Chapter 4 Chapter two

We have introduced Catherine.Moran's looks and aptitude.During her six-week trip to Bath, which is about to begin, her looks and aptitude will be put to the test of all kinds of hardships and dangers.In order to let readers have a clearer understanding of her, so as not to become more and more confused in the future, it may be necessary to explain: Catherine is earnest, cheerful and straightforward, without the slightest conceit or affectation.Her manner had just removed the girl's coyness and shyness.She was lovely and charming when she was good looking.Like any seventeen-year-old girl, her mind is so ignorant.

The time of departure drew near.Mrs. Morland was a mother, and of course she ought to be full of anxiety.Dear Catherine is going away from home, and the mother fears that some misfortune will happen to her.You should be full of worries and sorrows, and you should cry like tears one or two days before parting.In saying good-bye in her room, she should have given her daughter a lot of advice of the utmost importance and practicality, in the light of her worldly experience.If Mrs. Morland could at this moment warn her daughter against the viciousness of those nobles and baronets who are so fond of taking young ladies to remote cottages, her anxiety would be relieved.Who said no?It was a pity that Mrs. Morland, not acquainted with the nobles and baronets, knew nothing of their pranks, and therefore had no suspicion of their daughter's plotting against her.Her exhortations were limited to the following: I beseech you, Catherine, wrap your neck warm when you come out of the assembly hall at night.I hope you can keep an account when you spend money, and I specially give you this little account book.

Sally, preferably Sarah (for what young lady in an ordinary gentleman's family does not change her name as much as possible at sixteen?) must be her sister's best friend and confidant at this time because of the circumstances.It is worth noting, however, that she neither insisted that Catherine write her a letter every day, nor insisted that she promise to describe the character of every new friend in her letter, or describe every interesting conversation that might occur in Bath. Report in detail.The Morans handled all matters connected with this important trip with coolness and moderation.This attitude was quite in keeping with the ordinary sentiments of everyday life, but not with that refined sentimentality, that lingering tenderness which a heroine is supposed to arouse on her first excursion from home.Not only did her father not draw her a bank draft, he didn't even slip a hundred pound note into her hand, he only gave her ten guineas. Old gold coins, twenty-one shillings.), promising to give her more when there is not enough.

In such a bleak situation, Catherine said goodbye to her family and embarked on a journey.It was smooth sailing along the way, safe and sound.I didn't run into robbers, I didn't encounter a storm, and I didn't meet the hero because of the overturned car.Only once did Mrs. Allen worry about leaving her clogs at the hotel, which was fortunately later discovered to be a false alarm.Other than that, nothing alarming happened. They came to Bath.Catherine felt anxious and happy.As the car approached the picturesque and inviting suburbs, and later through the streets leading to the hotel, I saw her looking left and right, this and that.She came here to have a good time, and she was already having a good time.

They soon took up residence in a comfortable house in Pulteney Street. It is time now to introduce Mrs. Allen, so that the reader may judge how her conduct will henceforth contribute to the troubles of the book, and how it may lead poor Catherine into a disconcerting situation.Whether it was her indiscretion, vulgarity, or jealousy.Or because she stole Catherine's letters, slandered her reputation, and even kicked her out. (Translator's Note: In fact, Mrs. Allen has nothing to do with Catherine's later encounters. The author said this to satirize the Gothic legend, because in the Gothic legend, the heroine's misfortune is all due to her aunt, etc. caused by human jealousy.)

There are many such women in the world with whom you can only wonder that there are men who love them and even marry them; Mrs. Allen is such a woman.She was neither beautiful, nor talented, nor graceful.A man of sophistication and sense, such as Mr. Allen, had picked her out of her society ladylike airs, her demure good-natured disposition, and her love of joking.Like the young lady, she likes to run around and see everything. In this regard, she is very suitable as a social introducer for the young lady.She was fond of clothes, and had a quite innocent habit: she always liked to be well-dressed.It took her three or four days to find out what was the most fashionable thing to wear, and to buy the most fashionable clothes, before she led our heroine into society.Catherine did some shopping herself.When these things were settled, and the big night came, she was to be ushered into the assembly hall.The best barber trimmed her hair, and she dressed with care.Mrs. Allen and her maid said she was very well dressed.With this encouragement, Catherine hoped that she would at least not be criticized when she passed through the crowd.As for appreciation, it's gratifying to be appreciated, but she doesn't have this extravagant hope.

Mrs. Allen took a long time to dress up, so that they entered the party hall very late.Right now it is the busy season, and the party hall is extremely crowded, and the two ladies squeezed their way in.But Mr. Allen, he went straight to the card room, and left the two ladies to enjoy themselves among the hustle and bustle.Mrs. Allen took great care of her new dress, and whether or not her protégé could bear it.Mrs. Allen moved cautiously and quickly as she passed through the crowd in front of the door.Fortunately, Catherine was close to her and held her friend's arm tightly, so she was not scattered by the pushing crowd.

