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Austen, Jane

"Northanger Abbey"

If we proceed to particulars, and engage in the never-ceasing inquiry of 'Have you read this?' and 'Have you read that?' I shall soon leave you as far behind me as--what shall I say?--l want an appropriate simile.--as far as your friend Emily herself left poor Valancourt when she went with her aunt into Italy. Consider how many years I have had the start of you. I had entered on my studies at Oxford, while you were a good little girl working your sampler at home!"


? ? ? ? "Not very good, I am afraid. But now really, do not you think Udolpho the nicest book in the world?"


? ? ? ? "The nicest--by which I suppose you mean the neatest. That must depend upon the binding."


? ? ? ? "Henry," said Miss Tilney, "you are very impertinent. Miss Morland, he is treating you exactly as he does his sister. He is forever finding fault with me, for some incorrectness of language, and now he is taking the same liberty with you. The word 'nicest,' as you used it, did not suit him; and you had better change it as soon as you can, or we shall be overpowered with Johnson and Blair all the rest of the way."


? ? ? ? "I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?"


? ? ? ? "Very true," said Henry, "and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies.


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