Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 28
Afterwhathassolatelypassed,solatelybeensettledbetweenus—howjoyfully,howthankfullyonmyside!—astoyourcontinuinghereasIhopedformany,manyweekslonger,howcanItellyouthatyourkindnessisnottobeaccepted—andthatthehappinessyourcompanyhashithertogivenusistoberepaidby—ButImustnottrustmyselfwithwords.MydearCatherine,wearetopart.MyfatherhasrecollectedanengagementthattakesourwholefamilyawayonMonday.WearegoingtoLordLongtown’s,nearHereford,forafortnight.Explanationandapologyareequallyimpossible.Icannotattempteither.”
“MydearEleanor,”criedCatherine,suppressingherfeelingsaswellasshecould,“donotbesodistressed.Asecondengagementmustgivewaytoafirst.Iamvery,verysorrywearetopart—sosoon,andsosuddenlytoo;butIamnotoffended,indeedIamnot.Icanfinishmyvisithere,youknow,atanytime;orIhopeyouwillcometome.Canyou,whenyoureturnfromthislord’s,cometoFullerton?”
“Itwillnotbeinmypower,Catherine.”
“Comewhenyoucan,then.”
Eleanormadenoanswer;andCatherine’sthoughtsrecurringtosomethingmoredirectlyinteresting,sheadded,thinkingaloud,“Monday—sosoonasMonday;andyouallgo.Well,Iamcertainof—Ishallbeabletotakeleave,however.Ineednotgotilljustbeforeyoudo,youknow.Donotbedistressed,Eleanor,IcangoonMondayverywell.Myfatherandmother’shavingnonoticeofitisofverylittleconsequence.
