This bold surmise,however,she soon learnt comprehended but half the fact.The anxious affection,which she was accused of having continually watched in Isabella's every look and action,had,in the course of their yesterday's party,received the delightful confession of an equal love.Her heart and faith were alike engaged to James. Never had Catherine listened to anything so full of interest,wonder,and joy.Her brother and her friend engaged! New to such circumstances,the importance of it appeared unspeakably great,and she contemplated it as one of those grand events,of which the ordinary course of life can hardly afford a return.The strength of her feelings she could not express;the nature of them,however,contented her friend.The happiness of having such a sister was their first effusion,and the fair ladies mingled in embraces and tears of joy.
Delighting,however,as Catherine sincerely did in the prospect of the connection,it must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations. ‘You will be so infinitely dearer to me,my Catherine,than either Anne or Maria:I feel that I shall be so much more attached to my dear Morland's family than to my own.’
This was a pitch of friendship beyond Catherine.
‘You are so like your dear brother,’continued Isabella,‘that I quite doted on you the first moment I saw you.But so it always is with me;the first moment settles everything.The very first day that Morland came to us last Christmas the very first moment I beheld him my heart was irrecoverably gone.I remember I wore my yellow gown,with my hair done up in braids;and when I came into the drawing room,and John introduced him,I thought I never saw anybody so handsome before.’
Here Catherine secretly acknowledged the power of love;for,though exceedingly fond of her brother,and partial to all his endowments,she had never in her life thought him handsome.
‘I remember too,Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening,and wore her puce coloured sarsenet;and she looked so heavenly,that I thought your brother must certainly fall in love with her;I could not sleep a wink all night for thinking of it.Oh!Catherine,the many sleepless nights I have had on your brother's account! I would not have you suffer half what I have done!I am grown wretchedly thin I know;but I will not pain you by describing my anxiety;you have seen enough of it.I feel that I have betrayed myself perpetually; so unguarded in speaking of my partiality for the church! But my secret I was always sure would be safe with you.’
Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer;but ashamed of an ignorance little expected,she dared no longer contest the point,nor refuse to have been as full of arch penetration and affectionate sympathy as Isabella chose to consider her.Her brother she found was preparing to set off with all speed to Fullerton,to make known his situation and ask consent;and here was a source of some real agitation to the mind of Isabella.Catherine endeavoured to persuade her,as she was herself persuaded,that her father and mother would never oppose their son's wishes. ‘It is impossible,’said she,‘for parents to be more kind,or more desirous of their children's happiness;I have no doubt of their consenting immediately.’
‘Morland says exactly the same,’replied Isabella;‘and yet I dare not expect it;my fortune will be so small;they never can consent to it.Your brother,who might marry anybody!’
Here Catherine again discerned the force of love.
‘Indeed,Isabella,you are too humble. The difference of fortune can be nothing to signify.’
‘Oh!my sweet Catherine,in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing;but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many.As for myself,I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed.Had I the command of millions,were I mistress of the whole world,your brother would be my only choice.’
This charming sentiment,recommended as much by sense as novelty,gave Catherine a most pleasing remembrance of all the heroines of her acquaintance;and she thought her friend never looked more lovely than in uttering the grand idea. ‘I am sure they will consent,’was her frequent declaration;‘I am sure they will be delighted with you.’
‘For my own part,’said Isabella,‘my wishes are so moderate,that the smallest income in nature would be enough for me.Where people are really attached,poverty itself is wealth:grandeur I detest:I would not settle in London for the universe.A cottage in some retired village would be ecstasy.There are some charming little villas about Richmond.’
‘Richmond!’cried Catherine. ‘You must settle near Fullerton.You must be near us.’
‘I am sure I shall be miserable if we do not.If I can but be near you,I shall be satisfied.But this is idle talking!I will not allow myself to think of such things,till we have your father's answer.Morland says that by sending it tonight to Salisbury,we may have it tomorrow. Tomorrow? I know I shall never have courage to open the letter.I know it will be the death of me.’
A reverie succeeded this conviction and when Isabella spoke again,it was to resolve on the quality of her wedding gown.
Their conference was put an end to by the anxious young lover himself,who came to breathe his parting sigh before he set off for Wiltshire.Catherine wished to congratulate him,but knew not what to say,and her eloquence was only in her eyes.From them however the eight parts of speech shone out most expressively,and James could combine them with ease.Impatient for the realisation of all that he hoped at home,his adieus were not long;and they would have been yet shorter,had he not been frequently detained by the urgent entreaties of his fair one that he would go.Twice was he called almost from the door by her eagerness to have him gone.‘Indeed,Morland,I must drive you away.Consider how far you have to ride.I cannot bear to see you linger so.For Heaven's sake,waste no more time.There,go,go I insist on it.’