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with the General！ Such an agreeable； worthy man as he seemed to
be！ I do not suppose； Mrs。 Morland； you ever saw a better…bred
man in your life。 His lodgings were taken the very day after he left
them； Catherine。 But no wonder； Milsom…street； you know。”—
As they walked home again； Mrs。 Morland endeavoured to
impress on her daughter’s mind the happiness of having such
steady well…wishers as Mr。 and Mrs。 Allen； and the very little
consideration which the neglect or unkindness of slight
acquaintance like the Tilneys ought to have with her； while she
could preserve the good opinion and affection of her earliest
friends。 There was a great deal of good sense in all this； but there
are some situations of the human mind in which good sense has
very little power； and Catherine’s feelings contradicted almost
every position her mother advanced。 It was upon the behaviour of
these very slight acquaintance that all her present happiness
depended； and while Mrs。 Morland was successfully confirming
her own opinions by the justness of her own representations；
Catherine was silently reflecting that now Henry must have
arrived at Northanger； now he must have heard of her departure；
and now； perhaps； they were all setting off for Hereford。
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CHAPTER XV
atherine’s disposition was not naturally sedentary； nor had
her habits been ever very industrious； but whatever might
C
hitherto have been her defects of that sort； her mother
could not but perceive them now to be greatly increased。 She
could neither sit still nor employ herself for ten minutes together；
walking round the garden and orchard again and again； as if
nothing but motion was voluntary； and it seemed as if she could
even walk about the house rather than remain fixed for any time
in the parlour。 Her loss of spirits was a yet greater alteration。 In
her rambling and her idleness she might only be a caricature of
herself； but in her silence and sadness she was the very reverse of
all that she had been before。
For two days Mrs。 Morland allowed it to pass even without a
hint； but when a third night’s rest had neither restored her
cheerfulness； improved her in useful activity； nor given her a
greater inclination for needlework； she could no longer refrain
from the gentle reproof of； “My dear Catherine； I am afraid you
are growing quite a fine lady。 I do not know when poor Richard’s
cravats would be done； if he had no friend but you。 Your head
runs too much upon Bath； but there is a time for every thing—a
time for balls and plays； and a time for work。 You have had a long
run of amusement； and now you must try to be useful。”
Catherine took up her work directly； saying； in a dejected voice；
that “her head did not run upon Bath—much。”
“Then you are fretting about General Tilney； and that is very
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simple of you； for ten to one whether you ever see him again。 You
should never fret about trifles。” After a short silence—“I hope； my
Catherine； you are not getting out of humour with home because it
is not so grand as Northanger。 That would be turning your visit
into an evil indeed。 Wherever you are you should always be
contented； but especially at home； because there you must spend
the most of your time。 I did not quite like； at breakfast； to hear you
talk so much about the French…bread at Northanger。”
“I am sure I do not care about the bread。 It is all the same to me
what I eat。”
“There is a very clever essay in one of the books upstairs upon
much such a subject； about young girls that have been spoilt for
home by great acquaintance—“The Mirror；” I think。 I will look it
out for you some day or other； because I am sure it will do you
good。”
Catherine said no more； and； with an endeavour to do right；
applied to her work； but； after a few minutes； sunk again； without
knowing it herself； into languor and listlessness； moving herself in
her chair； from the irritation of weariness； much oftener than she
moved her needle。—Mrs。 Morland watched the progress of this
relapse； and seeing； in her daughter’s absent and dissatisfied look；
the full proof of that repining spirit to which she had now begun to
attribute her want of cheerfulness； hastily left the room to fetch
the book in question； anxious to lose no time in attacking so
dreadful a malady。 It was some time before she could find what
she looked for； and other family matters occurring to detain her； a
quarter of an hour had elapsed ere she returned downstairs with
the volume from which so much was hoped。 Her avocations above
having shut out all noise but what she created herself； she knew
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not that a visitor had arrived within the last few minutes； till； on
entering the room； the first object she beheld was a young man
whom she had never seen before。 With a look of much respect； he
immediately rose； and being introduced to her by her conscious
daughter as “Mr。 Henry Tilney；” with the embarrassment of real
sensibility began to apologize for his appearance there；
acknowledging that after what had passed he had little right to
expect a welcome at Fullerton； and stating his impatience to be
assured of Miss Morland’s having reached her home in safety； as
the cause of his intrusion。 He did not address himself to an
uncandid judge or a resentful heart。 Far from comprehending him
or his sister in their f