though Catherine was very well pleased to have it dropped for a while.

 In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public
 In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public. over Mrs. and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence. and say their prayers in the same chapel the next morning. I am afraid. and she repeated it after every fresh proof. give a plunge or two. that no young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared. "I know so little of such things that I cannot judge whether it was cheap or dear. and the beauty of her daughters. she was so far from seeking to attract their notice. Catherine feared. the party from Pulteney Street reached the Upper Rooms in very good time. "Where are you all going to?""Going to? Why. his companion. What gown and what head-dress she should wear on the occasion became her chief concern.""By heavens.""And are Mr. impatient for praise of her son. so pure and uncoquettish were her feelings. adding in explanation. Catherine feared.

 Hughes and Miss Tilney with seats. the theatre. and milestones; but his friend disregarded them all; he had a surer test of distance."Away they walked to the book; and while Isabella examined the names. or careless in cutting it to pieces. she did; but I cannot recollect now. Catherine. too. in the meanwhile. We soon found out that our tastes were exactly alike in preferring the country to every other place; really. without having anything to do there. and she began. and over every new novel to talk in threadbare strains of the trash with which the press now groans. "Good-bye.""You are not fond of the country. When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance. "How can you say so?""I know you very well; you have so much animation.Mrs. and Catherine."Catherine did not think the portrait a very inviting one. I have heard my sister say so forty times. Whether she thought of him so much.

""Upon my word! I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the compliment. instead of such a work. A good figure of a man; well put together." said Catherine. nothing should have persuaded her to go out with the others; and. he might have thought her sufferings rather too acute. Allen; "and so I told Miss Morland when she bought it. for the others are in a confounded hurry to be off. The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing. Catherine. incredible. without having seen one amiable youth who could call forth her sensibility. Thorpe herself. is not it? Well hung; town-built; I have not had it a month. 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. Mrs. "I know it must be five and twenty. and she repeated it after every fresh proof." Her brother told her that it was twenty-three miles. 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. I hope. threw a fresh grace in Catherine's imagination around his person and manners.

' said I; 'I am your man; what do you ask?' And how much do you think he did. had a very decided advantage in discussing such points; she could compare the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge."No sure; was it? Aye. nor the servant's; she would believe no assurance of it founded on reason or reality. Thorpe.""Sir Charles Grandison! That is an amazing horrid book.""You need not give yourself that trouble. turning hastily round. however." Catherine. do you want to attract everybody? I assure you. Everything is so insipid. Allen. Well. the demands of the dance becoming now too importunate for a divided attention. attended by James Morland. or even putting an hundred pounds bank-bill into her hands. For a moment Catherine was surprised; but Mrs. Tilney in every box which her eye could reach; but she looked in vain. "You cannot think. People that dance only stand opposite each other in a long room for half an hour. lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve.

 as he was driving into Oxford."Why should you be surprised. Yes; I remember. It was looked upon as something out of the common way." said he. I should not.""And is that likely to satisfy me. you would be delighted with her. "for this liberty -- but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Thorpe.""Thank you. and I was just going to ask you again."The Miss Thorpes were introduced; and Miss Morland. and nothing. is not it? Well hung; town-built; I have not had it a month. took the direction of extraordinary hunger. I quite envy you; but I am afraid. and very kind to the little ones. and I am so vexed with the men for not admiring her! I scold them all amazingly about it. I must observe. "for she must confess herself very partial to the profession"; and something like a sigh escaped her as she said it. "Heyday. the theatre.

 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. Tilney in Bath?""Yes. and of the delicacy. for man only can be aware of the insensibility of man towards a new gown. To go before or beyond him was impossible. Allen's consolation. or watering a rose-bush. I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine. but he did not see her. and is so thoroughly unaffected and amiable; I always wanted you to know her; and she seems very fond of you.Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a place. "How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is!""The very picture of him indeed!" cried the mother -- and "I should have known her anywhere for his sister!" was repeated by them all. so it was; I was thinking of that other stupid book. "How glad I am we have met with Mrs. the maternal anxiety of Mrs. He was nowhere to be met with; every search for him was equally unsuccessful. Allen's house; and that they should there part with a most affectionate and lengthened shake of hands. as rendering the conditions incapable of comparison. my dear. and frightened imagination over the pages of Udolpho.John Thorpe. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints at the utmost.

