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been met near the abbey by his impatient father；
hastily informed in angry terms of Miss Morland's departure；
and ordered to think of her no more。
Such was the permission upon which he had now offered
her his hand。 The affrighted Catherine； amidst all the
terrors of expectation； as she listened to this account；
could not but rejoice in the kind caution with which Henry
had saved her from the necessity of a conscientious rejection；
by engaging her faith before he mentioned the subject；
and as he proceeded to give the particulars； and explain
the motives of his father's conduct； her feelings soon
hardened into even a triumphant delight。 The general had
had nothing to accuse her of； nothing to lay to her charge；
but her being the involuntary； unconscious object
of a deception which his pride could not pardon；
and which a better pride would have been ashamed to own。
She was guilty only of being less rich than he had supposed
her to be。 Under a mistaken persuasion of her possessions
and claims； he had courted her acquaintance in Bath；
solicited her company at Northanger； and designed her
for his daughter…in…law。 On discovering his error； to turn
her from the house seemed the best； though to his feelings
an inadequate proof of his resentment towards herself；
and his contempt of her family。
John Thorpe had first misled him。 The general；
perceiving his son one night at the theatre to be paying
considerable attention to Miss Morland； had accidentally
inquired of Thorpe if he knew more of her than her name。
Thorpe； most happy to be on speaking terms with a man
of General Tilney's importance； had been joyfully and
proudly communicative； and being at that time not only in daily
expectation of Morland's engaging Isabella； but likewise
pretty well resolved upon marrying Catherine himself；
his vanity induced him to represent the family as yet more
wealthy than his vanity and avarice had made him believe them。
With whomsoever he was； or was likely to be connected；
his own consequence always required that theirs should
be great； and as his intimacy with any acquaintance grew；
so regularly grew their fortune。 The expectations of his
friend Morland； therefore； from the first overrated；
had ever since his introduction to Isabella been
gradually increasing； and by merely adding twice as much
for the grandeur of the moment； by doubling what he
chose to think the amount of Mr。 Morland's preferment；
trebling his private fortune； bestowing a rich aunt；
and sinking half the children； he was able to represent
the whole family to the general in a most respectable light。
For Catherine； however； the peculiar object of the general's
curiosity； and his own speculations； he had yet something
more in reserve； and the ten or fifteen thousand pounds
which her father could give her would be a pretty addition
to Mr。 Allen's estate。 Her intimacy there had made him
seriously determine on her being handsomely legacied hereafter；
and to speak of her therefore as the almost acknowledged
future heiress of Fullerton naturally followed。
Upon such intelligence the general had proceeded；
for never had it occurred to him to doubt its authority。
Thorpe's interest in the family； by his sister's approaching
connection with one of its members； and his own views
on another （circumstances of which he boasted with almost
equal openness）； seemed sufficient vouchers for his truth；
and to these were added the absolute facts of the Allens
being wealthy and childless； of Miss Morland's being under
their care； andas soon as his acquaintance allowed him
to judgeof their treating her with parental kindness。
His resolution was soon formed。 Already had he discerned
a liking towards Miss Morland in the countenance of his son；
and thankful for Mr。 Thorpe's communication； he almost
instantly determined to spare no pains in weakening
his boasted interest and ruining his dearest hopes。
Catherine herself could not be more ignorant at the time
of all this； than his own children。 Henry and Eleanor；
perceiving nothing in her situation likely to engage their
father's particular respect； had seen with astonishment
the suddenness； continuance； and extent of his attention；
and though latterly； from some hints which had accompanied
an almost positive command to his son of doing everything
in his power to attach her； Henry was convinced of his
father's believing it to be an advantageous connection；
it was not till the late explanation at Northanger that they
had the smallest idea of the false calculations which
had hurried him on。 That they were false； the general
had learnt from the very person who had suggested them；
from Thorpe himself； whom he had chanced to meet again
in town； and who； under the influence of exactly
opposite feelings； irritated by Catherine's refusal；
and yet more by the failure of a very recent endeavour
to accomplish a reconciliation between Morland and Isabella；
convinced that they were separated forever； and spurning
a friendship which could be no longer serviceable；
hastened to contradict all that he had said before to the
advantage of the Morlandsconfessed himself to have been
totally mistaken in his opinion of their circumstances
and character； misled by the rhodomontade of his friend
to believe his father a man of substance and credit；
whereas the transactions of the two or three last weeks
proved him to be neither； for after coming eagerly forward
on the first overture of a marriage between the families；
with the most liberal proposals； he had； on being
brought to the point by the shrewdness of the relator；
been constrained to acknowledge himself incapable of giving
the young people even a decent support。 They were； in fact；
a necessitous family； numerous； too； almost beyond example；
by no means respected in their own neighbourhood； as he
had lately had particular opportunities of discovering；
aiming at a style of life which their fortune could not warrant；
seeking to better themselves by wealthy connections；
a forward； bragging； scheming race。
The terrified general pronounced the name of Allen
with an inquiring look； and here too Thorpe had learnt
his error。 The Allens； he believed； had lived near them
too long； and he knew the young man on whom the Fullerton
estate must devolve。 The general needed no more。
Enraged with almost everybody in the world but himself；
he set out the next day for the abbey； where his performances