Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 25
Frederickwillnotbethefirstmanwhohaschosenawifewithlesssensethanhisfamilyexpected.Idonotenvyhissituation,eitherasaloverorason.”
MissTilney,atCatherine’sinvitation,nowreadtheletterlikewise,and,havingexpressedalsoherconcernandsurprise,begantoinquireintoMissThorpe’sconnectionsandfortune.
“Hermotherisaverygoodsortofwoman,”wasCatherine’sanswer.
“Whatwasherfather?”
“Alawyer,Ibelieve.TheyliveatPutney.”
“Aretheyawealthyfamily?”
“No,notvery.IdonotbelieveIsabellahasanyfortuneatall:butthatwillnotsignifyinyourfamily.Yourfatherissoveryliberal!Hetoldmetheotherdaythatheonlyvaluedmoneyasitallowedhimtopromotethehappinessofhischildren.”Thebrotherandsisterlookedateachother.“But,”saidEleanor,afterashortpause,“woulditbetopromotehishappiness,toenablehimtomarrysuchagirl?Shemustbeanunprincipledone,orshecouldnothaveusedyourbrotherso.AndhowstrangeaninfatuationonFrederick’sside!Agirlwho,beforehiseyes,isviolatinganengagementvoluntarilyenteredintowithanotherman!Isnotitinconceivable,Henry?Fredericktoo,whoalwaysworehisheartsoproudly!Whofoundnowomangoodenoughtobeloved!”
“Thatisthemostunpromisingcircumstance,thestrongestpresumptionagainsthim.WhenIthinkofhispastdeclarations,Igivehimup.Moreover,IhavetoogoodanopinionofMissThorpe’sprudencetosupposethatshewouldpartwithonegentlemanbeforetheotherwassecured.
