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who had soon ceased to look after her； were in a moment
out of sight round the corner of Laura Place； and in another
moment she was herself whisked into the marketplace。
Still； however； and during the length of another street；
she entreated him to stop。 〃Pray； pray stop； Mr。 Thorpe。
I cannot go on。 I will not go on。 I must go back to
Miss Tilney。〃 But Mr。 Thorpe only laughed； smacked his whip；
encouraged his horse； made odd noises； and drove on；
and Catherine； angry and vexed as she was； having no
power of getting away； was obliged to give up the point
and submit。 Her reproaches； however； were not spared。
〃How could you deceive me so； Mr。 Thorpe？ How could you
say that you saw them driving up the Lansdown Road？ I
would not have had it happen so for the world。 They must
think it so strange； so rude of me！ To go by them； too；
without saying a word！ You do not know how vexed I am；
I shall have no pleasure at Clifton； nor in anything else。
I had rather； ten thousand times rather； get out now；
and walk back to them。 How could you say you saw them driving
out in a phaeton？〃 Thorpe defended himself very stoutly；
declared he had never seen two men so much alike in his life；
and would hardly give up the point of its having been
Tilney himself。
Their drive； even when this subject was over； was not
likely to be very agreeable。 Catherine's complaisance
was no longer what it had been in their former airing。
She listened reluctantly； and her replies were short。
Blaize Castle remained her only comfort； towards that；
she still looked at intervals with pleasure； though rather
than be disappointed of the promised walk； and especially
rather than be thought ill of by the Tilneys； she would
willingly have given up all the happiness which its walls
could supplythe happiness of a progress through a long
suite of lofty rooms； exhibiting the remains of magnificent
furniture； though now for many years desertedthe happiness
of being stopped in their way along narrow； winding vaults；
by a low； grated door； or even of having their lamp；
their only lamp； extinguished by a sudden gust of wind；
and of being left in total darkness。 In the meanwhile；
they proceeded on their journey without any mischance；
and were within view of the town of Keynsham； when a halloo
from Morland； who was behind them； made his friend pull up；
to know what was the matter。 The others then came close
enough for conversation； and Morland said； 〃We had
better go back； Thorpe； it is too late to go on today；
your sister thinks so as well as I。 We have been exactly
an hour coming from Pulteney Street； very little more
than seven miles； and； I suppose； we have at least eight
more to go。 It will never do。 We set out a great deal
too late。 We had much better put it off till another day；
and turn round。〃
〃It is all one to me；〃 replied Thorpe rather angrily；
and instantly turning his horse； they were on their way
back to Bath。
〃If your brother had not got such a d beast to drive；〃
said he soon afterwards； 〃we might have done it very well。
My horse would have trotted to Clifton within the hour；
if left to himself； and I have almost broke my arm with
pulling him in to that cursed broken…winded jade's pace。
Morland is a fool for not keeping a horse and gig of
his own。〃
〃No； he is not；〃 said Catherine warmly； 〃for I am
sure he could not afford it。〃
〃And why cannot he afford it？〃
〃Because he has not money enough。〃
〃And whose fault is that？〃
〃Nobody's； that I know of。〃 Thorpe then said something
in the loud； incoherent way to which he had often recourse；
about its being a d thing to be miserly； and that if
people who rolled in money could not afford things；
he did not know who could； which Catherine did not even
endeavour to understand。 Disappointed of what was to
have been the consolation for her first disappointment；
she was less and less disposed either to be agreeable
herself or to find her companion so； and they returned
to Pulteney Street without her speaking twenty words。
As she entered the house； the footman told her that a
gentleman and lady had catted and inquired for her a few
minutes after her setting off； that； when he told them she
was gone out with Mr。 Thorpe； the lady had asked whether
any message had been left for her； and on his saying no；
had felt for a card； but said she had none about her；
and went away。 Pondering over these heart…rending tidings；
Catherine walked slowly upstairs。 At the head of them
she was met by Mr。 Allen； who； on hearing the reason
of their speedy return； said； 〃I am glad your brother
had so much sense； I am glad you are come back。
It was a strange； wild scheme。〃
They all spent the evening together at Thorpe's。
Catherine was disturbed and out of spirits； but Isabella
seemed to find a pool of commerce； in the fate of
which she shared； by private partnership with Morland；
a very good equivalent for the quiet and country air
of an inn at Clifton。 Her satisfaction； too； in not
being at the Lower Rooms was spoken more than once。
〃How I pity the poor creatures that are going there！ How
glad I am that I am not amongst them！ I wonder whether
it will be a full ball or not！ They have not begun
dancing yet。 I would not be there for all the world。
It is so delightful to have an evening now and then
to oneself。 I dare say it will not be a very good ball。
I know the Mitchells will not be there。 I am sure I
pity everybody that is。 But I dare say； Mr。 Morland；
you long to be at it； do not you？ I am sure you do。
Well； pray do not let anybody here be a restraint on you。
I dare say we could do very well without you； but you men
think yourselves of such consequence。〃
Catherine could almost have accused Isabella of being
wanting in tenderness towards herself and her sorrows；
so very little did they appear to dwell on her mind；
and so very inadequate was the comfort she offered。
〃Do not be so dull； my dearest creature；〃 she whispered。
〃You will quite break my heart。 It was amazingly shocking；
to be sure； but the Tilneys were entirely to blame。
Why were not they more punctual？ It was dirty； indeed；
but what did that signify？ I am sure John and I should
not have minded it。 I never mind going through anything；
where a friend is concerned； that is my disposition；
and John is just the same；