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if possible。〃
〃And then you know〃twisting himself about
and forcing a foolish laugh〃I say； then you know；
we may try the truth of this same old song。〃
〃May we？ But I never sing。 Well； I wish you a good journey。
I dine with Miss Tilney today； and must now be going home。〃
〃Nay； but there is no such confounded hurry。
Who knows when we may be together again？ Not but that I
shall be down again by the end of a fortnight； and a
devilish long fortnight it will appear to me。〃
〃Then why do you stay away so long？〃
replied Catherinefinding that he waited for an answer。
〃That is kind of you； howeverkind and good…natured。
I shall not forget it in a hurry。 But you have more good
nature and all that； than anybody living； I believe。
A monstrous deal of good nature； and it is not only
good nature； but you have so much； so much of everything；
and then you have such upon my soul； I do not know
anybody like you。〃
〃Oh！ dear； there are a great many people like me；
I dare say； only a great deal better。 Good morning
to you。〃
〃But I say； Miss Morland； I shall come and pay my
respects at Fullerton before it is long； if not disagreeable。〃
〃Pray do。 My father and mother will be very glad
to see you。〃
〃And I hopeI hope； Miss Morland； you will not
be sorry to see me。〃
〃Oh！ dear； not at all。 There are very few people
I am sorry to see。 Company is always cheerful。〃
〃That is just my way of thinking。 Give me but a little
cheerful company； let me only have the company of the people
I love； let me only be where I like and with whom I like；
and the devil take the rest； say I。 And I am heartily
glad to hear you say the same。 But I have a notion；
Miss Morland； you and I think pretty much alike upon
most matters。〃
〃Perhaps we may； but it is more than I ever thought of。
And as to most matters； to say the truth； there are not
many that I know my own mind about。〃
〃By Jove； no more do I。 It is not my way to bother
my brains with what does not concern me。 My notion
of things is simple enough。 Let me only have the girl
I like； say I； with a comfortable house over my head；
and what care I for all the rest？ Fortune is nothing。
I am sure of a good income of my own； and if she had not
a penny； why； so much the better。〃
〃Very true。 I think like you there。 If there is a good
fortune on one side； there can be no occasion for any on
the other。 No matter which has it； so that there is enough。
I hate the idea of one great fortune looking out for another。
And to marry for money I think the wickedest thing
in existence。 Good day。 We shall be very glad to see
you at Fullerton； whenever it is convenient。〃 And away
she went。 It was not in the power of all his gallantry
to detain her longer。 With such news to communicate；
and such a visit to prepare for； her departure was not
to be delayed by anything in his nature to urge； and she
hurried away； leaving him to the undivided consciousness
of his own happy address； and her explicit encouragement。
The agitation which she had herself experienced
on first learning her brother's engagement made her
expect to raise no inconsiderable emotion in Mr。 and
Mrs。 Allen； by the communication of the wonderful event。
How great was her disappointment！ The important affair；
which many words of preparation ushered in； had been
foreseen by them both ever since her brother's arrival；
and all that they felt on the occasion was comprehended
in a wish for the young people's happiness； with a remark；
on the gentleman's side； in favour of Isabella's beauty；
and on the lady's； of her great good luck。 It was to
Catherine the most surprising insensibility。 The disclosure；
however； of the great secret of James's going to Fullerton
the day before； did raise some emotion in Mrs。 Allen。
She could not listen to that with perfect calmness；
but repeatedly regretted the necessity of its concealment；
wished she could have known his intention； wished she could
have seen him before he went； as she should certainly have
troubled him with her best regards to his father and mother；
and her kind compliments to all the Skinners。
CHAPTER 16
Catherine's expectations of pleasure from her visit
in Milsom Street were so very high that disappointment
was inevitable； and accordingly； though she was most
politely received by General Tilney； and kindly welcomed
by his daughter； though Henry was at home； and no one else
of the party； she found； on her return； without spending
many hours in the examination of her feelings； that she
had gone to her appointment preparing for happiness which it
had not afforded。 Instead of finding herself improved
in acquaintance with Miss Tilney； from the intercourse of
the day； she seemed hardly so intimate with her as before；
instead of seeing Henry Tilney to greater advantage
than ever； in the ease of a family party； he had never said
so little； nor been so little agreeable； and； in spite
of their father's great civilities to herin spite
of his thanks； invitations； and complimentsit had been
a release to get away from him。 It puzzled her to account
for all this。 It could not be General Tilney's fault。
That he was perfectly agreeable and good…natured； and
altogether a very charming man； did not admit of a doubt；
for he was tall and handsome； and Henry's father。
He could not be accountable for his children's want
of spirits； or for her want of enjoyment in his company。
The former she hoped at last might have been accidental；
and the latter she could only attribute to her own stupidity。
Isabella； on hearing the particulars of the visit；
gave a different explanation： 〃It was all pride； pride；
insufferable haughtiness and pride！ She had long suspected
the family to be very high； and this made it certain。
Such insolence of behaviour as Miss Tilney's she had
never heard of in her life！ Not to do the honours of her
house with common good breeding！ To behave to her guest
with such superciliousness！ Hardly even to speak to her！〃
〃But it was not so bad as that； Isabella； there was
no superciliousness； she was very civil。〃
〃Oh！ Don't defend her！ And then the brother； he；
who had appeared so attached to you！ Good heavens！ Well；
some people's feelings are incompr