by Jane Austen
CHAPTER 13
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have nowpassed in review before the reader; the events of each day, its hopesand fears, mortifications and pleasures, have been separately stated,and the pangs of Sunday only now remain to be described, and close theweek. The Clifton scheme had been deferred, not relinquished, and onthe afternoon's Crescent of this day, it was brought forward again. In aprivate consultation between Isabella and James, the former of whom hadparticularly set her heart upon going, and the latter no less anxiouslyplaced his upon pleasing her, it was agreed that, provided the weatherwere fair, the party should take place on the following morning; andthey were to set off very early, in order to be at home in good time.The affair thus determined, and Thorpe's approbation secured, Catherineonly remained to be apprised of it. She had left them for a few minutesto speak to Miss Tilney. In that interval the plan was completed, and assoon as she came again, her agreement was demanded; but instead of thegay acquiescence expected by Isabella, Catherine looked grave, was verysorry, but could not go. The engagement which ought to have kept herfrom joining in the former attempt would make it impossible for her toaccompany them now. She had that moment settled with Miss Tilney to taketheir proposed walk tomorrow; it was quite determined, and she wouldnot, upon any account, retract. But that she must and should retractwas instantly the eager cry of both the Thorpes; they must go to Cliftontomorrow, they would not go without her, it would be nothing to put offa mere walk for one day longer, and they would not hear of a refusal.Catherine was distressed, but not subdued. "Do not urge me, Isabella. Iam engaged to Miss Tilney. I cannot go." This availed nothing. The samearguments assailed her again; she must go, she should go, and they wouldnot hear of a refusal. "It would be so easy to tell Miss Tilney that youhad just been reminded of a prior engagement, and must only beg to putoff the walk till Tuesday."
"No, it would not be easy. I could not do it. There has been no priorengagement." But Isabella became only more and more urgent, callingon her in the most affectionate manner, addressing her by the mostendearing names. She was sure her dearest, sweetest Catherine would notseriously refuse such a trifling request to a friend who loved her sodearly. She knew her beloved Catherine to have so feeling a heart, sosweet a temper, to be so easily persuaded by those she loved. But allin vain; Catherine felt herself to be in the right, and though painedby such tender, such flattering supplication, could not allow it toinfluence her. Isabella then tried another method. She reproached herwith having more affection for Miss Tilney, though she had known her solittle a while, than for her best and oldest friends, with being growncold and indifferent, in short, towards herself. "I cannot help beingjealous, Catherine, when I see myself slighted for strangers, I, wholove you so excessively! When once my affections are placed, it is notin the power of anything to change them. But I believe my feelings arestronger than anybody's; I am sure they are too strong for my own peace;and to see myself supplanted in your friendship by strangers does cut meto the quick, I own. These Tilneys seem to swallow up everything else."
Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it thepart of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others?Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless ofeverything but her own gratification. These painful ideas crossed hermind, though she said nothing. Isabella, in the meanwhile, had appliedher handkerchief to her eyes; and Morland, miserable at such a sight,could not help saying, "Nay, Catherine. I think you cannot stand out anylonger now. The sacrifice is not much; and to oblige such a friend--Ishall think you quite unkind, if you still refuse."
This was the first time of her brother's openly siding against her, andanxious to avoid his displeasure, she proposed a compromise. If theywould only put off their scheme till Tuesday, which they might easilydo, as it depended only on themselves, she could go with them, andeverybody might then be satisfied. But "No, no, no!" was the immediateanswer; "that could not be, for Thorpe did not know that he might notgo to town on Tuesday." Catherine was sorry, but could do no more; anda short silence ensued, which was broken by Isabella, who in a voice ofcold resentment said, "Very well, then there is an end of the party.If Catherine does not go, I cannot. I cannot be the only woman. I wouldnot, upon any account in the world, do so improper a thing."
"Catherine, you must go," said James.
"But why cannot Mr. Thorpe drive one of his other sisters? I dare sayeither of them would like to go."
"Thank ye," cried Thorpe, "but I did not come to Bath to drive mysisters about, and look like a fool. No, if you do not go, d---- me if Ido. I only go for the sake of driving you."
"That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure." But her words werelost on Thorpe, who had turned abruptly away.
The three others still continued together, walking in a mostuncomfortable manner to poor Catherine; sometimes not a word was said,sometimes she was again attacked with supplications or reproaches, andher arm was still linked within Isabella's, though their hearts wereat war. At one moment she was softened, at another irritated; alwaysdistressed, but always steady.
"I did not think you had been so obstinate, Catherine," said James;"you were not used to be so hard to persuade; you once were the kindest,best-tempered of my sisters."
"I hope I am not less so now," she replied, very feelingly; "but indeedI cannot go. If I am wrong, I am doing what I believe to be right."
