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half…witted man； who would make me dance with him；
and distressed me by his nonsense。〃
〃Indeed I shall say no such thing。〃
〃Shall I tell you what you ought to say？〃
〃If you please。〃
〃I danced with a very agreeable young man；
introduced by Mr。 King； had a great deal of conversation
with himseems a most extraordinary geniushope I may
know more of him。 That； madam； is what I wish you to say。〃
〃But； perhaps； I keep no journal。〃
〃Perhaps you are not sitting in this room； and I am
not sitting by you。 These are points in which a doubt is
equally possible。 Not keep a journal！ How are your absent
cousins to understand the tenour of your life in Bath
without one？ How are the civilities and compliments of
every day to be related as they ought to be； unless noted
down every evening in a journal？ How are your various
dresses to be remembered； and the particular state of
your complexion； and curl of your hair to be described
in all their diversities； without having constant recourse
to a journal？ My dear madam； I am not so ignorant of
young ladies' ways as you wish to believe me； it is this
delightful habit of journaling which largely contributes
to form the easy style of writing for which ladies are
so generally celebrated。 Everybody allows that the talent
of writing agreeable letters is peculiarly female。
Nature may have done something； but I am sure it must
be essentially assisted by the practice of keeping a journal。〃
〃I have sometimes thought；〃 said Catherine； doubtingly；
〃whether ladies do write so much better letters than gentlemen！
That isI should not think the superiority was always on our side。〃
〃As far as I have had opportunity of judging；
it appears to me that the usual style of letter…writing
among women is faultless； except in three particulars。〃
〃And what are they？〃
〃A general deficiency of subject； a total inattention
to stops； and a very frequent ignorance of grammar。〃
〃Upon my word！ I need not have been afraid of disclaiming
the compliment。 You do not think too highly of us in that way。〃
〃I should no more lay it down as a general rule that
women write better letters than men； than that they sing
better duets； or draw better landscapes。 In every power；
of which taste is the foundation； excellence is pretty
fairly divided between the sexes。〃
They were interrupted by Mrs。 Allen： 〃My dear Catherine；〃
said she； 〃do take this pin out of my sleeve； I am afraid it
has torn a hole already； I shall be quite sorry if it has；
for this is a favourite gown； though it cost but nine
shillings a yard。〃
〃That is exactly what I should have guessed
it； madam；〃 said Mr。 Tilney； looking at the muslin。
〃Do you understand muslins； sir？〃
〃Particularly well； I always buy my own cravats；
and am allowed to be an excellent judge； and my
sister has often trusted me in the choice of a gown。
I bought one for her the other day； and it was pronounced
to be a prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it。
I gave but five shillings a yard for it； and a true
Indian muslin。〃
Mrs。 Allen was quite struck by his genius。 〃Men commonly
take so little notice of those things；〃 said she； 〃I can
never get Mr。 Allen to know one of my gowns from another。
You must be a great comfort to your sister； sir。〃
〃I hope I am； madam。〃
〃And pray； sir； what do you think of Miss Morland's gown？〃
〃It is very pretty； madam；〃 said he； gravely examining it；
〃but I do not think it will wash well； I am afraid it will fray。〃
〃How can you；〃 said Catherine； laughing； 〃be so〃
She had almost said 〃strange。〃
〃I am quite of your opinion； sir；〃 replied Mrs。 Allen；
〃and so I told Miss Morland when she bought it。〃
〃But then you know； madam； muslin always turns
to some account or other； Miss Morland will get enough
out of it for a handkerchief； or a cap； or a cloak。
Muslin can never be said to be wasted。 I have heard my
sister say so forty times； when she has been extravagant
in buying more than she wanted； or careless in cutting it
to pieces。〃
〃Bath is a charming place； sir； there are so many
good shops here。 We are sadly off in the country；
not but what we have very good shops in Salisbury；
but it is so far to goeight miles is a long way；
Mr。 Allen says it is nine； measured nine； but I am sure it
cannot be more than eight； and it is such a fagI come
back tired to death。 Now； here one can step out of doors
and get a thing in five minutes。〃
Mr。 Tilney was polite enough to seem interested
in what she said； and she kept him on the subject of
muslins till the dancing recommenced。 Catherine feared；
as she listened to their discourse； that he indulged
himself a little too much with the foibles of others。
〃What are you thinking of so earnestly？〃 said he；
as they walked back to the ballroom； 〃not of your partner；
I hope； for； by that shake of the head； your meditations
are not satisfactory。〃
Catherine coloured； and said； 〃I was not thinking
of anything。〃
〃That is artful and deep； to be sure； but I had
rather be told at once that you will not tell me。〃
〃Well then； I will not。〃
〃Thank you； for now we shall soon be acquainted；
as I am authorized to tease you on this subject whenever
we meet； and nothing in the world advances intimacy
so much。〃
They danced again； and； when the assembly closed；
parted； on the lady's side at least； with a strong
inclination for continuing the acquaintance。 Whether she
thought of him so much； while she drank her warm wine
and water； and prepared herself for bed； as to dream of him
when there； cannot be ascertained； but I hope it was no
more than in a slight slumber； or a morning doze at most；
for if it be true； as a celebrated writer has maintained；
that no young lady can be justified in falling in love
before the gentleman's love is declared；* it must be very
improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman
before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her。
How proper Mr。 Tilney might be as a dreamer or a lover
had not yet perhaps entered Mr。 Allen's head； but that he
was not objectionable as a common acquaintance for his
young charge he was on in