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these alarming young men。
“They are not coming this way； are they？ I hope they are not so
impertinent as to follow us。 Pray let me know if they are coming。 I
am determined I will not look up。”
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In a few moments Catherine； with unaffected pleasure； assured
her that she need not be longer uneasy； as the gentlemen had just
left the Pump…room。
“And which way are they gone？” said Isabella； turning hastily
round。 “One was a very good…looking young man。”
“They went towards the churchyard。”
“Well； I am amazingly glad I have got rid of them！ And now；
what say you to going to Edgar’s Buildings with me； and looking at
my new hat？ You said you should like to see it。”
Catherine readily agreed。 “Only；” she added； “perhaps we may
overtake the two young men。”
“Oh！ Never mind that。 If we make haste； we shall pass by them
presently； and I am dying to show you my hat。”
“But if we only wait a few minutes； there will be no danger of
our seeing them at all。”
“I shall not pay them any such compliment； I assure you。 I have
no notion of treating men with such respect。 That is the way to
spoil them。”
Catherine had nothing to oppose against such reasoning； and
therefore； to show the independence of Miss Thorpe； and her
resolution of humbling the sex； they set off immediately as fast as
they could walk； in pursuit of the two young men。
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CHAPTER VII
alf a minute conducted them through the Pump…yard to
the archway； opposite Union…passage； but here they were
Hstopped。 Everybody acquainted with Bath may
remember the difficulties of crossing Cheap…street at this point； it
is indeed a street of so impertinent a nature； so unfortunately
connected with the great London and Oxford roads； and the
principal inn of the city； that a day never passes in which parties of
ladies； however important their business； whether in quest of
pastry； millinery； or even （as in the present case） of young men；
are not detained on one side or other by carriages； horsemen； or
carts。 This evil had been felt and lamented； at least three times a
day； by Isabella since her residence in Bath； and she was now
fated to feel and lament it once more； for at the very moment of
coming opposite to Union…passage； and within view of the two
gentlemen who were proceeding through the crowds； and
threading the gutters of that interesting alley； they were prevented
crossing by the approach of a gig； driven along on bad pavement
by a most knowing…looking coachman with all the vehemence that
could most fitly endanger the lives of himself； his companion； and
his horse。
“Oh； these odious gigs！” said Isabella； looking up。 “How I detest
them。” But this detestation； though so just； was of short duration；
for she looked again and exclaimed； “Delightful！ Mr。 Morland and
my brother！”
“Good heaven！ ’tis James！” was uttered at the same moment by
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Catherine； and； on catching the young men’s eyes； the horse was
immediately checked with a violence which almost threw him on
his haunches； and the servant having now scampered up； the
gentlemen jumped out； and the equipage was delivered to his care。
Catherine； by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected；
received her brother with the liveliest pleasure； and he； being of a
very amiable disposition； and sincerely attached to her； gave every
proof on his side of equal satisfaction； which he could have leisure
to do； while the bright eyes of Miss Thorpe were incessantly
challenging his notice； and to her his devoirs were speedily paid；
with a mixture of joy and embarrassment which might have
informed Catherine； had she been more expert in the development
of other people’s feelings； and less simply engrossed by her own；
that her brother thought her friend quite as pretty as she could do
herself。
John Thorpe； who in the mean time had been giving orders
about the horses； soon joined them； and from him she directly
received the amends which were her due； for while he slightly and
carelessly touched the hand of Isabella； on her he bestowed a
whole scrape and half a short bow。 He was a stout young man of
middling height； who； with a plain face and ungraceful form；
seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of
a groom； and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy
where he ought to be civil； and impudent where he might be
allowed to be easy。 He took out his watch： “How long do you think
we have been running it from Tetbury； Miss Morland？”
“I do not know the distance。” Her brother told her that it was
twenty…three miles。
“Three…and…twenty！” cried Thorpe； “five and twenty if it is an
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inch。” Morland remonstrated； pleaded the authority of road…books；
innkeepers； and milestones； but his friend disregarded them all；
he had a surer test of distance。 “I know it must be five and
twenty；” said he； “by the time we have been doing it。 It is now half
after one； we drove out of the inn…yard at Tetbury as the town
clock struck eleven； and I defy any man in England to make my
horse go less than ten miles an hour in harness； that makes it
exactly twenty…five。”
“You have lost an hour；” said Morland； “it was only ten o’clock
when we came from Tetbury。”
“Ten o’clock！ It was eleven； upon my soul！ I counted every
stroke。 This brother of yours would persuade me out of my senses；