Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 22
Youhavegainedanewsourceofenjoyment,anditiswelltohaveasmanyholdsuponhappinessaspossible.Besides,atasteforflowersisalwaysdesirableinyoursex,asameansofgettingyououtofdoors,andtemptingyoutomorefrequentexercisethanyouwouldotherwisetake.Andthoughtheloveofahyacinthmayberatherdomestic,whocantell,thesentimentonceraised,butyoumayintimecometolovearose?”
“ButIdonotwantanysuchpursuittogetmeoutofdoors.Thepleasureofwalkingandbreathingfreshairisenoughforme,andinfineweatherIamoutmorethanhalfmytime.MammasaysIamneverwithin.”
“Atanyrate,however,Iampleasedthatyouhavelearnttoloveahyacinth.Themerehabitoflearningtoloveisthething;andateachablenessofdispositioninayoungladyisagreatblessing.Hasmysisterapleasantmodeofinstruction?”
Catherinewassavedtheembarrassmentofattemptingananswerbytheentranceofthegeneral,whosesmilingcomplimentsannouncedahappystateofmind,butwhosegentlehintofsympatheticearlyrisingdidnotadvancehercomposure.
TheeleganceofthebreakfastsetforceditselfonCatherine’snoticewhentheywereseatedattable;and,luckily,ithadbeenthegeneral’schoice.Hewasenchantedbyherapprobationofhistaste,confessedittobeneatandsimple,thoughtitrighttoencouragethemanufactureofhiscountry;andforhispart,tohisuncriticalpalate,theteawasaswellflavouredfromtheclayofStaffordshire,asfromthatofDresdenorSave.Butthiswasquiteanoldset,purchasedtwoyearsago.
