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who had appeared so attached to you！ Good heavens！ Well；
some people's feelings are incomprehensible。 And so he
hardly looked once at you the whole day？〃
〃I do not say so； but he did not seem in good spirits。〃
〃How contemptible！ Of all things in the world inconstancy
is my aversion。 Let me entreat you never to think
of him again； my dear Catherine； indeed he is unworthy of you。〃
〃Unworthy！ I do not suppose he ever thinks of me。〃
〃That is exactly what I say； he never thinks
of you。 Such fickleness！ Oh！ How different to your
brother and to mine！ I really believe John has the most
constant heart。〃
〃But as for General Tilney； I assure you it would
be impossible for anybody to behave to me with greater
civility and attention； it seemed to be his only care
to entertain and make me happy。〃
〃Oh！ I know no harm of him； I do not suspect him
of pride。 I believe he is a very gentleman…like man。
John thinks very well of him； and John's judgment〃
〃Well； I shall see how they behave to me this evening；
we shall meet them at the rooms。〃
〃And must I go？〃
〃Do not you intend it？ I thought it was all settled。〃
〃Nay； since you make such a point of it； I can refuse
you nothing。 But do not insist upon my being very agreeable；
for my heart； you know； will be some forty miles off。
And as for dancing； do not mention it； I beg； that is
quite out of the question。 Charles Hodges will plague me
to death； I dare say； but I shall cut him very short。
Ten to one but he guesses the reason； and that is exactly
what I want to avoid； so I shall insist on his keeping his
conjecture to himself。〃
Isabella's opinion of the Tilneys did not influence
her friend； she was sure there had been no insolence
in the manners either of brother or sister； and she
did not credit there being any pride in their hearts。
The evening rewarded her confidence； she was met by one with
the same kindness； and by the other with the same attention；
as heretofore： Miss Tilney took pains to be near her；
and Henry asked her to dance。
Having heard the day before in Milsom Street
that their elder brother； Captain Tilney； was expected
almost every hour； she was at no loss for the name of a
very fashionable…looking； handsome young man； whom she
had never seen before； and who now evidently belonged
to their party。 She looked at him with great admiration；
and even supposed it possible that some people might think
him handsomer than his brother； though； in her eyes；
his air was more assuming； and his countenance
less prepossessing。 His taste and manners were beyond
a doubt decidedly inferior； for； within her hearing； he not
only protested against every thought of dancing himself；
but even laughed openly at Henry for finding it possible。
From the latter circumstance it may be presumed that；
whatever might be our heroine's opinion of him；
his admiration of her was not of a very dangerous kind；
not likely to produce animosities between the brothers；
nor persecutions to the lady。 He cannot be the instigator
of the three villains in horsemen's greatcoats； by whom
she will hereafter be forced into a traveling…chaise
and four； which will drive off with incredible speed。
Catherine； meanwhile； undisturbed by presentiments
of such an evil； or of any evil at all； except that of
having but a short set to dance down； enjoyed her usual
happiness with Henry Tilney； listening with sparkling eyes
to everything he said； and； in finding him irresistible；
becoming so herself。
At the end of the first dance； Captain Tilney came
towards them again； and； much to Catherine's dissatisfaction；
pulled his brother away。 They retired whispering together；
and； though her delicate sensibility did not take immediate alarm；
and lay it down as fact； that Captain Tilney must have
heard some malevolent misrepresentation of her； which he
now hastened to communicate to his brother； in the hope
of separating them forever； she could not have her partner
conveyed from her sight without very uneasy sensations。
Her suspense was of full five minutes' duration； and she
was beginning to think it a very long quarter of an hour；
when they both returned； and an explanation was given；
by Henry's requesting to know if she thought her friend；
Miss Thorpe； would have any objection to dancing；
as his brother would be most happy to be introduced
to her。 Catherine； without hesitation； replied that she
was very sure Miss Thorpe did not mean to dance at all。
The cruel reply was passed on to the other； and he
immediately walked away。
〃Your brother will not mind it； I know；〃 said she；
〃because I heard him say before that he hated dancing；
but it was very good…natured in him to think of it。
I suppose he saw Isabella sitting down； and fancied she
might wish for a partner； but he is quite mistaken；
for she would not dance upon any account in the world。〃
Henry smiled； and said； 〃How very little trouble it can
give you to understand the motive of other people's actions。〃
〃Why？ What do you mean？〃
〃With you； it is not； How is such a one likely to
be influenced； What is the inducement most likely to act
upon such a person's feelings； age； situation； and probable
habits of life consideredbut； How should I be influenced；
What would be my inducement in acting so and so？〃
〃I do not understand you。〃
〃Then we are on very unequal terms； for I understand
you perfectly well。〃
〃Me？ Yes； I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible。〃
〃Bravo！ An excellent satire on modern language。〃
〃But pray tell me what you mean。〃
〃Shall I indeed？ Do you really desire it？ But you
are not aware of the consequences； it will involve you
in a very cruel embarrassment； and certainly bring
on a disagreement between us。
〃No； no； it shall not do either； I am not afraid。〃
〃Well； then； I only meant that your attributing my
brother's wish of dancing with Miss Thorpe to good nature
alone convinced me of your being superior in good nature
yourself to all the rest of the world。〃
Catherine blushed and disclaimed； and the gentleman's
predictions were verified。 There was a something； however；
in his words which repaid her for the pain of confusion；