Chapter 8

by Jane Austen

　　In spite of Udolpho and the dressmaker, however,the party from Pulteney Street reached the Upper Roomsin very good time. The Thorpes and James Morlandwere there only two minutes before them; and Isabellahaving gone through the usual ceremonial of meetingher friend with the most smiling and affectionate haste,of admiring the set of her gown, and envying the curlof her hair, they followed their chaperones, arm in arm,into the ballroom, whispering to each other whenevera thought occurred, and supplying the place of manyideas by a squeeze of the hand or a smile of affection.

　　The dancing began within a few minutes after theywere seated; and James, who had been engaged quite as longas his sister, was very importunate with Isabella to stand up;but John was gone into the card-room to speak to a friend,and nothing, she declared, should induce her to jointhe set before her dear Catherine could join it too."I assure you," said she, "I would not stand up withoutyour dear sister for all the world; for if I did weshould certainly be separated the whole evening."Catherine accepted this kindness with gratitude,and they continued as they were for three minutes longer,when Isabella, who had been talking to James on the otherside of her, turned again to his sister and whispered,"My dear creature, I am afraid I must leave you,your brother is so amazingly impatient to begin; I knowyou will not mind my going away, and I dare say John willbe back in a moment, and then you may easily find me out."Catherine, though a little disappointed, had too much goodnature to make any opposition, and the others rising up,Isabella had only time to press her friend's hand and say,"Good-bye, my dear love," before they hurried off.The younger Miss Thorpes being also dancing, Catherine wasleft to the mercy of Mrs. Thorpe and Mrs. Allen,between whom she now remained. She could not help beingvexed at the non-appearance of Mr. Thorpe, for she notonly longed to be dancing, but was likewise aware that,as the real dignity of her situation could not be known,she was sharing with the scores of other young ladies stillsitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner.To be disgraced in the eye of the world, to wear theappearance of infamy while her heart is all purity,her actions all innocence, and the misconduct of anotherthe true source of her debasement, is one of thosecircumstances which peculiarly belong to the heroine's life,and her fortitude under it what particularly dignifiesher character. Catherine had fortitude too; she suffered,but no murmur passed her lips.

　　From this state of humiliation, she was roused,at the end of ten minutes, to a pleasanter feeling,by seeing, not Mr. Thorpe, but Mr. Tilney, within threeyards of the place where they sat; he seemed to bemoving that way, but be did not see her, and thereforethe smile and the blush, which his sudden reappearanceraised in Catherine, passed away without sullying herheroic importance. He looked as handsome and as livelyas ever, and was talking with interest to a fashionableand pleasing-looking young woman, who leant on his arm,and whom Catherine immediately guessed to be his sister;thus unthinkingly throwing away a fair opportunity ofconsidering him lost to her forever, by being married already.But guided only by what was simple and probable,it had never entered her head that Mr. Tilney couldbe married; he had not behaved, he had not talked,like the married men to whom she had been used; he hadnever mentioned a wife, and he had acknowledged a sister.From these circumstances sprang the instant conclusionof his sister's now being by his side; and therefore,instead of turning of a deathlike paleness and fallingin a fit on Mrs. Allen's bosom, Catherine sat erect,in the perfect use of her senses, and with cheeks only alittle redder than usual.

　　Mr. Tilney and his companion, who continued,though slowly, to approach, were immediately precededby a lady, an acquaintance of Mrs. Thorpe; and this ladystopping to speak to her, they, as belonging to her,stopped likewise, and Catherine, catching Mr. Tilney's eye,instantly received from him the smiling tributeof recognition. She returned it with pleasure,and then advancing still nearer, he spoke both to herand Mrs. Allen, by whom he was very civilly acknowledged."I am very happy to see you again, sir, indeed; I wasafraid you had left Bath." He thanked her for her fears,and said that he had quitted it for a week, on the verymorning after his having had the pleasure of seeing her.

　　"Well, sir, and I dare say you are not sorry to beback again, for it is just the place for young people--and indeed for everybody else too. I tell Mr. Allen,when he talks of being sick of it, that I am sure heshould not complain, for it is so very agreeable a place,that it is much better to be here than at home at thisdull time of year. I tell him he is quite in luckto be sent here for his health."

