Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 28
Shedid—almostalways—believethatHenrylovedher,andquitealwaysthathisfatherandsisterlovedandevenwishedhertobelongtothem;andbelievingsofar,herdoubtsandanxietiesweremerelysportiveirritations.
Henrywasnotabletoobeyhisfather’sinjunctionofremainingwhollyatNorthangerinattendanceontheladies,duringhisabsenceinLondon,theengagementsofhiscurateatWoodstonobliginghimtoleavethemonSaturdayforacoupleofnights.Hislosswasnotnowwhatithadbeenwhilethegeneralwasathome;itlessenedtheirgaiety,butdidnotruintheircomfort;andthetwogirlsagreeinginoccupation,andimprovinginintimacy,foundthemselvessowellsufficientforthetimetothemselves,thatitwaseleveno’clock,ratheralatehourattheabbey,beforetheyquittedthesupper-roomonthedayofHenry’sdeparture.Theyhadjustreachedtheheadofthestairswhenitseemed,asfarasthethicknessofthewallswouldallowthemtojudge,thatacarriagewasdrivinguptothedoor,andthenextmomentconfirmedtheideabytheloudnoiseofthehouse-bell.Afterthefirstperturbationofsurprisehadpassedaway,ina“Goodheaven!Whatcanbethematter?”itwasquicklydecidedbyEleanortobehereldestbrother,whosearrivalwasoftenassudden,ifnotquitesounseasonable,andaccordinglyshehurrieddowntowelcomehim.
