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！
of crowd than below； and hence Miss Morland had a
comprehensive view of all the company beneath her；
and of all the dangers of her late passage through them。
It was a splendid sight； and she began； for the first
time that evening； to feel herself at a ball： she longed
to dance； but she had not an acquaintance in the room。
Mrs。 Allen did all that she could do in such a case
by saying very placidly； every now and then； 〃I wish you
could dance； my dearI wish you could get a partner。〃
For some time her young friend felt obliged to her for
these wishes； but they were repeated so often； and proved
so totally ineffectual； that Catherine grew tired at last；
and would thank her no more。
They were not long able； however； to enjoy the
repose of the eminence they had so laboriously gained。
Everybody was shortly in motion for tea； and they must
squeeze out like the rest。 Catherine began to feel
something of disappointmentshe was tired of being
continually pressed against by people； the generality
of whose faces possessed nothing to interest； and with
all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she
could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the
exchange of a syllable with any of her fellow captives；
and when at last arrived in the tea…room； she felt
yet more the awkwardness of having no party to join；
no acquaintance to claim； no gentleman to assist them。
They saw nothing of Mr。 Allen； and after looking about
them in vain for a more eligible situation； were obliged
to sit down at the end of a table； at which a large party
were already placed； without having anything to do there；
or anybody to speak to； except each other。
Mrs。 Allen congratulated herself； as soon as they
were seated； on having preserved her gown from injury。
〃It would have been very shocking to have it torn；〃 said she；
〃would not it？ It is such a delicate muslin。 For my part
I have not seen anything I like so well in the whole room；
I assure you。〃
〃How uncomfortable it is；〃 whispered Catherine；
〃not to have a single acquaintance here！〃
〃Yes； my dear；〃 replied Mrs。 Allen； with perfect
serenity； 〃it is very uncomfortable indeed。〃
〃What shall we do？ The gentlemen and ladies at this
table look as if they wondered why we came herewe seem
forcing ourselves into their party。〃
〃Aye； so we do。 That is very disagreeable。
I wish we had a large acquaintance here。〃
〃I wish we had anyit would be somebody to go to。〃
〃Very true； my dear； and if we knew anybody we would
join them directly。 The Skinners were here last yearI
wish they were here now。〃
〃Had not we better go away as it is？ Here are no
tea…things for us； you see。〃
〃No more there are； indeed。 How very provoking！ But
I think we had better sit still； for one gets so tumbled
in such a crowd！ How is my head； my dear？ Somebody gave
me a push that has hurt it； I am afraid。〃
〃No； indeed； it looks very nice。 But； dear Mrs。 Allen；
are you sure there is nobody you know in all this multitude
of people？ I think you must know somebody。〃
〃I don't； upon my wordI wish I did。 I wish I had a
large acquaintance here with all my heart； and then I should
get you a partner。 I should be so glad to have you dance。
There goes a strange…looking woman！ What an odd gown
she has got on！ How old…fashioned it is！ Look at the back。〃
After some time they received an offer of tea from
one of their neighbours； it was thankfully accepted；
and this introduced a light conversation with the gentleman
who offered it； which was the only time that anybody spoke
to them during the evening； till they were discovered
and joined by Mr。 Allen when the dance was over。
〃Well； Miss Morland；〃 said he； directly； 〃I hope
you have had an agreeable ball。〃
〃Very agreeable indeed；〃 she replied；
vainly endeavouring to hide a great yawn。
〃I wish she had been able to dance；〃 said his wife；
〃I wish we could have got a partner for her。 I have been
saying how glad I should be if the Skinners were here this
winter instead of last； or if the Parrys had come； as they
talked of once； she might have danced with George Parry。
I am so sorry she has not had a partner！〃
〃We shall do better another evening I hope；〃
was Mr。 Allen's consolation。
The company began to disperse when the dancing was
overenough to leave space for the remainder to walk
about in some comfort； and now was the time for a heroine；
who had not yet played a very distinguished part in
the events of the evening； to be noticed and admired。
Every five minutes； by removing some of the crowd；
gave greater openings for her charms。 She was now seen
by many young men who had not been near her before。
Not one； however； started with rapturous wonder on
beholding her； no whisper of eager inquiry ran round
the room； nor was she once called a divinity by anybody。
Yet Catherine was in very good looks； and had the company
only seen her three years before； they would now have thought
her exceedingly handsome。
She was looked at； however； and with some admiration；
for； in her own hearing； two gentlemen pronounced her
to be a pretty girl。 Such words had their due effect；
she immediately thought the evening pleasanter than she
had found it beforeher humble vanity was contentedshe
felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple
praise than a true…quality heroine would have been
for fifteen sonnets in celebration of her charms；
and went to her chair in good humour with everybody；
and perfectly satisfied with her share of public attention。
CHAPTER 3
Every morning now brought its regular dutiesshops were
to be visited； some new part of the town to be looked at；
and the pump…room to be attended； where they paraded up
and down for an hour； looking at everybody and speaking
to no one。 The wish of a numerous acquaintance in Bath
was still uppermost with Mrs。 Allen； and she repeated it
after every fresh proof； which every morning brought；
of her knowing nobody at all。
They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms；
and here fortune was more favourable to our heroine。
The master of the ceremonies introduced to her a very
gentlemanlike young man as a partner； his name was Tilney。
He seemed to be about four or five and twenty； was rather tall；
had a pleasing countenance； a very intelligent and
lively eye； and； if not quite handsome； was very near it。
His address was good； and Catherine felt herself in high luck。
There was little leisure for speaking while they danced；
but when they were seated at tea； she found him as
agreeable as she had already given him credit for being。
He talked with fluency and spiritand there was an archness
and pleasantry in his manner which interested； though it
was hardly understood by her。 After chatting some time
on such matters as naturally arose from the objects
around them； he suddenly addressed her with〃I have
hitherto been very remiss； madam； in the proper attentions
of a partner here； I have not yet asked you how long you
have been in Bath； whether you were ever here before；
whether you have been at the Upper Rooms； the theatre；
and the concert； and how you like the place altogether。
I have been very negligentbut are you now at leisure
to satisfy me in these particulars？ If you are I will
begin directly。〃
〃You need not give yourself that trouble； sir。〃
〃No trouble； I assure you； madam。〃 Then forming
his features into a set smile； and affectedly softening
his voice； he added； with a simpering air； 〃Have you
been long in Bath； madam？〃
〃About a week； sir；〃 replied Catherine； trying not
to laugh。
〃Really！〃 with affected astonishment。
〃Why should you be surprised； sir？〃
〃Why； indeed！〃 said he； in his natural tone。
〃But some emotion must appear to be raised by your reply；
and surprise is more easily assumed； and not less
reasonable than any other。 Now let us go on。 Were you
never here before； madam？〃
〃Never； sir。〃
〃Indeed！