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kind of young people； and you were sadly out of luck too in your
Isabella。 Ah！ Poor James！ Well； we must live and learn； and the
next new friends you make I hope will be better worth keeping。”
Catherine coloured as she warmly answered； “No friend can be
better worth keeping than Eleanor。”
“If so； my dear； I dare say you will meet again some time or
other； do not be uneasy。 It is ten to one but you are thrown
together again in the course of a few years； and then what a
pleasure it will be！”
Mrs。 Morland was not happy in her attempt at consolation。 The
hope of meeting again in the course of a few years could only put
into Catherine’s head what might happen within that time to make
a meeting dreadful to her。 She could never forget Henry Tilney； or
think of him with less tenderness than she did at that moment； but
he might forget her； and in that case； to meet！—Her eyes filled
with tears as she pictured her acquaintance so renewed； and her
mother； perceiving her comfortable suggestions to have had no
good effect； proposed； as another expedient for restoring her
spirits； that they should call on Mrs。 Allen。
The two houses were only a quarter of a mile apart； and； as they
walked； Mrs。 Morland quickly dispatched all that she felt on the
score of James’s disappointment。 “We are sorry for him；” said she；
“but otherwise there is no harm done in the match going off； for it
could not be a desirable thing to have him engaged to a girl whom
we had not the smallest acquaintance with； and who was so
entirely without fortune； and now； after such behaviour； we
cannot think at all well of her。 Just at present it comes hard to
poor James； but that will not last for ever； and I dare say he will be
a discreeter man all his life； for the foolishness of his first choice。”
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This was just such a summary view of the affair as Catherine
could listen to； another sentence might have endangered her
complaisance； and made her reply less rational； for soon were all
her thinking powers swallowed up in the reflection of her own
change of feelings and spirits since last she had trodden that well…
known road。 It was not three months ago since； wild with joyful
expectation； she had there run backwards and forwards some ten
times a day； with an heart light； gay； and independent； looking
forward to pleasures untasted and unalloyed； and free from the
apprehension of evil as from the knowledge of it。 Three months
ago had seen her all this； and now； how altered a being did she
return！
She was received by the Allens with all the kindness which her
unlooked…for appearance； acting on a steady affection； would
naturally call forth； and great was their surprise； and warm their
displeasure； on hearing how she had been treated；—though Mrs。
Morland’s account of it was no inflated representation； no studied
appeal to their passions。 “Catherine took us quite by surprise
yesterday evening；” said she。 “She travelled all the way post by
herself； and knew nothing of coming till Saturday night； for
General Tilney； from some odd fancy or other； all of a sudden grew
tired of having her there； and almost turned her out of the house。
Very unfriendly； certainly； and he must be a very odd man；—but
we are so glad to have her amongst us again！ And it is a great
comfort to find that she is not a poor helpless creature； but can
shift very well for herself。”
Mr。 Allen expressed himself on the occasion with the
reasonable resentment of a sensible friend； and Mrs。 Allen thought
his expressions quite good enough to be immediately made use of
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again by herself。 His wonder； his conjectures； and his explanations
became in succession hers； with the addition of this single
remark—“I really have not patience with the General”—to fill up
every accidental pause。 And； “I really have not patience with the
General；” was uttered twice after Mr。 Allen left the room； without
any relaxation of anger； or any material digression of thought。 A
more considerable degree of wandering attended the third
repetition； and； after completing the fourth； she immediately
added； “Only think； my dear； of my having got that frightful great
rent in my best Mechlin so charmingly mended； before I left Bath；
that one can hardly see where it was。 I must shew it you some day
or other。 Bath is a nice place； Catherine； after all。 I assure you I
did not above half like coming away。 Mrs。 Thorpe’s being there
was such a comfort to us； was not it？ You know； you and I were
quite forlorn at first。”
“Yes； but that did not last long；” said Catherine； her eyes
brightening at the recollection of what had first given spirit to her
existence there。
“Very true： we soon met with Mrs。 Thorpe； and then we wanted
for nothing。 My dear； do not you think these silk gloves wear very
well？ I put them on new the first time of our going to the Lower
Rooms； you know； and I have worn them a great deal since。 Do
you remember that evening？”
“Do I！ Oh！ perfectly。”
“It was very agreeable； was not it？ Mr。 Tilney drank tea with us；
and I always thought him a great addition； he is so very agreeable。
I have a notion you danced with him； but am not quite sure。 I
remember I had my favourite gown on。”
Catherine could not answer； and； after a short trial of other
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subjects； Mrs。 Allen again returned to—“I really have not patience
with the General！ Such an agreeable； worthy man as he seemed to