English
Earlythenextday,anotefromIsabella,speakingpeaceandtendernessineveryline,andentreatingtheimmediatepresenceofherfriendonamatteroftheutmostimportance,hastenedCatherine,inthehappieststateofconfidenceandcuriosity,toEdgar’sBuildings.
ThetwoyoungestMissThorpeswerebythemselvesintheparlour;and,onAnne’squittingittocallhersister,Catherinetooktheopportunityofaskingtheotherforsomeparticularsoftheiryesterday’sparty.
Mariadesirednogreaterpleasurethantospeakofit;andCatherineimmediatelylearntthatithadbeenaltogetherthemostdelightfulschemeintheworld,thatnobodycouldimaginehowcharmingithadbeen,andthatithadbeenmoredelightfulthananybodycouldconceive.
Suchwastheinformationofthefirstfiveminutes;thesecondunfoldedthusmuchindetail—thattheyhaddrivendirectlytotheYorkHotel,atesomesoup,andbespokeanearlydinner,walkeddowntothepump–room,tastedthewater,andlaidoutsomeshillingsinpursesandspars;thenceadjoinedtoeaticeatapastry–cook’s,andhurryingbacktothehotel,swallowedtheirdinnerinhaste,topreventbeinginthedark;andthenhadadelightfuldriveback,onlythemoonwasnotup,anditrainedalittle,andMr.Morland’shorsewassotiredhecouldhardlygetitalong.
Catherinelistenedwithheartfeltsatisfaction.
ItappearedthatBlaizeCastlehadneverbeenthoughtof;and,asforalltherest,therewasnothingtoregretforhalfaninstant.
Maria’sintelligenceconcludedwithatendereffusionofpityforhersisterAnne,whomsherepresentedasinsupportablycross,frombeingexcludedtheparty.
“Shewillneverforgiveme,Iamsure;but,youknow,howcouldIhelpit?
Johnwouldhavemego,forhevowedhewouldnotdriveher,becauseshehadsuchthickankles.
Idaresayshewillnotbeingoodhumouragainthismonth;butIamdeterminedIwillnotbecross;itisnotalittlematterthatputsmeoutoftemper.”
Isabellanowenteredtheroomwithsoeagerastep,andalookofsuchhappyimportance,asengagedallherfriend’snotice.
Mariawaswithoutceremonysentaway,andIsabella,embracingCatherine,thusbegan:“Yes,mydearCatherine,itissoindeed;yourpenetrationhasnotdeceivedyou.Oh!Thatarcheyeofyours!Itseesthrougheverything.”
Catherinerepliedonlybyalookofwonderingignorance.
“Nay,mybeloved,sweetestfriend,”continuedtheother,“composeyourself.
Iamamazinglyagitated,asyouperceive.Letussitdownandtalkincomfort.
Well,andsoyouguesseditthemomentyouhadmynote?Slycreature!Oh!
MydearCatherine,youalone,whoknowmyheart,canjudgeofmypresenthappiness.
Yourbrotheristhemostcharmingofmen.IonlywishIweremoreworthyofhim.
Butwhatwillyourexcellentfatherandmothersay?Oh!Heavens!WhenIthinkofthemIamsoagitated!”
Catherine’sunderstandingbegantoawake:anideaofthetruthsuddenlydartedintohermind;and,withthenaturalblushofsonewanemotion,shecriedout,“Goodheaven!MydearIsabella,whatdoyoumean?
Canyou—canyoureallybeinlovewithJames?”
Thisboldsurmise,however,shesoonlearntcomprehendedbuthalfthefact.
Theanxiousaffection,whichshewasaccusedofhavingcontinuallywatchedinIsabella’severylookandaction,had,inthecourseoftheiryesterday’sparty,receivedthedelightfulconfessionofanequallove.
HerheartandfaithwerealikeengagedtoJames.
