Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 22
Perhapsitmayseemodd,thatwithonlytwoyoungerchildren,Ishouldthinkanyprofessionnecessaryforhim;andcertainlytherearemomentswhenwecouldallwishhimdisengagedfromeverytieofbusiness.ButthoughImaynotexactlymakeconvertsofyouyoungladies,Iamsureyourfather,MissMorland,wouldagreewithmeinthinkingitexpedienttogiveeveryyoungmansomeemployment.Themoneyisnothing,itisnotanobject,butemploymentisthething.EvenFrederick,myeldestson,yousee,whowillperhapsinheritasconsiderablealandedpropertyasanyprivatemaninthecounty,hashisprofession.”
Theimposingeffectofthislastargumentwasequaltohiswishes.Thesilenceoftheladyprovedittobeunanswerable.
Somethinghadbeensaidtheeveningbeforeofherbeingshownoverthehouse,andhenowofferedhimselfasherconductor;andthoughCatherinehadhopedtoexploreitaccompaniedonlybyhisdaughter,itwasaproposaloftoomuchhappinessinitself,underanycircumstances,nottobegladlyaccepted;forshehadbeenalreadyeighteenhoursintheabbey,andhadseenonlyafewofitsrooms.Thenetting-box,justleisurelydrawnforth,wasclosedwithjoyfulhaste,andshewasreadytoattendhiminamoment.“Andwhentheyhadgoneoverthehouse,hepromisedhimselfmoreoverthepleasureofaccompanyingherintotheshrubberiesandgarden.”Shecurtsiedheracquiescence.“Butperhapsitmightbemoreagreeabletohertomakethoseherfirstobject.Theweatherwasatpresentfavourable,andatthistimeofyeartheuncertaintywasverygreatofitscontinuingso.
