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Northanger turned up an abbey； and she was to be its inhabitant。
Its long； damp passages； its narrow cells and ruined chapel；
were to be within her daily reach； and she could not
entirely subdue the hope of some traditional legends；
some awful memorials of an injured and ill…fated nun。
It was wonderful that her friends should seem
so little elated by the possession of such a home；
that the consciousness of it should be so meekly borne。
The power of early habit only could account for it。
A distinction to which they had been born gave no pride。
Their superiority of abode was no more to them than their
superiority of person。
Many were the inquiries she was eager to make
of Miss Tilney； but so active were her thoughts；
that when these inquiries were answered； she was hardly
more assured than before； of Northanger Abbey having been
a richly endowed convent at the time of the Reformation；
of its having fallen into the hands of an ancestor of the
Tilneys on its dissolution； of a large portion of the ancient
building still making a part of the present dwelling although
the rest was decayed； or of its standing low in a valley；
sheltered from the north and east by rising woods of oak。
CHAPTER 18
With a mind thus full of happiness； Catherine was hardly
aware that two or three days had passed away； without her
seeing Isabella for more than a few minutes together。
She began first to be sensible of this； and to sigh
for her conversation； as she walked along the pump…room
one morning； by Mrs。 Allen's side； without anything to say
or to hear； and scarcely had she felt a five minutes'
longing of friendship； before the object of it appeared；
and inviting her to a secret conference； led the way
to a seat。 〃This is my favourite place；〃 said she as they
sat down on a bench between the doors； which commanded
a tolerable view of everybody entering at either；
〃it is so out of the way。〃
Catherine； observing that Isabella's eyes were
continually bent towards one door or the other； as in
eager expectation； and remembering how often she had been
falsely accused of being arch； thought the present a fine
opportunity for being really so； and therefore gaily said；
〃Do not be uneasy； Isabella； James will soon be here。〃
〃Psha！ My dear creature；〃 she replied； 〃do not think
me such a simpleton as to be always wanting to confine him
to my elbow。 It would be hideous to be always together；
we should be the jest of the place。 And so you are
going to Northanger！ I am amazingly glad of it。 It is
one of the finest old places in England； I understand。
I shall depend upon a most particular description of it。〃
〃You shall certainly have the best in my power to give。
But who are you looking for？ Are your sisters coming？〃
〃I am not looking for anybody。 One's eyes must
be somewhere； and you know what a foolish trick I have of
fixing mine； when my thoughts are an hundred miles off。
I am amazingly absent； I believe I am the most absent
creature in the world。 Tilney says it is always the case
with minds of a certain stamp。〃
〃But I thought； Isabella； you had something
in particular to tell me？〃
〃Oh！ Yes； and so I have。 But here is a proof of
what I was saying。 My poor head； I had quite forgot it。
Well； the thing is this： I have just had a letter from John；
you can guess the contents。〃
〃No； indeed； I cannot。〃
〃My sweet love； do not be so abominably affected。
What can he write about； but yourself？ You know he is over
head and ears in love with you。〃
〃With me； dear Isabella！〃
〃Nay； my sweetest Catherine； this is being quite
absurd！ Modesty； and all that； is very well in its way；
but really a little common honesty is sometimes quite
as becoming。 I have no idea of being so overstrained！
It is fishing for compliments。 His attentions were
such as a child must have noticed。 And it was but half
an hour before he left Bath that you gave him the most
positive encouragement。 He says so in this letter；
says that he as good as made you an offer； and that you
received his advances in the kindest way； and now he
wants me to urge his suit； and say all manner of pretty
things to you。 So it is in vain to affect ignorance。〃
Catherine； with all the earnestness of truth；
expressed her astonishment at such a charge； protesting
her innocence of every thought of Mr。 Thorpe's being
in love with her； and the consequent impossibility of
her having ever intended to encourage him。 〃As to any
attentions on his side； I do declare； upon my honour；
I never was sensible of them for a momentexcept just
his asking me to dance the first day of his coming。
And as to making me an offer； or anything like it；
there must be some unaccountable； mistake。 I could not
have misunderstood a thing of that kind； you know！ And；
as I ever wish to be believed； I solemnly protest that
no syllable of such a nature ever passed between us。
The last half hour before he went away！ It must be all
and completely a mistakefor I did not see him once
that whole morning。〃
〃But that you certainly did； for you spent the whole
morning in Edgar's Buildingsit was the day your father's
consent cameand I am pretty sure that you and John were
alone in the parlour some time before you left the house。〃
〃Are you？ Well； if you say it； it was so； I dare
saybut for the life of me； I cannot recollect it。
I do remember now being with you； and seeing him as
well as the restbut that we were ever alone for five
minutes However； it is not worth arguing about；
for whatever might pass on his side； you must be convinced；
by my having no recollection of it； that I never thought；
nor expected； nor wished for anything of the kind from him。
I am excessively concerned that he should have any regard
for mebut indeed it has been quite unintentional
on my side； I never had the smallest idea of it。
Pray undeceive him as soon as you can； and tell him I beg
his pardonthat isI do not know what I ought to saybut
make him understand what I mean； in the properest way。
I would not speak disrespectfully of a brother of yours；
Isabella； I am sure； but you know very well that if I could
think of one man more than anotherhe is not the person。〃
Isabella was silent。 〃My dear friend； you must not be
angry with me。 I cannot suppose your brother cares
so very much about me。 And； you know； we shall still
be sisters。〃
〃Yes； yes〃 （with a blush）； 〃there are more ways
than one of our being sisters。 But where am I wandering
to？ Well； my dear Catherine； the case seems to be
that you are determined against poor Johnis not it so？〃
〃I certainly cannot return his affection； and as
certainly never meant to encourage it。〃
〃Since that is the case； I am sure I shall not
tease you any further。 John desired me to speak to you
on the subject； and therefore I have。 But I confess；
as soon as I read his letter； I thought it a very foolish；
imprudent business； and not likely to promote the good
of either； for what were you to live upon； supposing you
came together？ You have both of you something； to be sure；
but it is not a trifle that will support a family nowadays；
and after all that romancers may say； there is no doing
without money。 I only wonder John could think of it；
he could not have received my last。〃
〃You do acquit me； then； of anything wrong？You
are convinced that I never meant to deceive your brother；
never suspected him of liking me till this moment？〃
〃Oh！ As to that；〃 answered Isabella laughingly；
〃I do not pretend to determine what your thoughts and
designs in time past may have been。 All that is best known
to yourself。 A little harmless flirtation or so will occur；
and one is often drawn on to give more encouragement than
one wishes to stand by。 But you may be assured that I
am the last person in the world to judge you severely。
All those things should be allowed for in youth and
high spirits。 What one means one day； you know； one may
not mean the next。 Circumstances change； opinions alter。〃
〃But my opinion o