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InspiteofUdolphoandthedressmaker,however,thepartyfromPulteneyStreetreachedtheUpperRoomsinverygoodtime.
TheThorpesandJamesMorlandwerethereonlytwominutesbeforethem;andIsabellahavinggonethroughtheusualceremonialofmeetingherfriendwiththemostsmilingandaffectionatehaste,ofadmiringthesetofhergown,andenvyingthecurlofherhair,theyfollowedtheirchaperones,arminarm,intotheballroom,whisperingtoeachotherwheneverathoughtoccurred,andsupplyingtheplaceofmanyideasbyasqueezeofthehandorasmileofaffection.
Thedancingbeganwithinafewminutesaftertheywereseated;andJames,whohadbeenengagedquiteaslongashissister,wasveryimportunatewithIsabellatostandup;butJohnwasgoneintothecard–roomtospeaktoafriend,andnothing,shedeclared,shouldinducehertojointhesetbeforeherdearCatherinecouldjoinittoo.
“Iassureyou,”saidshe,“Iwouldnotstandupwithoutyourdearsisterforalltheworld;forifIdidweshouldcertainlybeseparatedthewholeevening.”
Catherineacceptedthiskindnesswithgratitude,andtheycontinuedastheywereforthreeminuteslonger,whenIsabella,whohadbeentalkingtoJamesontheothersideofher,turnedagaintohissisterandwhispered,“Mydearcreature,IamafraidImustleaveyou,yourbrotherissoamazinglyimpatienttobegin;Iknowyouwillnotmindmygoingaway,andIdaresayJohnwillbebackinamoment,andthenyoumayeasilyfindmeout.”
Catherine,thoughalittledisappointed,hadtoomuchgoodnaturetomakeanyopposition,andtheothersrisingup,Isabellahadonlytimetopressherfriend’shandandsay,“Good–bye,mydearlove,”beforetheyhurriedoff.
TheyoungerMissThorpesbeingalsodancing,CatherinewaslefttothemercyofMrs.ThorpeandMrs.Allen,betweenwhomshenowremained.
Shecouldnothelpbeingvexedatthenon–appearanceofMr.Thorpe,forshenotonlylongedtobedancing,butwaslikewiseawarethat,astherealdignityofhersituationcouldnotbeknown,shewassharingwiththescoresofotheryoungladiesstillsittingdownallthediscreditofwantingapartner.
Tobedisgracedintheeyeoftheworld,toweartheappearanceofinfamywhileherheartisallpurity,heractionsallinnocence,andthemisconductofanotherthetruesourceofherdebasement,isoneofthosecircumstanceswhichpeculiarlybelongtotheheroine’slife,andherfortitudeunderitwhatparticularlydignifieshercharacter.
Catherinehadfortitudetoo;shesuffered,butnomurmurpassedherlips.
Fromthisstateofhumiliation,shewasroused,attheendoftenminutes,toapleasanterfeeling,byseeing,notMr.Thorpe,butMr.Tilney,withinthreeyardsoftheplacewheretheysat;heseemedtobemovingthatway,buthedidnotseeher,andthereforethesmileandtheblush,whichhissuddenreappearanceraisedinCatherine,passedawaywithoutsullyingherheroicimportance.
Helookedashandsomeandaslivelyasever,andwastalkingwithinteresttoafashionableandpleasing–lookingyoungwoman,wholeantonhisarm,andwhomCatherineimmediatelyguessedtobehissister;thusunthinkinglythrowingawayafairopportunityofconsideringhimlosttoherforever,bybeingmarriedalready.
Butguidedonlybywhatwassimpleandprobable,ithadneverenteredherheadthatMr.Tilneycouldbemarried;hehadnotbehaved,hehadnottalked,likethemarriedmentowhomshehadbeenused;hehadnevermentionedawife,andhehadacknowledgedasister.
Fromthesecircumstancessprangtheinstantconclusionofhissister’snowbeingbyhisside;andtherefore,insteadofturningofadeathlikepalenessandfallinginafitonMrs.Allen’sbosom,Catherinesaterect,intheperfectuseofhersenses,andwithcheeksonlyalittleredderthanusual.