NeverhadCatherinelistenedtoanythingsofullofinterest,wonder,andjoy.Herbrotherandherfriendengaged!
Newtosuchcircumstances,theimportanceofitappearedunspeakablygreat,andshecontemplateditasoneofthosegrandevents,ofwhichtheordinarycourseoflifecanhardlyaffordareturn.
Thestrengthofherfeelingsshecouldnotexpress;thenatureofthem,however,contentedherfriend.
Thehappinessofhavingsuchasisterwastheirfirsteffusion,andthefairladiesmingledinembracesandtearsofjoy.
Delighting,however,asCatherinesincerelydidintheprospectoftheconnection,itmustbeacknowledgedthatIsabellafarsurpassedherintenderanticipations.
“Youwillbesoinfinitelydearertome,myCatherine,thaneitherAnneorMaria:IfeelthatIshallbesomuchmoreattachedtomydearMorland’sfamilythantomyown.”
ThiswasapitchoffriendshipbeyondCatherine.
“Youaresolikeyourdearbrother,”continuedIsabella,“thatIquitedotedonyouthefirstmomentIsawyou.
Butsoitalwaysiswithme;thefirstmomentsettleseverything.
TheveryfirstdaythatMorlandcametouslastChristmas—theveryfirstmomentIbeheldhim—myheartwasirrecoverablygone.
IrememberIworemyyellowgown,withmyhairdoneupinbraids;andwhenIcameintothedrawing–room,andJohnintroducedhim,IthoughtIneversawanybodysohandsomebefore.”
HereCatherinesecretlyacknowledgedthepoweroflove;for,thoughexceedinglyfondofherbrother,andpartialtoallhisendowments,shehadneverinherlifethoughthimhandsome.
“Iremembertoo,MissAndrewsdrankteawithusthatevening,andworeherpuce–colouredsarsenet;andshelookedsoheavenlythatIthoughtyourbrothermustcertainlyfallinlovewithher;Icouldnotsleepawinkallrightforthinkingofit.Oh!
Catherine,themanysleeplessnightsIhavehadonyourbrother’saccount!
IwouldnothaveyousufferhalfwhatIhavedone!
Iamgrownwretchedlythin,Iknow;butIwillnotpainyoubydescribingmyanxiety;youhaveseenenoughofit.
IfeelthatIhavebetrayedmyselfperpetually—sounguardedinspeakingofmypartialityforthechurch!
ButmysecretIwasalwayssurewouldbesafewithyou.”
Catherinefeltthatnothingcouldhavebeensafer;butashamedofanignorancelittleexpected,shedarednolongercontestthepoint,norrefusetohavebeenasfullofarchpenetrationandaffectionatesympathyasIsabellachosetoconsiderher.
Herbrother,shefound,waspreparingtosetoffwithallspeedtoFullerton,tomakeknownhissituationandaskconsent;andherewasasourceofsomerealagitationtothemindofIsabella.
Catherineendeavouredtopersuadeher,asshewasherselfpersuaded,thatherfatherandmotherwouldneveropposetheirson’swishes.
“Itisimpossible,”saidshe,“forparentstobemorekind,ormoredesirousoftheirchildren’shappiness;Ihavenodoubtoftheirconsentingimmediately.”
“Morlandsaysexactlythesame,”repliedIsabella;“andyetIdarenotexpectit;myfortunewillbesosmall;theynevercanconsenttoit.Yourbrother,whomightmarryanybody!”
HereCatherineagaindiscernedtheforceoflove.
“Indeed,Isabella,youaretoohumble.Thedifferenceoffortunecanbenothingtosignify.”
“Oh!MysweetCatherine,inyourgenerousheartIknowitwouldsignifynothing;butwemustnotexpectsuchdisinterestednessinmany.
Asformyself,IamsureIonlywishoursituationswerereversed.
HadIthecommandofmillions,wereImistressofthewholeworld,yourbrotherwouldbemyonlychoice.”
