English
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,andSaturdayhavenowpassedinreviewbeforethereader;theeventsofeachday,itshopesandfears,mortificationsandpleasures,havebeenseparatelystated,andthepangsofSundayonlynowremaintobedescribed,andclosetheweek.
TheCliftonschemehadbeendeferred,notrelinquished,andontheafternoon’screscentofthisday,itwasbroughtforwardagain.
InaprivateconsultationbetweenIsabellaandJames,theformerofwhomhadparticularlysetherheartupongoing,andthelatternolessanxiouslyplacedhisuponpleasingher,itwasagreedthat,providedtheweatherwerefair,thepartyshouldtakeplaceonthefollowingmorning;andtheyweretosetoffveryearly,inordertobeathomeingoodtime.
Theaffairthusdetermined,andThorpe’sapprobationsecured,Catherineonlyremainedtobeapprisedofit.
ShehadleftthemforafewminutestospeaktoMissTilney.
Inthatintervaltheplanwascompleted,andassoonasshecameagain,heragreementwasdemanded;butinsteadofthegayacquiescenceexpectedbyIsabella,Catherinelookedgrave,wasverysorry,butcouldnotgo.
Theengagementwhichoughttohavekeptherfromjoiningintheformerattemptwouldmakeitimpossibleforhertoaccompanythemnow.
ShehadthatmomentsettledwithMissTilneytotaketheirproposedwalktomorrow;itwasquitedetermined,andshewouldnot,uponanyaccount,retract.
ButthatshemustandshouldretractwasinstantlytheeagercryofboththeThorpes;theymustgotoCliftontomorrow,theywouldnotgowithouther,itwouldbenothingtoputoffamerewalkforonedaylonger,andtheywouldnothearofarefusal.
Catherinewasdistressed,butnotsubdued.“Donoturgeme,Isabella.IamengagedtoMissTilney.Icannotgo.”Thisavailednothing.
Thesameargumentsassailedheragain;shemustgo,sheshouldgo,andtheywouldnothearofarefusal.
“ItwouldbesoeasytotellMissTilneythatyouhadjustbeenremindedofapriorengagement,andmustonlybegtoputoffthewalktillTuesday.”
“No,itwouldnotbeeasy.Icouldnotdoit.Therehasbeennopriorengagement.”
ButIsabellabecameonlymoreandmoreurgent,callingonherinthemostaffectionatemanner,addressingherbythemostendearingnames.
Shewassureherdearest,sweetestCatherinewouldnotseriouslyrefusesuchatriflingrequesttoafriendwholovedhersodearly.
SheknewherbelovedCatherinetohavesofeelingaheart,sosweetatemper,tobesoeasilypersuadedbythosesheloved.
Butallinvain;Catherinefeltherselftobeintheright,andthoughpainedbysuchtender,suchflatteringsupplication,couldnotallowittoinfluenceher.Isabellathentriedanothermethod.
ShereproachedherwithhavingmoreaffectionforMissTilney,thoughshehadknownhersolittleawhile,thanforherbestandoldestfriends,withbeinggrowncoldandindifferent,inshort,towardsherself.
“Icannothelpbeingjealous,Catherine,whenIseemyselfslightedforstrangers,I,wholoveyousoexcessively!
Whenoncemyaffectionsareplaced,itisnotinthepowerofanythingtochangethem.
ButIbelievemyfeelingsarestrongerthananybody’s;Iamsuretheyaretoostrongformyownpeace;andtoseemyselfsupplantedinyourfriendshipbystrangersdoescutmetothequick,Iown.
TheseTilneysseemtoswallowupeverythingelse.”
Catherinethoughtthisreproachequallystrangeandunkind.
Wasitthepartofafriendthustoexposeherfeelingstothenoticeofothers?
Isabellaappearedtoherungenerousandselfish,regardlessofeverythingbutherowngratification.
Thesepainfulideascrossedhermind,thoughshesaidnothing.
Isabella,inthemeanwhile,hadappliedherhandkerchieftohereyes;andMorland,miserableatsuchasight,couldnothelpsaying,“Nay,Catherine.
Ithinkyoucannotstandoutanylongernow.
Thesacrificeisnotmuch;andtoobligesuchafriend—Ishallthinkyouquiteunkind,ifyoustillrefuse.”
Thiswasthefirsttimeofherbrother’sopenlysidingagainsther,andanxioustoavoidhisdispleasure,sheproposedacompromise.
IftheywouldonlyputofftheirschemetillTuesday,whichtheymighteasilydo,asitdependedonlyonthemselves,shecouldgowiththem,andeverybodymightthenbesatisfied.But“No,no,no!”
wastheimmediateanswer;“thatcouldnotbe,forThorpedidnotknowthathemightnotgototownonTuesday.”
