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was not objectionable as a common acquaintance for his
young charge he was on inquiry satisfied； for he had early
in the evening taken pains to know who her partner was；
and had been assured of Mr。 Tilney's being a clergyman；
and of a very respectable family in Gloucestershire。
CHAPTER 4
With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hasten
to the pump…room the next day； secure within herself
of seeing Mr。 Tilney there before the morning were over；
and ready to meet him with a smile； but no smile was
demandedMr。 Tilney did not appear。 Every creature in Bath；
except himself； was to be seen in the room at different
periods of the fashionable hours； crowds of people were
every moment passing in and out； up the steps and down；
people whom nobody cared about； and nobody wanted to see；
and he only was absent。 〃What a delightful place Bath is；〃
said Mrs。 Allen as they sat down near the great clock；
after parading the room till they were tired； 〃and how
pleasant it would be if we had any acquaintance here。〃
This sentiment had been uttered so often in vain
that Mrs。 Allen had no particular reason to hope it would
be followed with more advantage now； but we are told
to 〃despair of nothing we would attain；〃 as 〃unwearied
diligence our point would gain〃； and the unwearied diligence
with which she had every day wished for the same thing
was at length to have its just reward； for hardly had she
been seated ten minutes before a lady of about her own age；
who was sitting by her； and had been looking at her attentively
for several minutes； addressed her with great complaisance
in these words： 〃I think； madam； I cannot be mistaken；
it is a long time since I had the pleasure of seeing you；
but is not your name Allen？〃 This question answered； as it
readily was； the stranger pronounced hers to be Thorpe；
and Mrs。 Allen immediately recognized the features
of a former schoolfellow and intimate； whom she had seen
only once since their respective marriages； and that many
years ago。 Their joy on this meeting was very great；
as well it might； since they had been contented to know
nothing of each other for the last fifteen years。
Compliments on good looks now passed； and； after observing
how time had slipped away since they were last together；
how little they had thought of meeting in Bath； and what
a pleasure it was to see an old friend； they proceeded
to make inquiries and give intelligence as to their
families； sisters； and cousins； talking both together；
far more ready to give than to receive information；
and each hearing very little of what the other said。
Mrs。 Thorpe； however； had one great advantage as a talker；
over Mrs。 Allen； in a family of children； and when she
expatiated on the talents of her sons； and the beauty of
her daughters； when she related their different situations
and viewsthat John was at Oxford； Edward at Merchant
Taylors'； and William at seaand all of them more beloved
and respected in their different station than any other
three beings ever were； Mrs。 Allen had no similar information
to give； no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling
and unbelieving ear of her friend； and was forced to sit
and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions；
consoling herself； however； with the discovery； which her
keen eye soon made； that the lace on Mrs。 Thorpe's
pelisse was not half so handsome as that on her own。
〃Here come my dear girls；〃 cried Mrs。 Thorpe；
pointing at three smart…looking females who； arm in arm；
were then moving towards her。 〃My dear Mrs。 Allen；
I long to introduce them； they will be so delighted to see
you： the tallest is Isabella； my eldest； is not she a fine
young woman？ The others are very much admired too； but I
believe Isabella is the handsomest。〃
The Miss Thorpes were introduced； and Miss Morland；
who had been for a short time forgotten； was introduced likewise。
The name seemed to strike them all； and； after speaking
to her with great civility； the eldest young lady observed
aloud to the rest； 〃How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is！〃
〃The very picture of him indeed！〃 cried the motherand
〃I should have known her anywhere for his sister！〃
was repeated by them all； two or three times over。
For a moment Catherine was surprised； but Mrs。 Thorpe
and her daughters had scarcely begun the history of their
acquaintance with Mr。 James Morland； before she remembered
that her eldest brother had lately formed an intimacy
with a young man of his own college； of the name of Thorpe；
and that he had spent the last week of the Christmas
vacation with his family； near London。
The whole being explained； many obliging things were
said by the Miss Thorpes of their wish of being better
acquainted with her； of being considered as already friends；
through the friendship of their brothers； etc。； which
Catherine heard with pleasure； and answered with all the
pretty expressions she could command； and； as the first
proof of amity； she was soon invited to accept an arm
of the eldest Miss Thorpe； and take a turn with her about
the room。 Catherine was delighted with this extension
of her Bath acquaintance； and almost forgot Mr。 Tilney
while she talked to Miss Thorpe。 Friendship is certainly
the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love。
Their conversation turned upon those subjects；
of which the free discussion has generally much to do
in perfecting a sudden intimacy between two young
ladies： such as dress； balls； flirtations； and quizzes。
Miss Thorpe； however； being four years older than
Miss Morland； and at least four years better informed；
had a very decided advantage in discussing such points；
she could compare the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge；
its fashions with the fashions of London； could rectify
the opinions of her new friend in many articles of
tasteful attire； could discover a flirtation between
any gentleman and lady who only smiled on each other；
and point out a quiz through the thickness of a crowd。
These powers received due admiration from Catherine；
to whom they were entirely new； and the respect which they
naturally inspired might have been too great for familiarity；
had not the easy gaiety of Miss Thorpe's manners；
and her frequent expressions of delight on this
acquaintance with her； softened down every feeling of awe；
and left nothing but tender affection。 Their increasing