Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 2
”
“Verytrue,mydear;andifweknewanybodywewouldjointhemdirectly.TheSkinnerswereherelastyear—Iwishtheywereherenow.”
“Hadnotwebettergoawayasitis?Herearenotea-thingsforus,yousee.”
“Nomorethereare,indeed.Howveryprovoking!ButIthinkwehadbettersitstill,foronegetssotumbledinsuchacrowd!Howismyhead,mydear?Somebodygavemeapushthathashurtit,Iamafraid.”
“No,indeed,itlooksverynice.But,dearMrs.Allen,areyousurethereisnobodyyouknowinallthismultitudeofpeople?Ithinkyoumustknowsomebody.”
“Idon’t,uponmyword—IwishIdid.IwishIhadalargeacquaintanceherewithallmyheart,andthenIshouldgetyouapartner.Ishouldbesogladtohaveyoudance.Theregoesastrange-lookingwoman!Whatanoddgownshehasgoton!Howold-fashioneditis!Lookattheback.”
Aftersometimetheyreceivedanofferofteafromoneoftheirneighbours;itwasthankfullyaccepted,andthisintroducedalightconversationwiththegentlemanwhoofferedit,whichwastheonlytimethatanybodyspoketothemduringtheevening,tilltheywerediscoveredandjoinedbyMr.Allenwhenthedancewasover.
“Well,MissMorland,”saidhe,directly,“Ihopeyouhavehadanagreeableball.”
“Veryagreeableindeed,”shereplied,vainlyendeavouringtohideagreatyawn.
“Iwishshehadbeenabletodance,”saidhiswife;“Iwishwecouldhavegotapartnerforher
