North Anger Abbey_Jane Austin

8/2/2019 North Anger Abbey_Jane Austin

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No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in herinancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Hersituation in lie, the character o her ather and mother, her

own person and disposition, were all equally against her. Herather was a clergyman, without being neglected, or poor,and a very respectable man, though his name was Richard and he had never been handsome. He had a considerableindependence besides two good livings and he was not inthe least addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother

was a woman o useul plain sense, with a good temper, and,what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She hadthree sons beore Catherine was born; and instead o dying in

bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might expect, shestill lived on lived to have six children more to see them

growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health hersel. A amily o ten children will bealways called a ne amily, where there are heads and arms and legs enough or the number;but the Morlands had little other right to the word, or they were in general very plain, andCatherine, or many years o her lie, as plain as any. She had a thin awkward gure, a sallowskin without colour, dark lank hair, and strong eatures so much or her person; and notless unpropitious or heroism seemed her mind. She was ond o all boys plays, and greatlypreerred cricket not merely to dolls, but to the more heroic enjoyments o inancy, nursing

a dormouse, eeding a canarybird, or watering a rosebush. Indeed she had no taste or agarden; and i she gathered owers at all, it was chiey or the pleasure o mischie at leastso it was conjectured rom her always preerring those which she was orbidden to take. Such

were her propensities her abilities were quite as extraordinary. She never could learn or

Chapter 1


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Northanger Abbey, Chapter 1

understand anything beore she was taught; and sometimes not even then, or she was oteninattentive, and occasionally stupid. Her mother was three months in teaching her only torepeat the Beggars Petition; and ater all, her next sister, Sally, could say it better than she

did. Not that Catherine was always stupid by no means; she learnt the able o Te Hareand Many Friends as quickly as any girl in England. Her mother wished her to learn music;and Catherine was sure she should like it, or she was very ond o tinkling the keys o theold orlorn spinner; so, at eight years old she began. She learnt a year, and could not bearit; and Mrs. Morland, who did not insist on her daughters being accomplished in spite oincapacity or distaste, allowed her to leave o. Te day which dismissed the musicmaster

was one o the happiest o Catherines lie. Her taste or drawing was not superior; thoughwhenever she could obtain the outside o a letter rom her mother or seize upon any otherodd piece o paper, she did what she could in that way, by drawing houses and trees, hens

and chickens, all very much like one another. Writing and accounts she was taught by herather; French by her mother: her prociency in either was not remarkable, and she shirkedher lessons in both whenever she could. What a strange, unaccountable character! or

with all these symptoms o proigacy at ten years old, she had neither a bad heart nor a badtemper, was seldom stubborn, scarcely ever quarrelsome, and very kind to the little ones,

with ew interruptions o tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild, hated connement andcleanliness, and loved nothing so well in the world as rolling down the green slope at theback o the house.

Such was Catherine Morland at ten. At teen, appearances were mending; she began

to curl her hair and long or balls; her complexion improved, her eatures were sotened byplumpness and colour, her eyes gained more animation, and her gure more consequence.Her love o dirt gave way to an inclination or nery, and she grew clean as she grew smart;she had now the pleasure o sometimes hearing her ather and mother remark on her personalimprovement. Catherine grows quite a goodlooking girl she is almost pretty today,

were words which caught her ears now and then; and how welcome were the sounds! o lookalmost pretty is an acquisition o higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain the rstteen years o her lie than a beauty rom her cradle can ever receive.

Mrs. Morland was a very good woman, and wished to see her children everything they

ought to be; but her time was so much occupied in lyingin and teaching the little ones, thather elder daughters were inevitably let to shit or themselves; and it was not very wonderulthat Catherine, who had by nature nothing heroic about her, should preer cricket, baseball,riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age o ourteen, to books or


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at least books o inormation or, provided that nothing like useul knowledge couldbe gained rom them, provided they were all story and no reection, she had never anyobjection to books at all. But rom teen to seventeen she was in training or a heroine; she

read all such works as heroines must read to supply their memories with those quotationswhich are so serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes o their eventul lives.

From Pope, she learnt to censure those who

bear about the mockery o woe.

From Gray, that

Many a ower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its ragrance on the desert air.

From Tompson, that

It is a delightul tasko teach the young idea how to shoot.

And rom Shakespeare she gained a great store o inormation amongst the rest, that

ries light as air,Are, to the jealous, conrmation strong,As proos o Holy Writ.

Tat

Te poor beetle, which we tread upon,In corporal suerance eels a pang as great

As when a giant dies.

And that a young woman in love always looks


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like Patience on a monumentSmiling at Grie.

So ar her improvement was sufcient and in many other points she came onexceedingly well; or though she could not write sonnets, she brought hersel to read them;and though there seemed no chance o her throwing a whole party into raptures by a preludeon the pianoorte, o her own composition, she could listen to other peoples perormance

with very little atigue. Her greatest deciency was in the pencil she had no notion odrawing not enough even to attempt a sketch o her lovers prole, that she might bedetected in the design. Tere she ell miserably short o the true heroic height. At presentshe did not know her own poverty, or she had no lover to portray. She had reached the ageo seventeen, without having seen one amiable youth who could call orth her sensibility,

without having inspired one real passion, and without having excited even any admirationbut what was very moderate and very transient. Tis was strange indeed! But strange thingsmay be generally accounted or i their cause be airly searched out. Tere was not one lordin the neighbourhood; no not even a baronet. Tere was not one amily among theiracquaintance who had reared and supported a boy accidentally ound at their door notone young man whose origin was unknown. Her ather had no ward, and the squire o theparish no children.

But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness o orty surrounding amiliescannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way.

Mr. Allen, who owned the chie o the property about Fullerton, the village in Wiltshirewhere the Morlands lived, was ordered to Bath or the benet o a gouty constitution and his lady, a goodhumoured woman, ond o Miss Morland, and probably aware thati adventures will not beall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad,invited her to go with them. Mr. and Mrs. Morland were all compliance, and Catherine allhappiness.


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In addition to what has been already said o Catherine Morlands personal and mentalendowments, when about to be launched into all the diculties and dangers o a six weeksresidence in Bath, it may be stated, or the readers more certain inormation, lest the ollowing

pages should otherwise ail o giving any idea o what her character is meant to be, that herheart was aectionate; her disposition cheerul and open, without conceit or aectationo any kind her manners just removed rom the awkwardness and shyness o a girl; herperson pleasing, and, when in good looks, pretty and her mind about as ignorant anduninormed as the emale mind at seventeen usually is.

When the hour o departure drew near, the maternal anxiety o Mrs. Morland will benaturally supposed to be most severe. A thousand alarming presentiments o evil to herbeloved Catherine rom this terric separation must oppress her heart with sadness, anddrown her in tears or the last day or two o their being together; and advice o the most

important and applicable nature must o course fow rom her wise lips in their partingconerence in her closet. Cautions against the violence o such noblemen and baronets asdelight in orcing young ladies away to some remote armhouse, must, at such a moment,relieve the ulness o her heart. Who would not think so? But Mrs. Morland knew so little olords and baronets, that she entertained no notion o their general mischievousness, and was

wholly unsuspicious o danger to her daughter rom their machinations. Her cautions wereconned to the ollowing points. I beg, Catherine, you will always wrap yoursel up very

warm about the throat, when you come rom the rooms at night; and I wish you would tryto keep some account o the money you spend; I will give you this little book on purpose.

Sally, or rather Sarah (or what young lady o common gentility will reach the age osixteen without altering her name as ar as she can?), must rom situation be at this timethe intimate riend and condante o her sister. It is remarkable, however, that she neitherinsisted on Catherines writing by every post, nor exacted her promise o transmitting the

Chapter 2


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character o every new acquaintance, nor a detail o every interesting conversation that Bathmight produce. Everything indeed relative to this important journey was done, on the part othe Morlands, with a degree o moderation and composure, which seemed rather consistent

with the common eelings o common lie, than with the rened susceptibilities, the tenderemotions which the rst separation o a heroine rom her amily ought always to excite. Herather, instead o giving her an unlimited order on his banker, or even putting an hundredpounds bankbill into her hands, gave her only ten guineas, and promised her more whenshe wanted it.

