Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 24
Ithoughtyoudidnotmeantocomebacktilltomorrow.”
“Ididnotexpecttobeabletoreturnsooner,whenIwentaway;butthreehoursagoIhadthepleasureoffindingnothingtodetainme.Youlookpale.IamafraidIalarmedyoubyrunningsofastupthosestairs.Perhapsyoudidnotknow—youwerenotawareoftheirleadingfromtheofficesincommonuse?”
“No,Iwasnot.Youhavehadaveryfinedayforyourride.”
“Very;anddoesEleanorleaveyoutofindyourwayintoalltheroomsinthehousebyyourself?”
“Oh!No;sheshowedmeoverthegreatestpartonSaturday—andwewerecomingheretotheserooms—butonly”—droppinghervoice—“yourfatherwaswithus.”
“Andthatpreventedyou,”saidHenry,earnestlyregardingher.“Haveyoulookedintoalltheroomsinthatpassage?”
“No,Ionlywantedtosee—Isnotitverylate?Imustgoanddress.”
“Itisonlyaquarterpastfour”showinghiswatch—“andyouarenotnowinBath.Notheatre,noroomstopreparefor.HalfanhouratNorthangermustbeenough.”
Shecouldnotcontradictit,andthereforesufferedherselftobedetained,thoughherdreadoffurtherquestionsmadeher,forthefirsttimeintheiracquaintance,wishtoleavehim.Theywalkedslowlyupthegallery.“HaveyouhadanyletterfromBathsinceIsawyou?”
“No,andIamverymuchsurprised.Isabellapromisedsofaithfullytowritedirectly.”
“Promisedsofaithfully!Afaithfulpromise!Thatpuzzlesme.Ihaveheardofafaithfulperformance.
