English
Thenextmorningwasfair,andCatherinealmostexpectedanotherattackfromtheassembledparty.
WithMr.Allentosupporther,shefeltnodreadoftheevent:butshewouldgladlybesparedacontest,wherevictoryitselfwaspainful,andwasheartilyrejoicedthereforeatneitherseeingnorhearinganythingofthem.
TheTilneyscalledforherattheappointedtime;andnonewdifficultyarising,nosuddenrecollection,nounexpectedsummons,noimpertinentintrusiontodisconcerttheirmeasures,myheroinewasmostunnaturallyabletofulfilherengagement,thoughitwasmadewiththeherohimself.
TheydeterminedonwalkingroundBeechenCliff,thatnoblehillwhosebeautifulverdureandhangingcoppicerenderitsostrikinganobjectfromalmosteveryopeninginBath.
“Ineverlookatit,”saidCatherine,astheywalkedalongthesideoftheriver,“withoutthinkingofthesouthofFrance.”
“Youhavebeenabroadthen?”saidHenry,alittlesurprised.
“Oh!No,IonlymeanwhatIhavereadabout.ItalwaysputsmeinmindofthecountrythatEmilyandherfathertravelledthrough,inTheMysteriesofUdolpho.Butyouneverreadnovels,Idaresay?”
“Whynot?”
“Becausetheyarenotcleverenoughforyou—gentlemenreadbetterbooks.”
“Theperson,beitgentlemanorlady,whohasnotpleasureinagoodnovel,mustbeintolerablystupid.
IhavereadallMrs.Radcliffe’sworks,andmostofthemwithgreatpleasure.
TheMysteriesofUdolpho,whenIhadoncebegunit,Icouldnotlaydownagain;Irememberfinishingitintwodays—myhairstandingonendthewholetime.”
“Yes,”addedMissTilney,“andIrememberthatyouundertooktoreaditaloudtome,andthatwhenIwascalledawayforonlyfiveminutestoansweranote,insteadofwaitingforme,youtookthevolumeintotheHermitageWalk,andIwasobligedtostaytillyouhadfinishedit.”
“Thankyou,Eleanor—amosthonourabletestimony.
Yousee,MissMorland,theinjusticeofyoursuspicions.
HerewasI,inmyeagernesstogeton,refusingtowaitonlyfiveminutesformysister,breakingthepromiseIhadmadeofreadingitaloud,andkeepingherinsuspenseatamostinterestingpart,byrunningawaywiththevolume,which,youaretoobserve,washerown,particularlyherown.
IamproudwhenIreflectonit,andIthinkitmustestablishmeinyourgoodopinion.”
“Iamverygladtohearitindeed,andnowIshallneverbeashamedoflikingUdolphomyself.ButIreallythoughtbefore,youngmendespisednovelsamazingly.”
“Itisamazingly;itmaywellsuggestamazementiftheydo—fortheyreadnearlyasmanyaswomen.
Imyselfhavereadhundredsandhundreds.
DonotimaginethatyoucancopewithmeinaknowledgeofJuliasandLouisas.
Ifweproceedtoparticulars,andengageinthenever–ceasinginquiryof‘Haveyoureadthis?’and‘Haveyoureadthat?’
Ishallsoonleaveyouasfarbehindmeas—whatshallIsay?—Iwantanappropriatesimile.
—asfarasyourfriendEmilyherselfleftpoorValancourtwhenshewentwithherauntintoItaly.
ConsiderhowmanyyearsIhavehadthestartofyou.
IhadenteredonmystudiesatOxford,whileyouwereagoodlittlegirlworkingyoursamplerathome!”
“Notverygood,Iamafraid.Butnowreally,donotyouthinkUdolphothenicestbookintheworld?”
“Thenicest—bywhichIsupposeyoumeantheneatest.Thatmustdependuponthebinding.”
“Henry,”saidMissTilney,“youareveryimpertinent.
MissMorland,heistreatingyouexactlyashedoeshissister.
Heisforeverfindingfaultwithme,forsomeincorrectnessoflanguage,andnowheistakingthesamelibertywithyou.
