Northanger Abbey - Chapter 31

Mr. and Mrs. Morland's surprise on being applied ¹ to by Mr. Tilney for their consent to his marrying their daughter was, for a few minutes, considerable, it having never entered their heads to suspect an attachment ² on either side; but as nothing, after all, could be more natural than Catherine's being beloved, they soon learnt to consider it with only the happy agitation ³ of gratified pride, and, as far as they alone were concerned, had not a single objection to start. His pleasing manners and good sense were self-evident recommendations; and having never heard evil of him, it was not their way to suppose any evil could be told. Goodwill ⁴ supplying the place of experience, his character needed no attestation ⁵. "Catherine would make a sad, heedless young housekeeper ⁶ to be sure," was her mother's foreboding remark; but quick was the consolation ⁷ of there being nothing like practice., ,There was but one obstacle, in short, to be mentioned; but till that one was removed, it must be impossible for them to sanction the engagement. Their tempers were mild, but their principles were steady, and while his parent so expressly forbade the connection, they could not allow themselves to encourage it. That the general should come forward to solicit ⁸ the alliance, or that he should even very heartily ⁹ approve it, they were not refined enough to make any parading stipulation ¹⁰; but the decent appearance of consent must be yielded, and that once obtained—and their own hearts made them trust that it could not be very long denied—their willing approbation ¹¹ was instantly to follow. His consent was all that they wished for. They were no more inclined than entitled to demand his money. Of a very considerable fortune, his son was, by marriage settlements, eventually secure; his present income was an income of independence and comfort, and under every pecuniary ¹² view, it was a match beyond the claims of their daughter., ,The young people could not be surprised at a decision like this. They felt and they deplored—but they could not resent it; and they parted, endeavouring to hope that such a change in the general, as each believed almost impossible, might speedily take place, to unite them again in the fullness of privileged affection. Henry returned to what was now his only home, to watch over his young plantations ¹³, and extend his improvements for her sake, to whose share in them he looked anxiously forward; and Catherine remained at Fullerton to cry. Whether the torments ¹⁴ of absence were softened ¹⁵ by a clandestine ¹⁶ correspondence, let us not inquire. Mr. and Mrs. Morland never did—they had been too kind to exact any promise; and whenever Catherine received a letter, as, at that time, happened pretty often, they always looked another way., , ,The marriage of Eleanor Tilney, her removal from all the evils of such a home as Northanger had been made by Henry's banishment ¹⁸, to the home of her choice and the man of her choice, is an event which I expect to give general satisfaction among all her acquaintance. My own joy on the occasion is very sincere. I know no one more entitled, by unpretending merit, or better prepared by habitual ¹⁹ suffering, to receive and enjoy felicity. Her partiality for this gentleman was not of recent origin; and he had been long withheld ²⁰ 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 add—aware that the rules of composition forbid the introduction of a character not connected with my fable—that this was the very gentleman whose negligent ²¹ 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 ²² 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 ²³ overthrow ²⁴ 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 ²⁵ 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 ²⁶, that the Fullerton estate, being entirely ²⁷ at the disposal of its present proprietor ²⁸, was consequently open to every greedy speculation ²⁹., ,This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用 。,She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐
。