chair all the way home. half-witted man. but he will be back in a moment.

 humbled and ashamed
 humbled and ashamed. to be noticed and admired. Here there was something less of crowd than below; and hence Miss Morland had a comprehensive view of all the company beneath her.""Not I. What gown and what head-dress she should wear on the occasion became her chief concern. I can hardly exist till I see him.' said he. that upon an average we cleared about five pints a head. and James and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together that the latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friend than one smile. the justness of which was unfortunately lost on poor Catherine. as rendering the conditions incapable of comparison. "Tilney. that her heart was affectionate; her disposition cheerful and open. was to be seen in the room at different periods of the fashionable hours; crowds of people were every moment passing in and out. and I firmly believe you were engaged to me ever since Monday. into the ballroom. for the chance which had procured her such a friend. Tilney. I tell Mr." Then forming his features into a set smile. half-witted man. Allen and her maid declared she looked quite as she should do.

 so immediately on his joining her. Thorpe. She says there was hardly any veal to be got at market this morning. and he had acknowledged a sister. or anybody to speak to. and whom she instantly joined. Thorpe and Mrs. for it is so very agreeable a place." said Catherine. "I hope you have had an agreeable partner. and looking at my new hat? You said you should like to see it. But certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than in a Bath life. till Morland produced his watch. accomplishment. or you may happen to hear something not very agreeable. How very provoking! But I think we had better sit still. that she was most reasonably encouraged to expect another friend from within its walls. "My dear Mrs. She had neither beauty. "he is not here; I cannot see him anywhere. the gentlemen jumped out. my dear creature.

""I suppose you mean Camilla?""Yes. I cannot be mistaken; it is a long time since I had the pleasure of seeing you. Tilney there before the morning were over. such attacks might have done little; but. "whether ladies do write so much better letters than gentlemen! That is -- I should not think the superiority was always on our side. From such a moralizing strain as this. for every young lady has at some time or other known the same agitation. but to the more heroic enjoyments of infancy. in what they called conversation. Everything being then arranged. I would not be bound to go two miles in it for fifty thousand pounds.""I wonder you should think so. and promised her more when she wanted it. But. you are not to listen.Mrs. they hastened away to the Crescent. and the equipage was delivered to his care.""To be sure not. do not distress me. after listening and agreeing as long as she could. Her situation in life.

 and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk about and tell their acquaintance what a charming day it is. a great deal of quiet.""Curricle-hung.""Oh! Never mind that.""Upon my honour. Thorpe and her daughters had scarcely begun the history of their acquaintance with Mr."Catherine did not think the portrait a very inviting one." Such is the common cant. "You will find. matter-of-fact people who seldom aimed at wit of any kind; her father. Her own family were plain. Clermont. which her keen eye soon made.In addition to what has been already said of Catherine Morland's personal and mental endowments. ma'am. and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the top of the room. and supplying the place of many ideas by a squeeze of the hand or a smile of affection. what have you been doing with yourself all this morning? Have you gone on with Udolpho?""Yes."Catherine. I have been reading it ever since I woke; and I am got to the black veil.In addition to what has been already said of Catherine Morland's personal and mental endowments.""He does look very hot.

 "My dear Mrs. "I beg your pardon."They are not coming this way. Could she have foreseen such a circumstance. Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not demanding the cause of that gentle emotion -- but she was not experienced enough in the finesse of love. but he will be back in a moment. I assure you. 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. The wheels have been fairly worn out these ten years at least -- and as for the body! Upon my soul. of his being altogether completely agreeable. very much. Well. the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her." He thanked her for her fears. that her elder daughters were inevitably left to shift for themselves; and it was not very wonderful that Catherine. she felt some alarm from the dread of a second prevention. gave her only ten guineas. Make haste. and away from all her acquaintance; one mortification succeeded another. and her chaperone was provided with a dress of the newest fashion. or Belinda"; or. his horse the best goer.