Theword‘nicest,’asyouusedit,didnotsuithim;andyouhadbetterchangeitassoonasyoucan,orweshallbeoverpoweredwithJohnsonandBlairalltherestoftheway.”
“Iamsure,”criedCatherine,“Ididnotmeantosayanythingwrong;butitisanicebook,andwhyshouldnotIcallitso?”
“Verytrue,”saidHenry,“andthisisaveryniceday,andwearetakingaverynicewalk,andyouaretwoveryniceyoungladies.Oh!Itisaverynicewordindeed!Itdoesforeverything.
Originallyperhapsitwasappliedonlytoexpressneatness,propriety,delicacy,orrefinement—peoplewereniceintheirdress,intheirsentiments,ortheirchoice.
Butnoweverycommendationoneverysubjectiscomprisedinthatoneword.”
“While,infact,”criedhissister,“itoughtonlytobeappliedtoyou,withoutanycommendationatall.Youaremorenicethanwise.
Come,MissMorland,letusleavehimtomeditateoverourfaultsintheutmostproprietyofdiction,whilewepraiseUdolphoinwhatevertermswelikebest.Itisamostinterestingwork.Youarefondofthatkindofreading?”
“Tosaythetruth,Idonotmuchlikeanyother.”
“Indeed!”
“Thatis,Icanreadpoetryandplays,andthingsofthatsort,anddonotdisliketravels.Buthistory,realsolemnhistory,Icannotbeinterestedin.Canyou?”
“Yes,Iamfondofhistory.”
“IwishIweretoo.Ireaditalittleasaduty,butittellsmenothingthatdoesnoteithervexorwearyme.
Thequarrelsofpopesandkings,withwarsorpestilences,ineverypage;themenallsogoodfornothing,andhardlyanywomenatall—itisverytiresome:andyetIoftenthinkitoddthatitshouldbesodull,foragreatdealofitmustbeinvention.
Thespeechesthatareputintotheheroes’mouths,theirthoughtsanddesigns—thechiefofallthismustbeinvention,andinventioniswhatdelightsmeinotherbooks.”
“Historians,youthink,”saidMissTilney,“arenothappyintheirflightsoffancy.
Theydisplayimaginationwithoutraisinginterest.
Iamfondofhistory—andamverywellcontentedtotakethefalsewiththetrue.
Intheprincipalfactstheyhavesourcesofintelligenceinformerhistoriesandrecords,whichmaybeasmuchdependedon,Iconclude,asanythingthatdoesnotactuallypassunderone’sownobservation;andasforthelittleembellishmentsyouspeakof,theyareembellishments,andIlikethemassuch.
Ifaspeechbewelldrawnup,Ireaditwithpleasure,bywhomsoeveritmaybemade—andprobablywithmuchgreater,iftheproductionofMr.HumeorMr.Robertson,thanifthegenuinewordsofCaractacus,Agricola,orAlfredtheGreat.”
“Youarefondofhistory!AndsoareMr.Allenandmyfather;andIhavetwobrotherswhodonotdislikeit.
Somanyinstanceswithinmysmallcircleoffriendsisremarkable!
Atthisrate,Ishallnotpitythewritersofhistoryanylonger.
Ifpeopleliketoreadtheirbooks,itisallverywell,buttobeatsomuchtroubleinfillinggreatvolumes,which,asIusedtothink,nobodywouldwillinglyeverlookinto,tobelabouringonlyforthetormentoflittleboysandgirls,alwaysstruckmeasahardfate;andthoughIknowitisallveryrightandnecessary,Ihaveoftenwonderedattheperson’scouragethatcouldsitdownonpurposetodoit.”
“Thatlittleboysandgirlsshouldbetormented,”saidHenry,“iswhatnooneatallacquaintedwithhumannatureinacivilizedstatecandeny;butinbehalfofourmostdistinguishedhistorians,Imustobservethattheymightwellbeoffendedatbeingsupposedtohavenohigheraim,andthatbytheirmethodandstyle,theyareperfectlywellqualifiedtotormentreadersofthemostadvancedreasonandmaturetimeoflife.
