Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 30
Morland,thinkingitprobable,asasecondaryconsiderationinhiswishofwaitingontheirworthyneighbours,thathemighthavesomeexplanationtogiveofhisfather’sbehaviour,whichitmustbemorepleasantforhimtocommunicateonlytoCatherine,wouldnotonanyaccountpreventheraccompanyinghim.Theybegantheirwalk,andMrs.Morlandwasnotentirelymistakeninhisobjectinwishingit.Someexplanationonhisfather’saccounthehadtogive;buthisfirstpurposewastoexplainhimself,andbeforetheyreachedMr.Allen’sgroundshehaddoneitsowellthatCatherinedidnotthinkitcouldeverberepeatedtoooften.Shewasassuredofhisaffection;andthatheartinreturnwassolicited,which,perhaps,theyprettyequallyknewwasalreadyentirelyhisown;for,thoughHenrywasnowsincerelyattachedtoher,thoughhefeltanddelightedinalltheexcellenciesofhercharacterandtrulylovedhersociety,Imustconfessthathisaffectionoriginatedinnothingbetterthangratitude,or,inotherwords,thatapersuasionofherpartialityforhimhadbeentheonlycauseofgivingheraseriousthought.Itisanewcircumstanceinromance,Iacknowledge,anddreadfullyderogatoryofanheroine’sdignity;butifitbeasnewincommonlife,thecreditofawildimaginationwillatleastbeallmyown.
AveryshortvisittoMrs.
