English
TheprogressofCatherine’sunhappinessfromtheeventsoftheeveningwasasfollows.
Itappearedfirstinageneraldissatisfactionwitheverybodyabouther,whilesheremainedintherooms,whichspeedilybroughtonconsiderablewearinessandaviolentdesiretogohome.
This,onarrivinginPulteneyStreet,tookthedirectionofextraordinaryhunger,andwhenthatwasappeased,changedintoanearnestlongingtobeinbed;suchwastheextremepointofherdistress;forwhentheresheimmediatelyfellintoasoundsleepwhichlastedninehours,andfromwhichsheawokeperfectlyrevived,inexcellentspirits,withfreshhopesandfreshschemes.
ThefirstwishofherheartwastoimproveheracquaintancewithMissTilney,andalmostherfirstresolution,toseekherforthatpurpose,inthepump–roomatnoon.
Inthepump–room,onesonewlyarrivedinBathmustbemetwith,andthatbuildingshehadalreadyfoundsofavourableforthediscoveryoffemaleexcellence,andthecompletionoffemaleintimacy,soadmirablyadaptedforsecretdiscoursesandunlimitedconfidence,thatshewasmostreasonablyencouragedtoexpectanotherfriendfromwithinitswalls.
Herplanforthemorningthussettled,shesatquietlydowntoherbookafterbreakfast,resolvingtoremaininthesameplaceandthesameemploymenttilltheclockstruckone;andfromhabitudeverylittleincommodedbytheremarksandejaculationsofMrs.Allen,whosevacancyofmindandincapacityforthinkingweresuch,thatasshenevertalkedagreatdeal,soshecouldneverbeentirelysilent;and,therefore,whileshesatatherwork,ifshelostherneedleorbrokeherthread,ifsheheardacarriageinthestreet,orsawaspeckuponhergown,shemustobserveitaloud,whethertherewereanyoneatleisuretoanswerherornot.
Atabouthalfpasttwelve,aremarkablyloudrapdrewherinhastetothewindow,andscarcelyhadshetimetoinformCatherineoftherebeingtwoopencarriagesatthedoor,inthefirstonlyaservant,herbrotherdrivingMissThorpeinthesecond,beforeJohnThorpecamerunningupstairs,callingout,“Well,MissMorland,hereIam.Haveyoubeenwaitinglong?
Wecouldnotcomebefore;theolddevilofacoachmakerwassuchaneternityfindingoutathingfittobegotinto,andnowitistenthousandtoonebuttheybreakdownbeforeweareoutofthestreet.Howdoyoudo,Mrs.Allen?Afamousbaglastnight,wasnotit?
Come,MissMorland,bequick,fortheothersareinaconfoundedhurrytobeoff.Theywanttogettheirtumbleover.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”saidCatherine.“Whereareyouallgoingto?”
“Goingto?Why,youhavenotforgotourengagement!Didnotweagreetogethertotakeadrivethismorning?Whataheadyouhave!WearegoingupClavertonDown.”
“Somethingwassaidaboutit,Iremember,”saidCatherine,lookingatMrs.Allenforheropinion;“butreallyIdidnotexpectyou.”
“Notexpectme!That’sagoodone!Andwhatadustyouwouldhavemade,ifIhadnotcome.”
Catherine’ssilentappealtoherfriend,meanwhile,wasentirelythrownaway,forMrs.Allen,notbeingatallinthehabitofconveyinganyexpressionherselfbyalook,wasnotawareofitsbeingeverintendedbyanybodyelse;andCatherine,whosedesireofseeingMissTilneyagaincouldatthatmomentbearashortdelayinfavourofadrive,andwhothoughttherecouldbenoimproprietyinhergoingwithMr.Thorpe,asIsabellawasgoingatthesametimewithJames,wasthereforeobligedtospeakplainer.
“Well,ma’am,whatdoyousaytoit?Canyousparemeforanhourortwo?ShallIgo?”
“Dojustasyouplease,mydear,”repliedMrs.Allen,withthemostplacidindifference.