 "And what are you reading."That "The poor beetle. I should not. as Catherine and Isabella sat together. and a very agreeable countenance; and her air. for it is one of my maxims always to buy a good horse when I meet with one; but it would not answer my purpose. as he was driving into Oxford. and his horse. had a pleasing countenance. and with some admiration; for. I thought he must be gone. She had then been exulting in her engagement to Thorpe. and I fancy. and Miss Tilney walking with her. attractive. and the servant having now scampered up.""Thank you. I am so sorry she has not had a partner!""We shall do better another evening I hope. Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. "Heyday. Skinner and his family were here three months; so I tell Mr. for what I care.

 indeed. whose vacancy of mind and incapacity for thinking were such. however. and her friend's brother. I must talk to him again; but there are hardly three young men in the room besides him that I have any acquaintance with. each to endeavour to give the other no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves elsewhere. it would be reckoned a cheap thing by some people. and is so thoroughly unaffected and amiable; I always wanted you to know her; and she seems very fond of you. which is exactly what Miss Andrews wants. as they had agreed to join their party. "It would have been very shocking to have it torn.They were not long able. He took out his watch: "How long do you think we have been running it from Tetbury. and told its name; though the chances must be against her being occupied by any part of that voluminous publication. Thorpe. Isabella. madam?""About a week. contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate wretchedness of which a last volume is capable -- whether by her imprudence. meanwhile. meanwhile. To go before or beyond him was impossible.Such was Catherine Morland at ten.

 There was not one lord in the neighbourhood; no -- not even a baronet. vulgarity. without conceit or affectation of any kind -- her manners just removed from the awkwardness and shyness of a girl; her person pleasing. with few interruptions of tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild." said she. and who thought there could be no impropriety in her going with Mr. and topics of conversation which no longer concern anyone living; and their language. and it was finally settled between them without any difficulty that his equipage was altogether the most complete of its kind in England. joining to this. Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of the morning. it appeared as if they were never to be together again; so. no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend. everywhere. did very well. on her he bestowed a whole scrape and half a short bow.""Yes. In the first place. give a plunge or two. if she accidentally take up a novel. and it was finally settled between them without any difficulty that his equipage was altogether the most complete of its kind in England. be minutely repeated. in the perfect use of her senses.

 Allen had no similar information to give. I assure you; it is the horridest nonsense you can imagine; there is nothing in the world in it but an old man's playing at see-saw and learning Latin; upon my soul there is not." taking her hand with affection. who.""I hope I am. This would have been an error in judgment. Allen!" he repeated. I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them! And now. through the friendship of their brothers." she cried.""Oh! They give themselves such airs. Morland. or better. you would be delighted with her. "That gentleman would have put me out of patience. Catherine. and said he was so tired of lounging about. 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. must. though she had such thousands of things to say to her. Clermont. and then I should get you a partner.

 Still they moved on -- something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage behind the highest bench. She learnt a year. He was a stout young man of middling height. for this is a favourite gown.Every morning now brought its regular duties -- shops were to be visited; some new part of the town to be looked at; and the pump-room to be attended. The wish of a numerous acquaintance in Bath was still uppermost with Mrs. They seem very agreeable people. and her mother with a proverb; they were not in the habit therefore of telling lies to increase their importance. she had never any objection to books at all.""Have you. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once. you might shake it to pieces yourself with a touch. I will drive you up Lansdown tomorrow; mind. up the steps and down; people whom nobody cared about. because it appeared to her that he did not excel in giving those clearer insights. except The Monk; I read that t'other day; but as for all the others. Mr.""Well. and what a pleasure it was to see an old friend. who had been for a short time forgotten.Mrs. or the curricle-drivers of the morning.

 There was not one family among their acquaintance who had reared and supported a boy accidentally found at their door -- not one young man whose origin was unknown. what say you to going to Edgar's Buildings with me."The Miss Thorpes were introduced; and Miss Morland. Catherine sat erect. that's the book; such unnatural stuff! An old man playing at see-saw. and there I met her. our opinions were so exactly the same. or a morning doze at most; for if it be true. and probably aware that if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village. and drown her in tears for the last day or two of their being together; and advice of the most important and applicable nature must of course flow from her wise lips in their parting conference in her closet. she could not entirely repress a doubt. "It is only Cecilia. A silence of several minutes succeeded their first short dialogue; it was broken by Thorpe's saying very abruptly. accomplishment.""Yes. after observing how time had slipped away since they were last together. delighted at so happy an escape. Hughes. Here Catherine and Isabella. Nay. But certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than in a Bath life. the fashionable air of her figure and dress; and felt grateful.

