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“Yes； ma’am； I thank you； we could not have had a nicer day。”
“So Mrs。 Thorpe said； she was vastly pleased at your all going。”
“You have seen Mrs。 Thorpe； then？”
“Yes； I went to the Pump…room as soon as you were gone； and
there I met her； and we had a great deal of talk together。 She says
there was hardly any veal to be got at market this morning； it is so
uncommonly scarce。”
“Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance？”
“Yes； we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent； and there we
met Mrs。 Hughes； and Mr。 and Miss Tilney walking with her。”
“Did you indeed？ And did they speak to you？”
“Yes； we walked along the Crescent together for half an hour。
They seem very agreeable people。 Miss Tilney was in a very pretty
spotted muslin； and I fancy； by what I can learn； that she always
dresses very handsomely。 Mrs。 Hughes talked to me a great deal
about the family。”
“And what did she tell you of them？”
“Oh！ A vast deal indeed； she hardly talked of anything else。”
“Did she tell you what part of Gloucestershire they come
from？”
“Yes； she did； but I cannot recollect now。 But they are very
good kind of people； and very rich。 Mrs。 Tilney was a Miss
Drummond； and she and Mrs。 Hughes were school…fellows； and
Miss Drummond had a very large fortune； and； when she married；
her father gave her twenty thousand pounds； and five hundred to
buy wedding…clothes。 Mrs。 Hughes saw all the clothes after they
came from the warehouse。”
“And are Mr。 and Mrs。 Tilney in Bath？”
“Yes； I fancy they are； but I am not quite certain。 Upon
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recollection； however； I have a notion they are both dead； at least
the mother is； yes； I am sure Mrs。 Tilney is dead； because Mrs。
Hughes told me there was a very beautiful set of pearls that Mr。
Drummond gave his daughter on her wedding…day and that Miss
Tilney has got now； for they were put by for her when her mother
died。”
“And is Mr。 Tilney； my partner； the only son？”
“I cannot be quite positive about that； my dear； I have some
idea he is； but； however； he is a very fine young man； Mrs。 Hughes
says； and likely to do very well。”
Catherine inquired no further； she had heard enough to feel
that Mrs。 Allen had no real intelligence to give； and that she was
most particularly unfortunate herself in having missed such a
meeting with both brother and sister。 Could she have foreseen
such a circumstance； nothing should have persuaded her to go out
with the others； and； as it was； she could only lament her ill luck；
and think over what she had lost； till it was clear to her that the
drive had by no means been very pleasant and that John Thorpe
himself was quite disagreeable。
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CHAPTER X
he Allens； Thorpes； and Morlands all met in the evening at
the theatre； and； as Catherine and Isabella sat together；
T
there was then an opportunity for the latter to utter some
few of the many thousand things which had been collecting within
her for communication in the immeasurable length of time which
had divided them。—“Oh； heavens！ My beloved Catherine； have I
got you at last？” was her address on Catherine’s entering the box
and sitting by her。 “Now； Mr。 Morland；” for he was close to her on
the other side； “I shall not speak another word to you all the rest of
the evening； so I charge you not to expect it。 My sweetest
Catherine； how have you been this long age？ But I need not ask
you； for you look delightfully。 You really have done your hair in a
more heavenly style than ever； you mischievous creature； do you
want to attract everybody？ I assure you； my brother is quite in
love with you already； and as for Mr。 Tilney—but that is a settled
thing—even your modesty cannot doubt his attachment now； his
coming back to Bath makes it too plain。 Oh！ What would not I give
to see him！ I really am quite wild with impatience。 My mother says
he is the most delightful young man in the world； she saw him this
morning； you know； you must introduce him to me。 Is he in the
house now？—Look about for heaven’s sake！ I assure you； I can
hardly exist till I see him。”
“No；” said Catherine； “he is not here； I cannot see him
anywhere。”
“Oh； horrid！ am I never to be acquainted with him？ How do you
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like my gown？ I think it does not look amiss； the sleeves were
entirely my own thought。 Do you know； I get so immoderately sick
of Bath； your brother and I were agreeing this morning that；
though it is vastly well to be here for a few weeks； we would not
live here for millions。 We soon found out that our tastes were
exactly alike in preferring the country to every other place； really；
our opinions were so exactly the same； it was quite ridiculous！
There was not a single point in which we differed； I would not
have had you by for the world； you are such a sly thing； I am sure
you would have made some droll remark or other about it。”
“No； indeed I should not。”
“Oh； yes you would indeed； I know you better than you know
yourself。 You would have told us that we seemed born for each
other； or some nonsense of that kind； which would have distressed
me beyond conception； my cheeks would have been as red as your
roses； I would not have had you by for the world。”
“Indeed you do me injustice； I would not have made so
improper a remark upon any account； and besides； I am sure it
would never have entered my head。”
Isabella smiled incredulously and talked the rest of the evening
to James。
Catherine’s resolution of endeavouring to meet Miss Tiln