Catherinetooktheadvice,andranofftogetready.
Inaveryfewminutesshereappeared,havingscarcelyallowedthetwootherstimeenoughtogetthroughafewshortsentencesinherpraise,afterThorpehadprocuredMrs.Allen’sadmirationofhisgig;andthenreceivingherfriend’spartinggoodwishes,theybothhurrieddownstairs.
“Mydearestcreature,”criedIsabella,towhomthedutyoffriendshipimmediatelycalledherbeforeshecouldgetintothecarriage,“youhavebeenatleastthreehoursgettingready.Iwasafraidyouwereill.
Whatadelightfulballwehadlastnight.
Ihaveathousandthingstosaytoyou;butmakehasteandgetin,forIlongtobeoff.”
Catherinefollowedherordersandturnedaway,butnottoosoontohearherfriendexclaimaloudtoJames,“Whatasweetgirlsheis!Iquitedoteonher.”
“Youwillnotbefrightened,MissMorland,”saidThorpe,ashehandedherin,“ifmyhorseshoulddanceaboutalittleatfirstsettingoff.
Hewill,mostlikely,giveaplungeortwo,andperhapstaketherestforaminute;buthewillsoonknowhismaster.
Heisfullofspirits,playfulascanbe,butthereisnoviceinhim.”
Catherinedidnotthinktheportraitaveryinvitingone,butitwastoolatetoretreat,andshewastooyoungtoownherselffrightened;so,resigningherselftoherfate,andtrustingtotheanimal’sboastedknowledgeofitsowner,shesatpeaceablydown,andsawThorpesitdownbyher.
Everythingbeingthenarranged,theservantwhostoodatthehorse’sheadwasbidinanimportantvoice“tolethimgo,”andofftheywentinthequietestmannerimaginable,withoutaplungeoracaper,oranythinglikeone.
Catherine,delightedatsohappyanescape,spokeherpleasurealoudwithgratefulsurprise;andhercompanionimmediatelymadethematterperfectlysimplebyassuringherthatitwasentirelyowingtothepeculiarlyjudiciousmannerinwhichhehadthenheldthereins,andthesingulardiscernmentanddexteritywithwhichhehaddirectedhiswhip.
Catherine,thoughshecouldnothelpwonderingthatwithsuchperfectcommandofhishorse,heshouldthinkitnecessarytoalarmherwitharelationofitstricks,congratulatedherselfsincerelyonbeingunderthecareofsoexcellentacoachman;andperceivingthattheanimalcontinuedtogooninthesamequietmanner,withoutshowingthesmallestpropensitytowardsanyunpleasantvivacity,and(consideringitsinevitablepacewastenmilesanhour)bynomeansalarminglyfast,gaveherselfuptoalltheenjoymentofairandexerciseofthemostinvigoratingkind,inafinemilddayofFebruary,withtheconsciousnessofsafety.
Asilenceofseveralminutessucceededtheirfirstshortdialogue;itwasbrokenbyThorpe’ssayingveryabruptly,“OldAllenisasrichasaJew—isnothe?”
Catherinedidnotunderstandhim—andherepeatedhisquestion,addinginexplanation,“OldAllen,themanyouarewith.”
“Oh!Mr.Allen,youmean.Yes,Ibelieve,heisveryrich.”
“Andnochildrenatall?”
“No—notany.”
“Afamousthingforhisnextheirs.Heisyourgodfather,isnothe?”
“Mygodfather!No.”
“Butyouarealwaysverymuchwiththem.”
“Yes,verymuch.”
“Aye,thatiswhatImeant.Heseemsagoodkindofoldfellowenough,andhaslivedverywellinhistime,Idaresay;heisnotgoutyfornothing.Doeshedrinkhisbottleadaynow?”
“Hisbottleaday!No.Whyshouldyouthinkofsuchathing?Heisaverytemperateman,andyoucouldnotfancyhiminliquorlastnight?”
