Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 25
Sheopenedit;itwasfromOxford;andtothispurpose:
“DearCatherine,
“Though,Godknows,withlittleinclinationforwriting,IthinkitmydutytotellyouthateverythingisatanendbetweenMissThorpeandme.IleftherandBathyesterday,nevertoseeeitheragain.Ishallnotenterintoparticulars—theywouldonlypainyoumore.Youwillsoonhearenoughfromanotherquartertoknowwhereliestheblame;andIhopewillacquityourbrotherofeverythingbutthefollyoftooeasilythinkinghisaffectionreturned.ThankGod!Iamundeceivedintime!Butitisaheavyblow!Aftermyfather’sconsenthadbeensokindlygiven—butnomoreofthis.Shehasmadememiserableforever!Letmesoonhearfromyou,dearCatherine;youaremyonlyfriend;yourloveIdobuildupon.IwishyourvisitatNorthangermaybeoverbeforeCaptainTilneymakeshisengagementknown,oryouwillbeuncomfortablycircumstanced.PoorThorpeisintown:Idreadthesightofhim;hishonestheartwouldfeelsomuch.Ihavewrittentohimandmyfather.Herduplicityhurtsmemorethanall;tilltheverylast,ifIreasonedwithher,shedeclaredherselfasmuchattachedtomeasever,andlaughedatmyfears.IamashamedtothinkhowlongIborewithit;butifevermanhadreasontobelievehimselfloved,Iwasthatman.Icannotunderstandevennowwhatshewouldbeat,fortherecouldbenoneedofmybeingplayedofftomakehersecureofTilney.Wepartedatlastbymutualconsent—happyformehadwenevermet!Icanneverexpecttoknowsuchanotherwoman!DearestCatherine,bewarehowyougiveyourheart.
