Northanger Abbey - Chapter 13

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have now passed in review before the reader; the events of each day, its hopes and fears, mortifications and pleasures, have been separately stated, and the pangs ¹ of Sunday only now remain to be described, and close the week. The Clifton scheme had been deferred ², not relinquished ³, and on the afternoon's Crescent of this day, it was brought forward again. In a private consultation ⁴ between Isabella and James, the former of whom had particularly set her heart upon going, and the latter no less anxiously placed his upon pleasing her, it was agreed that, provided the weather were fair, the party should take place on the following morning; and they were to set off very early, in order to be at home in good time. The affair thus determined ⁵, and Thorpe's approbation ⁶ secured, Catherine only remained to be apprised ⁷ of it. She had left them for a few minutes to speak to Miss Tilney. In that interval ⁸ the plan was completed, and as soon as she came again, her agreement was demanded; but instead of the gay acquiescence ⁹ expected by Isabella, Catherine looked grave, was very sorry, but could not go. The engagement which ought to have kept her from joining in the former attempt would make it impossible for her to accompany them now. She had that moment settled with Miss Tilney to take their proposed walk tomorrow; it was quite determined, and she would not, upon any account, retract ¹⁰. But that she must and should retract, was instantly the eager cry of both the Thorpes; they must go to Clifton tomorrow, they would not go without her, it would be nothing to put off a mere ¹¹ walk for one day longer, and they would not hear of a refusal. Catherine was distressed ¹², but not subdued ¹³. "Do not urge me, Isabella. I am engaged to Miss Tilney. I cannot go." This availed nothing. The same arguments assailed ¹⁴ her again; she must go, she should go, and they would not hear of a refusal. "It would be so easy to tell Miss Tilney that you had just been reminded of a prior engagement, and must only beg to put off the walk till Tuesday.", ,"No, it would not be easy. I could not do it. There has been no prior engagement." But Isabella became only more and more urgent, calling on her in the most affectionate manner, addressing her by the most endearing names. She was sure her dearest, sweetest Catherine would not seriously refuse such a trifling ¹⁵ request to a friend who loved her so dearly. She knew her beloved Catherine to have so feeling a heart, so sweet a temper, to be so easily persuaded by those she loved. But all in vain; Catherine felt herself to be in the right, and though pained by such tender, such flattering supplication ¹⁶, could not allow it to influence her. Isabella then tried another method. She reproached her with having more affection for Miss Tilney, though she had known her so little a while, than for her best and oldest friends, with being grown cold and indifferent, in short, towards herself. "I cannot help being jealous, Catherine, when I see myself slighted for strangers, I, who love you so excessively! When once my affections are placed, it is not in the power of anything to change them. But I believe my feelings are stronger than anybody's; I am sure they are too strong for my own peace; and to see myself supplanted ¹⁷ in your friendship by strangers does cut me to the quick, I own. These Tilneys seem to swallow up everything else.", ,Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it the part of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others? Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of everything but her own gratification. These painful ideas crossed her mind, though she said nothing. Isabella, in the meanwhile, had applied ¹⁸ her handkerchief to her eyes; and Morland, miserable ¹⁹ at such a sight, could not help saying, " Nay ²⁰, Catherine. I think you cannot stand out any longer now. The sacrifice is not much; and to oblige such a friend—I shall think you quite unkind, if you still refuse.", , ,"Catherine, you must go," said James., ,"But why cannot Mr. Thorpe drive one of his other sisters? I dare say either of them would like to go.", ,With touching pathos he described the pangs of hunger. 他以极具感伤力的笔触描述了饥饿的痛苦
。,The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。