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she immediately fell into a sound sleep which lasted
nine hours； and from which she awoke perfectly revived；
in excellent spirits； with fresh hopes and fresh schemes。
The first wish of her heart was to improve her acquaintance
with Miss Tilney； and almost her first resolution；
to seek her for that purpose； in the pump…room at noon。
In the pump…room； one so newly arrived in Bath must
be met with； and that building she had already found
so favourable for the discovery of female excellence；
and the completion of female intimacy； so admirably adapted
for secret discourses and unlimited confidence； that she
was most reasonably encouraged to expect another friend from
within its walls。 Her plan for the morning thus settled；
she sat quietly down to her book after breakfast；
resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment
till the clock struck one； and from habitude very little
incommoded by the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs。 Allen；
whose vacancy of mind and incapacity for thinking were such；
that as she never talked a great deal； so she could never be
entirely silent； and； therefore； while she sat at her work；
if she lost her needle or broke her thread； if she heard
a carriage in the street； or saw a speck upon her gown；
she must observe it aloud； whether there were anyone at
leisure to answer her or not。 At about half past twelve；
a remarkably loud rap drew her in haste to the window；
and scarcely had she time to inform Catherine of there
being two open carriages at the door； in the first only
a servant； her brother driving Miss Thorpe in the second；
before John Thorpe came running upstairs； calling out；
〃Well； Miss Morland； here I am。 Have you been waiting
long？ We could not come before； the old devil of a
coachmaker was such an eternity finding out a thing
fit to be got into； and now it is ten thousand to one
but they break down before we are out of the street。
How do you do； Mrs。 Allen？ A famous bag last night；
was not it？ Come； Miss Morland； be quick； for the others
are in a confounded hurry to be off。 They want to get their
tumble over。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said Catherine。 〃Where are you
all going to？〃 〃Going to？ Why； you have not forgot our
engagement！ Did not we agree together to take a drive this
morning？ What a head you have！ We are going up Claverton Down。〃
〃Something was said about it； I remember；〃
said Catherine； looking at Mrs。 Allen for her opinion；
〃but really I did not expect you。〃
〃Not expect me！ That's a good one！ And what a dust
you would have made； if I had not come。〃
Catherine's silent appeal to her friend； meanwhile；
was entirely thrown away； for Mrs。 Allen； not being at all
in the habit of conveying any expression herself by a look；
was not aware of its being ever intended by anybody else；
and Catherine； whose desire of seeing Miss Tilney again could
at that moment bear a short delay in favour of a drive；
and who thought there could be no impropriety in her going
with Mr。 Thorpe； as Isabella was going at the same time
with James； was therefore obliged to speak plainer。
〃Well； ma'am； what do you say to it？ Can you spare me
for an hour or two？ Shall I go？〃
〃Do just as you please； my dear；〃 replied Mrs。 Allen；
with the most placid indifference。 Catherine took
the advice； and ran off to get ready。 In a very few minutes
she reappeared； having scarcely allowed the two others time
enough to get through a few short sentences in her praise；
after Thorpe had procured Mrs。 Allen's admiration of his gig；
and then receiving her friend's parting good wishes；
they both hurried downstairs。 〃My dearest creature；〃
cried Isabella； to whom the duty of friendship immediately
called her before she could get into the carriage；
〃you have been at least three hours getting ready。
I was afraid you were ill。 What a delightful ball we
had last night。 I have a thousand things to say to you；
but make haste and get in； for I long to be off。〃
Catherine followed her orders and turned away；
but not too soon to hear her friend exclaim aloud to James；
〃What a sweet girl she is！ I quite dote on her。〃
〃You will not be frightened； Miss Morland；〃 said Thorpe；
as he handed her in； 〃if my horse should dance about
a little at first setting off。 He will； most likely；
give a plunge or two； and perhaps take the rest for a minute；
but he will soon know his master。 He is full of spirits；
playful as can be； but there is no vice in him。〃
Catherine did not think the portrait a very inviting one；
but it was too late to retreat； and she was too young to own
herself frightened； so； resigning herself to her fate；
and trusting to the animal's boasted knowledge of its owner；
she sat peaceably down； and saw Thorpe sit down by her。
Everything being then arranged； the servant who stood at the
horse's head was bid in an important voice 〃to let him go；〃
and off they went in the quietest manner imaginable；
without a plunge or a caper； or anything like one。
Catherine； delighted at so happy an escape； spoke her
pleasure aloud with grateful surprise； and her companion
immediately made the matter perfectly simple by assuring
her that it was entirely owing to the peculiarly judicious
manner in which he had then held the reins； and the singular
discernment and dexterity with which he had directed
his whip。 Catherine； though she could not help wondering
that with such perfect command of his horse； he should think
it necessary to alarm her with a relation of its tricks；
congratulated herself sincerely on being under the care
of so excellent a coachman； and perceiving that the animal
continued to go on in the same quiet manner； without showing
the smallest propensity towards any unpleasant vivacity；
and （considering its inevitable pace was ten miles an hour）
by no means alarmingly fast； gave herself up to all the
enjoyment of air and exercise of the most invigorating kind；
in a fine mild day of February； with the consciousness
of safety。 A silence of several minutes succeeded their
first short dialogue； it was broken by Thorpe's saying
very abruptly； 〃Old Allen is as rich as a Jewis not he？〃
Catherine did not understand himand he repeated his question；
adding in explanation； 〃Old Allen； the man you are with。〃
〃Oh！ Mr。 Allen； you mean。 Yes； I believe； he is
very rich。〃
〃And no children at all？〃
〃Nonot any。〃