"I suspect," said Isabella, in a low voice, "there is no greatstruggle."
Catherine's heart swelled; she drew away her arm, and Isabella made noopposition. Thus passed a long ten minutes, till they were again joinedby Thorpe, who, coming to them with a gayer look, said, "Well, Ihave settled the matter, and now we may all go tomorrow with a safeconscience. I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuses."
"You have not!" cried Catherine.
"I have, upon my soul. Left her this moment. Told her you had sent me tosay that, having just recollected a prior engagement of going to Cliftonwith us tomorrow, you could not have the pleasure of walking with hertill Tuesday. She said very well, Tuesday was just as convenient to her;so there is an end of all our difficulties. A pretty good thought ofmine--hey?"
Isabella's countenance was once more all smiles and good humour, andJames too looked happy again.
"A most heavenly thought indeed! Now, my sweet Catherine, all ourdistresses are over; you are honourably acquitted, and we shall have amost delightful party."
"This will not do," said Catherine; "I cannot submit to this. I must runafter Miss Tilney directly and set her right."
Isabella, however, caught hold of one hand, Thorpe of the other, andremonstrances poured in from all three. Even James was quite angry. Wheneverything was settled, when Miss Tilney herself said that Tuesday wouldsuit her as well, it was quite ridiculous, quite absurd, to make anyfurther objection.
"I do not care. Mr. Thorpe had no business to invent any such message.If I had thought it right to put it off, I could have spoken to MissTilney myself. This is only doing it in a ruder way; and how do I knowthat Mr. Thorpe has--He may be mistaken again perhaps; he led me intoone act of rudeness by his mistake on Friday. Let me go, Mr. Thorpe;Isabella, do not hold me."
Thorpe told her it would be in vain to go after the Tilneys; they wereturning the corner into Brock Street, when he had overtaken them, andwere at home by this time.
"Then I will go after them," said Catherine; "wherever they are I willgo after them. It does not signify talking. If I could not be persuadedinto doing what I thought wrong, I never will be tricked into it."And with these words she broke away and hurried off. Thorpe would havedarted after her, but Morland withheld him. "Let her go, let her go, ifshe will go."
"She is as obstinate as--"
Thorpe never finished the simile, for it could hardly have been a properone.
Away walked Catherine in great agitation, as fast as the crowd wouldpermit her, fearful of being pursued, yet determined to persevere. Asshe walked, she reflect
ed on what had passed. It was painful to her todisappoint and displease them, particularly to displease her brother;but she could not repent her resistance. Setting her own inclinationapart, to have failed a second time in her engagement to Miss Tilney, tohave retracted a promise voluntarily made only five minutes before,and on a false pretence too, must have been wrong. She had not beenwithstanding them on selfish principles alone, she had not consultedmerely her own gratification; that might have been ensured in somedegree by the excursion itself, by seeing Blaize Castle; no, she hadattended to what was due to others, and to her own character in theiropinion. Her conviction of being right, however, was not enough torestore her composure; till she had spoken to Miss Tilney she could notbe at ease; and quickening her pace when she got clear of the Crescent,she almost ran over the remaining ground till she gained the top ofMilsom Street. So rapid had been her movements that in spite of theTilneys' advantage in the outset, they were but just turning intotheir lodgings as she came within view of them; and the servant stillremaining at the open door, she used only the ceremony of sayingthat she must speak with Miss Tilney that moment, and hurrying by himproceeded upstairs. Then, opening the first door before her, whichhappened to be the right, she immediately found herself in thedrawing-room with General Tilney, his son, and daughter. Herexplanation, defective only in being--from her irritation of nerves andshortness of breath--no explanation at all, was instantly given. "I amcome in a great hurry--It was all a mistake--I never promised to go--Itold them from the first I could not go.--I ran away in a great hurryto explain it.--I did not care what you thought of me.--I would not stayfor the servant."
The business, however, though not perfectly elucidated by this speech,soon ceased to be a puzzle. Catherine found that John Thorpe had giventhe message; and Miss Tilney had no scruple in owning herself greatlysurprised by it. But whether her brother had still exceeded her inresentment, Catherine, though she instinctively addressed herself asmuch to one as to the other in her vindication, had no means of knowing.Whatever might have been felt before her arrival, her eager declarationsimmediately made every look and sentence as friendly as she coulddesire.
The affair thus happily settled, she was introduced by Miss Tilneyto her father, and received by him with such ready, such solicitouspoliteness as recalled Thorpe's information to her mind, and made herthink with pleasure that he might be sometimes depended on. To suchanxious attention was the general's civility carried, that not aware ofher extraordinary swiftness in entering the house, he was quite angrywith the servant whose neglect had reduced her to open the door of theapartment herself. "What did William mean by it? He should make a pointof inquiring into the matter." And if Catherine had not most warmlyasserted his innocence, it seemed likely that William would lose thefavour of his master forever, if not his place, by her rapidity.
