Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 3
”
“Myjournal!”
“Yes,Iknowexactlywhatyouwillsay:Friday,wenttotheLowerRooms;woremyspriggedmuslinrobewithbluetrimmings—plainblackshoes—appearedtomuchadvantage;butwasstrangelyharassedbyaqueer,half-wittedman,whowouldmakemedancewithhim,anddistressedmebyhisnonsense.”
“IndeedIshallsaynosuchthing.”
“ShallItellyouwhatyououghttosay?”
“Ifyouplease.”
“Idancedwithaveryagreeableyoungman,introducedbyMr.King;hadagreatdealofconversationwithhim—seemsamostextraordinarygenius—hopeImayknowmoreofhim.That,madam,iswhatIwishyoutosay.”
“But,perhaps,Ikeepnojournal.”
“Perhapsyouarenotsittinginthisroom,andIamnotsittingbyyou.Thesearepointsinwhichadoubtisequallypossible.Notkeepajournal!HowareyourabsentcousinstounderstandthetenourofyourlifeinBathwithoutone?Howarethecivilitiesandcomplimentsofeverydaytoberelatedastheyoughttobe,unlessnoteddowneveryeveninginajournal?Howareyourvariousdressestoberemembered,andtheparticularstateofyourcomplexion,andcurlofyourhairtobedescribedinalltheirdiversities,withouthavingconstantrecoursetoajournal?Mydearmadam,Iamnotsoignorantofyoungladies’waysasyouwishtobelieveme;itisthisdelightfulhabitofjournalingwhichlargelycontributestoformtheeasystyleofwritingforwhichladiesaresogenerallycelebrated.Everybodyallowsthatthetalentofwritingagreeablelettersispeculiarlyfemale.
