Northanger Abbey

e pump-yard to the archway, opposite Un

f pastry, millinery, or even (as in the present case) of young men, are not detained on one side or other by carriages, horsemen, or carts. This evil had been felt and lamented, at least three times a day, by Isabella since her residence in Bath; and she was now fated to feel and lament it once more, for at the very moment of coming opposite to Union Pass

." But this detestation, though so just, was of short duration, for sh

s eyes, the horse was immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on his haunches, and t

l satisfaction, which he could have leisure to do, while the bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly challenging his notice; and to her his devoirs were speedily paid, with a mixture of joy and embarrassment which

, on her he bestowed a whole scrape and half a short bow. He was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, an

." Her brother told her tha

garded them all; he had a surer test of distance. "I know it must be five and twenty," said he, "by the time we have been doing it. It is now half after one; we drove out of the

Morland; "it was only ten o'cl

look at my horse; did you ever see an animal so made for speed in your life?" (The servant had just mounted the carriage and was driving off.) "

k very hot,

d it a month. It was built for a Christchurch man, a friend of mine, a very good sort of fellow; he ran it a few weeks, till, I believe, it was convenient to have done with it. I happened just then to be looking out for some light thing of the kind, though I had pretty well determined on a curricle too; but I chan

I cannot gu

ding, all you see complete; the iron-work as good as new, or better. He asked fifty g

ow so little of such things that I can

got it for less, I dare say; but I hate

tured of you," said Ca

eans of doing a kind thing by a

mes and Isabella led the way; and so well satisfied was the latter with her lot, so contentedly was she endeavouring to ensure a pleasant walk to him who brought the double recommendation of being her brother's friend, and her friend's

ig. "You will find, however, Miss Morland, it would be reckoned a cheap thing by some people, for I might have sol

heard this; "but you forget t

ll my horse for a hundred. Are you fo

n opportunity of being in one; b

will drive you out

me distress, from a doubt of the p

ou up Lansdown

will not your

g ruins horses so much as rest; nothing knocks them up so soon. No, no; I

herine very seriously. "That

e. Well, I will drive you up Lansd

round. "My dearest Catherine, I quite envy you; but I a

h to drive my sisters about; that would be a g

praise or condemnation on the face of every woman they met; and Catherine, after listening and agreeing as long as she could, with all the civility and deference of the youthful female mind, fearful of hazarding an opinion of its own in oppos

; I never read novels; I

ls are all so full of nonsense and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since Tom Jones,

pho, if you were to read it

. Radcliffe's; her novels are amusing enough; the

e," said Catherine, with some hesitat

ng of that other stupid book, written by that woman they m

e you mea

nd looked it over, but I soon found it would not do; indeed I guessed what sort of stuff it must be before I

never

can imagine; there is nothing in the world in it but an old man's

om above, in the passage. "Ah, Mother! How do you do?" said he, giving her a hearty shake of the hand. "Where did you get that quiz of a hat? It makes you look like an old witch. Here is Morland and I come to stay a few days with you, so you must look out for a couple of good beds somewhere near." And this addr

or vainer, such attacks might have done little; but, where youth and diffidence are united, it requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl in the world, and of being so very early engaged as a partner; and the consequence was that, when the two Morlands, after sitting an hour with the Thorpes,

of a rattle; but that will recommend him to your sex,

indeed: Isabell

so thoroughly unaffected and amiable; I always wanted you to know her; and she seems very fond of you. She said the highest things in your pra

elighted to find that you like her too. You hardly mentioned

n Bath. She is a most amiable girl; such a superior understanding! How fond all the family are of her; sh

ancy; Mr. Allen thinks her

ot ask you whether you are happy here, my dear Catherine; with such a companion and friend as Isabella

you are come it will be more delightful than ever; how

his conscience for accepting it too, by saying with pe

ine with them, and summoned by the latter to guess the price and weigh the merits of a new muff and tippet. A pre-engagement in Edgar's Buildings prevented his accepting the invitation of one friend, and obliged him to hurry away as soon as he had satisfied the demands of the other. The time of the two parties uniting in the Octagon Room being correctly adjusted, Catherin