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〃It contained something worse than anybody could
suppose！ Poor James is so unhappy！ You will soon know why。〃
〃To have so kind…hearted； so affectionate a sister；〃
replied Henry warmly； 〃must be a comfort to him under
any distress。〃
〃I have one favour to beg；〃 said Catherine；
shortly afterwards； in an agitated manner； 〃that； if
your brother should be coming here； you will give
me notice of it； that I may go away。〃
〃Our brother！ Frederick！〃
〃Yes； I am sure I should be very sorry to leave you
so soon； but something has happened that would make it very
dreadful for me to be in the same house with Captain Tilney。〃
Eleanor's work was suspended while she gazed with
increasing astonishment； but Henry began to suspect the truth；
and something； in which Miss Thorpe's name was included；
passed his lips。
〃How quick you are！〃 cried Catherine： 〃you have
guessed it； I declare！ And yet； when we talked about
it in Bath； you little thought of its ending so。
Isabellano wonder now I have not heard from herIsabella
has deserted my brother； and is to marry yours！ Could
you have believed there had been such inconstancy
and fickleness； and everything that is bad in the world？〃
〃I hope； so far as concerns my brother； you are misinformed。
I hope he has not had any material share in bringing on
Mr。 Morland's disappointment。 His marrying Miss Thorpe
is not probable。 I think you must be deceived so far。
I am very sorry for Mr。 Morlandsorry that anyone you
love should be unhappy； but my surprise would be greater
at Frederick's marrying her than at any other part of the story。〃
〃It is very true； however； you shall read
James's letter yourself。 Stay There is one part〃
recollecting with a blush the last line。
〃Will you take the trouble of reading to us
the passages which concern my brother？〃
〃No； read it yourself；〃 cried Catherine； whose second
thoughts were clearer。 〃I do not know what I was
thinking of〃 （blushing again that she had blushed before）；
〃James only means to give me good advice。〃
He gladly received the letter； and； having read
it through； with close attention； returned it saying；
〃Well； if it is to be so； I can only say that I am sorry
for it。 Frederick will not be the first man who has
chosen a wife with less sense than his family expected。
I do not envy his situation； either as a lover or a son。〃
Miss Tilney； at Catherine's invitation； now read
the letter likewise； and； having expressed also her
concern and surprise； began to inquire into Miss Thorpe's
connections and fortune。
〃Her mother is a very good sort of woman；〃
was Catherine's answer。
〃What was her father？〃
〃A lawyer； I believe。 They live at Putney。〃
〃Are they a wealthy family？〃
〃No； not very。 I do not believe Isabella has any
fortune at all： but that will not signify in your family。
Your father is so very liberal！ He told me the other day
that he only valued money as it allowed him to promote the
happiness of his children。〃 The brother and sister looked
at each other。 〃But；〃 said Eleanor； after a short pause；
〃would it be to promote his happiness； to enable him
to marry such a girl？ She must be an unprincipled one；
or she could not have used your brother so。 And how
strange an infatuation on Frederick's side！ A girl who；
before his eyes； is violating an engagement voluntarily
entered into with another man！ Is not it inconceivable；
Henry？ Frederick too； who always wore his heart so proudly！
Who found no woman good enough to be loved！〃
〃That is the most unpromising circumstance；
the strongest presumption against him。 When I think
of his past declarations； I give him up。 Moreover； I have
too good an opinion of Miss Thorpe's prudence to suppose
that she would part with one gentleman before the other
was secured。 It is all over with Frederick indeed！ He is
a deceased mandefunct in understanding。 Prepare for your
sister…in…law； Eleanor； and such a sister…in…law as you must
delight in！ Open； candid； artless； guileless； with affections
strong but simple； forming no pretensions； and knowing no disguise。〃
〃Such a sister…in…law； Henry； I should delight in；〃
said Eleanor with a smile。
〃But perhaps；〃 observed Catherine； 〃though she has
behaved so ill by our family； she may behave better
by yours。 Now she has really got the man she likes；
she may be constant。〃
〃Indeed I am afraid she will；〃 replied Henry；
〃I am afraid she will be very constant； unless a baronet
should come in her way； that is Frederick's only chance。
I will get the Bath paper； and look over the arrivals。〃
〃You think it is all for ambition； then？ And；
upon my word； there are some things that seem very like it。
I cannot forget that； when she first knew what my father
would do for them； she seemed quite disappointed that it
was not more。 I never was so deceived in anyone's character
in my life before。〃
〃Among all the great variety that you have known
and studied。〃
〃My own disappointment and loss in her is very great；
but； as for poor James； I suppose he will hardly ever
recover it。〃
〃Your brother is certainly very much to be pitied
at present； but we must not； in our concern for
his sufferings； undervalue yours。 You feel； I suppose；
that in losing Isabella； you lose half yourself： you feel
a void in your heart which nothing else can occupy。
Society is becoming irksome； and as for the amusements
in which you were wont to share at Bath； the very idea
of them without her is abhorrent。 You would not；
for instance； now go to a ball for the world。 You feel
that you have no longer any friend to whom you can speak
with unreserve； on whose regard you can place dependence；
or whose counsel； in any difficulty； you could rely on。
You feel all this？〃
〃No；〃 said Catherine； after a few moments' reflection；
〃I do notought I？ To say the truth； though I am hurt
and grieved； that I cannot still love her； that I am
never to hear from her； perhaps never to see her again；
I do not feel so very； very much afflicted as one would have thought。〃
〃You feel； as you always do； what is most to the credit
of human nature。 Such feelings ought to be investigated；