Under these unpromising auspices, the parting took place, and the journey began. Itwas perormed with suitable quietness and uneventul saety. Neither robbers nor tempestsberiended them, nor one lucky overturn to introduce them to the hero. Nothing morealarming occurred than a ear, on Mrs. Allens side, o having once let her clogs behind her

at an inn, and that ortunately proved to be groundless.Tey arrived at Bath. Catherine was all eager delight her eyes were here, there,

everywhere, as they approached its ne and striking environs, and aterwards drove throughthose streets which conducted them to the hotel. She was come to be happy, and she elthappy already.

Tey were soon settled in comortable lodgings in Pulteney Street.It is now expedient to give some description o Mrs. Allen, that the reader may be able

to judge in what manner her actions will hereater tend to promote the general distress o thework, and how she will, probably, contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate

wretchedness o which a last volume is capable whether by her imprudence, vulgarity, orjealousy whether by intercepting her letters, ruining her character, or turning her out odoors.

Mrs. Allen was one o that numerous class o emales, whose society can raise no otheremotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enoughto marry them. She had neither beauty, genius, accomplishment, nor manner. Te air o agentlewoman, a great deal o quiet, inactive good temper, and a trifing turn o mind wereall that could account or her being the choice o a sensible, intelligent man like Mr. Allen.In one respect she was admirably tted to introduce a young lady into public, being as ond

o going everywhere and seeing everything hersel as any young lady could be. Dress washer passion. She had a most harmless delight in being ne; and our heroines entree intolie could not take place till ater three or our days had been spent in learning what wasmostly worn, and her chaperone was provided with a dress o the newest ashion. Catherine


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too made some purchases hersel, and when all these matters were arranged, the importantevening came which was to usher her into the Upper Rooms. Her hair was cut and dressedby the best hand, her clothes put on with care, and both Mrs. Allen and her maid declared

she looked quite as she should do. With such encouragement, Catherine hoped at least topass uncensured through the crowd. As or admiration, it was always very welcome when itcame, but she did not depend on it.

Mrs. Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter the ballroom till late. Teseason was ull, the room crowded, and the two ladies squeezed in as well as they could.

As or Mr. Allen, he repaired directly to the cardroom, and let them to enjoy a mob bythemselves. With more care or the saety o her new gown than or the comort o herprotegee, Mrs. Allen made her way through the throng o men by the door, as switly as thenecessary caution would allow; Catherine, however, kept close at her side, and linked her

arm too rmly within her riends to be torn asunder by any common eort o a strugglingassembly. But to her utter amazement she ound that to proceed along the room was by nomeans the way to disengage themselves rom the crowd; it seemed rather to increase as they

went on, whereas she had imagined that when once airly within the door, they should easilynd seats and be able to watch the dances with perect convenience. But this was ar rombeing the case, and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the top o the room, theirsituation was just the same; they saw nothing o the dancers but the high eathers o someo the ladies. Still they moved on something better was yet in view; and by a continuedexertion o strength and ingenuity they ound themselves at last in the passage behind the

highest bench. Here there was something less o crowd than below; and hence Miss Morlandhad a comprehensive view o all the company beneath her, and o all the dangers o her latepassage through them. It was a splendid sight, and she began, or the rst time that evening,to eel hersel at a ball: she longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room.Mrs. Allen did all that she could do in such a case by saying very placidly, every now andthen, I wish you could dance, my dear I wish you could get a partner. For some time heryoung riend elt obliged to her or these wishes; but they were repeated so oten, and provedso totally ineectual, that Catherine grew tired at last, and would thank her no more.

Tey were not long able, however, to enjoy the repose o the eminence they had so

laboriously gained. Everybody was shortly in motion or tea, and they must squeeze out likethe rest. Catherine began to eel something o disappointment she was tired o beingcontinually pressed against by people, the generality o whose aces possessed nothing tointerest, and with all o whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she could not relieve the


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irksomeness o imprisonment by the exchange o a syllable with any o her ellow captives;and when at last arrived in the tearoom, she elt yet more the awkwardness o having noparty to join, no acquaintance to claim, no gentleman to assist them. Tey saw nothing oMr. Allen; and ater looking about them in vain or a more eligible situation, were obligedto sit down at the end o a table, at which a large party were already placed, without havinganything to do there, or anybody to speak to, except each other.

Mrs. Allen congratulated hersel, as soon as they were seated, on having preserved hergown rom injury. It would have been very shocking to have it torn, said she, would notit? It is such a delicate muslin. For my part I have not seen anything I like so well in the

whole room, I assure you.How uncomortable it is, whispered Catherine, not to have a single acquaintance

here!

Yes, my dear, replied Mrs. Allen, with perect serenity, it is very uncomortableindeed.

What shall we do? Te gentlemen and ladies at this table look as i they wondered whywe came here we seem orcing ourselves into their party.

Aye, so we do. Tat is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large acquaintance here.I wish we had any it would be somebody to go to.Very true, my dear; and i we knew anybody we would join them directly. Te Skinners

were here last year I wish they were here now.Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no teathings or us, you see.

No more there are, indeed. How very provoking! But I think we had better sit still, orone gets so tumbled in such a crowd! How is my head, my dear? Somebody gave me a pushthat has hurt it, I am araid.

No, indeed, it looks very nice. But, dear Mrs. Allen, are you sure there is nobody youknow in all this multitude o people? I think you must know somebody.

I dont, upon my word I wish I did. I wish I had a large acquaintance here with allmy heart, and then I should get you a partner. I should be so glad to have you dance. Teregoes a strangelooking woman! What an odd gown she has got on! How oldashioned it is!Look at the back.

Ater some time they received an oer o tea rom one o their neighbours; it wasthankully accepted, and this introduced a light conversation with the gentleman who oeredit, which was the only time that anybody spoke to them during the evening, till they werediscovered and joined by Mr. Allen when the dance was over.


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Well, Miss Morland, said he, directly, I hope you have had an agreeable ball.Very agreeable indeed, she replied, vainly endeavouring to hide a great yawn.I wish she had been able to dance, said his wie; I wish we could have got a partner

or her. I have been saying how glad I should be i the Skinners were here this winter insteado last; or i the Parrys had come, as they talked o once, she might have danced with GeorgeParry. I am so sorry she has not had a partner!

We shall do better another evening I hope, was Mr. Allens consolation.Te company began to disperse when the dancing was over enough to leave space

or the remainder to walk about in some comort; and now was the time or a heroine, whohad not yet played a very distinguished part in the events o the evening, to be noticed andadmired. Every ve minutes, by removing some o the crowd, gave greater openings or hercharms. She was now seen by many young men who had not been near her beore. Not one,

however, started with rapturous wonder on beholding her, no whisper o eager inquiry ranround the room, nor was she once called a divinity by anybody. Yet Catherine was in verygood looks, and had the company only seen her three years beore, they would now havethought her exceedingly handsome.

She was looked at, however, and with some admiration; or, in her own hearing,two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl. Such words had their due eect; sheimmediately thought the evening pleasanter than she had ound it beore her humblevanity was contented she elt more obliged to the two young men or this simple praisethan a truequality heroine would have been or teen sonnets in celebration o her charms,

and went to her chair in good humour with everybody, and perectly satised with her shareo public attention.


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Every morning now brought its regular duties shops were to be visited; some newpart o the town to be looked at; and the pumproom to be attended, where they paraded upand down or an hour, looking at everybody and speaking to no one. Te wish o a numerous

acquaintance in Bath was still uppermost with Mrs. Allen, and she repeated it ater everyresh proo, which every morning brought, o her knowing nobody at all.

Tey made their appearance in the Lower Rooms; and here ortune was more avourableto our heroine. Te master o the ceremonies introduced to her a very gentlemanlike youngman as a partner; his name was ilney. He seemed to be about our or ve and twenty, wasrather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, i not quitehandsome, was very near it. His address was good, and Catherine elt hersel in high luck.Tere was little leisure or speaking while they danced; but when they were seated at tea, sheound him as agreeable as she had already given him credit or being. He talked with uency

and spirit and there was an archness and pleasantry in his manner which interested, thoughit was hardly understood by her. Ater chatting some time on such matters as naturally aroserom the objects around them, he suddenly addressed her with I have hitherto been veryremiss, madam, in the proper attentions o a partner here; I have not yet asked you how longyou have been in Bath; whether you were ever here beore; whether you have been at theUpper Rooms, the theatre, and the concert; and how you like the place altogether. I havebeen very negligent but are you now at leisure to satisy me in these particulars? I youare I will begin directly.

