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ground than inequality of situations。 She proposed it to him
accordingly； but he did not catch at the measure so eagerly as she
had expected。 “No；” said he； “my father’s hands need not be
strengthened； and Frederick’s confession of folly need not be
forestalled。 He must tell his own story。”
“But he will tell only half of it。”
“A quarter would be enough。”
A day or two passed away and brought no tidings of Captain
Tilney。 His brother and sister knew not what to think。 Sometimes
it appeared to them as if his silence would be the natural result of
the suspected engagement； and at others that it was wholly
incompatible with it。 The General； meanwhile； though offended
every morning by Frederick’s remissness in writing； was free from
any real anxiety about him； and had no more pressing solicitude
than that of making Miss Morland’s time at Northanger pass
pleasantly。 He often expressed his uneasiness on this head； feared
the sameness of every day’s society and employments would
disgust her with the place； wished the Lady Frasers had been in
the country； talked every now and then of having a large party to
dinner； and once or twice began even to calculate the number of
young dancing people in the neighbourhood。 But then it was such
a dead time of year； no wild…fowl； no game； and the Lady Frasers
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were not in the country。 And it all ended； at last； in his telling
Henry one morning that when he next went to Woodston； they
would take him by surprise there some day or other； and eat their
mutton with him。 Henry was greatly honoured and very happy；
and Catherine was quite delighted with the scheme。 “And when
do you think； sir； I may look forward to this pleasure？—I must be
at Woodston on Monday to attend the parish meeting； and shall
probably be obliged to stay two or three days。”
“Well； well； we will take our chance some one of those days。
There is no need to fix。 You are not to put yourself at all out of
your way。 Whatever you may happen to have in the house will be
enough。 I think I can answer for the young ladies making
allowance for a bachelor’s table。 Let me see； Monday will be a
busy day with you； we will not come on Monday； and Tuesday will
be a busy one with me。 I expect my surveyor from Brockham with
his report in the morning； and afterwards I cannot in decency fail
attending the club。 I really could not face my acquaintance if I
stayed away now； for； as I am known to be in the country； it would
be taken exceedingly amiss； and it is a rule with me； Miss Morland；
never to give offence to any of my neighbours； if a small sacrifice
of time and attention can prevent it。 They are a set of very worthy
men。 They have half a buck from Northanger twice a year； and I
dine with them whenever I can。 Tuesday； therefore； we may say is
out of the question。 But on Wednesday； I think； Henry； you may
expect us； and we shall be with you early； that we may have time
to look about us。 Two hours and three quarters will carry us to
Woodston； 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
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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 great…coated
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 too—for 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 any thing 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 to…morrow is Sunday； Eleanor； I shall not return。”
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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 shrubberies—always 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 came—it was fine—and Catherine trod on air。 By ten o’clock；
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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 thi