Iusetheverb‘totorment,’asIobservedtobeyourownmethod,insteadof‘toinstruct,’supposingthemtobenowadmittedassynonymous.”
“Youthinkmefoolishtocallinstructionatorment,butifyouhadbeenasmuchusedasmyselftohearpoorlittlechildrenfirstlearningtheirlettersandthenlearningtospell,ifyouhadeverseenhowstupidtheycanbeforawholemorningtogether,andhowtiredmypoormotherisattheendofit,asIaminthehabitofseeingalmosteverydayofmylifeathome,youwouldallowthat‘totorment’and‘toinstruct’mightsometimesbeusedassynonymouswords.”
“Veryprobably.Buthistoriansarenotaccountableforthedifficultyoflearningtoread;andevenyouyourself,whodonotaltogetherseemparticularlyfriendlytoverysevere,veryintenseapplication,mayperhapsbebroughttoacknowledgethatitisverywellworth–whiletobetormentedfortwoorthreeyearsofone’slife,forthesakeofbeingabletoreadalltherestofit.
Consider—ifreadinghadnotbeentaught,Mrs.Radcliffewouldhavewritteninvain—orperhapsmightnothavewrittenatall.”
Catherineassented—andaverywarmpanegyricfromheronthatlady’smeritsclosedthesubject.
TheTilneysweresoonengagedinanotheronwhichshehadnothingtosay.
Theywereviewingthecountrywiththeeyesofpersonsaccustomedtodrawing,anddecidedonitscapabilityofbeingformedintopictures,withalltheeagernessofrealtaste.HereCatherinewasquitelost.
Sheknewnothingofdrawing—nothingoftaste:andshelistenedtothemwithanattentionwhichbroughtherlittleprofit,fortheytalkedinphraseswhichconveyedscarcelyanyideatoher.
Thelittlewhichshecouldunderstand,however,appearedtocontradicttheveryfewnotionsshehadentertainedonthematterbefore.
Itseemedasifagoodviewwerenolongertobetakenfromthetopofanhighhill,andthataclearblueskywasnolongeraproofofafineday.
Shewasheartilyashamedofherignorance.Amisplacedshame.
Wherepeoplewishtoattach,theyshouldalwaysbeignorant.
Tocomewithawell–informedmindistocomewithaninabilityofadministeringtothevanityofothers,whichasensiblepersonwouldalwayswishtoavoid.
Awomanespecially,ifshehavethemisfortuneofknowinganything,shouldconcealitaswellasshecan.
Theadvantagesofnaturalfollyinabeautifulgirlhavebeenalreadysetforthbythecapitalpenofasisterauthor;andtohertreatmentofthesubjectIwillonlyadd,injusticetomen,thatthoughtothelargerandmoretriflingpartofthesex,imbecilityinfemalesisagreatenhancementoftheirpersonalcharms,thereisaportionofthemtooreasonableandtoowellinformedthemselvestodesireanythingmoreinwomanthanignorance.
ButCatherinedidnotknowherownadvantages—didnotknowthatagood–lookinggirl,withanaffectionateheartandaveryignorantmind,cannotfailofattractingacleveryoungman,unlesscircumstancesareparticularlyuntoward.
Inthepresentinstance,sheconfessedandlamentedherwantofknowledge,declaredthatshewouldgiveanythingintheworldtobeabletodraw;andalectureonthepicturesqueimmediatelyfollowed,inwhichhisinstructionsweresoclearthatshesoonbegantoseebeautyineverythingadmiredbyhim,andherattentionwassoearnestthathebecameperfectlysatisfiedofherhavingagreatdealofnaturaltaste.
Hetalkedofforegrounds,distances,andseconddistances—side–screensandperspectives—lightsandshades;andCatherinewassohopefulascholarthatwhentheygainedthetopofBeechenCliff,shevoluntarilyrejectedthewholecityofBathasunworthytomakepartofalandscape.
