Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 4
Thorpe,pointingatthreesmart-lookingfemaleswho,arminarm,werethenmovingtowardsher.“MydearMrs.Allen,Ilongtointroducethem;theywillbesodelightedtoseeyou:thetallestisIsabella,myeldest;isnotsheafineyoungwoman?Theothersareverymuchadmiredtoo,butIbelieveIsabellaisthehandsomest.”
TheMissThorpeswereintroduced;andMissMorland,whohadbeenforashorttimeforgotten,wasintroducedlikewise.Thenameseemedtostrikethemall;and,afterspeakingtoherwithgreatcivility,theeldestyoungladyobservedaloudtotherest,“HowexcessivelylikeherbrotherMissMorlandis!”
“Theverypictureofhimindeed!”criedthemother—and“Ishouldhaveknownheranywhereforhissister!”wasrepeatedbythemall,twoorthreetimesover.ForamomentCatherinewassurprised;butMrs.ThorpeandherdaughtershadscarcelybegunthehistoryoftheiracquaintancewithMr.JamesMorland,beforesherememberedthathereldestbrotherhadlatelyformedanintimacywithayoungmanofhisowncollege,ofthenameofThorpe;andthathehadspentthelastweekoftheChristmasvacationwithhisfamily,nearLondon.
Thewholebeingexplained,manyobligingthingsweresaidbytheMissThorpesoftheirwishofbeingbetteracquaintedwithher;ofbeingconsideredasalreadyfriends,throughthefriendshipoftheirbrothers,etc.,whichCatherineheardwithpleasure,andansweredwithalltheprettyexpressionsshecouldcommand;and,asthefirstproofofamity,shewassooninvitedtoacceptanarmoftheeldestMissThorpe,andtakeaturnwithherabouttheroom.
