第7章

“No，“saidhe，“myfather\'shandsneednotbestrengthened，andFrederick\'sconfessionoffollyneednotbeforestalled。

Hemusttellhisownstory。”

“Buthewilltellonlyhalfofit。”

“Aquarterwouldbeenough。”

AdayortwopassedawayandbroughtnotidingsofCaptainTilney。Hisbrotherandsisterknewnotwhattothink。Sometimesitappearedtothemasifhissilencewouldbethenaturalresultofthesuspectedengagement，andatothersthatitwaswhollyincompatiblewithit。

Thegeneral，meanwhile，thoughoffendedeverymorningbyFrederick\'sremissnessinwriting，wasfreefromanyrealanxietyabouthim，andhadnomorepressingsolicitudethanthatofmakingMissMorland\'stimeatNorthangerpasspleasantly。Heoftenexpressedhisuneasinessonthishead，fearedthesamenessofeveryday\'ssocietyandemploymentswoulddisgustherwiththeplace，wishedtheLadyFrasershadbeeninthecountry，talkedeverynowandthenofhavingalargepartytodinner，andonceortwicebeganeventocalculatethenumberofyoungdancingpeopleintheneighbourhood。

Butthenitwassuchadeadtimeofyear，nowild-fowl，nogame，andtheLadyFraserswerenotinthecountry。

Anditallended，atlast，inhistellingHenryonemorningthatwhenhenextwenttoWoodston，theywouldtakehimbysurprisetheresomedayorother，andeattheirmuttonwithhim。Henrywasgreatlyhonouredandveryhappy，andCatherinewasquitedelightedwiththescheme。

“Andwhendoyouthink，sir，Imaylookforwardtothispleasure?ImustbeatWoodstononMondaytoattendtheparishmeeting，andshallprobablybeobligedtostaytwoorthreedays。”

“Well，well，wewilltakeourchancesomeoneofthosedays。Thereisnoneedtofix。Youarenottoputyourselfatalloutofyourway。Whateveryoumayhappentohaveinthehousewillbeenough。

IthinkIcananswerfortheyoungladiesmakingallowanceforabachelor\'stable。Letmesee；Mondaywillbeabusydaywithyou，wewillnotcomeonMonday；

andTuesdaywillbeabusyonewithme。IexpectmysurveyorfromBrockhamwithhisreportinthemorning；

andafterwardsIcannotindecencyfailattendingtheclub。

IreallycouldnotfacemyacquaintanceifIstayedawaynow；for，asIamknowntobeinthecountry，itwouldbetakenexceedinglyamiss；anditisarulewithme，MissMorland，nevertogiveoffencetoanyofmyneighbours，ifasmallsacrificeoftimeandattentioncanpreventit。Theyareasetofveryworthymen。

TheyhavehalfabuckfromNorthangertwiceayear；

andIdinewiththemwheneverIcan。Tuesday，therefore，wemaysayisoutofthequestion。ButonWednesday，Ithink，Henry，youmayexpectus；andweshallbewithyouearly，thatwemayhavetimetolookaboutus。

TwohoursandthreequarterswillcarryustoWoodston，Isuppose；weshallbeinthecarriagebyten；so，aboutaquarterbeforeoneonWednesday，youmaylookforus。”

AballitselfcouldnothavebeenmorewelcometoCatherinethanthislittleexcursion，sostrongwasherdesiretobeacquaintedwithWoodston；

andherheartwasstillboundingwithjoywhenHenry，aboutanhourafterwards，camebootedandgreatcoatedintotheroomwheresheandEleanorweresitting，andsaid，“Iamcome，youngladies，inaverymoralizingstrain，toobservethatourpleasuresinthisworldarealwaystobepaidfor，andthatweoftenpurchasethematagreatdisadvantage，givingready-moniedactualhappinessforadraftonthefuture，thatmaynotbehonoured。

Witnessmyself，atthispresenthour。BecauseIamtohopeforthesatisfactionofseeingyouatWoodstononWednesday，whichbadweather，ortwentyothercauses，mayprevent，Imustgoawaydirectly，twodaysbeforeI

intendedit。”

“Goaway！“saidCatherine，withaverylongface。

“Andwhy?“

“Why！Howcanyouaskthequestion?Becausenotimeistobelostinfrighteningmyoldhousekeeperoutofherwits，becauseImustgoandprepareadinnerforyou，tobesure。”

“Oh！Notseriously！“

“Aye，andsadlytoo——forIhadmuchratherstay。”

“Buthowcanyouthinkofsuchathing，afterwhatthegeneralsaid?Whenhesoparticularlydesiredyounottogiveyourselfanytrouble，becauseanythingwoulddo。”

Henryonlysmiled。“Iamsureitisquiteunnecessaryuponyoursister\'saccountandmine。

Youmustknowittobeso；andthegeneralmadesuchapointofyourprovidingnothingextraordinary:besides，ifhehadnotsaidhalfsomuchashedid，hehasalwayssuchanexcellentdinnerathome，thatsittingdowntoamiddlingoneforonedaycouldnotsignify。”

“IwishIcouldreasonlikeyou，forhissakeandmyown。

Good-bye。AstomorrowisSunday，Eleanor，Ishallnotreturn。”

Hewent；and，itbeingatanytimeamuchsimpleroperationtoCatherinetodoubtherownjudgmentthanHenry\'s，shewasverysoonobligedtogivehimcreditforbeingright，howeverdisagreeabletoherhisgoing。

Buttheinexplicabilityofthegeneral\'sconductdweltmuchonherthoughts。Thathewasveryparticularinhiseating，shehad，byherownunassistedobservation，alreadydiscovered；butwhyheshouldsayonethingsopositively，andmeananotherallthewhile，wasmostunaccountable！Howwerepeople，atthatrate，tobeunderstood?WhobutHenrycouldhavebeenawareofwhathisfatherwasat?

FromSaturdaytoWednesday，however，theywerenowtobewithoutHenry。Thiswasthesadfinaleofeveryreflection:andCaptainTilney\'sletterwouldcertainlycomeinhisabsence；andWednesdayshewasverysurewouldbewet。

Thepast，present，andfuturewereallequallyingloom。

Herbrothersounhappy，andherlossinIsabellasogreat；

andEleanor\'sspiritsalwaysaffectedbyHenry\'sabsence！

Whatwastheretointerestoramuseher?Shewastiredofthewoodsandtheshrubberies——alwayssosmoothandsodry；

andtheabbeyinitselfwasnomoretohernowthananyotherhouse。Thepainfulremembranceofthefollyithadhelpedtonourishandperfectwastheonlyemotionwhichcouldspringfromaconsiderationofthebuilding。

Whatarevolutioninherideas！She，whohadsolongedtobeinanabbey！Now，therewasnothingsocharmingtoherimaginationastheunpretendingcomfortofawell-connectedparsonage，somethinglikeFullerton，butbetter:Fullertonhaditsfaults，butWoodstonprobablyhadnone。IfWednesdayshouldevercome！

Itdidcome，andexactlywhenitmightbereasonablylookedfor。Itcame——itwasfine——andCatherinetrodonair。Byteno\'clock，thechaiseandfourconveyedthetwofromtheabbey；and，afteranagreeabledriveofalmosttwentymiles，theyenteredWoodston，alargeandpopulousvillage，inasituationnotunpleasant。

Catherinewasashamedtosayhowprettyshethoughtit，asthegeneralseemedtothinkanapologynecessaryfortheflatnessofthecountry，andthesizeofthevillage；

butinherheartshepreferredittoanyplaceshehadeverbeenat，andlookedwithgreatadmirationateveryneathouseabovetherankofacottage，andatallthelittlechandler\'sshopswhichtheypassed。Atthefurtherendofthevillage，andtolerablydisengagedfromtherestofit，stoodtheparsonage，anew-builtsubstantialstonehouse，withitssemicircularsweepandgreengates；and，astheydroveuptothedoor，Henry，withthefriendsofhissolitude，alargeNewfoundlandpuppyandtwoorthreeterriers，wasreadytoreceiveandmakemuchofthem。

Catherine\'smindwastoofull，assheenteredthehouse，forhereithertoobserveortosayagreatdeal；and，tillcalledonbythegeneralforheropinionofit，shehadverylittleideaoftheroominwhichshewassitting。Uponlookingrounditthen，sheperceivedinamomentthatitwasthemostcomfortableroomintheworld；butshewastooguardedtosayso，andthecoldnessofherpraisedisappointedhim。

“Wearenotcallingitagoodhouse，“saidhe。

“WearenotcomparingitwithFullertonandNorthanger——weareconsideringitasamereparsonage，smallandconfined，weallow，butdecent，perhaps，andhabitable；andaltogethernotinferiortothegenerality；or，inotherwords，IbelievetherearefewcountryparsonagesinEnglandhalfsogood。Itmayadmitofimprovement，however。Farbeitfrommetosayotherwise；andanythinginreason——abowthrownout，perhaps——though，betweenourselves，ifthereisonethingmorethananothermyaversion，itisapatched-onbow。”

Catherinedidnothearenoughofthisspeechtounderstandorbepainedbyit；andothersubjectsbeingstudiouslybroughtforwardandsupportedbyHenry，atthesametimethatatrayfullofrefreshmentswasintroducedbyhisservant，thegeneralwasshortlyrestoredtohiscomplacency，andCatherinetoallherusualeaseofspirits。

Theroominquestionwasofacommodious，well-proportionedsize，andhandsomelyfittedupasadining-parlour；andontheirquittingittowalkroundthegrounds，shewasshown，firstintoasmallerapartment，belongingpeculiarlytothemasterofthehouse，andmadeunusuallytidyontheoccasion；andafterwardsintowhatwastobethedrawing-room，withtheappearanceofwhich，thoughunfurnished，Catherinewasdelightedenougheventosatisfythegeneral。Itwasaprettilyshapedroom，thewindowsreachingtotheground，andtheviewfromthempleasant，thoughonlyovergreenmeadows；

andsheexpressedheradmirationatthemomentwithallthehonestsimplicitywithwhichshefeltit。

“Oh！Whydonotyoufitupthisroom，Mr。Tilney?Whatapitynottohaveitfittedup！ItistheprettiestroomIeversaw；itistheprettiestroomintheworld！“

“Itrust，“saidthegeneral，withamostsatisfiedsmile，“thatitwillveryspeedilybefurnished:itwaitsonlyforalady\'staste！“

“Well，ifitwasmyhouse，Ishouldneversitanywhereelse。Oh！Whatasweetlittlecottagethereisamongthetrees——appletrees，too！Itistheprettiestcottage！“

“Youlikeit——youapproveitasanobject——itisenough。

Henry，rememberthatRobinsonisspokentoaboutit。

Thecottageremains。”

