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Could there be any unwillingness on the general's side
to show her over the abbey？ The proposal was his own。
And was not it odd that he should always take his walk
so early？ Neither her father nor Mr。 Allen did so。
It was certainly very provoking。 She was all impatience
to see the house； and had scarcely any curiosity about
the grounds。 If Henry had been with them indeed！ But now
she should not know what was picturesque when she saw it。
Such were her thoughts； but she kept them to herself；
and put on her bonnet in patient discontent。
She was struck； however； beyond her expectation；
by the grandeur of the abbey； as she saw it for the first time
from the lawn。 The whole building enclosed a large court；
and two sides of the quadrangle； rich in Gothic ornaments；
stood forward for admiration。 The remainder was shut
off by knolls of old trees； or luxuriant plantations；
and the steep woody hills rising behind； to give it shelter；
were beautiful even in the leafless month of March。
Catherine had seen nothing to compare with it； and her
feelings of delight were so strong； that without waiting
for any better authority； she boldly burst forth in wonder
and praise。 The general listened with assenting gratitude；
and it seemed as if his own estimation of Northanger had
waited unfixed till that hour。
The kitchen…garden was to be next admired； and he
led the way to it across a small portion of the park。
The number of acres contained in this garden was
such as Catherine could not listen to without dismay；
being more than double the extent of all Mr。 Allen's；
as well her father's； including church…yard and orchard。
The walls seemed countless in number； endless in length；
a village of hot…houses seemed to arise among them；
and a whole parish to be at work within the enclosure。
The general was flattered by her looks of surprise；
which told him almost as plainly； as he soon forced her
to tell him in words； that she had never seen any gardens
at all equal to them before； and he then modestly owned that；
〃without any ambition of that sort himselfwithout any
solicitude about ithe did believe them to be unrivalled
in the kingdom。 If he had a hobby…horse； it was that。
He loved a garden。 Though careless enough in most
matters of eating； he loved good fruitor if he did not；
his friends and children did。 There were great vexations；
however； attending such a garden as his。 The utmost
care could not always secure the most valuable fruits。
The pinery had yielded only one hundred in the last year。
Mr。 Allen； he supposed； must feel these inconveniences as well
as himself。〃
〃No； not at all。 Mr。 Allen did not care about
the garden； and never went into it。〃
With a triumphant smile of self…satisfaction；
the general wished he could do the same； for he never
entered his； without being vexed in some way or other；
by its falling short of his plan。
〃How were Mr。 Allen's succession…houses worked？〃
describing the nature of his own as they entered them。
〃Mr。 Allen had only one small hot…house； which
Mrs。 Allen had the use of for her plants in winter；
and there was a fire in it now and then。〃
〃He is a happy man！〃 said the general； with a look
of very happy contempt。
Having taken her into every division； and led her
under every wall； till she was heartily weary of seeing
and wondering； he suffered the girls at last to seize
the advantage of an outer door； and then expressing his
wish to examine the effect of some recent alterations
about the tea…house； proposed it as no unpleasant
extension of their walk； if Miss Morland were not tired。
〃But where are you going； Eleanor？ Why do you choose
that cold； damp path to it？ Miss Morland will get wet。
Our best way is across the park。〃
〃This is so favourite a walk of mine；〃 said Miss Tilney；
〃that I always think it the best and nearest way。
But perhaps it may be damp。〃
It was a narrow winding path through a thick grove of old
Scotch firs； and Catherine； struck by its gloomy aspect；
and eager to enter it； could not； even by the general's
disapprobation； be kept from stepping forward。 He perceived
her inclination； and having again urged the plea of health
in vain； was too polite to make further opposition。
He excused himself； however； from attending them： 〃The
rays of the sun were not too cheerful for him； and he
would meet them by another course。〃 He turned away；
and Catherine was shocked to find how much her spirits
were relieved by the separation。 The shock； however；
being less real than the relief； offered it no injury；
and she began to talk with easy gaiety of the delightful
melancholy which such a grove inspired。
〃I am particularly fond of this spot；〃 said her companion；
with a sigh。 〃It was my mother's favourite walk。〃
Catherine had never heard Mrs。 Tilney mentioned in
the family before； and the interest excited by this tender
remembrance showed itself directly in her altered countenance；
and in the attentive pause with which she waited for something more。
〃I used to walk here so often with her！〃 added Eleanor；
〃though I never loved it then； as I have loved it since。
At that time indeed I used to wonder at her choice。
But her memory endears it now。〃
〃And ought it not；〃 reflected Catherine； 〃to endear
it to her husband？ Yet the general would not enter it。〃
Miss Tilney continuing silent； she ventured to say；
〃Her death must have been a great affliction！〃
〃A great and increasing one；〃 replied the other；
in a low voice。 〃I was only thirteen when it happened；
and though I felt my loss perhaps as strongly as one
so young could feel it； I did not； I could not；
then know what a loss it was。〃 She stopped for a moment；
and then added； with great firmness； 〃I have no sister；
you knowand though Henrythough my brothers are
very affectionate； and Henry is a great deal here；
which I am most thankful for； it is impossible for me
not to be often solitary。〃
〃To be sure you must miss him very much。〃
〃A mother would have been always present。 A mother
would have been a constant friend； her influence would
have been beyond all other。〃
〃Was she a very charming woman？ Was she handsome？
Was there any picture of her in the abbey？ And why had
she been so parti