📝 您未登录，登录后完成练习可保存成绩、查看最佳记录。
总字符
0
正确字符
0
错误字符
0
错误率
0.00%
耗时(秒)
0
速度 WPM
0
0 / 72
1"Thank you; but it is quite a matter of indifference to me. Indeed, I would not have gone on any account. I was saying
2so to Emily and Sophia when you overtook us." Catherine was still unconvinced; but glad that Anne should have the
3friendship of an Emily and a Sophia to console her, she bade her adieu without much uneasiness, and returned home,
4pleased that the party had not been prevented by her refusing to join it, and very heartily wishing that it might be too
5pleasant to allow either James or Isabella to resent her resistance any longer. CHAPTER 15 Early the next day, a note
6from Isabella, speaking peace and tenderness in every line, and entreating the immediate presence of her friend on a
7matter of the utmost importance, hastened Catherine, in the happiest state of confidence and curiosity, to Edgar's
8Buildings. The two youngest Miss Thorpes were by themselves in the parlour; and, on Anne's quitting it to call her
9sister, Catherine took the opportunity of asking the other for some particulars of their yesterday's party. Maria
10desired no greater pleasure than to speak of it; and Catherine immediately learnt that it had been altogether the most
11delightful scheme in the world, that nobody could imagine how charming it had been, and that it had been more delightful
12than anybody could conceive. Such was the information of the first five minutes; the second unfolded thus much in
13detail--that they had driven directly to the York Hotel, ate some soup, and bespoke an early dinner, walked down to the
14pump-room, tasted the water, and laid out some shillings in purses and spars; thence adjourned to eat ice at a
15pastry-cook's, and hurrying back to the hotel, swallowed their dinner in haste, to prevent being in the dark; and then
16had a delightful drive back, only the moon was not up, and it rained a little, and Mr. Morland's horse was so tired he
17could hardly get it along. Catherine listened with heartfelt satisfaction. It appeared that Blaize Castle had never been
18thought of; and, as for all the rest, there was nothing to regret for half an instant. Maria's intelligence concluded
19with a tender effusion of pity for her sister Anne, whom she represented as insupportably cross, from being excluded the
20party. "She will never forgive me, I am sure; but, you know, how could I help it? John would have me go, for he vowed he
21would not drive her, because she had such thick ankles. I dare say she will not be in good humour again this month; but
22I am determined I will not be cross; it is not a little matter that puts me out of temper." Isabella now entered the
23room with so eager a step, and a look of such happy importance, as engaged all her friend's notice. Maria was without
24ceremony sent away, and Isabella, embracing Catherine, thus began: "Yes, my dear Catherine, it is so indeed; your
25penetration has not deceived you. Oh, that arch eye of yours! it sees through everything." Catherine replied only by a
26look of wondering ignorance. "Nay, my beloved, sweetest friend," continued the other, "compose yourself. I am amazingly
27agitated, as you perceive. Let us sit down and talk in comfort. Well, and so you guessed it the moment you had my note?
28Sly creature! oh! my dear Catherine, you alone, who know my heart, can judge of my present happiness. Your brother is
29the most charming of men. I only wish I were more worthy of him. But what will your excellent father and mother say? Oh!
30heavens! when I think of them I am so agitated!" Catherine's understanding began to awake: an idea of the truth suddenly
31darted into her mind; and, with the natural blush of so new an emotion, she cried out, "Good heaven! my dear Isabella,
32what do you mean? Can you--can you really be in love with James?" This bold surmise, however, she soon learnt
33comprehended but half the fact. The anxious affection, which she was accused of having continually watched in Isabella's
34every look and action, had, in the course of their yesterday's party, received the delightful confession of an equal
35love. Her heart and faith were alike engaged to James. Never had Catherine listened to anything so full of interest,
36wonder, and joy. Her brother and her friend engaged! new to such circumstances, the importance of it appeared
37unspeakably great, and she contemplated it as one of those grand events, of which the ordinary course of life can hardly
38afford a return. The strength of her feelings she could not express; the nature of them, however, contented her friend.
39The happiness of having such a sister was their first effusion, and the fair ladies mingled in embraces and tears of
40joy. Delighting, however, as Catherine sincerely did, in the prospect of the connection, it must be acknowledged that
41Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations. "You will be so infinitely dearer to me, my Catherine, than either
42Anne or Maria: I feel that I shall be so much more attached to my dear Morland's family than to my own." This was a
43pitch of friendship beyond Catherine. "You are so like your dear brother," continued Isabella, "that I quite doted on
44you the first moment I saw you. But so it always is with me; the first moment settles everything. The very first day
45that Morland came to us last Christmas--the very first moment I beheld him--my heart was irrecoverably gone. I remember
46I wore my yellow gown, with my hair done up in braids; and when I came into the drawing-room, and John introduced him, I
47thought I never saw anybody so handsome before." Here Catherine secretly acknowledged the power of love; for, though
48exceedingly fond of her brother, and partial to all his endowments, she had never in her life thought him handsome. "I
49remember too, Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening, and wore her puce-coloured sarsenet; and she looked so
50heavenly that I thought your brother must certainly fall in love with her; I could not sleep a wink all night for
51thinking of it. Oh! catherine, the many sleepless nights I have had on your brother's account! i would not have you
52suffer half what I have done! i am grown wretchedly thin, I know; but I will not pain you by describing my anxiety; you
53have seen enough of it. I feel that I have betrayed myself perpetually--so unguarded in speaking of my partiality for
54the church! but my secret I was always sure would be safe with you." Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer;
55but ashamed of an ignorance little expected, she dared no longer contest the point, nor refuse to have been as full of
56arch penetration and affectionate sympathy as Isabella chose to consider her. Her brother, she found, was preparing to
57set off with all speed to Fullerton, to make known his situation and ask consent; and here was a source of some real
58agitation to the mind of Isabella. Catherine endeavoured to persuade her, as she was herself persuaded, that her father
59and mother would never oppose their son's wishes. "It is impossible," said she, "for parents to be more kind, or more
60desirous of their children's happiness; I have no doubt of their consenting immediately." "Morland says exactly the
61same," replied Isabella; "and yet I dare not expect it; my fortune will be so small; they never can consent to it. Your
62brother, who might marry anybody!" Here Catherine again discerned the force of love. "Indeed, Isabella, you are too
63humble. The difference of fortune can be nothing to signify." "Oh! my sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it
64would signify nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for myself, I am sure I only wish our
65situations were reversed. Had I the command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother would be my
66only choice." This charming sentiment, recommended as much by sense as novelty, gave Catherine a most pleasing
67remembrance of all the heroines of her acquaintance; and she thought her friend never looked more lovely than in
68uttering the grand idea. "I am sure they will consent," was her frequent declaration; "I am sure they will be delighted
69with you." "For my own part," said Isabella, "my wishes are so moderate that the smallest income in nature would be
70enough for me. Where people are really attached, poverty itself is wealth; grandeur I detest: I would not settle in
71London for the universe. A cottage in some retired village would be ecstasy. There are some charming little villas about
72Richmond." "Richmond!" cried Catherine. "You must settle near Fullerton. You must be near us."
🎉 全部完成！共 72 行