SuchacomplimentrecalledallCatherine\'sconsciousness，andsilencedherdirectly；and，thoughpointedlyappliedtobythegeneralforherchoiceoftheprevailingcolourofthepaperandhangings，nothinglikeanopiniononthesubjectcouldbedrawnfromher。Theinfluenceoffreshobjectsandfreshair，however，wasofgreatuseindissipatingtheseembarrassingassociations；

and，havingreachedtheornamentalpartofthepremises，consistingofawalkroundtwosidesofameadow，onwhichHenry\'sgeniushadbeguntoactabouthalfayearago，shewassufficientlyrecoveredtothinkitprettierthananypleasure-groundshehadeverbeeninbefore，thoughtherewasnotashrubinithigherthanthegreenbenchinthecorner。

Asaunterintoothermeadows，andthroughpartofthevillage，withavisittothestablestoexaminesomeimprovements，andacharminggameofplaywithalitterofpuppiesjustabletorollabout，broughtthemtofouro\'clock，whenCatherinescarcelythoughtitcouldbethree。Atfourtheyweretodine，andatsixtosetoffontheirreturn。Neverhadanydaypassedsoquickly！

Shecouldnotbutobservethattheabundanceofthedinnerdidnotseemtocreatethesmallestastonishmentinthegeneral；nay，thathewasevenlookingattheside-tableforcoldmeatwhichwasnotthere。Hissonanddaughter\'sobservationswereofadifferentkind。

Theyhadseldomseenhimeatsoheartilyatanytablebuthisown，andneverbeforeknownhimsolittledisconcertedbythemeltedbutter\'sbeingoiled。

Atsixo\'clock，thegeneralhavingtakenhiscoffee，thecarriageagainreceivedthem；andsogratifyinghadbeenthetenorofhisconductthroughoutthewholevisit，sowellassuredwashermindonthesubjectofhisexpectations，that，couldshehavefeltequallyconfidentofthewishesofhisson，CatherinewouldhavequittedWoodstonwithlittleanxietyastotheHowortheWhenshemightreturntoit。

CHAPTER27

ThenextmorningbroughtthefollowingveryunexpectedletterfromIsabella:

Bath，AprilMydearestCatherine，Ireceivedyourtwokindletterswiththegreatestdelight，andhaveathousandapologiestomakefornotansweringthemsooner。

Ireallyamquiteashamedofmyidleness；butinthishorridplaceonecanfindtimefornothing。

IhavehadmypeninmyhandtobeginalettertoyoualmosteverydaysinceyouleftBath，buthavealwaysbeenpreventedbysomesillytriflerorother。

Praywritetomesoon，anddirecttomyownhome。

ThankGod，weleavethisvileplacetomorrow。Sinceyouwentaway，Ihavehadnopleasureinit——thedustisbeyondanything；andeverybodyonecaresforisgone。IbelieveifIcouldseeyouIshouldnotmindtherest，foryouaredearertomethananybodycanconceive。Iamquiteuneasyaboutyourdearbrother，nothavingheardfromhimsincehewenttoOxford；andamfearfulofsomemisunderstanding。Yourkindofficeswillsetallright:heistheonlymanIeverdidorcouldlove，andItrustyouwillconvincehimofit。Thespringfashionsarepartlydown；andthehatsthemostfrightfulyoucanimagine。Ihopeyouspendyourtimepleasantly，butamafraidyouneverthinkofme。IwillnotsayallthatIcouldofthefamilyyouarewith，becauseIwouldnotbeungenerous，orsetyouagainstthoseyouesteem；butitisverydifficulttoknowwhomtotrust，andyoungmenneverknowtheirmindstwodaystogether。Irejoicetosaythattheyoungmanwhom，ofallothers，I

particularlyabhor，hasleftBath。Youwillknow，fromthisdescription，ImustmeanCaptainTilney，who，asyoumayremember，wasamazinglydisposedtofollowandteaseme，beforeyouwentaway。Afterwardshegotworse，andbecamequitemyshadow。Manygirlsmighthavebeentakenin，forneverweresuchattentions；butIknewtheficklesextoowell。Hewentawaytohisregimenttwodaysago，andItrustIshallneverbeplaguedwithhimagain。HeisthegreatestcoxcombIeversaw，andamazinglydisagreeable。ThelasttwodayshewasalwaysbythesideofCharlotteDavis:Ipitiedhistaste，buttooknonoticeofhim。ThelasttimewemetwasinBathStreet，andIturneddirectlyintoashopthathemightnotspeaktome；Iwouldnotevenlookathim。Hewentintothepump-roomafterwards；

butIwouldnothavefollowedhimforalltheworld。

Suchacontrastbetweenhimandyourbrother！Praysendmesomenewsofthelatter——Iamquiteunhappyabouthim；heseemedsouncomfortablewhenhewentaway，withacold，orsomethingthataffectedhisspirits。Iwouldwritetohimmyself，buthavemislaidhisdirection；and，asIhintedabove，amafraidhetooksomethinginmyconductamiss。Prayexplaineverythingtohissatisfaction；or，ifhestillharboursanydoubt，alinefromhimselftome，oracallatPutneywhennextintown，mightsetalltorights。Ihavenotbeentotheroomsthisage，nortotheplay，exceptgoinginlastnightwiththeHodges，forafrolic，athalfprice:

theyteasedmeintoit；andIwasdeterminedtheyshouldnotsayIshutmyselfupbecauseTilneywasgone。WehappenedtositbytheMitchells，andtheypretendedtobequitesurprisedtoseemeout。I

knewtheirspite:atonetimetheycouldnotbeciviltome，butnowtheyareallfriendship；butIamnotsuchafoolastobetakeninbythem。

YouknowIhaveaprettygoodspiritofmyown。

AnneMitchellhadtriedtoputonaturbanlikemine，asIworeittheweekbeforeattheconcert，butmadewretchedworkofit——ithappenedtobecomemyoddface，Ibelieve，atleastTilneytoldmesoatthetime，andsaideveryeyewasuponme；butheisthelastmanwhosewordIwouldtake。Iwearnothingbutpurplenow:IknowIlookhideousinit，butnomatter——itisyourdearbrother\'sfavouritecolour。Losenotime，mydearest，sweetestCatherine，inwritingtohimandtome，Whoeveram，etc。

SuchastrainofshallowartificecouldnotimposeevenuponCatherine。Itsinconsistencies，contradictions，andfalsehoodstruckherfromtheveryfirst。ShewasashamedofIsabella，andashamedofhavingeverlovedher。

Herprofessionsofattachmentwerenowasdisgustingasherexcuseswereempty，andherdemandsimpudent。

“WritetoJamesonherbehalf！No，JamesshouldneverhearIsabella\'snamementionedbyheragain。”

OnHenry\'sarrivalfromWoodston，shemadeknowntohimandEleanortheirbrother\'ssafety，congratulatingthemwithsincerityonit，andreadingaloudthemostmaterialpassagesofherletterwithstrongindignation。

Whenshehadfinishedit——“SomuchforIsabella，“

shecried，“andforallourintimacy！Shemustthinkmeanidiot，orshecouldnothavewrittenso；butperhapsthishasservedtomakehercharacterbetterknowntomethanmineistoher。Iseewhatshehasbeenabout。

Sheisavaincoquette，andhertrickshavenotanswered。

IdonotbelieveshehadeveranyregardeitherforJamesorforme，andIwishIhadneverknownher。”

“Itwillsoonbeasifyouneverhad，“saidHenry。

“ThereisbutonethingthatIcannotunderstand。

IseethatshehashaddesignsonCaptainTilney，whichhavenotsucceeded；butIdonotunderstandwhatCaptainTilneyhasbeenaboutallthistime。Whyshouldhepayhersuchattentionsastomakeherquarrelwithmybrother，andthenflyoffhimself?“

“IhaveverylittletosayforFrederick\'smotives，suchasIbelievethemtohavebeen。HehashisvanitiesaswellasMissThorpe，andthechiefdifferenceis，that，havingastrongerhead，theyhavenotyetinjuredhimself。

Iftheeffectofhisbehaviourdoesnotjustifyhimwithyou，wehadbetternotseekafterthecause。”

“Thenyoudonotsupposeheeverreallycaredabouther?“

“Iampersuadedthatheneverdid。”

“Andonlymadebelievetodosoformischief\'ssake?“

Henrybowedhisassent。

“Well，then，ImustsaythatIdonotlikehimatall。

Thoughithasturnedoutsowellforus，Idonotlikehimatall。Asithappens，thereisnogreatharmdone，becauseIdonotthinkIsabellahasanyhearttolose。

But，supposehehadmadeherverymuchinlovewithhim?“

“ButwemustfirstsupposeIsabellatohavehadahearttolose——consequentlytohavebeenaverydifferentcreature；

and，inthatcase，shewouldhavemetwithverydifferenttreatment。”

“Itisveryrightthatyoushouldstandbyyourbrother。”

“Andifyouwouldstandbyyours，youwouldnotbemuchdistressedbythedisappointmentofMissThorpe。

Butyourmindiswarpedbyaninnateprincipleofgeneralintegrity，andthereforenotaccessibletothecoolreasoningsoffamilypartiality，oradesireofrevenge。”

Catherinewascomplimentedoutoffurtherbitterness。

Frederickcouldnotbeunpardonablyguilty，whileHenrymadehimselfsoagreeable。SheresolvedonnotansweringIsabella\'sletter，andtriedtothinknomoreofit。

CHAPTER28

Soonafterthis，thegeneralfoundhimselfobligedtogotoLondonforaweek；andheleftNorthangerearnestlyregrettingthatanynecessityshouldrobhimevenforanhourofMissMorland\'scompany，andanxiouslyrecommendingthestudyofhercomfortandamusementtohischildrenastheirchiefobjectinhisabsence。

HisdeparturegaveCatherinethefirstexperimentalconvictionthatalossmaybesometimesagain。Thehappinesswithwhichtheirtimenowpassed，everyemploymentvoluntary，everylaughindulged，everymealasceneofeaseandgoodhumour，walkingwheretheylikedandwhentheyliked，theirhours，pleasures，andfatiguesattheirowncommand，madeherthoroughlysensibleoftherestraintwhichthegeneral\'spresencehadimposed，andmostthankfullyfeeltheirpresentreleasefromit。Sucheaseandsuchdelightsmadeherlovetheplaceandthepeoplemoreandmoreeveryday；andhaditnotbeenforadreadofitssoonbecomingexpedienttoleavetheone，andanapprehensionofnotbeingequallybelovedbytheother，shewouldateachmomentofeachdayhavebeenperfectlyhappy；butshewasnowinthefourthweekofhervisit；beforethegeneralcamehome，thefourthweekwouldbeturned，andperhapsitmightseemanintrusionifshestayedmuchlonger。

