Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 22
Whichwouldsheprefer?Hewasequallyatherservice.Whichdidhisdaughterthinkwouldmostaccordwithherfairfriend’swishes?Buthethoughthecoulddiscern.Yes,hecertainlyreadinMissMorland’seyesajudiciousdesireofmakinguseofthepresentsmilingweather.Butwhendidshejudgeamiss?Theabbeywouldbealwayssafeanddry.Heyieldedimplicitly,andwouldfetchhishatandattendtheminamoment.”Helefttheroom,andCatherine,withadisappointed,anxiousface,begantospeakofherunwillingnessthatheshouldbetakingthemoutofdoorsagainsthisowninclination,underamistakenideaofpleasingher;butshewasstoppedbyMissTilney’ssaying,withalittleconfusion,“Ibelieveitwillbewisesttotakethemorningwhileitissofine;anddonotbeuneasyonmyfather’saccount;healwayswalksoutatthistimeofday.”
Catherinedidnotexactlyknowhowthiswastobeunderstood.WhywasMissTilneyembarrassed?Couldtherebeanyunwillingnessonthegeneral’ssidetoshowherovertheabbey?Theproposalwashisown.Andwasnotitoddthatheshouldalwaystakehiswalksoearly?NeitherherfathernorMr.Allendidso.Itwascertainlyveryprovoking.Shewasallimpatiencetoseethehouse,andhadscarcelyanycuriosityaboutthegrounds.IfHenryhadbeenwiththemindeed!Butnowsheshouldnotknowwhatwaspicturesquewhenshesawit.Suchwereherthoughts,butshekeptthemtoherself,andputonherbonnetinpatientdiscontent.
Shewasstruck,however,beyondherexpectation,bythegrandeuroftheabbey,asshesawitforthefirsttimefromthelawn.