Catherinewassorry,butcoulddonomore;andashortsilenceensued,whichwasbrokenbyIsabella,whoinavoiceofcoldresentmentsaid,“Verywell,thenthereisanendoftheparty.IfCatherinedoesnotgo,Icannot.Icannotbetheonlywoman.
Iwouldnot,uponanyaccountintheworld,dosoimproperathing.”
“Catherine,youmustgo,”saidJames.
“ButwhycannotMr.Thorpedriveoneofhisothersisters?Idaresayeitherofthemwouldliketogo.”
“Thankye,”criedThorpe,“butIdidnotcometoBathtodrivemysistersabout,andlooklikeafool.No,ifyoudonotgo,d—meifIdo.Ionlygoforthesakeofdrivingyou.”
“Thatisacomplimentwhichgivesmenopleasure.”ButherwordswerelostonThorpe,whohadturnedabruptlyaway.
Thethreeothersstillcontinuedtogether,walkinginamostuncomfortablemannertopoorCatherine;sometimesnotawordwassaid,sometimesshewasagainattackedwithsupplicationsorreproaches,andherarmwasstilllinkedwithinIsabella’s,thoughtheirheartswereatwar.
Atonemomentshewassoftened,atanotherirritated;alwaysdistressed,butalwayssteady.
“Ididnotthinkyouhadbeensoobstinate,Catherine,”saidJames;“youwerenotusedtobesohardtopersuade;youoncewerethekindest,best–temperedofmysisters.”
“IhopeIamnotlesssonow,”shereplied,veryfeelingly;“butindeedIcannotgo.IfIamwrong,IamdoingwhatIbelievetoberight.”
“Isuspect,”saidIsabella,inalowvoice,“thereisnogreatstruggle.”
Catherine’sheartswelled;shedrewawayherarm,andIsabellamadenoopposition.
Thuspassedalongtenminutes,tilltheywereagainjoinedbyThorpe,who,comingtothemwithagayerlook,said,“Well,Ihavesettledthematter,andnowwemayallgotomorrowwithasafeconscience.
IhavebeentoMissTilney,andmadeyourexcuses.”
“Youhavenot!”criedCatherine.
“Ihave,uponmysoul.Leftherthismoment.
Toldheryouhadsentmetosaythat,havingjustrecollectedapriorengagementofgoingtoCliftonwithustomorrow,youcouldnothavethepleasureofwalkingwithhertillTuesday.
Shesaidverywell,Tuesdaywasjustasconvenienttoher;sothereisanendofallourdifficulties.Aprettygoodthoughtofmine—hey?”
Isabella’scountenancewasoncemoreallsmilesandgoodhumour,andJamestoolookedhappyagain.
“Amostheavenlythoughtindeed!Now,mysweetCatherine,allourdistressesareover;youarehonourablyacquitted,andweshallhaveamostdelightfulparty.”
“Thiswillnotdo,”saidCatherine;“Icannotsubmittothis.ImustrunafterMissTilneydirectlyandsetherright.”
Isabella,however,caughtholdofonehand,Thorpeoftheother,andremonstrancespouredinfromallthree.EvenJameswasquiteangry.
Wheneverythingwassettled,whenMissTilneyherselfsaidthatTuesdaywouldsuitheraswell,itwasquiteridiculous,quiteabsurd,tomakeanyfurtherobjection.
“Idonotcare.Mr.Thorpehadnobusinesstoinventanysuchmessage.
IfIhadthoughtitrighttoputitoff,IcouldhavespokentoMissTilneymyself.
Thisisonlydoingitinaruderway;andhowdoIknowthatMr.Thorpehas—Hemaybemistakenagainperhaps;heledmeintooneactofrudenessbyhismistakeonFriday.
Letmego,Mr.Thorpe;Isabella,donotholdme.”
ThorpetoldheritwouldbeinvaintogoaftertheTilneys;theywereturningthecornerintoBrockStreet,whenhehadovertakenthem,andwereathomebythistime.
“ThenIwillgoafterthem,”saidCatherine;“wherevertheyareIwillgoafterthem.Itdoesnotsignifytalking.
IfIcouldnotbepersuadedintodoingwhatIthoughtwrong,Ineverwillbetrickedintoit.”
Andwiththesewordsshebrokeawayandhurriedoff.
Thorpewouldhavedartedafterher,butMorlandwithheldhim.
“Lethergo,lethergo,ifshewillgo.Sheisasobstinateas—”
Thorpeneverfinishedthesimile,foritcouldhardlyhavebeenaproperone.
AwaywalkedCatherineingreatagitation,asfastasthecrowdwouldpermither,fearfulofbeingpursued,yetdeterminedtopersevere.
