Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 8
Tilneyanopportunityofrepeatingtheagreeablerequestwhichhadalreadyflatteredheronce,madeherwaytoMrs.AllenandMrs.Thorpeasfastasshecould,inthehopeoffindinghimstillwiththem—ahopewhich,whenitprovedtobefruitless,shefelttohavebeenhighlyunreasonable.“Well,mydear,”saidMrs.Thorpe,impatientforpraiseofherson,“Ihopeyouhavehadanagreeablepartner.”
“Veryagreeable,madam.”
“Iamgladofit.Johnhascharmingspirits,hasnothe?”
“DidyoumeetMr.Tilney,mydear?”saidMrs.Allen.
“No,whereishe?”
“Hewaswithusjustnow,andsaidhewassotiredofloungingabout,thathewasresolvedtogoanddance;soIthoughtperhapshewouldaskyou,ifhemetwithyou.”
“Wherecanhebe?”saidCatherine,lookinground;butshehadnotlookedroundlongbeforeshesawhimleadingayoungladytothedance.
“Ah!Hehasgotapartner;Iwishhehadaskedyou,”saidMrs.Allen;andafterashortsilence,sheadded,“heisaveryagreeableyoungman.”
“Indeedheis,Mrs.Allen,”saidMrs.Thorpe,smilingcomplacently;“Imustsayit,thoughIamhismother,thatthereisnotamoreagreeableyoungmanintheworld.”
Thisinapplicableanswermighthavebeentoomuchforthecomprehensionofmany;butitdidnotpuzzleMrs.Allen,forafteronlyamoment’sconsideration,shesaid,inawhispertoCatherine,“IdaresayshethoughtIwasspeakingofherson.”
Catherinewasdisappointedandvexed
