Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 10
AssoonastheywerejoinedbytheThorpes,Catherine’sagonybegan;shefidgetedaboutifJohnThorpecametowardsher,hidherselfasmuchaspossiblefromhisview,andwhenhespoketoherpretendednottohearhim.Thecotillionswereover,thecountry-dancingbeginning,andshesawnothingoftheTilneys.
“Donotbefrightened,mydearCatherine,”whisperedIsabella,“butIamreallygoingtodancewithyourbrotheragain.Ideclarepositivelyitisquiteshocking.Itellhimheoughttobeashamedofhimself,butyouandJohnmustkeepusincountenance.Makehaste,mydearcreature,andcometous.Johnisjustwalkedoff,buthewillbebackinamoment.”
Catherinehadneithertimenorinclinationtoanswer.Theotherswalkedaway,JohnThorpewasstillinview,andshegaveherselfupforlost.Thatshemightnotappear,however,toobserveorexpecthim,shekepthereyesintentlyfixedonherfan;andaself-condemnationforherfolly,insupposingthatamongsuchacrowdtheyshouldevenmeetwiththeTilneysinanyreasonabletime,hadjustpassedthroughhermind,whenshesuddenlyfoundherselfaddressedandagainsolicitedtodance,byMr.Tilneyhimself.Withwhatsparklingeyesandreadymotionshegrantedhisrequest,andwithhowpleasingaflutterofheartshewentwithhimtotheset,maybeeasilyimagined.Toescape,and,asshebelieved,sonarrowlyescapeJohnThorpe,andtobeasked,soimmediatelyonhisjoiningher,askedbyMr.Tilney,asifhehadsoughtheronpurpose!—itdidnotappeartoherthatlifecouldsupplyanygreaterfelicity.