Thiswasapainfulconsiderationwheneveritoccurred；

andeagertogetridofsuchaweightonhermind，sheverysoonresolvedtospeaktoEleanoraboutitatonce，proposegoingaway，andbeguidedinherconductbythemannerinwhichherproposalmightbetaken。

Awarethatifshegaveherselfmuchtime，shemightfeelitdifficulttobringforwardsounpleasantasubject，shetookthefirstopportunityofbeingsuddenlyalonewithEleanor，andofEleanor\'sbeinginthemiddleofaspeechaboutsomethingverydifferent，tostartforthherobligationofgoingawayverysoon。

Eleanorlookedanddeclaredherselfmuchconcerned。

Shehad“hopedforthepleasureofhercompanyforamuchlongertime——hadbeenmisled(perhapsbyherwishes)

tosupposethatamuchlongervisithadbeenpromised——andcouldnotbutthinkthatifMr。andMrs。Morlandwereawareofthepleasureitwastohertohaveherthere，theywouldbetoogeneroustohastenherreturn。”

Catherineexplained:“Oh！Astothat，PapaandMammawereinnohurryatall。Aslongasshewashappy，theywouldalwaysbesatisfied。”

“Thenwhy，mightsheask，insuchahurryherselftoleavethem?“

“Oh！Becauseshehadbeentheresolong。”

“Nay，ifyoucanusesuchaword，Icanurgeyounofarther。Ifyouthinkitlong——“

“Oh！No，Idonotindeed。Formyownpleasure，Icouldstaywithyouaslongagain。”Anditwasdirectlysettledthat，tillshehad，herleavingthemwasnoteventobethoughtof。

Inhavingthiscauseofuneasinesssopleasantlyremoved，theforceoftheotherwaslikewiseweakened。Thekindness，theearnestnessofEleanor\'smannerinpressinghertostay，andHenry\'sgratifiedlookonbeingtoldthatherstaywasdetermined，weresuchsweetproofsofherimportancewiththem，asleftheronlyjustsomuchsolicitudeasthehumanmindcanneverdocomfortablywithout。

Shedid——almostalways——believethatHenrylovedher，andquitealwaysthathisfatherandsisterlovedandevenwishedhertobelongtothem；andbelievingsofar，herdoubtsandanxietiesweremerelysportiveirritations。

Henrywasnotabletoobeyhisfather\'sinjunctionofremainingwhollyatNorthangerinattendanceontheladies，duringhisabsenceinLondon，theengagementsofhiscurateatWoodstonobliginghimtoleavethemonSaturdayforacoupleofnights。Hislosswasnotnowwhatithadbeenwhilethegeneralwasathome；itlessenedtheirgaiety，butdidnotruintheircomfort；andthetwogirlsagreeinginoccupation，andimprovinginintimacy，foundthemselvessowellsufficientforthetimetothemselves，thatitwaseleveno\'clock，ratheralatehourattheabbey，beforetheyquittedthesupper-roomonthedayofHenry\'sdeparture。

Theyhadjustreachedtheheadofthestairswhenitseemed，asfarasthethicknessofthewallswouldallowthemtojudge，thatacarriagewasdrivinguptothedoor，andthenextmomentconfirmedtheideabytheloudnoiseofthehouse-bell。Afterthefirstperturbationofsurprisehadpassedaway，ina“Goodheaven！Whatcanbethematter?“

itwasquicklydecidedbyEleanortobehereldestbrother，whosearrivalwasoftenassudden，ifnotquitesounseasonable，andaccordinglyshehurrieddowntowelcomehim。

Catherinewalkedontoherchamber，makinguphermindaswellasshecould，toafurtheracquaintancewithCaptainTilney，andcomfortingherselfundertheunpleasantimpressionhisconducthadgivenher，andthepersuasionofhisbeingbyfartoofineagentlemantoapproveofher，thatatleasttheyshouldnotmeetundersuchcircumstancesaswouldmaketheirmeetingmateriallypainful。

ShetrustedhewouldneverspeakofMissThorpe；

andindeed，ashemustbythistimebeashamedoftheparthehadacted，therecouldbenodangerofit；

andaslongasallmentionofBathsceneswereavoided，shethoughtshecouldbehavetohimverycivilly。

Insuchconsiderationstimepassedaway，anditwascertainlyinhisfavourthatEleanorshouldbesogladtoseehim，andhavesomuchtosay，forhalfanhourwasalmostgonesincehisarrival，andEleanordidnotcomeup。

AtthatmomentCatherinethoughtsheheardherstepinthegallery，andlistenedforitscontinuance；

butallwassilent。Scarcely，however，hadsheconvictedherfancyoferror，whenthenoiseofsomethingmovingclosetoherdoormadeherstart；itseemedasifsomeonewastouchingtheverydoorway——andinanothermomentaslightmotionofthelockprovedthatsomehandmustbeonit。Shetrembledalittleattheideaofanyone\'sapproachingsocautiously；butresolvingnottobeagainovercomebytrivialappearancesofalarm，ormisledbyaraisedimagination，shesteppedquietlyforward，andopenedthedoor。Eleanor，andonlyEleanor，stoodthere。

Catherine\'sspirits，however，weretranquillizedbutforaninstant，forEleanor\'scheekswerepale，andhermannergreatlyagitated。Thoughevidentlyintendingtocomein，itseemedanefforttoentertheroom，andastillgreatertospeakwhenthere。Catherine，supposingsomeuneasinessonCaptainTilney\'saccount，couldonlyexpressherconcernbysilentattention，obligedhertobeseated，rubbedhertempleswithlavender-water，andhungoverherwithaffectionatesolicitude。

“MydearCatherine，youmustnot——youmustnotindeed——“

wereEleanor\'sfirstconnectedwords。“Iamquitewell。

Thiskindnessdistractsme——Icannotbearit——Icometoyouonsuchanerrand！“

“Errand！Tome！“

“HowshallItellyou！Oh！HowshallItellyou！“

AnewideanowdartedintoCatherine\'smind，andturningaspaleasherfriend，sheexclaimed，“\'TisamessengerfromWoodston！“

“Youaremistaken，indeed，“returnedEleanor，lookingathermostcompassionately；“itisnoonefromWoodston。

Itismyfatherhimself。”Hervoicefaltered，andhereyeswereturnedtothegroundasshementionedhisname。

Hisunlooked-forreturnwasenoughinitselftomakeCatherine\'sheartsink，andforafewmomentsshehardlysupposedtherewereanythingworsetobetold。

Shesaidnothing；andEleanor，endeavouringtocollectherselfandspeakwithfirmness，butwitheyesstillcastdown，soonwenton。“Youaretoogood，Iamsure，tothinktheworseofmeforthepartIamobligedtoperform。Iamindeedamostunwillingmessenger。

Afterwhathassolatelypassed，solatelybeensettledbetweenus——howjoyfully，howthankfullyonmyside！——astoyourcontinuinghereasIhopedformany，manyweekslonger，howcanItellyouthatyourkindnessisnottobeaccepted——andthatthehappinessyourcompanyhashithertogivenusistoberepaidby——ButImustnottrustmyselfwithwords。MydearCatherine，wearetopart。MyfatherhasrecollectedanengagementthattakesourwholefamilyawayonMonday。WearegoingtoLordLongtown\'s，nearHereford，forafortnight。

Explanationandapologyareequallyimpossible。Icannotattempteither。”

“MydearEleanor，“criedCatherine，suppressingherfeelingsaswellasshecould，“donotbesodistressed。

Asecondengagementmustgivewaytoafirst。Iamvery，verysorrywearetopart——sosoon，andsosuddenlytoo；

butIamnotoffended，indeedIamnot。Icanfinishmyvisithere，youknow，atanytime；orIhopeyouwillcometome。Canyou，whenyoureturnfromthislord\'s，cometoFullerton?“

“Itwillnotbeinmypower，Catherine。”

“Comewhenyoucan，then。”

Eleanormadenoanswer；andCatherine\'sthoughtsrecurringtosomethingmoredirectlyinteresting，sheadded，thinkngaloud，“Monday——sosoonasMonday；

andyouallgo。Well，Iamcertainof——Ishallbeabletotakeleave，however。Ineednotgotilljustbeforeyoudo，youknow。Donotbedistressed，Eleanor，IcangoonMondayverywell。Myfatherandmother\'shavingnonoticeofitisofverylittleconsequence。

Thegeneralwillsendaservantwithme，Idaresay，halftheway——andthenIshallsoonbeatSalisbury，andthenIamonlyninemilesfromhome。”

“Ah，Catherine！Wereitsettledso，itwouldbesomewhatlessintolerable，thoughinsuchcommonattentionsyouwouldhavereceivedbuthalfwhatyouought。

But——howcanItellyou?——tomorrowmorningisfixedforyourleavingus，andnoteventhehourislefttoyourchoice；

theverycarriageisordered，andwillbehereatseveno\'clock，andnoservantwillbeofferedyou。”

Catherinesatdown，breathlessandspeechless。

“Icouldhardlybelievemysenses，whenIheardit；

andnodispleasure，noresentmentthatyoucanfeelatthismoment，howeverjustlygreat，canbemorethanI

myself——butImustnottalkofwhatIfelt。Oh！ThatI

couldsuggestanythinginextenuation！GoodGod！Whatwillyourfatherandmothersay！Aftercourtingyoufromtheprotectionofrealfriendstothis——almostdoubledistancefromyourhome，tohaveyoudrivenoutofthehouse，withouttheconsiderationsevenofdecentcivility！Dear，dearCatherine，inbeingthebearerofsuchamessage，Iseemguiltymyselfofallitsinsult；yet，Itrustyouwillacquitme，foryoumusthavebeenlongenoughinthishousetoseethatIambutanominalmistressofit，thatmyrealpowerisnothing。”

“HaveIoffendedthegeneral?“saidCatherineinafalteringvoice。

“Alas！Formyfeelingsasadaughter，allthatIknow，allthatIanswerfor，isthatyoucanhavegivenhimnojustcauseofoffence。Hecertainlyisgreatly，verygreatlydiscomposed；Ihaveseldomseenhimmoreso。

Histemperisnothappy，andsomethinghasnowoccurredtoruffleitinanuncommondegree；somedisappointment，somevexation，whichjustatthismomentseemsimportant，butwhichIcanhardlysupposeyoutohaveanyconcernin，forhowisitpossible?“

ItwaswithpainthatCatherinecouldspeakatall；

anditwasonlyforEleanor\'ssakethatsheattemptedit。

“Iamsure，“saidshe，“IamverysorryifIhaveoffendedhim。

ItwasthelastthingIwouldwillinglyhavedone。

Butdonotbeunhappy，Eleanor。Anengagement，youknow，mustbekept。Iamonlysorryitwasnotrecollectedsooner，thatImighthavewrittenhome。Butitisofverylittleconsequence。”

