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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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wretchedness about her。 On the beginning of the fifth； however；
the sudden view of Mr。 Henry Tilney and his father； joining a
party in the opposite box； recalled her to anxiety and distress。 The
stage could no longer excite genuine merriment—no longer keep
her whole attention。 Every other look upon an average was
directed towards the opposite box； and； for the space of two entire
scenes； did she thus watch Henry Tilney； without being once able
to catch his eye。 No longer could he be suspected of indifference
for a play； his notice was never withdrawn from the stage during
two whole scenes。 At length； however； he did look towards her；
and he bowed—but such a bow！ no smile； no continued
observance attended it； his eyes were immediately returned to
their former direction。 Catherine was restlessly miserable； she
could almost have run round to the box in which he sat and forced
him to hear her explanation。 Feelings rather natural than heroic
possessed her； instead of considering her own dignity injured by
this ready condemnation—instead of proudly resolving； in
conscious innocence； to show her resentment towards him who
could harbour a doubt of it； to leave to him all the trouble of
seeking an explanation； and to enlighten him on the past only by
avoiding his sight； or flirting with somebody else； she took to
herself all the shame of misconduct； or at least of its appearance；
and was only eager for an opportunity of explaining its cause。
The play concluded—the curtain fell—Henry Tilney was no
longer to be seen where he had hitherto sat； but his father
remained； and perhaps he might be now coming round to their
box。 She was right； in a few minutes he appeared； and； making his
way through the then thinning rows； spoke with like calm
politeness to Mrs。 Allen and her friend。 Not with such calmness
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was he answered by the latter： “Oh！ Mr。 Tilney； I have been quite
wild to speak to you； and make my apologies。 You must have
thought me so rude； but indeed it was not my own fault；—was it；
Mrs。 Allen？ Did not they tell me that Mr。 Tilney and his sister
were gone out in a phaeton together？ And then what could I do？
But I had ten thousand times rather have been with you； now had
not I； Mrs。 Allen？”
“My dear； you tumble my gown；” was Mrs。 Allen’s reply。
Her assurance； however； standing sole as it did； was not thrown
away； it brought a more cordial； more natural smile into his
countenance； and he replied in a tone which retained only a little
affected reserve：—“We were much obliged to you at any rate for
wishing us a pleasant walk after our passing you in Argyle…street：
you were so kind as to look back on purpose。”
“But indeed I did not wish you a pleasant walk； I never thought
of such a thing； but I begged Mr。 Thorpe so earnestly to stop； I
called out to him as soon as ever I saw you； now； Mrs。 Allen； did
not—Oh！ you were not there； but indeed I did； and； if Mr。 Thorpe
would only have stopped； I would have jumped out and run after
you。”
Is there a Henry in the world who could be insensible to such a
declaration？ Henry Tilney at least was not。 With a yet sweeter
smile； he said every thing that need be said of his sister’s concern；
regret； and dependence on Catherine’s honour。—“Oh！ Do not say
Miss Tilney was not angry；” cried Catherine； “because I know she
was； for she would not see me this morning when I called； I saw
her walk out of the house the next minute after my leaving it； I
was hurt； but I was not affronted。 Perhaps you did not know I had
been there。”
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“I was not within at the time； but I heard of it from Eleanor； and
she has been wishing ever since to see you； to explain the reason
of such incivility； but perhaps I can do it as well。 It was nothing
more than that my father—they were just preparing to walk out；
and he being hurried for time； and not caring to have it put off；
made a point of her being denied。 That was all； I do assure you。
She was very much vexed； and meant to make her apology as soon
as possible。”
Catherine’s mind was greatly eased by this information； yet a
something of solicitude remained； from which sprang the
following question； thoroughly artless in itself； though rather
distressing to the gentleman：—“But； Mr。 Tilney； why were you less
generous than your sister？ If she felt such confidence in my good
intentions； and could suppose it to be only a mistake； why should
you be so ready to take offence？”
“Me！—I take offence！”
“Nay； I am sure by your look； when you came into the box； you
were angry。”
“I angry！ I could have no right。”
“Well； nobody would have thought you had no right who saw
your face。” He replied by asking her to make room for him； and
talking of the play。
He remained with them some time； and was only too agreeable
for Catherine to be contented when he went away。 Before they
parted； however； it was agreed that the projected walk should be
taken as soon as possible； and； setting aside the misery of his
quitting their box； she was； upon the whole； left one of the
happiest creatures in the world。
While talking to each other； she had observed with some
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surprize that John Thorpe； who was never in the same part of the
house for ten minutes together； was engaged in conversation with
General Tilney； and she felt something more than surprise when
she thought she could perceive herself the object of their attention
and discourse。 What could they have to say of her？ She feared
General Tilney did not like her appearance： she found it was
implied in his preventing her admittance to his daughter； rather
than postpone his own walk a few minutes。 “How came Mr。
Thorpe to know your father？” was her anxious inquiry； as she
pointed them out to her companion。 He knew nothing about it； but
his father； like every military man； had a very large acquaintance。
When the entertainment was over； Thorpe came to assist them
in getting out。 Catherine was the immediate object of his gallantry；
and； while they waited in the lobby for a chair； he prevented the
inquiry which had travelled from her heart almost to the tip of her
tongue； by asking； in a consequential manner； whether she had
seen him talking with General Tilney：—“He is a fine old fellow；
upon my soul！—stout； active—looks as young as his son。 I have a
great regard for him； I assure you： a gentleman…like； good sort of
fellow as ever lived。”
“But how came you to know him？”
“Know him！ There are few people much about town that I do
not know。 I have met him forever at the Bedford； and I knew his
face again to…day the moment he came into the billiard…room。 One
of the best players we have； by the bye； and we had a little touch
together； though I was almost afraid of him at first： the odds were
five to four against me； and； if I had not made one of the cleanest
strokes that perhaps ever was made in this world—I took his ball
exactly—but I could not make you understand it without a table；—
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen