登陆注册
5215400000026

第26章

"I dare say she was very glad to dance. Do you think her pretty?" "Not very.""He never comes to the pump-room, I suppose?""Yes, sometimes; but he has rid out this morning with my father."Mrs. Hughes now joined them, and asked Miss Tilney if she was ready to go. "I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again soon," said Catherine.

"Shall you be at the cotillion ball tomorrow?""Perhaps we-- Yes, I think we certainly shall.""I am glad of it, for we shall all be there."This civility was duly returned; and they parted--on Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge of her new acquaintance's feelings, and on Catherine's, without the smallest consciousness of having explained them.

She went home very happy. The morning had answered all her hopes, and the evening of the following day was now the object of expectation, the future good.

What gown and what head-dress she should wear on the occasion became her chief concern. She cannot be justified in it. Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim.

Catherine knew all this very well; her great aunt had read her a lecture on the subject only the Christmas before;and yet she lay awake ten minutes on Wednesday night debating between her spotted and her tamboured muslin, and nothing but the shortness of the time prevented her buying a new one for the evening. This would have been an error in judgment, great though not uncommon, from which one of the other sex rather than her own, a brother rather than a great aunt, might have warned her, for man only can be aware of the insensibility of man towards a new gown.

It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire;how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin, and how unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, the mull, or the jackonet.

Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter. But not one of these grave reflections troubled the tranquillity of Catherine.

She entered the rooms on Thursday evening with feelings very different from what had attended her thither the Monday before. She had then been exulting in her engagement to Thorpe, and was now chiefly anxious to avoid his sight, lest he should engage her again; for though she could not, dared not expect that Mr. Tilney should ask her a third time to dance, her wishes, hopes, and plans all centred in nothing less. Every young lady may feel for my heroine in this critical moment, for every young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation.

All have been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger from the pursuit of someone whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please. As soon as they were joined by the Thorpes, Catherine's agony began;she fidgeted about if John Thorpe came towards her, hid herself as much as possible from his view, and when he spoke to her pretended not to hear him.

The cotillions were over, the country-dancing beginning, and she saw nothing of the Tilneys.

"Do not be frightened, my dear Catherine,"whispered Isabella, "but I am really going to dance with your brother again. I declare positively it is quite shocking.

I tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself, but you and John must keep us in countenance. Make haste, my dear creature, and come to us. John is just walked off, but he will be back in a moment."Catherine had neither time nor inclination to answer.

The others walked away, John Thorpe was still in view, and she gave herself up for lost. That she might not appear, however, to observe or expect him, she kept her eyes intently fixed on her fan; and a self-condemnation for her folly, in supposing that among such a crowd they should even meet with the Tilneys in any reasonable time, had just passed through her mind, when she suddenly found herself addressed and again solicited to dance, by Mr. Tilney himself. With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she granted his request, and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went with him to the set, may be easily imagined. To escape, and, as she believed, so narrowly escape John Thorpe, and to be asked, so immediately on his joining her, asked by Mr. Tilney, as if he had sought her on purpose!--it did not appear to her that life could supply any greater felicity.

Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a place, however, when her attention was claimed by John Thorpe, who stood behind her.

"Heyday, Miss Morland!" said he. "What is the meaning of this? I thought you and I were to dance together.""I wonder you should think so, for you never asked me.""That is a good one, by Jove! I asked you as soon as I came into the room, and I was just going to ask you again, but when I turned round, you were gone! This is a cursed shabby trick! I only came for the sake of dancing with you, and I firmly believe you were engaged to me ever since Monday. Yes; I remember, I asked you while you were waiting in the lobby for your cloak.

And here have I been telling all my acquaintance that Iwas going to dance with the prettiest girl in the room;and when they see you standing up with somebody else, they will quiz me famously.""Oh, no; they will never think of me, after such a description as that.""By heavens, if they do not, I will kick them out of the room for blockheads. What chap have you there?"Catherine satisfied his curiosity. "Tilney," he repeated.

"Hum--I do not know him. A good figure of a man; well put together. Does he want a horse? Here is a friend of mine, Sam Fletcher, has got one to sell that would suit anybody.

A famous clever animal for the road--only forty guineas.

