‘I cannot take surprise to myself on that head.You bid me be surprised on your friend's account,and therefore I am;but as for my brother,his conduct in the business,I must own,has been no more than I believed him perfectly equal to.The fairness of your friend was an open attraction;her firmness,you know,could only be understood by yourself.’
‘You are laughing;but,I assure you,Isabella is very firm in general.’
‘It is as much as should be said of anyone.To be always firm must be to be often obstinate.When properly to relax is the trial of judgment;and,without reference to my brother,I really think Miss Thorpe has by no means chosen ill in fixing on the present hour.’
The friends were not able to get together for any confidential discourse till all the dancing was over;but then,as they walked about the room arm in arm,Isabella thus explained herself: ‘I do not wonder at your surprise;and I am really fatigued to death.He is such a rattle! Amusing enough,if my mind had been disengaged;but I would have given the world to sit still.’
‘Then why did not you?’
‘Oh!my dear!it would have looked so particular;and you know how I abhor doing that.I refused him as long as I possibly could,but he would take no denial.You have no idea how he pressed me.I begged him to excuse me,and get some other partner but no,not he;after aspiring to my hand,there was nobody else in the room he could bear to think of;and it was not that he wanted merely to dance,he wanted to be with me.Oh!such nonsense! I told him he had taken a very unlikely way to prevail upon me;for,of all things in the world,I hated fine speeches and compliments; and so and so then I found there would be no peace if I did not stand up.Besides,I thought Mrs Hughes,who introduced him,might take it ill if I did not:and your dear brother,I am sure he would have been miserable if I had sat down the whole evening.I am so glad it is over!My spirits are quite jaded with listening to his nonsense:and then, being such a smart young fellow,I saw every eye was upon us.’
‘He is very handsome indeed.’
‘Handsome! Yes,I suppose he may.I dare say people would admire him in general;but he is not at all in my style of beauty.I hate a florid complexion and dark eyes in a man.However,he is very well.Amazingly conceited,I am sure.I took him down several times you know in my way.’
When the young ladies next met,they had a far more interesting subject to discuss.James Morland's second letter was then received,and the kind intentions of his father fully explained.A living,of which Mr Morland was himself patron and incumbent,of about four hundred pounds yearly value,was to be resigned to his son as soon as he should be old enough to take it;no trifling deduction from the family income,no niggardly assignment to one of ten children.An estate of at least equal value,moreover,was assured as his future inheritance.
James expressed himself on the occasion with becoming gratitude;and the necessity of waiting between two and three years before they could marry,being,however unwelcome,no more than he had expected,was born by him without discontent.Catherine,whose expectations had been as unfixed as her ideas of her father's income,and whose judgment was now entirely led by her brother,felt equally well satisfied,and heartily congratulated Isabella on having everything so pleasantly settled.
‘It is very charming indeed,’said Isabella,with a grave face.‘Mr Morland has behaved vastly handsome indeed,’said the gentle Mrs Thorpe,looking anxiously at her daughter.‘I only wish I could do as much.One could not expect more from him you know.If he finds he can do more by and bye,I dare say he will,for I am sure he must be an excellent good hearted man.Four hundred is but a small income to begin on indeed,but your wishes,my dear Isabella,are so moderate,you do not consider how little you ever want,my dear.’
‘It is not on my own account I wish for more;but I cannot bear to be the means of injuring my dear Morland,making him sit down upon an income hardly enough to find one in the common necessaries of life.For myself,it is nothing;I never think of myself.’
‘I know you never do,my dear;and you will always find your reward in the affection it makes everybody feel for you.There never was a young woman so beloved as you are by everybody that knows you;and I dare say when Mr Morland sees you,my dear child but do not let us distress our dear Catherine by talking of such things.Mr Morland has behaved so very handsome you know.I always heard he was a most excellent man;and you know,my dear,we are not to suppose but what,if you had had a suitable fortune,he would have come down with something more,for I am sure he must be a most liberal minded man.’
‘Nobody can think better of Mr Morland than I do,I am sure.But everybody has their failing you know,and everybody has a right to do what they like with their own money.’Catherine was hurt by these insinuations.‘I am very sure,’said she,‘that my father has promised to do as much as he can afford.’
Isabella recollected herself.‘As to that,my sweet Catherine,there cannot be a doubt,and you know me well enough to be sure that a much smaller income would satisfy me.It is not the want of more money that makes me just at present a little out of spirits;I hate money;and if our union could take place now upon only fifty pounds a year,I should not have a wish unsatisfied.Ah!my Catherine,you have found me out.There's the sting.The long,long,endless two years and half that are to pass before your brother can hold the living.’
‘Yes,yes,my darling Isabella,’said Mrs Thorpe,‘we perfectly see into your heart.You have no disguise.We perfectly understand the present vexation;and everybody must love you the better for such a noble honest affection.’
Catherine's uncomfortable feelings began to lessen.She endeavoured to believe that the delay of the marriage was the only source of Isabella's regret;and when she saw her at their next interview as cheerful and amiable as ever,endeavoured to forget that she had for a minute thought otherwise.James soon followed his letter,and was received with the most gratifying kindness.