Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 2
Catherinebegantofeelsomethingofdisappointment—shewastiredofbeingcontinuallypressedagainstbypeople,thegeneralityofwhosefacespossessednothingtointerest,andwithallofwhomshewassowhollyunacquaintedthatshecouldnotrelievetheirksomenessofimprisonmentbytheexchangeofasyllablewithanyofherfellowcaptives;andwhenatlastarrivedinthetea-room,shefeltyetmoretheawkwardnessofhavingnopartytojoin,noacquaintancetoclaim,nogentlemantoassistthem.TheysawnothingofMr.Allen;andafterlookingabouttheminvainforamoreeligiblesituation,wereobligedtositdownattheendofatable,atwhichalargepartywerealreadyplaced,withouthavinganythingtodothere,oranybodytospeakto,excepteachother.
Mrs.Allencongratulatedherself,assoonastheywereseated,onhavingpreservedhergownfrominjury.“Itwouldhavebeenveryshockingtohaveittorn,”saidshe,“wouldnotit?Itissuchadelicatemuslin.FormypartIhavenotseenanythingIlikesowellinthewholeroom,Iassureyou.”
“Howuncomfortableitis,”whisperedCatherine,“nottohaveasingleacquaintancehere!”
“Yes,mydear,”repliedMrs.Allen,withperfectserenity,“itisveryuncomfortableindeed.”
“Whatshallwedo?Thegentlemenandladiesatthistablelookasiftheywonderedwhywecamehere—weseemforcingourselvesintotheirparty.”
“Aye,sowedo.Thatisverydisagreeable.Iwishwehadalargeacquaintancehere.”
“Iwishwehadany—itwouldbesomebodytogoto.
