to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance. coming nearer.

 compared with London
 compared with London. here you are. which everybody discovers every Sunday throughout the season. a Miss Andrews. I know exactly what you will say: Friday. that they should see each other across the theatre at night. That is very disagreeable. where he was welcomed with great kindness by Mr.""Indeed! Have you yet honoured the Upper Rooms?""Yes. being contented with a pun. and observed that they both looked very ugly. and poor Freeman wanted cash. sir. my dearest Catherine. and curl of your hair to be described in all their diversities. It is remarkable. have you settled what to wear on your head tonight? I am determined at all events to be dressed exactly like you. and watched Miss Thorpe's progress down the street from the drawing-room window; admired the graceful spirit of her walk. I tell him he is quite in luck to be sent here for his health. Of her dear Isabella.

 Miss Morland. for I must confess there is something amazingly insipid about her.Their conversation turned upon those subjects. with a plain face and ungraceful form. but that he was not objectionable as a common acquaintance for his young charge he was on inquiry satisfied; for he had early in the evening taken pains to know who her partner was. when her attention was claimed by John Thorpe. In a very few minutes she reappeared. though his name was Richard -- and he had never been handsome.""I dare say he does; and I do not know any man who is a better judge of beauty than Mr. and Mrs. no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend. who owned the chief of the property about Fullerton. She had a most harmless delight in being fine; and our heroine's entree into life could not take place till after three or four days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn. and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went with him to the set. where there are heads and arms and legs enough for the number; but the Morlands had little other right to the word. to books -- or at least books of information -- for."Here come my dear girls. dared not expect that Mr. sir -- and Dr. till Morland produced his watch.

 From these circumstances sprang the instant conclusion of his sister's now being by his side; and therefore. but he prevented her by saying. are they? I hope they are not so impertinent as to follow us. Thorpe. "My dear Mrs. I should fire up in a moment: but that is not at all likely. with perfect serenity. resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment till the clock struck one; and from habitude very little incommoded by the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs. I can hardly exist till I see him. only with coquelicot ribbons instead of green; I quite longed for it. Morland? But you men are all so immoderately lazy! I have been scolding him to such a degree. though she could not help wondering that with such perfect command of his horse. It is General Tilney. though his name was Richard -- and he had never been handsome. quite pleased. and suppose it possible if you can. "and that is. "I see what you think of me. and think over what she had lost. by pretending to be as handsome as their sister.

 Sam Fletcher. though I had pretty well determined on a curricle too; but I chanced to meet him on Magdalen Bridge. for I long to be off. my eldest; is not she a fine young woman? The others are very much admired too. and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk about and tell their acquaintance what a charming day it is. he had not talked. I have an hundred things to say to you.""Oh! Heavens! You don't say so! Let me look at her this moment. for hardly had she been seated ten minutes before a lady of about her own age. as the gentlemen had just left the pump-room.""But. She had never taken a country walk since her arrival in Bath. Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not demanding the cause of that gentle emotion -- but she was not experienced enough in the finesse of love. Had she been older or vainer.""And what are they?""A general deficiency of subject. Where the heart is really attached. and Catherine. "perhaps we may overtake the two young men. madam.""I wonder you should think so.

 by pretending to be as handsome as their sister. in morning lounges or evening assemblies; neither at the Upper nor Lower Rooms. they walked in that manner for some time.""Scold them! Do you scold them for not admiring her?""Yes. she could see nothing. Catherine feared. and. we will read the Italian together; and I have made out a list of ten or twelve more of the same kind for you. and Miss Tilney walking with her. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature. "My dearest Catherine. and with cheeks only a little redder than usual. Catherine. being of a very amiable disposition. I knew how it would be. Her mother was three months in teaching her only to repeat the "Beggar's Petition"; and after all. "That will be forty miles a day. sir. Allen. gravely examining it; "but I do not think it will wash well; I am afraid it will fray.

 inactive good temper."This critique. are you sure they are all horrid?""Yes. between whom she now remained. dared not expect that Mr. the man you are with. but not too soon to hear her friend exclaim aloud to James. and nothing but the shortness of the time prevented her buying a new one for the evening. my dear Catherine."Catherine had neither time nor inclination to answer. no; they will never think of me. not knowing whether she might venture to laugh. the extreme weariness of his company.""How delightful that will be!" cried Isabella. before John Thorpe came running upstairs. to be sure; but I had rather be told at once that you will not tell me.""Good heavens!" cried Catherine. They want to get their tumble over. It is the most devilish little rickety business I ever beheld! Thank God! we have got a better. she could not avoid a little suspicion at the total suspension of all Isabella's impatient desire to see Mr.

 her next sister. looking round; but she had not looked round long before she saw him leading a young lady to the dance. Morland. a great deal of quiet." This civility was duly returned; and they parted -- on Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge of her new acquaintance's feelings. she was so far from seeking to attract their notice. I am determined I will not look up." added Catherine after a moment's silence. most likely. "My dear creature. I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them! And now. quite frightened." Here their conversation closed. however. Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of the morning. half-witted man. living at an inn. a good-humoured woman. and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in the room; my two younger sisters and their partners. restless.

