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she hurried home to write her letter。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Morland；
relying on the discretion of the friends to whom they
had already entrusted their daughter； felt no doubt
of the propriety of an acquaintance which had been formed
under their eye； and sent therefore by return of post
their ready consent to her visit in Gloucestershire。
This indulgence； though not more than Catherine had
hoped for； completed her conviction of being favoured
beyond every other human creature； in friends and fortune；
circumstance and chance。 Everything seemed to cooperate
for her advantage。 By the kindness of her first friends；
the Allens； she had been introduced into scenes where
pleasures of every kind had met her。 Her feelings；
her preferences； had each known the happiness of a return。
Wherever she felt attachment； she had been able to
create it。 The affection of Isabella was to be secured
to her in a sister。 The Tilneys； they； by whom；
above all； she desired to be favourably thought of；
outstripped even her wishes in the flattering measures
by which their intimacy was to be continued。 She was
to be their chosen visitor； she was to be for weeks
under the same roof with the person whose society
she mostly prizedand； in addition to all the rest；
this roof was to be the roof of an abbey！ Her passion
for ancient edifices was next in degree to her passion
for Henry Tilneyand castles and abbeys made usually
the charm of those reveries which his image did not fill。
To see and explore either the ramparts and keep of the one；
or the cloisters of the other； had been for many weeks
a darling wish； though to be more than the visitor
of an hour had seemed too nearly impossible for desire。
And yet； this was to happen。 With all the chances against
her of house； hall； place； park； court； and cottage；
Northanger turned up an abbey； and she was to be its inhabitant。
Its long； damp passages； its narrow cells and ruined chapel；
were to be within her daily reach； and she could not
entirely subdue the hope of some traditional legends；
some awful memorials of an injured and ill…fated nun。
It was wonderful that her friends should seem
so little elated by the possession of such a home；
that the consciousness of it should be so meekly borne。
The power of early habit only could account for it。
A distinction to which they had been born gave no pride。
Their superiority of abode was no more to them than their
superiority of person。
Many were the inquiries she was eager to make
of Miss Tilney； but so active were her thoughts；
that when these inquiries were answered； she was hardly
more assured than before； of Northanger Abbey having been
a richly endowed convent at the time of the Reformation；
of its having fallen into the hands of an ancestor of the
Tilneys on its dissolution； of a large portion of the ancient
building still making a part of the present dwelling although
the rest was decayed； or of its standing low in a valley；
sheltered from the north and east by rising woods of oak。
CHAPTER 18
With a mind thus full of happiness； Catherine was hardly
aware that two or three days had passed away； without her
seeing Isabella for more than a few minutes together。
She began first to be sensible of this； and to sigh
for her conversation； as she walked along the pump…room
one morning； by Mrs。 Allen's side； without anything to say
or to hear； and scarcely had she felt a five minutes'
longing of friendship； before the object of it appeared；
and inviting her to a secret conference； led the way
to a seat。 〃This is my favourite place；〃 said she as they
sat down on a bench between the doors； which commanded
a tolerable view of everybody entering at either；
〃it is so out of the way。〃
Catherine； observing that Isabella's eyes were
continually bent towards one door or the other； as in
eager expectation； and remembering how often she had been
falsely accused of being arch； thought the present a fine
opportunity for being really so； and therefore gaily said；
〃Do not be uneasy； Isabella； James will soon be here。〃
〃Psha！ My dear creature；〃 she replied； 〃do not think
me such a simpleton as to be always wanting to confine him
to my elbow。 It would be hideous to be always together；
we should be the jest of the place。 And so you are
going to Northanger！ I am amazingly glad of it。 It is
one of the finest old places in England； I understand。
I shall depend upon a most particular description of it。〃
〃You shall certainly have the best in my power to give。
But who are you looking for？ Are your sisters coming？〃
〃I am not looking for anybody。 One's eyes must
be somewhere； and you know what a foolish trick I have of
fixing mine； when my thoughts are an hundred miles off。
I am amazingly absent； I believe I am the most absent
creature in the world。 Tilney says it is always the case
with minds of a certain stamp。〃
〃But I thought； Isabella； you had something
in particular to tell me？〃
〃Oh！ Yes； and so I have。 But here is a proof of
what I was saying。 My poor head； I had quite forgot it。
Well； the thing is this： I have just had a letter from John；
you can guess the contents。〃
〃No； indeed； I cannot。〃
〃My sweet love； do not be so abominably affected。
What can he write about； but yourself？ You know he is over
head and ears in love with you。〃
〃With me； dear Isabella！〃
〃Nay； my sweetest Catherine； this is being quite
absurd！ Modesty； and all that； is very well in its way；
but really a little common honesty is sometimes quite
as becoming。 I have no idea of being so overstrained！
It is fishing for compliments。 His attentions were
such as a child must have noticed。 And it was but half
an hour before he left Bath that you gave him the most
positive encouragement。 He says so in this letter；
says that he as good as made you an offer； and that you
received his advances in the kindest way； and now he
wants me to urge his suit； and say all manner of pretty
things to you。 So it is in vain to affect ignorance。〃
Catherine； with all the earnestness of truth；
expressed her astonishment at such a charge； protesting
her innocence of every thought of Mr。 Thorpe's being
in love with her； and the consequent impossibility of
her having ever intended to encourage him。 〃As to any