“Ihope，Iearnestlyhope，thattoyourrealsafetyitwillbeofnone；buttoeverythingelseitisofthegreatestconsequence:tocomfort，appearance，propriety，toyourfamily，totheworld。Wereyourfriends，theAllens，stillinBath，youmightgotothemwithcomparativeease；afewhourswouldtakeyouthere；butajourneyofseventymiles，tobetakenpostbyyou，atyourage，alone，unattended！“

“Oh，thejourneyisnothing。Donotthinkaboutthat。

Andifwearetopart，afewhourssoonerorlater，youknow，makesnodifference。Icanbereadybyseven。

Letmebecalledintime。”Eleanorsawthatshewishedtobealone；andbelievingitbetterforeachthattheyshouldavoidanyfurtherconversation，nowleftherwith，“Ishallseeyouinthemorning。”

Catherine\'sswellingheartneededrelief。

InEleanor\'spresencefriendshipandpridehadequallyrestrainedhertears，butnosoonerwasshegonethantheyburstforthintorrents。Turnedfromthehouse，andinsuchaway！Withoutanyreasonthatcouldjustify，anyapologythatcouldatonefortheabruptness，therudeness，nay，theinsolenceofit。Henryatadistance——notableeventobidhimfarewell。Everyhope，everyexpectationfromhimsuspended，atleast，andwhocouldsayhowlong?Whocouldsaywhentheymightmeetagain?

AndallthisbysuchamanasGeneralTilney，sopolite，sowellbred，andheretoforesoparticularlyfondofher！Itwasasincomprehensibleasitwasmortifyingandgrievous。

Fromwhatitcouldarise，andwhereitwouldend，wereconsiderationsofequalperplexityandalarm。

Themannerinwhichitwasdonesogrosslyuncivil，hurryingherawaywithoutanyreferencetoherownconvenience，orallowinghereventheappearanceofchoiceastothetimeormodeofhertravelling；oftwodays，theearliestfixedon，andofthatalmosttheearliesthour，asifresolvedtohavehergonebeforehewasstirringinthemorning，thathemightnotbeobligedeventoseeher。Whatcouldallthismeanbutanintentionalaffront?Bysomemeansorothershemusthavehadthemisfortunetooffendhim。

Eleanorhadwishedtospareherfromsopainfulanotion，butCatherinecouldnotbelieveitpossiblethatanyinjuryoranymisfortunecouldprovokesuchillwillagainstapersonnotconnected，or，atleast，notsupposedtobeconnectedwithit。

Heavilypassedthenight。Sleep，orreposethatdeservedthenameofsleep，wasoutofthequestion。

Thatroom，inwhichherdisturbedimaginationhadtormentedheronherfirstarrival，wasagainthesceneofagitatedspiritsandunquietslumbers。Yethowdifferentnowthesourceofherinquietudefromwhatithadbeenthen——howmournfullysuperiorinrealityandsubstance！Heranxietyhadfoundationinfact，herfearsinprobability；

andwithamindsooccupiedinthecontemplationofactualandnaturalevil，thesolitudeofhersituation，thedarknessofherchamber，theantiquityofthebuilding，werefeltandconsideredwithoutthesmallestemotion；

andthoughthewindwashigh，andoftenproducedstrangeandsuddennoisesthroughoutthehouse，shehearditallasshelayawake，hourafterhour，withoutcuriosityorterror。

SoonaftersixEleanorenteredherroom，eagertoshowattentionorgiveassistancewhereitwaspossible；butverylittleremainedtobedone。Catherinehadnotloitered；

shewasalmostdressed，andherpackingalmostfinished。

Thepossibilityofsomeconciliatorymessagefromthegeneraloccurredtoherashisdaughterappeared。

Whatsonatural，asthatangershouldpassawayandrepentancesucceedit?Andsheonlywantedtoknowhowfar，afterwhathadpassed，anapologymightproperlybereceivedbyher。Buttheknowledgewouldhavebeenuselesshere；

itwasnotcalledfor；neitherclemencynordignitywasputtothetrial——Eleanorbroughtnomessage。

Verylittlepassedbetweenthemonmeeting；eachfoundhergreatestsafetyinsilence，andfewandtrivialwerethesentencesexchangedwhiletheyremainedupstairs，Catherineinbusyagitationcompletingherdress，andEleanorwithmoregoodwillthanexperienceintentuponfillingthetrunk。Wheneverythingwasdonetheylefttheroom，Catherinelingeringonlyhalfaminutebehindherfriendtothrowapartingglanceoneverywell-known，cherishedobject，andwentdowntothebreakfast-parlour，wherebreakfastwasprepared。Shetriedtoeat，aswelltosaveherselffromthepainofbeingurgedastomakeherfriendcomfortable；butshehadnoappetite，andcouldnotswallowmanymouthfuls。Thecontrastbetweenthisandherlastbreakfastinthatroomgaveherfreshmisery，andstrengthenedherdistasteforeverythingbeforeher。

Itwasnotfourandtwentyhoursagosincetheyhadmettheretothesamerepast，butincircumstanceshowdifferent！Withwhatcheerfulease，whathappy，thoughfalse，security，hadshethenlookedaroundher，enjoyingeverythingpresent，andfearinglittleinfuture，beyondHenry\'sgoingtoWoodstonforaday！Happy，happybreakfast！ForHenryhadbeenthere；Henryhadsatbyherandhelpedher。Thesereflectionswerelongindulgedundisturbedbyanyaddressfromhercompanion，whosatasdeepinthoughtasherself；andtheappearanceofthecarriagewasthefirstthingtostartleandrecallthemtothepresentmoment。Catherine\'scolourroseatthesightofit；andtheindignitywithwhichshewastreated，strikingatthatinstantonhermindwithpeculiarforce，madeherforashorttimesensibleonlyofresentment。

Eleanorseemednowimpelledintoresolutionandspeech。

“Youmustwritetome，Catherine，“shecried；

“youmustletmehearfromyouassoonaspossible。

TillIknowyoutobesafeathome，Ishallnothaveanhour\'scomfort。Foroneletter，atallrisks，allhazards，Imustentreat。LetmehavethesatisfactionofknowingthatyouaresafeatFullerton，andhavefoundyourfamilywell，andthen，tillIcanaskforyourcorrespondenceasIoughttodo，Iwillnotexpectmore。

DirecttomeatLordLongtown\'s，and，Imustaskit，undercovertoAlice。”

“No，Eleanor，ifyouarenotallowedtoreceivealetterfromme，IamsureIhadbetternotwrite。

Therecanbenodoubtofmygettinghomesafe。”

Eleanoronlyreplied，“Icannotwonderatyourfeelings。

Iwillnotimportuneyou。IwilltrusttoyourownkindnessofheartwhenIamatadistancefromyou。”Butthis，withthelookofsorrowaccompanyingit，wasenoughtomeltCatherine\'sprideinamoment，andsheinstantlysaid，“Oh，Eleanor，Iwillwritetoyouindeed。”

TherewasyetanotherpointwhichMissTilneywasanxioustosettle，thoughsomewhatembarrassedinspeakingof。

Ithadoccurredtoherthataftersolonganabsencefromhome，Catherinemightnotbeprovidedwithmoneyenoughfortheexpensesofherjourney，and，uponsuggestingittoherwithmostaffectionateoffersofaccommodation，itprovedtobeexactlythecase。Catherinehadneverthoughtonthesubjecttillthatmoment，but，uponexaminingherpurse，wasconvincedthatbutforthiskindnessofherfriend，shemighthavebeenturnedfromthehousewithouteventhemeansofgettinghome；andthedistressinwhichshemusthavebeentherebyinvolvedfillingthemindsofboth，scarcelyanotherwordwassaidbyeitherduringthetimeoftheirremainingtogether。Short，however，wasthattime。

Thecarriagewassoonannouncedtobeready；andCatherine，instantlyrising，alongandaffectionateembracesuppliedtheplaceoflanguageinbiddingeachotheradieu；

and，astheyenteredthehall，unabletoleavethehousewithoutsomementionofonewhosenamehadnotyetbeenspokenbyeither，shepausedamoment，andwithquiveringlipsjustmadeitintelligiblethatsheleft“herkindremembranceforherabsentfriend。”Butwiththisapproachtohisnameendedallpossibilityofrestrainingherfeelings；and，hidingherfaceaswellasshecouldwithherhandkerchief，shedartedacrossthehall，jumpedintothechaise，andinamomentwasdrivenfromthedoor。

CHAPTER29

Catherinewastoowretchedtobefearful。Thejourneyinitselfhadnoterrorsforher；andshebeganitwithouteitherdreadingitslengthorfeelingitssolitariness。

Leaningbackinonecomerofthecarriage，inaviolentburstoftears，shewasconveyedsomemilesbeyondthewallsoftheabbeybeforesheraisedherhead；

andthehighestpointofgroundwithintheparkwasalmostclosedfromherviewbeforeshewascapableofturninghereyestowardsit。Unfortunately，theroadshenowtravelledwasthesamewhichonlytendaysagoshehadsohappilypassedalongingoingtoandfromWoodston；

and，forfourteenmiles，everybitterfeelingwasrenderedmoreseverebythereviewofobjectsonwhichshehadfirstlookedunderimpressionssodifferent。Everymile，asitbroughthernearerWoodston，addedtohersufferings，andwhenwithinthedistanceoffive，shepassedtheturningwhichledtoit，andthoughtofHenry，sonear，yetsounconscious，hergriefandagitationwereexcessive。

Thedaywhichshehadspentatthatplacehadbeenoneofthehappiestofherlife。Itwasthere，itwasonthatday，thatthegeneralhadmadeuseofsuchexpressionswithregardtoHenryandherself，hadsospokenandsolookedastogiveherthemostpositiveconvictionofhisactuallywishingtheirmarriage。Yes，onlytendaysagohadheelatedherbyhispointedregard——hadheevenconfusedherbyhistoosignificantreference！Andnow——whathadshedone，orwhathadsheomittedtodo，tomeritsuchachange?

