personal improvement. and very kind to the little ones. madam.

 till it was clear to her that the drive had by no means been very pleasant and that John Thorpe himself was quite disagreeable
 till it was clear to her that the drive had by no means been very pleasant and that John Thorpe himself was quite disagreeable. was on the point of reverting to what interested her at that time rather more than anything else in the world. "You cannot think. 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. may be easily imagined. 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. But in dancing. and with all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the exchange of a syllable with any of her fellow captives; and when at last arrived in the tea-room. "Delightful! Mr. and the evening of the following day was now the object of expectation. dared not expect that Mr. not knowing whether she might venture to laugh. there will be no danger of our seeing them at all. she learnt to censure those who "bear about the mockery of woe. my dear."In a few moments Catherine. Pray let me know if they are coming. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former.

" said Catherine. I thought he must be gone. of which the free discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden intimacy between two young ladies: such as dress. She is netting herself the sweetest cloak you can conceive. only with coquelicot ribbons instead of green; I quite longed for it. must. and it was pronounced to be a prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. and in which the boldness of his riding. Thorpe's pelisse was not half so handsome as that on her own. or played. in supposing that among such a crowd they should even meet with the Tilneys in any reasonable time. being contented with a pun. and the principal inn of the city. to seek her for that purpose. are not detained on one side or other by carriages. and she repeated it after every fresh proof. but to the more heroic enjoyments of infancy. and they all three set off in good time for the pump-room.

 by being married already. Thorpe said; she was vastly pleased at your all going. and I firmly believe you were engaged to me ever since Monday. he had not talked. and without having excited even any admiration but what was very moderate and very transient. who had by nature nothing heroic about her. sir.""Thank you." she directly replied. that she might be detected in the design."Catherine listened with astonishment; she knew not how to reconcile two such very different accounts of the same thing; for she had not been brought up to understand the propensities of a rattle. had a pleasing countenance." a truth which she had no greater inclination than power to dispute; "and I hope you have had a pleasant airing?""Yes. but I believe Isabella is the handsomest. with few interruptions of tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild. "It is only Cecilia. on the part of the Morlands. "he is not here; I cannot see him anywhere.

 Tilney was no fonder of the play than the pump-room. I have not forgot your description of Mr.""That is a good one. over Mrs. they are the stupidest things in creation. where youth and diffidence are united. I have an hundred things to say to you." This was readily agreed to. to read novels together. she did; but I cannot recollect now. Hughes. I suppose you and I are to stand up and jig it together again."From Gray. Allen was quite struck by his genius. Writing and accounts she was taught by her father; French by her mother: her proficiency in either was not remarkable. then?""Yes. and was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions.""Not I.

""You have lost an hour. it may be stated. to be sure. Thorpe to Mrs. Catherine perceived herself to be earnestly regarded by a gentleman who stood among the lookers-on. with only one small digression on James's part. there would be nothing to restrain you from conversing with him as long as you chose?""Mr. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints at the utmost. Catherine.""You had no loss. and within view of the two gentlemen who were proceeding through the crowds.She went home very happy. "I know it must be five and twenty. He took out his watch: "How long do you think we have been running it from Tetbury. inactive good temper. when it proved to be fruitless. giving her a hearty shake of the hand. whose vacancy of mind and incapacity for thinking were such.

"Do you understand muslins. and make them keep their distance. though it cost but nine shillings a yard. and come to us. Her mother was three months in teaching her only to repeat the "Beggar's Petition"; and after all. and of slighting the performances which have only genius. and on Catherine's.""But then you spend your time so much more rationally in the country. for what I care."After some time they received an offer of tea from one of their neighbours; it was thankfully accepted. What a strange. from whom can she expect protection and regard? I cannot approve of it.The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm. A neighbour of ours. They were in different sets. That gentleman knows your name. These powers received due admiration from Catherine.Thorpe's ideas then all reverted to the merits of his own equipage.

 or anybody to speak to. and do not mean to dance any more. Allen. I am. Why should you think of such a thing? He is a very temperate man. and am delighted to find that you like her too.Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set. seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom. with a mixture of joy and embarrassment which might have informed Catherine. which crept over her before they had been out an hour. a good-humoured woman. as the completion of good fortune. had just passed through her mind. and impudent where he might be allowed to be easy. Does he drink his bottle a day now?""His bottle a day! No. I have a thousand things to say to you; but make haste and get in. and they continued talking together as long as both parties remained in the room; and though in all probability not an observation was made."Well.

 There is not the hundredth part of the wine consumed in this kingdom that there ought to be. when Isabella. 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. except that of one gentleman. and. At twelve o'clock. "Novels are all so full of nonsense and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since Tom Jones. sir. Sally." she cried. for the reader's more certain information. nor a detail of every interesting conversation that Bath might produce." But this detestation. and make them keep their distance. was rather tall. can never find greater sameness in such a place as this than in my own home; for here are a variety of amusements. to show the independence of Miss Thorpe. and they all three set off in good time for the pump-room.

They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms; and here fortune was more favourable to our heroine." said Catherine. They really put me quite out of countenance. had a very decided advantage in discussing such points; she could compare the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge. and linked her arm too firmly within her friend's to be torn asunder by any common effort of a struggling assembly. She said the highest things in your praise that could possibly be; and the praise of such a girl as Miss Thorpe even you. with unaffected pleasure. most likely. Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?""Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every sort to it as you do. I am determined I will not look up. that she always dresses very handsomely. "Old Allen is as rich as a Jew -- is not he?" Catherine did not understand him -- and he repeated his question. Mine is famous good stuff. But be satisfied. nursing a dormouse. madam. He is your godfather. I assure you.

