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every five minutes to the clock； threatening on each return that； if
it still kept on raining another five minutes； she would give up the
matter as hopeless。 The clock struck twelve； and it still rained。—
“You will not be able to go； my dear。”
“I do not quite despair yet。 I shall not give it up till a quarter
after twelve。 This is just the time of day for it to clear up； and I do
think it looks a little lighter。 There； it is twenty minutes after
twelve； and now I shall give it up entirely。 Oh！ That we had such
weather here as they had at Udolpho； or at least in Tuscany and
the south of France！—the night that poor St。 Aubin died！—such
beautiful weather！”
At half past twelve； when Catherine’s anxious attention to the
weather was over and she could no longer claim any merit from its
amendment； the sky began voluntarily to clear。 A gleam of
sunshine took her quite by surprize； she looked round； the clouds
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were parting； and she instantly returned to the window to watch
over and encourage the happy appearance。 Ten minutes more
made it certain that a bright afternoon would succeed； and
justified the opinion of Mrs。 Allen； who had “always thought it
would clear up。” But whether Catherine might still expect her
friends； whether there had not been too much rain for Miss Tilney
to venture； must yet be a question。
It was too dirty for Mrs。 Allen to accompany her husband to the
Pump…room； he accordingly set off by himself； and Catherine had
barely watched him down the street when her notice was claimed
by the approach of the same two open carriages； containing the
same three people that had surprised her so much a few mornings
back。
“Isabella； my brother； and Mr。 Thorpe； I declare！ They are
coming for me perhaps—but I shall not go—I cannot go indeed； for
you know Miss Tilney may still call。” Mrs。 Allen agreed to it。 John
Thorpe was soon with them； and his voice was with them yet
sooner； for on the stairs he was calling out to Miss Morland to be
quick。 “Make haste！ Make haste！” as he threw open the door。—
“Put on your hat this moment—there is no time to be lost—we are
going to Bristol。—How d’ye do； Mrs。 Allen？”
“To Bristol！ Is not that a great way off？—But； however； I cannot
go with you to…day； because I am engaged； I expect some friends
every moment。” This was of course vehemently talked down as no
reason at all； Mrs。 Allen was called on to second him； and the two
others walked in； to give their assistance。 “My sweetest Catherine；
is not this delightful？ We shall have a most heavenly drive。 You
are to thank your brother and me for the scheme； it darted into
our heads at breakfast…time； I verily believe at the same instant；
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and we should have been off two hours ago if it had not been for
this detestable rain。 But it does not signify； the nights are
moonlight； and we shall do delightfully。 Oh！ I am in such ecstasies
at the thoughts of a little country air and quiet！—so much better
than going to the Lower Rooms。 We shall drive directly to Clifton
and dine there； and； as soon as dinner is over； if there is time for it；
go on to Kingsweston。”
“I doubt our being able to do so much；” said Morland。
“You croaking fellow！” cried Thorpe。 “We shall be able to do
ten times more。 Kingsweston！ aye； and Blaize Castle too； and any
thing else we can hear of； but here is your sister says she will not
go。”
“Blaize Castle！” cried Catherine。 “What is that？”
“The finest place in England—worth going fifty miles at any
time to see。”
“What； is it really a castle； an old castle？”
“The oldest in the kingdom。”
“But is it like what one reads of？”
“Exactly—the very same。”
“But now really—are there towers and long galleries？”
“By dozens。”
“Then I should like to see it； but I cannot—I cannot go。
“Not go！—My beloved creature； what do you mean？”
“I cannot go； because”—（looking down as she spoke； fearful of
Isabella’s smile） “I expect Miss Tilney and her brother to call on
me to take a country walk。 They promised to come at twelve； only
it rained； but now； as it is so fine； I dare say they will be here
soon。”
“Not they indeed；” cried Thorpe； “for； as we turned into Broad…
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street； I saw them—does he not drive a phaeton with bright
chestnuts？”
“I do not know indeed。”
“Yes； I know he does； I saw him。 You are talking of the man you
danced with last night； are not you？”
“Yes。
“Well； I saw him at that moment turn up the Lansdown Road；—
driving a smart…looking girl。”
“Did you indeed？”
“Did upon my soul； knew him again directly； and he seemed to
have got some very pretty cattle too。”
“It is very odd！ But I suppose they thought it would be too dirty
for a walk。”
“And well they might； for I never saw so much dirt in my life。
Walk！ You could no more walk than you could fly！ It has not been
so dirty the whole winter； it is ankle…deep everywhere。”
Isabella corroborated it：—“My dearest Catherine； you cannot
form an idea of the dirt； come； you must go； you cannot refuse
going now。”
“I should like to see the castle； but may we go all over it？ May
we go up every staircase； and into every suite of rooms？”
“Yes； yes； every hole and corner。”
“But then；—if they should only be gone out for an hour till it is
dryer； and call by and by？”
“Make yourself easy； there is no danger of that； for I heard
Tilney hallooing to a man who was just passing by on horseback；
that they were going as far as Wick Rocks。”
“Then I will。 Shall I go； Mrs。 Allen？”
“Just as you please； my dear。”
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecB