第 31 节
作者:打倒一切      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9322
  not mean the next。  Circumstances change; opinions alter。〃
  〃But my opinion of your brother never did alter;
  it was always the same。  You are describing what never happened。〃
  〃My dearest Catherine;〃 continued the other without
  at all listening to her; 〃I would not for all the world
  be the means of hurrying you into an engagement before you
  knew what you were about。  I do not think anything would
  justify me in wishing you to sacrifice all your happiness
  merely to oblige my brother; because he is my brother;
  and who perhaps after all; you know; might be just as happy
  without you; for people seldom know what they would be at;
  young men especially; they are so amazingly changeable
  and inconstant。  What I say is; why should a brother's
  happiness be dearer to me than a friend's? You know I
  carry my notions of friendship pretty high。  But; above
  all things; my dear Catherine; do not be in a hurry。
  Take my word for it; that if you are in too great a hurry;
  you will certainly live to repent it。  Tilney says there
  is nothing people are so often deceived in as the state
  of their own affections; and I believe he is very right。
  Ah! Here he comes; never mind; he will not see us;
  I am sure。〃
  Catherine; looking up; perceived Captain Tilney;
  and Isabella; earnestly fixing her eye on him as she spoke;
  soon caught his notice。  He approached immediately;
  and took the seat to which her movements invited him。
  His first address made Catherine start。  Though spoken low;
  she could distinguish; 〃What! Always to be watched; in person
  or by proxy!〃
  〃Psha; nonsense!〃 was Isabella's answer in the
  same half whisper。  〃Why do you put such things into
  my head? If I could believe itmy spirit; you know;
  is pretty independent。〃
  〃I wish your heart were independent。  That would
  be enough for me。〃
  〃My heart; indeed! What can you have to do with
  hearts? You men have none of you any hearts。〃
  〃If we have not hearts; we have eyes; and they give
  us torment enough。〃
  〃Do they? I am sorry for it; I am sorry they find
  anything so disagreeable in me。  I will look another way。
  I hope this pleases you〃 (turning her back on him);
  〃I hope your eyes are not tormented now。〃
  〃Never more so; for the edge of a blooming cheek
  is still in viewat once too much and too little。〃
  Catherine heard all this; and quite out of countenance;
  could listen no longer。  Amazed that Isabella could endure it;
  and jealous for her brother; she rose up; and saying she
  should join Mrs。 Allen; proposed their walking。  But for this
  Isabella showed no inclination。  She was so amazingly tired;
  and it was so odious to parade about the pump…room;
  and if she moved from her seat she should miss her sisters;
  she was expecting her sisters every moment; so that her dearest
  Catherine must excuse her; and must sit quietly down again。
  But Catherine could be stubborn too; and Mrs。 Allen just
  then coming up to propose their returning home; she joined
  her and walked out of the pump…room; leaving Isabella
  still sitting with Captain Tilney。  With much uneasiness
  did she thus leave them。  It seemed to her that Captain
  Tilney was falling in love with Isabella; and Isabella
  unconsciously encouraging him; unconsciously it must be;
  for Isabella's attachment to James was as certain and
  well acknowledged as her engagement。  To doubt her truth
  or good intentions was impossible; and yet; during the
  whole of their conversation her manner had been odd。
  She wished Isabella had talked more like her usual self;
  and not so much about money; and had not looked so well
  pleased at the sight of Captain Tilney。  How strange
  that she should not perceive his admiration! Catherine
  longed to give her a hint of it; to put her on her guard;
  and prevent all the pain which her too lively behaviour
  might otherwise create both for him and her brother。
  The compliment of John Thorpe's affection did not make
  amends for this thoughtlessness in his sister。  She was almost
  as far from believing as from wishing it to be sincere;
  for she had not forgotten that he could mistake; and his
  assertion of the offer and of her encouragement convinced
  her that his mistakes could sometimes be very egregious。
  In vanity; therefore; she gained but little; her chief
  profit was in wonder。  That he should think it worth
  his while to fancy himself in love with her was a matter
  of lively astonishment。  Isabella talked of his attentions;
  she had never been sensible of any; but Isabella had said
  many things which she hoped had been spoken in haste;
  and would never be said again; and upon this she was glad
  to rest altogether for present ease and comfort。
  CHAPTER 19
  A few days passed away; and Catherine; though not
  allowing herself to suspect her friend; could not help
  watching her closely。  The result of her observations
  was not agreeable。  Isabella seemed an altered creature。
  When she saw her; indeed; surrounded only by their
  immediate friends in Edgar's Buildings or Pulteney Street;
  her change of manners was so trifling that; had it
  gone no farther; it might have passed unnoticed。
  A something of languid indifference; or of that boasted
  absence of mind which Catherine had never heard of before;
  would occasionally come across her; but had nothing
  worse appeared; that might only have spread a new grace
  and inspired a warmer interest。  But when Catherine saw
  her in public; admitting Captain Tilney's attentions
  as readily as they were offered; and allowing him almost
  an equal share with James in her notice and smiles;
  the alteration became too positive to be passed over。
  What could be meant by such unsteady conduct; what her
  friend could be at; was beyond her comprehension。
  Isabella could not be aware of the pain she was inflicting;
  but it was a degree of wilful thoughtlessness which
  Catherine could not but resent。  James was the sufferer。
  She saw him grave and uneasy; and however careless
  of his present comfort the woman might be who had
  given him her heart; to her it was always an object。
  For poor Captain Tilney too she was greatly concerned。
  Though his looks did not please her; his name was a passport
  to her goodwill; and she thought with sincere compassion
  of his approaching disappointment; for; in spite of what
  she had believed herself to overbear in the pump…room;
  his behaviour was so incompatible with a knowledge of
  Isabella's engagement that she could not; upon reflection;
  imagine him aware of it。  He might be jealous of her
  brother as a rival; but if more bad seemed implied;
  the fault must have been in her misapprehension。
  She wished; by a gentle remonstrance; to remind Isabella of
  her situation; and make her aware of this double unkindness;
  but for remonstrance; either opportunity or comprehension
  was always against her。  If able to suggest a hint;
  Isabella could never understand it。  In this distress;
  the intended departure of the Tilney family became her
  chief consolation; their journey into Gloucestershire
  was to take place within a few days; and Captain Tilney's
  removal would at least restore peace to every heart but
  his own。  But Captain Tilney had at present no intention
  of removing; he was not to be of the party to Northanger;
  he was to continue at Bath。  When Catherine knew this;
  her resolution was directly made。  She spoke to Henry Tilney
  on the subject; regretting his brother's evident partiality
  for Miss Thorpe; and entreating him to make known her
  prior engagement。
  〃My brother does know it;〃 was Henry's answer。
  〃Does he? Then why does he stay here?〃
  He made no reply; and was beginning to talk
  of something else; but she eagerly continued; 〃Why do
  not you persuade him to go away? The longer he stays;
  the worse it will be for him at last。  Pray advise
  him for his own sake; and for everybody's sake;
  to leave Bath directly。  Absence will in time make
  him comfortable again; but he can have no hope here;
  and it is only staying to be miserable。〃 Henry smiled
  and said; 〃I am sure my brother would not wish to do that。〃
  〃Then you will persuade him to go away?〃
  〃Persuasion is not at com