Section I, Section II

Part 15

atherine had breakfast with the Tilney's just before they all left for Northanger, but she did not really enjoy it. She was too afraid to do anything wrong, and the General made her feel very uncomfortable by paying excessive attention to her.

On their drive to the abbey she sat next to Henry, who was driving his own car while Eleanor sat in her father's car because the General had decided it like that. Catherine was very happy to be with Henry of course.

"It's so nice of you to come and stay with us," said Henry. "You are a real friend to Eleanor. She is the only girl, and because my father is away often, she is often alone."

"Aren't you with her then?"

"No, I live in Woodston."

"How awful!" exclaimed Catherine, feeling sorry that he had to live away from the abbey.

"Yes, it is awful of me to leave Eleanor all by herself."

"Yes, of course," said Catherine hastily, "but you must hate leaving the abbey too. A normal house is not half as nice."

Henry laughed, "you must think it's a wonderful place."

"Certainly! Isn't it like the old places in books?"

"But what about all the horrors of such places? Are you sure you can handle them? I hope you're not easily scared of sliding panels, dungeons and the like," Henry said gravely.

Catherine's eyes sparkled. Sliding panels and dungeons! This was just wonderful. "I shan't be frightened at all with so many people in the house."

"Hmm," said Henry, "we do have proper lighting and glass windows so you won't have to find your way with a candle that can be blown out by a sudden draught..." Catherine shuddered with delight. "But I have to tell you that guests have to stay in the guests' bedrooms, far away from the rest of the family. You will be shown there by Dorothy the housekeeper, who is about eighty, and who will guide you along narrow passages, squeeking staircases and badly lit halls with game trophies, to a stuffy room that has not been used since somebody died there in the previous century. Will you be able to sleep soundly?"

Catherine had been eagerly listening to his every word, envisioning what he described. "I will, because it will not happen to me."

Henry continued, "Dorothy presses the light switch but it does not work. She lights a candle that spreads an eery gloom. She makes the sign of the cross and taps the oak of your bed, saying this will keep the ghosts away for this part of the abbey has been haunted since the seventeenth century. She tells you that are free to turn on your radio since noone will hear you. She informs you that breakfast will be at seven thirty, and she disappears down the dark corridor."

Catherine shuddered again. "You make it sound really scary! But I am sure you have no housekeeper called Dorothy. Go on!"

"Maybe you will be left alone the first night, so you can sleep peacefully. But eventually..." Henry paused to increase the suspense, "eventually there will be a terrible thunderstorm one night, with clashing thunder, rain and lightning. By the flashes of light you see that one part of your tapestry is moving, and you decide to explore it. You light your candle, because your lightbulb has still not been fixed, and you find that behind the tapestry is a door. Naturally, you open the door and you find yourself in a small room."

"No!" Catherine cried, "I wouldn't! I would be much too frightened."

Henry pretended to be shocked. "What! I don't believe you, not when Dorothy has informed you that there used to be a secret passage between your room and a chapel nearby. You must explore. You don't find anything extraordinary however, except a letter. You are dying to read it, and your fingers tremble, but alas! Your candle blows out before you get a chance to read it."

"Oh! Go on!"

Henry could not go on without starting to laugh. Catherine blushed at her own reactions and told Henry that she had not really believed that it was possible that anything like that would happen to her, because Eleanor would never put her in a room so far away.

Part 16

atherine had had such high expectations of the abbey that she could only be disappointed when she first set foot in it. On the inside, it did not look like an abbey at all. It was not at all soberly furnished like she had imagined an abbey to be. As soon as they were all inside, Eleanor showed her her room, and asked her to come down for dinner as soon as possible. Catherine suspected that the General was very punctual about his dinner.

Catherine looked around her room and felt a little relieved when she saw that it was wholly unlike Henry's description. The furniture did not look very old, and there was no paneling or tapestry. In the corner she noticed an old chest however. It looked at least a hundred years old, and Catherine's fingers ached to explore it. She had a little trouble opening it because it had not been opened for a long time. Just as she had managed to lift the lid a little, Eleanor came in. Catherine was embarrassed to be caught prying, and dropped the lid.

"Oh Eleanor! You startled me."

