Chapter 4

by Jane Austen

　　With more than usual eagerness did Catherine hastento the pump-room the next day, secure within herselfof seeing Mr. Tilney there before the morning were over,and ready to meet him with a smile; but no smile wasdemanded--Mr. Tilney did not appear. Every creature in Bath,except himself, was to be seen in the room at differentperiods of the fashionable hours; crowds of people wereevery moment passing in and out, up the steps and down;people whom nobody cared about, and nobody wanted to see;and he only was absent. "What a delightful place Bath is,"said Mrs. Allen as they sat down near the great clock,after parading the room till they were tired; "and howpleasant it would be if we had any acquaintance here."

　　This sentiment had been uttered so often in vainthat Mrs. Allen had no particular reason to hope it wouldbe followed with more advantage now; but we are toldto "despair of nothing we would attain," as "unwearieddiligence our point would gain"; and the unwearied diligencewith which she had every day wished for the same thingwas at length to have its just reward, for hardly had shebeen seated ten minutes before a lady of about her own age,who was sitting by her, and had been looking at her attentivelyfor several minutes, addressed her with great complaisancein these words: "I think, madam, I cannot be mistaken;it is a long time since I had the pleasure of seeing you,but is not your name Allen?" This question answered, as itreadily was, the stranger pronounced hers to be Thorpe;and Mrs. Allen immediately recognized the featuresof a former schoolfellow and intimate, whom she had seenonly once since their respective marriages, and that manyyears ago. Their joy on this meeting was very great,as well it might, since they had been contented to knownothing of each other for the last fifteen years.Compliments on good looks now passed; and, after observinghow time had slipped away since they were last together,how little they had thought of meeting in Bath, and whata pleasure it was to see an old friend, they proceededto make inquiries and give intelligence as to theirfamilies, sisters, and cousins, talking both together,far more ready to give than to receive information,and each hearing very little of what the other said.Mrs. Thorpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker,over Mrs. Allen, in a family of children; and when sheexpatiated on the talents of her sons, and the beauty ofher daughters, when she related their different situationsand views--that John was at Oxford, Edward at MerchantTaylors', and William at sea--and all of them more belovedand respected in their different station than any otherthree beings ever were, Mrs. Allen had no similar informationto give, no similar triumphs to press on the unwillingand unbelieving ear of her friend, and was forced to sitand appear to listen to all these maternal effusions,consoling herself, however, with the discovery, which herkeen eye soon made, that the lace on Mrs. Thorpe'spelisse was not half so handsome as that on her own.

　　"Here come my dear girls," cried Mrs. Thorpe,pointing at three smart-looking females who, arm in arm,were then moving towards her. "My dear Mrs. Allen,I long to introduce them; they will be so delighted to seeyou: the tallest is Isabella, my eldest; is not she a fineyoung woman? The others are very much admired too, but Ibelieve Isabella is the handsomest."

　　The Miss Thorpes were introduced; and Miss Morland,who had been for a short time forgotten, was introduced likewise.The name seemed to strike them all; and, after speakingto her with great civility, the eldest young lady observedaloud to the rest, "How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is!"

　　"The very picture of him indeed!" cried the mother--and"I should have known her anywhere for his sister!"was repeated by them all, two or three times over.For a moment Catherine was surprised; but Mrs. Thorpeand her daughters had scarcely begun the history of theiracquaintance with Mr. James Morland, before she rememberedthat her eldest brother had lately formed an intimacywith a young man of his own college, of the name of Thorpe;and that he had spent the last week of the Christmasvacation with his family, near London.

　　The whole being explained, many obliging things weresaid by the Miss Thorpes of their wish of being betteracquainted with her; of being considered as already friends,through the friendship of their brothers, etc., whichCatherine heard with pleasure, and answered with all thepretty expressions she could command; and, as the firstproof of amity, she was soon invited to accept an armof the eldest Miss Thorpe, and take a turn with her aboutthe room. Catherine was delighted with this extensionof her Bath acquaintance, and almost forgot Mr. Tilneywhile she talked to Miss Thorpe. Friendship is certainlythe finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.

　　Their conversation turned upon those subjects,of which the free discussion has generally much to doin perfecting a sudden intimacy between two youngladies: such as dress, balls, flirtations, and quizzes.Miss Thorpe, however, being four years older thanMiss Morland, and at least four years better informed,had a very decided advantage in discussing such points;she could compare the balls of Bath with those of Tunbridge,its fashions with the fashions of London; could rectifythe opinions of her new friend in many articles oftasteful attire; could discover a flirtation betweenany gentleman and lady who only smiled on each other;and point out a quiz through the thickness of a crowd.These powers received due admiration from Catherine,to whom they were entirely new; and the respect which theynaturally inspired might have been too great for familiarity,had not the easy gaiety of Miss Thorpe's manners,and her frequent expressions of delight on thisacquaintance with her, softened down every feeling of awe,and left nothing but tender affection. Their increasingattachment was not to be satisfied with half a dozenturns in the pump-room, but required, when they allquitted it together, that Miss Thorpe should accompanyMiss Morland to the very door of Mr. Allen's house;and that they should there part with a most affectionateand lengthened shake of hands, after learning, to theirmutual relief, that they should see each other across thetheatre at night, and say their prayers in the same chapelthe next morning. Catherine then ran directly upstairs,and watched Miss Thorpe's progress down the street fromthe drawing-room window; admired the graceful spiritof her walk, the fashionable air of her figure and dress;and felt grateful, as well she might, for the chancewhich 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 avery indulgent mother. Her eldest daughter had greatpersonal beauty, and the younger ones, by pretendingto 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 tosupersede the necessity of a long and minute detail fromMrs. Thorpe herself, of her past adventures and sufferings,which might otherwise be expected to occupy the three or fourfollowing chapters; in which the worthlessness of lordsand attornies might be set forth, and conversations,which had passed twenty years before, be minutely repeated.