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the bottom of the street； however； she looked back again； and
then； not at a window； but issuing from the door； she saw Miss
Tilney herself。 She was followed by a gentleman； whom Catherine
believed to be her father； and they turned up towards Edgar’s…
buildings。 Catherine； in deep mortification； proceeded on her way。
She could almost be angry herself at such angry incivility； but she
checked the resentful sensation； she remembered her own
ignorance。 She knew not how such an offence as hers might be
classed by the laws of worldly politeness； to what a degree of
unforgivingness it might with propriety lead； nor to what rigours
of rudeness in return it might justly make her amenable。
Dejected and humbled； she had even some thoughts of not
going with the others to the theatre that night； but it must be
confessed that they were not of long continuance； for she soon
recollected； in the first place； that she was without any excuse for
staying at home； and； in the second； that it was a play she wanted
very much to see。 To the theatre accordingly they all went； no
Tilneys appeared to plague or please her； she feared that； amongst
the many perfections of the family； a fondness for plays was not to
be ranked； but perhaps it was because they were habituated to the
finer performances of the London stage； which she knew； on
Isabella’s authority； rendered every thing else of the kind “quite
horrid。” She was not deceived in her own expectation of pleasure；
the comedy so well suspended her care that no one； observing her
during the first four acts； would have supposed she had any
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wretchedness about her。 On the beginning of the fifth； however；
the sudden view of Mr。 Henry Tilney and his father； joining a
party in the opposite box； recalled her to anxiety and distress。 The
stage could no longer excite genuine merriment—no longer keep
her whole attention。 Every other look upon an average was
directed towards the opposite box； and； for the space of two entire
scenes； did she thus watch Henry Tilney； without being once able
to catch his eye。 No longer could he be suspected of indifference
for a play； his notice was never withdrawn from the stage during
two whole scenes。 At length； however； he did look towards her；
and he bowed—but such a bow！ no smile； no continued
observance attended it； his eyes were immediately returned to
their former direction。 Catherine was restlessly miserable； she
could almost have run round to the box in which he sat and forced
him to hear her explanation。 Feelings rather natural than heroic
possessed her； instead of considering her own dignity injured by
this ready condemnation—instead of proudly resolving； in
conscious innocence； to show her resentment towards him who
could harbour a doubt of it； to leave to him all the trouble of
seeking an explanation； and to enlighten him on the past only by
avoiding his sight； or flirting with somebody else； she took to
herself all the shame of misconduct； or at least of its appearance；
and was only eager for an opportunity of explaining its cause。
The play concluded—the curtain fell—Henry Tilney was no
longer to be seen where he had hitherto sat； but his father
remained； and perhaps he might be now coming round to their
box。 She was right； in a few minutes he appeared； and； making his
way through the then thinning rows； spoke with like calm
politeness to Mrs。 Allen and her friend。 Not with such calmness
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was he answered by the latter： “Oh！ Mr。 Tilney； I have been quite
wild to speak to you； and make my apologies。 You must have
thought me so rude； but indeed it was not my own fault；—was it；
Mrs。 Allen？ Did not they tell me that Mr。 Tilney and his sister
were gone out in a phaeton together？ And then what could I do？
But I had ten thousand times rather have been with you； now had
not I； Mrs。 Allen？”
“My dear； you tumble my gown；” was Mrs。 Allen’s reply。
Her assurance； however； standing sole as it did； was not thrown
away； it brought a more cordial； more natural smile into his
countenance； and he replied in a tone which retained only a little
affected reserve：—“We were much obliged to you at any rate for
wishing us a pleasant walk after our passing you in Argyle…street：
you were so kind as to look back on purpose。”
“But indeed I did not wish you a pleasant walk； I never thought
of such a thing； but I begged Mr。 Thorpe so earnestly to stop； I
called out to him as soon as ever I saw you； now； Mrs。 Allen； did
not—Oh！ you were not there； but indeed I did； and； if Mr。 Thorpe
would only have stopped； I would have jumped out and run after
you。”
Is there a Henry in the world who could be insensible to such a
declaration？ Henry Tilney at least was not。 With a yet sweeter
smile； he said every thing that need be said of his sister’s concern；
regret； and dependence on Catherine’s honour。—“Oh！ Do not say
Miss Tilney was not angry；” cried Catherine； “because I know she
was； for she would not see me this morning when I called； I saw
her walk out of the house the next minute after my leaving it； I
was hurt； but I was not affronted。 Perhaps you did not know I had
been there。”
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“I was not within at the time； but I heard of it from Eleanor； and
she has been wishing ever since to see you； to explain the reason
of such incivility； but perhaps I can do it as well。 It was nothing
more than that my father—they