You need not give yoursel that trouble, sir.

No trouble, I assure you, madam. Ten orming his eatures into a set smile, andafectedly sotening 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.

Chapter 3


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Really! with afected 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 beore, 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 uesday.o 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 ome, said he gravely I shall make but a poor gure in your journal tomorrow.

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 muchadvantage; but was strangely harassed by a queer, halwitted 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?I you please.I danced with a very agreeable young man, introduced by Mr. King; had a great deal o

conversation with him seems a most extraordinary genius hope I may know more ohim. Tat, 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. Tese are points

in which a doubt is equally possible. Not keep a journal! How are your absent cousins tounderstand the tenour o your lie in Bath without one? How are the civilities and complimentso 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 o your complexion,


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and curl o your hair to be described in all their diversities, without having constant recourseto a journal? My dear madam, I am not so ignorant o young ladies ways as you wish tobelieve me; it is this delightul habit o journaling which largely contributes to orm the easy

style o writing or which ladies are so generally celebrated. Everybody allows that the talento writing agreeable letters is peculiarly emale. Nature may have done something, but I amsure it must be essentially assisted by the practice o keeping a journal.

I have sometimes thought, said Catherine, doubtingly, whether ladies do write somuch better letters than gentlemen! Tat is I should not think the superiority was alwayson our side.

As ar as I have had opportunity o judging, it appears to me that the usual style oletterwriting among women is aultless, except in three particulars.

And what are they?

A general deciency o subject, a total inattention to stops, and a very requent ignoranceo grammar.

Upon my word! I need not have been araid o disclaiming the compliment. You do notthink too highly o us in that way.

I should no more lay it down as a general rule that women write better letters thanmen, than that they sing better duets, or draw better landscapes. In every power, o whichtaste is the oundation, excellence is pretty airly divided between the sexes.

Tey were interrupted by Mrs. Allen: My dear Catherine, said she, do take this pinout o my sleeve; I am araid it has torn a hole already; I shall be quite sorry i it has, or this

is a avourite gown, though it cost but nine shillings a yard.Tat is exactly what I should have guessed it, madam, said Mr. ilney, 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 oten trusted me in the choice o a gown. I bought one or her theother day, and it was pronounced to be a prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. I gavebut ve shillings a yard or it, and a true Indian muslin.

Mrs. Allen was quite struck by his genius. Men commonly take so little notice o those

things, said she; I can never get Mr. Allen to know one o my gowns rom another. Youmust be a great comort to your sister, sir.

I hope I am, madam.And pray, sir, what do you think o Miss Morlands gown?


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It is very pretty, madam, said he, gravely examining it; but I do not think it will washwell; I am araid it will ray.

How can you, said Catherine, laughing, be so She had almost said strange.I am quite o your opinion, sir, replied Mrs. Allen; and so I told Miss Morland when

she bought it.But then you know, madam, muslin always turns to some account or other; Miss

Morland will get enough out o it or a handkerchie, or a cap, or a cloak. Muslin can neverbe said to be wasted. I have heard my sister say so orty times, when she has been extravagantin buying more than she wanted, or careless in cutting it to pieces.

Bath is a charming place, sir; there are so many good shops here. We are sadly of in thecountry; not but what we have very good shops in Salisbury, but it is so ar to go eightmiles is a long way; Mr. Allen says it is nine, measured nine; but I am sure it cannot be more

than eight; and it is such a ag I come back tired to death. Now, here one can step out odoors and get a thing in ve minutes.

Mr. ilney was polite enough to seem interested in what she said; and she kept him onthe subject o muslins till the dancing recommenced. Catherine eared, as she listened totheir discourse, that he indulged himsel a little too much with the oibles o others. Whatare you thinking o so earnestly? said he, as they walked back to the ballroom; not o yourpartner, I hope, or, by that shake o the head, your meditations are not satisactory.

Catherine coloured, and said, I was not thinking o anything.Tat is artul and deep, to be sure; but I had rather be told at once that you will not

tell me.Well then, I will not.Tank you; or now we shall soon be acquainted, as I am authorized to tease you on

this subject whenever we meet, and nothing in the world advances intimacy so much.Tey danced again; and, when the assembly closed, parted, on the ladys side at least,

with a strong inclination or continuing the acquaintance. Whether she thought o him somuch, while she drank her warm wine and water, and prepared hersel or bed, as to dreamo him when there, cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in a slight slumber,or a morning doze at most; or i it be true, as a celebrated writer has maintained, that no

young lady can be justied in alling in love beore the gentlemans love is declared,[*] itmust be very improper that a young lady should dream o a gentleman beore the gentlemanis rst known to have dreamt o her. How proper Mr. ilney might be as a dreamer or alover had not yet perhaps entered Mr. Allens head, but that he was not objectionable as a


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common acquaintance or his young charge he was on inquiry satised; or he had early inthe evening taken pains to know who her partner was, and had been assured o Mr. ilneysbeing a clergyman, and o a very respectable amily in Gloucestershire.


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With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pumproom the next day,secure within hersel o seeing Mr. ilney there beore the morning were over, and ready tomeet him with a smile; but no smile was demanded Mr. ilney did not appear. Every

creature in Bath, except himsel, was to be seen in the room at dierent periods o theashionable hours; crowds o people were every moment passing in and out, up the stepsand down; people whom nobody cared about, and nobody wanted to see; and he only wasabsent. What a delightul place Bath is, said Mrs. Allen as they sat down near the greatclock, ater parading the room till they were tired; and how pleasant it would be i we hadany acquaintance here.

Tis sentiment had been uttered so oten in vain that Mrs. Allen had no particularreason to hope it would be ollowed with more advantage now; but we are told to despair onothing we would attain, as unwearied diligence our point would gain; and the unwearied

diligence with which she had every day wished or the same thing was at length to have itsjust reward, or hardly had she been seated ten minutes beore a lady o about her own age,who was sitting by her, and had been looking at her attentively or several minutes, addressedher with great complaisance in these words: I think, madam, I cannot be mistaken; it is along time since I had the pleasure o seeing you, but is not your name Allen? Tis questionanswered, as it readily was, the stranger pronounced hers to be Torpe; and Mrs. Allenimmediately recognized the eatures o a ormer schoolellow and intimate, whom she hadseen only once since their respective marriages, and that many years ago. Teir joy on thismeeting was very great, as well it might, since they had been contented to know nothing

o each other or the last teen years. Compliments on good looks now passed; and, aterobserving how time had slipped away since they were last together, how little they hadthought o meeting in Bath, and what a pleasure it was to see an old riend, they proceededto make inquiries and give intelligence as to their amilies, sisters, and cousins, talking both

Chapter 4


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together, ar more ready to give than to receive inormation, and each hearing very little owhat the other said. Mrs. Torpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker, over Mrs.Allen, in a amily o children; and when she expatiated on the talents o her sons, and the

beauty o her daughters, when she related their dierent situations and views that Johnwas at Oxord, Edward at Merchant aylors, and William at sea and all o them morebeloved and respected in their dierent station than any other three beings ever were, Mrs.

Allen had no similar inormation to give, no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling andunbelieving ear o her riend, and was orced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternaleusions, consoling hersel, however, with the discovery, which her keen eye soon made, thatthe lace on Mrs. Torpes pelisse was not hal so handsome as that on her own.

Here come my dear girls, cried Mrs. Torpe, pointing at three smartlooking emaleswho, arm in arm, were then moving towards her. My dear Mrs. Allen, I long to introduce

them; they will be so delighted to see you: the tallest is Isabella, my eldest; is not she ane young woman? Te others are very much admired too, but I believe Isabella is thehandsomest.

Te Miss Torpes were introduced; and Miss Morland, who had been or a short timeorgotten, was introduced likewise. Te name seemed to strike them all; and, ater speakingto her with great civility, the eldest young lady observed aloud to the rest, How excessivelylike her brother Miss Morland is!

Te very picture o him indeed! cried the mother and I should have known heranywhere or his sister! was repeated by them all, two or three times over. For a moment

Catherine was surprised; but Mrs. Torpe and her daughters had scarcely begun the historyo their acquaintance with Mr. James Morland, beore she remembered that her eldestbrother had lately ormed an intimacy with a young man o his own college, o the name oTorpe; and that he had spent the last week o the Christmas vacation with his amily, nearLondon.