Mr.Tilneyandhiscompanion,whocontinued,thoughslowly,toapproach,wereimmediatelyprecededbyalady,anacquaintanceofMrs.Thorpe;andthisladystoppingtospeaktoher,they,asbelongingtoher,stoppedlikewise,andCatherine,catchingMr.Tilney’seye,instantlyreceivedfromhimthesmilingtributeofrecognition.
Shereturneditwithpleasure,andthenadvancingstillnearer,hespokebothtoherandMrs.Allen,bywhomhewasverycivillyacknowledged.
“Iamveryhappytoseeyouagain,sir,indeed;IwasafraidyouhadleftBath.”
Hethankedherforherfears,andsaidthathehadquitteditforaweek,ontheverymorningafterhishavinghadthepleasureofseeingher.
“Well,sir,andIdaresayyouarenotsorrytobebackagain,foritisjusttheplaceforyoungpeople—andindeedforeverybodyelsetoo.
ItellMr.Allen,whenhetalksofbeingsickofit,thatIamsureheshouldnotcomplain,foritissoveryagreeableaplace,thatitismuchbettertobeherethanathomeatthisdulltimeofyear.
Itellhimheisquiteinlucktobesenthereforhishealth.”
“AndIhope,madam,thatMr.Allenwillbeobligedtoliketheplace,fromfindingitofservicetohim.”
“Thankyou,sir.Ihavenodoubtthathewill.Aneighbourofours,Dr.Skinner,washereforhishealthlastwinter,andcameawayquitestout.”
“Thatcircumstancemustgivegreatencouragement.”
“Yes,sir—andDr.Skinnerandhisfamilywereherethreemonths;soItellMr.Allenhemustnotbeinahurrytogetaway.”
HeretheywereinterruptedbyarequestfromMrs.ThorpetoMrs.Allen,thatshewouldmovealittletoaccommodateMrs.HughesandMissTilneywithseats,astheyhadagreedtojointheirparty.
Thiswasaccordinglydone,Mr.Tilneystillcontinuingstandingbeforethem;andafterafewminutes’consideration,heaskedCatherinetodancewithhim.
Thiscompliment,delightfulasitwas,producedseveremortificationtothelady;andingivingherdenial,sheexpressedhersorrowontheoccasionsoverymuchasifshereallyfeltitthathadThorpe,whojoinedherjustafterwards,beenhalfaminuteearlier,hemighthavethoughthersufferingsrathertooacute.
Theveryeasymannerinwhichhethentoldherthathehadkeptherwaitingdidnotbyanymeansreconcilehermoretoherlot;nordidtheparticularswhichheenteredintowhiletheywerestandingup,ofthehorsesanddogsofthefriendwhomhehadjustleft,andofaproposedexchangeofterriersbetweenthem,interesthersomuchastopreventherlookingveryoftentowardsthatpartoftheroomwhereshehadleftMr.Tilney.
OfherdearIsabella,towhomsheparticularlylongedtopointoutthatgentleman,shecouldseenothing.Theywereindifferentsets.
Shewasseparatedfromallherparty,andawayfromallheracquaintance;onemortificationsucceededanother,andfromthewholeshededucedthisusefullesson,thattogopreviouslyengagedtoaballdoesnotnecessarilyincreaseeitherthedignityorenjoymentofayounglady.
Fromsuchamoralizingstrainasthis,shewassuddenlyrousedbyatouchontheshoulder,andturninground,perceivedMrs.Hughesdirectlybehindher,attendedbyMissTilneyandagentleman.
“Ibegyourpardon,MissMorland,”saidshe,“forthisliberty—butIcannotanyhowgettoMissThorpe,andMrs.Thorpesaidshewassureyouwouldnothavetheleastobjectiontolettinginthisyoungladybyyou.”
Mrs.HughescouldnothaveappliedtoanycreatureintheroommorehappytoobligeherthanCatherine.
Theyoungladieswereintroducedtoeachother,MissTilneyexpressingapropersenseofsuchgoodness,MissMorlandwiththerealdelicacyofagenerousmindmakinglightoftheobligation;andMrs.Hughes,satisfiedwithhavingsorespectablysettledheryoungcharge,returnedtoherparty.