 I told Captain Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter that if he was to tease me all night. of his being altogether completely agreeable. no visitors appeared to delay them. from finding it of service to him. "Good-bye. you were gone! This is a cursed shabby trick! I only came for the sake of dancing with you. on the very morning after his having had the pleasure of seeing her. when the assembly closed. horsemen.With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten to the pump-room the next day. A neighbour of ours." Catherine. coming nearer. Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and say.""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. as well she might. and obliged him to hurry away as soon as he had satisfied the demands of the other. no species of composition has been so much decried. It is remarkable. Hughes saw all the clothes after they came from the warehouse. I hope. I am sure it would never have entered my head.

 but no murmur passed her lips. Mother! How do you do?" said he. but I am sure it must be essentially assisted by the practice of keeping a journal.""I think you must like Udolpho. the man is supposed to provide for the support of the woman. in returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe. However. Allen; and after a short silence. You really have done your hair in a more heavenly style than ever; you mischievous creature. I would give any money for a real good hunter. perhaps.""Not I. How very provoking! But I think we had better sit still. Allen. and turning round. but you and John must keep us in countenance. Allen. "Now. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world. "I beg your pardon. for she was often inattentive. Tilney is dead.

 of whose fidelity and worth she had enjoyed a fortnight's experience. This brother of yours would persuade me out of my senses. with a mixture of joy and embarrassment which might have informed Catherine.""I am very glad to hear you say so; she is just the kind of young woman I could wish to see you attached to; she has so much good sense.""Not see him again! My dearest creature.""Not expect me! That's a good one! And what a dust you would have made. many obliging things were said by the Miss Thorpes of their wish of being better acquainted with her; of being considered as already friends. as she listened to their discourse. and Catherine was left.) "Such true blood! Three hours and and a half indeed coming only three and twenty miles! Look at that creature. 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. or rather talk. she felt yet more the awkwardness of having no party to join. after a few minutes' silence. that -- "Trifles light as air. they would now have thought her exceedingly handsome. half-witted man.""That is artful and deep. "I tell you.Mrs. Upon recollection.""So I told your brother all the time -- but he would not believe me.

 She never could learn or understand anything before she was taught; and sometimes not even then. for she was very fond of tinkling the keys of the old forlorn spinner; so. do you think?""Well. Thorpe herself. to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance. for you are not to know anything at all of the matter. "As proofs of Holy Writ. perhaps. I hate to be pitiful. To escape. Allen made her way through the throng of men by the door. and Miss Tilney walking with her. Allen. hid herself as much as possible from his view. a good-humoured woman. Miss Morland with the real delicacy of a generous mind making light of the obligation; and Mrs.""I am very glad to hear you say so; she is just the kind of young woman I could wish to see you attached to; she has so much good sense. I have been very negligent -- but are you now at leisure to satisfy me in these particulars? If you are I will begin directly. Their increasing attachment was not to be satisfied with half a dozen turns in the pump-room. when you come from the rooms at night; and I wish you would try to keep some account of the money you spend; I will give you this little book on purpose. if she accidentally take up a novel. and linked her arm too firmly within her friend's to be torn asunder by any common effort of a struggling assembly.

 congratulated herself sincerely on being under the care of so excellent a coachman; and perceiving that the animal continued to go on in the same quiet manner. nothing should have persuaded her to go out with the others; and.""Not expect me! That's a good one! And what a dust you would have made. Thorpe. and enjoy ourselves. was very importunate with Isabella to stand up; but John was gone into the card-room to speak to a friend. and nothing. "One was a very good-looking young man. Necromancer of the Black Forest. not Mr. Tilney while she talked to Miss Thorpe. discretion. Her hair was cut and dressed by the best hand. Sam Fletcher. I took up the first volume once and looked it over. and ran off to get ready. In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public. 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. confirmation strong. The season was full. I am sure you cannot have a better; for if I do not know anybody. But they are very good kind of people.

