Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 23
Catherinecouldhaveravedatthehandwhichhadsweptawaywhatmusthavebeenbeyondthevalueofalltherest,forthepurposesofmeredomesticeconomy;andwouldwillinglyhavebeensparedthemortificationofawalkthroughscenessofallen,hadthegeneralallowedit;butifhehadavanity,itwasinthearrangementofhisoffices;andashewasconvincedthat,toamindlikeMissMorland’s,aviewoftheaccommodationsandcomforts,bywhichthelaboursofherinferiorsweresoftened,mustalwaysbegratifying,heshouldmakenoapologyforleadingheron.Theytookaslightsurveyofall;andCatherinewasimpressed,beyondherexpectation,bytheirmultiplicityandtheirconvenience.ThepurposesforwhichafewshapelesspantriesandacomfortlesssculleryweredeemedsufficientatFullerton,wereherecarriedoninappropriatedivisions,commodiousandroomy.Thenumberofservantscontinuallyappearingdidnotstrikeherlessthanthenumberoftheiroffices.Wherevertheywent,somepattenedgirlstoppedtocurtsy,orsomefootmanindishabillesneakedoff.Yetthiswasanabbey!Howinexpressiblydifferentinthesedomesticarrangementsfromsuchasshehadreadabout—fromabbeysandcastles,inwhich,thoughcertainlylargerthanNorthanger,allthedirtyworkofthehousewastobedonebytwopairoffemalehandsattheutmost.HowtheycouldgetthroughitallhadoftenamazedMrs.Allen;and,whenCatherinesawwhatwasnecessaryhere,shebegantobeamazedherself.