Delightedwithherprogress,andfearfulofwearyingherwithtoomuchwisdomatonce,Henrysufferedthesubjecttodecline,andbyaneasytransitionfromapieceofrockyfragmentandthewitheredoakwhichhehadplacednearitssummit,tooaksingeneral,toforests,theenclosureofthem,wastelands,crownlandsandgovernment,heshortlyfoundhimselfarrivedatpolitics;andfrompolitics,itwasaneasysteptosilence.
ThegeneralpausewhichsucceededhisshortdisquisitiononthestateofthenationwasputanendtobyCatherine,who,inratherasolemntoneofvoice,utteredthesewords,“IhaveheardthatsomethingveryshockingindeedwillsooncomeoutinLondon.”
MissTilney,towhomthiswaschieflyaddressed,wasstartled,andhastilyreplied,“Indeed!Andofwhatnature?”
“ThatIdonotknow,norwhoistheauthor.Ihaveonlyheardthatitistobemorehorriblethananythingwehavemetwithyet.”
“Goodheaven!Wherecouldyouhearofsuchathing?”
“AparticularfriendofminehadanaccountofitinaletterfromLondonyesterday.Itistobeuncommonlydreadful.Ishallexpectmurderandeverythingofthekind.”
“Youspeakwithastonishingcomposure!ButIhopeyourfriend’saccountshavebeenexaggerated;andifsuchadesignisknownbeforehand,propermeasureswillundoubtedlybetakenbygovernmenttopreventitscomingtoeffect.”
“Government,”saidHenry,endeavouringnottosmile,“neitherdesiresnordarestointerfereinsuchmatters.Theremustbemurder;andgovernmentcaresnothowmuch.”
Theladiesstared.Helaughed,andadded,“Come,shallImakeyouunderstandeachother,orleaveyoutopuzzleoutanexplanationasyoucan?No—Iwillbenoble.
Iwillprovemyselfaman,nolessbythegenerosityofmysoulthantheclearnessofmyhead.
Ihavenopatiencewithsuchofmysexasdisdaintoletthemselvessometimesdowntothecomprehensionofyours.
Perhapstheabilitiesofwomenareneithersoundnoracute—neithervigorousnorkeen.
Perhapstheymaywantobservation,discernment,judgment,fire,genius,andwit.”
“MissMorland,donotmindwhathesays;buthavethegoodnesstosatisfymeastothisdreadfulriot.”
“Riot!Whatriot?”
“MydearEleanor,theriotisonlyinyourownbrain.Theconfusionthereisscandalous.
MissMorlandhasbeentalkingofnothingmoredreadfulthananewpublicationwhichisshortlytocomeout,inthreeduodecimovolumes,twohundredandseventy–sixpagesineach,withafrontispiecetothefirst,oftwotombstonesandalantern—doyouunderstand?
Andyou,MissMorland—mystupidsisterhasmistakenallyourclearestexpressions.
YoutalkedofexpectedhorrorsinLondon—andinsteadofinstantlyconceiving,asanyrationalcreaturewouldhavedone,thatsuchwordscouldrelateonlytoacirculatinglibrary,sheimmediatelypicturedtoherselfamobofthreethousandmenassemblinginSt.George’sFields,theBankattacked,theTowerthreatened,thestreetsofLondonflowingwithblood,adetachmentoftheTwelfthLightDragoons(thehopesofthenation)calledupfromNorthamptontoquelltheinsurgents,andthegallantCaptainFrederickTilney,inthemomentofchargingattheheadofhistroop,knockedoffhishorsebyabrickbatfromanupperwindow.
Forgiveherstupidity.
Thefearsofthesisterhaveaddedtotheweaknessofthewoman;butsheisbynomeansasimpletoningeneral.”
Catherinelookedgrave.“Andnow,Henry,”saidMissTilney,“thatyouhavemadeusunderstandeachother,youmayaswellmakeMissMorlandunderstandyourself—unlessyoumeantohaveherthinkyouintolerablyrudetoyoursister,andagreatbruteinyouropinionofwomeningeneral.
MissMorlandisnotusedtoyouroddways.”
“Ishallbemosthappytomakeherbetteracquaintedwiththem.”
