Delighting； however； as Catherine sincerely did
in the prospect of the connection； it must be acknowledged
that Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations。
〃You will be so infinitely dearer to me； my Catherine；
than either Anne or Maria： I feel that I shall be so much
more attached to my dear Morland's family than to my own。〃
This was a pitch of friendship beyond Catherine。
〃You are so like your dear brother；〃 continued Isabella；
〃that I quite doted on you the first moment I saw you。
But so it always is with me； the first moment
settles everything。 The very first day that Morland came
to us last Christmasthe very first moment I beheld
himmy heart was irrecoverably gone。 I remember I wore
my yellow gown； with my hair done up in braids； and when I
came into the drawing…room； and John introduced him；
I thought I never saw anybody so handsome before。〃
Here Catherine secretly acknowledged the power
of love； for； though exceedingly fond of her brother；
and partial to all his endowments； she had never in her
life thought him handsome。
〃I remember too； Miss Andrews drank tea with us
that evening； and wore her puce…coloured sarsenet；
and she looked so heavenly that I thought your brother
must certainly fall in love with her； I could not sleep
a wink all right for thinking of it。 Oh！ Catherine；
the many sleepless nights I have had on your brother's
account！ I would not have you suffer half what I have done！
I am grown wretchedly thin； I know； but I will not pain
you by describing my anxiety； you have seen enough of it。
I feel that I have betrayed myself perpetuallyso unguarded
in speaking of my partiality for the church！ But my secret
I was always sure would be safe with you。〃
Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer；
but ashamed of an ignorance little expected； she dared
no longer contest the point； nor refuse to have been
as full of arch penetration and affectionate sympathy
as Isabella chose to consider her。 Her brother； she found；
was preparing to set off with all speed to Fullerton；
to make known his situation and ask consent； and here was
a source of some real agitation to the mind of Isabella。
Catherine endeavoured to persuade her； as she was
herself persuaded； that her father and mother would
never oppose their son's wishes。 〃It is impossible；〃
said she； 〃for parents to be more kind； or more desirous
of their children's happiness； I have no doubt of their
consenting immediately。〃
〃Morland says exactly the same；〃 replied Isabella；
〃and yet I dare not expect it； my fortune will be so small；
they never can consent to it。 Your brother； who might
marry anybody！〃
Here Catherine again discerned the force of love。
〃Indeed； Isabella； you are too humble。 The difference
of fortune can be nothing to signify。〃
〃Oh！ My sweet Catherine； in your generous heart I
know it would signify nothing； but we must not expect
such disinterestedness in many。 As for myself； I am sure
I only wish our situations were reversed。 Had I the
command of millions； were I mistress of the whole world；
your brother would be my only choice。〃
This charming sentiment； recommended as much by sense
as novelty； gave Catherine a most pleasing remembrance of all
the heroines of her acquaintance； and she thought her friend
never looked more lovely than in uttering the grand idea。
〃I am sure they will consent；〃 was her frequent declaration；
〃I am sure they will be delighted with you。〃
〃For my own part；〃 said Isabella； 〃my wishes are so moderate
that the smallest income in nature would be enough for me。
Where people are really attached； poverty itself is wealth；
grandeur I detest： I would not settle in London for the universe。
A cottage in some retired village would be ecstasy。
There are some charming little villas about Richmond。〃
〃Richmond！〃 cried Catherine。 〃You must settle
near Fullerton。 You must be near us。〃
〃I am sure I shall be miserable if we do not。
If I can but be near you； I shall be satisfied。
But this is idle talking！ I will not allow myself to think
of such things； till we have your father's answer。
Morland says that by sending it tonight to Salisbury；
we may have it tomorrow。 Tomorrow？ I know I shall never have
courage to open the letter。 I know it will be the death
of me。〃
A reverie succeeded this convictionand when
Isabella spoke again； it was to resolve on the quality
of her wedding…gown。
Their conference was put an end to by the anxious