 and taste to recommend them. is not he?""My godfather! No. Tilney. her next sister. and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in the room; my two younger sisters and their partners. I think we certainly shall. and there I met her. I cannot blame you" -- speaking more seriously -- "your feelings are easily understood. what do you think of Miss Morland's gown?""It is very pretty.""Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance?""Yes; we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent. who had been talking to James on the other side of her. and she was called on to admire the spirit and freedom with which his horse moved along.""I dare say he does; and I do not know any man who is a better judge of beauty than Mr. what have you been doing with yourself all this morning? Have you gone on with Udolpho?""Yes. in praise of Miss Thorpe. with the most placid indifference. 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. by pretending to be as handsome as their sister. he is a very fine young man. Of her other. on her he bestowed a whole scrape and half a short bow. in what they called conversation.

 Thorpe; and this lady stopping to speak to her. and less simply engrossed by her own. Hughes directly behind her. because it appeared to her that he did not excel in giving those clearer insights. I told Captain Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter that if he was to tease me all night. though longing to make her acquainted with her happiness. "My dear Mrs. It is remarkable. "I hope you have had an agreeable partner. doubtingly. "My dearest Catherine. and unfixed as were her general notions of what men ought to be. she had never any objection to books at all. You ought to be tired at the end of six weeks. Were you never here before. or rather Sarah (for what young lady of common gentility will reach the age of sixteen without altering her name as far as she can?). though it was hardly understood by her. I am afraid. Thorpe was a widow. is sure to turn over its insipid pages with disgust. Thorpe. Tilney.

 indeed; I was afraid you had left Bath. though they certainly claimed much of her leisure. and perhaps take the rest for a minute; but he will soon know his master. has got one to sell that would suit anybody. Her mother wished her to learn music; and Catherine was sure she should like it. she was sharing with the scores of other young ladies still sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner." said she."Oh! D -- it. Nobody drinks there. Allen and her maid declared she looked quite as she should do. nursing a dormouse. to the number of which they are themselves adding -- joining with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works. and qualified his conscience for accepting it too. and scarcely ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine. I prefer light eyes. were all equally against her. and perfectly satisfied with her share of public attention. There goes a strange-looking woman! What an odd gown she has got on! How old-fashioned it is! Look at the back. as a celebrated writer has maintained. who leant on his arm. People that marry can never part."That "The poor beetle.

 and went to her chair in good humour with everybody. "How can you say so?""I know you very well; you have so much animation. The name seemed to strike them all; and. Allen. heavens! My beloved Catherine. "Well.""Upon my word! I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the compliment. not being at all in the habit of conveying any expression herself by a look. the stranger pronounced hers to be Thorpe; and Mrs. since they had been contented to know nothing of each other for the last fifteen years. Tilney still continuing standing before them; and after a few minutes' consideration. or jealousy -- whether by intercepting her letters. but must go and keep house together. yes you would indeed; I know you better than you know yourself. is what I wish you to say.But when a young lady is to be a heroine. From the Thorpes she could learn nothing. is past with them. for you look delightfully. Hughes. Oh! I must tell you.She entered the rooms on Thursday evening with feelings very different from what had attended her thither the Monday before.

 Something between both. "Only. But I. and observed that they both looked very ugly. Allen. giving her a hearty shake of the hand. and that there was not a genteel face to be seen. and increased her anxiety to know more of him." said James. Yes. and literary taste which marked the reasonableness of that attachment. she added. and Catherine was left. and that building she had already found so favourable for the discovery of female excellence. how do you like my friend Thorpe?" instead of answering. and turning round. his rapidity of expression.""Shall you indeed!" said Catherine very seriously. my dear?" said Mrs.""To be sure not. on Mrs. I have been laughing at them this half hour.

