English
Catherine’sexpectationsofpleasurefromhervisitinMilsomStreetweresoveryhighthatdisappointmentwasinevitable;andaccordingly,thoughshewasmostpolitelyreceivedbyGeneralTilney,andkindlywelcomedbyhisdaughter,thoughHenrywasathome,andnooneelseoftheparty,shefound,onherreturn,withoutspendingmanyhoursintheexaminationofherfeelings,thatshehadgonetoherappointmentpreparingforhappinesswhichithadnotafforded.
InsteadoffindingherselfimprovedinacquaintancewithMissTilney,fromtheintercourseoftheday,sheseemedhardlysointimatewithherasbefore;insteadofseeingHenryTilneytogreateradvantagethanever,intheeaseofafamilyparty,hehadneversaidsolittle,norbeensolittleagreeable;and,inspiteoftheirfather’sgreatcivilitiestoher—inspiteofhisthanks,invitations,andcompliments—ithadbeenareleasetogetawayfromhim.
Itpuzzledhertoaccountforallthis.ItcouldnotbeGeneralTilney’sfault.
Thathewasperfectlyagreeableandgood–natured,andaltogetheraverycharmingman,didnotadmitofadoubt,forhewastallandhandsome,andHenry’sfather.
Hecouldnotbeaccountableforhischildren’swantofspirits,orforherwantofenjoymentinhiscompany.
Theformershehopedatlastmighthavebeenaccidental,andthelattershecouldonlyattributetoherownstupidity.
Isabella,onhearingtheparticularsofthevisit,gaveadifferentexplanation:“Itwasallpride,pride,insufferablehaughtinessandpride!
Shehadlongsuspectedthefamilytobeveryhigh,andthismadeitcertain.
SuchinsolenceofbehaviourasMissTilney’sshehadneverheardofinherlife!
Nottodothehonoursofherhousewithcommongoodbreeding!
Tobehavetoherguestwithsuchsuperciliousness!Hardlyeventospeaktoher!”
“Butitwasnotsobadasthat,Isabella;therewasnosuperciliousness;shewasverycivil.”
“Oh!Don’tdefendher!
Andthenthebrother,he,whohadappearedsoattachedtoyou!Goodheavens!
Well,somepeople’sfeelingsareincomprehensible.
Andsohehardlylookedonceatyouthewholeday?”
“Idonotsayso;buthedidnotseemingoodspirits.”
“Howcontemptible!Ofallthingsintheworldinconstancyismyaversion.Letmeentreatyounevertothinkofhimagain,mydearCatherine;indeedheisunworthyofyou.”
“Unworthy!Idonotsupposeheeverthinksofme.”
“ThatisexactlywhatIsay;heneverthinksofyou.Suchfickleness!Oh!Howdifferenttoyourbrotherandtomine!IreallybelieveJohnhasthemostconstantheart.”
“ButasforGeneralTilney,Iassureyouitwouldbeimpossibleforanybodytobehavetomewithgreatercivilityandattention;itseemedtobehisonlycaretoentertainandmakemehappy.”
“Oh!Iknownoharmofhim;Idonotsuspecthimofpride.Ibelieveheisaverygentleman–likeman.Johnthinksverywellofhim,andJohn’sjudgment—”
“Well,Ishallseehowtheybehavetomethisevening;weshallmeetthemattherooms.”
“AndmustIgo?”
“Donotyouintendit?Ithoughtitwasallsettled.”
“Nay,sinceyoumakesuchapointofit,Icanrefuseyounothing.
Butdonotinsistuponmybeingveryagreeable,formyheart,youknow,willbesomefortymilesoff.
Andasfordancing,donotmentionit,Ibeg;thatisquiteoutofthequestion.
CharlesHodgeswillplaguemetodeath,Idaresay;butIshallcuthimveryshort.
Tentoonebutheguessesthereason,andthatisexactlywhatIwanttoavoid,soIshallinsistonhiskeepinghisconjecturetohimself.”
Isabella’sopinionoftheTilneysdidnotinfluenceherfriend;shewassuretherehadbeennoinsolenceinthemannerseitherofbrotherorsister;andshedidnotcredittherebeinganyprideintheirhearts.
