第 32 节
作者:打倒一切      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9322
  〃Then you will persuade him to go away?〃
  〃Persuasion is not at command; but pardon me; if I
  cannot even endeavour to persuade him。  I have myself
  told him that Miss Thorpe is engaged。  He knows what he
  is about; and must be his own master。〃
  〃No; he does not know what he is about;〃 cried Catherine;
  〃he does not know the pain he is giving my brother。
  Not that James has ever told me so; but I am sure he is
  very uncomfortable。〃
  〃And are you sure it is my brother's doing?〃
  〃Yes; very sure。〃
  〃Is it my brother's attentions to Miss Thorpe;
  or Miss Thorpe's admission of them; that gives the pain?〃
  〃Is not it the same thing?〃
  〃I think Mr。 Morland would acknowledge a difference。
  No man is offended by another man's admiration of the
  woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it
  a torment。〃
  Catherine blushed for her friend; and said;
  〃Isabella is wrong。  But I am sure she cannot mean
  to torment; for she is very much attached to my brother。
  She has been in love with him ever since they first met;
  and while my father's consent was uncertain; she fretted
  herself almost into a fever。  You know she must be attached
  to him。〃
  〃I understand: she is in love with James; and flirts
  with Frederick。〃
  〃Oh! no; not flirts。  A woman in love with one man
  cannot flirt with another。〃
  〃It is probable that she will neither love so well;
  nor flirt so well; as she might do either singly。
  The gentlemen must each give up a little。〃
  After a short pause; Catherine resumed with;
  〃Then you do not believe Isabella so very much attached
  to my brother?〃
  〃I can have no opinion on that subject。〃
  〃But what can your brother mean? If he knows
  her engagement; what can he mean by his behaviour?〃
  〃You are a very close questioner。〃
  〃Am I? I only ask what I want to be told。〃
  〃But do you only ask what I can be expected to tell?〃
  〃Yes; I think so; for you must know your brother's heart。〃
  〃My brother's heart; as you term it; on the
  present occasion; I assure you I can only guess at。〃
  〃Well?〃
  〃Well! Nay; if it is to be guesswork; let us all guess
  for ourselves。  To be guided by second…hand conjecture
  is pitiful。  The premises are before you。  My brother is
  a lively and perhaps sometimes a thoughtless young man;
  he has had about a week's acquaintance with your friend;
  and he has known her engagement almost as long as he has
  known her。〃
  〃Well;〃 said Catherine; after some moments' consideration;
  〃you may be able to guess at your brother's intentions from
  all this; but I am sure I cannot。  But is not your father
  uncomfortable about it? Does not he want Captain Tilney
  to go away? Sure; if your father were to speak to him;
  he would go。〃
  〃My dear Miss Morland;〃 said Henry; 〃in this amiable
  solicitude for your brother's comfort; may you not be
  a little mistaken? Are you not carried a little too far?
  Would he thank you; either on his own account or Miss
  Thorpe's; for supposing that her affection; or at least
  her good behaviour; is only to be secured by her seeing
  nothing of Captain Tilney? Is he safe only in solitude?
  Or is her heart constant to him only when unsolicited
  by anyone else? He cannot think thisand you may be sure
  that he would not have you think it。  I will not say;
  'Do not be uneasy;' because I know that you are so;
  at this moment; but be as little uneasy as you can。
  You have no doubt of the mutual attachment of your brother
  and your friend; depend upon it; therefore; that real
  jealousy never can exist between them; depend upon it
  that no disagreement between them can be of any duration。
  Their hearts are open to each other; as neither heart can
  be to you; they know exactly what is required and what can
  be borne; and you may be certain that one will never tease
  the other beyond what is known to be pleasant。〃
  Perceiving her still to look doubtful and grave;
  he added; 〃Though Frederick does not leave Bath with us;
  he will probably remain but a very short time;
  perhaps only a few days behind us。  His leave of absence
  will soon expire; and he must return to his regiment。
  And what will then be their acquaintance? The mess…room
  will drink Isabella Thorpe for a fortnight; and she will
  laugh with your brother over poor Tilney's passion for
  a month。〃
  Catherine would contend no longer against comfort。
  She had resisted its approaches during the whole length
  of a speech; but it now carried her captive。  Henry Tilney
  must know best。  She blamed herself for the extent
  of her fears; and resolved never to think so seriously
  on the subject again。
  Her resolution was supported by Isabella's behaviour
  in their parting interview。  The Thorpes spent the last
  evening of Catherine's stay in Pulteney Street; and nothing
  passed between the lovers to excite her uneasiness;
  or make her quit them in apprehension。  James was in
  excellent spirits; and Isabella most engagingly placid。
  Her tenderness for her friend seemed rather the first feeling
  of her heart; but that at such a moment was allowable;
  and once she gave her lover a flat contradiction; and once
  she drew back her hand; but Catherine remembered Henry's
  instructions; and placed it all to judicious affection。
  The embraces; tears; and promises of the parting fair
  ones may be fancied。
  CHAPTER 20
  Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen were sorry to lose their young friend;
  whose good humour and cheerfulness had made her a
  valuable companion; and in the promotion of whose enjoyment
  their own had been gently increased。  Her happiness in
  going with Miss Tilney; however; prevented their wishing
  it otherwise; and; as they were to remain only one more
  week in Bath themselves; her quitting them now would not
  long be felt。  Mr。 Allen attended her to Milsom Street;
  where she was to breakfast; and saw her seated with the
  kindest welcome among her new friends; but so great was
  her agitation in finding herself as one of the family;
  and so fearful was she of not doing exactly what was right;
  and of not being able to preserve their good opinion;
  that; in the embarrassment of the first five minutes;
  she could almost have wished to return with him to
  Pulteney Street。
  Miss Tilney's manners and Henry's smile soon did
  away some of her unpleasant feelings; but still she
  was far from being at ease; nor could the incessant
  attentions of the general himself entirely reassure her。
  Nay; perverse as it seemed; she doubted whether she
  might not have felt less; had she been less attended to。
  His anxiety for her comforthis continual solicitations
  that she would eat; and his often…expressed fears of her
  seeing nothing to her tastethough never in her life before
  had she beheld half such variety on a breakfast…tablemade
  it impossible for her to forget for a moment that she
  was a visitor。  She felt utterly unworthy of such respect;
  and knew not how to reply to it。  Her tranquillity was not
  improved by the general's impatience for the appearance
  of his eldest son; nor by the displeasure he expressed
  at his laziness when Captain Tilney at last came down。
  She was quite pained by the severity of his father's reproof;
  which seemed disproportionate to the offence; and much
  was her concern increased when she found herself the
  principal cause of the lecture; and that his tardiness
  was chiefly resented from being disrespectful to her。
  This was placing her in a very uncomfortable situation;
  and she felt great compassion for Captain Tilney;
  without being able to hope for his goodwill。
  He listened to his father in silence; and attempted
  not any defence; which confirmed her in fearing that the
  inquietude of his mind; on Isabella's account; might;
  by keeping him long sleepless; have been the real cause
  of his rising late。  It was the first time of her being
  decidedly in his company; and she had hoped to be now
  able to form her opinion of him; but she scarcely
  heard his voice while his father remained in the room;
  and even