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But the hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy；
by the frequent want of one or more of these requisites；
prevented their doing more than going through the first
rudiments of an acquaintance； by informing themselves how well
the other liked Bath； how much she admired its buildings
and surrounding country； whether she drew； or played；
or sang； and whether she was fond of riding on horseback。
The two dances were scarcely concluded before Catherine
found her arm gently seized by her faithful Isabella；
who in great spirits exclaimed； 〃At last I have got you。
My dearest creature； I have been looking for you this hour。
What could induce you to come into this set； when you
knew I was in the other？ I have been quite wretched
without you。〃
〃My dear Isabella； how was it possible for me to get
at you？ I could not even see where you were。〃
〃So I told your brother all the timebut he would
not believe me。 Do go and see for her； Mr。 Morland；
said Ibut all in vainhe would not stir an inch。
Was not it so； Mr。 Morland？ But you men are all so
immoderately lazy！ I have been scolding him to such
a degree； my dear Catherine； you would be quite amazed。
You know I never stand upon ceremony with such people。〃
〃Look at that young lady with the white beads round
her head；〃 whispered Catherine； detaching her friend
from James。 〃It is Mr。 Tilney's sister。〃
〃Oh！ Heavens！ You don't say so！ Let me look at her
this moment。 What a delightful girl！ I never saw anything
half so beautiful！ But where is her all…conquering brother？ Is
he in the room？ Point him out to me this instant； if he is。
I die to see him。 Mr。 Morland； you are not to listen。
We are not talking about you。〃
〃But what is all this whispering about？ What is going on？〃
〃There now； I knew how it would be。 You men have
such restless curiosity！ Talk of the curiosity of women；
indeed！ 'Tis nothing。 But be satisfied； for you are not
to know anything at all of the matter。〃
〃And is that likely to satisfy me； do you think？〃
〃Well； I declare I never knew anything like you。
What can it signify to you； what we are talking of。
Perhaps we are talking about you； therefore I would advise
you not to listen； or you may happen to hear something not
very agreeable。〃
In this commonplace chatter； which lasted some time；
the original subject seemed entirely forgotten； and though
Catherine was very well pleased to have it dropped for a while；
she could not avoid a little suspicion at the total suspension
of all Isabella's impatient desire to see Mr。 Tilney。
When the orchestra struck up a fresh dance； James would
have led his fair partner away； but she resisted。
〃I tell you； Mr。 Morland；〃 she cried； 〃I would not do such
a thing for all the world。 How can you be so teasing；
only conceive； my dear Catherine； what your brother wants
me to do。 He wants me to dance with him again； though I
tell him that it is a most improper thing； and entirely
against the rules。 It would make us the talk of the place；
if we were not to change partners。〃
〃Upon my honour；〃 said James； 〃in these public assemblies；
it is as often done as not。〃
〃Nonsense； how can you say so？ But when you men
have a point to carry； you never stick at anything。
My sweet Catherine； do support me； persuade your brother
how impossible it is。 Tell him that it would quite shock
you to see me do such a thing； now would not it？〃
〃No； not at all； but if you think it wrong；
you had much better change。〃
〃There；〃 cried Isabella； 〃you hear what your sister says；
and yet you will not mind her。 Well； remember that it
is not my fault； if we set all the old ladies in Bath
in a bustle。 Come along； my dearest Catherine；
for heaven's sake； and stand by me。〃 And off they went；
to regain their former place。 John Thorpe； in the meanwhile；
had walked away； and Catherine； ever willing to give
Mr。 Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable
request which had already flattered her once； made her
way to Mrs。 Allen and Mrs。 Thorpe as fast as she could；
in the hope of finding him still with thema hope which；
when it proved to be fruitless； she felt to have been
highly unreasonable。 〃Well； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Thorpe；
impatient for praise of her son； 〃I hope you have had
an agreeable partner。〃
〃Very agreeable； madam。〃
〃I am glad of it。 John has charming spirits；
has not he？〃
〃Did you meet Mr。 Tilney； my dear？〃 said Mrs。 Allen。
〃No； where is he？〃
〃He was with us just now； and said he was so tired
of lounging about； that he was resolved to go and dance；
so I thought perhaps he would ask you； if he met with you。〃
〃Where can he be？〃 said Catherine； looking round；
but she had not looked round long before she saw him
leading a young lady to the dance。
〃Ah！ He has got a partner； I wish he had asked you；〃
said Mrs。 Allen； and after a short silence； she added；
〃he is a very agreeable young man。〃
〃Indeed he is； Mrs。 Allen；〃 said Mrs。 Thorpe；
smiling complacently； 〃I must say it； though I am his mother；
that there is not a more agreeable young man in the world。〃
This inapplicable answer might have been too much
for the comprehension of many； but it did not puzzle
Mrs。 Allen； for after only a moment's consideration；
she said； in a whisper to Catherine； 〃I dare say she
thought I was speaking of her son。〃
Catherine was disappointed and vexed。 She seemed
to have missed by so little the very object she had
had in view； and this persuasion did not incline her
to a very gracious reply； when John Thorpe came up
to her soon afterwards and said； 〃Well； Miss Morland；
I suppose you and I are to stand up and jig it together again。〃
〃Oh； no； I am much obliged to you； our two dances
are over； and； besides； I am tired； and do not mean
to dance any more。〃
〃Do not you？ Then let us walk about and quiz people。
Come along with me； and I will show you the four greatest
quizzers in the room； my two younger sisters and their partners。
I have been laughing at them this half hour。〃
Again Catherine excused herself； and at last he walked
off to quiz his sisters by himself。 The rest of the evening
she found very dull； Mr。 Tilney was drawn away from their
party at tea； to attend that of his partner； Miss Tilney；
though belonging to it； did not sit near her； and James
and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together
that the latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friend
than one smile； one squeeze； and one 〃dearest Catherine。〃
CHAPTER 9
The progress of Catherine's unhappiness from the
events of the evening was as follows。 It appeared first
in a general dissatisfaction with everybody about her；
while she remained in the rooms； which speedily brought
on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home。
This； on arriving in Pulteney Street； took the direction
of extraordinary hunger； and when that was appeased；
changed into an earnest longing to be in bed； such was
the extreme point of her distress； for when there
she immediately fell into a sound sleep which lasted
nine hours； and from which she awoke perfectly revived；
in excellent spirits； with fresh hopes and fresh schemes。
The first wish of her heart was to improve her acquaintance
with Miss Tilney； and almost her first resolution；
to seek her for that purpose； in the pump…room at noon。
In the pump…room； one so newly arrived in Bath must
be met with； and that building she had already found
so favourable for the discovery of female excellence；
and the completion of female intimacy； so admirably adapted
for secret discourses and unlimited confidence； that she
was most reasonably encouraged to expect another friend from
within its walls。 Her plan for the morning thus settled；
she sat quietly down to her book after breakfast；
resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment
till the clock struck one； and from habitude very little
incommoded by the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs。 Allen；