Thischarmingsentiment,recommendedasmuchbysenseasnovelty,gaveCatherineamostpleasingremembranceofalltheheroinesofheracquaintance;andshethoughtherfriendneverlookedmorelovelythaninutteringthegrandidea.
“Iamsuretheywillconsent,”washerfrequentdeclaration;“Iamsuretheywillbedelightedwithyou.”
“Formyownpart,”saidIsabella,“mywishesaresomoderatethatthesmallestincomeinnaturewouldbeenoughforme.
Wherepeoplearereallyattached,povertyitselfiswealth;grandeurIdetest:IwouldnotsettleinLondonfortheuniverse.
Acottageinsomeretiredvillagewouldbeecstasy.
TherearesomecharminglittlevillasaboutRichmond.”
“Richmond!”criedCatherine.“YoumustsettlenearFullerton.Youmustbenearus.”
“IamsureIshallbemiserableifwedonot.
IfIcanbutbenearyou,Ishallbesatisfied.Butthisisidletalking!
Iwillnotallowmyselftothinkofsuchthings,tillwehaveyourfather’sanswer.
MorlandsaysthatbysendingittonighttoSalisbury,wemayhaveittomorrow.Tomorrow?
IknowIshallneverhavecouragetoopentheletter.Iknowitwillbethedeathofme.”
Areveriesucceededthisconviction—andwhenIsabellaspokeagain,itwastoresolveonthequalityofherwedding–gown.
Theirconferencewasputanendtobytheanxiousyoungloverhimself,whocametobreathehispartingsighbeforehesetoffforWiltshire.
Catherinewishedtocongratulatehim,butknewnotwhattosay,andhereloquencewasonlyinhereyes.
Fromthem,however,theeightpartsofspeechshoneoutmostexpressively,andJamescouldcombinethemwithease.
Impatientfortherealizationofallthathehopedathome,hisadieuswerenotlong;andtheywouldhavebeenyetshorter,hadhenotbeenfrequentlydetainedbytheurgententreatiesofhisfaironethathewouldgo.
Twicewashecalledalmostfromthedoorbyhereagernesstohavehimgone.
“Indeed,Morland,Imustdriveyouaway.Considerhowfaryouhavetoride.Icannotbeartoseeyoulingerso.Forheaven’ssake,wastenomoretime.There,go,go—Iinsistonit.”
Thetwofriends,withheartsnowmoreunitedthanever,wereinseparablefortheday;andinschemesofsisterlyhappinessthehoursflewalong.
Mrs.Thorpeandherson,whowereacquaintedwitheverything,andwhoseemedonlytowantMr.Morland’sconsent,toconsiderIsabella’sengagementasthemostfortunatecircumstanceimaginablefortheirfamily,wereallowedtojointheircounsels,andaddtheirquotaofsignificantlooksandmysteriousexpressionstofillupthemeasureofcuriositytoberaisedintheunprivilegedyoungersisters.
ToCatherine’ssimplefeelings,thisoddsortofreserveseemedneitherkindlymeant,norconsistentlysupported;anditsunkindnessshewouldhardlyhaveforbornepointingout,haditsinconsistencybeenlesstheirfriend;butAnneandMariasoonsetherheartateasebythesagacityoftheir“Iknowwhat”;andtheeveningwasspentinasortofwarofwit,adisplayoffamilyingenuity,ononesideinthemysteryofanaffectedsecret,ontheotherofundefineddiscovery,allequallyacute.
Catherinewaswithherfriendagainthenextday,endeavouringtosupportherspiritsandwhileawaythemanytedioushoursbeforethedeliveryoftheletters;aneedfulexertion,forasthetimeofreasonableexpectationdrewnear,Isabellabecamemoreandmoredesponding,andbeforetheletterarrived,hadworkedherselfintoastateofrealdistress.
Butwhenitdidcome,wherecoulddistressbefound?