"It's a nice old thing, don't you think? It's been here for a long time because it's a bit too heavy to remove."

"Yes, yes it is," said Catherine with a blush, fervently brushing her hair.

"Are you almost ready?" Eleanor asked anxiously.

Catherine sensed that Eleanor was afraid they were going to be late, and that she was afraid of the General's reaction. They hurried down, and received an impatient look from the General.

"I hope you found your room agreeable Catherine," said the General pleasantly as they walked into the dining room.

"Umm yes, thank you," Catherine murmured.

"Eleanor! Why did hurry your friend? Look at her, she's still out of breath. There was no need to hurry her so."

Catherine felt even more embarrassed now, to cause Eleanor to get into trouble. The General was very nice to her however, and she soon felt better. Though she was a little intimidated by the General, she was very happy to be there, and never once wished she had stayed in Bath.

Although it was a stormy night, and she could hear the wind and rain outside, Catherine was not afraid to enter her room. Eleanor was only a few doors away, and she had not encountered the housekeeper yet. Henry had been joking. After checking under the bed and behind the curtains she got ready for bed.

Just as she was ready to get in, she remembered the chest. She walked over to it and peered inside. It was empty, and she was lowering the lid with some disappointment when she noticed a piece of paper stuck to the inside of the lid. She hastily removed it with a tingle of excitement, and lay down on her bed to read it. But then something awful happened.

"Pang!" the light went out. Catherine almost screamed. What was that? With the wind howling around the abbey she became a little afraid. She lay very still, and imagined that she heard her door close softly and footsteps walking away. With a gasp she dove deep under her covers, her heart beating wildly. She thought she heard a cry in the distance. Oh no! The ghost of a prisoner tortured in the dungeons! She was so agitated that it was well past midnight when she finally fell asleep.

Part 17

n the morning when she awoke, her first thought was of the piece of paper. She retrieved it off the floor and laid it down to read it. How disappointing it was! It was nothing more than a shopping list. And not even an old shopping list. She told herself that she had been very foolish, and was very ashamed of herself. How could I ever think that there would be something undiscovered in that chest? That no one had looked in there before? How could I be so silly? Henry must never know about this.

As soon as she was fully dressed, she ran downstairs, glad to leave the shameful memories behind. She found Henry having breakfast alone.

"Hello Catherine, I hope the storm raging around this obscure building did not keep you awake."

She was a little distressed. She did not want to let him know her foolishness, and yet she could not lie and tell him she had slept peacefully. She looked a bit hesitant.

"Did you notice that there was a power failure last night?"

"Power failure?" Catherine stared at him with an expression that told Henry more than enough. "No. The wind did keep me awake a bit. But who cares when the morning is so lovely as it is now?" She was spared a further embarrassment by the General's entrance.

After breakfast, Henry left for Woodston for a few days. They were watching him leave when the General remarked to Eleanor, "this is hard for Henry. Woodston will not be very attractive today."

"Isn't it nice?" asked Catherine, who had not quite understood the remark.

"Well Eleanor, what do you think," said the General, answering the question himself without giving her the chance to answer. "It is very nice indeed, and it has many recommendations. Catherine, I will give you a tour of the abbey now, and after that I will show you the gardens. Would you like that?" And when Catherine nodded, "I think you will want to go outside first, with this lovely weather."

He showed her the gardens first. They were very big, and the General was very happy to hear that they were the biggest gardens Catherine had ever seen. At one point Eleanor wanted to go a different way.

"Where are you going, Eleanor?" her father asked. "You will get wet feet on that path."

Eleanor shrugged. "It is one of my favourite paths."

Catherine looked down the path. It looked very appealing to her, because it was rather gloomy. The General again tried to dissuade them from entering the path between the firs, but it was of no avail.

"All right, do as you please, but I will not join you. I will meet you later."

Catherine was shocked to find out how glad she was that the General did not join them. "How nice this is, so dark and somber, with hardly a ray of sun reaching the ground."

"I like this path very much. My mother used to walk here a lot."

Catherine had never heard anything about Eleanor's mother before, and she waited interestedly for Eleanor to tell her a little more about her.

"We walked here together many times. I did not like it as much then. I like it now because of the happy memories it brings."

