Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 4
Allen’shouse;andthattheyshouldtherepartwithamostaffectionateandlengthenedshakeofhands,afterlearning,totheirmutualrelief,thattheyshouldseeeachotheracrossthetheatreatnight,andsaytheirprayersinthesamechapelthenextmorning.Catherinethenrandirectlyupstairs,andwatchedMissThorpe’sprogressdownthestreetfromthedrawing-roomwindow;admiredthegracefulspiritofherwalk,thefashionableairofherfigureanddress;andfeltgrateful,aswellshemight,forthechancewhichhadprocuredhersuchafriend.
Mrs.Thorpewasawidow,andnotaveryrichone;shewasagood-humoured,well-meaningwoman,andaveryindulgentmother.Hereldestdaughterhadgreatpersonalbeauty,andtheyoungerones,bypretendingtobeashandsomeastheirsister,imitatingherair,anddressinginthesamestyle,didverywell.
ThisbriefaccountofthefamilyisintendedtosupersedethenecessityofalongandminutedetailfromMrs.Thorpeherself,ofherpastadventuresandsufferings,whichmightotherwisebeexpectedtooccupythethreeorfourfollowingchapters;inwhichtheworthlessnessoflordsandattorneysmightbesetforth,andconversations,whichhadpassedtwentyyearsbefore,beminutelyrepeated.
