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and all our agreeableness belongs solely to each other
for that time。 Nobody can fasten themselves on the notice
of one； without injuring the rights of the other。
I consider a country…dance as an emblem of marriage。
Fidelity and complaisance are the principal duties of both；
and those men who do not choose to dance or marry themselves；
have no business with the partners or wives of their neighbours。〃
〃But they are such very different things！〃
〃That you think they cannot be compared together。〃
〃To be sure not。 People that marry can never part；
but must go and keep house together。 People that dance
only stand opposite each other in a long room for half
an hour。〃
〃And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing。
Taken in that light certainly； their resemblance is
not striking； but I think I could place them in such a view。
You will allow； that in both； man has the advantage
of choice； woman only the power of refusal； that in both；
it is an engagement between man and woman； formed for
the advantage of each； and that when once entered into；
they belong exclusively to each other till the moment
of its dissolution； that it is their duty； each to
endeavour to give the other no cause for wishing that he
or she had bestowed themselves elsewhere； and their best
interest to keep their own imaginations from wandering
towards the perfections of their neighbours； or fancying
that they should have been better off with anyone else。
You will allow all this？〃
〃Yes； to be sure； as you state it； all this sounds
very well； but still they are so very different。
I cannot look upon them at all in the same light；
nor think the same duties belong to them。〃
〃In one respect； there certainly is a difference。
In marriage； the man is supposed to provide for the support
of the woman； the woman to make the home agreeable to the man；
he is to purvey； and she is to smile。 But in dancing；
their duties are exactly changed； the agreeableness；
the compliance are expected from him； while she furnishes
the fan and the lavender water。 That； I suppose； was the
difference of duties which struck you； as rendering the
conditions incapable of comparison。〃
〃No； indeed； I never thought of that。〃
〃Then I am quite at a loss。 One thing； however； I must
observe。 This disposition on your side is rather alarming。
You totally disallow any similarity in the obligations；
and may I not thence infer that your notions of the duties
of the dancing state are not so strict as your partner
might wish？ Have I not reason to fear that if the gentleman
who spoke to you just now were to return； or if any other
gentleman were to address you； there would be nothing
to restrain you from conversing with him as long as you chose？〃
〃Mr。 Thorpe is such a very particular friend of my
brother's； that if he talks to me； I must talk to him again；
but there are hardly three young men in the room besides
him that I have any acquaintance with。〃
〃And is that to be my only security？ Alas； alas！〃
〃Nay； I am sure you cannot have a better； for if I
do not know anybody； it is impossible for me to talk
to them； and； besides； I do not want to talk to anybody。〃
〃Now you have given me a security worth having； and I
shall proceed with courage。 Do you find Bath as agreeable
as when I had the honour of making the inquiry before？〃
〃Yes； quitemore so； indeed。〃
〃More so！ Take care； or you will forget to be
tired of it at the proper time。 You ought to be tired
at the end of six weeks。〃
〃I do not think I should be tired； if I were to stay
here six months。〃
〃Bath； compared with London； has little variety；
and so everybody finds out every year。 'For six weeks；
I allow Bath is pleasant enough； but beyond that； it is
the most tiresome place in the world。' You would be told
so by people of all descriptions； who come regularly
every winter； lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve；
and go away at last because they can afford to stay
no longer。〃
〃Well； other people must judge for themselves；
and those who go to London may think nothing of Bath。
But I； who live in a small retired village in the country；
can never find greater sameness in such a place as this
than in my own home； for here are a variety of amusements；
a variety of things to be seen and done all day long； which I
can know nothing of there。〃
〃You are not fond of the country。〃
〃Yes； I am。 I have always lived there； and always
been very happy。 But certainly there is much more
sameness in a country life than in a Bath life。
One day in the country is exactly like another。〃
〃But then you spend your time so much more rationally
in the country。〃
〃Do I？〃
〃Do you not？〃
〃I do not believe there is much difference。〃
〃Here you are in pursuit only of amusement all day long。〃
〃And so I am at homeonly I do not find so much of it。
I walk about here； and so I do there； but here I see
a variety of people in every street； and there I can
only go and call on Mrs。 Allen。〃
Mr。 Tilney was very much amused。
〃Only go and call on Mrs。 Allen！〃 he repeated。
〃What a picture of intellectual poverty！ However； when you
sink into this abyss again； you will have more to say。
You will be able to talk of Bath； and of all that you
did here。〃
〃Oh！ Yes。 I shall never be in want of something
to talk of again to Mrs。 Allen； or anybody else。
I really believe I shall always be talking of Bath；
when I am at home againI do like it so very much。
If I could but have Papa and Mamma； and the rest of
them here； I suppose I should be too happy！ James's coming
（my eldest brother） is quite delightfuland especially
as it turns out that the very family we are just got
so intimate with are his intimate friends already。
Oh！ Who can ever be tired of Bath？〃
〃Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every
sort to it as you do。 But papas and mammas； and brothers；
and intimate friends are a good deal gone by； to most of
the frequenters of Bathand the honest relish of balls
and plays； and everyday sights； is past with them。〃
Here their conversation closed； the demands of the dance
becoming now too im