Theonlyoffenceagainsthimofwhichshecouldaccuseherselfhadbeensuchaswasscarcelypossibletoreachhisknowledge。Henryandherownheartonlywereprivytotheshockingsuspicionswhichshehadsoidlyentertained；

andequallysafedidshebelievehersecretwitheach。

Designedly，atleast，Henrycouldnothavebetrayedher。

If，indeed，byanystrangemischancehisfathershouldhavegainedintelligenceofwhatshehaddaredtothinkandlookfor，ofhercauselessfanciesandinjuriousexaminations，shecouldnotwonderatanydegreeofhisindignation。

Ifawareofherhavingviewedhimasamurderer，shecouldnotwonderathiseventurningherfromhishouse。

Butajustificationsofulloftorturetoherself，shetrusted，wouldnotbeinhispower。

Anxiousaswereallherconjecturesonthispoint，itwasnot，however，theoneonwhichshedweltmost。

Therewasathoughtyetnearer，amoreprevailing，moreimpetuousconcern。HowHenrywouldthink，andfeel，andlook，whenhereturnedonthemorrowtoNorthangerandheardofherbeinggone，wasaquestionofforceandinteresttoriseovereveryother，tobeneverceasing，alternatelyirritatingandsoothing；itsometimessuggestedthedreadofhiscalmacquiescence，andatotherswasansweredbythesweetestconfidenceinhisregretandresentment。

Tothegeneral，ofcourse，hewouldnotdaretospeak；

buttoEleanor——whatmighthenotsaytoEleanorabouther?

Inthisunceasingrecurrenceofdoubtsandinquiries，onanyonearticleofwhichhermindwasincapableofmorethanmomentaryrepose，thehourspassedaway，andherjourneyadvancedmuchfasterthanshelookedfor。Thepressinganxietiesofthought，whichpreventedherfromnoticinganythingbeforeher，whenoncebeyondtheneighbourhoodofWoodston，savedheratthesametimefromwatchingherprogress；andthoughnoobjectontheroadcouldengageamoment\'sattention，shefoundnostageofittedious。

Fromthis，shewaspreservedtoobyanothercause，byfeelingnoeagernessforherjourney\'sconclusion；

fortoreturninsuchamannertoFullertonwasalmosttodestroythepleasureofameetingwiththoseshelovedbest，evenafteranabsencesuchashers——anelevenweeks\'absence。Whathadshetosaythatwouldnothumbleherselfandpainherfamily，thatwouldnotincreaseherowngriefbytheconfessionofit，extendanuselessresentment，andperhapsinvolvetheinnocentwiththeguiltyinundistinguishingillwill?ShecouldneverdojusticetoHenryandEleanor\'smerit；shefeltittoostronglyforexpression；andshouldadislikebetakenagainstthem，shouldtheybethoughtofunfavourably，ontheirfather\'saccount，itwouldcuthertotheheart。

Withthesefeelings，sheratherdreadedthansoughtforthefirstviewofthatwell-knownspirewhichwouldannounceherwithintwentymilesofhome。SalisburyshehadknowntobeherpointonleavingNorthanger；butafterthefirststageshehadbeenindebtedtothepost-mastersforthenamesoftheplaceswhichwerethentoconducthertoit；sogreathadbeenherignoranceofherroute。

Shemetwithnothing，however，todistressorfrightenher。

Heryouth，civilmanners，andliberalpayprocuredheralltheattentionthatatravellerlikeherselfcouldrequire；

andstoppingonlytochangehorses，shetravelledonforaboutelevenhourswithoutaccidentoralarm，andbetweensixandseveno\'clockintheeveningfoundherselfenteringFullerton。

Aheroinereturning，atthecloseofhercareer，tohernativevillage，inallthetriumphofrecoveredreputation，andallthedignityofacountess，withalongtrainofnoblerelationsintheirseveralphaetons，andthreewaiting-maidsinatravellingchaiseandfour，behindher，isaneventonwhichthepenofthecontrivermaywelldelighttodwell；itgivescredittoeveryconclusion，andtheauthormustshareinthegloryshesoliberallybestows。Butmyaffairiswidelydifferent；

Ibringbackmyheroinetoherhomeinsolitudeanddisgrace；

andnosweetelationofspiritscanleadmeintominuteness。

Aheroineinahackpost-chaiseissuchablowuponsentiment，asnoattemptatgrandeurorpathoscanwithstand。

Swiftlythereforeshallherpost-boydrivethroughthevillage，amidthegazeofSundaygroups，andspeedyshallbeherdescentfromit。

But，whatevermightbethedistressofCatherine\'smind，asshethusadvancedtowardstheparsonage，andwhateverthehumiliationofherbiographerinrelatingit，shewaspreparingenjoymentofnoeverydaynatureforthosetowhomshewent；first，intheappearanceofhercarriage——andsecondly，inherself。ThechaiseofatravellerbeingararesightinFullerton，thewholefamilywereimmediatelyatthewindow；andtohaveitstopatthesweep-gatewasapleasuretobrighteneveryeyeandoccupyeveryfancy——apleasurequiteunlookedforbyallbutthetwoyoungestchildren，aboyandgirlofsixandfouryearsold，whoexpectedabrotherorsisterineverycarriage。HappytheglancethatfirstdistinguishedCatherine！Happythevoicethatproclaimedthediscovery！ButwhethersuchhappinesswerethelawfulpropertyofGeorgeorHarrietcouldneverbeexactlyunderstood。

Herfather，mother，Sarah，George，andHarriet，allassembledatthedoortowelcomeherwithaffectionateeagerness，wasasighttoawakenthebestfeelingsofCatherine\'sheart；andintheembraceofeach，asshesteppedfromthecarriage，shefoundherselfsoothedbeyondanythingthatshehadbelievedpossible。Sosurrounded，socaressed，shewasevenhappy！Inthejoyfulnessoffamilyloveeverythingforashorttimewassubdued，andthepleasureofseeingher，leavingthematfirstlittleleisureforcalmcuriosity，theywereallseatedroundthetea-table，whichMrs。Morlandhadhurriedforthecomfortofthepoortraveller，whosepaleandjadedlookssooncaughthernotice，beforeanyinquirysodirectastodemandapositiveanswerwasaddressedtoher。

Reluctantly，andwithmuchhesitation，didshethenbeginwhatmightperhaps，attheendofhalfanhour，betermed，bythecourtesyofherhearers，anexplanation；

butscarcely，withinthattime，couldtheyatalldiscoverthecause，orcollecttheparticulars，ofhersuddenreturn。

Theywerefarfrombeinganirritablerace；farfromanyquicknessincatching，orbitternessinresenting，affronts:buthere，whenthewholewasunfolded，wasaninsultnottobeoverlooked，nor，forthefirsthalfhour，tobeeasilypardoned。Withoutsufferinganyromanticalarm，intheconsiderationoftheirdaughter\'slongandlonelyjourney，Mr。andMrs。Morlandcouldnotbutfeelthatitmighthavebeenproductiveofmuchunpleasantnesstoher；thatitwaswhattheycouldneverhavevoluntarilysuffered；andthat，inforcingheronsuchameasure，GeneralTilneyhadactedneitherhonourablynorfeelingly——neitherasagentlemannorasaparent。

Whyhehaddoneit，whatcouldhaveprovokedhimtosuchabreachofhospitality，andsosuddenlyturnedallhispartialregardfortheirdaughterintoactualillwill，wasamatterwhichtheywereatleastasfarfromdiviningasCatherineherself；butitdidnotoppressthembyanymeanssolong；and，afteraduecourseofuselessconjecture，that“itwasastrangebusiness，andthathemustbeaverystrangeman，“grewenoughforalltheirindignationandwonder；thoughSarahindeedstillindulgedinthesweetsofincomprehensibility，exclaimingandconjecturingwithyouthfulardour。“Mydear，yougiveyourselfagreatdealofneedlesstrouble，“

saidhermotheratlast；“dependuponit，itissomethingnotatallworthunderstanding。”

“IcanallowforhiswishingCatherineaway，whenherecollectedthisengagement，“saidSarah，“butwhynotdoitcivilly?“

“Iamsorryfortheyoungpeople，“returnedMrs。Morland；

“theymusthaveasadtimeofit；butasforanythingelse，itisnomatternow；Catherineissafeathome，andourcomfortdoesnotdependuponGeneralTilney。”

Catherinesighed。“Well，“continuedherphilosophicmother，“IamgladIdidnotknowofyourjourneyatthetime；

butnowitisanover，perhapsthereisnogreatharmdone。

Itisalwaysgoodforyoungpeopletobeputuponexertingthemselves；andyouknow，mydearCatherine，youalwayswereasadlittleshatter-brainedcreature；

butnowyoumusthavebeenforcedtohaveyourwitsaboutyou，withsomuchchangingofchaisesandsoforth；andIhopeitwillappearthatyouhavenotleftanythingbehindyouinanyofthepockets。”

Catherinehopedsotoo，andtriedtofeelaninterestinherownamendment，butherspiritswerequiteworndown；

and，tobesilentandalonebecomingsoonheronlywish，shereadilyagreedtohermother\'snextcounselofgoingearlytobed。Herparents，seeingnothinginherilllooksandagitationbutthenaturalconsequenceofmortifiedfeelings，andoftheunusualexertionandfatigueofsuchajourney，partedfromherwithoutanydoubtoftheirbeingsoonsleptaway；andthough，whentheyallmetthenextmorning，herrecoverywasnotequaltotheirhopes，theywerestillperfectlyunsuspiciousoftherebeinganydeeperevil。

Theyneveroncethoughtofherheart，which，fortheparentsofayoungladyofseventeen，justreturnedfromherfirstexcursionfromhome，wasoddenough！

Assoonasbreakfastwasover，shesatdowntofulfilherpromisetoMissTilney，whosetrustintheeffectoftimeanddistanceonherfriend\'sdispositionwasalreadyjustified，foralreadydidCatherinereproachherselfwithhavingpartedfromEleanorcoldly，withhavingneverenoughvaluedhermeritsorkindness，andneverenoughcommiseratedherforwhatshehadbeenyesterdaylefttoendure。Thestrengthofthesefeelings，however，wasfarfromassistingherpen；andneverhaditbeenharderforhertowritethaninaddressingEleanorTilney。

Tocomposealetterwhichmightatoncedojusticetohersentimentsandhersituation，conveygratitudewithoutservileregret，beguardedwithoutcoldness，andhonestwithoutresentment——aletterwhichEleanormightnotbepainedbytheperusalof——and，aboveall，whichshemightnotblushherself，ifHenryshouldchancetosee，wasanundertakingtofrightenawayallherpowersofperformance；and，afterlongthoughtandmuchperplexity，tobeverybriefwasallthatshecoulddetermineonwithanyconfidenceofsafety。ThemoneythereforewhichEleanorhadadvancedwasenclosedwithlittlemorethangratefulthanks，andthethousandgoodwishesofamostaffectionateheart。

“Thishasbeenastrangeacquaintance，“

observedMrs。Morland，astheletterwasfinished；

“soonmadeandsoonended。Iamsorryithappensso，forMrs。Allenthoughtthemveryprettykindofyoungpeople；

andyouweresadlyoutoflucktooinyourIsabella。

Ah！PoorJames！Well，wemustliveandlearn；andthenextnewfriendsyoumakeIhopewillbebetterworthkeeping。”