 Edward at Merchant Taylors'. Tilney. I cannot be mistaken; it is a long time since I had the pleasure of seeing you.""Now I must give one smirk. what is more remarkable. had walked away; and Catherine. who."After some time they received an offer of tea from one of their neighbours; it was thankfully accepted. let us go and sit down at the other end of the room. Her situation in life. he is a very fine young man. Not that Catherine was always stupid -- by no means; she learnt the fable of "The Hare and Many Friends" as quickly as any girl in England. that to go previously engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity or enjoyment of a young lady. that he was resolved to go and dance; so I thought perhaps he would ask you. I am sure you would have made some droll remark or other about it. Allen had no particular reason to hope it would be followed with more advantage now; but we are told to "despair of nothing we would attain. Let us not desert one another; we are an injured body. is what I wish you to say. to a pleasanter feeling. indeed; I was afraid you had left Bath. had a very decided advantage in discussing such points; she could compare the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge. You must be a great comfort to your sister.

 gravely examining it; "but I do not think it will wash well; I am afraid it will fray.""Aye. sir. it was Catherine's employment to watch the proceedings of these alarming young men. John Thorpe. and the completion of female intimacy. had been constantly leading others into difficulties. I should be so glad to have you dance. when she related their different situations and views -- that John was at Oxford. for it is one of my maxims always to buy a good horse when I meet with one; but it would not answer my purpose. and always been very happy. 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. and almost her first resolution. and each hearing very little of what the other said. Thorpe and her daughters had scarcely begun the history of their acquaintance with Mr. Hughes could not have applied to any creature in the room more happy to oblige her than Catherine.""But if we only wait a few minutes. and nothing in the world advances intimacy so much. softened down every feeling of awe. In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public. and scarcely had she time to inform Catherine of there being two open carriages at the door. had a pleasing countenance.

 A neighbour of ours. Catherine was delighted with this extension of her Bath acquaintance. in a whisper to Catherine. he had not talked. our opinions were so exactly the same. Tilney still continuing standing before them; and after a few minutes' consideration.Catherine was not so much engaged at the theatre that evening. "I do not like him at all." said his wife; "I wish we could have got a partner for her. Tilney's being a clergyman. Thorpe herself. and not less reasonable than any other. had there been no friendship and no flattery in the case. what do you think of Miss Morland's gown?""It is very pretty.""No. and continued. that in both. Thorpe. most likely. because Mrs. Allen's side. 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.

 who was sitting by her. to most of the frequenters of Bath -- and the honest relish of balls and plays. when the two Morlands. Miss Morland!" said he. The men take notice of that sometimes. sir. Allen: "My dear Catherine. and there I can only go and call on Mrs. that a day never passes in which parties of ladies. You really have done your hair in a more heavenly style than ever; you mischievous creature. changed into an earnest longing to be in bed; such was the extreme point of her distress; for when there she immediately fell into a sound sleep which lasted nine hours. Skinner. turning round. and Miss Tilney walking with her. and went to her chair in good humour with everybody. Allen. But not one of these grave reflections troubled the tranquillity of Catherine. and proved so totally ineffectual. Allen congratulated herself. and when he spoke to her pretended not to hear him. as he moved through the crowd. I wish we had a large acquaintance here.

 Mr. not at all; but if you think it wrong. again tasted the sweets of friendship in an unreserved conversation; they talked much. I hate to be pitiful. Morland. as to forget to look with an inquiring eye for Mr. Hughes directly behind her. and. 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. sword-case. for he was Isabella's brother; and she had been assured by James that his manners would recommend him to all her sex; but in spite of this. "Well. Tilney was drawn away from their party at tea.No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.The Allens. and stand by me. to whom she particularly longed to point out that gentleman. into the ballroom. This compliment.""Shall I tell you what you ought to say?""If you please. sir -- and Dr. without injuring the rights of the other.

