Northanger Abbey

nd Isabella having gone through the usual ceremonial of meeting her friend with the most smiling and affectionate haste, of admiring the set of her gown, and envying the curl of her hair, they fo

rned again to his sister and whispered, "My dear creature, I am afraid I must leave you, your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin; I know you will not mind my going away, and I dare say John will be back in a moment, and then you may easily find me out." Catherine, though a little disappointed, had too much good nature to make any opposition, and the others rising up, Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and say, "Good-bye, my dear love," before they hurried off. The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing, Catherine was left to the mercy of Mrs. Thorpe and Mrs. Allen, between whom she now remained. She could not help being vexed at the non-appear

as ever, and was talking with interest to a fashionable and pleasing-looking young woman, who leant on his arm, and whom Catherine immediately guessed to be his sister; thus unthinkingly throwing away a fair opportunity of considering him lost to her forever, by being married already. But guided only by what was simple and probable, it had never entered her head that Mr. Tilney could be married; he had not behaved, he ha

therine, catching Mr. Tilney's eye, instantly received from him the smiling tribute of recognition. She returned it with pleasure, and then advancing still nearer, he spoke both to her and Mrs. Allen, by whom he was very civilly ackn

too. I tell Mr. Allen, when he talks of being sick of it, that I am sure he should not complain, for it is so very agreeable a place, t

will be obliged to like the place,

neighbour of ours, Dr. Skinner, was here for hi

ce must give gre

were here three months; so I tell Mr. All

e her more to her lot; nor did the particulars which he entered into while they were standing up, of the horses and dogs of the friend whom he had just left, and of a proposed exchange of terriers between them, interest her so much as to prevent her looking very often towards that part of the room where she had left Mr. Tilney. Of her dear Isabella, to whom she particularly longed to point out that gentleman, she could see nothing. They were in different sets. She was separated from all her party, and away from all her acquaintance; one mortification succeeded another, and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson, that to go previously engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity or enjoyment of a young lady. From such a moralizing strain

ion of every man near her, and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence. Catherine, interested at once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr. Tilney, was desirous of being acquainted with her, and readily talked therefore whenever she could think of anything to say, and had courage and leisure for saying it. But the h

n great spirits exclaimed, "At last I have got you. My dearest creature, I have been looking for you this hour. Wha

ssible for me to get at you? I c

in-he would not stir an inch. Was not it so, Mr. Morland? But you men are all so immoderately lazy! I have been scolding h

und her head," whispered Catherine, detaching he

ing half so beautiful! But where is her all-conquering brother? Is he in the room? Point him out to me th

is whispering about

osity! Talk of the curiosity of women, indeed! 'Tis nothing. But be

ely to satisfy m

hat we are talking of. Perhaps we are talking about you; therefore I would adv

mpatient desire to see Mr. Tilney. When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance, James would have led his fair partner away, but she resisted. "I tell you, Mr. Morland," she cried, "I would not do such a thing for all the world. How can you be so teasing; only

"in these public assemblies,

at anything. My sweet Catherine, do support me; persuade your brother how impossible it

you think it wrong, you

went, to regain their former place. John Thorpe, in the meanwhile, had walked away; and Catherine, ever willing to give Mr. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once, made her way to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe a

reeable,

ohn has charming sp

Tilney, my dear?

here i

ounging about, that he was resolved to go and dance; so

und; but she had not looked round long before

you," said Mrs. Allen; and after a short silenc

omplacently; "I must say it, though I am his mother, th

but it did not puzzle Mrs. Allen, for after only a moment's consideration, she sa

view; and this persuasion did not incline her to a very gracious reply, when John Thorpe came up to her so

wo dances are over; and, besides, I am t

and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in the room; my two younge

awn away from their party at tea, to attend that of his partner; Miss Tilney, though belonging to it, did not sit near her, and James and Isabella were s