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！
I believe： and how do you like the rest of the family？〃
〃Very； very much indeed： Isabella particularly。〃
〃I am very glad to hear you say so； she is just the
kind of young woman I could wish to see you attached to；
she has so much good sense； and is so thoroughly
unaffected and amiable； I always wanted you to know her；
and she seems very fond of you。 She said the highest
things in your praise that could possibly be； and the
praise of such a girl as Miss Thorpe even you； Catherine；〃
taking her hand with affection； 〃may be proud of。〃
〃Indeed I am；〃 she replied； 〃I love her exceedingly；
and am delighted to find that you like her too。
You hardly mentioned anything of her when you wrote to me
after your visit there。〃
〃Because I thought I should soon see you myself。
I hope you will be a great deal together while you are
in Bath。 She is a most amiable girl； such a superior
understanding！ How fond all the family are of her；
she is evidently the general favourite； and how much she
must be admired in such a place as thisis not she？〃
〃Yes； very much indeed； I fancy； Mr。 Allen thinks
her the prettiest girl in Bath。〃
〃I dare say he does； and I do not know any man
who is a better judge of beauty than Mr。 Allen。 I need
not ask you whether you are happy here； my dear Catherine；
with such a companion and friend as Isabella Thorpe； it would
be impossible for you to be otherwise； and the Allens；
I am sure； are very kind to you？〃
〃Yes； very kind； I never was so happy before；
and now you are come it will be more delightful than ever；
how good it is of you to come so far on purpose to see me。〃
James accepted this tribute of gratitude；
and qualified his conscience for accepting it too；
by saying with perfect sincerity； 〃Indeed； Catherine；
I love you dearly。〃
Inquiries and communications concerning brothers
and sisters； the situation of some； the growth of the rest；
and other family matters now passed between them； and continued；
with only one small digression on James's part； in praise
of Miss Thorpe； till they reached Pulteney Street； where he
was welcomed with great kindness by Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen；
invited by the former to dine with them； and summoned by
the latter to guess the price and weigh the merits of a new
muff and tippet。 A pre…engagement in Edgar's Buildings
prevented his accepting the invitation of one friend；
and obliged him to hurry away as soon as he had satisfied
the demands of the other。 The time of the two parties
uniting in the Octagon Room being correctly adjusted；
Catherine was then left to the luxury of a raised； restless；
and frightened imagination over the pages of Udolpho；
lost from all worldly concerns of dressing and dinner；
incapable of soothing Mrs。 Allen's fears on the delay of an
expected dressmaker； and having only one minute in sixty
to bestow even on the reflection of her own felicity；
in being already engaged for the evening。
CHAPTER 8
In spite of Udolpho and the dressmaker； however；
the party from Pulteney Street reached the Upper Rooms
in very good time。 The Thorpes and James Morland
were there only two minutes before them； and Isabella
having gone through the usual ceremonial of meeting
her friend with the most smiling and affectionate haste；
of admiring the set of her gown； and envying the curl
of her hair； they followed their chaperones； arm in arm；
into the ballroom； whispering to each other whenever
a thought occurred； and supplying the place of many
ideas by a squeeze of the hand or a smile of affection。
The dancing began within a few minutes after they
were seated； and James； who had been engaged quite as long
as his sister； was very importunate with Isabella to stand up；
but John was gone into the card…room to speak to a friend；
and nothing； she declared； should induce her to join
the set before her dear Catherine could join it too。
〃I assure you；〃 said she； 〃I would not stand up without
your dear sister for all the world； for if I did we
should certainly be separated the whole evening。〃
Catherine accepted this kindness with gratitude；
and they continued as they were for three minutes longer；
when Isabella； who had been talking to James on the other
side of her； turned again to his sister and whispered；
〃My dear creature； I am afraid I must leave you；
your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin； I know
you will not mind my going away； and I dare say John will
be back in a moment； and then you may easily find me out。〃
Catherine； though a little disappointed； had too much good
nature to make any opposition； and the others rising up；
Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and say；
〃Good…bye； my dear love；〃 before they hurried off。
The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing； Catherine was
left to the mercy of Mrs。 Thorpe and Mrs。 Allen；
between whom she now remained。 She could not help being
vexed at the non…appearance of Mr。 Thorpe； for she not
only longed to be dancing； but was likewise aware that；
as the real dignity of her situation could not be known；
she was sharing with the scores of other young ladies still
sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner。
To be disgraced in the eye of the world； to wear the
appearance of infamy while her heart is all purity；
her actions all innocence； and the misconduct of another
the true source of her debasement； is one of those
circumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroine's life；
and her fortitude under it what particularly dignifies
her character。 Catherine had fortitude too； she suffered；
but no murmur passed her lips。
From this state of humiliation； she was roused；
at the end of ten minutes； to a pleasanter feeling；
by seeing； not Mr。 Thorpe； but Mr。 Tilney； within three
yards of the place where they sat； he seemed to be
moving that way； but be did not see her； and therefore
the smile and the blush； which his sudden reappearance
raised in Catherine； passed away without sullying her
heroic importance。 He looked as handsome and as lively
as ever； and was talking with interest to a fashionable
and pleasing…looking young woman； who leant on his arm；
and whom Catherine immediately guessed to be his sister；
thus unthinkingly throwing away a fair opportunity of
considering him lost to her forever； by being married already。
But guided on