Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 14
”
“Yes,”addedMissTilney,“andIrememberthatyouundertooktoreaditaloudtome,andthatwhenIwascalledawayforonlyfiveminutestoansweranote,insteadofwaitingforme,youtookthevolumeintotheHermitageWalk,andIwasobligedtostaytillyouhadfinishedit.”
“Thankyou,Eleanor—amosthonourabletestimony.Yousee,MissMorland,theinjusticeofyoursuspicions.HerewasI,inmyeagernesstogeton,refusingtowaitonlyfiveminutesformysister,breakingthepromiseIhadmadeofreadingitaloud,andkeepingherinsuspenseatamostinterestingpart,byrunningawaywiththevolume,which,youaretoobserve,washerown,particularlyherown.IamproudwhenIreflectonit,andIthinkitmustestablishmeinyourgoodopinion.”
“Iamverygladtohearitindeed,andnowIshallneverbeashamedoflikingUdolphomyself.ButIreallythoughtbefore,youngmendespisednovelsamazingly.”
“Itisamazingly;itmaywellsuggestamazementiftheydo—fortheyreadnearlyasmanyaswomen.Imyselfhavereadhundredsandhundreds.DonotimaginethatyoucancopewithmeinaknowledgeofJuliasandLouisas.Ifweproceedtoparticulars,andengageinthenever-ceasinginquiryof’Haveyoureadthis?’and’Haveyoureadthat?’Ishallsoonleaveyouasfarbehindmeas—whatshallIsay?—Iwantanappropriatesimile.—asfarasyourfriendEmilyherselfleftpoorValancourtwhenshewentwithherauntintoItaly.ConsiderhowmanyyearsIhavehadthestartofyou.
