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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 semi…circular 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 Northanger—we 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
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reason—a bow thrown out； perhaps—though； 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 trees—apple trees；
too！ It is the prettiest cottage！”—
“You like it—you approve it as an object；—it is enough。 Henry；
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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。
A saunter into other meadows； and through part of the village；
with a visit to the stables to examine some improvements； and a
charming game of play with a litter of puppies just able to roll
about； brought them to four o’clock； when Catherine scarcely
thought it could be three。 At four they were to dine； and at six to
set off on their return。 Never had any day passed so quickly！
She could not but observe that the abundance of the dinner did
not seem to create the smallest astonishment in the General； nay；
that he was even looking at the side…table for cold meat which was
not there。 His son and daughter’s observations were of a different
kind。 They had seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table but his
own； and never before known him so little disconcerted by the
melted butter’s being oiled。
At six o’clock； the General having taken his coffee； the carriage
again received them； and so gratifying had been the tenor of his
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conduct throughout the whole visit； so well assured was her mind
on the subject of his expectations； that； could she have felt equally
confident of the wishes of his son； Catherine would have quitted
Woodston with little anxiety as to the How or the When she might
return to it。
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CHAPTER XII
he next morning brought the following very unexpected
letter from Isabella：—
T
Bath； April —
My dearest Catherine；
I received your two kind letters with the greatest delight； and
have a thousand apologies to make for not answering them sooner。
I really am quite ashamed of my idleness； but in this horrid place
one can find time for nothing。 I have had my pen in my hand to
begin a letter to you almost every day since you left Bath； but have
always been prevented by some silly trifler or other。 Pray write to
me soon； and direct to my own home。 Thank God； we leave this
vile place tomorrow。 Since you went away； I have had no pleasure
in it—the dust is beyond anything； and every body one cares for is
gone。 I believe if I could see you I should not mind the rest； for you
are dearer to me than anybody can conceive。 I am quite uneasy
about your dear brother； not having heard from him since he went
to Oxford； and am fearful of some misunderstanding。 Your kind
offices will set all right：—he is the only man I ever did or could
love； and I trust you will convince him of it。 The spring fashions
are partly down； and the hats the most frightful you can imagine。 I
hope you spend your time pleasantly； but am afraid you never
think of me。 I will not say all that I could of the family you are
with； because I would not be ungenerous； or set you against those
you esteem； but it is very difficult to know whom to trust； and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen