Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 8
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Inthiscommonplacechatter,whichlastedsometime,theoriginalsubjectseemedentirelyforgotten;andthoughCatherinewasverywellpleasedtohaveitdroppedforawhile,shecouldnotavoidalittlesuspicionatthetotalsuspensionofallIsabella’simpatientdesiretoseeMr.Tilney.Whentheorchestrastruckupafreshdance,Jameswouldhaveledhisfairpartneraway,butsheresisted.“Itellyou,Mr.Morland,”shecried,“Iwouldnotdosuchathingforalltheworld.Howcanyoubesoteasing;onlyconceive,mydearCatherine,whatyourbrotherwantsmetodo.Hewantsmetodancewithhimagain,thoughItellhimthatitisamostimproperthing,andentirelyagainsttherules.Itwouldmakeusthetalkoftheplace,ifwewerenottochangepartners.”
“Uponmyhonour,”saidJames,“inthesepublicassemblies,itisasoftendoneasnot.”
“Nonsense,howcanyousayso?Butwhenyoumenhaveapointtocarry,youneverstickatanything.MysweetCatherine,dosupportme;persuadeyourbrotherhowimpossibleitis.Tellhimthatitwouldquiteshockyoutoseemedosuchathing;nowwouldnotit?”
“No,notatall;butifyouthinkitwrong,youhadmuchbetterchange.”
“There,”criedIsabella,“youhearwhatyoursistersays,andyetyouwillnotmindher.Well,rememberthatitisnotmyfault,ifwesetalltheoldladiesinBathinabustle.Comealong,mydearestCatherine,forheaven’ssake,andstandbyme.”Andofftheywent,toregaintheirformerplace.JohnThorpe,inthemeanwhile,hadwalkedaway;andCatherine,everwillingtogiveMr.
