按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
concluded； with great elasticity； though she had never
thought of it before。 She reached home without seeing
anything more of the offended party； and now that she
had been triumphant throughout； had carried her point；
and was secure of her walk； she began （as the flutter
of her spirits subsided） to doubt whether she had been
perfectly right。 A sacrifice was always noble； and if she
had given way to their entreaties； she should have been
spared the distressing idea of a friend displeased；
a brother angry； and a scheme of great happiness to both
destroyed； perhaps through her means。 To ease her mind；
and ascertain by the opinion of an unprejudiced person
what her own conduct had really been； she took occasion
to mention before Mr。 Allen the half…settled scheme
of her brother and the Thorpes for the following day。
Mr。 Allen caught at it directly。 〃Well；〃 said he；
〃and do you think of going too？〃
〃No； I had just engaged myself to walk with Miss
Tilney before they told me of it； and therefore you know
I could not go with them； could I？〃
〃No； certainly not； and I am glad you do not
think of it。 These schemes are not at all the thing。
Young men and women driving about the country in open
carriages！ Now and then it is very well； but going to inns
and public places together！ It is not right； and I wonder
Mrs。 Thorpe should allow it。 I am glad you do not think
of going； I am sure Mrs。 Morland would not be pleased。
Mrs。 Allen； are not you of my way of thinking？ Do not you
think these kind of projects objectionable？〃
〃Yes； very much so indeed。 Open carriages are
nasty things。 A clean gown is not five minutes' wear in them。
You are splashed getting in and getting out； and the wind
takes your hair and your bonnet in every direction。
I hate an open carriage myself。〃
〃I know you do； but that is not the question。
Do not you think it has an odd appearance； if young
ladies are frequently driven about in them by young men；
to whom they are not even related？〃
〃Yes； my dear； a very odd appearance indeed。
I cannot bear to see it。〃
〃Dear madam；〃 cried Catherine； 〃then why did not
you tell me so before？ I am sure if I had known it to
be improper； I would not have gone with Mr。 Thorpe at all；
but I always hoped you would tell me； if you thought I
was doing wrong。〃
〃And so I should； my dear； you may depend on it； for as I
told Mrs。 Morland at parting； I would always do the best
for you in my power。 But one must not be over particular。
Young people will be young people； as your good mother
says herself。 You know I wanted you； when we first came；
not to buy that sprigged muslin； but you would。
Young people do not like to be always thwarted。〃
〃But this was something of real consequence； and I
do not think you would have found me hard to persuade。〃
〃As far as it has gone hitherto； there is no harm done；〃
said Mr。 Allen； 〃and I would only advise you； my dear；
not to go out with Mr。 Thorpe any more。〃
〃That is just what I was going to say；〃 added his wife。
Catherine； relieved for herself； felt uneasy
for Isabella； and after a moment's thought； asked Mr。 Allen
whether it would not be both proper and kind in her
to write to Miss Thorpe； and explain the indecorum
of which she must be as insensible as herself； for she
considered that Isabella might otherwise perhaps be going
to Clifton the next day； in spite of what had passed。
Mr。 Allen； however； discouraged her from doing any
such thing。 〃You had better leave her alone； my dear；
she is old enough to know what she is about； and if not；
has a mother to advise her。 Mrs。 Thorpe is too indulgent
beyond a doubt； but； however； you had better not interfere。
She and your brother choose to go； and you will be only
getting ill will。〃
Catherine submitted； and though sorry to think that
Isabella should be doing wrong； felt greatly relieved
by Mr。 Allen's approbation of her own conduct； and truly
rejoiced to be preserved by his advice from the danger
of falling into such an error herself。 Her escape from
being one of the party to Clifton was now an escape indeed；
for what would the Tilneys have thought of her； if she
had broken her promise to them in order to do what was
wrong in itself； if she had been guilty of one breach
of propriety； only to enable her to be guilty of another？
CHAPTER 14
The next morning was fair； and Catherine almost
expected another attack from the assembled party。
With Mr。 Allen to support her； she felt no dread of
the event： but she would gladly be spared a contest；
where victory itself was painful； and was heartily rejoiced
therefore at neither seeing nor hearing anything of them。
The Tilneys called for her at the appointed time；
and no new difficulty arising； no sudden recollection；
no unexpected summons； no impertinent intrusion to disconcert
their measures； my heroine was most unnaturally able to fulfil
her engagement； though it was made with the hero himself。
They determined on walking round Beechen Cliff； that noble
hill whose beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it
so striking an object from almost every opening in Bath。
〃I never look at it；〃 said Catherine； as they
walked along the side of the river； 〃without thinking
of the south of France。〃
〃You have been abroad then？〃 said Henry； a little surprised。
〃Oh！ No； I only mean what I have read about。
It always puts me in mind of the country that Emily and her
father travelled through； in The Mysteries of Udolpho。
But you never read novels； I dare say？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because they are not clever enough for yougentlemen
read better books。〃
〃The person； be it gentleman or lady； who has not
pleasure in a good novel； must be intolerably stupid。
I have read all Mrs。 Radcliffe's works； and most of
them with great pleasure。 The Mysteries of Udolpho；
when I had once begun it； I could not lay down again；
I remember finishing it in two daysmy hair standing on end
the whole time。〃
〃Yes；〃 added Miss Tilney； 〃and I remember that you
undertook to read it aloud to me； and that when I was called
away for only five minutes to answer a note； instead of
waiting for me； you took the volume into the Hermitage Walk；
and I was obliged to stay till you had finished it。〃
〃Thank you； Eleanora most honourable testimony。
You see； Miss Morland； the injustice of your suspicions。
Here was I； in my eagerness to get on； refusing to wait
only five minutes for my sister； breaking the promise
I had made of reading it aloud； and keeping her in
suspense at a most interesting part； by running away
with the volume； which； you are to observe； was her own；
particularly her own。 I am proud when I reflect on it；
and I think it must establish me in your good opinion。〃
〃I am very glad to hear it indeed； and now I shall
never be ashamed of liking Udolpho myself。 But I really
thought before； young men despised novels amazingly。〃
〃It is amazingly； it may well suggest amazement
if they dofor they read nearly as many as women。
I myself have read hundreds and hundreds。 Do not imagine
that you can cope with me in a knowledge of Julias
and Louisas。 If we proceed to particulars； and engage
in the never…ceasing inquiry of 'Have you read this？'
and 'Have you read that？' I shall soon leave you as far
behind me aswhat shall I say？l want an appropriate
simile。as far as your friend Emily herself left poor
Valancourt when she went with her aunt into Italy。
Consider how many years I have had the start of you。
I had entered on my studies at Oxford； while you were a good
little girl working your sampler at home！〃
〃Not very good； I am afraid。 But now really；
do not you think Udolpho the nicest book in the world？〃
〃The nicestby which I suppose you mean the neatest。
That must depend upon the binding。〃
〃Henry；〃 said Miss Tilney； 〃you are very impertinent。
Miss Morland； he is treating you exactly as he does his sister。
He is forever finding fault with me； for some incorrec