Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 2
Buttoherutteramazementshefoundthattoproceedalongtheroomwasbynomeansthewaytodisengagethemselvesfromthecrowd;itseemedrathertoincreaseastheywenton,whereasshehadimaginedthatwhenoncefairlywithinthedoor,theyshouldeasilyfindseatsandbeabletowatchthedanceswithperfectconvenience.Butthiswasfarfrombeingthecase,andthoughbyunwearieddiligencetheygainedeventhetopoftheroom,theirsituationwasjustthesame;theysawnothingofthedancersbutthehighfeathersofsomeoftheladies.Stilltheymovedon—somethingbetterwasyetinview;andbyacontinuedexertionofstrengthandingenuitytheyfoundthemselvesatlastinthepassagebehindthehighestbench.Heretherewassomethinglessofcrowdthanbelow;andhenceMissMorlandhadacomprehensiveviewofallthecompanybeneathher,andofallthedangersofherlatepassagethroughthem.Itwasasplendidsight,andshebegan,forthefirsttimethatevening,tofeelherselfataball:shelongedtodance,butshehadnotanacquaintanceintheroom.Mrs.Allendidallthatshecoulddoinsuchacasebysayingveryplacidly,everynowandthen,“Iwishyoucoulddance,mydear—Iwishyoucouldgetapartner.”Forsometimeheryoungfriendfeltobligedtoherforthesewishes;buttheywererepeatedsooften,andprovedsototallyineffectual,thatCatherinegrewtiredatlast,andwouldthankhernomore.
Theywerenotlongable,however,toenjoythereposeoftheeminencetheyhadsolaboriouslygained.Everybodywasshortlyinmotionfortea,andtheymustsqueezeoutliketherest.
