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！
high luck。 There was little leisure for speaking while they danced；
but when they were seated at tea； she found him as agreeable as
she had already given him credit for being。 He talked with fluency
and spirit—and there was an archness and pleasantry in his
manner which interested； though it was hardly understood by her。
After chatting some time on such matters as naturally arose from
the objects around them； he suddenly addressed her with—“I have
hitherto been very remiss； madam； in the proper attentions of a
partner here； I have not yet asked you how long you have been in
Bath； whether you were ever here before； whether you have been
at the Upper Rooms； the theatre； and the concert； and how you
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 22…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 22
like the place altogether。 I have been very negligent—but are you
now at leisure to satisfy me in these particulars？ If you are I will
begin directly。”
“You need not give yourself that trouble； sir。”
“No trouble； I assure you； madam。” Then forming his features
into a set smile； and affectedly softening his voice； he added； with a
simpering air； “Have you been long in Bath； madam？”
“About a week； sir；” replied Catherine； trying not to laugh。
“Really！” with affected astonishment。
“Why should you be surprised； sir？”
“Why； indeed！” said he； in his natural tone—“but some emotion
must appear to be raised by your reply； and surprise is more easily
assumed； and not less reasonable than any other。—Now let us go
on。 Were you never here before； madam？”
“Never； sir。”
“Indeed！ Have you yet honoured the Upper Rooms？”
“Yes； sir； I was there last Monday。”
“Have you been to the theatre？”
“Yes； sir； I was at the play on Tuesday。”
“To the concert？”
“Yes； sir； on Wednesday。”
“And are you altogether pleased with Bath？”
“Yes—I like it very well。”
“Now I must give one smirk； and then we may be rational
again。”
Catherine turned away her head； not knowing whether she
might venture to laugh。
“I see what you think of me；” said he gravely—“I shall make but
a poor figure in your journal tomorrow。”
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 23…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 23
“My journal！”
“Yes； I know exactly what you will say： Friday； went to the
Lower Rooms； wore my sprigged muslin robe with blue
trimmings—plain black shoes—appeared to much advantage； but
was strangely harassed by a queer； half…witted man； who would
make me dance with him； and distressed me by his nonsense。”
“Indeed I shall say no such thing。”
“Shall I tell you what you ought to say？”
“If you please。”
“I danced with a very agreeable young man； introduced by Mr。
King； had a great deal of conversation with him—seems a most
extraordinary genius—hope I may know more of him。 That；
madam； is what I wish you to say。”
“But； perhaps； I keep no journal。”
“Perhaps you are not sitting in this room； and I am not sitting
by you。 These are points in which a doubt is equally possible。 Not
keep a journal！ How are your absent cousins to understand the
tenour of your life in Bath without one？ How are the civilities and
compliments of every day to be related as they ought to be； unless
noted down every evening in a journal？ How are your various
dresses to be remembered； and the particular state of your
complexion； and curl of your hair to be described in all their
diversities； without having constant recourse to a journal？—My
dear madam； I am not so ignorant of young ladies’ ways as you
wish to believe me； it is this delightful habit of journalizing which
largely contributes to form the easy style of writing for which
ladies are so generally celebrated。 Every body allows that the
talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female。 Nature may
have done something； but I am sure it must be essentially assisted
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 24…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 24
by the practice of keeping a journal。”
“I have sometimes thought；” said Catherine； doubtingly；
“whether ladies do write so much better letters than gentlemen！
That is—I should not think the superiority was always on our
side。”
“As far as I have had opportunity of judging； it appears to me
that the usual style of letter…writing among women is faultless；
except in three particulars。”
“And what are they？”
“A general deficiency of subject； a total inattention to stops； and
a very frequent ignorance of grammar。”
“Upon my word！ I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the
compliment。 You do not think too highly of us in that way。”
“I should no more lay it down as a general rule that women
write better letters than men； than that they sing better duets； or
draw better landscapes。 In every power； of which taste is the
foundation； excellence is pretty fairly divided between the sexes。”
They were interrupted by Mrs。 Allen：—“My dear Catherine；”
said she； “do take this pin out of my sleeve； I am afraid it has torn
a hole already； I shall be quite sorry if it has； for this is a favourite
gown； though it cost but nine shillings a yard。”
“That is exactly what I should have guessed it； madam；” said
Mr。 Tilney； looking at the muslin。
“Do you understand muslins； sir？”
“Particularly well； I always buy my own cravats； and am
allowed to be an excellent judge； and my sister has often trusted
me in the choice of a gown。 I bought one for her the other day； and
it was pronounced to be a prodigious bargain by every lady who
saw it。 I gave but five shillings a yard for it； and a true Indian
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 25…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 25