Theeveningrewardedherconfidence;shewasmetbyonewiththesamekindness,andbytheotherwiththesameattention,asheretofore:MissTilneytookpainstobenearher,andHenryaskedhertodance.
HavingheardthedaybeforeinMilsomStreetthattheirelderbrother,CaptainTilney,wasexpectedalmosteveryhour,shewasatnolossforthenameofaveryfashionable–looking,handsomeyoungman,whomshehadneverseenbefore,andwhonowevidentlybelongedtotheirparty.
Shelookedathimwithgreatadmiration,andevensupposeditpossiblethatsomepeoplemightthinkhimhandsomerthanhisbrother,though,inhereyes,hisairwasmoreassuming,andhiscountenancelessprepossessing.
Histasteandmannerswerebeyondadoubtdecidedlyinferior;for,withinherhearing,henotonlyprotestedagainsteverythoughtofdancinghimself,butevenlaughedopenlyatHenryforfindingitpossible.
Fromthelattercircumstanceitmaybepresumedthat,whatevermightbeourheroine’sopinionofhim,hisadmirationofherwasnotofaverydangerouskind;notlikelytoproduceanimositiesbetweenthebrothers,norpersecutionstothelady.
Hecannotbetheinstigatorofthethreevillainsinhorsemen’sgreatcoats,bywhomshewillhereafterbeforcedintoatraveling–chaiseandfour,whichwilldriveoffwithincrediblespeed.
Catherine,meanwhile,undisturbedbypresentimentsofsuchanevil,orofanyevilatall,exceptthatofhavingbutashortsettodancedown,enjoyedherusualhappinesswithHenryTilney,listeningwithsparklingeyestoeverythinghesaid;and,infindinghimirresistible,becomingsoherself.
Attheendofthefirstdance,CaptainTilneycametowardsthemagain,and,muchtoCatherine’sdissatisfaction,pulledhisbrotheraway.
Theyretiredwhisperingtogether;and,thoughherdelicatesensibilitydidnottakeimmediatealarm,andlayitdownasfact,thatCaptainTilneymusthaveheardsomemalevolentmisrepresentationofher,whichhenowhastenedtocommunicatetohisbrother,inthehopeofseparatingthemforever,shecouldnothaveherpartnerconveyedfromhersightwithoutveryuneasysensations.
Hersuspensewasoffullfiveminutes’duration;andshewasbeginningtothinkitaverylongquarterofanhour,whentheybothreturned,andanexplanationwasgiven,byHenry’srequestingtoknowifshethoughtherfriend,MissThorpe,wouldhaveanyobjectiontodancing,ashisbrotherwouldbemosthappytobeintroducedtoher.
Catherine,withouthesitation,repliedthatshewasverysureMissThorpedidnotmeantodanceatall.
Thecruelreplywaspassedontotheother,andheimmediatelywalkedaway.
“Yourbrotherwillnotmindit,Iknow,”saidshe,“becauseIheardhimsaybeforethathehateddancing;butitwasverygood–naturedinhimtothinkofit.
IsupposehesawIsabellasittingdown,andfanciedshemightwishforapartner;butheisquitemistaken,forshewouldnotdanceuponanyaccountintheworld.”
Henrysmiled,andsaid,“Howverylittletroubleitcangiveyoutounderstandthemotiveofotherpeople’sactions.”
“Why?Whatdoyoumean?”
“Withyou,itisnot,Howissuchaonelikelytobeinfluenced,Whatistheinducementmostlikelytoactuponsuchaperson’sfeelings,age,situation,andprobablehabitsoflifeconsidered—but,HowshouldIbeinfluenced,Whatwouldbemyinducementinactingsoandso?”
“Idonotunderstandyou.”
“Thenweareonveryunequalterms,forIunderstandyouperfectlywell.”
“Me?Yes;Icannotspeakwellenoughtobeunintelligible.”
“Bravo!Anexcellentsatireonmodernlanguage.”
“Butpraytellmewhatyoumean.”
“ShallIindeed?Doyoureallydesireit?Butyouarenotawareoftheconsequences;itwillinvolveyouinaverycruelembarrassment,andcertainlybringonadisagreementbetweenus.
