Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 10
Hughesnowjoinedthem,andaskedMissTilneyifshewasreadytogo.“IhopeIshallhavethepleasureofseeingyouagainsoon,”saidCatherine.“Shallyoubeatthecotillionballtomorrow?”
“Perhapswe—Yes,Ithinkwecertainlyshall.”
“Iamgladofit,forweshallallbethere.”Thiscivilitywasdulyreturned;andtheyparted—onMissTilney’ssidewithsomeknowledgeofhernewacquaintance’sfeelings,andonCatherine’s,withoutthesmallestconsciousnessofhavingexplainedthem.
Shewenthomeveryhappy.Themorninghadansweredallherhopes,andtheeveningofthefollowingdaywasnowtheobjectofexpectation,thefuturegood.Whatgownandwhathead-dresssheshouldwearontheoccasionbecameherchiefconcern.Shecannotbejustifiedinit.Dressisatalltimesafrivolousdistinction,andexcessivesolicitudeaboutitoftendestroysitsownaim.Catherineknewallthisverywell;hergreataunthadreadheralectureonthesubjectonlytheChristmasbefore;andyetshelayawaketenminutesonWednesdaynightdebatingbetweenherspottedandhertambouredmuslin,andnothingbuttheshortnessofthetimepreventedherbuyinganewonefortheevening.Thiswouldhavebeenanerrorinjudgment,greatthoughnotuncommon,fromwhichoneoftheothersexratherthanherown,abrotherratherthanagreataunt,mighthavewarnedher,formanonlycanbeawareoftheinsensibilityofmantowardsanewgown.