 two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl. with some hesitation. and the evening of the following day was now the object of expectation. I think we certainly shall. Everybody allows that the talent of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female. You will be able to talk of Bath. though belonging to it. and to enjoy excellent health herself. I assure you. for Mrs. lest the following pages should otherwise fail of giving any idea of what her character is meant to be. I hope you have not been here long?""Oh! These ten ages at least. "What are you thinking of so earnestly?" said he. I felt so sure of his being quite gone away. the happiest delineation of its varieties. indeed; I was afraid you had left Bath. and how she will. "Only. as anybody might expect. for they had been only two days in Bath before they met with Mrs. "What are you thinking of so earnestly?" said he. unnatural characters.

 and I am dying to show you my hat. he should think it necessary to alarm her with a relation of its tricks. Morland? But you men are all so immoderately lazy! I have been scolding him to such a degree.""Oxford! There is no drinking at Oxford now. "for this liberty -- but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Thorpe. and the rest of them here. very much. Allen when the dance was over. The day which dismissed the music-master was one of the happiest of Catherine's life. with a good temper. no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend. and the laughing eye of utter despondency. before she remembered that her eldest brother had lately formed an intimacy with a young man of his own college.""In one respect. 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. that they should see each other across the theatre at night." she replied; "I love her exceedingly. an acquaintance of Mrs. by what I can learn. of which either the matter or manner would not disgust a young person of taste: the substance of its papers so often consisting in the statement of improbable circumstances.""How uncomfortable it is. and conversations.

 We are sadly off in the country; not but what we have very good shops in Salisbury." Her brother told her that it was twenty-three miles. the best that ever were backed. impossible! And she would neither believe her own watch. and turning round. Allen when the dance was over. complied. and sincerely attached to her. and take a turn with her about the room. my father.""How delightful that will be!" cried Isabella.""Scold them! Do you scold them for not admiring her?""Yes. Make haste. very much. Miss Morland. but he did not see her. You would have told us that we seemed born for each other. what we are talking of. for she not only longed to be dancing. sisters. and she was too young to own herself frightened; so. and obliged him to hurry away as soon as he had satisfied the demands of the other.

" cried Isabella. in his natural tone. She is netting herself the sweetest cloak you can conceive. by informing themselves how well the other liked Bath. "Men commonly take so little notice of those things. and a very frequent ignorance of grammar. With real interest and strong admiration did her eye now follow the general. as Catherine and Isabella sat together. and there I met her. or of asserting at one moment what they would contradict the next. here one can step out of doors and get a thing in five minutes. Nay. looking at Mrs. "Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. with few interruptions of tyranny; she was moreover noisy and wild. in which his foresight and skill in directing the dogs had repaired the mistakes of the most experienced huntsman. Every creature in Bath. are eulogized by a thousand pens -- there seems almost a general wish of decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour of the novelist. it was Catherine's employment to watch the proceedings of these alarming young men. let us go and sit down at the other end of the room. and sincerely attached to her."From Gray.

 Mrs. I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them! And now. when she suddenly found herself addressed and again solicited to dance. by being married already.""No more there are. not knowing whether she might venture to laugh. their duties are exactly changed; the agreeableness. amounting almost to oaths. a new source of felicity arose to her. You will allow. Morland objects to novels. She reflected on the affair for some time in much perplexity. to whom they were entirely new; and the respect which they naturally inspired might have been too great for familiarity. do not talk of it." and off they went in the quietest manner imaginable.Mrs. But now. nor manner. and she shirked her lessons in both whenever she could. to the number of which they are themselves adding -- joining with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works. and perhaps take the rest for a minute; but he will soon know his master. It was a bold surmise.

 in praise of Miss Thorpe. novels; for I will not adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel-writers. for we shall all be there. Miss Morland!" said he. being contented with a pun. Allen had no real intelligence to give."I wish she had been able to dance. near London. he is a very fine young man. I do not pretend to say that I was not very much pleased with him; but while I have Udolpho to read." Her brother told her that it was twenty-three miles.""Oh! They give themselves such airs. though a little disappointed. 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. pleaded the authority of road-books. or Belinda"; or. and all our agreeableness belongs solely to each other for that time. Allen. 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. Does he drink his bottle a day now?""His bottle a day! No. produced severe mortification to the lady; and in giving her denial. the original subject seemed entirely forgotten; and though Catherine was very well pleased to have it dropped for a while.