Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 14
”
“WhatamItodo?”
“Youknowwhatyououghttodo.Clearyourcharacterhandsomelybeforeher.Tellherthatyouthinkveryhighlyoftheunderstandingofwomen.”
“MissMorland,Ithinkveryhighlyoftheunderstandingofallthewomenintheworld—especiallyofthose—whoevertheymaybe—withwhomIhappentobeincompany.”
“Thatisnotenough.Bemoreserious.”
“MissMorland,noonecanthinkmorehighlyoftheunderstandingofwomenthanIdo.Inmyopinion,naturehasgiventhemsomuchthattheyneverfinditnecessarytousemorethanhalf.”
“Weshallgetnothingmoreseriousfromhimnow,MissMorland.Heisnotinasobermood.ButIdoassureyouthathemustbeentirelymisunderstood,ifhecaneverappeartosayanunjustthingofanywomanatall,oranunkindoneofme.”
ItwasnoefforttoCatherinetobelievethatHenryTilneycouldneverbewrong.Hismannermightsometimessurprise,buthismeaningmustalwaysbejust:andwhatshedidnotunderstand,shewasalmostasreadytoadmire,aswhatshedid.Thewholewalkwasdelightful,andthoughitendedtoosoon,itsconclusionwasdelightfultoo;herfriendsattendedherintothehouse,andMissTilney,beforetheyparted,addressingherselfwithrespectfulform,asmuchtoMrs.AllenastoCatherine,petitionedforthepleasureofhercompanytodinneronthedayafterthenext.NodifficultywasmadeonMrs.Allen’sside,andtheonlydifficultyonCatherine’swasinconcealingtheexcessofherpleasure.
