Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 14
Inthepresentinstance,sheconfessedandlamentedherwantofknowledge,declaredthatshewouldgiveanythingintheworldtobeabletodraw;andalectureonthepicturesqueimmediatelyfollowed,inwhichhisinstructionsweresoclearthatshesoonbegantoseebeautyineverythingadmiredbyhim,andherattentionwassoearnestthathebecameperfectlysatisfiedofherhavingagreatdealofnaturaltaste.Hetalkedofforegrounds,distances,andseconddistances—side-screensandperspectives—lightsandshades;andCatherinewassohopefulascholarthatwhentheygainedthetopofBeechenCliff,shevoluntarilyrejectedthewholecityofBathasunworthytomakepartofalandscape.Delightedwithherprogress,andfearfulofwearyingherwithtoomuchwisdomatonce,Henrysufferedthesubjecttodecline,andbyaneasytransitionfromapieceofrockyfragmentandthewitheredoakwhichhehadplacednearitssummit,tooaksingeneral,toforests,theenclosureofthem,wastelands,crownlandsandgovernment,heshortlyfoundhimselfarrivedatpolitics;andfrompolitics,itwasaneasysteptosilence.ThegeneralpausewhichsucceededhisshortdisquisitiononthestateofthenationwasputanendtobyCatherine,who,inratherasolemntoneofvoice,utteredthesewords,“IhaveheardthatsomethingveryshockingindeedwillsooncomeoutinLondon.”
MissTilney,towhomthiswaschieflyaddressed,wasstartled,andhastilyreplied,“Indeed!Andofwhatnature?”
“ThatIdonotknow,norwhoistheauthor.Ihaveonlyheardthatitistobemorehorriblethananythingwehavemetwithyet.
