Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 25
Toexposeafriend,suchafriendasIsabellahadbeentoher—andthentheirownbrothersocloselyconcernedinit!Shebelievedshemustwaivethesubjectaltogether.HenryandEleanorwerebythemselvesinthebreakfast-room;andeach,assheenteredit,lookedatheranxiously.Catherinetookherplaceatthetable,and,afterashortsilence,Eleanorsaid,“NobadnewsfromFullerton,Ihope?Mr.andMrs.Morland—yourbrothersandsisters—Ihopetheyarenoneofthemill?”
“No,Ithankyou”(sighingasshespoke);“theyareallverywell.MyletterwasfrommybrotheratOxford.”
Nothingfurtherwassaidforafewminutes;andthenspeakingthroughhertears,sheadded,“IdonotthinkIshalleverwishforaletteragain!”
“Iamsorry,”saidHenry,closingthebookhehadjustopened;“ifIhadsuspectedtheletterofcontaininganythingunwelcome,Ishouldhavegivenitwithverydifferentfeelings.”
“Itcontainedsomethingworsethananybodycouldsuppose!PoorJamesissounhappy!Youwillsoonknowwhy.”
“Tohavesokind-hearted,soaffectionateasister,”repliedHenrywarmly,“mustbeacomforttohimunderanydistress.”
“Ihaveonefavourtobeg,”saidCatherine,shortlyafterwards,inanagitatedmanner,“that,ifyourbrothershouldbecominghere,youwillgivemenoticeofit,thatImaygoaway.”
“Ourbrother!Frederick!”
“Yes;IamsureIshouldbeverysorrytoleaveyousosoon,butsomethinghashappenedthatwouldmakeitverydreadfulformetobeinthesamehousewithCaptainTilney.
