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cannot be interested in。 Can you？”
“Yes； I am fond of history。”
“I wish I were too。 I read it a little as a duty； but it tells me
nothing that does not either vex or weary me。 The quarrels of
popes and kings； with wars or pestilences； in every page； the men
all so good for nothing； and hardly any women at all—it is very
tiresome： and yet I often think it odd that it should be so dull； for a
great deal of it must be invention。 The speeches that are put into
the heroes’ mouths； their thoughts and designs—the chief of all
this must be invention； and invention is what delights me in other
books。”
“Historians； you think；” said Miss Tilney； “are not happy in
their flights of fancy。 They display imagination without raising
interest。 I am fond of history—and am very well contented to take
the false with the true。 In the principal facts they have sources of
intelligence in former histories and records； which may be as
much depended on； I conclude； as anything that does not actually
pass under one’s own observation； and as for the little
embellishments you speak of； they are embellishments； and I like
them as such。 If a speech be well drawn up； I read it with pleasure；
by whomsoever it may be made—and probably with much greater；
if the production of Mr。 Hume or Mr。 Robertson； than if the
genuine words of Caractacus； Agricola； or Alfred the Great。”
“You are fond of history！—and so are Mr。 Allen and my father；
and I have two brothers who do not dislike it。 So many instances
within my small circle of friends is remarkable！ At this rate； I shall
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not pity the writers of history any longer。 If people like to read
their books； it is all very well； but to be at so much trouble in filling
great volumes； which； as I used to think； nobody would willingly
ever look into； to be labouring only for the torment of little boys
and girls； always struck me as a hard fate； and though I know it is
all very right and necessary； I have often wondered at the person’s
courage that could sit down on purpose to do it。”
“That little boys and girls should be tormented；” said Henry； “is
what no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized
state can deny； but in behalf of our most distinguished historians； I
must observe that they might well be offended at being supposed
to have no higher aim； and that by their method and style； they are
perfectly well qualified to torment readers of the most advanced
reason and mature time of life。 I use the verb ‘to torment；’ as I
observed to be your own method； instead of ‘to instruct；’
supposing them to be now admitted as synonymous。”
“You think me foolish to call instruction a torment； but if you
had been as much used as myself to hear poor little children first
learning their letters and then learning to spell； if you had ever
seen how stupid they can be for a whole morning together； and
how tired my poor mother is at the end of it； as I am in the habit of
seeing almost every day of my life at home； you would allow that to
torment and to instruct might sometimes be used as synonymous
words。”
“Very probably。 But historians are not accountable for the
difficulty of learning to read； and even you yourself； who do not
altogether seem particularly friendly to very severe； very intense
application； may perhaps be brought to acknowledge that it is very
well worth while to be tormented for two or three years of one’s
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life； for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it。 Consider—if
reading had not been taught； Mrs。 Radcliffe would have written in
vain—or perhaps might not have written at all。”
Catherine assented—and a very warm panegyric from her on
that lady’s merits closed the subject。—The Tilneys were soon
engaged in another on which she had nothing to say。 They were
viewing the country with the eyes of persons accustomed to
drawing； and decided on its capability of being formed into
pictures； with all the eagerness of real taste。 Here Catherine was
quite lost。 She knew nothing of drawing—nothing of taste：—and
she listened to them with an attention which brought her little
profit； for they talked in phrases which conveyed scarcely any idea
to her。 The little which she could understand； however； appeared
to contradict the very few notions she had entertained on the
matter before。 It seemed as if a good view were no longer to be
taken from the top of an high hill； and that a clear blue sky was no
longer a proof of a fine day。 She was heartily ashamed of her
ignorance。 A misplaced shame。 Where people wish to attach； they
should always be ignorant。 To come with a well…informed mind is
to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others；
which a sensible person would always wish to avoid。 A woman
especially； if she have the misfortune of knowing anything； should
conceal it as well as she can。
The advantages of natural folly in a beautiful girl have been
already set forth by the capital pen of a sister author；—and to her
treatment of the subject I will only add； in justice to men； that
though to the larger and more trifling part of the sex； imbecility in
females is a great enhancement of their personal charms； there is
a portion of them too reasonable and too well informed themselves
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to desire anything more in woman than ignorance。 But Catherine
did not know her own advantages—did not know that a good…
looking girl； with an affectionate heart and a very ignorant mind；