第 18 节
作者:打倒一切      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9322
  They passed briskly down Pulteney Street; and through
  Laura Place; without the exchange of many words。
  Thorpe talked to his horse; and she meditated; by turns;
  on broken promises and broken arches; phaetons and
  false hangings; Tilneys and trap…doors。 As they entered
  Argyle Buildings; however; she was roused by this address
  from her companion; 〃Who is that girl who looked at you
  so hard as she went by?〃
  〃Who? Where?〃
  〃On the right…hand pavementshe must be almost
  out of sight now。〃 Catherine looked round and saw Miss
  Tilney leaning on her brother's arm; walking slowly down
  the street。  She saw them both looking back at her。
  〃Stop; stop; Mr。 Thorpe;〃 she impatiently cried;
  〃it is Miss Tilney; it is indeed。  How could you tell me
  they were gone? Stop; stop; I will get out this moment
  and go to them。〃 But to what purpose did she speak? Thorpe
  only lashed his horse into a brisker trot; the Tilneys;
  who had soon ceased to look after her; were in a moment
  out of sight round the corner of Laura Place; and in another
  moment she was herself whisked into the marketplace。
  Still; however; and during the length of another street;
  she entreated him to stop。  〃Pray; pray stop; Mr。 Thorpe。
  I cannot go on。  I will not go on。  I must go back to
  Miss Tilney。〃 But Mr。 Thorpe only laughed; smacked his whip;
  encouraged his horse; made odd noises; and drove on;
  and Catherine; angry and vexed as she was; having no
  power of getting away; was obliged to give up the point
  and submit。  Her reproaches; however; were not spared。
  〃How could you deceive me so; Mr。 Thorpe? How could you
  say that you saw them driving up the Lansdown Road? I
  would not have had it happen so for the world。  They must
  think it so strange; so rude of me! To go by them; too;
  without saying a word! You do not know how vexed I am;
  I shall have no pleasure at Clifton; nor in anything else。
  I had rather; ten thousand times rather; get out now;
  and walk back to them。  How could you say you saw them driving
  out in a phaeton?〃 Thorpe defended himself very stoutly;
  declared he had never seen two men so much alike in his life;
  and would hardly give up the point of its having been
  Tilney himself。
  Their drive; even when this subject was over; was not
  likely to be very agreeable。  Catherine's complaisance
  was no longer what it had been in their former airing。
  She listened reluctantly; and her replies were short。
  Blaize Castle remained her only comfort; towards that;
  she still looked at intervals with pleasure; though rather
  than be disappointed of the promised walk; and especially
  rather than be thought ill of by the Tilneys; she would
  willingly have given up all the happiness which its walls
  could supplythe happiness of a progress through a long
  suite of lofty rooms; exhibiting the remains of magnificent
  furniture; though now for many years desertedthe happiness
  of being stopped in their way along narrow; winding vaults;
  by a low; grated door; or even of having their lamp;
  their only lamp; extinguished by a sudden gust of wind;
  and of being left in total darkness。  In the meanwhile;
  they proceeded on their journey without any mischance;
  and were within view of the town of Keynsham; when a halloo
  from Morland; who was behind them; made his friend pull up;
  to know what was the matter。  The others then came close
  enough for conversation; and Morland said; 〃We had
  better go back; Thorpe; it is too late to go on today;
  your sister thinks so as well as I。 We have been exactly
  an hour coming from Pulteney Street; very little more
  than seven miles; and; I suppose; we have at least eight
  more to go。  It will never do。  We set out a great deal
  too late。  We had much better put it off till another day;
  and turn round。〃
  〃It is all one to me;〃 replied Thorpe rather angrily;
  and instantly turning his horse; they were on their way
  back to Bath。
  〃If your brother had not got such a d beast to drive;〃
  said he soon afterwards; 〃we might have done it very well。
  My horse would have trotted to Clifton within the hour;
  if left to himself; and I have almost broke my arm with
  pulling him in to that cursed broken…winded jade's pace。
  Morland is a fool for not keeping a horse and gig of
  his own。〃
  〃No; he is not;〃 said Catherine warmly; 〃for I am
  sure he could not afford it。〃
  〃And why cannot he afford it?〃
  〃Because he has not money enough。〃
  〃And whose fault is that?〃
  〃Nobody's; that I know of。〃 Thorpe then said something
  in the loud; incoherent way to which he had often recourse;
  about its being a d thing to be miserly; and that if
  people who rolled in money could not afford things;
  he did not know who could; which Catherine did not even
  endeavour to understand。  Disappointed of what was to
  have been the consolation for her first disappointment;
  she was less and less disposed either to be agreeable
  herself or to find her companion so; and they returned
  to Pulteney Street without her speaking twenty words。
  As she entered the house; the footman told her that a
  gentleman and lady had catted and inquired for her a few
  minutes after her setting off; that; when he told them she
  was gone out with Mr。 Thorpe; the lady had asked whether
  any message had been left for her; and on his saying no;
  had felt for a card; but said she had none about her;
  and went away。  Pondering over these heart…rending tidings;
  Catherine walked slowly upstairs。  At the head of them
  she was met by Mr。 Allen; who; on hearing the reason
  of their speedy return; said; 〃I am glad your brother
  had so much sense; I am glad you are come back。
  It was a strange; wild scheme。〃
  They all spent the evening together at Thorpe's。
  Catherine was disturbed and out of spirits; but Isabella
  seemed to find a pool of commerce; in the fate of
  which she shared; by private partnership with Morland;
  a very good equivalent for the quiet and country air
  of an inn at Clifton。  Her satisfaction; too; in not
  being at the Lower Rooms was spoken more than once。
  〃How I pity the poor creatures that are going there! How
  glad I am that I am not amongst them! I wonder whether
  it will be a full ball or not! They have not begun
  dancing yet。  I would not be there for all the world。
  It is so delightful to have an evening now and then
  to oneself。  I dare say it will not be a very good ball。
  I know the Mitchells will not be there。  I am sure I
  pity everybody that is。  But I dare say; Mr。 Morland;
  you long to be at it; do not you? I am sure you do。
  Well; pray do not let anybody here be a restraint on you。
  I dare say we could do very well without you; but you men
  think yourselves of such consequence。〃
  Catherine could almost have accused Isabella of being
  wanting in tenderness towards herself and her sorrows;
  so very little did they appear to dwell on her mind;
  and so very inadequate was the comfort she offered。
  〃Do not be so dull; my dearest creature;〃 she whispered。
  〃You will quite break my heart。  It was amazingly shocking;
  to be sure; but the Tilneys were entirely to blame。
  Why were not they more punctual? It was dirty; indeed;
  but what did that signify? I am sure John and I should
  not have minded it。  I never mind going through anything;
  where a friend is concerned; that is my disposition;
  and John is just the same; he has amazing strong feelings。
  Good heavens! What a delightful hand you have got! Kings;
  I vow! I never was so happy in my life! I would fifty times
  rather you should have them than myself。〃
  And now I may dismiss my heroine to the
  sleepless couch; which is the true heroine's portion;
  to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears。
  And lucky may she think herself; if she get another
  good night's rest in the course of the next three months。
  CHAPTER 12
  〃Mrs。 Allen;〃 said Catherine the next morning;
  〃will there be any harm in my calling on Miss Tilney today?
  I shall not be easy till I have explained everything。〃
  〃Go; by all means; my dear; only put on a white gown;
  Miss Tilney always wears white。〃
  Catherine cheerfully complied; and being properly equipped;
  was mor