Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 4
Allenimmediatelyrecognizedthefeaturesofaformerschoolfellowandintimate,whomshehadseenonlyoncesincetheirrespectivemarriages,andthatmanyyearsago.Theirjoyonthismeetingwasverygreat,aswellitmight,sincetheyhadbeencontentedtoknownothingofeachotherforthelastfifteenyears.Complimentsongoodlooksnowpassed;and,afterobservinghowtimehadslippedawaysincetheywerelasttogether,howlittletheyhadthoughtofmeetinginBath,andwhatapleasureitwastoseeanoldfriend,theyproceededtomakeinquiriesandgiveintelligenceastotheirfamilies,sisters,andcousins,talkingbothtogether,farmorereadytogivethantoreceiveinformation,andeachhearingverylittleofwhattheothersaid.Mrs.Thorpe,however,hadonegreatadvantageasatalker,overMrs.Allen,inafamilyofchildren;andwhensheexpatiatedonthetalentsofhersons,andthebeautyofherdaughters,whensherelatedtheirdifferentsituationsandviews—thatJohnwasatOxford,EdwardatMerchantTaylors’,andWilliamatsea—andallofthemmorebelovedandrespectedintheirdifferentstationthananyotherthreebeingseverwere,Mrs.Allenhadnosimilarinformationtogive,nosimilartriumphstopressontheunwillingandunbelievingearofherfriend,andwasforcedtositandappeartolistentoallthesematernaleffusions,consolingherself,however,withthediscovery,whichherkeeneyesoonmade,thatthelaceonMrs.Thorpe’spelissewasnothalfsohandsomeasthatonherown.
“Herecomemydeargirls,”criedMrs.
