Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 10
Ihavethreenow,thebestthateverwerebacked.Iwouldnottakeeighthundredguineasforthem.FletcherandImeantogetahouseinLeicestershire,againstthenextseason.Itissod—uncomfortable,livingataninn.”
ThiswasthelastsentencebywhichhecouldwearyCatherine’sattention,forhewasjustthenborneoffbytheresistlesspressureofalongstringofpassingladies.Herpartnernowdrewnear,andsaid,“Thatgentlemanwouldhaveputmeoutofpatience,hadhestayedwithyouhalfaminutelonger.Hehasnobusinesstowithdrawtheattentionofmypartnerfromme.Wehaveenteredintoacontractofmutualagreeablenessforthespaceofanevening,andallouragreeablenessbelongssolelytoeachotherforthattime.Nobodycanfastenthemselvesonthenoticeofone,withoutinjuringtherightsoftheother.Iconsideracountry-danceasanemblemofmarriage.Fidelityandcomplaisancearetheprincipaldutiesofboth;andthosemenwhodonotchoosetodanceormarrythemselves,havenobusinesswiththepartnersorwivesoftheirneighbours.”
“Buttheyaresuchverydifferentthings!”
“—Thatyouthinktheycannotbecomparedtogether.”
“Tobesurenot.Peoplethatmarrycanneverpart,butmustgoandkeephousetogether.Peoplethatdanceonlystandoppositeeachotherinalongroomforhalfanhour.”
“Andsuchisyourdefinitionofmatrimonyanddancing.Takeninthatlightcertainly,theirresemblanceisnotstriking;butIthinkIcouldplacetheminsuchaview.
