Sally, or rather Sarah, must, from situation, be at this time the intimate friend and confidante of her sister.  It is remarkable, however, that she neither insisted on Catherine’s writing by every post, nor exacted her promise of transmitting the character of every new acquaintance nor a detail of every interesting conversation that Bath might produce.  Everything, indeed, relative to this important journey was done on the part of the Morlands with a strange degree of moderation and composure.  Catherine’s father, instead of giving her an unlimited order on his banker, or even putting a hundred pounds bankbill into her hands, gave her only ten guineas, and promised her more when she wanted it.  The journey was performed with suitable quietness and uneventful safety.  They arrived at Bath, and were soon settled in comfortable lodgings in Pulteney Street.

Mrs. Allen had not beauty, genius, accomplishment, or manner.  The air of a gentlewoman, a great deal of quiet, inactive good temper, and a trifling turn of mind, were all that could account for her being the choice of a sensible, intelligent man like Mr. Allen.  In one respect she was admirably fitted to introduce a young lady into public, being as fond of going everywhere and seeing everything herself as any young lady could be.  Dress was her passion; and our heroine’s entree into life could not take place till after three or four days had been spent in providing her chaperon with a dress of the newest fashion.  Catherine, too, made some purchases herself; and when all those matters were arranged, the important evening came which was to usher her into the upper rooms.  But nothing happened that evening.  Mrs. Allen knew nobody there, and so Catherine was unable to dance.

A day or two later, when they made their appearance in the lower rooms, fortune was more favourable to our heroine.  The master of the ceremonies introduced to her a very gentleman-like young man as a partner.  His name was Tilney.  He was a clergyman, seemed to be about four or five and twenty, was rather tall, had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if not quite handsome, was very near it.  His address was good, he talked with fluency and spirit, and there was an archness and pleasantry in his manner which interested, though it was hardly understood by, her.  Catherine felt herself in high luck; and they parted, on the lady’s side at least, with a strong inclination for continuing the acquaintance.

But when Catherine hastened to the pump-room the next day, there was no Mr. Tilney to be seen.  Instead, Mrs. Allen had the good fortune to meet an acquaintance at last in the person of a Mrs. Thorpe, a former schoolfellow whom she had seen only once since their respective marriages.  Their joy on this meeting was very great, as well it might be, since they had been contented to know nothing of each other for the last fifteen years.  Mrs. Thorpe had one great advantage as