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between them； interest her so much as to prevent her looking very
often towards that part of the room where she had left Mr。 Tilney。
Of her dear Isabella； to whom she particularly longed to point out
that gentleman； she could see nothing。 They were in different sets。
She was separated from all her party； and away from all her
acquaintance；—one mortification succeeded another； and from
the whole she deduced this useful lesson； that to go previously
engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity
or enjoyment of a young lady。 From such a moralizing strain as
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this； she was suddenly roused by a touch on the shoulder； and
turning round； perceived Mrs。 Hughes directly behind her；
attended by Miss Tilney and a gentleman。 “I beg your pardon；
Miss Morland；” said she； “for this liberty—but I cannot anyhow
get to Miss Thorpe； and Mrs。 Thorpe said she was sure you would
not have the least objection to letting in this young lady by you。”
Mrs。 Hughes could not have applied to any creature in the room
more happy to oblige her than Catherine。 The young ladies were
introduced to each other； Miss Tilney expressing a proper sense of
such goodness； Miss Morland with the real delicacy of a generous
mind making light of the obligation； and Mrs。 Hughes； satisfied
with having so respectably settled her young charge； returned to
her party。
Miss Tilney had a good figure； a pretty face； and a very
agreeable countenance； and her air； though it had not all the
decided pretension； the resolute stylishness of Miss Thorpe’s； had
more real elegance。 Her manners showed good sense and good
breeding； they were neither shy nor affectedly open； and she
seemed capable of being young； attractive； and at a ball without
wanting to fix the attention of every man near her； and without
exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation
on every little trifling occurrence。 Catherine； interested at once by
her appearance and her relationship to Mr。 Tilney； was desirous of
being acquainted with her； and readily talked therefore whenever
she could think of anything to say； and had courage and leisure for
saying it。 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
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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 time—but he would not believe
me。 Do go and see for her； Mr。 Morland； said I—but all in vain—he
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
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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 common…place 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
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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 them—a
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 i