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I suppose； we shall be in the carriage by ten； so； about a
quarter before one on Wednesday； you may look for us。〃
A ball itself could not have been more welcome
to Catherine than this little excursion； so strong
was her desire to be acquainted with Woodston；
and her heart was still bounding with joy when Henry；
about an hour afterwards； came booted and greatcoated into
the room where she and Eleanor were sitting； and said；
〃I am come； young ladies； in a very moralizing strain；
to observe that our pleasures in this world are always
to be paid for； and that we often purchase them at a
great disadvantage； giving ready…monied actual happiness
for a draft on the future； that may not be honoured。
Witness myself； at this present hour。 Because I am
to hope for the satisfaction of seeing you at Woodston
on Wednesday； which bad weather； or twenty other causes；
may prevent； I must go away directly； two days before I
intended it。〃
〃Go away！〃 said Catherine； with a very long face。
〃And why？〃
〃Why！ How can you ask the question？ Because no time
is to be lost in frightening my old housekeeper out of
her wits； because I must go and prepare a dinner for you；
to be sure。〃
〃Oh！ Not seriously！〃
〃Aye； and sadly toofor I had much rather stay。〃
〃But how can you think of such a thing； after what
the general said？ When he so particularly desired you
not to give yourself any trouble； because anything would do。〃
Henry only smiled。 〃I am sure it is quite
unnecessary upon your sister's account and mine。
You must know it to be so； and the general made such a
point of your providing nothing extraordinary： besides；
if he had not said half so much as he did； he has
always such an excellent dinner at home； that sitting
down to a middling one for one day could not signify。〃
〃I wish I could reason like you； for his sake and my own。
Good…bye。 As tomorrow is Sunday； Eleanor； I shall not return。〃
He went； and； it being at any time a much simpler
operation to Catherine to doubt her own judgment than
Henry's； she was very soon obliged to give him credit
for being right； however disagreeable to her his going。
But the inexplicability of the general's conduct dwelt
much on her thoughts。 That he was very particular in
his eating； she had； by her own unassisted observation；
already discovered； but why he should say one thing
so positively； and mean another all the while；
was most unaccountable！ How were people； at that rate；
to be understood？ Who but Henry could have been aware
of what his father was at？
From Saturday to Wednesday； however； they were now
to be without Henry。 This was the sad finale of every
reflection： and Captain Tilney's letter would certainly come
in his absence； and Wednesday she was very sure would be wet。
The past； present； and future were all equally in gloom。
Her brother so unhappy； and her loss in Isabella so great；
and Eleanor's spirits always affected by Henry's absence！
What was there to interest or amuse her？ She was tired of
the woods and the shrubberiesalways so smooth and so dry；
and the abbey in itself was no more to her now than any
other house。 The painful remembrance of the folly it
had helped to nourish and perfect was the only emotion
which could spring from a consideration of the building。
What a revolution in her ideas！ She； who had so longed
to be in an abbey！ Now； there was nothing so charming
to her imagination as the unpretending comfort of a
well…connected parsonage； something like Fullerton；
but better： Fullerton had its faults； but Woodston probably
had none。 If Wednesday should ever come！
It did come； and exactly when it might be reasonably
looked for。 It cameit was fineand Catherine trod
on air。 By ten o'clock； the chaise and four conveyed
the two from the abbey； and； after an agreeable drive
of almost twenty miles； they entered Woodston； a large
and populous village； in a situation not unpleasant。
Catherine was ashamed to say how pretty she thought it；
as the general seemed to think an apology necessary for
the flatness of the country； and the size of the village；
but in her heart she preferred it to any place she had ever
been at； and looked with great admiration at every neat
house above the rank of a cottage； and at all the little
chandler's shops which they passed。 At the further end
of the village； and tolerably disengaged from the rest of it；
stood the parsonage； a new…built substantial stone house；
with its semicircular sweep and green gates； and； as they
drove up to the door； Henry； with the friends of his solitude；
a large Newfoundland puppy and two or three terriers；
was ready to receive and make much of them。
Catherine's mind was too full； as she entered
the house； for her either to observe or to say a
great deal； and； till called on by the general for her
opinion of it； she had very little idea of the room
in which she was sitting。 Upon looking round it then；
she perceived in a moment that it was the most comfortable
room in the world； but she was too guarded to say so；
and the coldness of her praise disappointed him。
〃We are not calling it a good house；〃 said he。
〃We are not comparing it with Fullerton and Northangerwe
are considering it as a mere parsonage； small and confined；
we allow； but decent； perhaps； and habitable； and altogether
not inferior to the generality； or； in other words；
I believe there are few country parsonages in England half
so good。 It may admit of improvement； however。 Far be
it from me to say otherwise； and anything in reasona
bow thrown out； perhapsthough； between ourselves；
if there is one thing more than another my aversion；
it is a patched…on bow。〃
Catherine did not hear enough of this speech to understand
or be pained by it； and other subjects being studiously
brought forward and supported by Henry； at the same time that
a tray full of refreshments was introduced by his servant；
the general was shortly restored to his complacency；
and Catherine to all her usual ease of spirits。
The room in question was of a commodious；
well…proportioned size； and handsomely fitted up as
a dining…parlour； and on their quitting it to walk round
the grounds； she was shown； first into a smaller apartment；
belonging peculiarly to the master of the house； and made
unusually tidy on the occasion； and afterwards into what
was to be the drawing…room； with the appearance of which；
though unfurnished； Catherine was delighted enough even
to satisfy the general。 It was a prettily shaped room；
the windows reaching to the ground； and the view
from them pleasant； though only over green meadows；
and she expressed her admiration at the moment with
all the honest simplicity with which she felt it。
〃Oh！ Why do not you fit up this room； Mr。 Tilney？ What
a pity not to have it fitted up！ It is the prettiest
room I ever saw； it is the prettiest room in the world！〃
〃I trust；〃 said the general； with a most satisfied smile；
〃that it will very speedily be furnished： it waits only for
a lady's taste！〃
〃Well； if it was my house； I should never sit
anywhere else。 Oh！ What a sweet little cottage there is
among the treesapple trees； too！ It is the prettiest cottage！〃
〃You like ityou approve it as an objectit is enough。
Henry； remember that Robinson is spoken to about it。
The cottage remains。〃
Such a compliment recalled all Catherine's consciousness；
and silenced her directly； and； though pointedly applied
to by the general for her choice of the prevailing colour
of the paper and hangings； nothing like an opinion
on the subject could be drawn from her。 The influence
of fresh objects and fresh air； however； was of great
use in dissipating these embarrassing associations；
and； having reached the ornamental part of the premises；
consisting of a walk round two sides of a meadow； on which
Henry's genius had begun to act about half a year ago；
she was sufficiently recovered to think it prettier than any
pleasure…ground she had ever been in before； though there
was not a shrub in it higher than the green bench in the corner。