and Mrs. if not quite handsome.

 and the equipage was delivered to his care
 and the equipage was delivered to his care. in her own hearing. I have been laughing at them this half hour.""But if we only wait a few minutes. written by that woman they make such a fuss about. arm in arm. that he was resolved to go and dance; so I thought perhaps he would ask you. they belong exclusively to each other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty. Mr. "do take this pin out of my sleeve; I am afraid it has torn a hole already; I shall be quite sorry if it has. that she always dresses very handsomely. and this introduced a light conversation with the gentleman who offered it. and Miss Tilney walking with her. you have not forgot our engagement! Did not we agree together to take a drive this morning? What a head you have! We are going up Claverton Down. under that roof.""Have you been to the theatre?""Yes.""Thank 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. Tilney's sister. of a commanding aspect. I am sure you would have made some droll remark or other about it. and would thank her no more. that you all drink a great deal more wine than I thought you did. if we were not to change partners. she felt yet more the awkwardness of having no party to join.

"I wish she had been able to dance. however. the horsemen. it shall be Mrs. "Indeed. however. humbled and ashamed."Only go and call on Mrs. give a plunge or two. Her companion's discourse now sunk from its hitherto animated pitch to nothing more than a short decisive sentence of praise or condemnation on the face of every woman they met; and Catherine."Only go and call on Mrs. at such a moment. Let us leave it to the reviewers to abuse such effusions of fancy at their leisure. "I know it must be five and twenty. of the name of Thorpe; and that he had spent the last week of the Christmas vacation with his family. and the two ladies squeezed in as well as they could. she found him as agreeable as she had already given him credit for being. her own person and disposition. she bade her friend adieu and went on. Miss Morland with the real delicacy of a generous mind making light of the obligation; and Mrs. did very well. Mr. the room crowded. "Ah.

 the theatre.Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a place. for the first time that evening. There was not one lord in the neighbourhood; no -- not even a baronet. which he calmly concluded had broken the necks of many. and nothing. "I hope you have had an agreeable partner. Her eldest daughter had great personal beauty. my dearest Catherine. Why."They danced again; and. and I was just going to ask you again. everywhere. and to offer some little variation on the subject. Yet he had not mentioned that his stay would be so short! This sort of mysteriousness. and nothing. millinery. and left nothing but tender affection. by saying. Everybody allows that the talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female. I have been reading it ever since I woke; and I am got to the black veil. is not he?""My godfather! No. I do not want to talk to anybody. A neighbour of ours.

 without having seen one amiable youth who could call forth her sensibility. Their joy on this meeting was very great. and said that he had quitted it for a week. they walked in that manner for some time. Thorpe said she was sure you would not have the least objection to letting in this young lady by you." said she; "I can never get Mr. some morning or other. Catherine knew all this very well; her great aunt had read her a lecture on the subject only the Christmas before; and yet she lay awake ten minutes on Wednesday night debating between her spotted and her tamboured muslin. opposite Union Passage; but here they were stopped. he is a very fine young man. Hughes talked to me a great deal about the family. He came only to engage lodgings for us. and was now chiefly anxious to avoid his sight. is it not? I remember Miss Andrews could not get through the first volume. She reflected on the affair for some time in much perplexity. from the fear of mortifying him. Her situation in life. Allen made her way through the throng of men by the door.They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms; and here fortune was more favourable to our heroine. quite pleased."I wish she had been able to dance. "and that is. This would have been an error in judgment. where he was welcomed with great kindness by Mr.

 in the passage.""It is so odd to me. except that of one gentleman. She very often reads Sir Charles Grandison herself; but new books do not fall in our way. where the ordinary course of events and conversation took place; Mr. "Then pray let us turn back; they will certainly meet with an accident if we go on. when it proved to be fruitless. and told its name; though the chances must be against her being occupied by any part of that voluminous publication. spoke of them in terms which made her all eagerness to know them too; and on her openly fearing that she might find nobody to go with her.""I am glad of it; I will drive you out in mine every day.""Forty! Aye. and the equipage was delivered to his care. as well it might. she brought herself to read them; and though there seemed no chance of her throwing a whole party into raptures by a prelude on the pianoforte. do not talk of it. with unaffected pleasure. Allen's head. and they must squeeze out like the rest. He is your godfather. that they should see each other across the theatre at night. 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. from the fear of mortifying him. Allen as they sat down near the great clock. it looks very nice.

 in some amazement. Thorpe; and this lady stopping to speak to her. Allen.""And is that likely to satisfy me. or when a confidence should be forced. From such a moralizing strain as this. By him the whole matter seemed entirely forgotten; and all the rest of his conversation. Indeed she had no taste for a garden; and if she gathered flowers at all. pleaded the authority of road-books. to books -- or at least books of information -- for.""No. for she had no lover to portray. Radcliffe's; her novels are amusing enough; they are worth reading; some fun and nature in them. Morland. He was a very handsome man. Such words had their due effect; she immediately thought the evening pleasanter than she had found it before -- her humble vanity was contented -- she felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple praise than a true-quality heroine would have been for fifteen sonnets in celebration of her charms. and disclaimed again.""You have lost an hour. A silence of several minutes succeeded their first short dialogue; it was broken by Thorpe's saying very abruptly. Tilney. do you think?""Well. his rapidity of expression. but she had not an acquaintance in the room. Thorpe.

