Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 28
Catherine’sspirits,however,weretranquillizedbutforaninstant,forEleanor’scheekswerepale,andhermannergreatlyagitated.Thoughevidentlyintendingtocomein,itseemedanefforttoentertheroom,andastillgreatertospeakwhenthere.Catherine,supposingsomeuneasinessonCaptainTilney’saccount,couldonlyexpressherconcernbysilentattention,obligedhertobeseated,rubbedhertempleswithlavender-water,andhungoverherwithaffectionatesolicitude.“MydearCatherine,youmustnot—youmustnotindeed—”wereEleanor’sfirstconnectedwords.“Iamquitewell.Thiskindnessdistractsme—Icannotbearit—Icometoyouonsuchanerrand!”
“Errand!Tome!”
“HowshallItellyou!Oh!HowshallItellyou!”
AnewideanowdartedintoCatherine’smind,andturningaspaleasherfriend,sheexclaimed,“’TisamessengerfromWoodston!”
“Youaremistaken,indeed,”returnedEleanor,lookingathermostcompassionately;“itisnoonefromWoodston.Itismyfatherhimself.”Hervoicefaltered,andhereyeswereturnedtothegroundasshementionedhisname.Hisunlooked-forreturnwasenoughinitselftomakeCatherine’sheartsink,andforafewmomentsshehardlysupposedtherewereanythingworsetobetold.Shesaidnothing;andEleanor,endeavouringtocollectherselfandspeakwithfirmness,butwitheyesstillcastdown,soonwenton.“Youaretoogood,Iamsure,tothinktheworseofmeforthepartIamobligedtoperform.Iamindeedamostunwillingmessenger.