“Ihavehadnodifficultyingainingtheconsentofmykindparents,andampromisedthateverythingintheirpowershallbedonetoforwardmyhappiness,”werethefirstthreelines,andinonemomentallwasjoyfulsecurity.
ThebrightestglowwasinstantlyspreadoverIsabella’sfeatures,allcareandanxietyseemedremoved,herspiritsbecamealmosttoohighforcontrol,andshecalledherselfwithoutscruplethehappiestofmortals.
Mrs.Thorpe,withtearsofjoy,embracedherdaughter,herson,hervisitor,andcouldhaveembracedhalftheinhabitantsofBathwithsatisfaction.
Herheartwasoverflowingwithtenderness.
Itwas“dearJohn”and“dearCatherine”ateveryword;“dearAnneanddearMaria”mustimmediatelybemadesharersintheirfelicity;andtwo“dears”atoncebeforethenameofIsabellawerenotmorethanthatbelovedchildhadnowwellearned.Johnhimselfwasnoskulkerinjoy.
HenotonlybestowedonMr.Morlandthehighcommendationofbeingoneofthefinestfellowsintheworld,butsworeoffmanysentencesinhispraise.
Theletter,whencesprangallthisfelicity,wasshort,containinglittlemorethanthisassuranceofsuccess;andeveryparticularwasdeferredtillJamescouldwriteagain.
ButforparticularsIsabellacouldwellaffordtowait.
TheneedfulwascomprisedinMr.Morland’spromise;hishonourwaspledgedtomakeeverythingeasy;andbywhatmeanstheirincomewastobeformed,whetherlandedpropertyweretoberesigned,orfundedmoneymadeover,wasamatterinwhichherdisinterestedspirittooknoconcern.
Sheknewenoughtofeelsecureofanhonourableandspeedyestablishment,andherimaginationtookarapidflightoveritsattendantfelicities.
Shesawherselfattheendofafewweeks,thegazeandadmirationofeverynewacquaintanceatFullerton,theenvyofeveryvaluedoldfriendinPutney,withacarriageathercommand,anewnameonhertickets,andabrilliantexhibitionofhoopringsonherfinger.
Whenthecontentsoftheletterwereascertained,JohnThorpe,whohadonlywaiteditsarrivaltobeginhisjourneytoLondon,preparedtosetoff.
“Well,MissMorland,”saidhe,onfindingheraloneintheparlour,“Iamcometobidyougood–bye.”Catherinewishedhimagoodjourney.
Withoutappearingtohearher,hewalkedtothewindow,fidgetedabout,hummedatune,andseemedwhollyself–occupied.
“ShallnotyoubelateatDevizes?”saidCatherine.
Hemadenoanswer;butafteraminute’ssilenceburstoutwith,“Afamousgoodthingthismarryingscheme,uponmysoul!
AcleverfancyofMorland’sandBelle’s.Whatdoyouthinkofit,MissMorland?Isayitisnobadnotion.”
“IamsureIthinkitaverygoodone.”
“Doyou?That’shonest,byheavens!
Iamgladyouarenoenemytomatrimony,however.
Didyoueverheartheoldsong‘GoingtoOneWeddingBringsonAnother?’
Isay,youwillcometoBelle’swedding,Ihope.”
“Yes;Ihavepromisedyoursistertobewithher,ifpossible.”
“Andthenyouknow”—twistinghimselfaboutandforcingafoolishlaugh—“Isay,thenyouknow,wemaytrythetruthofthissameoldsong.”
“Maywe?ButIneversing.Well,Iwishyouagoodjourney.IdinewithMissTilneytoday,andmustnowbegoinghome.”
“Nay,butthereisnosuchconfoundedhurry.Whoknowswhenwemaybetogetheragain?NotbutthatIshallbedownagainbytheendofafortnight,andadevilishlongfortnightitwillappeartome.”
“Thenwhydoyoustayawaysolong?”repliedCatherine—findingthathewaitedforananswer.