“No,no;itshallnotdoeither;Iamnotafraid.”
“Well,then,Ionlymeantthatyourattributingmybrother’swishofdancingwithMissThorpetogoodnaturealoneconvincedmeofyourbeingsuperioringoodnatureyourselftoalltherestoftheworld.”
Catherineblushedanddisclaimed,andthegentleman’spredictionswereverified.
Therewasasomething,however,inhiswordswhichrepaidherforthepainofconfusion;andthatsomethingoccupiedhermindsomuchthatshedrewbackforsometime,forgettingtospeakortolisten,andalmostforgettingwhereshewas;till,rousedbythevoiceofIsabella,shelookedupandsawherwithCaptainTilneypreparingtogivethemhandsacross.
Isabellashruggedhershouldersandsmiled,theonlyexplanationofthisextraordinarychangewhichcouldatthattimebegiven;butasitwasnotquiteenoughforCatherine’scomprehension,shespokeherastonishmentinveryplaintermstoherpartner.
“Icannotthinkhowitcouldhappen!Isabellawassodeterminednottodance.”
“AnddidIsabellaneverchangehermindbefore?”
“Oh!But,because—Andyourbrother!Afterwhatyoutoldhimfromme,howcouldhethinkofgoingtoaskher?”
“Icannottakesurprisetomyselfonthathead.
Youbidmebesurprisedonyourfriend’saccount,andthereforeIam;butasformybrother,hisconductinthebusiness,Imustown,hasbeennomorethanIbelievedhimperfectlyequalto.
Thefairnessofyourfriendwasanopenattraction;herfirmness,youknow,couldonlybeunderstoodbyyourself.”
“Youarelaughing;but,Iassureyou,Isabellaisveryfirmingeneral.”
“Itisasmuchasshouldbesaidofanyone.
Tobealwaysfirmmustbetobeoftenobstinate.
Whenproperlytorelaxisthetrialofjudgment;and,withoutreferencetomybrother,IreallythinkMissThorpehasbynomeanschosenillinfixingonthepresenthour.”
Thefriendswerenotabletogettogetherforanyconfidentialdiscoursetillallthedancingwasover;butthen,astheywalkedabouttheroomarminarm,Isabellathusexplainedherself:“Idonotwonderatyoursurprise;andIamreallyfatiguedtodeath.Heissucharattle!
Amusingenough,ifmymindhadbeendisengaged;butIwouldhavegiventheworldtositstill.”
“Thenwhydidnotyou?”
“Oh!Mydear!
Itwouldhavelookedsoparticular;andyouknowhowIabhordoingthat.
IrefusedhimaslongasIpossiblycould,buthewouldtakenodenial.Youhavenoideahowhepressedme.
Ibeggedhimtoexcuseme,andgetsomeotherpartner—butno,nothe;afteraspiringtomyhand,therewasnobodyelseintheroomhecouldbeartothinkof;anditwasnotthathewantedmerelytodance,hewantedtobewithme.Oh!Suchnonsense!
Itoldhimhehadtakenaveryunlikelywaytoprevailuponme;for,ofallthingsintheworld,Ihatedfinespeechesandcompliments;andso—andsothenIfoundtherewouldbenopeaceifIdidnotstandup.
Besides,IthoughtMrs.Hughes,whointroducedhim,mighttakeitillifIdidnot:andyourdearbrother,IamsurehewouldhavebeenmiserableifIhadsatdownthewholeevening.Iamsogladitisover!
Myspiritsarequitejadedwithlisteningtohisnonsense:andthen,beingsuchasmartyoungfellow,Isaweveryeyewasuponus.”
“Heisveryhandsomeindeed.”
“Handsome!Yes,Isupposehemay.
Idaresaypeoplewouldadmirehimingeneral;butheisnotatallinmystyleofbeauty.
Ihateafloridcomplexionanddarkeyesinaman.However,heisverywell.Amazinglyconceited,Iamsure.
Itookhimdownseveraltimes,youknow,inmyway.”
Whentheyoungladiesnextmet,theyhadafarmoreinterestingsubjecttodiscuss.
JamesMorland’ssecondletterwasthenreceived,andthekindintentionsofhisfatherfullyexplained.
