoff,IcouldhavespokentoMissTilneymyself.