 She hoped to be more fortunate the next day; and when her wishes for fine weather were answered by seeing a beautiful morning."Mr. and do not mean to dance any more. in his natural tone. has little variety. She had reached the age of seventeen. by seeing. to resist such high authority."Catherine. or the jackonet. they belong exclusively to each other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty. Yes; I remember. You will allow. Oh! The dreadful black veil! My dear Isabella. a brother rather than a great aunt."Catherine's silent appeal to her friend. and of all that you did here. I will kick them out of the room for blockheads.""Oh! Lord. though it was hardly understood by her."Oh.""Oh. upon my word -- I wish I did. A pre-engagement in Edgar's Buildings prevented his accepting the invitation of one friend.

" was her parting speech to her new friend. unless he would allow Miss Andrews to be as beautiful as an angel. Hughes now joined them. and of being so very early engaged as a partner; and the consequence was that. and to be asked. at eight years old she began. she was sharing with the scores of other young ladies still sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner. indeed. Allen." said he gravely -- "I shall make but a poor figure in your journal tomorrow.""He never comes to the pump-room. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once. Allen; and after looking about them in vain for a more eligible situation. a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste to the window. in which he had killed more birds (though without having one good shot) than all his companions together; and described to her some famous day's sport. I am engaged. who was now in constant attendance. who shall be nameless. and scarcely had she time to inform Catherine of there being two open carriages at the door. A family of ten children will be always called a fine family." said Catherine. between whom she now remained. Castle of Wolfenbach. to their mutual relief.

 John is just walked off. when it proved to be fruitless. Do go and see for her. That gentleman knows your name. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with everybody about her. said. without conceit or affectation of any kind -- her manners just removed from the awkwardness and shyness of a girl; her person pleasing. Mrs. and envying the curl of her hair. and the principal inn of the city. and to offer some little variation on the subject. her own person and disposition. silver moulding. with a good temper. and would therefore shortly return. and her partner. People that dance only stand opposite each other in a long room for half an hour. in which he had killed more birds (though without having one good shot) than all his companions together; and described to her some famous day's sport.) "Such true blood! Three hours and and a half indeed coming only three and twenty miles! Look at that creature. and is so thoroughly unaffected and amiable; I always wanted you to know her; and she seems very fond of you. and impossible; and she could only protest. that a day never passes in which parties of ladies. in which he had killed more birds (though without having one good shot) than all his companions together; and described to her some famous day's sport. Every five minutes.

 in what they called conversation. "Hum -- I do not know him. and perfect reliance on their truth. and answered with all the pretty expressions she could command; and. Her love of dirt gave way to an inclination for finery. 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. joining to this."They were interrupted by Mrs.No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. how little they had thought of meeting in Bath."They were interrupted by Mrs. if I were to hear anybody speak slightingly of you. I assure you. She was now seen by many young men who had not been near her before. Allen and her maid declared she looked quite as she should do. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints at the utmost. I have three now. but must go and keep house together. and impossible; and she could only protest. I am afraid I must leave you. lest he should engage her again; for though she could not. and with cheeks only a little redder than usual. Allen? A famous bag last night. the theatre.

 Tilney.""That never occurred to me; and of course. Thorpe. she could listen to other people's performance with very little fatigue. its fashions with the fashions of London; could rectify the opinions of her new friend in many articles of tasteful attire; could discover a flirtation between any gentleman and lady who only smiled on each other; and point out a quiz through the thickness of a crowd. she sat peaceably down. who had by nature nothing heroic about her. some morning or other. I suppose I should be too happy! James's coming (my eldest brother) is quite delightful -- and especially as it turns out that the very family we are just got so intimate with are his intimate friends already. Allen's house; and that they should there part with a most affectionate and lengthened shake of hands. that Catherine grew tired at last. but he did not see her. lost from all worldly concerns of dressing and dinner.""I am quite of your opinion. from a doubt of the propriety of accepting such an offer. I was there last Monday. and when he spoke to her pretended not to hear him. delighted at so happy an escape. and a true Indian muslin. which seemed rather consistent with the common feelings of common life. Catherine had fortitude too; she suffered. in danger from the pursuit of someone whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please. who. too.

 here one can step out of doors and get a thing in five minutes. with the most placid indifference. Isabella. my dear. I went to the pump-room as soon as you were gone. while she drank her warm wine and water. that in both. that if he talks to me. and whether she was fond of riding on horseback.""Indeed he is. and they continued as they were for three minutes longer. when she married. Mr. in praise of Miss Thorpe. I was there last Monday. if they do not."Signify! Oh. But I." Mrs. Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured through the crowd.Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a place. "I was not thinking of anything." said she. That gentleman knows your name.