　　"And I hope, madam, that Mr. Allen will be obligedto like the place, from finding it of service to him."

　　"Thank you, sir. I have no doubt that he will.A neighbour of ours, Dr. Skinner, was here for his healthlast winter, and came away quite stout."

　　"That circumstance must give great encouragement."

　　"Yes, sir--and Dr. Skinner and his family were herethree months; so I tell Mr. Allen he must not be in a hurryto get away."

　　Here they were interrupted by a request from Mrs. Thorpeto Mrs. Allen, that she would move a little to accommodateMrs. Hughes and Miss Tilney with seats, as they hadagreed to join their party. This was accordingly done,Mr. Tilney still continuing standing before them;and after a few minutes' consideration, he asked Catherineto dance with him. This compliment, delightful as it was,produced severe mortification to the lady; and in givingher denial, she expressed her sorrow on the occasionso very much as if she really felt it that had Thorpe,who joined her just afterwards, been half a minute earlier,he might have thought her sufferings rather too acute.The very easy manner in which he then told her that hehad kept her waiting did not by any means reconcile hermore to her lot; nor did the particulars which he enteredinto while they were standing up, of the horses and dogsof the friend whom he had just left, and of a proposedexchange of terriers between them, interest her so muchas to prevent her looking very often towards that part of theroom where she had left Mr. Tilney. Of her dear Isabella,to whom she particularly longed to point out that gentleman,she could see nothing. They were in different sets.She was separated from all her party, and away from allher acquaintance; one mortification succeeded another,and from the whole she deduced this useful lesson,that to go previously engaged to a ball does not necessarilyincrease either the dignity or enjoyment of a young lady.From such a moralizing strain as this, she was suddenlyroused by a touch on the shoulder, and turning round,perceived Mrs. Hughes directly behind her, attended by MissTilney and a gentleman. "I beg your pardon, Miss Morland,"said she, "for this liberty--but I cannot anyhow get toMiss Thorpe, and Mrs. Thorpe said she was sure you wouldnot have the least objection to letting in this young ladyby you." Mrs. Hughes could not have applied to any creaturein the room more happy to oblige her than Catherine.The young ladies were introduced to each other, Miss Tilneyexpressing a proper sense of such goodness, Miss Morlandwith the real delicacy of a generous mind making lightof the obligation; and Mrs. Hughes, satisfied with havingso respectably settled her young charge, returned toher party.

　　Miss Tilney had a good figure, a pretty face,and a very agreeable countenance; and her air, though ithad not all the decided pretension, the resolutestylishness of Miss Thorpe's, had more real elegance.Her manners showed good sense and good breeding;they were neither shy nor affectedly open; and sheseemed capable of being young, attractive, and at a ballwithout wanting to fix the attention of every mannear her, and without exaggerated feelings of ecstaticdelight or inconceivable vexation on every littletrifling occurrence. Catherine, interested at onceby her appearance and her relationship to Mr. Tilney,was desirous of being acquainted with her, and readilytalked therefore whenever she could think of anythingto say, and had courage and leisure for saying it.But the hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy,by the frequent want of one or more of these requisites,prevented their doing more than going through the firstrudiments of an acquaintance, by informing themselves how wellthe other liked Bath, how much she admired its buildingsand surrounding country, whether she drew, or played,or sang, and whether she was fond of riding on horseback.

　　The two dances were scarcely concluded before Catherinefound her arm gently seized by her faithful Isabella,who in great spirits exclaimed, "At last I have got you.My dearest creature, I have been looking for you this hour.What could induce you to come into this set, when youknew I was in the other? I have been quite wretchedwithout you."

　　"My dear Isabella, how was it possible for me to getat you? I could not even see where you were."

　　"So I told your brother all the time--but he wouldnot believe me. Do go and see for her, Mr. Morland,said I--but all in vain--he would not stir an inch.Was not it so, Mr. Morland? But you men are all soimmoderately lazy! I have been scolding him to sucha degree, my dear Catherine, you would be quite amazed.You know I never stand upon ceremony with such people."

　　"Look at that young lady with the white beads roundher head," whispered Catherine, detaching her friendfrom James. "It is Mr. Tilney's sister."