MissTilneyhadagoodfigure,aprettyface,andaveryagreeablecountenance;andherair,thoughithadnotallthedecidedpretension,theresolutestylishnessofMissThorpe’s,hadmorerealelegance.
Hermannersshowedgoodsenseandgoodbreeding;theywereneithershynoraffectedlyopen;andsheseemedcapableofbeingyoung,attractive,andataballwithoutwantingtofixtheattentionofeverymannearher,andwithoutexaggeratedfeelingsofecstaticdelightorinconceivablevexationoneverylittletriflingoccurrence.
Catherine,interestedatoncebyherappearanceandherrelationshiptoMr.Tilney,wasdesirousofbeingacquaintedwithher,andreadilytalkedthereforewhenevershecouldthinkofanythingtosay,andhadcourageandleisureforsayingit.
Butthehindrancethrowninthewayofaveryspeedyintimacy,bythefrequentwantofoneormoreoftheserequisites,preventedtheirdoingmorethangoingthroughthefirstrudimentsofanacquaintance,byinformingthemselveshowwelltheotherlikedBath,howmuchsheadmireditsbuildingsandsurroundingcountry,whethershedrew,orplayed,orsang,andwhethershewasfondofridingonhorseback.
ThetwodanceswerescarcelyconcludedbeforeCatherinefoundherarmgentlyseizedbyherfaithfulIsabella,whoingreatspiritsexclaimed,“AtlastIhavegotyou.
Mydearestcreature,Ihavebeenlookingforyouthishour.
Whatcouldinduceyoutocomeintothisset,whenyouknewIwasintheother?
Ihavebeenquitewretchedwithoutyou.”
“MydearIsabella,howwasitpossibleformetogetatyou?Icouldnotevenseewhereyouwere.”
“SoItoldyourbrotherallthetime—buthewouldnotbelieveme.
Dogoandseeforher,Mr.Morland,saidI—butallinvain—hewouldnotstiraninch.Wasnotitso,Mr.Morland?
Butyoumenareallsoimmoderatelylazy!
Ihavebeenscoldinghimtosuchadegree,mydearCatherine,youwouldbequiteamazed.
YouknowIneverstanduponceremonywithsuchpeople.”
“Lookatthatyoungladywiththewhitebeadsroundherhead,”whisperedCatherine,detachingherfriendfromJames.“ItisMr.Tilney’ssister.”
“Oh!Heavens!Youdon’tsayso!Letmelookatherthismoment.Whatadelightfulgirl!Ineversawanythinghalfsobeautiful!
Butwhereisherall–conqueringbrother?Isheintheroom?
Pointhimouttomethisinstant,ifheis.Idietoseehim.Mr.Morland,youarenottolisten.Wearenottalkingaboutyou.”
“Butwhatisallthiswhisperingabout?Whatisgoingon?”
“Therenow,Iknewhowitwouldbe.Youmenhavesuchrestlesscuriosity!Talkofthecuriosityofwomen,indeed!‘Tisnothing.
Butbesatisfied,foryouarenottoknowanythingatallofthematter.”
“Andisthatlikelytosatisfyme,doyouthink?”
“Well,IdeclareIneverknewanythinglikeyou.
Whatcanitsignifytoyou,whatwearetalkingof.
Perhapswearetalkingaboutyou;thereforeIwouldadviseyounottolisten,oryoumayhappentohearsomethingnotveryagreeable.”
Inthiscommonplacechatter,whichlastedsometime,theoriginalsubjectseemedentirelyforgotten;andthoughCatherinewasverywellpleasedtohaveitdroppedforawhile,shecouldnotavoidalittlesuspicionatthetotalsuspensionofallIsabella’simpatientdesiretoseeMr.Tilney.
Whentheorchestrastruckupafreshdance,Jameswouldhaveledhisfairpartneraway,butsheresisted.
“Itellyou,Mr.Morland,”shecried,“Iwouldnotdosuchathingforalltheworld.
