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at the time； and said every eye was upon me； but he
is the last man whose word I would take。 I wear
nothing but purple now： I know I look hideous in
it； but no matter it is your dear brother's
favourite colour。 Lose no time； my dearest； sweetest
Catherine； in writing to him and to me；
Who ever am； etc。
Such a strain of shallow artifice could not impose
even upon Catherine。 Its inconsistencies； contradictions；
and falsehood struck her from the very first。 She was
ashamed of Isabella； and ashamed of having ever loved her。
Her professions of attachment were now as disgusting
as her excuses were empty； and her demands impudent。
〃Write to James on her behalf！ No； James should never hear
Isabella's name mentioned by her again。〃
On Henry's arrival from Woodston； she made known to him
and Eleanor their brother's safety； congratulating them
with sincerity on it； and reading aloud the most material
passages of her letter with strong indignation。
When she had finished it〃So much for Isabella；〃
she cried； 〃and for all our intimacy！ She must think me
an idiot； or she could not have written so； but perhaps
this has served to make her character better known to me
than mine is to her。 I see what she has been about。
She is a vain coquette； and her tricks have not answered。
I do not believe she had ever any regard either for James
or for me； and I wish I had never known her。〃
〃It will soon be as if you never had；〃 said Henry。
〃There is but one thing that I cannot understand。
I see that she has had designs on Captain Tilney； which have
not succeeded； but I do not understand what Captain Tilney
has been about all this time。 Why should he pay her
such attentions as to make her quarrel with my brother；
and then fly off himself？〃
〃I have very little to say for Frederick's motives；
such as I believe them to have been。 He has his vanities
as well as Miss Thorpe； and the chief difference is； that；
having a stronger head； they have not yet injured himself。
If the effect of his behaviour does not justify him with you；
we had better not seek after the cause。〃
〃Then you do not suppose he ever really cared about her？〃
〃I am persuaded that he never did。〃
〃And only made believe to do so for mischief's sake？〃
Henry bowed his assent。
〃Well； then； I must say that I do not like him at all。
Though it has turned out so well for us； I do not like him
at all。 As it happens； there is no great harm done；
because I do not think Isabella has any heart to lose。
But； suppose he had made her very much in love with him？〃
〃But we must first suppose Isabella to have had a heart
to loseconsequently to have been a very different creature；
and； in that case； she would have met with very different treatment。〃
〃It is very right that you should stand by your brother。〃
〃And if you would stand by yours； you would not be
much distressed by the disappointment of Miss Thorpe。
But your mind is warped by an innate principle of
general integrity； and therefore not accessible to the cool
reasonings of family partiality； or a desire of revenge。〃
Catherine was complimented out of further bitterness。
Frederick could not be unpardonably guilty； while Henry
made himself so agreeable。 She resolved on not answering
Isabella's letter； and tried to think no more of it。
CHAPTER 28
Soon after this； the general found himself obliged
to go to London for a week； and he left Northanger
earnestly regretting that any necessity should rob him
even for an hour of Miss Morland's company； and anxiously
recommending the study of her comfort and amusement
to his children as their chief object in his absence。
His departure gave Catherine the first experimental conviction
that a loss may be sometimes a gain。 The happiness with
which their time now passed； every employment voluntary；
every laugh indulged； every meal a scene of ease and
good humour； walking where they liked and when they liked；
their hours； pleasures； and fatigues at their own command；
made her thoroughly sensible of the restraint which the
general's presence had imposed； and most thankfully feel
their present release from it。 Such ease and such delights
made her love the place and the people more and more
every day； and had it not been for a dread of its soon
becoming expedient to leave the one； and an apprehension
of not being equally beloved by the other； she would at
each moment of each day have been perfectly happy； but she
was now in the fourth week of her visit； before the general
came home； the fourth week would be turned； and perhaps
it might seem an intrusion if she stayed much longer。
This was a painful consideration whenever it occurred；
and eager to get rid of such a weight on her mind；
she very soon resolved to speak to Eleanor about it
at once； propose going away； and be guided in her conduct
by the manner in which her proposal might be taken。
Aware that if she gave herself much time； she might
feel it difficult to bring forward so unpleasant
a subject； she took the first opportunity of being
suddenly alone with Eleanor； and of Eleanor's being
in the middle of a speech about something very different；
to start forth her obligation of going away very soon。
Eleanor looked and declared herself much concerned。
She had 〃hoped for the pleasure of her company for a much
longer timehad been misled （perhaps by her wishes）
to suppose that a much longer visit had been promisedand
could not but think that if Mr。 and Mrs。 Morland were
aware of the pleasure it was to her to have her there；
they would be too generous to hasten her return。〃
Catherine explained： 〃Oh！ As to that； Papa and Mamma were
in no hurry at all。 As long as she was happy； they would
always be satisfied。〃
〃Then why； might she ask； in such a hurry herself
to leave them？〃
〃Oh！ Because she had been there so long。〃
〃Nay； if you can use such a word； I can urge you
no farther。 If you think it long〃
〃Oh！ No； I do not indeed。 For my own pleasure； I could
stay with you as long again。〃 And it was directly settled that；
till she had； her leaving them was not even to be thought of。
In having this cause of uneasines