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was very moderate and very transient。 This was strange
indeed！ But strange things may be generally accounted
for if their cause be fairly searched out。 There was not
one lord in the neighbourhood； nonot even a baronet。
There was not one family among their acquaintance who
had reared and supported a boy accidentally found at
their doornot one young man whose origin was unknown。
Her father had no ward； and the squire of the parish
no children。
But when a young lady is to be a heroine； the perverseness
of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her。
Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way。
Mr。 Allen； who owned the chief of the property
about Fullerton； the village in Wiltshire where the
Morlands lived； was ordered to Bath for the benefit of a
gouty constitutionand his lady； a good…humoured woman；
fond of Miss Morland； and probably aware that if adventures
will not befall a young lady in her own village；
she must seek them abroad； invited her to go with them。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Morland were all compliance； and Catherine
all happiness。
CHAPTER 2
In addition to what has been already said of
Catherine Morlands personal and mental endowments；
when about to be launched into all the difficulties
and dangers of a six weeks' residence in Bath； it may
be stated； for the reader's more certain information；
lest the following pages should otherwise fail of
giving any idea of what her character is meant to be；
that her heart was affectionate； her disposition cheerful
and open； without conceit or affectation of any kindher
manners just removed from the awkwardness and shyness
of a girl； her person pleasing； and； when in good looks；
prettyand her mind about as ignorant and uninformed
as the female mind at seventeen usually is。
When the hour of departure drew near； the maternal
anxiety of Mrs。 Morland will be naturally supposed to be
most severe。 A thousand alarming presentiments of evil
to her beloved Catherine from this terrific separation
must oppress her heart with sadness； and drown her in
tears for the last day or two of their being together；
and advice of the most important and applicable nature
must of course flow from her wise lips in their parting
conference in her closet。 Cautions against the violence
of such noblemen and baronets as delight in forcing
young ladies away to some remote farm…house； must；
at such a moment； relieve the fulness of her heart。
Who would not think so？ But Mrs。 Morland knew so little
of lords and baronets； that she entertained no notion of
their general mischievousness； and was wholly unsuspicious
of danger to her daughter from their machinations。
Her cautions were confined to the following points。
〃I beg； Catherine； you will always wrap yourself up
very warm about the throat； when you come from the rooms
at night； and I wish you would try to keep some account
of the money you spend； I will give you this little book
on purpose。
Sally； or rather Sarah （for what young lady of common
gentility will reach the age of sixteen without altering
her name as far as she can？）； must from situation be at this
time the intimate friend and confidante of her sister。
It is remarkable； however； that she neither insisted on
Catherine's writing by every post； nor exacted her promise
of transmitting the character of every new acquaintance；
nor a detail of every interesting conversation that Bath
might produce。 Everything indeed relative to this
important journey was done； on the part of the Morlands；
with a degree of moderation and composure； which seemed
rather consistent with the common feelings of common life；
than with the refined susceptibilities； the tender
emotions which the first separation of a heroine
from her family ought always to excite。 Her father；
instead of giving her an unlimited order on his banker；
or even putting an hundred pounds bank…bill into her hands；
gave her only ten guineas； and promosed her more when she
wanted it。
Under these unpromising auspices； the parting
took place； and the journey began。 It was performed
with suitable quietness and uneventful safety。
Neither robbers nor tempests befriended them； nor one lucky
overturn to introduce them to the hero。 Nothing more
alarming occurred than a fear； on Mrs。 Allen's side；
of having once left her clogs behind her at an inn；
and that fortunately proved to be groundless。
They arrived at Bath。 Catherine was all eager
delighther eyes were here； there； everywhere； as they
approached its fine and striking environs； and afterwards drove
through those streets which conducted them to the hotel。
She was come to be happy； and she felt happy already。
They were soon settled in comfortable lodgings
in Pulteney Street。
It is now expedient to give some description of
Mrs。 Allen； that the reader may be able to judge in what
manner her actions will hereafter tend to promote the
general distress of the work； and how she will； probably；
contribute to reduce poor Catherine to all the desperate
wretchedness of which a last volume is capablewhether by
her imprudence； vulgarity； or jealousywhether by intercepting
her letters； ruining her character； or turning her out of doors。
Mrs。 Allen was one of that numerous class of females；
whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise
at there being any men in the world who could like them
well enough to marry them。 She had neither beauty；
genius； accomplishment； nor manner。 The air of a gentlewoman；
a great deal of quiet； inactive good temper； and a trifling
turn of mind were all that could account for her being
the choice of a sensible； intelligent man like Mr。 Allen。
In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a
young lady into public； being as fond of going everywhere
and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be。
Dress was her passion。 She had a most harmless delight
in being fine； and our heroine's entree into life could
not take place till after three or four days had been
spent in learning what was mostly worn； and her chaperone
was provided with a dress of the newest fashion。
Catherine too made some purchases herself； and when all
these matters were arranged； the important evening came
which was to usher her into the Upper Rooms。 Her hair
was cut and dressed by the best hand； her clothes put on
with care； and both Mrs。 Allen and her maid declared she
looked quite as she should do。 With such encouragement；
Catherine hoped at least to pass uncensured through the crowd。
As for admiration； it was always very welcome when it came；
but she did not depend on it。
Mrs。 Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter
the ballroom till late。 The season was full； the room crowded；
and the two ladies squeezed in as well as they could。
As for Mr。 Allen； he repaired directly to the card…room；
and left them to enjoy a mob by themselves。 With more
care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort
of her protegee； Mrs。 Allen made her way through the throng
of men by the door； as swiftly as the necessary caution
would allow； Catherine； however； kept close at her side；
and linked her arm too firmly within her friend's to be torn
asunder by any common effort of a struggling assembly。
But to her utter amazement she found that to proceed
along the room was by no means the way to disengage
themselves from the crowd； it seemed rather to increase
as they went on； whereas she had imagined that when once
fairly within the door； they should easily find seats
and be able to watch the dances with perfect convenience。
But this was far from being the case； and though by
unwearied diligence they gained even the top of the room；
their situation was just the same； they saw nothing of
the dancers but the high feathers of some of the ladies。
Still they moved onsomething better was yet in view；
and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity
they found themselves at last in the passage behind
the highest bench。 Here there was something less
of crowd than below； and hence Miss Morland had a
comprehensive view of all the company beneath her；
and of all the dange