Chapter 10 chapter eight

Although Catherine wanted to see Udolph, and Mrs. Allen was worried about the tailor's late arrival, the people from Pulteney Street arrived at the party hall on time.The Thorpes and James were only two minutes ahead of them.Isabella, as usual, hastened to greet her friend when she saw her, and she was seen with a smile and affection.Sometimes I admire the style of her cheongsam dress, and sometimes I envy the style of her curly hair.Then, the two of them walked into the ballroom arm in arm with their older companions, muttering to each other whenever they had a thought in their minds, and many thoughts were expressed by squeezed hands and friendly smiles.

A few minutes after everyone sat down, the dancing began.James, like her sister, had already made an appointment with a partner, and urged Isabella to get up quickly.Unexpectedly, John ran into the card room to talk to his friends, and Isabella announced in public: If dear Catherine can't join together, she will dance first without saying anything.I tell you, she said, I will never dance unless your dear sister comes along.Otherwise, we'll be apart for the whole night. Catherine gratefully accepted her favor, and sat like this for another three minutes. But Isabella was talking to James, who was sitting on the other side of her, and suddenly whispered to Catherine: "My dear, I'm afraid I must leave you, your brother can't wait."I know you don't mind letting me go.John will be back soon.At that time, you can easily find me.Although Catherine was a little disappointed, she had a good temper and did not stop her.So the two stood up, and Isabella had only time to squeeze her friend's hand and say see you later, my darling!They hurried away with James.

The second and third Miss Thorpe were also dancing, and Catherine was still sitting between Mrs. Thorpe and Mrs. Allen for their company.Mr. Thorpe's absence could not fail to annoy her.Not only did she want to dance, but she knew that if people didn't know that she actually had a partner, she would be ashamed of herself like dozens of girls sitting there without a partner.A girl with a pure heart and innocent behavior is ashamed and disgraceful in front of everyone, but she does not know that this is entirely caused by other people's mistakes. This situation must be a unique experience in the heroine's life.

In this encounter, the stronger the heroine appears, the more noble her personality appears.Catherine is also strong.She felt humiliated in her heart, but she didn't complain in her mouth. After swallowing her anger and waiting for ten minutes, Catherine was startled suddenly, and her worry turned into joy.It turned out that she had seen him not three yards from her seat, not Mr. Thorpe, but Mr. Tilney.Seems to be walking towards them, but doesn't see her.And so again the smile and blush on Catherine's face at the sight of his sudden disappearance, without tarnishing her heroine dignity.

Mr. Tilney looked as handsome and lively as ever, and was talking animatedly to a fashionable and pretty young woman.The woman put his arm, and Catherine guessed at once that it was his sister.She could have thought he was married, thus depriving her of him forever.Now this good opportunity is thrown away without thinking.but.Nor, judging from the simple, probable circumstances, had it ever occurred to her that Mr. Tilney might marry.His speech and demeanor were not like the married men she was familiar with.He never mentioned that he had a wife, only that he had a sister.Based on these circumstances, she immediately concluded that it was his sister who was by his side now.Catherine, therefore, did not grow pale, nor faint in Mrs. Allen's arms, but sat upright, clear-headed, with only a little redder than usual in her cheeks.

Mr. Tilney and his companion walked slowly and steadily towards a woman, following them.The woman, who knew Mrs. Thorpe, stopped talking to her, and the Tilneys, being led by her, stopped after her.As soon as Mr. Tilney caught sight of Catherine looking at him, he gave a smile of acquaintance.Catherine smiled cheerfully at him too.Then Mr. Tierney took a few steps forward.Talking to Catherine and Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Allen greeted him politely: I am very glad to see you again, sir.I was worried you had left Bath. Mr. Tilney thanked her for her interest, and said that he had been away from Bath for a week, the morning after he had had the honor of acquainting her.

