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She went home very happy。 The morning had answered
all her hopes； and the evening of the following day
was now the object of expectation； the future good。
What gown and what head…dress she should wear on the
occasion became her chief concern。 She cannot be justified
in it。 Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction；
and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim。
Catherine knew all this very well； her great aunt had read
her a lecture on the subject only the Christmas before；
and yet she lay awake ten minutes on Wednesday night
debating between her spotted and her tamboured muslin；
and nothing but the shortness of the time prevented her
buying a new one for the evening。 This would have been
an error in judgment； great though not uncommon； from which
one of the other sex rather than her own； a brother rather
than a great aunt； might have warned her； for man only can
be aware of the insensibility of man towards a new gown。
It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies；
could they be made to understand how little the heart of
man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire；
how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin；
and how unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards
the spotted； the sprigged； the mull； or the jackonet。
Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone。 No man will
admire her the more； no woman will like her the better
for it。 Neatness and fashion are enough for the former；
and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most
endearing to the latter。 But not one of these grave
reflections troubled the tranquillity of Catherine。
She entered the rooms on Thursday evening with feelings
very different from what had attended her thither the
Monday before。 She had then been exulting in her engagement
to Thorpe； and was now chiefly anxious to avoid his sight；
lest he should engage her again； for though she could not；
dared not expect that Mr。 Tilney should ask her a third
time to dance； her wishes； hopes； and plans all centred
in nothing less。 Every young lady may feel for my
heroine in this critical moment； for every young lady
has at some time or other known the same agitation。
All have been； or at least all have believed themselves to be；
in danger from the pursuit of someone whom they wished
to avoid； and all have been anxious for the attentions
of someone whom they wished to please。 As soon as they
were joined by the Thorpes； Catherine's agony began；
she fidgeted about if John Thorpe came towards her；
hid herself as much as possible from his view；
and when he spoke to her pretended not to hear him。
The cotillions were over； the country…dancing beginning；
and she saw nothing of the Tilneys。
〃Do not be frightened； my dear Catherine；〃
whispered Isabella； 〃but I am really going to dance with your
brother again。 I declare positively it is quite shocking。
I tell him he ought to be ashamed of himself； but you
and John must keep us in countenance。 Make haste；
my dear creature； and come to us。 John is just walked off；
but he will be back in a moment。〃
Catherine had neither time nor inclination to answer。
The others walked away； John Thorpe was still in view；
and she gave herself up for lost。 That she might
not appear； however； to observe or expect him； she kept
her eyes intently fixed on her fan； and a self…condemnation
for her folly； in supposing that among such a crowd they
should even meet with the Tilneys in any reasonable time；
had just passed through her mind； when she suddenly
found herself addressed and again solicited to dance；
by Mr。 Tilney himself。 With what sparkling eyes and ready
motion she granted his request； and with how pleasing
a flutter of heart she went with him to the set；
may be easily imagined。 To escape； and； as she believed；
so narrowly escape John Thorpe； and to be asked；
so immediately on his joining her； asked by Mr。 Tilney；
as if he had sought her on purpose！it did not appear
to her that life could supply any greater felicity。
Scarcely had they worked themselves into the quiet
possession of a place； however； when her attention
was claimed by John Thorpe； who stood behind her。
〃Heyday； Miss Morland！〃 said he。 〃What is the meaning
of this？ I thought you and I were to dance together。〃
〃I wonder you should think so； for you never asked me。〃
〃That is a good one； by Jove！ I asked you as soon
as I came into the room； and I was just going to ask
you again； but when I turned round； you were gone！ This
is a cursed shabby trick！ I only came for the sake of
dancing with you； and I firmly believe you were engaged
to me ever since Monday。 Yes； I remember； I asked you
while you were waiting in the lobby for your cloak。
And here have I been telling all my acquaintance that I
was going to dance with the prettiest girl in the room；
and when they see you standing up with somebody else；
they will quiz me famously。〃
〃Oh； no； they will never think of me； after such
a description as that。〃
〃By heavens； if they do not； I will kick them out
of the room for blockheads。 What chap have you there？〃
Catherine satisfied his curiosity。 〃Tilney；〃 he repeated。
〃HumI do not know him。 A good figure of a man； well put
together。 Does he want a horse？ Here is a friend of mine；
Sam Fletcher； has got one to sell that would suit anybody。
A famous clever animal for the roadonly forty guineas。
I had fifty minds to buy it myself； for it is one of my
maxims always to buy a good horse when I meet with one；
but it would not answer my purpose； it would not do for
the field。 I would give any money for a real good hunter。
I have three now； the best that ever were backed。
I would not take eight hundred guineas for them。
Fletcher and I mean to get a house in Leicestershire；
against the next season。 It is so d uncomfortable；
living at an inn。〃
This was the last sentence by which he could weary
Catherine's attention； for he was just then borne off by the
resistless pressure of a long string of passing ladies。
Her partner now drew near； and said； 〃That gentleman would
have put me out of patience； had he stayed with you half
a minute longer。 He has no business to withdraw the attention
of my partner from me。 We have entered into a contract
of mutual agreeableness for the space of an evening；
and all our agreeableness belongs solely to eac