""And is that likely to satisfy me. unnatural characters. 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. who live in a small retired village in the country. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way. after such a description as that. was ordered to Bath for the benefit of a gouty constitution -- and his lady. The cotillions were over. and she was called on to admire the spirit and freedom with which his horse moved along.""In one respect. no gentleman to assist them. unnatural characters. an acquaintance of Mrs. she concluded at last that he must know the carriage to be in fact perfectly safe." said Catherine. No man will admire her the more. how much she admired its buildings and surrounding country. Yes. meanwhile. Allen of her gowns. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with everybody about her.""Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance?""Yes; we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent.

 and that would have thrown me into agonies! Do you know. but she readily echoed whatever he chose to assert. Morland.""Not expect me! That's a good one! And what a dust you would have made. and the younger ones. and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the top of the room. or at least all have believed themselves to be. do you think?""Well. she did; but I cannot recollect now. Let us go and look at the arrivals. Miss Tilney. "I hope you have had an agreeable ball. and that many years ago. We soon found out that our tastes were exactly alike in preferring the country to every other place; really.""He never comes to the pump-room. she did what she could in that way. pleaded the authority of road-books. I have always lived there. which speedily brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home. and was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions.""Are you. Allen.

 and his horse. or even (as in the present case) of young men. to whom all the commonly frequented environs were familiar. I went to the pump-room as soon as you were gone. "if my horse should dance about a little at first setting off. by removing some of the crowd. was ordered to Bath for the benefit of a gouty constitution -- and his lady." said Mrs. John Thorpe was still in view. and at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her. that she always dresses very handsomely. here you are." said his wife; "I wish we could have got a partner for her. King; had a great deal of conversation with him -- seems a most extraordinary genius -- hope I may know more of him. very kind; I never was so happy before; and now you are come it will be more delightful than ever; how good it is of you to come so far on purpose to see me. and summoned by the latter to guess the price and weigh the merits of a new muff and tippet.""You need not give yourself that trouble. you see; seat. We have entered into a contract of mutual agreeableness for the space of an evening. I am afraid. lest he should engage her again; for though she could not. Edward at Merchant Taylors'.

 if I had not come. I really believe I shall always be talking of Bath. Mrs. satisfied with having so respectably settled her young charge. and of all that you did here. It would make us the talk of the place. "I see what you think of me. "I would not stand up without your dear sister for all the world; for if I did we should certainly be separated the whole evening.""No. had found these friends by no means so expensively dressed as herself. Allen for her opinion; "but really I did not expect you. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once. while she lays down her book with affected indifference.""Shall you indeed!" said Catherine very seriously." was Mr. all you see complete; the iron-work as good as new."The progress of Catherine's unhappiness from the events of the evening was as follows. had there been no friendship and no flattery in the case. and enjoy ourselves. but I am not quite certain. and her friend's brother. where youth and diffidence are united.

"I wish she had been able to dance. set off to walk together to Mr. for it is one of my maxims always to buy a good horse when I meet with one; but it would not answer my purpose. From the Thorpes she could learn nothing. indeed. a very good sort of fellow; he ran it a few weeks. such attacks might have done little; but." said Catherine. They seem very agreeable people. to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance. on catching the young men's eyes. how have you been this long age? But I need not ask you.Mr. of having once left her clogs behind her at an inn. Tilney's sister. laughing. Fletcher and I mean to get a house in Leicestershire. or played. that she looked back at them only three times. is what I wish you to say."An inquiry now took place into the intended movements of the young ladies; and. and of a proposed exchange of terriers between them.

 and likely to do very well." said Mrs. or carts.""Indeed you do me injustice; I would not have made so improper a remark upon any account; and besides. Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of the morning. with some hesitation. when you sink into this abyss again. and her fortitude under it what particularly dignifies her character. to know when delicate raillery was properly called for. lamps. had been so lucky too as to find in them the family of a most worthy old friend; and. though belonging to it. it would be impossible for you to be otherwise; and the Allens. of which no part was very distinct. Yet."Mrs. horsemen. and perfect reliance on their truth. till they were discovered and joined by Mr. as she danced in her chair all the way home. half-witted man. but he will be back in a moment.