Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 6
Ihavenonotionoflovingpeoplebyhalves;itisnotmynature.Myattachmentsarealwaysexcessivelystrong.ItoldCaptainHuntatoneofourassembliesthiswinterthatifhewastoteasemeallnight,Iwouldnotdancewithhim,unlesshewouldallowMissAndrewstobeasbeautifulasanangel.Thementhinkusincapableofrealfriendship,youknow,andIamdeterminedtoshowthemthedifference.Now,ifIweretohearanybodyspeakslightinglyofyou,Ishouldfireupinamoment:butthatisnotatalllikely,foryouarejustthekindofgirltobeagreatfavouritewiththemen.”
“Oh,dear!”criedCatherine,colouring.“Howcanyousayso?”
“Iknowyouverywell;youhavesomuchanimation,whichisexactlywhatMissAndrewswants,forImustconfessthereissomethingamazinglyinsipidabouther.Oh!Imusttellyou,thatjustafterwepartedyesterday,Isawayoungmanlookingatyousoearnestly—Iamsureheisinlovewithyou.”Catherinecoloured,anddisclaimedagain.Isabellalaughed.“Itisverytrue,uponmyhonour,butIseehowitis;youareindifferenttoeverybody’sadmiration,exceptthatofonegentleman,whoshallbenameless.Nay,Icannotblameyou”—speakingmoreseriously—“yourfeelingsareeasilyunderstood.Wheretheheartisreallyattached,Iknowverywellhowlittleonecanbepleasedwiththeattentionofanybodyelse.Everythingissoinsipid,souninteresting,thatdoesnotrelatetothebelovedobject!Icanperfectlycomprehendyourfeelings.”
“ButyoushouldnotpersuademethatIthinksoverymuchaboutMr.
