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！
information； lest the following pages should otherwise fail of
giving any idea of what her character is meant to be； that her heart
was affectionate； her disposition cheerful and open； without
conceit or affectation of any kind—her manners just removed from
the awkwardness and shyness of a girl； her person pleasing； and；
when in good looks； pretty—and her mind about as ignorant and
uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is。
When the hour of departure drew near； the maternal anxiety of
Mrs。 Morland will be naturally supposed to be most severe。 A
thousand alarming presentiments of evil to her beloved Catherine
from this terrific separation must oppress her heart with sadness；
and drown her in tears for the last day or two of their being
together； and advice of the most important and applicable nature
must of course flow from her wise lips in their parting conference
in her closet。 Cautions against the violence of such noblemen and
baronets as delight in forcing young ladies away to some remote
farm…house； must； at such a moment； relieve the fulness of her
heart。 Who would not think so？ But Mrs。 Morland knew so little of
lords and baronets； that she entertained no notion of their general
mischievousness； and was wholly unsuspicious of danger to her
daughter from their machinations。 Her cautions were confined to
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 14…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 14
the following points。 “I beg； Catherine； you will always wrap
yourself up very warm about the throat； when you come from the
Rooms at night； and I wish you would try to keep some account of
the money you spend；—I will give you this little book on purpose。
Sally； or rather Sarah （for what young lady of common gentility
will reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as
she can？）； must from situation be at this time the intimate friend
and confidante of her sister。 It is remarkable； however； that she
neither insisted on Catherine’s writing by every post； nor exacted
her promise of transmitting the character of every new
acquaintance； nor a detail of every interesting conversation that
Bath might produce。 Every thing indeed relative to this important
journey was done； on the part of the Morlands； with a degree of
moderation and composure； which seemed rather consistent with
the common feelings of common life； than with the refined
susceptibilities； the tender emotions which the first separation of a
heroine from her family ought always to excite。 Her father； instead
of giving her an unlimited order on his banker； or even putting an
hundred pounds bank…bill into her hands； gave her only ten
guineas； and promised her more when she wanted it。
Under these unpromising auspices； the parting took place； and
the journey began。 It was performed with suitable quietness and
uneventful safety。 Neither robbers nor tempests befriended them；
nor one lucky overturn to introduce them to the hero。 Nothing
more alarming occurred than a fear； on Mrs。 Allen’s side； of having
once left her clogs behind her at an inn； and that fortunately
proved to be groundless。
They arrived at Bath。 Catherine was all eager delight；—her
eyes were here； there； every where； as they approached its fine
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 15…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 15
and striking environs； and afterwards drove through those streets
which conducted them to the hotel。 She was come to be happy；
and she felt happy already。
They were soon settled in comfortable lodgings in Pulteney…
street。
It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs。 Allen； that
the reader may be able to judge in what manner her actions will
hereafter tend to promote the general distress of the work； and
how she will； probably； contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all
the desperate wretchedness of which a last volume is capable—
whether by her imprudence； vulgarity； or jealousy—whether by
intercepting her letters； ruining her character； or turning her out
of doors。
Mrs。 Allen was one of that numerous class of females； whose
society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being
any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry
them。 She had neither beauty； genius； accomplishment； nor
manner。 The air of a gentlewoman； a great deal of quiet； inactive
good temper； and a trifling turn of mind were all that could
account for her being the choice of a sensible； intelligent man like
Mr。 Allen。 In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a
young lady into public； being as fond of going every where and
seeing every thing herself as any young lady could be。 Dress was
her passion。 She had a most harmless delight in being fine； and
our heroine’s entrée into life could not take place till after three or
four days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn； and
her chaperone was provided with a dress of the newest fashion。
Catherine too made some purchases herself； and when all these
matters were arranged； the important evening came which was to
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 16…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 16
usher her into the Upper Rooms。 Her hair was cut and dressed by
the best hand； her clothes put on with care； and both Mrs。 Allen
and her maid declared she looked quite as she should do。 With
such encouragement； Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured
through the crowd。 As for admiration； it was always very welcome
when it came； but she did not depend on it。
Mrs。 Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter the
ball…room till late。 The season was full； the room crowded； and the
two ladies squeezed in as well as they could。 As for Mr。 Allen； he
repaired directly to the card…room； and left them to enjoy a mob by
themselves。 With more care for the safety of her new gown than
for the comfort of her protegée； Mrs。 Allen made her way through
the throng of men by the door； as swiftly as the necessary caution
would allow； Catherine； however； kept close at her side； and linked
her arm too firmly within her friend’s to be torn asunder by any
common effort of a struggling assembly。 But to her utter
amazement she found that to proceed along the room was by no
means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd； it seemed
rather to increase as they went on； whereas she had imagined that
when once fairly within the door； they should easily find seats and
be able to watch the dances with perfect convenience。 But this was
far from being the case； and though by unwearied diligence they
gained even the top of the room； their situation was just the same；
they saw nothing of the dancers but the high feathers of some of
the ladies。 Still they moved on—something better was yet in view；
and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity they found
themselves at last in the passage behind the highest bench。 Here
there was something less of crowd than below； and hence Miss
Morland had a comprehensive view of all the company beneath
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 17…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 17
her； and of all the dangers of her late passage through them。 It was
a splendid sight； and she began； for the first time that evening； to
feel herself at a ball： she longed to dance； but she had not an
acquaintance in the room。 Mrs。 Allen did all that she could do in
such a case by saying very placidly； every now and then； “I wish
you could dance； my dear—I wish you could get a partner。” For
some time her young friend