Te whole being explained, many obliging things were said by the Miss Torpes o theirwish o being better acquainted with her; o being considered as already riends, through theriendship o their brothers, etc., which Catherine heard with pleasure, and answered withall the pretty expressions she could command; and, as the rst proo o amity, she was soon

invited to accept an arm o the eldest Miss Torpe, and take a turn with her about the room.Catherine was delighted with this extension o her Bath acquaintance, and almost orgot Mr.ilney while she talked to Miss Torpe. Friendship is certainly the nest balm or the pangso disappointed love.


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Teir conversation turned upon those subjects, o which the ree discussion has generallymuch to do in perecting a sudden intimacy between two young ladies: such as dress, balls,firtations, and quizzes. Miss Torpe, however, being our years older than Miss Morland,

and at least our years better inormed, had a very decided advantage in discussing suchpoints; she could compare the balls o Bath with those o unbridge, its ashions with theashions o London; could rectiy the opinions o her new riend in many articles o tasteulattire; could discover a firtation between any gentleman and lady who only smiled on eachother; and point out a quiz through the thickness o a crowd. Tese powers received dueadmiration rom Catherine, to whom they were entirely new; and the respect which theynaturally inspired might have been too great or amiliarity, had not the easy gaiety o MissTorpes manners, and her requent expressions o delight on this acquaintance with her,sotened down every eeling o awe, and let nothing but tender aection. Teir increasing

attachment was not to be satised with hal a dozen turns in the pumproom, but required,when they all quitted it together, that Miss Torpe should accompany Miss Morland to thevery door o Mr. Allens house; and that they should there part with a most aectionate andlengthened shake o hands, ater learning, to their mutual relie, that they should see eachother across the theatre at night, and say their prayers in the same chapel the next morning.Catherine then ran directly upstairs, and watched Miss Torpes progress down the streetrom the drawingroom window; admired the graceul spirit o her walk, the ashionableair o her gure and dress; and elt grateul, as well she might, or the chance which hadprocured her such a riend.

Mrs. Torpe was a widow, and not a very rich one; she was a goodhumoured, wellmeaning woman, and a very indulgent mother. Her eldest daughter had great personalbeauty, and the younger ones, by pretending to be as handsome as their sister, imitating herair, and dressing in the same style, did very well.

Tis brie account o the amily is intended to supersede the necessity o a long andminute detail rom Mrs. Torpe hersel, o her past adventures and suerings, whichmight otherwise be expected to occupy the three or our ollowing chapters; in which the

worthlessness o lords and attornies might be set orth, and conversations, which had passedtwenty years beore, be minutely repeated.


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Catherine was not so much engaged at the theatre that evening, in returning the nodsand smiles o Miss Torpe, though they certainly claimed much o her leisure, as to orgetto look with an inquiring eye or Mr. ilney in every box which her eye could reach; but she

looked in vain. Mr. ilney was no onder o the play than the pumproom. She hoped to bemore ortunate the next day; and when her wishes or ne weather were answered by seeinga beautiul morning, she hardly elt a doubt o it; or a ne Sunday in Bath empties everyhouse o its inhabitants, and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk about and telltheir acquaintance what a charming day it is.

As soon as divine service was over, the Torpes and Allens eagerly joined each other; andater staying long enough in the pumproom to discover that the crowd was insupportable,and that there was not a genteel ace to be seen, which everybody discovers every Sundaythroughout the season, they hastened away to the Crescent, to breathe the resh air o better

company. Here Catherine and Isabella, arm in arm, again tasted the sweets o riendship inan unreserved conversation; they talked much, and with much enjoyment; but again wasCatherine disappointed in her hope o reseeing her partner. He was nowhere to be met with;every search or him was equally unsuccessul, in morning lounges or evening assemblies;neither at the Upper nor Lower Rooms, at dressed or undressed balls, was he perceivable;nor among the walkers, the horsemen, or the curricledrivers o the morning. His name wasnot in the pumproom book, and curiosity could do no more. He must be gone rom Bath.

Yet he had not mentioned that his stay would be so short! Tis sort o mysteriousness, whichis always so becoming in a hero, threw a resh grace in Catherines imagination around his

person and manners, and increased her anxiety to know more o him. From the Torpesshe could learn nothing, or they had been only two days in Bath beore they met withMrs. Allen. It was a subject, however, in which she oten indulged with her air riend,rom whom she received every possible encouragement to continue to think o him; and his

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impression on her ancy was not suered thereore to weaken. Isabella was very sure that hemust be a charming young man, and was equally sure that he must have been delighted withher dear Catherine, and would thereore shortly return. She liked him the better or being

a clergyman, or she must coness hersel very partial to the proession; and somethinglike a sigh escaped her as she said it. Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not demanding thecause o that gentle emotion but she was not experienced enough in the nesse o love,or the duties o riendship, to know when delicate raillery was properly called or, or when acondence should be orced.

Mrs. Allen was now quite happy quite satised with Bath. She had ound someacquaintance, had been so lucky too as to nd in them the amily o a most worthy oldriend; and, as the completion o good ortune, had ound these riends by no means soexpensively dressed as hersel. Her daily expressions were no longer, I wish we had some

acquaintance in Bath! Tey were changed into, How glad I am we have met with Mrs.Torpe! and she was as eager in promoting the intercourse o the two amilies, as her youngcharge and Isabella themselves could be; never satised with the day unless she spent thechie o it by the side o Mrs. Torpe, in what they called conversation, but in which there

was scarcely ever any exchange o opinion, and not oten any resemblance o subject, orMrs. Torpe talked chiefy o her children, and Mrs. Allen o her gowns.

Te progress o the riendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginninghad been warm, and they passed so rapidly through every gradation o increasing tendernessthat there was shortly no resh proo o it to be given to their riends or themselves. Tey

called each other by their Christian name, were always arm in arm when they walked, pinnedup each others train or the dance, and were not to be divided in the set; and i a rainymorning deprived them o other enjoyments, they were still resolute in meeting in deanceo wet and dirt, and shut themselves up, to read novels together. Yes, novels; or I will notadopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novelwriters, o degradingby their contemptuous censure the very perormances, to the number o which they arethemselves adding joining with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest epithetson such works, and scarcely ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine, who, ishe accidentally take up a novel, is sure to turn over its insipid pages with disgust. Alas! I the

heroine o one novel be not patronized by the heroine o another, rom whom can she expectprotection and regard? I cannot approve o it. Let us leave it to the reviewers to abuse sucheusions o ancy at their leisure, and over every new novel to talk in threadbare strains othe trash with which the press now groans. Let us not desert one another; we are an injured


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body. Although our productions have aorded more extensive and unaected pleasure thanthose o any other literary corporation in the world, no species o composition has been somuch decried. From pride, ignorance, or ashion, our oes are almost as many as our readers.

And while the abilities o the ninehundredth abridger o the History o England, or o theman who collects and publishes in a volume some dozen lines o Milton, Pope, and Prior,

with a paper rom the Spectator, and a chapter rom Sterne, are eulogized by a thousandpens there seems almost a general wish o decrying the capacity and undervaluing thelabour o the novelist, and o slighting the perormances which have only genius, wit, andtaste to recommend them. I am no novelreader I seldom look into novels Do notimagine that I oten read novels It is really very well or a novel. Such is the commoncant. And what are you reading, Miss ? Oh! It is only a novel! replies the young lady,

while she lays down her book with aected indierence, or momentary shame. It is only

Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powerso the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge o human nature, thehappiest delineation o its varieties, the liveliest eusions o wit and humour, are conveyed tothe world in the bestchosen language. Now, had the same young lady been engaged with avolume o the Spectator, instead o such a work, how proudly would she have produced thebook, and told its name; though the chances must be against her being occupied by any parto that voluminous publication, o which either the matter or manner would not disgusta young person o taste: the substance o its papers so oten consisting in the statemento improbable circumstances, unnatural characters, and topics o conversation which no

longer concern anyone living; and their language, too, requently so coarse as to give no veryavourable idea o the age that could endure it.


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Te ollowing conversation, which took place between the two riends in the pumproom one morning, ater an acquaintance o eight or nine days, is given as a specimen otheir very warm attachment, and o the delicacy, discretion, originality o thought, and

literary taste which marked the reasonableness o that attachment.Tey met by appointment; and as Isabella had arrived nearly ve minutes beore her

riend, her rst address naturally was, My dearest creature, what can have made you so late?I have been waiting or you at least this age!

