Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 28
Histemperisnothappy,andsomethinghasnowoccurredtoruffleitinanuncommondegree;somedisappointment,somevexation,whichjustatthismomentseemsimportant,butwhichIcanhardlysupposeyoutohaveanyconcernin,forhowisitpossible?”
ItwaswithpainthatCatherinecouldspeakatall;anditwasonlyforEleanor’ssakethatsheattemptedit.“Iamsure,”saidshe,“IamverysorryifIhaveoffendedhim.ItwasthelastthingIwouldwillinglyhavedone.Butdonotbeunhappy,Eleanor.Anengagement,youknow,mustbekept.Iamonlysorryitwasnotrecollectedsooner,thatImighthavewrittenhome.Butitisofverylittleconsequence.”
“Ihope,Iearnestlyhope,thattoyourrealsafetyitwillbeofnone;buttoeverythingelseitisofthegreatestconsequence:tocomfort,appearance,propriety,toyourfamily,totheworld.Wereyourfriends,theAllens,stillinBath,youmightgotothemwithcomparativeease;afewhourswouldtakeyouthere;butajourneyofseventymiles,tobetakenpostbyyou,atyourage,alone,unattended!”
“Oh,thejourneyisnothing.Donotthinkaboutthat.Andifwearetopart,afewhourssoonerorlater,youknow,makesnodifference.Icanbereadybyseven.Letmebecalledintime.”Eleanorsawthatshewishedtobealone;andbelievingitbetterforeachthattheyshouldavoidanyfurtherconversation,nowleftherwith,“Ishallseeyouinthemorning.”
Catherine’sswellingheartneededrelief.