"Would it not bring happy memories to your father? He didn't want to take this path." Eleanor said nothing. "Her death must have been a great loss."

Part 18

es," Elinor said sadly, "and I am often lonely because I have no mother or sister. Henry is a very good brother, but still..."

"Was your mother nice, and beautiful?" Catherine asked.

"Yes, she was."

"Is there any picture of her in the abbey?"

"Yes."

"Why did she like to walk here? Was she depressed?"

Eleanor did not answer but Catherine was certain that Mrs. Tilney had had an unhappy marriage. She was sure the General had not loved her. "Does her picture hang in your father's room?"

"No, it's in my room. It was supposed to go into the drawing room, but my father did not like it. I can show it to you if you want."

Catherine saw this as another proof of the cruelty of the General. Before, she had disliked the General and been afraid of him, but now her dislike turned into aversion. And when they met the General again and he forbade Eleanor to show Catherine round the house before he came back, she thought it was because he had something to hide.

They waited inside until the General came. Eleanor reminded him of Catherine's wishes to see the house, and he readily agreed to show her round. This readiness was not what Catherine had expected from someone who had something to hide. The General showed her through the abbey, and at one point Eleanor wanted to lead her through some doors to another passage, when she was angrily called back by her father. Catherine's curiosity was awakened naturally, and even more so when Eleanor whispered to her that she had been about to show her the room in which her mother had died. What was beyond those doors? Why did the General not want to go there?

When she was alone with Eleanor she asked if she could see that room anyway, and Eleanor promised her she would, whenever the opportunity arose. Catherine understood that the General had to be away from home first.

"Were you with her when she died?"

"No, I was away, and when I came back she had already died."

Catherine's mind jumped to all sorts of horrible conclusions. Could he really have...Yet she had so many examples to justify these suspicions. When Eleanor and Catherine went to bed, the General stayed behind, claiming he had some business to attend to. Catherine knew it had to be something else, something that could only be done when everyone else was asleep. Mrs. Tilney was still alive, and the General brought her food in the middle of the night! There was so much evidence pointing in that direction, that Catherine felt it had to be the truth.

She was determined to explore the part of the abbey she had not been allowed to see, the General just had to be away. When he was out on his walk the next morning, she asked Eleanor to show her her mother's room. First, Eleanor had shown Catherine her mother's picture, and then they proceeded towards the mysterious doors. Just as she was about to open them, the General showed up.

"Eleanor!" he shouted in a thunderous voice.

Eleanor ran to him and they disappeared. Catherine was scared stiff, and she ran to her room, hoping he hadn't seen her. She stayed there for a long time, not daring to go downstairs and meet the General. Only when some visitors arrived, she went downstairs, thinking she'd be relatively safe in their presence.

She made up her mind to explore that unknown part of the house alone, not to get Eleanor into trouble. Since she now knew where it was, she could easily slip away to change for dinner a bit earlier and make a little detour, she thought.

She slipped through the doors and ran to the room. She was very disappointed by its appearance. Instead of looking like it was still occupied and waiting for Mrs. Tilney to return, there were no personal belongings left in the room, and the sun made it very bright. Catherine had had enough of her own silliness, and all she wanted was to be back in her own room. She was about to leave, when she suddenly heard footsteps. She did not want to be caught, but she had nowhere to go, except to pass through the door very quickly. Outside she heard the footsteps again. They were coming up the stairs. She could not move, she could only stare at the stairs, and at Henry, who came running up.

"Henry!" she cried with a mixture of surprise, shame and fear. Henry looked just as surprised to find her there. "What are you doing here? What are you doing on those stairs?"

Henry looked even more surprised at her questions. "What do you mean, what am I doing on the stairs? It's the quickest way to my room, why should I not use them?"

Catherine sensed that she had been very foolish, and blushed. She said nothing, and walked towards the door to the passage.

"And what are you doing here? If you think this is an odd way for me to go to my room, then it is just as odd a way for you to go to your room."

"I have been to see your mother's room," Catherine whispered.

"Why? Is there anything special in it?"

"No, nothing," Catherine said hastily. "I thought you were coming back tomorrow."

"I'm sorry if I scared you. Did you not know that the garage is directly underneath?"

