Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 1
Whatastrange,unaccountablecharacter!—forwithallthesesymptomsofprofligacyattenyearsold,shehadneitherabadheartnorabadtemper,wasseldomstubborn,scarcelyeverquarrelsome,andverykindtothelittleones,withfewinterruptionsoftyranny;shewasmoreovernoisyandwild,hatedconfinementandcleanliness,andlovednothingsowellintheworldasrollingdownthegreenslopeatthebackofthehouse.
SuchwasCatherineMorlandatten.Atfifteen,appearancesweremending;shebegantocurlherhairandlongforballs;hercomplexionimproved,herfeaturesweresoftenedbyplumpnessandcolour,hereyesgainedmoreanimation,andherfiguremoreconsequence.Herloveofdirtgavewaytoaninclinationforfinery,andshegrewcleanasshegrewsmart;shehadnowthepleasureofsometimeshearingherfatherandmotherremarkonherpersonalimprovement.“Catherinegrowsquiteagood-lookinggirl—sheisalmostprettytoday,”werewordswhichcaughtherearsnowandthen;andhowwelcomewerethesounds!Tolookalmostprettyisanacquisitionofhigherdelighttoagirlwhohasbeenlookingplainthefirstfifteenyearsofherlifethanabeautyfromhercradlecaneverreceive.
Mrs.