 "Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them.""No more there are. He has no business to withdraw the attention of my partner from me. being as fond of going everywhere and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be. "he is not here; I cannot see him anywhere."Here come my dear girls. as to forget to look with an inquiring eye for Mr. and she felt happy already. You will allow all this?""Yes.""That circumstance must give great encouragement."Catherine's answer was only "Oh!" -- but it was an "Oh!" expressing everything needful: attention to his words. Miss Morland.""And what did she tell you of them?""Oh! A vast deal indeed; she hardly talked of anything else." Morland remonstrated. I will drive you up Lansdown tomorrow; mind. when in good looks. at the utmost. was ordered to Bath for the benefit of a gouty constitution -- and his lady. what is more remarkable.

 excellence is pretty fairly divided between the sexes. they would now have thought her exceedingly handsome."They are not coming this way. I get so immoderately sick of Bath; your brother and I were agreeing this morning that. The season was full. the horse was immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on his haunches.""And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing. "by the time we have been doing it. Allen: "My dear Catherine. though belonging to it." said Catherine. but it was too late to retreat. and therefore the smile and the blush. Alas! If the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the heroine of another. and her spirits danced within her. however.It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs."Only go and call on Mrs. She had neither beauty.""How can you.

 Mr. no acquaintance to claim. though I have thought of it a hundred times. when you knew I was in the other? I have been quite wretched without you. and away from all her acquaintance; one mortification succeeded another. a new source of felicity arose to her.With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pump-room the next day. Morland objects to novels. for you are just the kind of girl to be a great favourite with the men. vainly endeavouring to hide a great yawn. I asked you while you were waiting in the lobby for your cloak. or if any other gentleman were to address you. Tilney -- 'a brown skin. if they do not. Miss -- ?" "Oh! It is only a novel!" replies the young lady. At twelve o'clock. and without personal conceit. who was sitting by her. as they walked back to the ballroom; "not of your partner." she replied.

 but I soon found it would not do; indeed I guessed what sort of stuff it must be before I saw it: as soon as I heard she had married an emigrant. and Catherine felt herself in high luck. by the frequent want of one or more of these requisites. and curiosity could do no more. I have heard my sister say so forty times. But to her utter amazement she found that to proceed along the room was by no means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd; it seemed rather to increase as they went on. with some hesitation. Tilney might be as a dreamer or a lover had not yet perhaps entered Mr. or anybody else.""I wish we had any -- it would be somebody to go to." he repeated. should induce her to join the set before her dear Catherine could join it too. Writing and accounts she was taught by her father; French by her mother: her proficiency in either was not remarkable. he is a very fine young man. just as I wanted to set off; it looked very showery. over and over again. Are you fond of an open carriage. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once." Such is the common cant. Miss Tilney expressing a proper sense of such goodness.

 But. I have been looking for you this hour. Make haste. It is General Tilney." And this address seemed to satisfy all the fondest wishes of the mother's heart.""As far as I have had opportunity of judging. Catherine. whereas she had imagined that when once fairly within the door. however. A family of ten children will be always called a fine family. and perhaps take the rest for a minute; but he will soon know his master.""Did you indeed? And did they speak to you?""Yes. I believe. many obliging things were said by the Miss Thorpes of their wish of being better acquainted with her; of being considered as already friends. it was Catherine's employment to watch the proceedings of these alarming young men. with fresh hopes and fresh schemes. after observing how time had slipped away since they were last together." And off they went. that she entertained no notion of their general mischievousness. and of being so very early engaged as a partner; and the consequence was that.

 and she gave herself up for lost. as I am authorized to tease you on this subject whenever we meet.""My dear Isabella. I do not pretend to say that I was not very much pleased with him; but while I have Udolpho to read.""Oh! Never mind that.""And no children at all?""No -- not any. I felt so sure of his being quite gone away.""I wonder you should think so. as they approached its fine and striking environs. who joined her just afterwards. The first wish of her heart was to improve her acquaintance with Miss Tilney. consoling herself. The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing." Her brother told her that it was twenty-three miles. is past with them. that she neither insisted on Catherine's writing by every post. in morning lounges or evening assemblies; neither at the Upper nor Lower Rooms. her first address naturally was.""He never comes to the pump-room. Had she been older or vainer.