Well, sir, you will definitely not regret coming back this time, because this is the world of young people, and of course it is also the world of other people.When Mr. Allen talked about his dislike of Bath, I told him he really shouldn't complain, because the place is so lovely, and it's much better to be here than at home in such an off-season.I told him that he was really blessed to be able to recuperate here. I hope, ma'am, Mr. Allen finds Bath to be of great use to him, and will like the place then. thank you, sir.I believe he will.One of our neighbors, Dr. Skinner, came here last winter to recuperate, and came back in excellent health.

This fact must be a source of great encouragement. Yes, sir.Dr. Skinner and his family have lived here for three months.So I told Mr. Allen that he should not hurry away. Mrs. Thorpe interrupted at this point.She asked Mrs. Allen to move a little to make room for Mrs. Hughes and Miss Tilney, who had promised to sit with them.When they were all seated, Mr. Tilney remained standing before them.After thinking for a few minutes, he asked Catherine to dance with him.This is something to be happy about, but I don't want the woman, but I feel regretful.She declined with the slightest regret, as if it were the real thing, and it was a good thing that Thorpe had just arrived, and if he had come half a minute earlier he would have thought her in great distress.Then Thorpe grumbled at her about keeping her waiting, but it didn't make her feel any better.As they rose to dance, Thorpe spoke at length of the horse and dog of his friend whom he had just parted from, and that they intended to exchange 㹴, but Catherine was not interested , she still looked now and then towards the place where she had left Mr. Tilney.She particularly wanted dear Isabella to see him, but Isabella could not even see him.They are not in the same dance troupe.She left all her companions, all her acquaintances.Unpleasant things are really one after another.From all these incidents, she drew a useful lesson. An appointment with a partner before the ball does not necessarily increase a girl's dignity and pleasure.

Just as she was learning her lesson like this, she suddenly felt someone pat her on the shoulder, waking her up from her contemplation.Turning her head, she saw Mrs. Hughes behind her, accompanied by Miss Tilney and a gentleman.Forgive my presumption, Miss Morland.Mrs Hughes said.I could never find Miss Thorpe.Mrs. Thorpe said you would not mind the company of the lady.Mrs. Hughes had indeed found the right person, and no one in the room would have been more pleased with the favor than Catherine. Mrs. Hughes introduced the two ladies.Miss Tilney thanked the other party politely.Miss Morland, in the spirit of generosity, put it mildly that it was nothing.Mrs. Hughes returned to her companions contentedly after disposing of the young lady she had brought.

Miss Tilney was slender, with a pretty face, and a very agreeable countenance.Her manner, though less affected and fashionable than Miss Thorpe's, was more dignified.Her demeanor showed excellent knowledge and good breeding.She was neither shy nor pretentiously generous.She's young and attractive, but when it comes to prom, she doesn't want to attract the attention of every man around her.No matter what little mustard encounters, he will not pretend to be ecstatic, or inexplicably anxious.Because of her good looks and her relationship with Mr. Tierney.Catherine was at once interested in her, and naturally longed to make her acquaintance.Therefore, whenever I think of something, I am happy to talk to her, and I also have the courage and leisure to talk to her.

