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tea…things for us； you see。〃
〃No more there are； indeed。 How very provoking！ But
I think we had better sit still； for one gets so tumbled
in such a crowd！ How is my head； my dear？ Somebody gave
me a push that has hurt it； I am afraid。〃
〃No； indeed； it looks very nice。 But； dear Mrs。 Allen；
are you sure there is nobody you know in all this multitude
of people？ I think you must know somebody。〃
〃I don't； upon my wordI wish I did。 I wish I had a
large acquaintance here with all my heart； and then I should
get you a partner。 I should be so glad to have you dance。
There goes a strange…looking woman！ What an odd gown
she has got on！ How old…fashioned it is！ Look at the back。〃
After some time they received an offer of tea from
one of their neighbours； it was thankfully accepted；
and this introduced a light conversation with the gentleman
who offered it； which was the only time that anybody spoke
to them during the evening； till they were discovered
and joined by Mr。 Allen when the dance was over。
〃Well； Miss Morland；〃 said he； directly； 〃I hope
you have had an agreeable ball。〃
〃Very agreeable indeed；〃 she replied；
vainly endeavouring to hide a great yawn。
〃I wish she had been able to dance；〃 said his wife；
〃I wish we could have got a partner for her。 I have been
saying how glad I should be if the Skinners were here this
winter instead of last； or if the Parrys had come； as they
talked of once； she might have danced with George Parry。
I am so sorry she has not had a partner！〃
〃We shall do better another evening I hope；〃
was Mr。 Allen's consolation。
The company began to disperse when the dancing was
overenough to leave space for the remainder to walk
about in some comfort； and now was the time for a heroine；
who had not yet played a very distinguished part in
the events of the evening； to be noticed and admired。
Every five minutes； by removing some of the crowd；
gave greater openings for her charms。 She was now seen
by many young men who had not been near her before。
Not one； however； started with rapturous wonder on
beholding her； no whisper of eager inquiry ran round
the room； nor was she once called a divinity by anybody。
Yet Catherine was in very good looks； and had the company
only seen her three years before； they would now have thought
her exceedingly handsome。
She was looked at； however； and with some admiration；
for； in her own hearing； two gentlemen pronounced her
to be a pretty girl。 Such words had their due effect；
she immediately thought the evening pleasanter than she
had found it beforeher humble vanity was contentedshe
felt more obliged to the two young men for this simple
praise than a true…quality heroine would have been
for fifteen sonnets in celebration of her charms；
and went to her chair in good humour with everybody；
and perfectly satisfied with her share of public attention。
CHAPTER 3
Every morning now brought its regular dutiesshops were
to be visited； some new part of the town to be looked at；
and the pump…room to be attended； where they paraded up
and down for an hour； looking at everybody and speaking
to no one。 The wish of a numerous acquaintance in Bath
was still uppermost with Mrs。 Allen； and she repeated it
after every fresh proof； which every morning brought；
of her knowing nobody at all。
They made their appearance in the Lower Rooms；
and here fortune was more favourable to our heroine。
The master of the ceremonies introduced to her a very
gentlemanlike young man as a partner； his name was Tilney。
He seemed to be about four or five and twenty； was rather tall；
had a pleasing countenance； a very intelligent and
lively eye； and； if not quite handsome； was very near it。
His address was good； and Catherine felt herself in high luck。
There was little leisure for speaking while they danced；
but when they were seated at tea； she found him as
agreeable as she had already given him credit for being。
He talked with fluency and spiritand there was an archness
and pleasantry in his manner which interested； though it
was hardly understood by her。 After chatting some time
on such matters as naturally arose from the objects
around them； he suddenly addressed her with〃I have
hitherto been very remiss； madam； in the proper attentions
of a partner here； I have not yet asked you how long you
have been in Bath； whether you were ever here before；
whether you have been at the Upper Rooms； the theatre；
and the concert； and how you like the place altogether。
I have been very negligentbut are you now at leisure
to satisfy me in these particulars？ If you are I will
begin directly。〃
〃You need not give yourself that trouble； sir。〃
〃No trouble； I assure you； madam。〃 Then forming
his features into a set smile； and affectedly softening
his voice； he added； with a simpering air； 〃Have you
been long in Bath； madam？〃
〃About a week； sir；〃 replied Catherine； trying not
to laugh。
〃Really！〃 with affected astonishment。
〃Why should you be surprised； sir？〃
〃Why； indeed！〃 said he； in his natural tone。
〃But some emotion must appear to be raised by your reply；
and surprise is more easily assumed； and not less
reasonable than any other。 Now let us go on。 Were you
never here before； madam？〃
〃Never； sir。〃
〃Indeed！ Have you yet honoured the Upper Rooms？〃
〃Yes； sir； I was there last Monday。〃
〃Have you been to the theatre？〃
〃Yes； sir； I was at the play on Tuesday。〃
〃To the concert？〃
〃Yes； sir； on Wednesday。〃
〃And are you altogether pleased with Bath？〃
〃YesI like it very well。〃
〃Now I must give one smirk； and then we may be
rational again。〃 Catherine turned away her head；
not knowing whether she might venture to laugh。
〃I see what you think of me；〃 said he gravely〃I
shall make but a poor figure in your journal tomorrow。〃
〃My journal！〃 〃Yes； I know exactly what you will
say： Friday； went to the Lower Rooms； wore my sprigged
muslin robe with blue trimmingsplain black shoesappeared
to much advantage； but was strangely harassed by a queer；
half…witted man； who would make me dance with him；
and