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After a short silence〃I hope； my Catherine； you are
not getting out of humour with home because it is not
so grand as Northanger。 That would be turning your visit
into an evil indeed。 Wherever you are you should always
be contented； but especially at home； because there you
must spend the most of your time。 I did not quite like；
at breakfast； to hear you talk so much about the French
bread at Northanger。〃
〃I am sure I do not care about the bread。
it is all the same to me what I eat。〃
〃There is a very clever essay in one of the books
upstairs upon much such a subject； about young girls that
have been spoilt for home by great acquaintanceThe Mirror；
I think。 I will look it out for you some day or other；
because I am sure it will do you good。〃
Catherine said no more； and； with an endeavour to do right；
applied to her work； but； after a few minutes； sunk again；
without knowing it herself； into languor and listlessness；
moving herself in her chair； from the irritation
of weariness； much oftener than she moved her needle。
Mrs。 Morland watched the progress of this relapse；
and seeing； in her daughter's absent and dissatisfied look；
the full proof of that repining spirit to which she
had now begun to attribute her want of cheerfulness；
hastily left the room to fetch the book in question；
anxious to lose no time in attacking so dreadful a malady。
It was some time before she could find what she looked for；
and other family matters occurring to detain her；
a quarter of an hour had elapsed ere she returned
downstairs with the volume from which so much was hoped。
Her avocations above having shut out all noise but what she
created herself； she knew not that a visitor had arrived
within the last few minutes； till； on entering the room；
the first object she beheld was a young man whom she
had never seen before。 With a look of much respect；
he immediately rose； and being introduced to her by her
conscious daughter as 〃Mr。 Henry Tilney；〃 with the
embarrassment of real sensibility began to apologize
for his appearance there； acknowledging that after
what had passed he had little right to expect a welcome
at Fullerton； and stating his impatience to be assured
of Miss Morland's having reached her home in safety；
as the cause of his intrusion。 He did not address himself
to an uncandid judge or a resentful heart。 Far from
comprehending him or his sister in their father's misconduct；
Mrs。 Morland had been always kindly disposed towards each；
and instantly； pleased by his appearance； received him
with the simple professions of unaffected benevolence；
thanking him for such an attention to her daughter；
assuring him that the friends of her children were always
welcome there； and entreating him to say not another word of
the past。
He was not ill…inclined to obey this request； for；
though his heart was greatly relieved by such unlooked…for
mildness； it was not just at that moment in his power
to say anything to the purpose。 Returning in silence
to his seat； therefore； he remained for some minutes most
civilly answering all Mrs。 Morland's common remarks about
the weather and roads。 Catherine meanwhilethe anxious；
agitated； happy； feverish Catherinesaid not a word；
but her glowing cheek and brightened eye made her mother
trust that this good…natured visit would at least set
her heart at ease for a time； and gladly therefore
did she lay aside the first volume of The Mirror for a future hour。
Desirous of Mr。 Morland's assistance； as well in
giving encouragement； as in finding conversation for
her guest； whose embarrassment on his father's account she
earnestly pitied； Mrs。 Morland had very early dispatched
one of the children to summon him； but Mr。 Morland was from
homeand being thus without any support； at the end of a
quarter of an hour she had nothing to say。 After a couple
of minutes' unbroken silence； Henry； turning to Catherine
for the first time since her mother's entrance； asked her；
with sudden alacrity； if Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen were now at
Fullerton？ And on developing； from amidst all her perplexity
of words in reply； the meaning； which one short syllable
would have given； immediately expressed his intention
of paying his respects to them； and； with a rising colour；
asked her if she would have the goodness to show him
the way。 〃You may see the house from this window； sir；〃
was information on Sarah's side； which produced only a bow
of acknowledgment from the gentleman； and a silencing nod
from her mother； for Mrs。 Morland； thinking it probable；
as a secondary consideration in his wish of waiting on their
worthy neighbours； that he might have some explanation
to give of his father's behaviour； which it must be
more pleasant for him to communicate only to Catherine；
would not on any account prevent her accompanying him。
They began their walk； and Mrs。 Morland was not entirely
mistaken in his object in wishing it。 Some explanation
on his father's account he had to give； but his first
purpose was to explain himself； and before they reached
Mr。 Allen's grounds he had done it so well that Catherine
did not think it could ever be repeated too often。
She was assured of his affection； and that heart in return
was solicited； which； perhaps； they pretty equally knew
was already entirely his own； for； though Henry was now
sincerely attached to her； though he felt and delighted
in all the excellencies of her character and truly loved
her society； I must confess that his affection originated
in nothing better than gratitude； or； in other words；
that a persuasion of her partiality for him had been the
only cause of giving her a serious thought。 It is a new
circumstance in romance； I acknowledge； and dreadfully
derogatory of an heroine's dignity； but if it be as new
in common life； the credit of a wild imagination will
at least be all my own。
A very short visit to Mrs。 Allen； in which Henry talked
at random； without sense or connection； and Catherine；
rapt in the contemplation of her own unutterable happiness；
scarcely opened her lips； dismissed them to the ecstasies
of another tete…a…tete； and before it was suffered to close；
she was enabled to judge how far he was sanctioned
by parental authority in his present application。
On his return from Woodston； two days before； he had
been met near the abbey by his impatient father；
hastily informed in angry terms of Miss Morlan