Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 10
Scarcelyhadtheyworkedthemselvesintothequietpossessionofaplace,however,whenherattentionwasclaimedbyJohnThorpe,whostoodbehindher.“Heyday,MissMorland!”saidhe.“Whatisthemeaningofthis?IthoughtyouandIweretodancetogether.”
“Iwonderyoushouldthinkso,foryouneveraskedme.”
“Thatisagoodone,byJove!IaskedyouassoonasIcameintotheroom,andIwasjustgoingtoaskyouagain,butwhenIturnedround,youweregone!Thisisacursedshabbytrick!Ionlycameforthesakeofdancingwithyou,andIfirmlybelieveyouwereengagedtomeeversinceMonday.Yes;Iremember,Iaskedyouwhileyouwerewaitinginthelobbyforyourcloak.AndherehaveIbeentellingallmyacquaintancethatIwasgoingtodancewiththeprettiestgirlintheroom;andwhentheyseeyoustandingupwithsomebodyelse,theywillquizmefamously.”
“Oh,no;theywillneverthinkofme,aftersuchadescriptionasthat.”
“Byheavens,iftheydonot,Iwillkickthemoutoftheroomforblockheads.Whatchaphaveyouthere?”Catherinesatisfiedhiscuriosity.“Tilney,”herepeated.“Hum—Idonotknowhim.Agoodfigureofaman;wellputtogether.Doeshewantahorse?Hereisafriendofmine,SamFletcher,hasgotonetosellthatwouldsuitanybody.Afamouscleveranimalfortheroad—onlyfortyguineas.Ihadfiftymindstobuyitmyself,foritisoneofmymaximsalwaystobuyagoodhorsewhenImeetwithone;butitwouldnotanswermypurpose,itwouldnotdoforthefield.Iwouldgiveanymoneyforarealgoodhunter.
