Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 26
Butthenitwassuchadeadtimeofyear,nowild-fowl,nogame,andtheLadyFraserswerenotinthecountry.Anditallended,atlast,inhistellingHenryonemorningthatwhenhenextwenttoWoodston,theywouldtakehimbysurprisetheresomedayorother,andeattheirmuttonwithhim.Henrywasgreatlyhonouredandveryhappy,andCatherinewasquitedelightedwiththescheme.“Andwhendoyouthink,sir,Imaylookforwardtothispleasure?ImustbeatWoodstononMondaytoattendtheparishmeeting,andshallprobablybeobligedtostaytwoorthreedays.”
“Well,well,wewilltakeourchancesomeoneofthosedays.Thereisnoneedtofix.Youarenottoputyourselfatalloutofyourway.Whateveryoumayhappentohaveinthehousewillbeenough.IthinkIcananswerfortheyoungladiesmakingallowanceforabachelor’stable.Letmesee;Mondaywillbeabusydaywithyou,wewillnotcomeonMonday;andTuesdaywillbeabusyonewithme.IexpectmysurveyorfromBrockhamwithhisreportinthemorning;andafterwardsIcannotindecencyfailattendingtheclub.IreallycouldnotfacemyacquaintanceifIstayedawaynow;for,asIamknowntobeinthecountry,itwouldbetakenexceedinglyamiss;anditisarulewithme,MissMorland,nevertogiveoffencetoanyofmyneighbours,ifasmallsacrificeoftimeandattentioncanpreventit.Theyareasetofveryworthymen.TheyhavehalfabuckfromNorthangertwiceayear;andIdinewiththemwheneverIcan.Tuesday,therefore,wemaysayisoutofthequestion.
