Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 15
Herbrother,shefound,waspreparingtosetoffwithallspeedtoFullerton,tomakeknownhissituationandaskconsent;andherewasasourceofsomerealagitationtothemindofIsabella.Catherineendeavouredtopersuadeher,asshewasherselfpersuaded,thatherfatherandmotherwouldneveropposetheirson’swishes.“Itisimpossible,”saidshe,“forparentstobemorekind,ormoredesirousoftheirchildren’shappiness;Ihavenodoubtoftheirconsentingimmediately.”
“Morlandsaysexactlythesame,”repliedIsabella;“andyetIdarenotexpectit;myfortunewillbesosmall;theynevercanconsenttoit.Yourbrother,whomightmarryanybody!”
HereCatherineagaindiscernedtheforceoflove.
“Indeed,Isabella,youaretoohumble.Thedifferenceoffortunecanbenothingtosignify.”
“Oh!MysweetCatherine,inyourgenerousheartIknowitwouldsignifynothing;butwemustnotexpectsuchdisinterestednessinmany.Asformyself,IamsureIonlywishoursituationswerereversed.HadIthecommandofmillions,wereImistressofthewholeworld,yourbrotherwouldbemyonlychoice.”
Thischarmingsentiment,recommendedasmuchbysenseasnovelty,gaveCatherineamostpleasingremembranceofalltheheroinesofheracquaintance;andshethoughtherfriendneverlookedmorelovelythaninutteringthegrandidea.“Iamsuretheywillconsent,”washerfrequentdeclaration;“Iamsuretheywillbedelightedwithyou.”
“Formyownpart,”saidIsabella,“mywishesaresomoderatethatthesmallestincomeinnaturewouldbeenoughforme.