Have you, indeed! I am very sorry or it; but really I thought I was in very good time.It is but just one. I hope you have not been here long?

Oh! Tese ten ages at least. I am sure I have been here this hal hour. But now, let us goand sit down at the other end o the room, and enjoy ourselves. I have an hundred things to sayto you. In the rst place, I was so araid it would rain this morning, just as I wanted to set of;

it looked very showery, and that would have thrown me into agonies! Do you know, I saw theprettiest hat you can imagine, in a shop window in Milsom Street just now very like yours,only with coquelicot ribbons instead o green; I quite longed or it. But, my dearest Catherine,

what have you been doing with yoursel all this morning? Have you gone on with Udolpho?Yes, I have been reading it ever since I woke; and I am got to the black veil.Are you, indeed? How delightul! Oh! I would not tell you what is behind the black veil

or the world! Are not you wild to know?Oh! Yes, quite; what can it be? But do not tell me I would not be told upon any

account. I know it must be a skeleton, I am sure it is Laurentinas skeleton. Oh! I am delighted

with the book! I should like to spend my whole lie in reading it. I assure you, i it had notbeen to meet you, I would not have come away rom it or all the world.Dear creature! How much I am obliged to you; and when you have nished Udolpho, we will

read the Italian together; and I have made out a list o ten or twelve more o the same kind or you.

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Have you, indeed! How glad I am! What are they all?I will read you their names directly; here they are, in my pocketbook. Castle o

Wolenbach, Clermont, Mysterious Warnings, Necromancer o the Black Forest, Midnight

Bell, Orphan o the Rhine, and Horrid Mysteries. Tose will last us some time.Yes, pretty well; but are they all horrid, are you sure they are all horrid?Yes, quite sure; or a particular riend o mine, a Miss Andrews, a sweet girl, one o the

sweetest creatures in the world, has read every one o them. I wish you knew Miss Andrews,you would be delighted with her. She is netting hersel the sweetest cloak you can conceive.I think her as beautiul as an angel, and I am so vexed with the men or not admiring her! Iscold them all amazingly about it.

Scold them! Do you scold them or not admiring her?Yes, that I do. Tere is nothing I would not do or those who are really my riends. I

have no notion o loving people by halves; it is not my nature. My attachments are alwaysexcessively strong. I told Captain Hunt at one o our assemblies this winter that i he was totease me all night, I would not dance with him, unless he would allow Miss Andrews to beas beautiul as an angel. Te men think us incapable o real riendship, you know, and I amdetermined to show them the diference. Now, i I were to hear anybody speak slightinglyo you, I should re up in a moment: but that is not at all likely, or you are just the kind ogirl to be a great avourite with the men.

Oh, dear! cried Catherine, colouring. How can you say so?I know you very well; you have so much animation, which is exactly what Miss

Andrews wants, or I must coness there is something amazingly insipid about her. Oh!I must tell you, that just ater we parted yesterday, I saw a young man looking at you soearnestly I am sure he is in love with you. Catherine coloured, and disclaimed again.Isabella laughed. It is very true, upon my honour, but I see how it is; you are indiferentto everybodys admiration, except that o one gentleman, who shall be nameless. Nay, Icannot blame you speaking more seriously your eelings are easily understood.

Where the heart is really attached, I know very well how little one can be pleased with theattention o anybody else. Everything is so insipid, so uninteresting, that does not relateto the beloved object! I can perectly comprehend your eelings.

But you should not persuade me that I think so very much about Mr. ilney, orperhaps I may never see him again.Not see him again! My dearest creature, do not talk o it. I am sure you would be

miserable i you thought so!


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No, indeed, I should not. I do not pretend to say that I was not very much pleased withhim; but while I have Udolpho to read, I eel as i nobody could make me miserable. Oh! Tedreadul black veil! My dear Isabella, I am sure there must be Laurentinas skeleton behind it.

It is so odd to me, that you should never have read Udolpho beore; but I suppose Mrs.Morland objects to novels.

No, she does not. She very oten reads Sir Charles Grandison hersel; but new booksdo not all in our way.

Sir Charles Grandison! Tat is an amazing horrid book, is it not? I remember MissAndrews could not get through the rst volume.

It is not like Udolpho at all; but yet I think it is very entertaining.Do you indeed! You surprise me; I thought it had not been readable. But, my dearest

Catherine, have you settled what to wear on your head tonight? I am determined at all events

to be dressed exactly like you. Te men take notice o that sometimes, you know.But it does not signiy i they do, said Catherine, very innocently.Signiy! Oh, heavens! I make it a rule never to mind what they say. Tey are very

oten amazingly impertinent i you do not treat them with spirit, and make them keep theirdistance.

Are they? Well, I never observed that. Tey always behave very well to me.Oh! Tey give themselves such airs. Tey are the most conceited creatures in the world,

and think themselves o so much importance! By the by, though I have thought o it ahundred times, I have always orgot to ask you what is your avourite complexion in a man.

Do you like them best dark or air?I hardly know. I never much thought about it. Something between both, I think.

Brown not air, and and not very dark.Very well, Catherine. Tat is exactly he. I have not orgot your description o Mr.

ilney a brown skin, with dark eyes, and rather dark hair. Well, my taste is diferent. Ipreer light eyes, and as to complexion do you know I like a sallow better than anyother. You must not betray me, i you should ever meet with one o your acquaintanceanswering that description.

Betray you! What do you mean?

Nay, do not distress me. I believe I have said too much. Let us drop the subject.Catherine, in some amazement, complied, and ater remaining a ew moments silent,

was on the point o reverting to what interested her at that time rather more than anythingelse in the world, Laurentinas skeleton, when her riend prevented her, by saying, For


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heavens sake! Let us move away rom this end o the room. Do you know, there are twoodious young men who have been staring at me this hal hour. Tey really put me quite outo countenance. Let us go and look at the arrivals. Tey will hardly ollow us there.

Away they walked to the book; and while Isabella examined the names, it was Catherinesemployment to watch the proceedings o these alarming young men.

Tey are not coming this way, are they? I hope they are not so impertinent as to ollowus. Pray let me know i they are coming. I am determined I will not look up.

In a ew moments Catherine, with unafected pleasure, assured her that she need not belonger uneasy, as the gentlemen had just let the pumproom.

And which way are they gone? said Isabella, turning hastily round. One was a verygoodlooking young man.

Tey went towards the churchyard.

Well, I am amazingly glad I have got rid o them! And now, what say you to going toEdgars Buildings with me, and looking at my new hat? You said you should like to see it.

Catherine readily agreed. Only, she added, perhaps we may overtake the two youngmen.

Oh! Never mind that. I we make haste, we shall pass by them presently, and I amdying to show you my hat.

But i we only wait a ew minutes, there will be no danger o our seeing them at all.I shall not pay them any such compliment, I assure you. I have no notion o treating

men with such respect. Tat is the way to spoil them.

Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning; and thereore, to showthe independence o Miss Torpe, and her resolution o humbling the sex, they set ofimmediately as ast as they could walk, in pursuit o the two young men.


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Hal a minute conducted them through the pumpyard to the archway, opposite UnionPassage; but here they were stopped. Everybody acquainted with Bath may remember thediculties o crossing Cheap Street at this point; it is indeed a street o so impertinent

a nature, so unortunately connected with the great London and Oxord roads, and theprincipal inn o the city, that a day never passes in which parties o ladies, however importanttheir business, whether in quest o pastry, millinery, or even (as in the present case) o youngmen, are not detained on one side or other by carriages, horsemen, or carts. Tis evil hadbeen elt and lamented, at least three times a day, by Isabella since her residence in Bath;and she was now ated to eel and lament it once more, or at the very moment o comingopposite to Union Passage, and within view o the two gentlemen who were proceedingthrough the crowds, and threading the gutters o that interesting alley, they were preventedcrossing by the approach o a gig, driven along on bad pavement by a most knowinglooking

coachman with all the vehemence that could most tly endanger the lives o himsel, hiscompanion, and his horse.

Oh, these odious gigs! said Isabella, looking up. How I detest them. But thisdetestation, though so just, was o short duration, or she looked again and exclaimed,Delightul! Mr. Morland and my brother!

Good heaven! is James! was uttered at the same moment by Catherine; and, oncatching the young mens eyes, the horse was immediately checked with a violence whichalmost threw him on his haunches, and the servant having now scampered up, the gentlemen

jumped out, and the equipage was delivered to his care.

