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good thought of minehey？〃
Isabella's countenance was once more all smiles
and good humour； and James too looked happy again。
〃A most heavenly thought indeed！ Now； my sweet Catherine；
all our distresses are over； you are honourably acquitted；
and we shall have a most delightful party。〃
〃This will not do；〃 said Catherine； 〃I cannot submit
to this。 I must run after Miss Tilney directly and set
her right。〃
Isabella； however； caught hold of one hand； Thorpe of
the other； and remonstrances poured in from all three。
Even James was quite angry。 When everything was settled；
when Miss Tilney herself said that Tuesday would suit her
as well； it was quite ridiculous； quite absurd； to make
any further objection。
〃I do not care。 Mr。 Thorpe had no business to invent
any such message。 If I had thought it right to put
it off； I could have spoken to Miss Tilney myself。
This is only doing it in a ruder way； and how do I know
that Mr。 Thorpe has He may be mistaken again perhaps；
he led me into one act of rudeness by his mistake on Friday。
Let me go； Mr。 Thorpe； Isabella； do not hold me。
Thorpe told her it would be in vain to go after
the Tilneys； they were turning the corner into Brock Street；
when he had overtaken them； and were at home by this time。
〃Then I will go after them；〃 said Catherine；
〃wherever they are I will go after them。 It does not
signify talking。 If I could not be persuaded into doing
what I thought wrong； I never will be tricked into it。〃
And with these words she broke away and hurried off。
Thorpe would have darted after her； but Morland withheld him。
〃Let her go； let her go； if she will go。 She is as
obstinate as〃
Thorpe never finished the simile； for it could
hardly have been a proper one。
Away walked Catherine in great agitation； as fast
as the crowd would permit her； fearful of being pursued；
yet determined to persevere。 As she walked； she reflected
on what had passed。 It was painful to her to disappoint
and displease them； particularly to displease her brother；
but she could not repent her resistance。 Setting her own
inclination apart； to have failed a second time in her
engagement to Miss Tilney； to have retracted a promise
voluntarily made only five minutes before； and on a false
pretence too； must have been wrong。 She had not been
withstanding them on selfish principles alone； she had
not consulted merely her own gratification； that might
have been ensured in some degree by the excursion itself；
by seeing Blaize Castle； no； she had attended to what was
due to others； and to her own character in their opinion。
Her conviction of being right； however； was not enough
to restore her composure； till she had spoken to Miss
Tilney she could not be at ease； and quickening her pace
when she got clear of the Crescent； she almost ran over the
remaining ground till she gained the top of Milsom Street。
So rapid had been her movements that in spite of the Tilneys'
advantage in the outset； they were but just fuming
into their lodgings as she came within view of them；
and the servant still remaining at the open door；
she used only the ceremony of saying that she must
speak with Miss Tilney that moment； and hurrying by him
proceeded upstairs。 Then； opening the first door
before her； which happened to be the right； she immediately
found herself in the drawing…room with General Tilney；
his son； and daughter。 Her explanation； defective only
in beingfrom her irritation of nerves and shortness
of breathno explanation at all； was instantly given。
〃I am come in a great hurryIt was all a mistakeI
never promised to goI told them from the first I could
not go。I ran away in a great hurry to explain it。I
did not care what you thought of me。I would not stay
for the servant。〃
The business； however； though not perfectly
elucidated by this speech； soon ceased to be a puzzle。
Catherine found that John Thorpe had given the message；
and Miss Tilney had no scruple in owning herself greatly
surprised by it。 But whether her brother had still
exceeded her in resentment； Catherine； though she
instinctively addressed herself as much to one as to
the other in her vindication； had no means of knowing。
Whatever might have been felt before her arrival；
her eager declarations immediately made every look
and sentence as friendly as she could desire。
The affair thus happily settled； she was introduced
by Miss Tilney to her father； and received by him
with such ready； such solicitous politeness as recalled
Thorpe's information to her mind； and made her think
with pleasure that he might be sometimes depended on。
To such anxious attention was the general's civility carried；
that not aware of her extraordinary swiftness in entering
the house； he was quite angry with the servant whose neglect
had reduced her to open the door of the apartment herself。
〃What did William mean by it？ He should make a point
of inquiring into the matter。〃 And if Catherine had not
most warmly asserted his innocence； it seemed likely
that William would lose the favour of his master forever；
if not his place； by her rapidity。
After sitting with them a quarter of an hour；
she rose to take leave； and was then most agreeably
surprised by General Tilney's asking her if she would do
his daughter the honour of dining and spending the rest
of the day with her。 Miss Tilney added her own wishes。
Catherine was greatly obliged； but it was quite out
of her power。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen would expect her back
every moment。 The general declared he could say no more；
the claims of Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen were not to be superseded；
but on some other day he trusted； when longer notice could
be given； they would not refuse to spare her to her friend。
〃Oh； no； Catherine was sure they would not have the least
objection； and she should have great pleasure in coming。〃
The general attended her himself to the street…door；
saying everything gallant as they went downstairs；
admiring the elasticity of her walk； which corresponded
exactly with the spirit of her dancing； and making
her one of the most graceful bows she had ever beheld；
when they parted。
Catherine； delighted by all that had passed；
proceeded gaily to Pulteney Street； walking； as she
concluded； with great elasticity； though she had never
thought of i