“Lordhelpyou!Youwomenarealwaysthinkingofmen’sbeinginliquor.
Why,youdonotsupposeamanisoversetbyabottle?
Iamsureofthis—thatifeverybodywastodrinktheirbottleaday,therewouldnotbehalfthedisordersintheworldtherearenow.
Itwouldbeafamousgoodthingforusall.”
“Icannotbelieveit.”
“Oh!Lord,itwouldbethesavingofthousands.Thereisnotthehundredthpartofthewineconsumedinthiskingdomthatthereoughttobe.Ourfoggyclimatewantshelp.”
“AndyetIhaveheardthatthereisagreatdealofwinedrunkinOxford.”
“Oxford!ThereisnodrinkingatOxfordnow,Iassureyou.Nobodydrinksthere.
Youwouldhardlymeetwithamanwhogoesbeyondhisfourpintsattheutmost.
Now,forinstance,itwasreckonedaremarkablething,atthelastpartyinmyrooms,thatuponanaverageweclearedaboutfivepintsahead.
Itwaslookeduponassomethingoutofthecommonway.Mineisfamousgoodstuff,tobesure.
YouwouldnotoftenmeetwithanythinglikeitinOxford—andthatmayaccountforit.
Butthiswilljustgiveyouanotionofthegeneralrateofdrinkingthere.”
“Yes,itdoesgiveanotion,”saidCatherinewarmly,“andthatis,thatyoualldrinkagreatdealmorewinethanIthoughtyoudid.However,IamsureJamesdoesnotdrinksomuch.”
Thisdeclarationbroughtonaloudandoverpoweringreply,ofwhichnopartwasverydistinct,exceptthefrequentexclamations,amountingalmosttooaths,whichadornedit,andCatherinewasleft,whenitended,withratherastrengthenedbeliefoftherebeingagreatdealofwinedrunkinOxford,andthesamehappyconvictionofherbrother’scomparativesobriety.
Thorpe’sideasthenallrevertedtothemeritsofhisownequipage,andshewascalledontoadmirethespiritandfreedomwithwhichhishorsemovedalong,andtheeasewhichhispaces,aswellastheexcellenceofthesprings,gavethemotionofthecarriage.
Shefollowedhiminallhisadmirationaswellasshecould.
Togobeforeorbeyondhimwasimpossible.
Hisknowledgeandherignoranceofthesubject,hisrapidityofexpression,andherdiffidenceofherselfputthatoutofherpower;shecouldstrikeoutnothingnewincommendation,butshereadilyechoedwhateverhechosetoassert,anditwasfinallysettledbetweenthemwithoutanydifficultythathisequipagewasaltogetherthemostcompleteofitskindinEngland,hiscarriagetheneatest,hishorsethebestgoer,andhimselfthebestcoachman.
“Youdonotreallythink,Mr.Thorpe,”saidCatherine,venturingaftersometimetoconsiderthematterasentirelydecided,andtooffersomelittlevariationonthesubject,“thatJames’sgigwillbreakdown?”
“Breakdown!Oh!Lord!
Didyoueverseesuchalittletittuppythinginyourlife?
Thereisnotasoundpieceofironaboutit.
Thewheelshavebeenfairlywornoutthesetenyearsatleast—andasforthebody!
Uponmysoul,youmightshakeittopiecesyourselfwithatouch.
ItisthemostdevilishlittlericketybusinessIeverbeheld!ThankGod!wehavegotabetter.
Iwouldnotbeboundtogotwomilesinitforfiftythousandpounds.”
“Goodheavens!”criedCatherine,quitefrightened.
“Thenprayletusturnback;theywillcertainlymeetwithanaccidentifwegoon.
Doletusturnback,Mr.Thorpe;stopandspeaktomybrother,andtellhimhowveryunsafeitis.”
“Unsafe!Oh,lord!Whatisthereinthat?
Theywillonlygetarollifitdoesbreakdown;andthereisplentyofdirt;itwillbeexcellentfalling.Oh,curseit!