Asshewalked,shereflectedonwhathadpassed.
Itwaspainfultohertodisappointanddispleasethem,particularlytodispleaseherbrother;butshecouldnotrepentherresistance.
Settingherowninclinationapart,tohavefailedasecondtimeinherengagementtoMissTilney,tohaveretractedapromisevoluntarilymadeonlyfiveminutesbefore,andonafalsepretencetoo,musthavebeenwrong.
Shehadnotbeenwithstandingthemonselfishprinciplesalone,shehadnotconsultedmerelyherowngratification;thatmighthavebeenensuredinsomedegreebytheexcursionitself,byseeingBlaizeCastle;no,shehadattendedtowhatwasduetoothers,andtoherowncharacterintheiropinion.
Herconvictionofbeingright,however,wasnotenoughtorestorehercomposure;tillshehadspokentoMissTilneyshecouldnotbeatease;andquickeningherpacewhenshegotclearoftheCrescent,shealmostranovertheremaininggroundtillshegainedthetopofMilsomStreet.
SorapidhadbeenhermovementsthatinspiteoftheTilneys’advantageintheoutset,theywerebutjustturningintotheirlodgingsasshecamewithinviewofthem;andtheservantstillremainingattheopendoor,sheusedonlytheceremonyofsayingthatshemustspeakwithMissTilneythatmoment,andhurryingbyhimproceededupstairs.
Then,openingthefirstdoorbeforeher,whichhappenedtobetheright,sheimmediatelyfoundherselfinthedrawing–roomwithGeneralTilney,hisson,anddaughter.
Herexplanation,defectiveonlyinbeing—fromherirritationofnervesandshortnessofbreath—noexplanationatall,wasinstantlygiven.
“Iamcomeinagreathurry—Itwasallamistake—Ineverpromisedtogo—ItoldthemfromthefirstIcouldnotgo.
—Iranawayinagreathurrytoexplainit.
—Ididnotcarewhatyouthoughtofme.—Iwouldnotstayfortheservant.”
Thebusiness,however,thoughnotperfectlyelucidatedbythisspeech,soonceasedtobeapuzzle.
CatherinefoundthatJohnThorpehadgiventhemessage;andMissTilneyhadnoscrupleinowningherselfgreatlysurprisedbyit.
Butwhetherherbrotherhadstillexceededherinresentment,Catherine,thoughsheinstinctivelyaddressedherselfasmuchtooneastotheotherinhervindication,hadnomeansofknowing.
Whatevermighthavebeenfeltbeforeherarrival,hereagerdeclarationsimmediatelymadeeverylookandsentenceasfriendlyasshecoulddesire.
Theaffairthushappilysettled,shewasintroducedbyMissTilneytoherfather,andreceivedbyhimwithsuchready,suchsolicitouspolitenessasrecalledThorpe’sinformationtohermind,andmadeherthinkwithpleasurethathemightbesometimesdependedon.
Tosuchanxiousattentionwasthegeneral’scivilitycarried,thatnotawareofherextraordinaryswiftnessinenteringthehouse,hewasquiteangrywiththeservantwhoseneglecthadreducedhertoopenthedooroftheapartmentherself.“WhatdidWilliammeanbyit?
Heshouldmakeapointofinquiringintothematter.”
AndifCatherinehadnotmostwarmlyassertedhisinnocence,itseemedlikelythatWilliamwouldlosethefavourofhismasterforever,ifnothisplace,byherrapidity.
Aftersittingwiththemaquarterofanhour,sherosetotakeleave,andwasthenmostagreeablysurprisedbyGeneralTilney’saskingherifshewoulddohisdaughterthehonourofdiningandspendingtherestofthedaywithher.MissTilneyaddedherownwishes.
Catherinewasgreatlyobliged;butitwasquiteoutofherpower.
Mr.andMrs.Allenwouldexpectherbackeverymoment.
Thegeneraldeclaredhecouldsaynomore;theclaimsofMr.andMrs.Allenwerenottobesuperseded;butonsomeotherdayhetrusted,whenlongernoticecouldbegiven,theywouldnotrefusetosparehertoherfriend.
“Oh,no;Catherinewassuretheywouldnothavetheleastobjection,andsheshouldhavegreatpleasureincoming.”
Thegeneralattendedherhimselftothestreet–door,sayingeverythinggallantastheywentdownstairs,admiringtheelasticityofherwalk,whichcorrespondedexactlywiththespiritofherdancing,andmakingheroneofthemostgracefulbowsshehadeverbeheld,whentheyparted.
Catherine,delightedbyallthathadpassed,proceededgailytoPulteneyStreet,walking,assheconcluded,withgreatelasticity,thoughshehadneverthoughtofitbefore.
