Northanger Abbey

so early in the year, she allowed, would generally turn to rain, but a cloudy one foretold improvement as the day advanced. She applied to Mr. Allen for confirmation of her hopes, but

being a very fine day, if the clouds w

the windows caught Catherine's watchful eye, and "Oh! dear, I do

it would be," s

ine; "but perhaps it may come to noth

t then, my dear, it

not signify; I

d very placidly, "I kno

faster and faster!" said Catherine

it keeps raining, the s

up already. How I hate t

s to carry. I would much rat

ing morning! I felt so c

ning. I hope Mr. Allen will put on his greatcoat when he goes, but I dare say he will not, for he had rather d

ng on each return that, if it still kept on raining another five minutes, she would give up the matt

think it looks a little lighter. There, it is twenty minutes after twelve, and now I shall give it up entirely. Oh! That we had such weathe

se; she looked round; the clouds were parting, and she instantly returned to the window to watch over and encourage the happy appearance. Ten minutes more made it certain that a bright afternoon would succeed, and justif

f, and Catherine had barely watched him down the street when her notice was claimed by the approach of the

Mrs. Allen agreed to it. John Thorpe was soon with them, and his voice was with them yet sooner, for on the stairs he was calling out to Miss Morland to be quic

Catherine, is not this delightful? We shall have a most heavenly drive. You are to thank your brother and me for the scheme; it darted into our heads at breakfast-time, I verily believe at the same instant; and we should have been off two hours ago if it had not been for this detestable rain. But it does not sig

g able to do so m

imes more. Kingsweston! Aye, and Blaize Castle too, and anything e

cried Catherine

land-worth going fifty m

ally a castle,

st in the

like what o

-the ver

re there towers a

doze

to see it; but I c

ved creature, wh

Miss Tilney and her brother to call on me to take a country walk. They promised to come

turned into Broad Street, I saw them-does h

ot know

You are talking of the man you da

es

nt turn up the Lansdown Road,

you i

directly, and he seemed to have

pose they thought it would

. Walk! You could no more walk than you could fly! It has not

ine, you cannot form an idea of the dirt; co

y we go all over it? May we go up every

every hole

be gone out for an hour till it

eard Tilney hallooing to a man who was just passing by o

. Shall I go

ou please,

ry. Mrs. Allen was not inattentive to it: "Well, my dear," s

ly giving up their engagement, without sending her any message of excuse. It was now but an hour later than the time fixed on for the beginning of their walk; and, in spite of what she had heard of the prodigious accumulation of dirt in the course of that hour, she could not from her own observation help

she meditated, by turns, on broken promises and broken arches, phaetons and false hangings, Tilneys and trap-doors. As they entered Arg

? Wh

Place, and in another moment she was herself whisked into the marketplace. Still, however, and during the length of another street, she entreated him to stop. "Pray, pray stop, Mr. Thorpe. I cannot go on. I will not go on. I must go back to Miss Tilney." But Mr. Thorpe only laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd noises, and drove on; and Catherine, angry and vexed as she was, having no power of getting away, was obliged to give up the point and submit. Her reproaches, however, were not spared. "How could you deceive me so, Mr. Thorpe? How could you say

ply-the happiness of a progress through a long suite of lofty rooms, exhibiting the remains of magnificent furniture, though now for many years deserted-the happiness of being stopped in their way along narrow, winding vaults, by a low, grated door; or even of having their lamp, their only lamp, extinguished by a sudden gust of wind, and of being left in total darkness. In the meanwhile, they proceeded on their journey without any mischance, and were within view of the town of Keynsham, when a halloo from M

her angrily; and instantly turning his ho

y horse would have trotted to Clifton within the hour, if left to himself, and I have almost broke my arm with pull

erine warmly, "for I am su

annot he a

has not mo

se fault

led in money could not afford things, he did not know who could, which Catherine did not even endeavour to understand. Disappointed of what was to have been the consolation for her f

asked whether any message had been left for her; and on his saying no, had felt for a card, but said she had none about her, and went away. Pondering over these heart-rending tidings, Catherine walked slowly ups

Rooms was spoken more than once. "How I pity the poor creatures that are going there! How glad I am that I am not amongst them! I wonder whether it will be a full ball or not! They have not begun dancing yet. I would not be there for all the world. It is so delightful to have an evening now and then to oneself. I dare say it will n

ou will quite break my heart. It was amazingly shocking, to be sure; but the Tilneys were entirely to blame. Why were not they more punctual? It was dirty, indeed, but what did that signify? I am sure John and I should not have minded it. I never mind going through anythin

portion; to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears. And lucky may she think