📝 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
1Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it the part of a friend thus to expose her feelings to
2the notice of others? Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of everything but her own
3gratification. These painful ideas crossed her mind, though she said nothing. Isabella, in the meanwhile, had applied
4her handkerchief to her eyes; and Morland, miserable at such a sight, could not help saying, "Nay, Catherine. I think
5you cannot stand out any longer now. The sacrifice is not much; and to oblige such a friend--I shall think you quite
6unkind, if you still refuse." This was the first time of her brother's openly siding against her, and anxious to avoid
7his displeasure, she proposed a compromise. If they would only put off their scheme till Tuesday, which they might
8easily do, as it depended only on themselves, she could go with them, and everybody might then be satisfied. But "No,
9no, no!" was the immediate answer; "that could not be, for Thorpe did not know that he might not go to town on Tuesday."
10Catherine was sorry, but could do no more; and a short silence ensued, which was broken by Isabella, who in a voice of
11cold resentment said, "Very well, then there is an end of the party. If Catherine does not go, I cannot. I cannot be the
12only woman. I would not, upon any account in the world, do so improper a thing." "Catherine, you must go," said James.
13"But why cannot Mr. Thorpe drive one of his other sisters? I dare say either of them would like to go." "Thank ye,"
14cried Thorpe, "but I did not come to Bath to drive my sisters about, and look like a fool. No, if you do not go, d----
15me if I do. I only go for the sake of driving you." "That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure." But her words
16were lost on Thorpe, who had turned abruptly away. The three others still continued together, walking in a most
17uncomfortable manner to poor Catherine; sometimes not a word was said, sometimes she was again attacked with
18supplications or reproaches, and her arm was still linked within Isabella's, though their hearts were at war. At one
19moment she was softened, at another irritated; always distressed, but always steady. "I did not think you had been so
20obstinate, Catherine," said James; "you were not used to be so hard to persuade; you once were the kindest,
21best-tempered of my sisters." "I hope I am not less so now," she replied, very feelingly; "but indeed I cannot go. If I
22am wrong, I am doing what I believe to be right." "I suspect," said Isabella, in a low voice, "there is no great
23struggle." Catherine's heart swelled; she drew away her arm, and Isabella made no opposition. Thus passed a long ten
24minutes, till they were again joined by Thorpe, who, coming to them with a gayer look, said, "Well, I have settled the
25matter, and now we may all go to-morrow with a safe conscience. I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuses." "You
26have not!" cried Catherine. "I have, upon my soul. Left her this moment. Told her you had sent me to say that, having
27just recollected a prior engagement of going to Clifton with us to-morrow, you could not have the pleasure of walking
28with her till Tuesday. She said very well, Tuesday was just as convenient to her; so there is an end of all our
29difficulties. A pretty good thought of mine--hey?" Isabella's countenance was once more all smiles and good humour, and
30James too looked happy again. "A most heavenly thought indeed! now, my sweet Catherine, all our distresses are over; you
31are honourably acquitted, and we shall have a most delightful party." "This will not do," said Catherine; "I cannot
32submit to this. I must run after Miss Tilney directly and set her right." Isabella, however, caught hold of one hand,
33Thorpe of the other, and remonstrances poured in from all three. Even James was quite angry. When everything was
34settled, when Miss Tilney herself said that Tuesday would suit her as well, it was quite ridiculous, quite absurd, to
35make any further objection. "I do not care. Mr. Thorpe had no business to invent any such message. If I had thought it
36right to put it off, I could have spoken to Miss Tilney myself. This is only doing it in a ruder way; and how do I know
37that Mr. Thorpe has--He may be mistaken again perhaps; he led me into one act of rudeness by his mistake on Friday. Let
38me go, Mr. Thorpe; Isabella, do not hold me." Thorpe told her it would be in vain to go after the Tilneys; they were
39turning the corner into Brock Street, when he had overtaken them, and were at home by this time. "Then I will go after
40them," said Catherine; "wherever they are I will go after them. It does not signify talking. If I could not be persuaded
41into doing what I thought wrong, I never will be tricked into it." And with these words she broke away and hurried off.
42Thorpe would have darted after her, but Morland withheld him. "Let her go, let her go, if she will go." "She is as
43obstinate as--" Thorpe never finished the simile, for it could hardly have been a proper one. Away walked Catherine in
44great agitation, as fast as the crowd would permit her, fearful of being pursued, yet determined to persevere. As she
45walked, she reflected on what had passed. It was painful to her to disappoint and displease them, particularly to
46displease her brother; but she could not repent her resistance. Setting her own inclination apart, to have failed a
47second time in her engagement to Miss Tilney, to have retracted a promise voluntarily made only five minutes before, and
48on a false pretence too, must have been wrong. She had not been withstanding them on selfish principles alone, she had
49not consulted merely her own gratification; that might have been ensured in some degree by the excursion itself, by
50seeing Blaize Castle; no, she had attended to what was due to others, and to her own character in their opinion. Her
51conviction of being right, however, was not enough to restore her composure; till she had spoken to Miss Tilney she
52could not be at ease; and quickening her pace when she got clear of the Crescent, she almost ran over the remaining
53ground till she gained the top of Milsom Street. So rapid had been her movements that in spite of the Tilneys' advantage
54in the outset, they were but just turning into their lodgings as she came within view of them; and the servant still
55remaining at the open door, she used only the ceremony of saying that she must speak with Miss Tilney that moment, and
56hurrying by him proceeded upstairs. Then, opening the first door before her, which happened to be the right, she
57immediately found herself in the drawing-room with General Tilney, his son, and daughter. Her explanation, defective
58only in being--from her irritation of nerves and shortness of breath--no explanation at all, was instantly given. "I am
59come in a great hurry--It was all a mistake--I never promised to go--I told them from the first I could not go.--I ran
60away in a great hurry to explain it.--I did not care what you thought of me.--I would not stay for the servant." The
61business, however, though not perfectly elucidated by this speech, soon ceased to be a puzzle. Catherine found that John
62Thorpe had given the message; and Miss Tilney had no scruple in owning herself greatly surprised by it. But whether her
63brother had still exceeded her in resentment, Catherine, though she instinctively addressed herself as much to one as to
64the other in her vindication, had no means of knowing. Whatever might have been felt before her arrival, her eager
65declarations immediately made every look and sentence as friendly as she could desire. The affair thus happily settled,
66she was introduced by Miss Tilney to her father, and received by him with such ready, such solicitous politeness as
67recalled Thorpe's information to her mind, and made her think with pleasure that he might be sometimes depended on. To
68such anxious attention was the General's civility carried, that not aware of her extraordinary swiftness in entering the
69house, he was quite angry with the servant whose neglect had reduced her to open the door of the apartment herself.
70"What did William mean by it? He should make a point of inquiring into the matter." And if Catherine had not most warmly
71asserted his innocence, it seemed likely that William would lose the favour of his master forever, if not his place, by
72her rapidity.
🎉 全部完成！共 72 行