Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 6
Theyarethemostconceitedcreaturesintheworld,andthinkthemselvesofsomuchimportance!Bytheby,thoughIhavethoughtofitahundredtimes,Ihavealwaysforgottoaskyouwhatisyourfavouritecomplexioninaman.Doyoulikethembestdarkorfair?”
“Ihardlyknow.Inevermuchthoughtaboutit.Somethingbetweenboth,Ithink.Brown—notfair,and—andnotverydark.”
“Verywell,Catherine.Thatisexactlyhe.IhavenotforgotyourdescriptionofMr.Tilney—’abrownskin,withdarkeyes,andratherdarkhair.’Well,mytasteisdifferent.Ipreferlighteyes,andastocomplexion—doyouknow—Ilikeasallowbetterthananyother.Youmustnotbetrayme,ifyoushouldevermeetwithoneofyouracquaintanceansweringthatdescription.”
“Betrayyou!Whatdoyoumean?”
“Nay,donotdistressme.IbelieveIhavesaidtoomuch.Letusdropthesubject.”
Catherine,insomeamazement,complied,andafterremainingafewmomentssilent,wasonthepointofrevertingtowhatinterestedheratthattimerathermorethananythingelseintheworld,Laurentina’sskeleton,whenherfriendpreventedher,bysaying,“Forheaven’ssake!Letusmoveawayfromthisendoftheroom.Doyouknow,therearetwoodiousyoungmenwhohavebeenstaringatmethishalfhour.Theyreallyputmequiteoutofcountenance.Letusgoandlookatthearrivals.Theywillhardlyfollowusthere.”
Awaytheywalkedtothebook;andwhileIsabellaexaminedthenames,itwasCatherine’semploymenttowatchtheproceedingsofthesealarmingyoungmen