Catherine, by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected, received her brother with theliveliest pleasure; and he, being o a very amiable disposition, and sincerely attached to her,gave every proo on his side o equal satisaction, which he could have leisure to do, whilethe bright eyes o Miss Torpe were incessantly challenging his notice; and to her his devoirs

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were speedily paid, with a mixture o joy and embarrassment which might have inormedCatherine, had she been more expert in the development o other peoples eelings, and lesssimply engrossed by her own, that her brother thought her riend quite as pretty as she could

do hersel. John Torpe, who in the meantime had been giving orders about the horses, soon

joined them, and rom him she directly received the amends which were her due; or whilehe slightly and carelessly touched the hand o Isabella, on her he bestowed a whole scrapeand hal a short bow. He was a stout young man o middling height, who, with a plain aceand ungraceul orm, seemed earul o being too handsome unless he wore the dress o agroom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, andimpudent where he might be allowed to be easy. He took out his watch: How long do youthink we have been running it rom etbury, Miss Morland?

I do not know the distance. Her brother told her that it was twentythree miles.Tree and twenty! cried Torpe. Five and twenty i it is an inch. Morland remonstrated,

pleaded the authority o roadbooks, innkeepers, and milestones; but his riend disregardedthem all; he had a surer test o distance. I know it must be ve and twenty, said he, by thetime we have been doing it. It is now hal ater one; we drove out o the innyard at etburyas the town clock struck eleven; and I dey any man in England to make my horse go lessthan ten miles an hour in harness; that makes it exactly twentyve.

You have lost an hour, said Morland; it was only ten oclock when we came rometbury.

en oclock! It was eleven, upon my soul! I counted every stroke. Tis brother o yourswould persuade me out o my senses, Miss Morland; do but look at my horse; did you eversee an animal so made or speed in your lie? (Te servant had just mounted the carriageand was driving o.) Such true blood! Tree hours and and a hal indeed coming only threeand twenty miles! Look at that creature, and suppose it possible i you can.

He does look very hot, to be sure.Hot! He had not turned a hair till we came to Walcot Church; but look at his orehand;

look at his loins; only see how he moves; that horse cannot go less than ten miles an hour:tie his legs and he will get on. What do you think o my gig, Miss Morland? A neat one, is

not it? Well hung; townbuilt; I have not had it a month. It was built or a Christchurchman, a riend o mine, a very good sort o ellow; he ran it a ew weeks, till, I believe, it wasconvenient to have done with it. I happened just then to be looking out or some light thingo the kind, though I had pretty well determined on a curricle too; but I chanced to meet


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him on Magdalen Bridge, as he was driving into Oxord, last term: Ah! Torpe, said he, doyou happen to want such a little thing as this? It is a capital one o the kind, but I am cursedtired o it. Oh! D , said I; I am your man; what do you ask? And how much do you

think he did, Miss Morland?I am sure I cannot guess at all.Curriclehung, you see; seat, trunk, swordcase, splashingboard, lamps, silver

moulding, all you see complete; the ironwork as good as new, or better. He asked tyguineas; I closed with him directly, threw down the money, and the carriage was mine.

And I am sure, said Catherine, I know so little o such things that I cannot judgewhether it was cheap or dear.

Neither one nor tother; I might have got it or less, I dare say; but I hate haggling, andpoor Freeman wanted cash.

Tat was very goodnatured o you, said Catherine, quite pleased.Oh! D it, when one has the means o doing a kind thing by a riend, I hate to be

pitiul. An inquiry now took place into the intended movements o the young ladies; and,

on nding whither they were going, it was decided that the gentlemen should accompanythem to Edgars Buildings, and pay their respects to Mrs. Torpe. James and Isabella led the

way; and so well satised was the latter with her lot, so contentedly was she endeavouringto ensure a pleasant walk to him who brought the double recommendation o being herbrothers riend, and her riends brother, so pure and uncoquettish were her eelings, that,

though they overtook and passed the two oending young men in Milsom Street, she was soar rom seeking to attract their notice, that she looked back at them only three times.

John Torpe kept o course with Catherine, and, ater a ew minutes silence, renewedthe conversation about his gig. You will nd, however, Miss Morland, it would be reckoneda cheap thing by some people, or I might have sold it or ten guineas more the next day;

Jackson, o Oriel, bid me sixty at once; Morland was with me at the time.Yes, said Morland, who overheard this; but you orget that your horse was

included.My horse! Oh, d it! I would not sell my horse or a hundred. Are you ond o an

open carriage, Miss Morland?Yes, very; I have hardly ever an opportunity o being in one; but I am particularly ond

o it.I am glad o it; I will drive you out in mine every day.


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Tank you, said Catherine, in some distress, rom a doubt o the propriety o acceptingsuch an oer.

I will drive you up Lansdown Hill tomorrow.

Tank you; but will not your horse want rest?Rest! He has only come three and twenty miles today; all nonsense; nothing ruins

horses so much as rest; nothing knocks them up so soon. No, no; I shall exercise mine at theaverage o our hours every day while I am here.

Shall you indeed! said Catherine very seriously. Tat will be orty miles a day.Forty! Aye, ty, or what I care. Well, I will drive you up Lansdown tomorrow; mind,

I am engaged.How delightul that will be! cried Isabella, turning round. My dearest Catherine, I

quite envy you; but I am araid, brother, you will not have room or a third.

A third indeed! No, no; I did not come to Bath to drive my sisters about; that wouldbe a good joke, aith! Morland must take care o you.

Tis brought on a dialogue o civilities between the other two; but Catherine heardneither the particulars nor the result. Her companions discourse now sunk rom its hithertoanimated pitch to nothing more than a short decisive sentence o praise or condemnation onthe ace o every woman they met; and Catherine, ater listening and agreeing as long as shecould, with all the civility and deerence o the youthul emale mind, earul o hazarding anopinion o its own in opposition to that o a selassured man, especially where the beautyo her own sex is concerned, ventured at length to vary the subject by a question which had

been long uppermost in her thoughts; it was, Have you ever read Udolpho, Mr. Torpe?Udolpho! Oh, Lord! Not I; I never read novels; I have something else to do.Catherine, humbled and ashamed, was going to apologize or her question, but he

prevented her by saying, Novels are all so ull o nonsense and stu; there has not been atolerably decent one come out since om Jones, except Te Monk; I read that tother day;but as or all the others, they are the stupidest things in creation.

I think you must like Udolpho, i you were to read it; it is so very interesting.Not I, aith! No, i I read any, it shall be Mrs. Radclies; her novels are amusing

enough; they are worth reading; some un and nature in them.

Udolpho was written by Mrs. Radclie, said Catherine, with some hesitation, romthe ear o mortiying him.

No sure; was it? Aye, I remember, so it was; I was thinking o that other stupidbook, written by that woman they make such a uss about, she who married the Frenchemigrant.


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I suppose you mean Camilla?Yes, thats the book; such unnatural stu! An old man playing at seesaw, I took up

the rst volume once and looked it over, but I soon ound it would not do; indeed I guessed

what sort o stu it must be beore I saw it: as soon as I heard she had married an emigrant,I was sure I should never be able to get through it.

I have never read it.You had no loss, I assure you; it is the horridest nonsense you can imagine; there is

nothing in the world in it but an old mans playing at seesaw and learning Latin; upon mysoul there is not.

Tis critique, the justness o which was unortunately lost on poor Catherine, broughtthem to the door o Mrs. Torpes lodgings, and the eelings o the discerning and unprejudicedreader o Camilla gave way to the eelings o the dutiul and aectionate son, as they met

Mrs. Torpe, who had descried them rom above, in the passage. Ah, Mother! How do youdo? said he, giving her a hearty shake o the hand. Where did you get that quiz o a hat?It makes you look like an old witch. Here is Morland and I come to stay a ew days withyou, so you must look out or a couple o good beds somewhere near. And this addressseemed to satisy all the ondest wishes o the mothers heart, or she received him with themost delighted and exulting aection. On his two younger sisters he then bestowed an equalportion o his raternal tenderness, or he asked each o them how they did, and observedthat they both looked very ugly.

