Northanger Abbey

tended, where they paraded up and down for an hour, looking at everybody and speaking to no one. The wish of a numerous acquaintance in Bath

elf in high luck. There was little leisure for speaking while they danced; but when they were seated at tea, she found him as agreeable as she had already given him credit for being. He talked with fluency and spirit-and there was an archness and pleasantry in his manner which interested, though it was hardly understood by her. After chatting some time on such matters as naturally arose from the objects around them, he suddenly

ive yourself th

into a set smile, and affectedly softening his voice, he adde

replied Catherine,

th affected

you be sur

be raised by your reply, and surprise is more easily assumed, and not less r

er,

u yet honoured t

was there l

been to th

was at the pl

he co

r, on We

ltogether plea

ike it v

way her head, not knowing whether she might venture to laugh. "I see what you thin

jour

robe with blue trimmings-plain black shoes-appeared to much advantage; but was strangely harassed

hall say no

you what you

ou pl

a great deal of conversation with him-seems a most extraordinary geni

ps, I keep

down every evening in a journal? How are your various dresses to be remembered, and the particular state of your complexion, and curl of your hair to be described in all their diversities, without having constant recourse to a journal? My dear madam, I am not so ignorant of young ladies' ways as you wish to believe me; it is this de

er ladies do write so much better letters than gentlemen! That

ears to me that the usual style of letter-writing am

hat ar

total inattention to stops, and a

id of disclaiming the compliment. You do

men, than that they sing better duets, or draw better landscapes. In every power, of

in out of my sleeve; I am afraid it has torn a hole already; I shall be quite sorry

have guessed it, madam," said M

erstand mus

ften trusted me in the choice of a gown. I bought one for her the other day, and it was pronounced to be a pr

otice of those things," said she; "I can never get Mr. Allen to know one

I am,

t do you think of M

ely examining it; "but I do not think it

ine, laughing, "be so-" Sh

replied Mrs. Allen; "and so I tol

for a handkerchief, or a cap, or a cloak. Muslin can never be said to be wasted. I have heard my sister say so

s in Salisbury, but it is so far to go-eight miles is a long way; Mr. Allen says it is nine, measured nine; but I am sure it cannot be

eared, as she listened to their discourse, that he indulged himself a little too much with the foibles of others. "What are you thinking of so earnest

nd said, "I was not t

sure; but I had rather be told a

en, I wi

m authorized to tease you on this subject whenever we m

ber, or a morning doze at most; for if it be true, as a celebrated writer has maintained, that no young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared,* it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her. How proper Mr. Tilney might be as a d