Нортенгерське абатство

           There,go,go—Iinsistonit.”

           Thetwofriends,withheartsnowmoreunitedthanever,wereinseparablefortheday;andinschemesofsisterlyhappinessthehoursflewalong.Mrs.Thorpeandherson,whowereacquaintedwitheverything,andwhoseemedonlytowantMr.Morland’sconsent,toconsiderIsabella’sengagementasthemostfortunatecircumstanceimaginablefortheirfamily,wereallowedtojointheircounsels,andaddtheirquotaofsignificantlooksandmysteriousexpressionstofillupthemeasureofcuriositytoberaisedintheunprivilegedyoungersisters.ToCatherine’ssimplefeelings,thisoddsortofreserveseemedneitherkindlymeant,norconsistentlysupported;anditsunkindnessshewouldhardlyhaveforbornepointingout,haditsinconsistencybeenlesstheirfriend;butAnneandMariasoonsetherheartateasebythesagacityoftheir“Iknowwhat”;andtheeveningwasspentinasortofwarofwit,adisplayoffamilyingenuity,ononesideinthemysteryofanaffectedsecret,ontheotherofundefineddiscovery,allequallyacute.

           Catherinewaswithherfriendagainthenextday,endeavouringtosupportherspiritsandwhileawaythemanytedioushoursbeforethedeliveryoftheletters;aneedfulexertion,forasthetimeofreasonableexpectationdrewnear,Isabellabecamemoreandmoredesponding,andbeforetheletterarrived,hadworkedherselfintoastateofrealdistress.