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romantic alarm； in the consideration of their daughter's
long and lonely journey； Mr。 and Mrs。 Morland could
not but feel that it might have been productive of much
unpleasantness to her； that it was what they could never
have voluntarily suffered； and that； in forcing her on such
a measure； General Tilney had acted neither honourably
nor feelinglyneither as a gentleman nor as a parent。
Why he had done it； what could have provoked him to such
a breach of hospitality； and so suddenly turned all his
partial regard for their daughter into actual ill will；
was a matter which they were at least as far from
divining as Catherine herself； but it did not oppress
them by any means so long； and； after a due course
of useless conjecture； that 〃it was a strange business；
and that he must be a very strange man；〃 grew enough
for all their indignation and wonder； though Sarah indeed
still indulged in the sweets of incomprehensibility；
exclaiming and conjecturing with youthful ardour。 〃My dear；
you give yourself a great deal of needless trouble；〃
said her mother at last； 〃depend upon it； it is something
not at all worth understanding。〃
〃I can allow for his wishing Catherine away；
when he recollected this engagement；〃 said Sarah；
〃but why not do it civilly？〃
〃I am sorry for the young people；〃 returned Mrs。 Morland；
〃they must have a sad time of it； but as for anything else；
it is no matter now； Catherine is safe at home；
and our comfort does not depend upon General Tilney。〃
Catherine sighed。 〃Well；〃 continued her philosophic mother；
〃I am glad I did not know of your journey at the time；
but now it is an over； perhaps there is no great harm done。
It is always good for young people to be put upon
exerting themselves； and you know； my dear Catherine；
you always were a sad little shatter…brained creature；
but now you must have been forced to have your wits about you；
with so much changing of chaises and so forth； and I hope
it will appear that you have not left anything behind you
in any of the pockets。〃
Catherine hoped so too； and tried to feel an interest
in her own amendment； but her spirits were quite worn down；
and； to be silent and alone becoming soon her only wish；
she readily agreed to her mother's next counsel of going early
to bed。 Her parents； seeing nothing in her ill looks and
agitation but the natural consequence of mortified feelings；
and of the unusual exertion and fatigue of such a journey；
parted from her without any doubt of their being soon
slept away； and though； when they all met the next morning；
her recovery was not equal to their hopes； they were still
perfectly unsuspicious of there being any deeper evil。
They never once thought of her heart； which； for the
parents of a young lady of seventeen； just returned
from her first excursion from home； was odd enough！
As soon as breakfast was over； she sat down to fulfil
her promise to Miss Tilney； whose trust in the effect
of time and distance on her friend's disposition was
already justified； for already did Catherine reproach
herself with having parted from Eleanor coldly； with having
never enough valued her merits or kindness； and never
enough commiserated her for what she had been yesterday
left to endure。 The strength of these feelings； however；
was far from assisting her pen； and never had it been
harder for her to write than in addressing Eleanor Tilney。
To compose a letter which might at once do justice
to her sentiments and her situation； convey gratitude
without servile regret； be guarded without coldness；
and honest without resentmenta letter which Eleanor
might not be pained by the perusal ofand； above all；
which she might not blush herself； if Henry should chance
to see； was an undertaking to frighten away all her powers
of performance； and； after long thought and much perplexity；
to be very brief was all that she could determine on with any
confidence of safety。 The money therefore which Eleanor had
advanced was enclosed with little more than grateful thanks；
and the thousand good wishes of a most affectionate heart。
〃This has been a strange acquaintance；〃
observed Mrs。 Morland； as the letter was finished；
〃soon made and soon ended。 I am sorry it happens so；
for Mrs。 Allen thought them very pretty kind of young people；
and you were sadly out of luck too in your Isabella。
Ah！ Poor James！ Well； we must live and learn； and the next
new friends you make I hope will be better worth keeping。〃
Catherine coloured as she warmly answered； 〃No friend
can be better worth keeping than Eleanor。〃
〃If so； my dear； I dare say you will meet again some
time or other； do not be uneasy。 It is ten to one but you
are thrown together again in the course of a few years；
and then what a pleasure it will be！〃
Mrs。 Morland was not happy in her attempt at consolation。
The hope of meeting again in the course of a few years
could only put into Catherine's head what might happen
within that time to make a meeting dreadful to her。
She could never forget Henry Tilney； or think of him with
less tenderness than she did at that moment； but he might
forget her； and in that case； to meet！ Her eyes filled
with tears as she pictured her acquaintance so renewed；
and her mother； perceiving her comfortable suggestions
to have had no good effect； proposed； as another expedient
for restoring her spirits； that they should call on
Mrs。 Allen。
The two houses were only a quarter of a mile apart；
and； as they walked； Mrs。 Morland quickly dispatched all
that she felt on the score of James's disappointment。
〃We are sorry for him；〃 said she； 〃but otherwise there
is no harm done in the match going off； for it could not
be a desirable thing to have him engaged to a girl whom
we had not the smallest acquaintance with； and who was so
entirely without fortune； and now； after such behaviour；
we cannot think at all well of her。 Just at present it
comes hard to poor James； but that will not last forever；
and I dare say he will be a discreeter man all his life；
for the foolishness of his first choice。〃
This was just such a summary view of the affair
as Catherine could listen to； another sentence might have
endangered her complaisance； and made her reply less rational；
for soon were all her thinking powers swallowed up in
the reflection of her own change of feelings and spirits
since l