Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 16
Catherine,withouthesitation,repliedthatshewasverysureMissThorpedidnotmeantodanceatall.Thecruelreplywaspassedontotheother,andheimmediatelywalkedaway.
“Yourbrotherwillnotmindit,Iknow,”saidshe,“becauseIheardhimsaybeforethathehateddancing;butitwasverygood-naturedinhimtothinkofit.IsupposehesawIsabellasittingdown,andfanciedshemightwishforapartner;butheisquitemistaken,forshewouldnotdanceuponanyaccountintheworld.”
Henrysmiled,andsaid,“Howverylittletroubleitcangiveyoutounderstandthemotiveofotherpeople’sactions.”
“Why?Whatdoyoumean?”
“Withyou,itisnot,Howissuchaonelikelytobeinfluenced,Whatistheinducementmostlikelytoactuponsuchaperson’sfeelings,age,situation,andprobablehabitsoflifeconsidered—but,HowshouldIbeinfluenced,Whatwouldbemyinducementinactingsoandso?”
“Idonotunderstandyou.”
“Thenweareonveryunequalterms,forIunderstandyouperfectlywell.”
“Me?Yes;Icannotspeakwellenoughtobeunintelligible.”
“Bravo!Anexcellentsatireonmodernlanguage.”
“Butpraytellmewhatyoumean.”
“ShallIindeed?Doyoureallydesireit?Butyouarenotawareoftheconsequences;itwillinvolveyouinaverycruelembarrassment,andcertainlybringonadisagreementbetweenus.”
“No,no;itshallnotdoeither;Iamnotafraid.