Tese manners did not please Catherine; but he was Jamess riend and Isabellas brother;

and her judgment was urther bought o by Isabellas assuring her, when they withdrew tosee the new hat, that John thought her the most charming girl in the world, and by Johnsengaging her beore they parted to dance with him that evening. Had she been older or vainer,such attacks might have done little; but, where youth and didence are united, it requiresuncommon steadiness o reason to resist the attraction o being called the most charming girlin the world, and o being so very early engaged as a partner; and the consequence was that,

when the two Morlands, ater sitting an hour with the Torpes, set o to walk together toMr. Allens, and James, as the door was closed on them, said, Well, Catherine, how do youlike my riend Torpe? instead o answering, as she probably would have done, had there

been no riendship and no fattery in the case, I do not like him at all, she directly replied,I like him very much; he seems very agreeable.

He is as goodnatured a ellow as ever lived; a little o a rattle; but that will recommendhim to your sex, I believe: and how do you like the rest o the amily?


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Very, very much indeed: Isabella particularly.I am very glad to hear you say so; she is just the kind o young woman I could wish

to see you attached to; she has so much good sense, and is so thoroughly unaected and

amiable; I always wanted you to know her; and she seems very ond o you. She said thehighest things in your praise that could possibly be; and the praise o such a girl as MissTorpe even you, Catherine, taking her hand with aection, may be proud o.

Indeed I am, she replied; I love her exceedingly, and am delighted to nd that you likeher too. You hardly mentioned anything o her when you wrote to me ater your visit there.

Because I thought I should soon see you mysel. I hope you will be a great deal togetherwhile you are in Bath. She is a most amiable girl; such a superior understanding! How ondall the amily are o her; she is evidently the general avourite; and how much she must beadmired in such a place as this is not she?

Yes, very much indeed, I ancy; Mr. Allen thinks her the prettiest girl in Bath.I dare say he does; and I do not know any man who is a better judge o beauty than

Mr. Allen. I need not ask you whether you are happy here, my dear Catherine; with such acompanion and riend as Isabella Torpe, it would be impossible or you to be otherwise;and the Allens, I am sure, are very kind to you?

Yes, very kind; I never was so happy beore; and now you are come it will be moredelightul than ever; how good it is o you to come so ar on purpose to see me.

James accepted this tribute o gratitude, and qualied his conscience or accepting ittoo, by saying with perect sincerity, Indeed, Catherine, I love you dearly.

Inquiries and communications concerning brothers and sisters, the situation o some,the growth o the rest, and other amily matters now passed between them, and continued,

with only one small digression on Jamess part, in praise o Miss Torpe, till they reachedPulteney Street, where he was welcomed with great kindness by Mr. and Mrs. Allen, invitedby the ormer to dine with them, and summoned by the latter to guess the price and weighthe merits o a new mu and tippet. A preengagement in Edgars Buildings preventedhis accepting the invitation o one riend, and obliged him to hurry away as soon as hehad satised the demands o the other. Te time o the two parties uniting in the OctagonRoom being correctly adjusted, Catherine was then let to the luxury o a raised, restless, and

rightened imagination over the pages o Udolpho, lost rom all worldly concerns o dressingand dinner, incapable o soothing Mrs. Allens ears on the delay o an expected dressmaker,and having only one minute in sixty to bestow even on the refection o her own elicity, inbeing already engaged or the evening.


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In spite o Udolpho and the dressmaker, however, the party rom Pulteney Street reachedthe Upper Rooms in very good time. Te Torpes and James Morland were there only twominutes beore them; and Isabella having gone through the usual ceremonial o meeting her

riend with the most smiling and aectionate haste, o admiring the set o her gown, andenvying the curl o her hair, they ollowed their chaperones, arm in arm, into the ballroom,

whispering to each other whenever a thought occurred, and supplying the place o manyideas by a squeeze o the hand or a smile o aection.

Te dancing began within a ew minutes ater they were seated; and James, who hadbeen engaged quite as long as his sister, was very importunate with Isabella to stand up; but

John was gone into the cardroom to speak to a riend, and nothing, she declared, shouldinduce her to join the set beore her dear Catherine could join it too. I assure you, saidshe, I would not stand up without your dear sister or all the world; or i I did we should

certainly be separated the whole evening. Catherine accepted this kindness with gratitude,and they continued as they were or three minutes longer, when Isabella, who had beentalking to James on the other side o her, turned again to his sister and whispered, My dearcreature, I am araid I must leave you, your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin; I knowyou will not mind my going away, and I dare say John will be back in a moment, and thenyou may easily nd me out. Catherine, though a little disappointed, had too much goodnature to make any opposition, and the others rising up, Isabella had only time to press herriends hand and say, Goodbye, my dear love, beore they hurried o. Te younger MissTorpes being also dancing, Catherine was let to the mercy o Mrs. Torpe and Mrs. Allen,

between whom she now remained. She could not help being vexed at the nonappearanceo Mr. Torpe, or she not only longed to be dancing, but was likewise aware that, as thereal dignity o her situation could not be known, she was sharing with the scores o otheryoung ladies still sitting down all the discredit o wanting a partner. o be disgraced in the

Chapter 8


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eye o the world, to wear the appearance o inamy while her heart is all purity, her actionsall innocence, and the misconduct o another the true source o her debasement, is one othose circumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroines lie, and her ortitude under it

what particularly dignies her character. Catherine had ortitude too; she suered, but nomurmur passed her lips.

From this state o humiliation, she was roused, at the end o ten minutes, to a pleasantereeling, by seeing, not Mr. Torpe, but Mr. ilney, within three yards o the place where theysat; he seemed to be moving that way, but he did not see her, and thereore the smile andthe blush, which his sudden reappearance raised in Catherine, passed away without sullyingher heroic importance. He looked as handsome and as lively as ever, and was talking withinterest to a ashionable and pleasinglooking young woman, who leant on his arm, and

whom Catherine immediately guessed to be his sister; thus unthinkingly throwing away a

air opportunity o considering him lost to her orever, by being married already. But guidedonly by what was simple and probable, it had never entered her head that Mr. ilney couldbe married; he had not behaved, he had not talked, like the married men to whom shehad been used; he had never mentioned a wie, and he had acknowledged a sister. Fromthese circumstances sprang the instant conclusion o his sisters now being by his side; andthereore, instead o turning o a deathlike paleness and alling in a t on Mrs. Allens bosom,Catherine sat erect, in the perect use o her senses, and with cheeks only a little redder thanusual.

Mr. ilney and his companion, who continued, though slowly, to approach, were

immediately preceded by a lady, an acquaintance o Mrs. horpe; and this lady stoppingto speak to her, they, as belonging to her, stopped likewise, and Catherine, catchingMr. ilneys eye, instantly received rom him the smiling tribute o recognition. Shereturned it with pleasure, and then advancing still nearer, he spoke both to her andMrs. Allen, by whom he was very civilly acknowledged. I am very happy to see youagain, sir, indeed; I was araid you had let Bath. He thanked her or her ears, andsaid that he had quitted it or a week, on the very morning ater his having had thepleasure o seeing her.

Well, sir, and I dare say you are not sorry to be back again, or it is just the place or

young people and indeed or everybody else too. I tell Mr. Allen, when he talks o beingsick o it, that I am sure he should not complain, or it is so very agreeable a place, that it ismuch better to be here than at home at this dull time o year. I tell him he is quite in luck tobe sent here or his health.


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And I hope, madam, that Mr. Allen will be obliged to like the place, rom nding it oservice to him.

