Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 22
”MissTilneycontinuingsilent,sheventuredtosay,“Herdeathmusthavebeenagreataffliction!”
“Agreatandincreasingone,”repliedtheother,inalowvoice.“Iwasonlythirteenwhenithappened;andthoughIfeltmylossperhapsasstronglyasonesoyoungcouldfeelit,Ididnot,Icouldnot,thenknowwhatalossitwas.”Shestoppedforamoment,andthenadded,withgreatfirmness,“Ihavenosister,youknow—andthoughHenry—thoughmybrothersareveryaffectionate,andHenryisagreatdealhere,whichIammostthankfulfor,itisimpossibleformenottobeoftensolitary.”
“Tobesureyoumustmisshimverymuch.”
“Amotherwouldhavebeenalwayspresent.Amotherwouldhavebeenaconstantfriend;herinfluencewouldhavebeenbeyondallother.”
“Wassheaverycharmingwoman?Wasshehandsome?Wasthereanypictureofherintheabbey?Andwhyhadshebeensopartialtothatgrove?Wasitfromdejectionofspirits?”—werequestionsnoweagerlypouredforth;thefirstthreereceivedareadyaffirmative,thetwootherswerepassedby;andCatherine’sinterestinthedeceasedMrs.Tilneyaugmentedwitheveryquestion,whetheransweredornot.Ofherunhappinessinmarriage,shefeltpersuaded.Thegeneralcertainlyhadbeenanunkindhusband.Hedidnotloveherwalk:couldhethereforehavelovedher?Andbesides,handsomeashewas,therewasasomethingintheturnofhisfeatureswhichspokehisnothavingbehavedwelltoher.
