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propriety； only to enable her to be guilty of another？
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CHAPTER XIV
he next morning was fair； and Catherine almost expected
another attack from the assembled party。 With Mr。 Allen
T
to support her； she felt no dread of the event： but she
would gladly be spared a contest； where victory itself was painful；
and was heartily rejoiced therefore at neither seeing nor hearing
anything of them。 The Tilneys called for her at the appointed time；
and no new difficulty arising； no sudden recollection； no
unexpected summons； no impertinent intrusion to disconcert their
measures； my heroine was most unnaturally able to fulfil her
engagement； though it was made with the hero himself。 They
determined on walking round Beechen Cliff； that noble hill whose
beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it so striking an
object from almost every opening in Bath。
“I never look at it；” said Catherine； as they walked along the
side of the river； “without thinking of the south of France。”
“You have been abroad then？” said Henry； a little surprised。
“Oh！ no； I only mean what I have read about。 It always puts me
in mind of the country that Emily and her father travelled
through； in the “Mysteries of Udolpho”。 But you never read
novels； I dare say？”
“Why not？”
“Because they are not clever enough for you—gentlemen read
better books。”
“The person； be it gentleman or lady； who has not pleasure in a
good novel； must be intolerably stupid。 I have read all Mrs。
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Radcliffe’s works； and most of them with great pleasure。 The
Mysteries of Udolpho； when I had once begun it； I could not lay
down again；—I remember finishing it in two days—my hair
standing on end the whole time。”
“Yes；” added Miss Tilney； “and I remember that you undertook
to read it aloud to me； and that when I was called away for only
five minutes to answer a note； instead of waiting for me； you took
the volume into the Hermitage…walk； and I was obliged to stay till
you had finished it。”
“Thank you； Eleanor；—a most honourable testimony。 You see；
Miss Morland； the injustice of your suspicions。 Here was I； in my
eagerness to get on； refusing to wait only five minutes for my
sister； breaking the promise I had made of reading it aloud； and
keeping her in suspense at a most interesting part； by running
away with the volume； which； you are to observe； was her own；
particularly her own。 I am proud when I reflect on it； and I think it
must establish me in your good opinion。”
“I am very glad to hear it indeed； and now I shall never be
ashamed of liking Udolpho myself。 But I really thought before；
young men despised novels amazingly。”
“It is amazingly； it may well suggest amazement if they do—for
they read nearly as many as women。 I myself have read hundreds
and hundreds。 Do not imagine that you can cope with me in a
knowledge of Julias and Louisas。 If we proceed to particulars； and
engage in the never…ceasing inquiry of ‘Have you read this？’ and
‘Have you read that？’ I shall soon leave you as far behind me as—
what shall I say？—I want an appropriate simile；—as far as your
friend Emily herself left poor Valancourt when she went with her
aunt into Italy。 Consider how many years I have had the start of
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you。 I had entered on my studies at Oxford； while you were a good
little girl working your sampler at home！”
“Not very good； I am afraid。 But now really； do not you think
Udolpho the nicest book in the world？”
“The nicest；—by which I suppose you mean the neatest。 That
must depend upon the binding。”
“Henry；” said Miss Tilney； “you are very impertinent。 Miss
Morland； he is treating you exactly as he does his sister。 He is
forever finding fault with me； for some incorrectness of language；
and now he is taking the same liberty with you。 The word ‘nicest；’
as you used it； did not suit him； and you had better change it as
soon as you can； or we shall be overpowered with Johnson and
Blair all the rest of the way。”
“I am sure；” cried Catherine； “I did not mean to say anything
wrong； but it is a nice book； and why should not I call it so？”
“Very true；” said Henry； “and this is a very nice day； and we are
taking a very nice walk； and you are two very nice young ladies。
Oh！ It is a very nice word indeed！ It does for every thing。
Originally perhaps it was applied only to express neatness；
propriety； delicacy； or refinement—people were nice in their
dress； in their sentiments； or their choice。 But now every
commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word。”
“While； in fact；” cried his sister； “it ought only to be applied to
you； without any commendation at all。 You are more nice than
wise。 Come； Miss Morland； let us leave him to meditate over our
faults in the utmost propriety of diction； while we praise Udolpho
in whatever terms we like best。 It is a most interesting work。 You
are fond of that kind of reading？”
“To say the truth； I do not much like any other。”
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“Indeed！”
“That is； I can read poetry and plays； and things of that sort；
and do not dislike travels。 But history； real solemn history； I
cannot be interested in。 Can you？”
“Yes； I am fond of history。”
“I wish