Catherinecolouredasshewarmlyanswered，“NofriendcanbebetterworthkeepingthanEleanor。”

“Ifso，mydear，Idaresayyouwillmeetagainsometimeorother；donotbeuneasy。Itistentoonebutyouarethrowntogetheragaininthecourseofafewyears；

andthenwhatapleasureitwillbe！“

Mrs。Morlandwasnothappyinherattemptatconsolation。

ThehopeofmeetingagaininthecourseofafewyearscouldonlyputintoCatherine\'sheadwhatmighthappenwithinthattimetomakeameetingdreadfultoher。

ShecouldneverforgetHenryTilney，orthinkofhimwithlesstendernessthanshedidatthatmoment；buthemightforgether；andinthatcase，tomeet——！Hereyesfilledwithtearsasshepicturedheracquaintancesorenewed；

andhermother，perceivinghercomfortablesuggestionstohavehadnogoodeffect，proposed，asanotherexpedientforrestoringherspirits，thattheyshouldcallonMrs。Allen。

Thetwohouseswereonlyaquarterofamileapart；

and，astheywalked，Mrs。MorlandquicklydispatchedallthatshefeltonthescoreofJames\'sdisappointment。

“Wearesorryforhim，“saidshe；“butotherwisethereisnoharmdoneinthematchgoingoff；foritcouldnotbeadesirablethingtohavehimengagedtoagirlwhomwehadnotthesmallestacquaintancewith，andwhowassoentirelywithoutfortune；andnow，aftersuchbehaviour，wecannotthinkatallwellofher。JustatpresentitcomeshardtopoorJames；butthatwillnotlastforever；

andIdaresayhewillbeadiscreetermanallhislife，forthefoolishnessofhisfirstchoice。”

ThiswasjustsuchasummaryviewoftheaffairasCatherinecouldlistento；anothersentencemighthaveendangeredhercomplaisance，andmadeherreplylessrational；

forsoonwereallherthinkingpowersswallowedupinthereflectionofherownchangeoffeelingsandspiritssincelastshehadtroddenthatwell-knownroad。Itwasnotthreemonthsagosince，wildwithjoyfulexpectation，shehadthererunbackwardsandforwardssometentimesaday，withanheartlight，gay，andindependent；

lookingforwardtopleasuresuntastedandunalloyed，andfreefromtheapprehensionofevilasfromtheknowledgeofit。Threemonthsagohadseenherallthis；andnow，howalteredabeingdidshereturn！

ShewasreceivedbytheAllenswithallthekindnesswhichherunlooked-forappearance，actingonasteadyaffection，wouldnaturallycallforth；andgreatwastheirsurprise，andwarmtheirdispleasure，onhearinghowshehadbeentreated——thoughMrs。Morland\'saccountofitwasnoinflatedrepresentation，nostudiedappealtotheirpassions。

“Catherinetookusquitebysurpriseyesterdayevening，“

saidshe。“Shetravelledallthewaypostbyherself，andknewnothingofcomingtillSaturdaynight；forGeneralTilney，fromsomeoddfancyorother，allofasuddengrewtiredofhavingherthere，andalmostturnedheroutofthehouse。

Veryunfriendly，certainly；andhemustbeaveryoddman；

butwearesogladtohaveheramongstusagain！Anditisagreatcomforttofindthatsheisnotapoorhelplesscreature，butcanshiftverywellforherself。”

Mr。Allenexpressedhimselfontheoccasionwiththereasonableresentmentofasensiblefriend；andMrs。Allenthoughthisexpressionsquitegoodenoughtobeimmediatelymadeuseofagainbyherself。Hiswonder，hisconjectures，andhisexplanationsbecameinsuccessionhers，withtheadditionofthissingleremark——“Ireallyhavenotpatiencewiththegeneral“——tofillupeveryaccidentalpause。

And，“Ireallyhavenotpatiencewiththegeneral，“

wasutteredtwiceafterMr。Allenlefttheroom，withoutanyrelaxationofanger，oranymaterialdigressionofthought。Amoreconsiderabledegreeofwanderingattendedthethirdrepetition；and，aftercompletingthefourth，sheimmediatelyadded，“Onlythink，mydear，ofmyhavinggotthatfrightfulgreatrentinmybestMechlinsocharminglymended，beforeIleftBath，thatonecanhardlyseewhereitwas。Imustshowityousomedayorother。Bathisaniceplace，Catherine，afterall。

IassureyouIdidnotabovehalflikecomingaway。

Mrs。Thorpe\'sbeingtherewassuchacomforttous，wasnotit?Youknow，youandIwerequiteforlornatfirst。”

“Yes，butthatdidnotlastlong，“saidCatherine，hereyesbrighteningattherecollectionofwhathadfirstgivenspirittoherexistencethere。

“Verytrue:wesoonmetwithMrs。Thorpe，andthenwewantedfornothing。Mydear，donotyouthinkthesesilkgloveswearverywell?IputthemonnewthefirsttimeofourgoingtotheLowerRooms，youknow，andIhavewornthemagreatdealsince。Doyourememberthatevening?“

“DoI！Oh！Perfectly。”

“Itwasveryagreeable，wasnotit?Mr。Tilneydrankteawithus，andIalwaysthoughthimagreataddition，heissoveryagreeable。Ihaveanotionyoudancedwithhim，butamnotquitesure。IrememberIhadmyfavouritegownon。”

Catherinecouldnotanswer；and，afterashorttrialofothersubjects，Mrs。Allenagainreturnedto——“Ireallyhavenotpatiencewiththegeneral！Suchanagreeable，worthymanasheseemedtobe！Idonotsuppose，Mrs。Morland，youeversawabetter-bredmaninyourlife。

Hislodgingsweretakentheverydayafterheleftthem，Catherine。Butnowonder；MilsomStreet，youknow。”

Astheywalkedhomeagain，Mrs。Morlandendeavouredtoimpressonherdaughter\'smindthehappinessofhavingsuchsteadywell-wishersasMr。andMrs。Allen，andtheverylittleconsiderationwhichtheneglectorunkindnessofslightacquaintanceliketheTilneysoughttohavewithher，whileshecouldpreservethegoodopinionandaffectionofherearliestfriends。

Therewasagreatdealofgoodsenseinallthis；

buttherearesomesituationsofthehumanmindinwhichgoodsensehasverylittlepower；andCatherine\'sfeelingscontradictedalmosteverypositionhermotheradvanced。

Itwasuponthebehaviouroftheseveryslightacquaintancethatallherpresenthappinessdepended；andwhileMrs。Morlandwassuccessfullyconfirmingherownopinionsbythejustnessofherownrepresentations，CatherinewassilentlyreflectingthatnowHenrymusthavearrivedatNorthanger；nowhemusthaveheardofherdeparture；

andnow，perhaps，theywereallsettingoffforHereford。

CHAPTER30

Catherine\'sdispositionwasnotnaturallysedentary，norhadherhabitsbeeneververyindustrious；butwhatevermighthithertohavebeenherdefectsofthatsort，hermothercouldnotbutperceivethemnowtobegreatlyincreased。

Shecouldneithersitstillnoremployherselffortenminutestogether，walkingroundthegardenandorchardagainandagain，asifnothingbutmotionwasvoluntary；

anditseemedasifshecouldevenwalkaboutthehouseratherthanremainfixedforanytimeintheparlour。

Herlossofspiritswasayetgreateralteration。Inherramblingandheridlenessshemightonlybeacaricatureofherself；butinhersilenceandsadnessshewastheveryreverseofallthatshehadbeenbefore。

FortwodaysMrs。Morlandallowedittopassevenwithoutahint；butwhenathirdnight\'sresthadneitherrestoredhercheerfulness，improvedherinusefulactivity，norgivenheragreaterinclinationforneedlework，shecouldnolongerrefrainfromthegentlereproofof，“MydearCatherine，Iamafraidyouaregrowingquiteafinelady。IdonotknowwhenpoorRichard\'scravatswouldbedone，ifhehadnofriendbutyou。YourheadrunstoomuchuponBath；butthereisatimeforeverything——atimeforballsandplays，andatimeforwork。

Youhavehadalongrunofamusement，andnowyoumusttrytobeuseful。”

Catherinetookupherworkdirectly，saying，inadejectedvoice，that“herheaddidnotrunuponBath——much。”

“ThenyouarefrettingaboutGeneralTilney，andthatisverysimpleofyou；fortentoonewhetheryoueverseehimagain。Youshouldneverfretabouttrifles。”

Afterashortsilence——“Ihope，myCatherine，youarenotgettingoutofhumourwithhomebecauseitisnotsograndasNorthanger。Thatwouldbeturningyourvisitintoanevilindeed。Whereveryouareyoushouldalwaysbecontented，butespeciallyathome，becausethereyoumustspendthemostofyourtime。Ididnotquitelike，atbreakfast，tohearyoutalksomuchabouttheFrenchbreadatNorthanger。”

“IamsureIdonotcareaboutthebread。

itisallthesametomewhatIeat。”

“Thereisaverycleveressayinoneofthebooksupstairsuponmuchsuchasubject，aboutyounggirlsthathavebeenspoiltforhomebygreatacquaintance——TheMirror，Ithink。Iwilllookitoutforyousomedayorother，becauseIamsureitwilldoyougood。”

Catherinesaidnomore，and，withanendeavourtodoright，appliedtoherwork；but，afterafewminutes，sunkagain，withoutknowingitherself，intolanguorandlistlessness，movingherselfinherchair，fromtheirritationofweariness，muchoftenerthanshemovedherneedle。

Mrs。Morlandwatchedtheprogressofthisrelapse；

andseeing，inherdaughter\'sabsentanddissatisfiedlook，thefullproofofthatrepiningspirittowhichshehadnowbeguntoattributeherwantofcheerfulness，hastilylefttheroomtofetchthebookinquestion，anxioustolosenotimeinattackingsodreadfulamalady。

Itwassometimebeforeshecouldfindwhatshelookedfor；

andotherfamilymattersoccurringtodetainher，aquarterofanhourhadelapsedereshereturneddownstairswiththevolumefromwhichsomuchwashoped。

