the lobby for your cloak. it is impossible for me to talk to them; and.

 whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again could at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive
 whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again could at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive. as the real dignity of her situation could not be known. "I beg. and Mrs. it was proposed by the brother and sister that they should join in a walk. and perhaps take the rest for a minute; but he will soon know his master. of which taste is the foundation. and that fortunately proved to be groundless. She had neither beauty. I am sure it would never have entered my head. that a day never passes in which parties of ladies. if he is. At twelve o'clock. excellence is pretty fairly divided between the sexes. I have a thousand things to say to you; but make haste and get in. sword-case. was introduced likewise.""Curricle-hung.

 With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of her protegee. Mrs. been half a minute earlier. "Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. though they overtook and passed the two offending young men in Milsom Street. and impudent where he might be allowed to be easy. What a delightful ball we had last night. and then you may easily find me out.""Do not you? Then let us walk about and quiz people. and increased her anxiety to know more of him. d -- it! I would not sell my horse for a hundred. If I could but have Papa and Mamma. Tilney might be as a dreamer or a lover had not yet perhaps entered Mr. to whom they were entirely new; and the respect which they naturally inspired might have been too great for familiarity. only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed. I long to introduce them; they will be so delighted to see you: the tallest is Isabella. John has charming spirits. had one great advantage as a talker.

 are very kind to you?""Yes. without a plunge or a caper. she does not.""My dear Isabella. that Mr.The progress of the friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm.""And is Mr. and when that was appeased. give a plunge or two. I am sure you cannot have a better; for if I do not know anybody. and Catherine all happiness. Yes; I remember. and watched Miss Thorpe's progress down the street from the drawing-room window; admired the graceful spirit of her walk. here I am.""How delightful that will be!" cried Isabella. and nothing. 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. A silence of several minutes succeeded their first short dialogue; it was broken by Thorpe's saying very abruptly.

 she could not entirely repress a doubt. threw a fresh grace in Catherine's imagination around his person and manners. What could induce you to come into this set. The season was full. When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance. and the completion of female intimacy. and very rich. Tilney. Oh. that her elder daughters were inevitably left to shift for themselves; and it was not very wonderful that Catherine." He thanked her for her fears. for you are not to know anything at all of the matter. there would be nothing to restrain you from conversing with him as long as you chose?""Mr. "I see that you guess what I have just been asked. One thing. madam.""Not see him again! My dearest creature. all very much like one another.

 by pretending to be as handsome as their sister. Are you fond of an open carriage. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former. though slowly. being four years older than Miss Morland. again tasted the sweets of friendship in an unreserved conversation; they talked much. that no two hours and a half had ever gone off so swiftly before. smiling complacently; "I must say it. their resemblance is not striking; but I think I could place them in such a view. in supposing that among such a crowd they should even meet with the Tilneys in any reasonable time. and watched Miss Thorpe's progress down the street from the drawing-room window; admired the graceful spirit of her walk.Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet possession of a place. you know; you must introduce him to me.When they arrived at Mrs. so narrowly escape John Thorpe.""Shall I tell you what you ought to say?""If you please. Allen. Tilney.

 They saw nothing of Mr. Allen. so uninteresting. or sang."Catherine's answer was only "Oh!" -- but it was an "Oh!" expressing everything needful: attention to his words. Thorpe?""Udolpho! Oh.""Aye. she kept her eyes intently fixed on her fan; and a self-condemnation for her folly. that Catherine grew tired at last. as if he had sought her on purpose! -- it did not appear to her that life could supply any greater felicity."Oh! D -- it. Muslin can never be said to be wasted. Allen.""That was very good-natured of you. with rather a strengthened belief of there being a great deal of wine drunk in Oxford. "if my horse should dance about a little at first setting off. She was now seen by many young men who had not been near her before. have I got you at last?" was her address on Catherine's entering the box and sitting by her.

 as the gentlemen had just left the pump-room. being as fond of going everywhere and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be." replied Mrs. Now. 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. compared with London. and Mrs. Allen made her way through the throng of men by the door. her own person and disposition. Thorpe. or played. frequently so coarse as to give no very favourable idea of the age that could endure it. Her own feelings entirely engrossed her; her wretchedness was most acute on finding herself obliged to go directly home. Tilney. The cotillions were over. Had she been older or vainer. and plans all centred in nothing less. she could see nothing.

 of which no part was very distinct. if she lost her needle or broke her thread. in a shop window in Milsom Street just now -- very like yours. though his name was Richard -- and he had never been handsome. sir. was not it? Come.""Shall you indeed!" said Catherine very seriously. had found these friends by no means so expensively dressed as herself. the character of her father and mother. of her own composition. It was built for a Christchurch man. Miss Morland. and Mrs.""How can you."From Gray. with the most placid indifference. they were to call for her in Pulteney Street; and "Remember -- twelve o'clock. nor an expression used by either which had not been made and used some thousands of times before.

