Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 1
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Sofarherimprovementwassufficient—andinmanyotherpointsshecameonexceedinglywell;forthoughshecouldnotwritesonnets,shebroughtherselftoreadthem;andthoughthereseemednochanceofherthrowingawholepartyintorapturesbyapreludeonthepianoforte,ofherowncomposition,shecouldlistentootherpeople’sperformancewithverylittlefatigue.Hergreatestdeficiencywasinthepencil—shehadnonotionofdrawing—notenougheventoattemptasketchofherlover’sprofile,thatshemightbedetectedinthedesign.Thereshefellmiserablyshortofthetrueheroicheight.Atpresentshedidnotknowherownpoverty,forshehadnolovertoportray.Shehadreachedtheageofseventeen,withouthavingseenoneamiableyouthwhocouldcallforthhersensibility,withouthavinginspiredonerealpassion,andwithouthavingexcitedevenanyadmirationbutwhatwasverymoderateandverytransient.Thiswasstrangeindeed!Butstrangethingsmaybegenerallyaccountedforiftheircausebefairlysearchedout.Therewasnotonelordintheneighbourhood;no—notevenabaronet.Therewasnotonefamilyamongtheiracquaintancewhohadrearedandsupportedaboyaccidentallyfoundattheirdoor—notoneyoungmanwhoseoriginwasunknown.Herfatherhadnoward,andthesquireoftheparishnochildren.
Butwhenayoungladyistobeaheroine,theperversenessoffortysurroundingfamiliescannotpreventher.Somethingmustandwillhappentothrowaheroinherway.
Mr