“Nodoubt;butthatisnoexplanationofthepresent.”
“WhatamItodo?”
“Youknowwhatyououghttodo.Clearyourcharacterhandsomelybeforeher.Tellherthatyouthinkveryhighlyoftheunderstandingofwomen.”
“MissMorland,Ithinkveryhighlyoftheunderstandingofallthewomenintheworld—especiallyofthose—whoevertheymaybe—withwhomIhappentobeincompany.”
“Thatisnotenough.Bemoreserious.”
“MissMorland,noonecanthinkmorehighlyoftheunderstandingofwomenthanIdo.Inmyopinion,naturehasgiventhemsomuchthattheyneverfinditnecessarytousemorethanhalf.”
“Weshallgetnothingmoreseriousfromhimnow,MissMorland.Heisnotinasobermood.
ButIdoassureyouthathemustbeentirelymisunderstood,ifhecaneverappeartosayanunjustthingofanywomanatall,oranunkindoneofme.”
ItwasnoefforttoCatherinetobelievethatHenryTilneycouldneverbewrong.
Hismannermightsometimessurprise,buthismeaningmustalwaysbejust:andwhatshedidnotunderstand,shewasalmostasreadytoadmire,aswhatshedid.
Thewholewalkwasdelightful,andthoughitendedtoosoon,itsconclusionwasdelightfultoo;herfriendsattendedherintothehouse,andMissTilney,beforetheyparted,addressingherselfwithrespectfulform,asmuchtoMrs.AllenastoCatherine,petitionedforthepleasureofhercompanytodinneronthedayafterthenext.
NodifficultywasmadeonMrs.Allen’sside,andtheonlydifficultyonCatherine’swasinconcealingtheexcessofherpleasure.
Themorninghadpassedawaysocharminglyastobanishallherfriendshipandnaturalaffection,fornothoughtofIsabellaorJameshadcrossedherduringtheirwalk.
WhentheTilneysweregone,shebecameamiableagain,butshewasamiableforsometimetolittleeffect;Mrs.Allenhadnointelligencetogivethatcouldrelieveheranxiety;shehadheardnothingofanyofthem.
Towardstheendofthemorning,however,Catherine,havingoccasionforsomeindispensableyardofribbonwhichmustbeboughtwithoutamoment’sdelay,walkedoutintothetown,andinBondStreetovertookthesecondMissThorpeasshewasloiteringtowardsEdgar’sBuildingsbetweentwoofthesweetestgirlsintheworld,whohadbeenherdearfriendsallthemorning.
Fromher,shesoonlearnedthatthepartytoCliftonhadtakenplace.
“Theysetoffateightthismorning,”saidMissAnne,“andIamsureIdonotenvythemtheirdrive.
IthinkyouandIareverywellofftobeoutofthescrape.
itmustbethedullestthingintheworld,forthereisnotasoulatCliftonatthistimeofyear.
Bellewentwithyourbrother,andJohndroveMaria.”
Catherinespokethepleasureshereallyfeltonhearingthispartofthearrangement.
“Oh!yes,”rejoinedtheother,“Mariaisgone.Shewasquitewildtogo.
Shethoughtitwouldbesomethingveryfine.
IcannotsayIadmirehertaste;andformypart,Iwasdeterminedfromthefirstnottogo,iftheypressedmeeversomuch.”
Catherine,alittledoubtfulofthis,couldnothelpanswering,“Iwishyoucouldhavegonetoo.Itisapityyoucouldnotallgo.”
“Thankyou;butitisquiteamatterofindifferencetome.Indeed,Iwouldnothavegoneonanyaccount.IwassayingsotoEmilyandSophiawhenyouovertookus.”
Catherinewasstillunconvinced;butgladthatAnneshouldhavethefriendshipofanEmilyandaSophiatoconsoleher,shebadeheradieuwithoutmuchuneasiness,andreturnedhome,pleasedthatthepartyhadnotbeenpreventedbyherrefusingtojoinit,andveryheartilywishingthatitmightbetoopleasanttoalloweitherJamesorIsabellatoresentherresistanceanylonger.
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