Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 31
Theywerenomoreinclinedthanentitledtodemandhismoney.Ofaveryconsiderablefortune,hissonwas,bymarriagesettlements,eventuallysecure;hispresentincomewasanincomeofindependenceandcomfort,andundereverypecuniaryview,itwasamatchbeyondtheclaimsoftheirdaughter.
Theyoungpeoplecouldnotbesurprisedatadecisionlikethis.Theyfeltandtheydeplored—buttheycouldnotresentit;andtheyparted,endeavouringtohopethatsuchachangeinthegeneral,aseachbelievedalmostimpossible,mightspeedilytakeplace,tounitethemagaininthefullnessofprivilegedaffection.Henryreturnedtowhatwasnowhisonlyhome,towatchoverhisyoungplantations,andextendhisimprovementsforhersake,towhoseshareinthemhelookedanxiouslyforward;andCatherineremainedatFullertontocry.Whetherthetormentsofabsenceweresoftenedbyaclandestinecorrespondence,letusnotinquire.Mr.andMrs.Morlandneverdid—theyhadbeentookindtoexactanypromise;andwheneverCatherinereceivedaletter,as,atthattime,happenedprettyoften,theyalwayslookedanotherway.
Theanxiety,whichinthisstateoftheirattachmentmustbetheportionofHenryandCatherine,andofallwholovedeither,astoitsfinalevent,canhardlyextend,Ifear,tothebosomofmyreaders,whowillseeinthetell-talecompressionofthepagesbeforethem,thatweareallhasteningtogethertoperfectfelicity.