Tank you, sir. I have no doubt that he will. A neighbour o ours, Dr. Skinner, was here

or his health last winter, and came away quite stout.Tat circumstance must give great encouragement.Yes, sir and Dr. Skinner and his amily were here three months; so I tell Mr. Allen

he must not be in a hurry to get away.Here they were interrupted by a request rom Mrs. Torpe to Mrs. Allen, that she

would move a little to accommodate Mrs. Hughes and Miss ilney with seats, as they hadagreed to join their party. Tis was accordingly done, Mr. ilney still continuing standingbeore them; and ater a ew minutes consideration, he asked Catherine to dance withhim. Tis compliment, delightul as it was, produced severe mortication to the lady;

and in giving her denial, she expressed her sorrow on the occasion so very much as i shereally elt it that had Torpe, who joined her just aterwards, been hal a minute earlier,he might have thought her suerings rather too acute. Te very easy manner in whichhe then told her that he had kept her waiting did not by any means reconcile her moreto her lot; nor did the particulars which he entered into while they were standing up, othe horses and dogs o the riend whom he had just let, and o a proposed exchange oterriers between them, interest her so much as to prevent her looking very oten towardsthat part o the room where she had let Mr. ilney. O her dear Isabella, to whom sheparticularly longed to point out that gentleman, she could see nothing. Tey were in

dierent sets. She was separated rom all her party, and away rom all her acquaintance;one mortication succeeded another, and rom the whole she deduced this useul lesson,that to go previously engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity orenjoyment o a young lady. From such a moralizing strain as this, she was suddenly rousedby a touch on the shoulder, and turning round, perceived Mrs. Hughes directly behindher, attended by Miss ilney and a gentleman. I beg your pardon, Miss Morland, saidshe, or this liberty but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Torpe, and Mrs. Torpe saidshe was sure you would not have the least objection to letting in this young lady by you.Mrs. Hughes could not have applied to any creature in the room more happy to oblige her

than Catherine. Te young ladies were introduced to each other, Miss ilney expressinga proper sense o such goodness, Miss Morland with the real delicacy o a generous mindmaking light o the obligation; and Mrs. Hughes, satised with having so respectablysettled her young charge, returned to her party.


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Miss ilney had a good gure, a pretty ace, and a very agreeable countenance; and herair, though it had not all the decided pretension, the resolute stylishness o Miss Torpes,had more real elegance. Her manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were

neither shy nor aectedly open; and she seemed capable o being young, attractive, and ata ball without wanting to x the attention o every man near her, and without exaggeratedeelings o ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifing occurrence.Catherine, interested at once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr. ilney, wasdesirous o being acquainted with her, and readily talked thereore whenever she could thinko anything to say, and had courage and leisure or saying it. But the hindrance thrown inthe way o a very speedy intimacy, by the requent want o one or more o these requisites,prevented their doing more than going through the rst rudiments o an acquaintance, byinorming themselves how well the other liked Bath, how much she admired its buildings

and surrounding country, whether she drew, or played, or sang, and whether she was ondo riding on horseback.

Te two dances were scarcely concluded beore Catherine ound her arm gently seizedby her aithul Isabella, who in great spirits exclaimed, At last I have got you. My dearestcreature, I have been looking or you this hour. What could induce you to come into this set,

when you knew I was in the other? I have been quite wretched without you.My dear Isabella, how was it possible or me to get at you? I could not even see where

you were.So I told your brother all the time but he would not believe me. Do go and see

or her, Mr. Morland, said I but all in vain he would not stir an inch. Was not it so,Mr. Morland? But you men are all so immoderately lazy! I have been scolding him to sucha degree, my dear Catherine, you would be quite amazed. You know I never stand uponceremony with such people.

Look at that young lady with the white beads round her head, whispered Catherine,detaching her riend rom James. It is Mr. ilneys sister.

Oh! Heavens! You dont say so! Let me look at her this moment. What a delightul girl!I never saw anything hal so beautiul! But where is her allconquering brother? Is he in theroom? Point him out to me this instant, i he is. I die to see him. Mr. Morland, you are not

to listen. We are not talking about you.But what is all this whispering about? What is going on?Tere now, I knew how it would be. You men have such restless curiosity! alk o the

curiosity o women, indeed! is nothing. But be satised, or you are not to know anythingat all o the matter.


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And is that likely to satisy me, do you think?Well, I declare I never knew anything like you. What can it signiy to you, what we are

talking o. Perhaps we are talking about you; thereore I would advise you not to listen, or

you may happen to hear something not very agreeable.In this commonplace chatter, which lasted some time, the original subject seemed

entirely orgotten; and though Catherine was very well pleased to have it dropped or awhile, she could not avoid a little suspicion at the total suspension o all Isabellas impatientdesire to see Mr. ilney. When the orchestra struck up a resh dance, James would have ledhis air partner away, but she resisted. I tell you, Mr. Morland, she cried, I would not dosuch a thing or all the world. How can you be so teasing; only conceive, my dear Catherine,

what your brother wants me to do. He wants me to dance with him again, though I tell himthat it is a most improper thing, and entirely against the rules. It would make us the talk o

the place, i we were not to change partners.Upon my honour, said James, in these public assemblies, it is as oten done as not.Nonsense, how can you say so? But when you men have a point to carry, you never stick

at anything. My sweet Catherine, do support me; persuade your brother how impossible itis. ell him that it would quite shock you to see me do such a thing; now would not it?

No, not at all; but i you think it wrong, you had much better change.Tere, cried Isabella, you hear what your sister says, and yet you will not mind

her. Well, remember that it is not my ault, i we set all the old ladies in Bath in abustle. Come along, my dearest Catherine, or heavens sake, and stand by me. And

o they went, to regain their ormer place. John Torpe, in the meanwhile, had walkedaway; and Catherine, ever willing to give Mr. ilney an opportunity o repeating theagreeable request which had already fattered her once, made her way to Mrs. Allen andMrs. Torpe as ast as she could, in the hope o nding him still with them a hope

which, when it proved to be ruitless, she elt to have been highly unreasonable. Well,my dear, said Mrs. Torpe, impatient or praise o her son, I hope you have had anagreeable partner.

Very agreeable, madam.I am glad o it. John has charming spirits, has not he?

Did you meet Mr. ilney, my dear? said Mrs. Allen.No, where is he?He was with us just now, and said he was so tired o lounging about, that he was

resolved to go and dance; so I thought perhaps he would ask you, i he met with you.


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Where can he be? said Catherine, looking round; but she had not looked round longbeore she saw him leading a young lady to the dance.

Ah! He has got a partner; I wish he had asked you, said Mrs. Allen; and ater a short

silence, she added, he is a very agreeable young man.Indeed he is, Mrs. Allen, said Mrs. Torpe, smiling complacently; I must say it,

though I am his mother, that there is not a more agreeable young man in the world.Tis inapplicable answer might have been too much or the comprehension o many;

but it did not puzzle Mrs. Allen, or ater only a moments consideration, she said, in awhisper to Catherine, I dare say she thought I was speaking o her son.

Catherine was disappointed and vexed. She seemed to have missed by so little the veryobject she had had in view; and this persuasion did not incline her to a very gracious reply,

when John Torpe came up to her soon aterwards and said, Well, Miss Morland, I suppose

you and I are to stand up and jig it together again.Oh, no; I am much obliged to you, our two dances are over; and, besides, I am tired,

and do not mean to dance any more.Do not you? Ten let us walk about and quiz people. Come along with me, and I will

show you the our greatest quizzers in the room; my two younger sisters and their partners.I have been laughing at them this hal hour.

Again Catherine excused hersel; and at last he walked o to quiz his sisters by himsel.Te rest o the evening she ound very dull; Mr. ilney was drawn away rom their party attea, to attend that o his partner; Miss ilney, though belonging to it, did not sit near her, and

James and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together that the latter had no leisureto bestow more on her riend than one smile, one squeeze, and one dearest Catherine.


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Te progress o Catherines unhappiness rom the events o the evening was as ollows.It appeared rst in a general dissatisaction with everybody about her, while she remainedin the rooms, which speedily brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go

home. Tis, on arriving in Pulteney Street, took the direction o extraordinary hunger, andwhen that was appeased, changed into an earnest longing to be in bed; such was the extremepoint o her distress; or when there she immediately ell into a sound sleep which lasted ninehours, and rom which she awoke perectly revived, in excellent spirits, with resh hopes andresh schemes. Te rst wish o her heart was to improve her acquaintance with Miss ilney,and almost her rst resolution, to seek her or that purpose, in the pumproom at noon.In the pumproom, one so newly arrived in Bath must be met with, and that building shehad already ound so avourable or the discovery o emale excellence, and the completiono emale intimacy, so admirably adapted or secret discourses and unlimited condence,

that she was most reasonably encouraged to expect another riend rom within its walls.Her plan or the morning thus settled, she sat quietly down to her book ater breakast,resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment till the clock struck one;and rom habitude very little incommoded by the remarks and ejaculations o Mrs. Allen,

whose vacancy o mind and incapacity or thinking were such, that as she never talked agreat deal, so she could never be entirely silent; and, thereore, while she sat at her work, ishe lost her needle or broke her thread, i she heard a carriage in the street, or saw a speckupon her gown, she must observe it aloud, whether there were anyone at leisure to answerher or not. At about hal past twelve, a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste to the window,

and scarcely had she time to inorm

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North Anger Abbey_Jane Austin