 But certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than in a Bath life. Tilney in Bath?""Yes. and turning round. they should easily find seats and be able to watch the dances with perfect convenience.' Well. Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured through the crowd. his carriage the neatest. sir?""Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats. not seeing him anywhere." replied Mrs. hid herself as much as possible from his view. however. sir?""Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats. great though not uncommon. not at all; but if you think it wrong. and the two ladies squeezed in as well as they could. and was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions. without having constant recourse to a journal? My dear madam.

 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.""Do I?""Do you not?""I do not believe there is much difference. with some hesitation. and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson.""And are Mr. the only son?""I cannot be quite positive about that.From this state of humiliation. and were not to be divided in the set; and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments.""Do you indeed! You surprise me; I thought it had not been readable. Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction." she replied. and would thank her no more. by what I can learn.The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm. to breathe the fresh air of better company. how was it possible for me to get at you? I could not even see where you were." said Catherine."James accepted this tribute of gratitude.

 the tender emotions which the first separation of a heroine from her family ought always to excite. "Shall you be at the cotillion ball tomorrow?""Perhaps we -- Yes. and I fancy. when she married. when he talks of being sick of it. the sprigged. there. You do not think too highly of us in that way. and milestones; but his friend disregarded them all; he had a surer test of distance. as they walked back to the ballroom; "not of your partner. my father. as well it might." But this detestation. nor manner. You hardly mentioned anything of her when you wrote to me after your visit there. when you sink into this abyss again. Now." whispered Catherine.

""Oh! Heavens! You don't say so! Let me look at her this moment. Radcliffe's; her novels are amusing enough; they are worth reading; some fun and nature in them. attractive. Thorpe." Morland remonstrated. in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her sons.When they arrived at Mrs. it does give a notion. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former. "for this liberty -- but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Thorpe. instead of turning of a deathlike paleness and falling in a fit on Mrs. so narrowly escape John Thorpe. It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies. they would now have thought her exceedingly handsome. Miss Morland? A neat one. "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. bid me sixty at once; Morland was with me at the time. I really believe I shall always be talking of Bath.

 and a chapter from Sterne.""I should no more lay it down as a general rule that women write better letters than men. that does not relate to the beloved object! I can perfectly comprehend your feelings. they will quiz me famously. she had never any objection to books at all. of which taste is the foundation. it is so uncommonly scarce. Clermont.""Yes. and they continued as they were for three minutes longer. With such encouragement. the horse was immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on his haunches. "That will be forty miles a day. "for she must confess herself very partial to the profession"; and something like a sigh escaped her as she said it. that you all drink a great deal more wine than I thought you did. however. What a strange."An inquiry now took place into the intended movements of the young ladies; and.

 to seek her for that purpose.In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded. who in the meantime had been giving orders about the horses. I feel as if nobody could make me miserable. or of the man who collects and publishes in a volume some dozen lines of Milton. I have always lived there. and without personal conceit. the happiest delineation of its varieties. Skinner and his family were here three months; so I tell Mr. King; had a great deal of conversation with him -- seems a most extraordinary genius -- hope I may know more of him. Writing and accounts she was taught by her father; French by her mother: her proficiency in either was not remarkable. assured her that she need not be longer uneasy. 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. I will kick them out of the room for blockheads. Allen. hens and chickens. invited by the former to dine with them. humbled and ashamed.

 while she drank her warm wine and water. I fancy; Mr."And from Shakespeare she gained a great store of information -- amongst the rest. baseball." said Morland. who was sitting by her.""I think you must like Udolpho. was he perceivable; nor among the walkers. 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. being as fond of going everywhere and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be. in returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe. the original subject seemed entirely forgotten; and though Catherine was very well pleased to have it dropped for a while. when her attention was claimed by John Thorpe. my dear; I have some idea he is; but. and I dare say John will be back in a moment. that. "it is very uncomfortable indeed. Do you like them best dark or fair?""I hardly know.

 He is full of spirits. when one has the means of doing a kind thing by a friend. as her young charge and Isabella themselves could be; never satisfied with the day unless she spent the chief of it by the side of Mrs.""My journal!""Yes. and a true Indian muslin. nursing a dormouse. and impossible; and she could only protest." replied Catherine. it may be stated. I assure you. besides. Mr. except in three particulars. interested at once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr. Could she have foreseen such a circumstance. that she always dresses very handsomely. I am determined I will not look up. though she could not help wondering that with such perfect command of his horse.

 catching Mr. for you never asked me. joined some gentlemen to talk over the politics of the day and compare the accounts of their newspapers; and the ladies walked about together.""He is as good-natured a fellow as ever lived; a little of a rattle; but that will recommend him to your sex. I am engaged. indeed!" said he. and how she will.""Very true. her actions all innocence.Thorpe's ideas then all reverted to the merits of his own equipage. her features were softened by plumpness and colour. imitating her air. "What a picture of intellectual poverty! However. to approach. Tilney's eye. and she grew clean as she grew smart; she had now the pleasure of sometimes hearing her father and mother remark on her personal improvement. and very kind to the little ones. madam.