“Thatiskindofyou,however—kindandgood–natured.Ishallnotforgetitinahurry.
Butyouhavemoregoodnatureandallthat,thananybodyliving,Ibelieve.
Amonstrousdealofgoodnature,anditisnotonlygoodnature,butyouhavesomuch,somuchofeverything;andthenyouhavesuch—uponmysoul,Idonotknowanybodylikeyou.”
“Oh!dear,thereareagreatmanypeoplelikeme,Idaresay,onlyagreatdealbetter.Goodmorningtoyou.”
“ButIsay,MissMorland,IshallcomeandpaymyrespectsatFullertonbeforeitislong,ifnotdisagreeable.”
“Praydo.Myfatherandmotherwillbeverygladtoseeyou.”
“AndIhope—Ihope,MissMorland,youwillnotbesorrytoseeme.”
“Oh!dear,notatall.ThereareveryfewpeopleIamsorrytosee.Companyisalwayscheerful.”
“Thatisjustmywayofthinking.Givemebutalittlecheerfulcompany,letmeonlyhavethecompanyofthepeopleIlove,letmeonlybewhereIlikeandwithwhomIlike,andthedeviltaketherest,sayI.AndIamheartilygladtohearyousaythesame.
ButIhaveanotion,MissMorland,youandIthinkprettymuchalikeuponmostmatters.”
“Perhapswemay;butitismorethanIeverthoughtof.Andastomostmatters,tosaythetruth,therearenotmanythatIknowmyownmindabout.”
“ByJove,nomoredoI.Itisnotmywaytobothermybrainswithwhatdoesnotconcernme.Mynotionofthingsissimpleenough.
LetmeonlyhavethegirlIlike,sayI,withacomfortablehouseovermyhead,andwhatcareIforalltherest?Fortuneisnothing.
Iamsureofagoodincomeofmyown;andifshehadnotapenny,why,somuchthebetter.”
“Verytrue.Ithinklikeyouthere.
Ifthereisagoodfortuneononeside,therecanbenooccasionforanyontheother.
Nomatterwhichhasit,sothatthereisenough.
Ihatetheideaofonegreatfortunelookingoutforanother.
AndtomarryformoneyIthinkthewickedestthinginexistence.Goodday.
WeshallbeverygladtoseeyouatFullerton,wheneveritisconvenient.”Andawayshewent.
Itwasnotinthepowerofallhisgallantrytodetainherlonger.
Withsuchnewstocommunicate,andsuchavisittopreparefor,herdeparturewasnottobedelayedbyanythinginhisnaturetourge;andshehurriedaway,leavinghimtotheundividedconsciousnessofhisownhappyaddress,andherexplicitencouragement.
Theagitationwhichshehadherselfexperiencedonfirstlearningherbrother’sengagementmadeherexpecttoraisenoinconsiderableemotioninMr.andMrs.Allen,bythecommunicationofthewonderfulevent.Howgreatwasherdisappointment!
Theimportantaffair,whichmanywordsofpreparationusheredin,hadbeenforeseenbythembotheversinceherbrother’sarrival;andallthattheyfeltontheoccasionwascomprehendedinawishfortheyoungpeople’shappiness,witharemark,onthegentleman’sside,infavourofIsabella’sbeauty,andonthelady’s,ofhergreatgoodluck.
ItwastoCatherinethemostsurprisinginsensibility.
Thedisclosure,however,ofthegreatsecretofJames’sgoingtoFullertonthedaybefore,didraisesomeemotioninMrs.Allen.
Shecouldnotlistentothatwithperfectcalmness,butrepeatedlyregrettedthenecessityofitsconcealment,wishedshecouldhaveknownhisintention,wishedshecouldhaveseenhimbeforehewent,assheshouldcertainlyhavetroubledhimwithherbestregardstohisfatherandmother,andherkindcomplimentstoalltheSkinners.
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