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I need not ask you； for you look delightfully。 You really
have done your hair in a more heavenly style than ever；
you mischievous creature； do you want to attract everybody？
I assure you； my brother is quite in love with you already；
and as for Mr。 Tilneybut that is a settled thingeven
your modesty cannot doubt his attachment now； his coming
back to Bath makes it too plain。 Oh！ What would not I
give to see him！ I really am quite wild with impatience。
My mother says he is the most delightful young man in
the world； she saw him this morning； you know； you must
introduce him to me。 Is he in the house now？ Look about；
for heaven's sake！ I assure you； I can hardly exist till I
see him。〃
〃No；〃 said Catherine； 〃he is not here； I cannot see
him anywhere。〃
〃Oh； horrid！ Am I never to be acquainted with him？
How do you like my gown？ I think it does not look amiss；
the sleeves were entirely my own thought。 Do you know；
I get so immoderately sick of Bath； your brother and I
were agreeing this morning that； though it is vastly
well to be here for a few weeks； we would not live
here for millions。 We soon found out that our tastes
were exactly alike in preferring the country to every
other place； really； our opinions were so exactly the same；
it was quite ridiculous！ There was not a single point in
which we differed； I would not have had you by for the world；
you are such a sly thing； I am sure you would have made
some droll remark or other about it。〃
〃No； indeed I should not。〃
〃Oh； yes you would indeed； I know you better than you
know yourself。 You would have told us that we seemed
born for each other； or some nonsense of that kind；
which would have distressed me beyond conception；
my cheeks would have been as red as your roses； I would
not have had you by for the world。〃
〃Indeed you do me injustice； I would not have made
so improper a remark upon any account； and besides；
I am sure it would never have entered my head。〃
Isabella smiled incredulously and talked the rest
of the evening to James。
Catherine's resolution of endeavouring to meet Miss
Tilney again continued in full force the next morning；
and till the usual moment of going to the pump…room； she
felt some alarm from the dread of a second prevention。
But nothing of that kind occurred； no visitors appeared
to delay them； and they all three set off in good time
for the pump…room； where the ordinary course of events
and conversation took place； Mr。 Allen； after drinking
his glass of water； joined some gentlemen to talk over
the politics of the day and compare the accounts of
their newspapers； and the ladies walked about together；
noticing every new face； and almost every new bonnet
in the room。 The female part of the Thorpe family；
attended by James Morland； appeared among the crowd in less
than a quarter of an hour； and Catherine immediately took
her usual place by the side of her friend。 James； who was
now in constant attendance； maintained a similar position；
and separating themselves from the rest of their party；
they walked in that manner for some time； till Catherine
began to doubt the happiness of a situation which；
confining her entirely to her friend and brother；
gave her very little share in the notice of either。
They were always engaged in some sentimental discussion
or lively dispute； but their sentiment was conveyed
in such whispering voices； and their vivacity attended
with so much laughter； that though Catherine's supporting
opinion was not unfrequently called for by one or the other；
she was never able to give any； from not having heard a word
of the subject。 At length however she was empowered to
disengage herself from her friend； by the avowed necessity
of speaking to Miss Tilney； whom she most joyfully saw
just entering the room with Mrs。 Hughes； and whom she
instantly joined； with a firmer determination to be acquainted；
than she might have had courage to command； had she
not been urged by the disappointment of the day before。
Miss Tilney met her with great civility； returned her
advances with equal goodwill； and they continued talking
together as long as both parties remained in the room；
and though in all probability not an observation was made；
nor an expression used by either which had not been made
and used some thousands of times before； under that roof；
in every Bath season； yet the merit of their being spoken
with simplicity and truth； and without personal conceit；
might be something uncommon。
〃How well your brother dances！〃 was an artless exclamation
of Catherine's towards the close of their conversation；
which at once surprised and amused her companion。
〃Henry！〃 she replied with a smile。 〃Yes； he does
dance very well。〃
〃He must have thought it very odd to hear me say I
was engaged the other evening； when he saw me sitting down。
But I really had been engaged the whole day to Mr。 Thorpe。〃
Miss Tilney could only bow。 〃You cannot think；〃
added Catherine after a moment's silence； 〃how surprised I
was to see him again。 I felt so sure of his being quite
gone away。〃
〃When Henry had the pleasure of seeing you before；
he was in Bath but for a couple of days。 He came only
to engage lodgings for us。〃
〃That never occurred to me； and of course；
not seeing him anywhere； I thought he must be gone。
Was not the young lady he danced with on Monday a Miss Smith？〃
〃Yes； an acquaintance of Mrs。 Hughes。〃
〃I dare say she was very glad to dance。 Do you
think her pretty？〃 〃Not very。〃
〃He never comes to the pump…room； I suppose？〃
〃Yes； sometimes； but he has rid out this morning with
my father。〃
Mrs。 Hughes now joined them； and asked Miss Tilney
if she was ready to go。 〃I hope I shall have the
pleasure of seeing you again soon；〃 said Catherine。
〃Shall you be at the cotillion ball tomorrow？〃
〃Perhaps we Yes； I think we certainly shall。〃
〃I am glad of it； for we shall all be there。〃
This civility was duly returned； and they partedon
Miss Tilney's side with some knowledge of her new
acquaintance's feelings； and on Catherine's； without
the smallest consciousness of having explained them。
She went home very happy。 The morning had answered
all her hopes； and the evening of the following day
was n