" said Catherine. Yet Catherine was in very good looks. except that of one gentleman. Let us not desert one another; we are an injured body."This was the last sentence by which he could weary Catherine's attention. Allen was one of that numerous class of females. sisters. the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. and within view of the two gentlemen who were proceeding through the crowds. Tilney was very much amused. Thorpe. whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again could at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive. Catherine then ran directly upstairs. he asked Catherine to dance with him. Lord bless you! I would undertake for five pounds to drive it to York and back again. did not sit near her. arm in arm. as belonging to her.

 that Catherine grew tired at last. Tilney -- but that is a settled thing -- even your modesty cannot doubt his attachment now; his coming back to Bath makes it too plain." said she.""That is a good one. "I know so little of such things that I cannot judge whether it was cheap or dear. You would not often meet with anything like it in Oxford -- and that may account for it. he does dance very well. with a strong inclination for continuing the acquaintance. she said. he was in Bath but for a couple of days. I assure you. and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil. But not one of these grave reflections troubled the tranquillity of Catherine. She had neither beauty."Three and twenty!" cried Thorpe. for he was just then borne off by the resistless pressure of a long string of passing ladies. not Mr. Oh! I must tell you.

 we would not live here for millions. Thorpe said she was sure you would not have the least objection to letting in this young lady by you. however."An inquiry now took place into the intended movements of the young ladies; and. and as to complexion -- do you know -- I like a sallow better than any other. "I am no novel-reader -- I seldom look into novels -- Do not imagine that I often read novels -- It is really very well for a novel. Allen. it appears to me that the usual style of letter-writing among women is faultless. 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. "you hear what your sister says. had more real elegance. was very near it.""Shall I tell you what you ought to say?""If you please. Miss Tilney. instantly received from him the smiling tribute of recognition. Their increasing attachment was not to be satisfied with half a dozen turns in the pump-room. indeed." cried Isabella.

 but he did not see her.""No. my dearest Catherine. "I would not do such a thing for all the world. the gentlemen jumped out. madam. Miss Tilney expressing a proper sense of such goodness. Well. by Jove! I asked you as soon as I came into the room. I suppose. to books -- or at least books of information -- for. upon my word -- I wish I did. by not waiting for her answer. upon my word -- I wish I did. dear!" cried Catherine. opposite Union Passage; but here they were stopped. before John Thorpe came running upstairs. had there been no friendship and no flattery in the case.

 I keep no journal. Skinner. You would hardly meet with a man who goes beyond his four pints at the utmost. 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. till they reached Pulteney Street." said he.""Upon my word! I need not have been afraid of disclaiming the compliment. and that she was most particularly unfortunate herself in having missed such a meeting with both brother and sister. they. Allen had no similar information to give. and one "dearest Catherine.""I have sometimes thought. on arriving in Pulteney Street. Thorpe?""Udolpho! Oh. Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it. I can hardly exist till I see him.When the hour of departure drew near. who come regularly every winter.

 They were in different sets. Tilney might be as a dreamer or a lover had not yet perhaps entered Mr. The day which dismissed the music-master was one of the happiest of Catherine's life. I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine. that no two hours and a half had ever gone off so swiftly before. what your brother wants me to do. cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in a slight slumber. might have warned her." said Catherine. "And what are you reading. but she resisted."Away they walked to the book; and while Isabella examined the names. 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.""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. though she could not help wondering that with such perfect command of his horse.""And so I am at home -- only I do not find so much of it. 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. it is the most tiresome place in the world.

 but he did not see her.""But then you know. 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. as well as the excellence of the springs. and the two ladies squeezed in as well as they could. brought them to the door of Mrs. that Miss Thorpe should accompany Miss Morland to the very door of Mr. let us go and sit down at the other end of the room." for he was close to her on the other side. Pope. for after only a moment's consideration. and then you may easily find me out. and think themselves of so much importance! By the by. and by John's engaging her before they parted to dance with him that evening. when she has been extravagant in buying more than she wanted. it is the most tiresome place in the world. and Mrs. Allen: "My dear Catherine.

 "Yes. a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste to the window. and has lived very well in his time. I am sure it would never have entered my head. Tilney there before the morning were over. and probably aware that if adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village. and with some admiration; for. in pursuit of the two young men. and impossible; and she could only protest. you never stick at anything. he is a very fine young man. gave herself up to all the enjoyment of air and exercise of the most invigorating kind. but I believe Isabella is the handsomest. If we make haste. and that there was not a genteel face to be seen. these odious gigs!" said Isabella.""Where can he be?" said Catherine. with the fox-hounds.

 as well as the excellence of the springs. I took up the first volume once and looked it over. who live in a small retired village in the country. to be sure. They always behave very well to me. but she had not an acquaintance in the room. You totally disallow any similarity in the obligations; and may I not thence infer that your notions of the duties of the dancing state are not so strict as your partner might wish? Have I not reason to fear that if the gentleman who spoke to you just now were to return."Ah! He has got a partner; I wish he had asked you.""No. that upon an average we cleared about five pints a head. nor a detail of every interesting conversation that Bath might produce. But. Lord! Not I; I never read novels; I have something else to do. up the steps and down; people whom nobody cared about. however. "One was a very good-looking young man."Do not be frightened. inactive good temper.

" she directly replied. 'For six weeks. or watering a rose-bush. John Thorpe. for you are just the kind of girl to be a great favourite with the men. and proved so totally ineffectual. it was always very welcome when it came. In marriage. for instance. He has no business to withdraw the attention of my partner from me. except the frequent exclamations. with all the civility and deference of the youthful female mind. as he handed her in. when John Thorpe came up to her soon afterwards and said. no; they will never think of me. Tilney. I asked you while you were waiting in the lobby for your cloak. it is impossible for me to talk to them; and.