Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 14
IhadenteredonmystudiesatOxford,whileyouwereagoodlittlegirlworkingyoursamplerathome!”
“Notverygood,Iamafraid.Butnowreally,donotyouthinkUdolphothenicestbookintheworld?”
“Thenicest—bywhichIsupposeyoumeantheneatest.Thatmustdependuponthebinding.”
“Henry,”saidMissTilney,“youareveryimpertinent.MissMorland,heistreatingyouexactlyashedoeshissister.Heisforeverfindingfaultwithme,forsomeincorrectnessoflanguage,andnowheistakingthesamelibertywithyou.Theword’nicest,’asyouusedit,didnotsuithim;andyouhadbetterchangeitassoonasyoucan,orweshallbeoverpoweredwithJohnsonandBlairalltherestoftheway.”
“Iamsure,”criedCatherine,“Ididnotmeantosayanythingwrong;butitisanicebook,andwhyshouldnotIcallitso?”
“Verytrue,”saidHenry,“andthisisaveryniceday,andwearetakingaverynicewalk,andyouaretwoveryniceyoungladies.Oh!Itisaverynicewordindeed!Itdoesforeverything.Originallyperhapsitwasappliedonlytoexpressneatness,propriety,delicacy,orrefinement—peoplewereniceintheirdress,intheirsentiments,ortheirchoice.Butnoweverycommendationoneverysubjectiscomprisedinthatoneword.”
“While,infact,”criedhissister,“itoughtonlytobeappliedtoyou,withoutanycommendationatall.Youaremorenicethanwise.Come,MissMorland,letusleavehimtomeditateoverourfaultsintheutmostproprietyofdiction,whilewepraiseUdolphoinwhatevertermswelikebest.Itisamostinterestingwork.