Shereachedhomewithoutseeinganythingmoreoftheoffendedparty;andnowthatshehadbeentriumphantthroughout,hadcarriedherpoint,andwassecureofherwalk,shebegan(astheflutterofherspiritssubsided)todoubtwhethershehadbeenperfectlyright.
Asacrificewasalwaysnoble;andifshehadgivenwaytotheirentreaties,sheshouldhavebeensparedthedistressingideaofafrienddispleased,abrotherangry,andaschemeofgreathappinesstobothdestroyed,perhapsthroughhermeans.
Toeasehermind,andascertainbytheopinionofanunprejudicedpersonwhatherownconducthadreallybeen,shetookoccasiontomentionbeforeMr.Allenthehalf–settledschemeofherbrotherandtheThorpesforthefollowingday.Mr.Allencaughtatitdirectly.
“Well,”saidhe,“anddoyouthinkofgoingtoo?”
“No;IhadjustengagedmyselftowalkwithMissTilneybeforetheytoldmeofit;andthereforeyouknowIcouldnotgowiththem,couldI?”
“No,certainlynot;andIamgladyoudonotthinkofit.Theseschemesarenotatallthething.
Youngmenandwomendrivingaboutthecountryinopencarriages!
Nowandthenitisverywell;butgoingtoinnsandpublicplacestogether!
Itisnotright;andIwonderMrs.Thorpeshouldallowit.
Iamgladyoudonotthinkofgoing;IamsureMrs.Morlandwouldnotbepleased.
Mrs.Allen,arenotyouofmywayofthinking?
Donotyouthinkthesekindofprojectsobjectionable?”
“Yes,verymuchsoindeed.Opencarriagesarenastythings.
Acleangownisnotfiveminutes’wearinthem.
Youaresplashedgettinginandgettingout;andthewindtakesyourhairandyourbonnetineverydirection.Ihateanopencarriagemyself.”
“Iknowyoudo;butthatisnotthequestion.Donotyouthinkithasanoddappearance,ifyoungladiesarefrequentlydrivenaboutinthembyyoungmen,towhomtheyarenotevenrelated?”
“Yes,mydear,averyoddappearanceindeed.Icannotbeartoseeit.”
“Dearmadam,”criedCatherine,“thenwhydidnotyoutellmesobefore?
IamsureifIhadknownittobeimproper,IwouldnothavegonewithMr.Thorpeatall;butIalwayshopedyouwouldtellme,ifyouthoughtIwasdoingwrong.”
“AndsoIshould,mydear,youmaydependonit;forasItoldMrs.Morlandatparting,Iwouldalwaysdothebestforyouinmypower.Butonemustnotbeoverparticular.
Youngpeoplewillbeyoungpeople,asyourgoodmothersaysherself.
YouknowIwantedyou,whenwefirstcame,nottobuythatspriggedmuslin,butyouwould.
Youngpeopledonotliketobealwaysthwarted.”
“Butthiswassomethingofrealconsequence;andIdonotthinkyouwouldhavefoundmehardtopersuade.”
“Asfarasithasgonehitherto,thereisnoharmdone,”saidMr.Allen;“andIwouldonlyadviseyou,mydear,nottogooutwithMr.Thorpeanymore.”
“ThatisjustwhatIwasgoingtosay,”addedhiswife.
Catherine,relievedforherself,feltuneasyforIsabella,andafteramoment’sthought,askedMr.AllenwhetheritwouldnotbebothproperandkindinhertowritetoMissThorpe,andexplaintheindecorumofwhichshemustbeasinsensibleasherself;forsheconsideredthatIsabellamightotherwiseperhapsbegoingtoCliftonthenextday,inspiteofwhathadpassed.
Mr.Allen,however,discouragedherfromdoinganysuchthing.
“Youhadbetterleaveheralone,mydear;sheisoldenoughtoknowwhatsheisabout,andifnot,hasamothertoadviseher.
Mrs.Thorpeistooindulgentbeyondadoubt;but,however,youhadbetternotinterfere.
Sheandyourbrotherchoosetogo,andyouwillbeonlygettingillwill.”
Catherinesubmitted,andthoughsorrytothinkthatIsabellashouldbedoingwrong,feltgreatlyrelievedbyMr.Allen’sapprobationofherownconduct,andtrulyrejoicedtobepreservedbyhisadvicefromthedangeroffallingintosuchanerrorherself.
HerescapefrombeingoneofthepartytoCliftonwasnowanescapeindeed;forwhatwouldtheTilneyshavethoughtofher,ifshehadbrokenherpromisetotheminordertodowhatwaswronginitself,ifshehadbeenguiltyofonebreachofpropriety,onlytoenablehertobeguiltyofanother?
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