Thecarriageissafeenough,ifamanknowshowtodriveit;athingofthatsortingoodhandswilllastabovetwentyyearsafteritisfairlywornout.Lordblessyou!
IwouldundertakeforfivepoundstodriveittoYorkandbackagain,withoutlosinganail.”
Catherinelistenedwithastonishment;sheknewnothowtoreconciletwosuchverydifferentaccountsofthesamething;forshehadnotbeenbroughtuptounderstandthepropensitiesofarattle,nortoknowtohowmanyidleassertionsandimpudentfalsehoodstheexcessofvanitywilllead.
Herownfamilywereplain,matter–of–factpeoplewhoseldomaimedatwitofanykind;herfather,attheutmost,beingcontentedwithapun,andhermotherwithaproverb;theywerenotinthehabitthereforeoftellingliestoincreasetheirimportance,orofassertingatonemomentwhattheywouldcontradictthenext.
Shereflectedontheaffairforsometimeinmuchperplexity,andwasmorethanonceonthepointofrequestingfromMr.Thorpeaclearerinsightintohisrealopiniononthesubject;butshecheckedherself,becauseitappearedtoherthathedidnotexcelingivingthoseclearerinsights,inmakingthosethingsplainwhichhehadbeforemadeambiguous;and,joiningtothis,theconsiderationthathewouldnotreallysufferhissisterandhisfriendtobeexposedtoadangerfromwhichhemighteasilypreservethem,sheconcludedatlastthathemustknowthecarriagetobeinfactperfectlysafe,andthereforewouldalarmherselfnolonger.
Byhimthewholematterseemedentirelyforgotten;andalltherestofhisconversation,orrathertalk,beganandendedwithhimselfandhisownconcerns.
Hetoldherofhorseswhichhehadboughtforatrifleandsoldforincrediblesums;ofracingmatches,inwhichhisjudgmenthadinfalliblyforetoldthewinner;ofshootingparties,inwhichhehadkilledmorebirds(thoughwithouthavingonegoodshot)thanallhiscompanionstogether;anddescribedtohersomefamousday’ssport,withthefox–hounds,inwhichhisforesightandskillindirectingthedogshadrepairedthemistakesofthemostexperiencedhuntsman,andinwhichtheboldnessofhisriding,thoughithadneverendangeredhisownlifeforamoment,hadbeenconstantlyleadingothersintodifficulties,whichhecalmlyconcludedhadbrokenthenecksofmany.
LittleasCatherinewasinthehabitofjudgingforherself,andunfixedaswerehergeneralnotionsofwhatmenoughttobe,shecouldnotentirelyrepressadoubt,whilesheborewiththeeffusionsofhisendlessconceit,ofhisbeingaltogethercompletelyagreeable.
Itwasaboldsurmise,forhewasIsabella’sbrother;andshehadbeenassuredbyJamesthathismannerswouldrecommendhimtoallhersex;butinspiteofthis,theextremewearinessofhiscompany,whichcreptoverherbeforetheyhadbeenoutanhour,andwhichcontinuedunceasinglytoincreasetilltheystoppedinPulteneyStreetagain,inducedher,insomesmalldegree,toresistsuchhighauthority,andtodistrusthispowersofgivinguniversalpleasure.
WhentheyarrivedatMrs.Allen’sdoor,theastonishmentofIsabellawashardlytobeexpressed,onfindingthatitwastoolateinthedayforthemtoattendherfriendintothehouse:“Pastthreeo’clock!”
Itwasinconceivable,incredible,impossible!
Andshewouldneitherbelieveherownwatch,norherbrother’s,northeservant’s;shewouldbelievenoassuranceofitfoundedonreasonorreality,tillMorlandproducedhiswatch,andascertainedthefact;tohavedoubtedamomentlongerthenwouldhavebeenequallyinconceivable,incredible,andimpossible;andshecouldonlyprotest,overandoveragain,thatnotwohoursandahalfhadevergoneoffsoswiftlybefore,asCatherinewascalledontoconfirm;CatherinecouldnottellafalsehoodeventopleaseIsabella;butthelatterwassparedthemiseryofherfriend’sdissentingvoice,bynotwaitingforheranswer.