However, since these prerequisites are often lacking, the two cannot immediately become confidantes.We can only have some preliminary conversations between acquaintances, talk about whether they like Bath or not, whether they appreciate the architecture of Bath and the surrounding countryside, whether they paint or not, play the piano or not, sing or not, and whether they like horseback riding. The two dances had just ended, and Catherine felt that the faithful Isabella had gently grasped her arm, only to hear her shout happily: I finally found you.My love, I have been looking for you for an hour.You know I'm dancing in another group, how can I come to this one?I'm bored without you. Dear Isabella, how can I find you?I can't even see where you are. I keep telling your brother that, but he just won't believe it.Go and find your sister, Mr. Moran.I said.But it was all in vain, he didn't move.Isn't it, Mr. Moran?You men are so lazy!I have been reproaching him severely, my dear Catherine, you will be amazed.You know I'm never polite to this kind of people. Look at the lady with the white beads in her hair, said Catherine softly, pulling her friend away from James.It was Mr. Tilney's sister. Oh my God!Really?Let me see.What a lovely girl!I have never seen such a beautiful person!Where was her beloved brother?Are you in the lobby?If so, please point it out to me right away.I really want to see him.Mr. Moran, you don't have to listen, we didn't talk about you. So what are you muttering about?What happened? You see, I knew that was the case!You men are restless when you are curious!He also said that women are curious, hum!It really pales in comparison to you.However, you just give up, don't you want to know what it is. Do you think that I will give up? Hey, that's strange, I've never seen a man like you.What do we care about you?Maybe we are talking about you, so I advise you not to listen, otherwise, you may hear something that is not very pleasant. After chatting in such a boring way for a while, the original topic seemed to be completely forgotten.Catherine would have liked to let it be interrupted for a while, but she could not help wondering how Isabella's eagerness to see Mr. Tilney had been so suddenly forgotten.When the band resumed playing new dance music, James tried to take his beautiful partner away again, but was refused.You hear me, Mr. Moran, cried Isabella, I would never do such a thing.How can you be so annoying!You see, dear Catherine, what does your brother want me to do?He wanted me to dance with him, though I told him it was very inappropriate and out of character.If we don't change our dance partners, we will become the butt of others. In truth, James said, it was a common thing at public dances. Nonsense, how can you say that?You men always have no scruples about what goals you want to achieve.Dear Catherine, do me a favor, and persuade your brother that it is impossible.Tell him you'd be shocked if you saw me do something like that.Is not it? No, never.However, if you think it's inappropriate, you'd better change your partner. You see, cried Isabella, you heard what your sister said, but you just ignored it.You remember, it's not my fault if we gossip about the old ladies in Bath.Come on, dear Catherine.For God's sake, stand with me.The two walked away and returned to their original positions.Now, John.Thorpe had slipped away long ago.Catherine, having just received a flattery from Mr. Tilney, and desiring to give him an opportunity of repeating that agreeable request, walked quickly to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe, in the hope that he would still be with them. .After her hopes were thwarted, she felt that it was ridiculous to have such hopes.Well, dear, said Mrs. Thorpe, impatient to hear what was said about her son.I hope you found a happy dance partner. Very pleasant, madam. I am very happy.John looks charming, doesn't he? Did you meet Mr Tilney, my dear boy?said Mrs. Allen. No.Where is he? He was with us just now, and said he was tired of loitering, and made up his mind to dance.So I thought, if he met you, he might ask you to dance. Where could he be?Catherine looked around as she spoke.After a short look, Mr. Tilney was seen leading a young lady to a dance. oh!He has a date!It's a pity he didn't ask you to dance, said Mrs. Allen.After a moment's silence, she added: "He's a very pleasing lad." Indeed, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Thorpe smiled smugly.Although I am his mother, I still have to say that there is no more lovable young man in the world than him. Many people may feel baffled by this answer that the bull's head is wrong with the horse's mouth.But Mrs. Allen was not perplexed, and after a moment's thought she whispered to Catherine: She must think I mean her son. Catherine was disappointed and annoyed.It seemed that she was only one step too late, and she let go of the opportunity that was at hand.Shortly thereafter, John.Thorpe came up to her, and said: "Miss Moran, I think we'd better dance a little longer."Because Catherine was regretting in her heart, she didn't give him a nice reply: oh no.Thank you for your kindness, our two dances have been done.Besides, I'm tired and don't want to dance anymore. Don't want to dance anymore?Then let's walk around the house and joke with people.Come with me, and I'll show you four of the funniest people in the room: my two sisters and their partners.I have been laughing at them for half an hour. Catherine declined again.In the end, Mr. Thorpe was left alone to taunt his sister.Catherine found the second half of the evening very dull.At tea Mr. Tilney was dragged from them to attend to his partner's company.Miss Tilney was not near her, though she was with them.James and Isabella were busy talking together, and Isabella had no time to take care of her friend. She could only smile at her, squeeze her hand, and call her dearest Catherine.