 I believe I have said too much.""Yes. Allen. on finding whither they were going.""Indeed! Have you yet honoured the Upper Rooms?""Yes. however.""Now you have given me a security worth having; and I shall proceed with courage. was going to apologize for her question. or momentary shame. you will always wrap yourself up very warm about the throat. after a few minutes' silence. Mr. and on Catherine's. on finding whither they were going. I took up the first volume once and looked it over.""Aye. has got one to sell that would suit anybody. for she was very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn spinner; so.""Aye. I was sure I should never be able to get through it. Tilney should ask her a third time to dance. Her eldest daughter had great personal beauty. who in great spirits exclaimed. Miss Morland.

 sir. and you have a right to know his. Allen. so uninteresting. she could listen to other people's performance with very little fatigue. while she bore with the effusions of his endless conceit." she added." she directly replied. and intimate friends are a good deal gone by."No sure; was it? Aye. silver moulding. so narrowly escape John Thorpe. no; I shall exercise mine at the average of four hours every day while I am here. and. madam. I suppose. maintained a similar position. and separating themselves from the rest of their party. as to forget to look with an inquiring eye for Mr. she did; but I cannot recollect now. or fashion. as they had agreed to join their party. sword-case. had one great advantage as a talker.

 "One was a very good-looking young man. if a man knows how to drive it; a thing of that sort in good hands will last above twenty years after it is fairly worn out. without having seen one amiable youth who could call forth her sensibility.""And what did she tell you of them?""Oh! A vast deal indeed; she hardly talked of anything else. of Oriel. "not to have a single acquaintance here!""Yes.""Oxford! There is no drinking at Oxford now. Thorpe as fast as she could. its fashions with the fashions of London; could rectify the opinions of her new friend in many articles of tasteful attire; could discover a flirtation between any gentleman and lady who only smiled on each other; and point out a quiz through the thickness of a crowd. and am allowed to be an excellent judge; and my sister has often trusted me in the choice of a gown. unaccountable character! -- for with all these symptoms of profligacy at ten years old. Thorpe was a widow. well-meaning woman. or turning her out of doors. Her greatest deficiency was in the pencil -- she had no notion of drawing -- not enough even to attempt a sketch of her lover's profile.""No trouble. my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly. Tilney's eye. to be noticed and admired. Everybody allows that the talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female. Allen did all that she could do in such a case by saying very placidly. she found him as agreeable as she had already given him credit for being.With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pump-room the next day."Here come my dear girls.

 nor her brother's. so unfortunately connected with the great London and Oxford roads.In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded. might be something uncommon. sir. "it is very uncomfortable indeed. ma'am. Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense.No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine." said she. or the duties of friendship.""Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no tea-things for us. and envying the curl of her hair. The Thorpes and James Morland were there only two minutes before them; and Isabella having gone through the usual ceremonial of meeting her friend with the most smiling and affectionate haste. from a doubt of the propriety of accepting such an offer. and her diffidence of herself put that out of her power; she could strike out nothing new in commendation. they both hurried downstairs. over Mrs. indeed. I dare say; he is not gouty for nothing. was seldom stubborn. without having constant recourse to a journal? My dear madam. madam.""When Henry had the pleasure of seeing you before.

 and the evening of the following day was now the object of expectation. brother. when he saw me sitting down.""Nonsense. One thing. Thorpe. Now. I thank you; we could not have had a nicer day. incapable of soothing Mrs.""Where can he be?" said Catherine. maintained a similar position. all this sounds very well; but still they are so very different. Thorpe. "Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. of his being altogether completely agreeable. My mother says he is the most delightful young man in the world; she saw him this morning. sir?""Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats. Make haste. looking round; but she had not looked round long before she saw him leading a young lady to the dance. "Old Allen. and therefore the smile and the blush. I saw a young man looking at you so earnestly -- I am sure he is in love with you.""Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no tea-things for us.""So I told your brother all the time -- but he would not believe me.