young lover himself； who came to breathe his parting sigh
before he set off for Wiltshire。 Catherine wished to
congratulate him； but knew not what to say； and her eloquence
was only in her eyes。 From them； however； the eight parts
of speech shone out most expressively； and James could
combine them with ease。 Impatient for the realization
of all that he hoped at home； his adieus were not long；
and they would have been yet shorter； had he not been
frequently detained by the urgent entreaties of his fair
one that he would go。 Twice was he called almost from the
door by her eagerness to have him gone。 〃Indeed； Morland；
I must drive you away。 Consider how far you have to ride。
I cannot bear to see you linger so。 For heaven's sake；
waste no more time。 There； go； goI insist on it。〃
The two friends； with hearts now more united than ever；
were inseparable for the day； and in schemes of sisterly
happiness the hours flew along。 Mrs。 Thorpe and her son；
who were acquainted with everything； and who seemed only
to want Mr。 Morland's consent； to consider Isabella's
engagement as the most fortunate circumstance imaginable
for their family； were allowed to join their counsels；
and add their quota of significant looks and mysterious
expressions to fill up the measure of curiosity
to be raised in the unprivileged younger sisters。
To Catherine's simple feelings； this odd sort of reserve
seemed neither kindly meant； nor consistently supported；
and its unkindness she would hardly have forborne
pointing out； had its inconsistency been less their friend；
but Anne and Maria soon set her heart at ease by the
sagacity of their 〃I know what〃； and the evening was spent
in a sort of war of wit； a display of family ingenuity；
on one side in the mystery of an affected secret；
on the other of undefined discovery； all equally acute。
Catherine was with her friend again the next day；
endeavouring to support her spirits and while away the
many tedious hours before the delivery of the letters；
a needful exertion； for as the time of reasonable expectation
drew near； Isabella became more and more desponding；
and before the letter arrived； had worked herself
into a state of real distress。 But when it did come；
where could distress be found？ 〃I have had no difficulty
in gaining the consent of my kind parents； and am
promised that everything in their power shall be done
to forward my happiness；〃 were the first three lines；
and in one moment all was joyful security。 The brightest
glow was instantly spread over Isabella's features；
all care and anxiety seemed removed； her spirits became
almost too high for control； and she called herself without
scruple the happiest of mortals。
Mrs。 Thorpe； with tears of joy； embraced her daughter；
her son； her visitor； and could have embraced half
the inhabitants of Bath with satisfaction。 Her heart
was overflowing with tenderness。 It was 〃dear John〃
and 〃dear Catherine〃 at every word； 〃dear Anne and dear Maria〃
must immediately be made sharers in their felicity；
and two 〃dears〃 at once before the name of Isabella were
not more than that beloved child had now well earned。
John himself was no skulker in joy。 He not only bestowed
on Mr。 Morland the high commendation of being one of the
finest fellows in the world； but swore off many sentences
in his praise。
The letter； whence sprang all this felicity； was short；
containing little more than this assurance of success；
and every particular was deferred till James could write again。
But for particulars Isabella could well afford to wait。
The needful was comprised in Mr。 Morland's promise；
his honour was pledged to make everything easy； and by
what means their income was to be formed； whether landed
property were to be resigned； or funded money made over；
was a matter in which her disinterested spirit took
no concern。 She knew enough to feel secure of an honourable
and speedy establishment； and her imagination took a rapid
flight over its attendant felicities。 She saw herself at
the end of a few weeks； the gaze and admiration of every
new acquaintance at Fullerton； the envy of every valued
old friend in Putney； with a carriage at her command；
a new name on her tickets； and a brilliant exhibition
of hoop rings on her finger。
When the contents of the letter were ascertained；
John Thorpe； who had only waited its arrival to begin his
journey to London； prepared to set off。 〃Well； Miss Morland；〃
said he； on finding her alone in the parlour； 〃I am