Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 26
Atthefurtherendofthevillage,andtolerablydisengagedfromtherestofit,stoodtheparsonage,anew-builtsubstantialstonehouse,withitssemicircularsweepandgreengates;and,astheydroveuptothedoor,Henry,withthefriendsofhissolitude,alargeNewfoundlandpuppyandtwoorthreeterriers,wasreadytoreceiveandmakemuchofthem.
Catherine’smindwastoofull,assheenteredthehouse,forhereithertoobserveortosayagreatdeal;and,tillcalledonbythegeneralforheropinionofit,shehadverylittleideaoftheroominwhichshewassitting.Uponlookingrounditthen,sheperceivedinamomentthatitwasthemostcomfortableroomintheworld;butshewastooguardedtosayso,andthecoldnessofherpraisedisappointedhim.
“Wearenotcallingitagoodhouse,”saidhe.“WearenotcomparingitwithFullertonandNorthanger—weareconsideringitasamereparsonage,smallandconfined,weallow,butdecent,perhaps,andhabitable;andaltogethernotinferiortothegenerality;or,inotherwords,IbelievetherearefewcountryparsonagesinEnglandhalfsogood.Itmayadmitofimprovement,however.Farbeitfrommetosayotherwise;andanythinginreason—abowthrownout,perhaps—though,betweenourselves,ifthereisonethingmorethananothermyaversion,itisapatched-onbow.