After sitting with them a quarter of an hour, she rose to take leave,and was then most agreeably surprised by General Tilney's asking her ifshe would do his daughter the honour of dining and spending the restof the day with her. Miss Tilney added her own wishes. Catherine wasgreatly obliged; but it was quite out of her power. Mr. and Mrs. Allenwould expect her back every moment. The general declared he could say nomore; the claims of Mr. and Mrs. Allen were not to be superseded; but onsome other day he trusted, when longer notice could be given, they wouldnot refuse to spare her to her friend. "Oh, no; Catherine was sure theywould not have the least objection, and she should have great pleasurein coming." The general attended her himself to the street-door, sayingeverything gallant as they went downstairs, admiring the elasticity ofher walk, which corresponded exactly with the spirit of her dancing, andmaking her one of the most graceful bows she had ever beheld, when theyparted.
Catherine, delighted by all that had passed, proceeded gaily to PulteneyStreet, walking, as she concluded, with great elasticity, though shehad never thought of it before. She reached home without seeing anythingmore of the offended party; and now that she had been triumphantthroughout, had carried her point, and was secure of her walk, she began(as the flutter of her spirits subsided) to doubt whether she had beenperfectly right. A sacrifice was always noble; and if she had given wayto their entreaties, she should have been spared the distressing idea ofa friend displeased, a brother angry, and a scheme of great happinessto both destroyed, perhaps through her means. To ease her mind, andascertain by the opinion of an unprejudiced person what her own conducthad really been, she took occasion to mention before Mr. Allen thehalf-settled scheme of her brother and the Thorpes for the followingday. Mr. Allen caught at it directly. "Well," said he, "and do you thinkof going too?"
"No; I had just engaged myself to walk with Miss Tilney before they toldme of it; and therefore you know I could not go with them, could I?"
"No, certainly not; and I am glad you do not think of it. These schemesare not at all the thing. Young men and women driving about the countryin open carriages! Now and then it is very well; but going to inns andpublic places together! It is not right; and I wonder Mrs. Thorpe shouldallow it. I am glad you do not think of going; I am sure Mrs. Morlandwould not be pleased. Mrs. Allen, are not you of my way of thinking? Donot you think these kind of projects objectionable?"
"Yes, very much so indeed. Open carriages are nasty things. A cleangown is not five minutes' wear in them. You are splashed getting inand getting out; and the wind takes your hair and your bonnet in everydirection. I hate an open carriage myself."
"I know you do; but that is not the question. Do not you think it has anodd appearance, if young ladies are frequently driven about in them byyoung men, to whom they are not even related?"
"Yes, my dear, a very odd appearance indeed. I cannot bear to see it."
"Dear madam," cried Catherine, "then why did not you tell me so before?I am sure if I had known it to be improper, I would not have gone withMr. Thorpe at all; but I always hoped you would tell me, if you thoughtI was doing wrong."
"And so I should, my dear, you may depend on it; for as I told Mrs.Morland at parting, I would always do the best for you in my power. Butone must not be over particular. Young people will be young people,as your good mother says herself. You know I wanted you, when we firstcame, not to buy that sprigged muslin, but you would. Young people donot like to be always thwarted."
"But this was something of real consequence; and I do not think youwould have found me hard to persuade."
"As far as it has gone hitherto, there is no harm done," said Mr. Allen;"and I would only advise you, my dear, not to go out with Mr. Thorpe anymore."
"That is just what I was going to say," added his wife.
Catherine, relieved for herself, felt uneasy for Isabella, and after amoment's thought, asked Mr. Allen whether it would not be both properand kind in her to write to Miss Thorpe, and explain the indecorum ofwhich she must be as insensible as herself; for she considered thatIsabella might otherwise perhaps be going to Clifton the next day, inspite of what had passed. Mr. Allen, however, discouraged her from doingany such thing. "You had better leave her alone, my dear; she is oldenough to know what she is about, and if not, has a mother to adviseher. Mrs. Thorpe is too indulgent beyond a doubt; but, however, you hadbetter not interfere. She and your brother choose to go, and you will beonly getting ill will."
Catherine submitted, and though sorry to think that Isabella should bedoing wrong, felt greatly relieved by Mr. Allen's approbation of herown conduct, and truly rejoiced to be preserved by his advice from thedanger of falling into such an error herself. Her escape from being oneof the party to Clifton was now an escape indeed; for what would theTilneys have thought of her, if she had broken her promise to them inorder to do what was wrong in itself, if she had been guilty of onebreach of propriety, only to enable her to be guilty of another?