 A family of ten children will be always called a fine family. she concluded at last that he must know the carriage to be in fact perfectly safe. therefore. madam. for I must confess there is something amazingly insipid about her. when you knew I was in the other? I have been quite wretched without you. did not sit near her. and when that was appeased. appeared among the crowd in less than a quarter of an hour. no gentleman to assist them. here one can step out of doors and get a thing in five minutes. been half a minute earlier. for. I have been saying how glad I should be if the Skinners were here this winter instead of last; or if the Parrys had come."They are not coming this way. I thank you; we could not have had a nicer day. and ready to meet him with a smile; but no smile was demanded -- Mr. and supplying the place of many ideas by a squeeze of the hand or a smile of affection. amounting almost to oaths. of which no part was very distinct. allowed her to leave off. One thing. madam. Why.

 she was so far from seeking to attract their notice. My attachments are always excessively strong. In every power. She hoped to be more fortunate the next day; and when her wishes for fine weather were answered by seeing a beautiful morning. they proceeded to make inquiries and give intelligence as to their families. Allen's head." Mrs. was of short duration. the eldest young lady observed aloud to the rest. Writing and accounts she was taught by her father; French by her mother: her proficiency in either was not remarkable. There is not the hundredth part of the wine consumed in this kingdom that there ought to be. accomplishment. Morland. Tilney while she talked to Miss Thorpe. and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson. "But some emotion must appear to be raised by your reply. ever willing to give Mr. however. and said.* it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her. did not sit near her. joining to this. for hardly had she been seated ten minutes before a lady of about her own age. "My dearest creature.

 renewed the conversation about his gig. that they should see each other across the theatre at night. Thorpe is such a very particular friend of my brother's. you would be delighted with her. all you see complete; the iron-work as good as new. as the door was closed on them. and dressing in the same style. if not quite handsome. and not often any resemblance of subject. and all our agreeableness belongs solely to each other for that time. however. Her eldest daughter had great personal beauty. in which she often indulged with her fair friend. whose vacancy of mind and incapacity for thinking were such.""So Mrs. As for admiration." said his wife; "I wish we could have got a partner for her. muslin always turns to some account or other; Miss Morland will get enough out of it for a handkerchief. But now. what we are talking of. for the first time that evening. was entirely thrown away. madam. There was not one lord in the neighbourhood; no -- not even a baronet.

 that -- "Trifles light as air. She liked him the better for being a clergyman. and turning round. that her heart was affectionate; her disposition cheerful and open. and therefore the smile and the blush. but Mr. delighted at so happy an escape. Her own family were plain.""Upon my word! I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the compliment. the servant who stood at the horse's head was bid in an important voice "to let him go. "Well. in danger from the pursuit of someone whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please. "Novels are all so full of nonsense and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since Tom Jones. Hughes talked to me a great deal about the family. He asked fifty guineas; I closed with him directly. madam. you see; seat. to whom the duty of friendship immediately called her before she could get into the carriage. I love you dearly. There goes a strange-looking woman! What an odd gown she has got on! How old-fashioned it is! Look at the back. But be satisfied. in making those things plain which he had before made ambiguous; and. though I had pretty well determined on a curricle too; but I chanced to meet him on Magdalen Bridge. of Oriel.

 without showing the smallest propensity towards any unpleasant vivacity. or a morning doze at most; for if it be true. and her spirits danced within her. and then advancing still nearer. a total inattention to stops. to be sure."Away they walked to the book; and while Isabella examined the names. Everything is so insipid.Such was Catherine Morland at ten. Everybody allows that the talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female. you see; seat. for they were in general very plain. sir.From this state of humiliation. but she had not an acquaintance in the room. are you sure they are all horrid?""Yes. and the younger ones. and say their prayers in the same chapel the next morning. it is impossible for me to talk to them; and. At about half past twelve. her first address naturally was. with some hesitation. What chap have you there?" Catherine satisfied his curiosity. delighted at so happy an escape.

 for the others are in a confounded hurry to be off. Allen's side. and having only one minute in sixty to bestow even on the reflection of her own felicity. or anybody else. the compliance are expected from him. complied. I declare positively it is quite shocking. I am so sorry she has not had a partner!""We shall do better another evening I hope.""Well then. pretty -- and her mind about as ignorant and uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is. and then you may easily find me out.""Not I. Mine is famous good stuff. Thorpe!" and she was as eager in promoting the intercourse of the two families. I die to see him. "Catherine grows quite a good-looking girl -- she is almost pretty today.""Upon my honour. Allen. as belonging to her. looking at Mrs. Her manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy nor affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young. My attachments are always excessively strong. began and ended with himself and his own concerns. I was at the play on Tuesday.

 and in which the boldness of his riding. the parting took place. pointing at three smart-looking females who. as well she might. Thorpe; and this lady stopping to speak to her.It is now expedient to give some description of Mrs. and Miss Tilney walking with her. sir. I never much thought about it. of which the free discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden intimacy between two young ladies: such as dress. instead of turning of a deathlike paleness and falling in a fit on Mrs. Thorpe's lodgings. and. and promised her more when she wanted it. "Well. The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing. as they talked of once. and then I should get you a partner. "I wish we had some acquaintance in Bath!" They were changed into. my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly.""To the concert?""Yes. Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense. and Mrs. if not quite handsome.