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companions together； and described to her some famous
day's sport； with the fox…hounds； in which his foresight
and skill in directing the dogs had repaired the mistakes
of the most experienced huntsman； and in which the boldness
of his riding； though it had never endangered his own
life for a moment； had been constantly leading others
into difficulties； which he calmly concluded had broken
the necks of many。
Little as Catherine was in the habit of judging
for herself； and unfixed as were her general notions of what
men ought to be； she could not entirely repress a doubt；
while she bore with the effusions of his endless conceit；
of his being altogether completely agreeable。 It was a
bold surmise； for he was Isabella's brother； and she had
been assured by James that his manners would recommend him
to all her sex； but in spite of this； the extreme weariness
of his company； which crept over her before they had been
out an hour； and which continued unceasingly to increase
till they stopped in Pulteney Street again； induced her；
in some small degree； to resist such high authority；
and to distrust his powers of giving universal pleasure。
When they arrived at Mrs。 Allen's door； the astonishment
of Isabella was hardly to be expressed； on finding that it
was too late in the day for them to attend her friend into
the house： 〃Past three o'clock！〃 It was inconceivable；
incredible； impossible！ And she would neither believe her
own watch； nor her brother's； nor the servant's； she would
believe no assurance of it founded on reason or reality；
till Morland produced his watch； and ascertained the fact；
to have doubted a moment longer then would have been
equally inconceivable； incredible； and impossible；
and she could only protest； over and over again； that no
two hours and a half had ever gone off so swiftly before；
as Catherine was called on to confirm； Catherine could not
tell a falsehood even to please Isabella； but the latter
was spared the misery of her friend's dissenting voice；
by not waiting for her answer。 Her own feelings entirely
engrossed her； her wretchedness was most acute on finding
herself obliged to go directly home。 It was ages since she
had had a moment's conversation with her dearest Catherine；
and； though she had such thousands of things to say to her；
it appeared as if they were never to be together again；
so； with sniffles of most exquisite misery； and the laughing
eye of utter despondency； she bade her friend adieu and went on。
Catherine found Mrs。 Allen just returned from all
the busy idleness of the morning； and was immediately
greeted with； 〃Well； my dear； here you are；〃 a truth
which she had no greater inclination than power to dispute；
〃and I hope you have had a pleasant airing？〃
〃Yes； ma'am； I thank you； we could not have had
a nicer day。〃
〃So Mrs。 Thorpe said； she was vastly pleased
at your all going。〃
〃You have seen Mrs。 Thorpe； then？〃
〃Yes； I went to the pump…room as soon as you were gone；
and there I met her； and we had a great deal of talk together。
She says there was hardly any veal to be got at market
this morning； it is so uncommonly scarce。〃
〃Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance？〃
〃Yes； we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent；
and there we met Mrs。 Hughes； and Mr。 and Miss Tilney
walking with her。〃
〃Did you indeed？ And did they speak to you？〃
〃Yes； we walked along the Crescent together for half
an hour。 They seem very agreeable people。 Miss Tilney
was in a very pretty spotted muslin； and I fancy； by what I
can learn； that she always dresses very handsomely。
Mrs。 Hughes talked to me a great deal about the family。〃
〃And what did she tell you of them？〃
〃Oh！ A vast deal indeed； she hardly talked of anything else。〃
〃Did she tell you what part of Gloucestershire they
come from？〃
〃Yes； she did； but I cannot recollect now。 But they
are very good kind of people； and very rich。 Mrs。 Tilney was
a Miss Drummond； and she and Mrs。 Hughes were schoolfellows；
and Miss Drummond had a very large fortune； and； when she
married； her father gave her twenty thousand pounds；
and five hundred to buy wedding…clothes。 Mrs。 Hughes
saw all the clothes after they came from the warehouse。〃
〃And are Mr。 and Mrs。 Tilney in Bath？〃
〃Yes； I fancy they are； but I am not quite certain。
Upon recollection； however； I have a notion they are both dead；
at least the mother is； yes； I am sure Mrs。 Tilney is dead；
because Mrs。 Hughes told me there was a very beautiful
set of pearls that Mr。 Drummond gave his daughter on her
wedding…day and that Miss Tilney has got now； for they
were put by for her when her mother died。〃
〃And is Mr。 Tilney； my partner； the only son？〃
〃I cannot be quite positive about that； my dear；
I have some idea he is； but； however； he is a very fine
young man； Mrs。 Hughes says； and likely to do very well。〃
Catherine inquired no further； she had heard enough
to feel that Mrs。 Allen had no real intelligence to give；
and that she was most particularly unfortunate herself
in having missed such a meeting with both brother
and sister。 Could she have foreseen such a circumstance；
nothing should have persuaded her to go out with the others；
and； as it was； she could only lament her ill luck；
and think over what she had lost； till it was clear
to her that the drive had by no means been very pleasant
and that John Thorpe himself was quite disagreeable。
CHAPTER 10
The Allens； Thorpes； and Morlands all met in the
evening at the theatre； and； as Catherine and Isabella
sat together； there was then an opportunity for the
latter to utter some few of the many thousand things
which had been collecting within her for communication
in the immeasurable length of time which had divided them。
〃Oh； heavens！ My beloved Catherine； have I got you at last？〃
was her address on Catherine's entering the box and sitting
by her。 〃Now； Mr。 Morland；〃 for he was close to her on
the other side； 〃I shall not speak another word to you all
the rest of the evening； so I charge you not to expect it。
My sweetest Catherine； how have you been this long age？ But
I need not ask you； for you look delightfully。 You really
have done your hair in a more heavenl