Herownfeelingsentirelyengrossedher;herwretchednesswasmostacuteonfindingherselfobligedtogodirectlyhome.
Itwasagessinceshehadhadamoment’sconversationwithherdearestCatherine;and,thoughshehadsuchthousandsofthingstosaytoher,itappearedasiftheywerenevertobetogetheragain;so,withsnifflesofmostexquisitemisery,andthelaughingeyeofutterdespondency,shebadeherfriendadieuandwenton.
CatherinefoundMrs.Allenjustreturnedfromallthebusyidlenessofthemorning,andwasimmediatelygreetedwith,“Well,mydear,hereyouare,”atruthwhichshehadnogreaterinclinationthanpowertodispute;“andIhopeyouhavehadapleasantairing?”
“Yes,ma’am,Ithankyou;wecouldnothavehadanicerday.”
“SoMrs.Thorpesaid;shewasvastlypleasedatyourallgoing.”
“YouhaveseenMrs.Thorpe,then?”
“Yes,Iwenttothepump–roomassoonasyouweregone,andthereImether,andwehadagreatdealoftalktogether.
Shesaystherewashardlyanyvealtobegotatmarketthismorning,itissouncommonlyscarce.”
“Didyouseeanybodyelseofouracquaintance?”
“Yes;weagreedtotakeaturnintheCrescent,andtherewemetMrs.Hughes,andMr.andMissTilneywalkingwithher.”
“Didyouindeed?Anddidtheyspeaktoyou?”
“Yes,wewalkedalongtheCrescenttogetherforhalfanhour.Theyseemveryagreeablepeople.
MissTilneywasinaveryprettyspottedmuslin,andIfancy,bywhatIcanlearn,thatshealwaysdressesveryhandsomely.
Mrs.Hughestalkedtomeagreatdealaboutthefamily.”
“Andwhatdidshetellyouofthem?”
“Oh!Avastdealindeed;shehardlytalkedofanythingelse.”
“DidshetellyouwhatpartofGloucestershiretheycomefrom?”
“Yes,shedid;butIcannotrecollectnow.
Buttheyareverygoodkindofpeople,andveryrich.
Mrs.TilneywasaMissDrummond,andsheandMrs.Hugheswereschoolfellows;andMissDrummondhadaverylargefortune;and,whenshemarried,herfathergavehertwentythousandpounds,andfivehundredtobuywedding–clothes.
Mrs.Hughessawalltheclothesaftertheycamefromthewarehouse.”
“AndareMr.andMrs.TilneyinBath?”
“Yes,Ifancytheyare,butIamnotquitecertain.
Uponrecollection,however,Ihaveanotiontheyarebothdead;atleastthemotheris;yes,IamsureMrs.Tilneyisdead,becauseMrs.HughestoldmetherewasaverybeautifulsetofpearlsthatMr.Drummondgavehisdaughteronherwedding–dayandthatMissTilneyhasgotnow,fortheywereputbyforherwhenhermotherdied.”
“AndisMr.Tilney,mypartner,theonlyson?”
“Icannotbequitepositiveaboutthat,mydear;Ihavesomeideaheis;but,however,heisaveryfineyoungman,Mrs.Hughessays,andlikelytodoverywell.”
Catherineinquirednofurther;shehadheardenoughtofeelthatMrs.Allenhadnorealintelligencetogive,andthatshewasmostparticularlyunfortunateherselfinhavingmissedsuchameetingwithbothbrotherandsister.
Couldshehaveforeseensuchacircumstance,nothingshouldhavepersuadedhertogooutwiththeothers;and,asitwas,shecouldonlylamentherillluck,andthinkoverwhatshehadlost,tillitwascleartoherthatthedrivehadbynomeansbeenverypleasantandthatJohnThorpehimselfwasquitedisagreeable.
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