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acquaintance with her； softened down every feeling of awe；
and left nothing but tender affection。 Their increasing
attachment was not to be satisfied with half a dozen
turns in the pump…room； but required； when they all
quitted it together； that Miss Thorpe should accompany
Miss Morland to the very door of Mr。 Allen's house；
and that they should there part with a most affectionate
and lengthened shake of hands； after learning； to their
mutual relief； that they should see each other across the
theatre at night； and say their prayers in the same chapel
the next morning。 Catherine then ran directly upstairs；
and watched Miss Thorpe's progress down the street from
the drawing…room window； admired the graceful spirit
of her walk； the fashionable air of her figure and dress；
and felt grateful； as well she might； for the chance
which had procured her such a friend。
Mrs。 Thorpe was a widow； and not a very rich one；
she was a good…humoured； well…meaning woman； and a
very indulgent mother。 Her eldest daughter had great
personal beauty； and the younger ones； by pretending
to be as handsome as their sister； imitating her air；
and dressing in the same style； did very well。
This brief account of the family is intended to
supersede the necessity of a long and minute detail from
Mrs。 Thorpe herself； of her past adventures and sufferings；
which might otherwise be expected to occupy the three or four
following chapters； in which the worthlessness of lords
and attornies might be set forth； and conversations；
which had passed twenty years before； be minutely repeated。
CHAPTER 5
Catherine was not so much engaged at the theatre
that evening； in returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe；
though they certainly claimed much of her leisure；
as to forget to look with an inquiring eye for Mr。 Tilney
in every box which her eye could reach； but she looked
in vain。 Mr。 Tilney was no fonder of the play than the
pump…room。 She hoped to be more fortunate the next day；
and when her wishes for fine weather were answered by seeing
a beautiful morning； she hardly felt a doubt of it； for a
fine Sunday in Bath empties every house of its inhabitants；
and all the world appears on such an occasion to walk
about and tell their acquaintance what a charming day it is。
As soon as divine service was over； the Thorpes
and Allens eagerly joined each other； and after staying
long enough in the pump…room to discover that the crowd
was insupportable； and that there was not a genteel
face to be seen； which everybody discovers every Sunday
throughout the season； they hastened away to the Crescent；
to breathe the fresh air of better company。 Here Catherine
and Isabella； arm in arm； again tasted the sweets of
friendship in an unreserved conversation； they talked much；
and with much enjoyment； but again was Catherine disappointed
in her hope of reseeing her partner。 He was nowhere to be
met with； every search for him was equally unsuccessful；
in morning lounges or evening assemblies； neither at
the upper nor lower rooms； at dressed or undressed balls；
was he perceivable； nor among the walkers； the horsemen；
or the curricle…drivers of the morning。 His name was not
in the pump…room book； and curiosity could do no more。
He must be gone from Bath。 Yet he had not mentioned that
his stay would be so short！ This sort of mysteriousness；
which is always so becoming in a hero； threw a fresh grace
in Catherine's imagination around his person and manners；
and increased her anxiety to know more of him。
From the Thorpes she could learn nothing； for they had been
only two days in Bath before they met with Mrs。 Allen。
It was a subject； however； in which she often indulged
with her fair friend； from whom she received every possible
encouragement to continue to think of him； and his impression
on her fancy was not suffered therefore to weaken。
Isabella was very sure that he must be a charming young man；
and was equally sure that he must have been delighted with
her dear Catherine； and would therefore shortly return。
She liked him the better for being a clergyman； 〃for she
must confess herself very partial to the profession〃；
and something like a sigh escaped her as she said it。
Perhaps Catherine was wrong in not demanding the cause
of that gentle emotionbut she was not experienced enough
in the finesse of love； or the duties of friendship；
to know when delicate raillery was properly called for；
or when a confidence should be forced。
Mrs。 Allen was now quite happyquite satisfied
with Bath。 She had found some acquaintance； had been
so lucky too as to find in them the family of a most
worthy old friend； and； as the completion of good fortune；
had found these friends by no means so expensively dressed
as herself。 Her daily expressions were no longer； 〃I wish
we had some acquaintance in Bath！〃 They were changed into；
〃How glad I am we have met with Mrs。 Thorpe！〃 and she was
as eager in promoting the intercourse of the two families；
as her young charge and Isabella themselves could be；
never satisfied with the day unless she spent the
chief of it by the side of Mrs。 Thorpe； in what they
called conversation； but in which there was scarcely ever
any exchange of opinion； and not often any resemblance
of subject； for Mrs。 Thorpe talked chiefly of her children；
and Mrs。 Allen of her gowns。
The progress of the friendship between Catherine
and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm；
and they passed so rapidly through every gradation
of increasing tenderness that there was shortly no fresh
proof of it to be given to their friends or themselves。
They called each other by their Christian name； were always
arm in arm when they walked； pinned up each other's train
for the dance； and were not to be divided in the set；
and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments；
they were still resolute in meeting in defiance of wet
and dirt； and shut themselves up； to read novels together。
Yes； novels； for I will not adopt that ungenerous and
impolitic custom so common with novel…writers； of degrading
by their contemptuous censure the very performances；
to the number of which they are themselves addingjoining
with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest
epithets on such works； and scarcely ever permitting them
to be read by their own heroine； who； if she accidentally
take up a