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in the next day； and remained in almost constant attendance
for four and twenty hours。 On the fifth day she died。
During the progress of her disorder； Frederick and I （we
were both at home） saw her repeatedly； and from our own
observation can bear witness to her having received
every possible attention which could spring from the
affection of those about her； or which her situation
in life could command。 Poor Eleanor was absent； and at
such a distance as to return only to see her mother in
her coffin。〃
〃But your father；〃 said Catherine； 〃was he afflicted？〃
〃For a time； greatly so。 You have erred in supposing
him not attached to her。 He loved her； I am persuaded；
as well as it was possible for him towe have not all；
you know； the same tenderness of dispositionand
I will not pretend to say that while she lived；
she might not often have had much to bear； but though
his temper injured her； his judgment never did。
His value of her was sincere； and； if not permanently；
he was truly afflicted by her death。〃
〃I am very glad of it；〃 said Catherine； 〃it would
have been very shocking！〃
〃If I understand you rightly； you had formed a
surmise of such horror as I have hardly words to Dear
Miss Morland； consider the dreadful nature of the suspicions
you have entertained。 What have you been judging from？
Remember the country and the age in which we live。
Remember that we are English； that we are Christians。
Consult your own understanding； your own sense of the probable；
your own observation of what is passing around you。
Does our education prepare us for such atrocities？ Do
our laws connive at them？ Could they be perpetrated
without being known； in a country like this； where social
and literary intercourse is on such a footing； where every
man is surrounded by a neighbourhood of voluntary spies；
and where roads and newspapers lay everything open？ Dearest
Miss Morland； what ideas have you been admitting？〃
They had reached the end of the gallery； and with
tears of shame she ran off to her own room。
CHAPTER 25
The visions of romance were over。 Catherine was
completely awakened。 Henry's address； short as it had been；
had more thoroughly opened her eyes to the extravagance of her
late fancies than all their several disappointments had done。
Most grievously was she humbled。 Most bitterly did she cry。
It was not only with herself that she was sunkbut
with Henry。 Her folly； which now seemed even criminal；
was all exposed to him； and he must despise her forever。
The liberty which her imagination had dared to take with
the character of his fathercould he ever forgive it？ The
absurdity of her curiosity and her fearscould they ever
be forgotten？ She hated herself more than she could express。
He hadshe thought he had； once or twice before this
fatal morning； shown something like affection for her。
But nowin short； she made herself as miserable as
possible for about half an hour； went down when the clock
struck five； with a broken heart； and could scarcely give
an intelligible answer to Eleanor's inquiry if she was well。
The formidable Henry soon followed her into the room；
and the only difference in his behaviour to her was
that he paid her rather more attention than usual。
Catherine had never wanted comfort more； and he looked
as if he was aware of it。
The evening wore away with no abatement of this
soothing politeness； and her spirits were gradually raised
to a modest tranquillity。 She did not learn either
to forget or defend the past； but she learned to hope
that it would never transpire farther； and that it might
not cost her Henry's entire regard。 Her thoughts being
still chiefly fixed on what she had with such causeless
terror felt and done； nothing could shortly be clearer than
that it had been all a voluntary； self…created delusion；
each trifling circumstance receiving importance from
an imagination resolved on alarm； and everything forced
to bend to one purpose by a mind which； before she
entered the abbey； had been craving to be frightened。
She remembered with what feelings she had prepared for a
knowledge of Northanger。 She saw that the infatuation
had been created； the mischief settled； long before her
quitting Bath； and it seemed as if the whole might be traced
to the influence of that sort of reading which she had
there indulged。
Charming as were all Mrs。 Radcliffe's works；
and charming even as were the works of all her imitators；
it was not in them perhaps that human nature； at least
in the Midland counties of England； was to be looked for。
Of the Alps and Pyrenees； with their pine forests and
their vices； they might give a faithful delineation；
and Italy； Switzerland； and the south of France might be
as fruitful in horrors as they were there represented。
Catherine dared not doubt beyond her own country； and even
of that； if hard pressed； would have yielded the northern
and western extremities。 But in the central part of
England there was surely some security for the existence
even of a wife not beloved； in the laws of the land；
and the manners of the age。 Murder was not tolerated；
servants were not slaves； and neither poison nor sleeping
potions to be procured； like rhubarb； from every druggist。
Among the Alps and Pyrenees； perhaps； there were no
mixed characters。 There； such as were not as spotless
as an angel might have the dispositions of a fiend。
But in England it was not so； among the English； she believed；
in their hearts and habits； there was a general though
unequal mixture of good and bad。 Upon this conviction；
she would not be surprised if even in Henry and Eleanor
Tilney； some slight imperfection might hereafter appear；
and upon this conviction she need not fear to acknowledge
some actual specks in the character of their father； who；
though cleared from the grossly injurious suspicions which
she must ever blush to have entertained； she did believe；
upon serious consideration； to be not perfectly amiable。
Her mind made up on these several points；
and her resolution formed； of always judging and acting
in future with the greatest good sense； she had nothing
to do but to forgive herself and be happier than ever；
and the lenient hand of time did much for her by
insensible gradations in the course of another day。
Henry's astonishing generosity an