Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 15
Butwhatwillyourexcellentfatherandmothersay?Oh!Heavens!WhenIthinkofthemIamsoagitated!”
Catherine’sunderstandingbegantoawake:anideaofthetruthsuddenlydartedintohermind;and,withthenaturalblushofsonewanemotion,shecriedout,“Goodheaven!MydearIsabella,whatdoyoumean?Canyou—canyoureallybeinlovewithJames?”
Thisboldsurmise,however,shesoonlearntcomprehendedbuthalfthefact.Theanxiousaffection,whichshewasaccusedofhavingcontinuallywatchedinIsabella’severylookandaction,had,inthecourseoftheiryesterday’sparty,receivedthedelightfulconfessionofanequallove.HerheartandfaithwerealikeengagedtoJames.NeverhadCatherinelistenedtoanythingsofullofinterest,wonder,andjoy.Herbrotherandherfriendengaged!Newtosuchcircumstances,theimportanceofitappearedunspeakablygreat,andshecontemplateditasoneofthosegrandevents,ofwhichtheordinarycourseoflifecanhardlyaffordareturn.Thestrengthofherfeelingsshecouldnotexpress;thenatureofthem,however,contentedherfriend.Thehappinessofhavingsuchasisterwastheirfirsteffusion,andthefairladiesmingledinembracesandtearsofjoy.
Delighting,however,asCatherinesincerelydidintheprospectoftheconnection,itmustbeacknowledgedthatIsabellafarsurpassedherintenderanticipations.“Youwillbesoinfinitelydearertome,myCatherine,thaneitherAnneorMaria:IfeelthatIshallbesomuchmoreattachedtomydearMorland’sfamilythantomyown.”
ThiswasapitchoffriendshipbeyondCatherine.