　　"Oh! Heavens! You don't say so! Let me look at herthis moment. What a delightful girl! I never saw anythinghalf so beautiful! But where is her all-conquering brother? Ishe in the room? Point him out to me this instant, if he is.I die to see him. Mr. Morland, you are not to listen.We are not talking about you."

　　"But what is all this whispering about? What is going on?"

　　"There now, I knew how it would be. You men havesuch restless curiosity! Talk of the curiosity of women,indeed! 'Tis nothing. But be satisfied, for you are notto know anything at all of the matter."

　　"And is that likely to satisfy me, do you think?"

　　"Well, I declare I never knew anything like you.What can it signify to you, what we are talking of.Perhaps we are talking about you; therefore I would adviseyou not to listen, or you may happen to hear something notvery agreeable."

　　In this commonplace chatter, which lasted some time,the original subject seemed entirely forgotten; and thoughCatherine was very well pleased to have it dropped for a while,she could not avoid a little suspicion at the total suspensionof all Isabella's impatient desire to see Mr. Tilney.When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance, James wouldhave led his fair partner away, but she resisted."I tell you, Mr. Morland," she cried, "I would not do sucha thing for all the world. How can you be so teasing;only conceive, my dear Catherine, what your brother wantsme to do. He wants me to dance with him again, though Itell him that it is a most improper thing, and entirelyagainst the rules. It would make us the talk of the place,if we were not to change partners."

　　"Upon my honour," said James, "in these public assemblies,it is as often done as not."

　　"Nonsense, how can you say so? But when you menhave a point to carry, you never stick at anything.My sweet Catherine, do support me; persuade your brotherhow impossible it is. Tell him that it would quite shockyou to see me do such a thing; now would not it?"

　　"No, not at all; but if you think it wrong,you had much better change."

　　"There," cried Isabella, "you hear what your sister says,and yet you will not mind her. Well, remember that itis not my fault, if we set all the old ladies in Bathin a bustle. Come along, my dearest Catherine,for heaven's sake, and stand by me." And off they went,to regain their former place. John Thorpe, in the meanwhile,had walked away; and Catherine, ever willing to giveMr. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeablerequest which had already flattered her once, made herway to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe as fast as she could,in the hope of finding him still with them--a hope which,when it proved to be fruitless, she felt to have beenhighly unreasonable. "Well, my dear," said Mrs. Thorpe,impatient for praise of her son, "I hope you have hadan agreeable partner."

　　"Very agreeable, madam."

　　"I am glad of it. John has charming spirits,has not he?"

　　"Did you meet Mr. Tilney, my dear?" said Mrs. Allen.

　　"No, where is he?"

　　"He was with us just now, and said he was so tiredof lounging about, that he was resolved to go and dance;so I thought perhaps he would ask you, if he met with you."

　　"Where can he be?" said Catherine, looking round;but she had not looked round long before she saw himleading a young lady to the dance.

　　"Ah! He has got a partner; I wish he had asked you,"said Mrs. Allen; and after a short silence, she added,"he is a very agreeable young man."

　　"Indeed he is, Mrs. Allen," said Mrs. Thorpe,smiling complacently; "I must say it, though I am his mother,that there is not a more agreeable young man in the world."

　　This inapplicable answer might have been too muchfor the comprehension of many; but it did not puzzleMrs. Allen, for after only a moment's consideration,she said, in a whisper to Catherine, "I dare say shethought I was speaking of her son."

　　Catherine was disappointed and vexed. She seemedto have missed by so little the very object she hadhad in view; and this persuasion did not incline herto a very gracious reply, when John Thorpe came upto her soon afterwards and said, "Well, Miss Morland,I suppose you and I are to stand up and jig it together again."

　　"Oh, no; I am much obliged to you, our two dancesare over; and, besides, I am tired, and do not meanto dance any more."

　　"Do not you? Then let us walk about and quiz people.Come along with me, and I will show you the four greatestquizzers in the room; my two younger sisters and their partners.I have been laughing at them this half hour."

　　Again Catherine excused herself; and at last he walkedoff to quiz his sisters by himself. The rest of the eveningshe found very dull; Mr. Tilney was drawn away from theirparty at tea, to attend that of his partner; Miss Tilney,though belonging to it, did not sit near her, and Jamesand Isabella were so much engaged in conversing togetherthat the latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friendthan one smile, one squeeze, and one "dearest Catherine."