🔊 The next morning, at nine o’clock, Henry Tilney’s curricle was at the door, and he was announced. Catherine ran to meet him in the passage, and with eager concern for her welfare, which his countenance expressed, he inquired after her health and spirits. She thanked him, and assuring him that she was perfectly recovered, declared her impatience to be gone. After a few minutes’ conversation, they proceeded to the breakfast-room, where the General was already seated. Catherine’s spirits were elevated, and she could hardly forbear smiling at the contrast between her present situation and her last in that room. Then she had been forced to retire in humiliation and distress; now she was distinguished by the attentions of the son, and likely to be honoured by the father’s approval. The General received her with very gracious politeness, and after a short time, said to Henry, ‘We shall not part with Miss Morland on any account. She must give us as much of her company as she can while she remains in Bath.’ Henry bowed his acquiescence, and Catherine, delighted, expressed her gratitude.

翌日早晨九点,亨利·蒂尔尼的双轮轻便马车已停在门前,仆人通报了他的到来。凯瑟琳急忙跑到过道里迎接他。他脸上写满热切的关怀,问候她的身体和精神可好。她向他道谢,并保证自己已然康复,同时表达了急于动身的心情。交谈数分钟后,两人步入早餐室,将军已端坐其中。凯瑟琳情绪高涨,想到自己此刻的处境与上次在此室的境况截然相反,几乎忍不住要笑出来。那时,她被迫满怀屈辱与痛苦黯然告退；如今,她备受公子的殷勤相待,眼看又要蒙受将军的首肯。将军极其谦和礼貌地接待了她,稍过片刻便对亨利说道:“我们无论如何都不能放莫兰小姐走。她在巴斯期间,务必请她尽可能多陪伴我们。”亨利躬身领命。凯瑟琳喜不自胜,连声道谢。

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curricle /ˈkʌrɪkəl/

n. 一种轻便的双轮马车➕

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countenance /ˈkaʊntənəns/

n. 面容,表情；支持,赞同➕

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forbear /fɔːˈbeə(r)/

v. 克制,忍住➕

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humiliation /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃn/

n. 羞辱,蒙羞➕

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distress /dɪˈstres/

n. 痛苦,悲伤；危难,困境➕

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distinguished /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

adj. 卓越的,杰出的；显得尊贵的➕

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acquiescence /ˌækwiˈesns/

n. 默许,默然同意➕

🔊 After breakfast, Henry proposed a walk; and as the General was to attend a meeting at the pump-room, it was agreed that they should all go out together. The walk was very agreeable, and Catherine’s happiness was complete when Henry, taking advantage of a moment when the General was a little behind, said in a low voice, ‘My father is much pleased with you, and I hope you will not have reason to repent of having trusted to his kindness.’ Catherine felt too much to speak, and could only look her thanks.

早餐过后,亨利提议出去散步；既然将军要去泵房赴会,大家便商定一同外出。这次散步颇为惬意。将军稍稍落在后面时,亨利趁此机会低声说道:“家父对您极为满意,我希望您不会后悔信赖他的善意。”凯瑟琳心中百感交集,一时语塞,唯有以目光传递谢忱。

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agreeable /əˈɡriːəbl/

adj. 令人愉快的,宜人的；欣然同意的➕

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repent /rɪˈpent/

v. 后悔,懊悔➕

🔊 They returned to the house after a stroll of an hour, and Catherine retired to her room to write to Isabella. She had but just finished when she was summoned to the General’s study. He received her with great solemnity, and after a few preliminaries, said, ‘Miss Morland, I have sent for you to speak on a subject of some importance. I understand from my son that you are engaged to be married to him. Is this true?’ Catherine, astonished, could only stammer that she was not engaged. ‘Not engaged!’ repeated the General. ‘But I was given to understand that there was an engagement. However, if there is not, it is as well. I have reasons for disapproving of such a connection, and I must forbid it. You will oblige me by quitting my house immediately. I have ordered a post-chaise to be ready in an hour, and I expect you to depart without delay.’ He then rang the bell, and without waiting for a reply, left the room.

他们漫步一小时后回到寓所,凯瑟琳回房给伊莎贝拉写信。她刚写完,便被召至将军的书房。将军接待她时,神情举止异常严肃庄重。略作寒暄后,他说道:“莫兰小姐,我叫您来,是为了一件相当重要的事。听犬子说,您已与他缔结婚约。此话当真？”凯瑟琳惊愕不已,只能结结巴巴地说并无婚约。“没有婚约！”将军重复道,“可我听说是有婚约的。不过,既然没有,那倒也罢。我自有理由反对这门亲事,故此必须予以阻止。请您立刻离开我的宅邸,这便是帮了我的大忙。我已吩咐备好一辆驿递马车,一小时后便可启程,望您毋要耽搁。”说罢他摇了铃,不等答复便离开了房间。

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summoned /ˈsʌmənd/

v. （被）召唤,（被）传唤➕

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solemnity /səˈlemnəti/

n. 庄严,严肃➕

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preliminaries /prɪˈlɪmɪnəriz/

n. 预备步骤,开场白,初步事项（通常用复数）➕

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engaged to be married /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd tə bi ˈmærɪd/

phrase. 已订婚➕

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astonished /əˈstɒnɪʃt/

adj. 感到震惊的,大吃一惊的➕

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stammer /ˈstæmə(r)/

v. 结结巴巴地说➕

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forbid /fəˈbɪd/

v. 禁止,不准➕

🔊 Catherine, overwhelmed with surprise and mortification, remained for some moments motionless. Then, recollecting herself, she hastened to her room, and began to pack her things. In less than an hour, she was seated in the chaise, and on her way to Fullerton.

凯瑟琳被这突如其来的惊愕与屈辱淹没了,半晌动弹不得。继而,她定下神来,急忙回到房间,开始收拾行李。不到一小时,她便已坐在轻便马车里,踏上了前往富勒顿的路途。

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overwhelmed /ˌəʊvəˈwelm(d)/

adj. 被（感情）压倒的,不知所措的➕

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mortification /ˌmɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/

n. 屈辱,窘迫➕

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motionless /ˈməʊʃnləs/

adj. 一动不动的,静止的➕

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recollecting /ˌrekəˈlektɪŋ/

v. 回想起,记起➕

Chapter twenty-eight (第二十八章)

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