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！
My own joy on the occasion is very sincere。 I know no one
more entitled； by unpretending merit； or better prepared
by habitual suffering； to receive and enjoy felicity。
Her partiality for this gentleman was not of recent origin；
and he had been long withheld only by inferiority of
situation from addressing her。 His unexpected accession
to title and fortune had removed all his difficulties；
and never had the general loved his daughter so well
in all her hours of companionship； utility； and patient
endurance as when he first hailed her 〃Your Ladyship！〃
Her husband was really deserving of her； independent of
his peerage； his wealth； and his attachment； being to
a precision the most charming young man in the world。
Any further definition of his merits must be unnecessary；
the most charming young man in the world is instantly
before the imagination of us all。 Concerning the one
in question； therefore； I have only to addaware
that the rules of composition forbid the introduction
of a character not connected with my fablethat this was
the very gentleman whose negligent servant left behind him
that collection of washing…bills； resulting from a long
visit at Northanger； by which my heroine was involved in
one of her most alarming adventures。
The influence of the viscount and viscountess
in their brother's behalf was assisted by that right
understanding of Mr。 Morland's circumstances which；
as soon as the general would allow himself to be informed；
they were qualified to give。 It taught him that he had been
scarcely more misled by Thorpe's first boast of the family
wealth than by his subsequent malicious overthrow of it；
that in no sense of the word were they necessitous or poor；
and that Catherine would have three thousand pounds。
This was so material an amendment of his late expectations
that it greatly contributed to smooth the descent of
his pride； and by no means without its effect was the
private intelligence； which he was at some pains to procure；
that the Fullerton estate； being entirely at the disposal
of its present proprietor； was consequently open to every
greedy speculation。
On the strength of this； the general； soon after
Eleanor's marriage； permitted his son to return to Northanger；
and thence made him the bearer of his consent；
very courteously worded in a page full of empty professions
to Mr。 Morland。 The event which it authorized soon
followed： Henry and Catherine were married； the bells rang；
and everybody smiled； and； as this took place within
a twelvemonth from the first day of their meeting；
it will not appear； after all the dreadful delays occasioned
by the general's cruelty； that they were essentially hurt
by it。 To begin perfect happiness at the respective
ages of twenty…six and eighteen is to do pretty well；
and professing myself moreover convinced that the general's
unjust interference； so far from being really injurious
to their felicity； was perhaps rather conducive to it；
by improving their knowledge of each other； and adding
strength to their attachment； I leave it to be settled；
by whomsoever it may concern； whether the tendency of
this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny；
or reward filial disobedience。
*Vide a letter from Mr。 Richardson； No。 97； Vol。 II； Rambler。
A NOTE ON THE TEXT
Northanger Abbey was written in 1797…98 under a different title。
The manuscript was revised around 1803 and sold to a
London publisher； Crosbie & Co。； who sold it back in 1816。
The Signet Classic text is based on the first edition；
published by John Murray； London； in 1818the year
following Miss Austen's death。 Spelling and punctuation
have been largely brought into conformity with modern
British usage。
End