Northanger Abbey

ay be stated, for the reader's more certain information, lest the following pages should otherwise fail of giving any idea of what her character is meant to be, that her heart was affectionate; her di

d uninformed as the female

of course flow from her wise lips in their parting conference in her closet. Cautions against the violence of such noblemen and baronets as delight in forcing young ladies away to some remote farm-house, must, at such a moment, relieve the fulness of her heart. Who would not think so? But Mrs. Morland knew so little of lords and baronets, that she entertained no notion of their gene

ise of transmitting the character of every new acquaintance, nor a detail of every interesting conversation that Bath might produce. Everything indeed relative to this important journey was done, on the part of the Morlands, with a degree of moderation and composure, which seemed rather consistent with the common feelings of common life

safety. Neither robbers nor tempests befriended them, nor one lucky overturn to introduce them to the hero. Nothing more alarming occur

, as they approached its fine and striking environs, and afterwards drove through those str

in comfortable lodgin

e the general distress of the work, and how she will, probably, contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate wretchedness of which a last vol

spect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public, being as fond of going everywhere and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be. Dress was her passion. She had a most harmless delight in being fine; and our heroine's entree into life could not take place till after three or four days had been spent in learning what was mostly worn, and her chaperone was provided with a dress of the newest fashion. Catherine too made some pu

he room was by no means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd; it seemed rather to increase as they went on, whereas she had imagined that when once fairly within the door, they should easily find seats and be able to watch the dances with perfect convenience. But this was far from being the case, and though by unwearied diligence they gained even the top of the room, their situation was just the same; they saw nothing of the dancers but the high feathers of some of the ladies. Still they moved on-something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage behind the highest bench. Here there was somethi

e faces possessed nothing to interest, and with all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the exchange of a syllable with any of her fellow captives; and when at last arrived in the tea-room, she felt yet more the awkwardness of having no party to join, no

jury. "It would have been very shocking to have it torn," said she, "would not it? It is such a del

ispered Catherine, "not to ha

len, with perfect serenity, "it

his table look as if they wondered why we came h

disagreeable. I wish we had

ny-it would be s

we would join them directly. The Skinners we

y as it is? Here are no t

etter sit still, for one gets so tumbled in such a crowd! How is my

n, are you sure there is nobody you know in all this

and then I should get you a partner. I should be so glad to have you dance. There goes a stra

this introduced a light conversation with the gentleman who offered it, which was the only time that anybody

he, directly, "I hope you h

he replied, vainly endeavo

saying how glad I should be if the Skinners were here this winter instead of last; or if the Parrys had com

her evening I hope," was

be noticed and admired. Every five minutes, by removing some of the crowd, gave greater openings for her charms. She was now seen by many young men who had not been near her before. Not one, however, started with rapturous wonder on beholding

ought the evening pleasanter than she had found it before-her humble vanity was contented-she felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple praise than a true-quality hero