Heravocationsabovehavingshutoutallnoisebutwhatshecreatedherself，sheknewnotthatavisitorhadarrivedwithinthelastfewminutes，till，onenteringtheroom，thefirstobjectshebeheldwasayoungmanwhomshehadneverseenbefore。Withalookofmuchrespect，heimmediatelyrose，andbeingintroducedtoherbyherconsciousdaughteras“Mr。HenryTilney，“withtheembarrassmentofrealsensibilitybegantoapologizeforhisappearancethere，acknowledgingthatafterwhathadpassedhehadlittlerighttoexpectawelcomeatFullerton，andstatinghisimpatiencetobeassuredofMissMorland\'shavingreachedherhomeinsafety，asthecauseofhisintrusion。Hedidnotaddresshimselftoanuncandidjudgeoraresentfulheart。Farfromcomprehendinghimorhissisterintheirfather\'smisconduct，Mrs。Morlandhadbeenalwayskindlydisposedtowardseach，andinstantly，pleasedbyhisappearance，receivedhimwiththesimpleprofessionsofunaffectedbenevolence；

thankinghimforsuchanattentiontoherdaughter，assuringhimthatthefriendsofherchildrenwerealwayswelcomethere，andentreatinghimtosaynotanotherwordofthepast。

Hewasnotill-inclinedtoobeythisrequest，for，thoughhisheartwasgreatlyrelievedbysuchunlooked-formildness，itwasnotjustatthatmomentinhispowertosayanythingtothepurpose。Returninginsilencetohisseat，therefore，heremainedforsomeminutesmostcivillyansweringallMrs。Morland\'scommonremarksabouttheweatherandroads。Catherinemeanwhile——theanxious，agitated，happy，feverishCatherine——saidnotaword；

butherglowingcheekandbrightenedeyemadehermothertrustthatthisgood-naturedvisitwouldatleastsetherheartateaseforatime，andgladlythereforedidshelayasidethefirstvolumeofTheMirrorforafuturehour。

DesirousofMr。Morland\'sassistance，aswellingivingencouragement，asinfindingconversationforherguest，whoseembarrassmentonhisfather\'saccountsheearnestlypitied，Mrs。Morlandhadveryearlydispatchedoneofthechildrentosummonhim；butMr。Morlandwasfromhome——andbeingthuswithoutanysupport，attheendofaquarterofanhourshehadnothingtosay。Afteracoupleofminutes\'unbrokensilence，Henry，turningtoCatherineforthefirsttimesincehermother\'sentrance，askedher，withsuddenalacrity，ifMr。andMrs。AllenwerenowatFullerton?Andondeveloping，fromamidstallherperplexityofwordsinreply，themeaning，whichoneshortsyllablewouldhavegiven，immediatelyexpressedhisintentionofpayinghisrespectstothem，and，witharisingcolour，askedherifshewouldhavethegoodnesstoshowhimtheway。“Youmayseethehousefromthiswindow，sir，“

wasinformationonSarah\'sside，whichproducedonlyabowofacknowledgmentfromthegentleman，andasilencingnodfromhermother；forMrs。Morland，thinkingitprobable，asasecondaryconsiderationinhiswishofwaitingontheirworthyneighbours，thathemighthavesomeexplanationtogiveofhisfather\'sbehaviour，whichitmustbemorepleasantforhimtocommunicateonlytoCatherine，wouldnotonanyaccountpreventheraccompanyinghim。

Theybegantheirwalk，andMrs。Morlandwasnotentirelymistakeninhisobjectinwishingit。Someexplanationonhisfather\'saccounthehadtogive；buthisfirstpurposewastoexplainhimself，andbeforetheyreachedMr。Allen\'sgroundshehaddoneitsowellthatCatherinedidnotthinkitcouldeverberepeatedtoooften。

Shewasassuredofhisaffection；andthatheartinreturnwassolicited，which，perhaps，theyprettyequallyknewwasalreadyentirelyhisown；for，thoughHenrywasnowsincerelyattachedtoher，thoughhefeltanddelightedinalltheexcellenciesofhercharacterandtrulylovedhersociety，Imustconfessthathisaffectionoriginatedinnothingbetterthangratitude，or，inotherwords，thatapersuasionofherpartialityforhimhadbeentheonlycauseofgivingheraseriousthought。Itisanewcircumstanceinromance，Iacknowledge，anddreadfullyderogatoryofanheroine\'sdignity；butifitbeasnewincommonlife，thecreditofawildimaginationwillatleastbeallmyown。

AveryshortvisittoMrs。Allen，inwhichHenrytalkedatrandom，withoutsenseorconnection，andCatherine，raptinthecontemplationofherownunutterablehappiness，scarcelyopenedherlips，dismissedthemtotheecstasiesofanothertete-a-tete；andbeforeitwassufferedtoclose，shewasenabledtojudgehowfarhewassanctionedbyparentalauthorityinhispresentapplication。

OnhisreturnfromWoodston，twodaysbefore，hehadbeenmetneartheabbeybyhisimpatientfather，hastilyinformedinangrytermsofMissMorland\'sdeparture，andorderedtothinkofhernomore。

Suchwasthepermissionuponwhichhehadnowofferedherhishand。TheaffrightedCatherine，amidstalltheterrorsofexpectation，asshelistenedtothisaccount，couldnotbutrejoiceinthekindcautionwithwhichHenryhadsavedherfromthenecessityofaconscientiousrejection，byengagingherfaithbeforehementionedthesubject；

andasheproceededtogivetheparticulars，andexplainthemotivesofhisfather\'sconduct，herfeelingssoonhardenedintoevenatriumphantdelight。Thegeneralhadhadnothingtoaccuseherof，nothingtolaytohercharge，butherbeingtheinvoluntary，unconsciousobjectofadeceptionwhichhispridecouldnotpardon，andwhichabetterpridewouldhavebeenashamedtoown。

Shewasguiltyonlyofbeinglessrichthanhehadsupposedhertobe。Underamistakenpersuasionofherpossessionsandclaims，hehadcourtedheracquaintanceinBath，solicitedhercompanyatNorthanger，anddesignedherforhisdaughter-in-law。Ondiscoveringhiserror，toturnherfromthehouseseemedthebest，thoughtohisfeelingsaninadequateproofofhisresentmenttowardsherself，andhiscontemptofherfamily。

JohnThorpehadfirstmisledhim。Thegeneral，perceivinghissononenightatthetheatretobepayingconsiderableattentiontoMissMorland，hadaccidentallyinquiredofThorpeifheknewmoreofherthanhername。

Thorpe，mosthappytobeonspeakingtermswithamanofGeneralTilney\'simportance，hadbeenjoyfullyandproudlycommunicative；andbeingatthattimenotonlyindailyexpectationofMorland\'sengagingIsabella，butlikewiseprettywellresolveduponmarryingCatherinehimself，hisvanityinducedhimtorepresentthefamilyasyetmorewealthythanhisvanityandavaricehadmadehimbelievethem。

Withwhomsoeverhewas，orwaslikelytobeconnected，hisownconsequencealwaysrequiredthattheirsshouldbegreat，andashisintimacywithanyacquaintancegrew，soregularlygrewtheirfortune。TheexpectationsofhisfriendMorland，therefore，fromthefirstoverrated，hadeversincehisintroductiontoIsabellabeengraduallyincreasing；andbymerelyaddingtwiceasmuchforthegrandeurofthemoment，bydoublingwhathechosetothinktheamountofMr。Morland\'spreferment，treblinghisprivatefortune，bestowingarichaunt，andsinkinghalfthechildren，hewasabletorepresentthewholefamilytothegeneralinamostrespectablelight。

ForCatherine，however，thepeculiarobjectofthegeneral\'scuriosity，andhisownspeculations，hehadyetsomethingmoreinreserve，andthetenorfifteenthousandpoundswhichherfathercouldgiveherwouldbeaprettyadditiontoMr。Allen\'sestate。Herintimacytherehadmadehimseriouslydetermineonherbeinghandsomelylegaciedhereafter；

andtospeakofherthereforeasthealmostacknowledgedfutureheiressofFullertonnaturallyfollowed。

Uponsuchintelligencethegeneralhadproceeded；

forneverhaditoccurredtohimtodoubtitsauthority。

Thorpe\'sinterestinthefamily，byhissister\'sapproachingconnectionwithoneofitsmembers，andhisownviewsonanother(circumstancesofwhichheboastedwithalmostequalopenness)，seemedsufficientvouchersforhistruth；

andtothesewereaddedtheabsolutefactsoftheAllensbeingwealthyandchildless，ofMissMorland\'sbeingundertheircare，and——assoonashisacquaintanceallowedhimtojudge——oftheirtreatingherwithparentalkindness。

Hisresolutionwassoonformed。AlreadyhadhediscernedalikingtowardsMissMorlandinthecountenanceofhisson；

andthankfulforMr。Thorpe\'scommunication，healmostinstantlydeterminedtosparenopainsinweakeninghisboastedinterestandruininghisdearesthopes。

Catherineherselfcouldnotbemoreignorantatthetimeofallthis，thanhisownchildren。HenryandEleanor，perceivingnothinginhersituationlikelytoengagetheirfather\'sparticularrespect，hadseenwithastonishmentthesuddenness，continuance，andextentofhisattention；

andthoughlatterly，fromsomehintswhichhadaccompaniedanalmostpositivecommandtohissonofdoingeverythinginhispowertoattachher，Henrywasconvincedofhisfather\'sbelievingittobeanadvantageousconnection，itwasnottillthelateexplanationatNorthangerthattheyhadthesmallestideaofthefalsecalculationswhichhadhurriedhimon。Thattheywerefalse，thegeneralhadlearntfromtheverypersonwhohadsuggestedthem，fromThorpehimself，whomhehadchancedtomeetagainintown，andwho，undertheinfluenceofexactlyoppositefeelings，irritatedbyCatherine\'srefusal，andyetmorebythefailureofaveryrecentendeavourtoaccomplishareconciliationbetweenMorlandandIsabella，convincedthattheywereseparatedforever，andspurningafriendshipwhichcouldbenolongerserviceable，hastenedtocontradictallthathehadsaidbeforetotheadvantageoftheMorlands——confessedhimselftohavebeentotallymistakeninhisopinionoftheircircumstancesandcharacter，misledbytherhodomontadeofhisfriendtobelievehisfatheramanofsubstanceandcredit，whereasthetransactionsofthetwoorthreelastweeksprovedhimtobeneither；foraftercomingeagerlyforwardonthefirstovertureofamarriagebetweenthefamilies，withthemostliberalproposals，hehad，onbeingbroughttothepointbytheshrewdnessoftherelator，beenconstrainedtoacknowledgehimselfincapableofgivingtheyoungpeopleevenadecentsupport。Theywere，infact，anecessitousfamily；numerous，too，almostbeyondexample；

bynomeansrespectedintheirownneighbourhood，ashehadlatelyhadparticularopportunitiesofdiscovering；

aimingatastyleoflifewhichtheirfortunecouldnotwarrant；

seekingtobetterthemselvesbywealthyconnections；

aforward，bragging，schemingrace。

TheterrifiedgeneralpronouncedthenameofAllenwithaninquiringlook；andheretooThorpehadlearnthiserror。TheAllens，hebelieved，hadlivednearthemtoolong，andheknewtheyoungmanonwhomtheFullertonestatemustdevolve。Thegeneralneedednomore。