Howcanyoubesoteasing;onlyconceive,mydearCatherine,whatyourbrotherwantsmetodo.
Hewantsmetodancewithhimagain,thoughItellhimthatitisamostimproperthing,andentirelyagainsttherules.
Itwouldmakeusthetalkoftheplace,ifwewerenottochangepartners.”
“Uponmyhonour,”saidJames,“inthesepublicassemblies,itisasoftendoneasnot.”
“Nonsense,howcanyousayso?Butwhenyoumenhaveapointtocarry,youneverstickatanything.
MysweetCatherine,dosupportme;persuadeyourbrotherhowimpossibleitis.
Tellhimthatitwouldquiteshockyoutoseemedosuchathing;nowwouldnotit?”
“No,notatall;butifyouthinkitwrong,youhadmuchbetterchange.”
“There,”criedIsabella,“youhearwhatyoursistersays,andyetyouwillnotmindher.
Well,rememberthatitisnotmyfault,ifwesetalltheoldladiesinBathinabustle.
Comealong,mydearestCatherine,forheaven’ssake,andstandbyme.”
Andofftheywent,toregaintheirformerplace.
JohnThorpe,inthemeanwhile,hadwalkedaway;andCatherine,everwillingtogiveMr.Tilneyanopportunityofrepeatingtheagreeablerequestwhichhadalreadyflatteredheronce,madeherwaytoMrs.AllenandMrs.Thorpeasfastasshecould,inthehopeoffindinghimstillwiththem—ahopewhich,whenitprovedtobefruitless,shefelttohavebeenhighlyunreasonable.
“Well,mydear,”saidMrs.Thorpe,impatientforpraiseofherson,“Ihopeyouhavehadanagreeablepartner.”
“Veryagreeable,madam.”
“Iamgladofit.Johnhascharmingspirits,hasnothe?”
“DidyoumeetMr.Tilney,mydear?”saidMrs.Allen.
“No,whereishe?”
“Hewaswithusjustnow,andsaidhewassotiredofloungingabout,thathewasresolvedtogoanddance;soIthoughtperhapshewouldaskyou,ifhemetwithyou.”
“Wherecanhebe?”saidCatherine,lookinground;butshehadnotlookedroundlongbeforeshesawhimleadingayoungladytothedance.
“Ah!Hehasgotapartner;Iwishhehadaskedyou,”saidMrs.Allen;andafterashortsilence,sheadded,“heisaveryagreeableyoungman.”
“Indeedheis,Mrs.Allen,”saidMrs.Thorpe,smilingcomplacently;“Imustsayit,thoughIamhismother,thatthereisnotamoreagreeableyoungmanintheworld.”
Thisinapplicableanswermighthavebeentoomuchforthecomprehensionofmany;butitdidnotpuzzleMrs.Allen,forafteronlyamoment’sconsideration,shesaid,inawhispertoCatherine,“IdaresayshethoughtIwasspeakingofherson.”
Catherinewasdisappointedandvexed.Sheseemedtohavemissedbysolittletheveryobjectshehadhadinview;andthispersuasiondidnotinclinehertoaverygraciousreply,whenJohnThorpecameuptohersoonafterwardsandsaid,“Well,MissMorland,IsupposeyouandIaretostandupandjigittogetheragain.”
“Oh,no;Iammuchobligedtoyou,ourtwodancesareover;and,besides,Iamtired,anddonotmeantodanceanymore.”
“Donotyou?Thenletuswalkaboutandquizpeople.
Comealongwithme,andIwillshowyouthefourgreatestquizzersintheroom;mytwoyoungersistersandtheirpartners.
Ihavebeenlaughingatthemthishalfhour.”
AgainCatherineexcusedherself;andatlasthewalkedofftoquizhissistersbyhimself.
Therestoftheeveningshefoundverydull;Mr.Tilneywasdrawnawayfromtheirpartyattea,toattendthatofhispartner;MissTilney,thoughbelongingtoit,didnotsitnearher,andJamesandIsabellaweresomuchengagedinconversingtogetherthatthelatterhadnoleisuretobestowmoreonherfriendthanonesmile,onesqueeze,andone“dearestCatherine.”
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