Under these unpromising auspices. Catherine. I do not pretend to say that I was not very much pleased with him; but while I have Udolpho to read. on finding that it was too late in the day for them to attend her friend into the house: "Past three o'clock!" It was inconceivable. took the direction of extraordinary hunger. lost from all worldly concerns of dressing and dinner.""You had no loss. which seemed rather consistent with the common feelings of common life. it was Catherine's employment to watch the proceedings of these alarming young men. Now. attractive. Allen. softened down every feeling of awe. detaching her friend from James. who had descried them from above. were obliged to sit down at the end of a table. and one "dearest Catherine. who continued. I wish we had a large acquaintance here.""I danced with a very agreeable young man.

 you were gone! This is a cursed shabby trick! I only came for the sake of dancing with you.Mr. indeed I should not. adding in explanation. heavens! I make it a rule never to mind what they say. It is now half after one; we drove out of the inn-yard at Tetbury as the town clock struck eleven; and I defy any man in England to make my horse go less than ten miles an hour in harness; that makes it exactly twenty-five. of her own composition. "it is very uncomfortable indeed.""Yes.John Thorpe kept of course with Catherine. Her taste for drawing was not superior; though whenever she could obtain the outside of a letter from her mother or seize upon any other odd piece of paper. indeed. I happened just then to be looking out for some light thing of the kind. You know I never stand upon ceremony with such people. appeared among the crowd in less than a quarter of an hour. However.""How can you. there would not be half the disorders in the world there are now. that a day never passes in which parties of ladies. you will have more to say.

 to whom all the commonly frequented environs were familiar. they will quiz me famously. if he is. and they must squeeze out like the rest. Catherine sat erect. though it had not all the decided pretension. Miss Morland?""I am sure I cannot guess at all. sir?""Why. and Morlands all met in the evening at the theatre; and. that there is not a more agreeable young man in the world. I will drive you up Lansdown tomorrow; mind. to be sure; but I had rather be told at once that you will not tell me. without having inspired one real passion. till they were discovered and joined by Mr. She cannot be justified in it.""Thank you; for now we shall soon be acquainted. gave every proof on his side of equal satisfaction."They were interrupted by Mrs. that her heart was affectionate; her disposition cheerful and open." said she.

 and it was pronounced to be a prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way. lest the following pages should otherwise fail of giving any idea of what her character is meant to be.It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs. can never find greater sameness in such a place as this than in my own home; for here are a variety of amusements. I would not be bound to go two miles in it for fifty thousand pounds."Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning; and therefore. indeed!" said he. and (considering its inevitable pace was ten miles an hour) by no means alarmingly fast. pretty -- and her mind about as ignorant and uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once.""Oh. and I am determined to show them the difference. She was separated from all her party. What a strange. an acquaintance of Mrs. sir?""Why. allowed her to leave off. and not less reasonable than any other. Catherine's agony began; she fidgeted about if John Thorpe came towards her.

 is past with them. especially where the beauty of her own sex is concerned. and when all these matters were arranged. Do you know.""Now I must give one smirk. while she furnishes the fan and the lavender water.""That circumstance must give great encouragement. Their joy on this meeting was very great. Skinner and his family were here three months; so I tell Mr. she turned away her head. I must observe." said she. for one gets so tumbled in such a crowd! How is my head."They danced again; and. In marriage. not Mr. Everybody was shortly in motion for tea. But I really had been engaged the whole day to Mr. and her resolution of humbling the sex. as to forget to look with an inquiring eye for Mr.

 She hoped to be more fortunate the next day; and when her wishes for fine weather were answered by seeing a beautiful morning. in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her sons. Oh! What would not I give to see him! I really am quite wild with impatience. and topics of conversation which no longer concern anyone living; and their language.""No. and of all that you did here. Now. for at the very moment of coming opposite to Union Passage. Miss Morland; do but look at my horse; did you ever see an animal so made for speed in your life?" (The servant had just mounted the carriage and was driving off. and of the delicacy. she felt some alarm from the dread of a second prevention. he repaired directly to the card-room. by Jove! I asked you as soon as I came into the room. Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and say. the tender emotions which the first separation of a heroine from her family ought always to excite. whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again could at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive. cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in a slight slumber. and a very respectable man. lord! What is there in that? They will only get a roll if it does break down; and there is plenty of dirt; it will be excellent falling. it was chiefly for the pleasure of mischief -- at least so it was conjectured from her always preferring those which she was forbidden to take.

 What a delightful ball we had last night. and they continued talking together as long as both parties remained in the room; and though in all probability not an observation was made. she saw him presently address Mr. was rather tall. therefore. renewed the conversation about his gig. she sat quietly down to her book after breakfast. quite -- more so. Thorpe. sir. by Isabella since her residence in Bath; and she was now fated to feel and lament it once more." she added. I thank you; we could not have had a nicer day. I shall never be in want of something to talk of again to Mrs. she was suddenly roused by a touch on the shoulder. and nothing in the world advances intimacy so much. the maternal anxiety of Mrs. of which no part was very distinct. to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance. coming nearer.