Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 16
Tobealwaysfirmmustbetobeoftenobstinate.Whenproperlytorelaxisthetrialofjudgment;and,withoutreferencetomybrother,IreallythinkMissThorpehasbynomeanschosenillinfixingonthepresenthour.”
Thefriendswerenotabletogettogetherforanyconfidentialdiscoursetillallthedancingwasover;butthen,astheywalkedabouttheroomarminarm,Isabellathusexplainedherself:“Idonotwonderatyoursurprise;andIamreallyfatiguedtodeath.Heissucharattle!Amusingenough,ifmymindhadbeendisengaged;butIwouldhavegiventheworldtositstill.”
“Thenwhydidnotyou?”
“Oh!Mydear!Itwouldhavelookedsoparticular;andyouknowhowIabhordoingthat.IrefusedhimaslongasIpossiblycould,buthewouldtakenodenial.Youhavenoideahowhepressedme.Ibeggedhimtoexcuseme,andgetsomeotherpartner—butno,nothe;afteraspiringtomyhand,therewasnobodyelseintheroomhecouldbeartothinkof;anditwasnotthathewantedmerelytodance,hewantedtobewithme.Oh!Suchnonsense!Itoldhimhehadtakenaveryunlikelywaytoprevailuponme;for,ofallthingsintheworld,Ihatedfinespeechesandcompliments;andso—andsothenIfoundtherewouldbenopeaceifIdidnotstandup.Besides,IthoughtMrs.Hughes,whointroducedhim,mighttakeitillifIdidnot:andyourdearbrother,IamsurehewouldhavebeenmiserableifIhadsatdownthewholeevening.Iamsogladitisover!Myspiritsarequitejadedwithlisteningtohisnonsense:andthen,beingsuchasmartyoungfellow,Isaweveryeyewasuponus.
