Henry was not able to obey his father's injunction of remaining wholly at Northanger in attendance on the ladies,during his absence in London;the engagements of his curate at Woodston obliging him to leave them on Saturday for a couple of nights.His loss was not now what it had been while the General was at home;it lessened their gaiety,but did not ruin their comfort;and the two girls agreeing in occupation,and improving in intimacy,found themselves so well sufficient for the time to themselves,that it was eleven o'clock ,rather a late hour at the Abbey,before they quitted the supper room on the day of Henry's departure.They had just reached the head of the stairs,when it seemed,as far as the thickness of the walls would allow them to judge,that a carriage was driving up to the door,and the next moment confirmed the idea by the loud noise of the house bell.After the first perturbation of surprise had passed away,in a ‘Good Heaven!what can be the matter?’it was quickly decided by Eleanor to be her eldest brother,whose arrival was often as sudden,if not quite so unseasonable,and accordingly she hurried down to welcome him.
Catherine walked on to her chamber,making up her mind as well as she could,to a further acquaintance with Captain Tilney,and comforting herself under the unpleasant impression his conduct had given her,and the persuasion of his being by far too fine a gentleman to approve of her,that at least they should not meet under such circumstances as would make their meeting materially painful.She trusted he would never speak of Miss Thorpe;and indeed,as he must by this time be ashamed of the part he had acted,there could be no danger of it;and as long as all mention of Bath scenes were avoided,she thought she could behave to him very civilly.In such considerations time passed away,and it was certainly in his favour that Eleanor should be so glad to see him,and have so much to say,for half an hour was almost gone since his arrival,and Eleanor did not come up.
At that moment Catherine thought she heard her step in the gallery,and listened for its continuance;but all was silent.Scarcely,however,had she convicted her fancy of error,when the noise of something moving close to her door made her start;it seemed as if someone was touching the very doorway and in another moment a slight motion of the lock proved that some hand must be on it.She trembled a little at the idea of anyone's approaching so cautiously;but resolving not to be again overcome by trivial appearances of alarm,or misled by a raised imagination,she stepped quietly forward,and opened the door.Eleanor,and only Eleanor,stood there.Catherine's spirits however,were tranquillised but for an instant,for Eleanor's cheeks were pale,and her manner greatly agitated.Though evidently intending to come in,it seemed an effort to enter the room,and a still greater to speak when there.Catherine,supposing some uneasiness on Captain Tilney's account,could only express her concern by silent attention;obliged her to be seated,rubbed her temples with lavender water,and hung over her with affectionate solicitude.‘My dear Catherine,you must not you must not indeed ’were Eleanor's first connected words.‘I am quite well.This kindness distracts me I cannot bear it I come to you on such an errand!’
‘Errand! to me!’
‘How shall I tell you! Oh!how shall I tell you!’
A new idea now darted into Catherine's mind,and turning as pale as her friend,she exclaimed,‘'Tis a messenger from Woodston!’
‘You are mistaken,indeed,’returned Eleanor,looking at her most compassionately ‘it is no one from Woodston.It is my father himself.’Her voice faltered,and her eyes were turned to the ground as she mentioned his name.His unlooked for return was enough in itself to make Catherine's heart sink,and for a few moments she hardly supposed there were anything worse to be told.She said nothing;and Eleanor endeavouring to collect herself and speak with firmness,but with eyes still cast down,soon went on.‘You are too good,I am sure,to think the worse of me for the part I am obliged to perform.I am indeed a most unwilling messenger.After what has so lately passed,so lately been settled between us how joyfully,how thankfully on my side! as to your continuing here as I hoped for many,many weeks longer,how can I tell you that your kindness is not to be accepted and that the happiness your company has hitherto given us is to be repaid by but I must not trust myself with words.My dear Catherine,we are to part.My father has recollected an engagement that takes our whole family away on Monday.We are going to Lord Longtown's,near Hereford,for a fortnight.Explanation and apology are equally impossible.I cannot attempt either.’
‘My dear Eleanor,’cried Catherine,suppressing her feelings as well as she could,‘do not be so distressed.A second engagement must give way to a first.I am very,very sorry we are to part so soon,and so suddenly too;but I am not offended,indeed I am not.I can finish my visit here you know at any time;or I hope you will come to me.Can you,when you return from this lord's,come to Fullerton?’
‘It will not be in my power,Catherine.’
‘Come when you can,then.’
Eleanor made no answer;and Catherine's thoughts recurring to something more directly interesting,she added,thinking aloud,‘Monday so soon as Monday; and you all go.Well,I am certain of I shall be able to take leave however.I need not go till just before you do,you know.Do not be distressed,Eleanor,I can go on Monday very well.My father and mother's having no notice of it is of very little consequence.The General will send a servant with me,I dare say,half the way and then I shall soon be at Salisbury,and then I am only nine miles from home.’