a torment。〃
Catherine blushed for her friend； and said；
〃Isabella is wrong。 But I am sure she cannot mean
to torment； for she is very much attached to my brother。
She has been in love with him ever since they first met；
and while my father's consent was uncertain； she fretted
herself almost into a fever。 You know she must be attached
to him。〃
〃I understand： she is in love with James； and flirts
with Frederick。〃
〃Oh！ no； not flirts。 A woman in love with one man
cannot flirt with another。〃
〃It is probable that she will neither love so well；
nor flirt so well； as she might do either singly。
The gentlemen must each give up a little。〃
After a short pause； Catherine resumed with；
〃Then you do not believe Isabella so very much attached
to my brother？〃
〃I can have no opinion on that subject。〃
〃But what can your brother mean？ If he knows
her engagement； what can he mean by his behaviour？〃
〃You are a very close questioner。〃
〃Am I？ I only ask what I want to be told。〃
〃But do you only ask what I can be expected to tell？〃
〃Yes； I think so； for you must know your brother's heart。〃
〃My brother's heart； as you term it； on the
present occasion； I assure you I can only guess at。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well！ Nay； if it is to be guesswork； let us all guess
for ourselves。 To be guided by second…hand conjecture
is pitiful。 The premises are before you。 My brother is
a lively and perhaps sometimes a thoughtless young man；
he has had about a week's acquaintance with your friend；
and he has known her engagement almost as long as he has
known her。〃
〃Well；〃 said Catherine； after some moments' consideration；
〃you may be able to guess at your brother's intentions from
all this； but I am sure I cannot。 But is not your father
uncomfortable about it？ Does not he want Captain Tilney
to go away？ Sure； if your father were to speak to him；
he would go。〃
〃My dear Miss Morland；〃 said Henry； 〃in this amiable
solicitude for your brother's comfort； may you not be
a little mistaken？ Are you not carried a little too far？
Would he thank you； either on his own account or Miss
Thorpe's； for supposing that her affection； or at least
her good behaviour； is only to be secured by her seeing
nothing of Captain Tilney？ Is he safe only in solitude？
Or is her heart constant to him only when unsolicited
by anyone else？ He cannot think thisand you may be sure
that he would not have you think it。 I will not say；
'Do not be uneasy；' because I know that you are so；
at this moment； but be as little uneasy as you can。
You have no doubt of the mutual attachment of your brother
and your friend； depend upon it； therefore； that real
jealousy never can exist between them； depend upon it
that no disagreement between them can be of any duration。
Their hearts are open to each other； as neither heart can
be to you； they know exactly what is required and what can
be borne； and you may be certain that one will never tease
the other beyond what is known to be pleasant。〃
Perceiving her still to look doubtful and grave；
he added； 〃Though Frederick does not leave Bath with us；
he will probably remain but a very short time；
perhaps only a few days behind us。 His leave of absence
will soon expire； and he must return to his regiment。
And what will then be their acquaintance？ The mess…room
will drink Isabella Thorpe for a fortnight； and she will
laugh with your brother over poor Tilney's passion for
a month。〃
Catherine would contend no longer against comfort。
She had resisted its approaches during the whole length
of a speech； but it now carried her captive。 Henry Tilney
must know best。 She blamed herself for the extent
of her fears； and resolved never to think so seriously
on the subject again。
Her resolution was supported by Isabella's behaviour
in their parting interview。 The Thorpes spent the last
evening of Catherine's stay in Pulteney Street； and nothing
passed between the lovers to excite her uneasiness；
or make her quit them in apprehension。 James was in
excellent spirits； and Isabella most engagingly placid。
Her tenderness for her friend seemed rather the first feeling
of her heart； but that at such a moment was allowable；
and once she gave her lover a flat contradiction； and once
she drew back her hand； but Catherine remembered Henry's
instructions； and placed it all to judicious affection。
The embraces； tears； and promises of the parting fair
ones may be fancied。
CHAPTER 20
Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen were sorry to lose their young friend；
whose good humour and cheerfulness had made her a
valuable companion； and in the promotion of whose enjoyment
their own had been gently increased。 Her happiness in
going with Miss Tilney； however； prevented their wishing
it otherwise； and； as they were to remain only one more
week in Bath themselves； her quitting them now would not
long be felt。 Mr。 Allen attended her to Milsom Street；
where she was to breakfast； and saw her seated with the
kindest welcome among her new friends； but so great was
her agitation in finding herself as one of the family；
and so fearful was she of not doing exactly what was right；
and of not being able to preserve their good opinion；
that； in the embarrassment of the first five minutes；
she could almost have wished to return with him to
Pulteney Street。
Miss Tilney's manners and Henry's smile soon did
away some of her unpleasant feelings； but still she
was far from being at ease； nor could the incessant
attentions of the general himself entirely reassure her。
Nay； perverse as it seemed； she doubted whether she
might not have felt less； had she been less attended to。
His anxiety for her comforthis continual solicitations
that she would eat； and his often…expressed fears of her
seeing nothing to her tastethough never in her life before
had she beheld half such variety on a breakfast…tablemade
it impossible for her to forget for a moment that she
was a visitor。 She felt utterly unworthy of such respect；
and knew not how to reply to it。 Her tranquillity was not
improved by the general's impatience for the appearance
of his eldest son； nor by the displeasure he expressed
at his laziness when Captain Tilney at last came down。
She was quite pained by the severity of his father's reproof；
which seemed disproportionate to the offence； and much
was her concern increased when she found herself the
principal cause of the lecture； and that his tardiness
was chiefly resented from being disrespectful to her。
This was placing her in a very uncomfortable situation；
and she felt great compassion for Captain Tilney；
without being able to hope for his goodwill。
He listened to his father in silence； and attempted
not any defence； which confirmed her in fearing that the
inquietude of his mind； on Isabella's account； might；
by keeping him long sleepless； have been the real cause
of his rising late。 It was the first time of her being
decidedly in his company； and she had hoped to be now
able to form her opinion of him； but she scarcely
heard his voice while his father remained in the room；
and even afterwards； so much were his spirits affected；
she could distinguish nothing but these words； in a whisper
to Eleanor； 〃How glad I shall be when you are all off。〃
The bustle of going was not pleasant。 The clock
struck ten while the trunks were carrying down； and the
general had fixed to be out of Milsom Street by that hour。
His greatcoat； instead of being brought for him to put
on directly； was spread out in the curricle in which he
was to accompany his son。 The middle seat of the chaise was
not drawn out； though there were three people to go in it；
and his daughter's maid had so crowded it with parcels
that Miss Morland would not have room to sit； and； so much
was he influenced by this apprehension when he handed
her in； that she had some difficulty in saving her own
new writing…desk from being thrown out into the street。
At last； however； the door was closed upon the three females；
and they set off at the sober pace in which the handsome；
highly fed four horses of a gentleman usually perform a
journey of thirty miles： such was the distance of Northanger
from Bath； to be now divided into two equal stages。
Catherine's spirits revived as they drove from the door；
for with Miss Tilney she felt no restraint； and； with the
interest of a road entirely new to her； of an abbey before；
and a curricle behind； she caught the last view of Bath
without any regret； and met with every milestone before
she expected it。 The tediousness of a two hours'
wait at Petty France； in which there was nothing to be done
but to eat without being hungry； and loiter about without
anything to see； next followedand her admiration of the
style in which they travelled； of the fashionable chaise
and fourpostilions handsomely liveried； rising so regularly
in their stirrups； and numerous outriders properly moun