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to be read by their own heroine； who； if she accidentally
take up a novel； is sure to turn over its insipid pages
with disgust。 Alas！ If the heroine of one novel be not
patronized by the heroine of another； from whom can she
expect protection and regard？ I cannot approve of it。
Let us leave it to the reviewers to abuse such effusions
of fancy at their leisure； and over every new novel
to talk in threadbare strains of the trash with which
the press now groans。 Let us not desert one another；
we are an injured body。 Although our productions have
afforded more extensive and unaffected pleasure than
those of any other literary corporation in the world；
no species of composition has been so much decried。
From pride； ignorance； or fashion； our foes are almost
as many as our readers。 And while the abilities of
the nine…hundredth abridger of the History of England；
or of the man who collects and publishes in a volume some
dozen lines of Milton； Pope； and Prior； with a paper from
the Spectator； and a chapter from Sterne； are eulogized
by a thousand pensthere seems almost a general wish
of decrying the capacity and undervaluing the labour
of the novelist； and of slighting the performances which
have only genius； wit； and taste to recommend them。
〃I am no novel…readerI seldom look into novelsDo
not imagine that I often read novelsIt is really
very well for a novel。〃 Such is the common cant。
〃And what are you reading； Miss？〃 〃Oh！ It is only
a novel！〃 replies the young lady； while she lays down her
book with affected indifference； or momentary shame。
〃It is only Cecilia； or Camilla； or Belinda〃； or； in short；
only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind
are displayed； in which the most thorough knowledge of
human nature； the happiest delineation of its varieties；
the liveliest effusions of wit and humour； are conveyed
to the world in the best…chosen language。 Now； had the same
young lady been engaged with a volume of the Spectator；
instead of such a work； how proudly would she have
produced the book； and told its name； though the chances
must be against her being occupied by any part of that
voluminous publication； of which either the matter or manner
would not disgust a young person of taste： the substance
of its papers so often consisting in the statement of
improbable circumstances； unnatural characters； and topics
of conversation which no longer concern anyone living；
and their language； too； frequently so coarse as to give
no very favourable idea of the age that could endure it。
CHAPTER 6
The following conversation； which took place
between the two friends in the pump…room one morning；
after an acquaintance of eight or nine days； is given
as a specimen of their very warm attachment； and of
the delicacy； discretion； originality of thought； and literary
taste which marked the reasonableness of that attachment。
They met by appointment； and as Isabella had arrived
nearly five minutes before her friend； her first address
naturally was； 〃My dearest creature； what can have made
you so late？ I have been waiting for you at least this age！〃
〃Have you； indeed！ I am very sorry for it； but really
I thought I was in very good time。 It is but just one。
I hope you have not been here long？〃
〃Oh！ These ten ages at least。 I am sure I have
been here this half hour。 But now； let us go and sit
down at the other end of the room； and enjoy ourselves。
I have an hundred things to say to you。 In the
first place； I was so afraid it would rain this morning；
just as I wanted to set off； it looked very showery；
and that would have thrown me into agonies！ Do you know；
I saw the prettiest hat you can imagine； in a shop
window in Milsom Street just nowvery like yours；
only with coquelicot ribbons instead of green； I quite
longed for it。 But； my dearest Catherine； what have you
been doing with yourself all this morning？ Have you gone
on with Udolpho？〃
〃Yes； I have been reading it ever since I woke；
and I am got to the black veil。〃
〃Are you； indeed？ How delightful！ Oh！ I would not
tell you what is behind the black veil for the world！
Are not you wild to know？〃
〃Oh！ Yes； quite； what can it be？ But do not tell
meI would not be told upon any account。 I know it must
be a skeleton； I am sure it is Laurentina's skeleton。
Oh！ I am delighted with the book！ I should like to spend
my whole life in reading it。 I assure you； if it had
not been to meet you； I would not have come away from it
for all the world。〃
〃Dear creature！ How much I am obliged to you；
and when you have finished Udolpho； we will read the
Italian together； and I have made out a list of ten
or twelve more of the same kind for you。〃
〃Have you； indeed！ How glad I am！ What are they all？〃
〃I will read you their names directly； here they are；
in my pocketbook。 Castle of Wolfenbach； Clermont；
Mysterious Warnings； Necromancer of the Black Forest；
Midnight Bell； Orphan of the Rhine； and Horrid Mysteries。
Those will last us some time。〃
〃Yes； pretty well； but are they all horrid； are you
sure they are all horrid？〃
〃Yes； quite sure； for a particular friend of mine；
a Miss Andrews； a sweet girl； one of the sweetest creatures
in the world； has read every one of them。 I wish you
knew Miss Andrews； you would be delighted with her。
She is netting herself the sweetest cloak you can conceive。
I think her as beautiful as an angel； and I am so vexed
with the men for not admiring her！ I scold them all amazingly
about it。〃
〃Scold them！ Do you scold them for not admiring her？〃
〃Yes； that I do。 There is nothing I would not do
for those who are really my friends。 I have no notion
of loving people by halves； it is not my nature。
My attachments are always excessively strong。 I told
Captain Hunt at one of our assemblies this winter that if he
was to tease me all night； I would not dance with him；
unless he would allow Miss Andrews to be as beautiful as
an angel。 The men think us incapable of real friendship；
you know； and I am determined to show them the difference。
Now； if I were to hear anybody speak slightingly of you；
I should fire up in a moment： but that is not at all likely；
for you are just the kind of girl to be a great favourite
with the men。〃
〃Oh；