Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 16
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“Heisveryhandsomeindeed.”
“Handsome!Yes,Isupposehemay.Idaresaypeoplewouldadmirehimingeneral;butheisnotatallinmystyleofbeauty.Ihateafloridcomplexionanddarkeyesinaman.However,heisverywell.Amazinglyconceited,Iamsure.Itookhimdownseveraltimes,youknow,inmyway.”
Whentheyoungladiesnextmet,theyhadafarmoreinterestingsubjecttodiscuss.JamesMorland’ssecondletterwasthenreceived,andthekindintentionsofhisfatherfullyexplained.Aliving,ofwhichMr.Morlandwashimselfpatronandincumbent,ofaboutfourhundredpoundsyearlyvalue,wastoberesignedtohissonassoonasheshouldbeoldenoughtotakeit;notriflingdeductionfromthefamilyincome,noniggardlyassignmenttooneoftenchildren.Anestateofatleastequalvalue,moreover,wasassuredashisfutureinheritance.
Jamesexpressedhimselfontheoccasionwithbecominggratitude;andthenecessityofwaitingbetweentwoandthreeyearsbeforetheycouldmarry,being,howeverunwelcome,nomorethanhehadexpected,wasbornebyhimwithoutdiscontent.Catherine,whoseexpectationshadbeenasunfixedasherideasofherfather’sincome,andwhosejudgmentwasnowentirelyledbyherbrother,feltequallywellsatisfied,andheartilycongratulatedIsabellaonhavingeverythingsopleasantlysettled.
“Itisverycharmingindeed,”saidIsabella,withagraveface.“Mr.Morlandhasbehavedvastlyhandsomeindeed,”saidthegentleMrs.Thorpe,lookinganxiouslyatherdaughter.“IonlywishIcoulddoasmuch.Onecouldnotexpectmorefromhim,youknow.
