Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 29
Tothegeneral,ofcourse,hewouldnotdaretospeak;buttoEleanor—whatmighthenotsaytoEleanorabouther?
Inthisunceasingrecurrenceofdoubtsandinquiries,onanyonearticleofwhichhermindwasincapableofmorethanmomentaryrepose,thehourspassedaway,andherjourneyadvancedmuchfasterthanshelookedfor.Thepressinganxietiesofthought,whichpreventedherfromnoticinganythingbeforeher,whenoncebeyondtheneighbourhoodofWoodston,savedheratthesametimefromwatchingherprogress;andthoughnoobjectontheroadcouldengageamoment’sattention,shefoundnostageofittedious.Fromthis,shewaspreservedtoobyanothercause,byfeelingnoeagernessforherjourney’sconclusion;fortoreturninsuchamannertoFullertonwasalmosttodestroythepleasureofameetingwiththoseshelovedbest,evenafteranabsencesuchashers—anelevenweeks’absence.Whathadshetosaythatwouldnothumbleherselfandpainherfamily,thatwouldnotincreaseherowngriefbytheconfessionofit,extendanuselessresentment,andperhapsinvolvetheinnocentwiththeguiltyinundistinguishingillwill?ShecouldneverdojusticetoHenryandEleanor’smerit;shefeltittoostronglyforexpression;andshouldadislikebetakenagainstthem,shouldtheybethoughtofunfavourably,ontheirfather’saccount,itwouldcuthertotheheart.
Withthesefeelings,sheratherdreadedthansoughtforthefirstviewofthatwell-knownspirewhichwouldannounceherwithintwentymilesofhome.
