Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 31
Anyfurtherdefinitionofhismeritsmustbeunnecessary;themostcharmingyoungmanintheworldisinstantlybeforetheimaginationofusall.Concerningtheoneinquestion,therefore,Ihaveonlytoadd—awarethattherulesofcompositionforbidtheintroductionofacharacternotconnectedwithmyfable—thatthiswastheverygentlemanwhosenegligentservantleftbehindhimthatcollectionofwashing-bills,resultingfromalongvisitatNorthanger,bywhichmyheroinewasinvolvedinoneofhermostalarmingadventures.
Theinfluenceoftheviscountandviscountessintheirbrother’sbehalfwasassistedbythatrightunderstandingofMr.Morland’scircumstanceswhich,assoonasthegeneralwouldallowhimselftobeinformed,theywerequalifiedtogive.IttaughthimthathehadbeenscarcelymoremisledbyThorpe’sfirstboastofthefamilywealththanbyhissubsequentmaliciousoverthrowofit;thatinnosenseofthewordweretheynecessitousorpoor,andthatCatherinewouldhavethreethousandpounds.Thiswassomaterialanamendmentofhislateexpectationsthatitgreatlycontributedtosmooththedescentofhispride;andbynomeanswithoutitseffectwastheprivateintelligence,whichhewasatsomepainstoprocure,thattheFullertonestate,beingentirelyatthedisposalofitspresentproprietor,wasconsequentlyopentoeverygreedyspeculation.
Onthestrengthofthis,thegeneral,soonafterEleanor’smarriage,permittedhissontoreturntoNorthanger,andthencemadehimthebearerofhisconsent,verycourteouslywordedinapagefullofemptyprofessionstoMr.Morland