同类推荐
  • 六十种曲紫钗记

    六十种曲紫钗记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诸哽门

    诸哽门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞天福地岳渎名山记

    洞天福地岳渎名山记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 疯门全书

    疯门全书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚顶瑜伽三十七尊出生义

    金刚顶瑜伽三十七尊出生义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 腹黑总裁独宠小妻

    腹黑总裁独宠小妻

    “我宣布,今夜我和林梦珍小姐正式订婚。”轰动全城的政政联姻,他亲口宣布的订婚对象却不是她。一份亲子鉴定书,一场蓄谋已久的阴谋。又是他亲手将身为林家大小姐的她送入暗无天日的地下室,让她从天堂跌入地狱。心碎、魂离,曾经骄傲的公主转变成了卑微的小孤女。她卑微的活着,看着暗恋多年的他将婚戒套进了妹妹的手指。一直到,遇到了他。他一步步的靠近,强硬的将她纳入羽翼之下!甜腻的宠让她承受不起,霸道的爱让她无路可退!为娶她为妻,更不惜从伤她的男人手中抢位!女强玄幻文【邪尊懒凰】求收藏包养~!◆◆◆◆强推自己的完结文◆◆◆◆古风宠文【-蜜爱傻妃-】女强魔幻【异世女血皇】◆◆◆◆推荐好友文◆◆◆◆【教授真禽授】裴歆【书记,我不爱你】瑞夜楠【重生一豪门傻千金】妖娆小桃◆◆◆◆推荐《幻城联盟》强力新文◆◆◆◆【绝品妖孽】曲殇【军阀妻-】珞锦瑟【医手遮天】慕璎珞【邪医毒妃】墨邪尘【狂逆御世】墨堇琳【逆天毒尊】瑞夜楠【市长小妻未成年】漫觞【皇后不承宠】紫箫泠君【儿子们,太闷騒】冷优然【我们的娘子是盗圣】猫儿玲珑【车祸篇】:“碰——!”一声巨响,一阵尖锐的刹车声。纤细的身子在自己眼前,被撞得高高弹起,妖娆的血色,弥漫了一地。她,会不会死?不不,她不会死的!不会死的!林默笙的眸睁的极大,狂乱又慌张的摇着头。惊慌失措的望着眼前一地的血红,心里泛起了从未有过的巨大恐慌。然而,谁也没有看到,那个被撞倒在地、全身染血的少女,唇角忽而扬起诡异残忍的弧度。身在痛,血在淌。但,她心里明了。因这一撞,那个骄纵又天真的林默笙,失去了唯一可以依仗的东西。【相遇篇】:“还这么爱哭?”真没想到,他竟会看到那一张记忆中的脸。然而,眼前的小脸泪痕满脸,狼狈又可怜。眉头微皱,这样的一句话几乎下意识的就脱口而出。“什么?”林默笙低头流泪,心中的屈辱感升到了顶点。却没想到,会听到这样的一句话。而且,似乎还带了一丝温暖。抬起狼狈的小脸,黑眸有些迷蒙又有些怔怔的。眼前,男人生了一张英俊冷酷的脸,五官深邃,一套浅灰色休闲服勾勒出了他健硕修长的身材。他静静望着她,黑眸像是漾着水光,那般的柔和。【宝宝篇】:“你别过来,别过来…”林默笙看着唇角噙笑、只围了条浴巾的邪魅男人,连连后退。
  • 飞碟追踪(走进科学)

    飞碟追踪(走进科学)

    茫茫宇宙,浩浩人海,真是无奇不有,怪事迭起,许许多多的难解之谜和科技神奇奥妙无穷,神秘莫测,使我们对自己的生存环境捉摸不透。在各年间,武汉、甘肃、新疆等地出现各种形状的UFO飞碟。
  • 皇后娘娘重生现代后

    皇后娘娘重生现代后

    “你愿意……将一生交给我吗?”他俯身贴面,目光灼灼,深情如许。传言,身份矜贵,多金又有颜的明影帝今生挚爱一人,将她放在心尖儿上宠,可惜某人不解风情。前世贵为皇后,一杯毒酒香消玉殒;今生名门千金,再遇到这个贵不可言的男人。方虞目标是虐死他,谁知这男人却将她宠在手心,甩都甩不掉。【宠文,古穿今,娱乐圈】
  • 九幽阎罗传

    九幽阎罗传

    身怀盘古圣血,又得九幽传承。布局也好,谋划也罢,横戟一并破之!从都市生活开始,领九幽族崛起。伸腰抬手,谈笑间,拦路之敌退灭。看易何如何坐拥美人,踏寰宇,战苍茫!
  • 追寻迹

    追寻迹

    你相信有另外一个世界吗?在那个世界你和你一样,不过你们拥有着截然不同的人生,那个你做着一切你所向往的事情,拥有着你想拥有的一切……
  • 外科证治全书

    外科证治全书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 魔造苍生

    魔造苍生

    一个魔,却处处得道,八方来助。他的运气真的就这么好吗?一个人,却时时受阻,四面楚歌。他的人生难道就这么凄凉么?一颗心。却次次碎裂,一世沉沦。他的感情是否就这么脆弱呵?无数的宇宙,空间不断交战吞并,百家争鸣,万族林立,一个强者的崛起,不仅需要无尽的杀戮,还需要历遍轮回苦,尝尽苍生难,苏磊一个尝尽苦难,受尽折磨的少年,能否挣脱命运的枷锁,打破轮回的桎梏,冲破冲冲阻碍,站在众生之巅,创出属于自己的苍生之界。
  • 如何掌控自己的财富和生活

    如何掌控自己的财富和生活

    掌控自己财富的最好方法,就是向在财富上已经取得成功的人学习。本书概括了数十位亿万富翁的财富理念,他们是:比尔·盖茨、洛克菲勒、萨姆·沃尔顿、李嘉诚;犹太人、美国人……这些精彩实用的财富理念,将使你真正掌握获得金钱,保存金钱以及用金钱赚取更多金钱的全部秘密。
  • 炮灰女修仙记

    炮灰女修仙记

    这是一个瑰丽而宏伟的仙侠世界,所有的故事从这里开始……穿越至陌生大陆,她是炮灰之身,且看她如何披荆斩棘,站上巅峰。爽文欢迎入坑!
  • 箫音袅袅

    箫音袅袅

    铁血的他为了一个空空的诺言舍生忘死,岁月的利刃将柔情的她变得冷酷无情!千年的等待,千年的期盼,他终于将她拥入怀中!她问他:这一切对于你来说很重要吗?他望着那潭碧绿幽兰的潭水无言无语胸中却荡漾着万丈豪情!一根紫竹箫奏出千年的哀怨!断肠的箫音缠绵凄婉,秦时的明月无情冰冷。。。。。。他和她俩在奶池中如同婴儿般游弋,他说“甜甜的乳汁”怎么变咸?她痴痴的笑,她两眼无神呆呆的望着流动的奶水。。。。。。哎哎嘿。。。哎哎嘿。。。哎嘿。。。哎。。嘿。烈日下,众人在他的声音熏染下发出了相同的节律。。。。。。