However, to her great surprise, walking through the hall was by no means a way out of the siege, and the crowd seemed to become more crowded as they walked.She had imagined that as soon as she entered the door, she could easily find a seat and sit comfortably to watch people dance.Who would have thought that this is not the case at all.Although they squeezed to the end of the hall through unremitting efforts, the situation remained the same. There were no dancers at all, only the towering feathers on some women's heads.The two continued to walk forward and saw a better place.By strength and dexterity, and with further effort, they came at last to the aisle behind the top row of benches.There were fewer people here than below, so that Miss Morland could take a look at the crowd below, as well as the dangers she had just run in when she broke in.It was a magnificent sight, and Miss Moran felt for the first time that night that she was at a ball.She wanted to dance, but there was no one she knew.

Under such circumstances, Mrs. Allen could only comfort her by saying, often in a soft voice: "My dear boy, if only you could dance."I hope you can find a dance partner.At first her young friend was grateful for her kindness, but she talked so much, and without effect, that Catherine at last got tired of hearing it, and thanked her no more. They finally squeezed here to enjoy the tranquility of the high place, but the good times didn't last long.In an instant, everyone started to drink tea, and the two of them had to squeeze out together.Catherine was beginning to feel a little disappointed: she hated crowds, and most of their faces were not interesting, and besides, she had never known them before, so she couldn't talk to any of them. Two sentences, to alleviate the troubles of the predicament.At last she came to the tea room, and she felt more and more troubled that she couldn't find a partner, couldn't see acquaintances, and didn't have a man to help her.Mr. Allen was nowhere to be seen.The two ladies looked around for a better place, and sat down resignedly at the end of a table.There was already a large group of people sitting at the table, and the two of them had nothing to do there, apart from talking to each other, they couldn't find anyone else to talk to.

As soon as the two sat down, Mrs. Allen was glad that she didn't squeeze the cheongsam skirt.It would be bad if it got ripped, she said, don't you think?The yarn material is fine.To tell you the truth, I haven't seen anything in this hall that I like so much. No acquaintance here, whispered Catherine, how awkward! Isn't it, my child, Mrs. Allen replied calmly, it is indeed awkward. What shall we do?The ladies and gentlemen at the same table seemed to be wondering what we were doing here, as if we were forced in. Yes, something like that.It's embarrassing.It would be nice to have a lot of acquaintances here.

Even if you know one or two.That way there is always someone to join in the fun. That's right, my boy.If we know anyone, we go to them right away.The Skinners were here last year, if only they were here now. That being the case, should we just leave?You see, there's not even our tea set here. Indeed no.How annoying!However, I think we'd better sit still, there are so many people that you're bound to get dizzy.Good boy, how is my hair?Someone gave me a push.I'm afraid my hair will be messed up. No, there really isn't, it looks neat.But, dear Mrs. Allen, do you really know not one of them?I think you must know a few people. To be honest, I don't know anyone.I wish I knew a few people.I really wish I had a lot of acquaintances here.That way, I can find you a partner.I really want you to dance.Look, there's a weird looking woman over there!What a weird cheongsam dress she was wearing!What an antique!Look at that back. After a while, someone sitting next to them invited them to drink tea, and they accepted it gratefully, and exchanged a few words with the gentleman by the way.This was the only time anyone spoke to them throughout the night.Mr. Allen did not come to them until the ball was over. Well, Miss Morland, he said presently, was there a good ball? Pleasantly indeed, replied Miss Morland, yawning heavily, though stifled. Too bad she didn't make the dance, Mrs. Allen said.If only we could get her a partner, as I was saying just now, if the Skinners came this winter instead of last winter.or.Only if the Parrys come here as they say, and Miss Morland can be with George.Parry is dancing.It's a pity that she never had a partner. I hope it will be better next time I come, Mr. Allen reassured. The dance is over and people are starting to leave.Once the place is spacious, the rest of the people move and feel comfortable.Our heroine has not yet shown her talents at the ball, and now it is everyone's turn to pay attention to her and praise her.Every five minutes, as the crowd dwindled further, gave her an extra chance to show her charm.Many young people who were not near her before saw her now.However, after everyone looked at it, no one was overjoyed by it. There were no chattering inquiries in the hall, and no one called her a fairy descending to earth.Catherine, however, was charming, and those who had seen her three years ago would think her handsome now. However, someone was looking at her, and it was with some envy, because she had heard two men say that she was a beautiful girl.The compliments had their due effect: Miss Morland felt at once.The evening was more agreeable than she had felt before, and her humble vanity was gratified.She was so grateful to those two young men for this brief compliment that even a true heroine would not be so grateful when she heard that fifteen sonnets had been written in praise of her beauty. .She was very amiable when she went to take the sedan chair.She was quite content with the little public attention she received.