Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 14
MissMorlandhasbeentalkingofnothingmoredreadfulthananewpublicationwhichisshortlytocomeout,inthreeduodecimovolumes,twohundredandseventy-sixpagesineach,withafrontispiecetothefirst,oftwotombstonesandalantern—doyouunderstand?Andyou,MissMorland—mystupidsisterhasmistakenallyourclearestexpressions.YoutalkedofexpectedhorrorsinLondon—andinsteadofinstantlyconceiving,asanyrationalcreaturewouldhavedone,thatsuchwordscouldrelateonlytoacirculatinglibrary,sheimmediatelypicturedtoherselfamobofthreethousandmenassemblinginSt.George’sFields,theBankattacked,theTowerthreatened,thestreetsofLondonflowingwithblood,adetachmentoftheTwelfthLightDragoons(thehopesofthenation)calledupfromNorthamptontoquelltheinsurgents,andthegallantCaptainFrederickTilney,inthemomentofchargingattheheadofhistroop,knockedoffhishorsebyabrickbatfromanupperwindow.Forgiveherstupidity.Thefearsofthesisterhaveaddedtotheweaknessofthewoman;butsheisbynomeansasimpletoningeneral.”
Catherinelookedgrave.“Andnow,Henry,”saidMissTilney,“thatyouhavemadeusunderstandeachother,youmayaswellmakeMissMorlandunderstandyourself—unlessyoumeantohaveherthinkyouintolerablyrudetoyoursister,andagreatbruteinyouropinionofwomeningeneral.MissMorlandisnotusedtoyouroddways.”
“Ishallbemosthappytomakeherbetteracquaintedwiththem.”
“Nodoubt;butthatisnoexplanationofthepresent.