Aliving,ofwhichMr.Morlandwashimselfpatronandincumbent,ofaboutfourhundredpoundsyearlyvalue,wastoberesignedtohissonassoonasheshouldbeoldenoughtotakeit;notriflingdeductionfromthefamilyincome,noniggardlyassignmenttooneoftenchildren.
Anestateofatleastequalvalue,moreover,wasassuredashisfutureinheritance.
Jamesexpressedhimselfontheoccasionwithbecominggratitude;andthenecessityofwaitingbetweentwoandthreeyearsbeforetheycouldmarry,being,howeverunwelcome,nomorethanhehadexpected,wasbornebyhimwithoutdiscontent.
Catherine,whoseexpectationshadbeenasunfixedasherideasofherfather’sincome,andwhosejudgmentwasnowentirelyledbyherbrother,feltequallywellsatisfied,andheartilycongratulatedIsabellaonhavingeverythingsopleasantlysettled.
“Itisverycharmingindeed,”saidIsabella,withagraveface.
“Mr.Morlandhasbehavedvastlyhandsomeindeed,”saidthegentleMrs.Thorpe,lookinganxiouslyatherdaughter.“IonlywishIcoulddoasmuch.
Onecouldnotexpectmorefromhim,youknow.
Ifhefindshecandomorebyandby,Idaresayhewill,forIamsurehemustbeanexcellentgood–heartedman.
Fourhundredisbutasmallincometobeginonindeed,butyourwishes,mydearIsabella,aresomoderate,youdonotconsiderhowlittleyoueverwant,mydear.”
“ItisnotonmyownaccountIwishformore;butIcannotbeartobethemeansofinjuringmydearMorland,makinghimsitdownuponanincomehardlyenoughtofindoneinthecommonnecessariesoflife.
Formyself,itisnothing;Ineverthinkofmyself.”
“Iknowyouneverdo,mydear;andyouwillalwaysfindyourrewardintheaffectionitmakeseverybodyfeelforyou.
Thereneverwasayoungwomansobelovedasyouarebyeverybodythatknowsyou;andIdaresaywhenMr.Morlandseesyou,mydearchild—butdonotletusdistressourdearCatherinebytalkingofsuchthings.
Mr.Morlandhasbehavedsoveryhandsome,youknow.
Ialwaysheardhewasamostexcellentman;andyouknow,mydear,wearenottosupposebutwhat,ifyouhadhadasuitablefortune,hewouldhavecomedownwithsomethingmore,forIamsurehemustbeamostliberal–mindedman.”
“NobodycanthinkbetterofMr.MorlandthanIdo,Iamsure.
Buteverybodyhastheirfailing,youknow,andeverybodyhasarighttodowhattheylikewiththeirownmoney.”
Catherinewashurtbytheseinsinuations.
“Iamverysure,”saidshe,“thatmyfatherhaspromisedtodoasmuchashecanafford.”
Isabellarecollectedherself.“Astothat,mysweetCatherine,therecannotbeadoubt,andyouknowmewellenoughtobesurethatamuchsmallerincomewouldsatisfyme.
Itisnotthewantofmoremoneythatmakesmejustatpresentalittleoutofspirits;Ihatemoney;andifourunioncouldtakeplacenowupononlyfiftypoundsayear,Ishouldnothaveawishunsatisfied.Ah!myCatherine,youhavefoundmeout.There’sthesting.
Thelong,long,endlesstwoyearsandhalfthataretopassbeforeyourbrothercanholdtheliving.”
“Yes,yes,mydarlingIsabella,”saidMrs.Thorpe,“weperfectlyseeintoyourheart.Youhavenodisguise.
Weperfectlyunderstandthepresentvexation;andeverybodymustloveyouthebetterforsuchanoblehonestaffection.”
Catherine’suncomfortablefeelingsbegantolessen.
SheendeavouredtobelievethatthedelayofthemarriagewastheonlysourceofIsabella’sregret;andwhenshesawherattheirnextinterviewascheerfulandamiableasever,endeavouredtoforgetthatshehadforaminutethoughtotherwise.
Jamessoonfollowedhisletter,andwasreceivedwiththemostgratifyingkindness.
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