Enragedwithalmosteverybodyintheworldbuthimself，hesetoutthenextdayfortheabbey，wherehisperformanceshavebeenseen。

Ileaveittomyreader\'ssagacitytodeterminehowmuchofallthisitwaspossibleforHenrytocommunicateatthistimetoCatherine，howmuchofithecouldhavelearntfromhisfather，inwhatpointshisownconjecturesmightassisthim，andwhatportionmustyetremaintobetoldinaletterfromJames。Ihaveunitedfortheircasewhattheymustdivideformine。Catherine，atanyrate，heardenoughtofeelthatinsuspectingGeneralTilneyofeithermurderingorshuttinguphiswife，shehadscarcelysinnedagainsthischaracter，ormagnifiedhiscruelty。

Henry，inhavingsuchthingstorelateofhisfather，wasalmostaspitiableasintheirfirstavowaltohimself。

Heblushedforthenarrow-mindedcounselwhichhewasobligedtoexpose。TheconversationbetweenthematNorthangerhadbeenofthemostunfriendlykind。

Henry\'sindignationonhearinghowCatherinehadbeentreated，oncomprehendinghisfather\'sviews，andbeingorderedtoacquiesceinthem，hadbeenopenandbold。Thegeneral，accustomedoneveryordinaryoccasiontogivethelawinhisfamily，preparedfornoreluctancebutoffeeling，noopposingdesirethatshoulddaretoclotheitselfinwords，couldinbrooktheoppositionofhisson，steadyasthesanctionofreasonandthedictateofconsciencecouldmakeit。But，insuchacause，hisanger，thoughitmustshock，couldnotintimidateHenry，whowassustainedinhispurposebyaconvictionofitsjustice。

HefelthimselfboundasmuchinhonourasinaffectiontoMissMorland，andbelievingthathearttobehisownwhichhehadbeendirectedtogain，nounworthyretractionofatacitconsent，noreversingdecreeofunjustifiableanger，couldshakehisfidelity，orinfluencetheresolutionsitprompted。

HesteadilyrefusedtoaccompanyhisfatherintoHerefordshire，anengagementformedalmostatthemomenttopromotethedismissalofCatherine，andassteadilydeclaredhisintentionofofferingherhishand。

Thegeneralwasfuriousinhisanger，andtheypartedindreadfuldisagreement。Henry，inanagitationofmindwhichmanysolitaryhourswererequiredtocompose，hadreturnedalmostinstantlytoWoodston，and，ontheafternoonofthefollowingday，hadbegunhisjourneytoFullerton。

CHAPTER31

Mr。andMrs。Morland\'ssurpriseonbeingappliedtobyMr。Tilneyfortheirconsenttohismarryingtheirdaughterwas，forafewminutes，considerable，ithavingneverenteredtheirheadstosuspectanattachmentoneitherside；butasnothing，afterall，couldbemorenaturalthanCatherine\'sbeingbeloved，theysoonlearnttoconsideritwithonlythehappyagitationofgratifiedpride，and，asfarastheyalonewereconcerned，hadnotasingleobjectiontostart。Hispleasingmannersandgoodsensewereself-evidentrecommendations；

andhavingneverheardevilofhim，itwasnottheirwaytosupposeanyevilcouldbetold。Goodwillsupplyingtheplaceofexperience，hischaracterneedednoattestation。

“Catherinewouldmakeasad，heedlessyounghousekeepertobesure，“washermother\'sforebodingremark；butquickwastheconsolationoftherebeingnothinglikepractice。

Therewasbutoneobstacle，inshort，tobementioned；

buttillthatonewasremoved，itmustbeimpossibleforthemtosanctiontheengagement。Theirtempersweremild，buttheirprinciplesweresteady，andwhilehisparentsoexpresslyforbadetheconnection，theycouldnotallowthemselvestoencourageit。Thatthegeneralshouldcomeforwardtosolicitthealliance，orthatheshouldevenveryheartilyapproveit，theywerenotrefinedenoughtomakeanyparadingstipulation；butthedecentappearanceofconsentmustbeyielded，andthatonceobtained——andtheirownheartsmadethemtrustthatitcouldnotbeverylongdenied——theirwillingapprobationwasinstantlytofollow。Hisconsentwasallthattheywishedfor。Theywerenomoreinclinedthanentitledtodemandhismoney。Ofaveryconsiderablefortune，hissonwas，bymarriagesettlements，eventuallysecure；

hispresentincomewasanincomeofindependenceandcomfort，andundereverypecuniaryview，itwasamatchbeyondtheclaimsoftheirdaughter。

Theyoungpeoplecouldnotbesurprisedatadecisionlikethis。Theyfeltandtheydeplored——buttheycouldnotresentit；andtheyparted，endeavouringtohopethatsuchachangeinthegeneral，aseachbelievedalmostimpossible，mightspeedilytakeplace，tounitethemagaininthefullnessofprivilegedaffection。

Henryreturnedtowhatwasnowhisonlyhome，towatchoverhisyoungplantations，andextendhisimprovementsforhersake，towhoseshareinthemhelookedanxiouslyforward；andCatherineremainedatFullertontocry。Whetherthetormentsofabsenceweresoftenedbyaclandestinecorrespondence，letusnotinquire。

Mr。andMrs。Morlandneverdid——theyhadbeentookindtoexactanypromise；andwheneverCatherinereceivedaletter，as，atthattime，happenedprettyoften，theyalwayslookedanotherway。

Theanxiety，whichinthisstateoftheirattachmentmustbetheportionofHenryandCatherine，andofallwholovedeither，astoitsfinalevent，canhardlyextend，Ifear，tothebosomofmyreaders，whowillseeinthetell-talecompressionofthepagesbeforethem，thatweareallhasteningtogethertoperfectfelicity。

Themeansbywhichtheirearlymarriagewaseffectedcanbetheonlydoubt:whatprobablecircumstancecouldworkuponatemperlikethegeneral\'s?Thecircumstancewhichchieflyavailedwasthemarriageofhisdaughterwithamanoffortuneandconsequence，whichtookplaceinthecourseofthesummer——anaccessionofdignitythatthrewhimintoafitofgoodhumour，fromwhichhedidnotrecovertillafterEleanorhadobtainedhisforgivenessofHenry，andhispermissionforhim“tobeafoolifhelikedit！“

ThemarriageofEleanorTilney，herremovalfromalltheevilsofsuchahomeasNorthangerhadbeenmadebyHenry\'sbanishment，tothehomeofherchoiceandthemanofherchoice，isaneventwhichIexpecttogivegeneralsatisfactionamongallheracquaintance。

Myownjoyontheoccasionisverysincere。Iknownoonemoreentitled，byunpretendingmerit，orbetterpreparedbyhabitualsuffering，toreceiveandenjoyfelicity。

Herpartialityforthisgentlemanwasnotofrecentorigin；

andhehadbeenlongwithheldonlybyinferiorityofsituationfromaddressingher。Hisunexpectedaccessiontotitleandfortunehadremovedallhisdifficulties；

andneverhadthegenerallovedhisdaughtersowellinallherhoursofcompanionship，utility，andpatientenduranceaswhenhefirsthailedher“YourLadyship！“

Herhusbandwasreallydeservingofher；independentofhispeerage，hiswealth，andhisattachment，beingtoaprecisionthemostcharmingyoungmanintheworld。

Anyfurtherdefinitionofhismeritsmustbeunnecessary；

themostcharmingyoungmanintheworldisinstantlybeforetheimaginationofusall。Concerningtheoneinquestion，therefore，Ihaveonlytoadd——awarethattherulesofcompositionforbidtheintroductionofacharacternotconnectedwithmyfable——thatthiswastheverygentlemanwhosenegligentservantleftbehindhimthatcollectionofwashing-bills，resultingfromalongvisitatNorthanger，bywhichmyheroinewasinvolvedinoneofhermostalarmingadventures。

Theinfluenceoftheviscountandviscountessintheirbrother\'sbehalfwasassistedbythatrightunderstandingofMr。Morland\'scircumstanceswhich，assoonasthegeneralwouldallowhimselftobeinformed，theywerequalifiedtogive。IttaughthimthathehadbeenscarcelymoremisledbyThorpe\'sfirstboastofthefamilywealththanbyhissubsequentmaliciousoverthrowofit；

thatinnosenseofthewordweretheynecessitousorpoor，andthatCatherinewouldhavethreethousandpounds。

Thiswassomaterialanamendmentofhislateexpectationsthatitgreatlycontributedtosmooththedescentofhispride；andbynomeanswithoutitseffectwastheprivateintelligence，whichhewasatsomepainstoprocure，thattheFullertonestate，beingentirelyatthedisposalofitspresentproprietor，wasconsequentlyopentoeverygreedyspeculation。

Onthestrengthofthis，thegeneral，soonafterEleanor\'smarriage，permittedhissontoreturntoNorthanger，andthencemadehimthebearerofhisconsent，verycourteouslywordedinapagefullofemptyprofessionstoMr。Morland。Theeventwhichitauthorizedsoonfollowed:HenryandCatherineweremarried，thebellsrang，andeverybodysmiled；and，asthistookplacewithinatwelvemonthfromthefirstdayoftheirmeeting，itwillnotappear，afterallthedreadfuldelaysoccasionedbythegeneral\'scruelty，thattheywereessentiallyhurtbyit。Tobeginperfecthappinessattherespectiveagesoftwenty-sixandeighteenistodoprettywell；

andprofessingmyselfmoreoverconvincedthatthegeneral\'sunjustinterference，sofarfrombeingreallyinjurioustotheirfelicity，wasperhapsratherconducivetoit，byimprovingtheirknowledgeofeachother，andaddingstrengthtotheirattachment，Ileaveittobesettled，bywhomsoeveritmayconcern，whetherthetendencyofthisworkbealtogethertorecommendparentaltyranny，orrewardfilialdisobedience。

*VidealetterfromMr。Richardson，No。97，Vol。II，Rambler。

ANOTEONTHETEXT

NorthangerAbbeywaswrittenin1797-98underadifferenttitle。

Themanuscriptwasrevisedaround1803andsoldtoaLondonpublisher，Crosbie&Co。，whosolditbackin1816。

TheSignetClassictextisbasedonthefirstedition，publishedbyJohnMurray，London，in1818——theyearfollowingMissAusten\'sdeath。SpellingandpunctuationhavebeenlargelybroughtintoconformitywithmodernBritishusage。

End