Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 3
Naturemayhavedonesomething,butIamsureitmustbeessentiallyassistedbythepracticeofkeepingajournal.”
“Ihavesometimesthought,”saidCatherine,doubtingly,“whetherladiesdowritesomuchbetterlettersthangentlemen!Thatis—Ishouldnotthinkthesuperioritywasalwaysonourside.”
“AsfarasIhavehadopportunityofjudging,itappearstomethattheusualstyleofletter-writingamongwomenisfaultless,exceptinthreeparticulars.”
“Andwhatarethey?”
“Ageneraldeficiencyofsubject,atotalinattentiontostops,andaveryfrequentignoranceofgrammar.”
“Uponmyword!Ineednothavebeenafraidofdisclaimingthecompliment.Youdonotthinktoohighlyofusinthatway.”
“Ishouldnomorelayitdownasageneralrulethatwomenwritebetterlettersthanmen,thanthattheysingbetterduets,ordrawbetterlandscapes.Ineverypower,ofwhichtasteisthefoundation,excellenceisprettyfairlydividedbetweenthesexes.”
TheywereinterruptedbyMrs.Allen:“MydearCatherine,”saidshe,“dotakethispinoutofmysleeve;Iamafraidithastornaholealready;Ishallbequitesorryifithas,forthisisafavouritegown,thoughitcostbutnineshillingsayard.”
“ThatisexactlywhatIshouldhaveguessedit,madam,”saidMr.Tilney,lookingatthemuslin.
“Doyouunderstandmuslins,sir?”
“Particularlywell;Ialwaysbuymyowncravats,andamallowedtobeanexcellentjudge;andmysisterhasoftentrustedmeinthechoiceofagown.
