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matters now passed between them； and continued； with only one
small digression on James’s part； in praise of Miss Thorpe； till they
reached Pulteney…street； where he was welcomed with great
kindness by Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen； invited by the former to dine with
them； and summoned by the latter to guess the price and weigh
the merits of a new muff and tippet。 A pre…engagement in Edgar’s
Buildings prevented his accepting the invitation of one friend； and
obliged him to hurry away as soon as he had satisfied the demands
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of the other。 The time of the two parties uniting in the Octagon
Room being correctly adjusted； Catherine was then left to the
luxury of a raised； restless； and frightened imagination over the
pages of Udolpho； lost from all worldly concerns of dressing and
dinner； incapable of soothing Mrs。 Allen’s fears on the delay of an
expected dressmaker； and having only one minute in sixty to
bestow even on the reflection of her own felicity； in being already
engaged for the evening。
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CHAPTER VIII
n spite of Udolpho and the dressmaker； however； the party
from Pulteney…street reached the Upper Rooms in very good
I
time。 The Thorpes and James Morland were there only two
minutes before them； and Isabella having gone through the usual
ceremonial of meeting her friend with the most smiling and
affectionate haste； of admiring the set of her gown； and envying
the curl of her hair； they followed their chaperones； arm in arm；
into the ball…room； whispering to each other whenever a thought
occurred； and supplying the place of many ideas by a squeeze of
the hand or a smile of affection。
The dancing began within a few minutes after they were seated；
and James； who had been engaged quite as long as 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 join the set before her dear Catherine could
join it too。 “I assure you；” said she； “I would not stand up without
your dear sister for all the world； for if I did we should 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 other
side 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 know you will not mind my going
away； and I dare say John will be back in a moment； and then you
may easily find me out。” Catherine； though a little disappointed；
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had too much good nature 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 was left to
the mercy of Mrs。 Thorpe and Mrs。 Allen； between whom she now
remained。 She could not help being vexed at the non…appearance
of Mr。 Thorpe； for she not only 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
still sitting down all the discredit of wanting a partner。 To be
disgraced in the eye of the world； to wear the appearance of
infamy while her heart is all purity； her actions all innocence； and
the misconduct of another the true source of her debasement； is
one of those circumstances which peculiarly belong to the
heroine’s life； and her fortitude under it what particularly dignifies
her 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 three yards of the place where they sat； he
seemed to be moving that way； but he did not see her； and
therefore the smile and the blush； which his sudden reappearance
raised in Catherine； passed away without sullying her heroic
importance。 He looked as handsome and as lively as ever； and was
talking with interest to a fashionable and 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 of considering him lost to her forever； by being
married already。 But guided only by what was simple and
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probable； it had never entered her head that Mr。 Tilney could be
married； he had not behaved； he had not talked； like the married
men to whom she had been used； he had never mentioned a wife；
and he had acknowledged a sister。 From these circumstances
sprang the instant conclusion of his sister’s now being by his side；
and therefore； instead of turning of a deathlike paleness and
falling in a fit on Mrs。 Allen’s bosom； Catherine sat erect； in the
perfect use of her senses； and with cheeks only a little redder than
usual。
Mr。 Tilney and his companion； who continued； though slowly；
to approach； were immediately preceded by a lady； an
acquaintance of Mrs。 Thorpe； and this lady stopping to speak to
her； they； as belonging to her； stoppe