"No."

"Why does Eleanor not show you the house?"

"She did, but then your father was with us."

"Ah," said Henry.

"I must change for dinner," said Catherine who wanted to get away from there.

"You have plenty of time," said Henry.

"My mother had a lovely room, did Eleanor tell you to have a look at it?"

"No."

"Did she tell you about my mother?"

"Yes, it was very interesting. She died so suddenly," Catherine hesitated, "when none of you were here, and I thought," she said slowly, "that your father had not been very fond of her."

"And that made you think of something terrible." Catherine said nothing, and Henry told her of his mother's illness.

"Was your father touched?"

"Yes, he was. He did care, even if you don't seem to think so. If I understand correctly, you seem to have been suspecting something that is so terrible I can't even express it. In this time and place, with everything you know -- think about it. What have you been suspecting?"

Catherine could take no more, and ran off to her room, with tears in her eyes.

Part 19

atherine hated herself for her stupid fantasies. Henry had cured her once and for all. She was especially miserable when she thought of what Henry must be thinking of her now. He probably did not have a lot of respect for her anymore. She cried in her room for a while, until she decided to go back downstairs. She was a guest after all, and she could not keep hiding forever. She still looked miserable, and when Eleanor asked her if she was all right, she could not even give her a coherent answer.

When Henry came in, he did not ignore her, but he even took more notice of her than he usually did. He was very nice and attentive. She had learned from her mistakes, and had made up her mind to never to act to silly again. With all this decided, she could go on.

She became more at ease, and started wondering why she had not heard anything from Isabella. Isabella had promised, after all. But there was no phonecall, not even a letter. One day she did receive a letter from James. He wrote that he had broken up with Isabella, and that he had been hurt by her very much. Catherine was very distressed, she could hardly eat and tears were in her eyes. Henry and Eleanor were worried about her.

After a while Eleanor spoke, "I hope it's not bad news about your family."

Catherine shook her head sadly, "no, they are all right. It's from James. It's so dreadful, he's so unhappy," she said, half crying.

"I am glad he has a sister who cares about him so much," said Henry.

"You must promise me -- if your brother comes here, tell me so, and I will leave."

"Frederick? Why?"

"Yes. I would hate to leave you, but I really can't see him after what has happened."

Eleanor looked puzzled, but Henry guessed what had happened. "Isabella, that --" he murmured.

"You guessed it! Isabella has left James for your brother. I don't understand how anyone could be so bad."

"I can't believe my brother is now involved with Isabella. I hope he did not have anything to do with their breaking up. I would be very much surprised if he were Isabella's next boyfriend."

She handed the letter to him, "here read it, you can see that it's true."

Both Henry and Eleanor read the letter. They were surprised. "What can he be doing?" said Eleanor. "He never thought anyone good enough, and now he has fallen for someone who has not exactly proven her loyalty."

"I think he is lost. He was already lost before she broke up with James. Isabella is not one to give up something secure if she does not have some equally secure alternative. Well, Eleanor, prepare yourself for your sister-in-law, one you would love. Open, unpretentious, with strong but simple affections."

Eleanor smiled, "that would be wonderful, Henry."

It was lost on Catherine, who was still musing over Isabella's behaviour. "Maybe she will be constant now that she has what she wants."

"I'm afraid she will be, and I hope for Frederick's sake that a very rich man will come along."

"You think she's only interested in money? I have to agree that there are some things that point in that direction. I have never been so wrong about someone's character before," said Catherine sadly.

"With the great variety of characters that you have known and studied," Henry commented. "I suppose you feel very miserable because you lost Isabella."

Catherine thought of it. "I'm very disappointed in her, I am hurt, and sad that I lost a friend, but I don't feel as affected as I thought I'd be."

Part 20

he matter of Isabella and Frederick Tilney was often discussed between the three. His brother and sister seemed to think that the General would disapprove of it, because of Isabella's lower social standing alone. They were so sure of it, that Catherine worried a little about herself. She was not much better than Isabella in that aspect. But the General always behaved like he liked her very much, and this eased her mind.

Nothing happened at Northanger, and on Thursday the General suggested they would pay Henry a surprise visit next time he went to Woodston, to give Catherine some more diversion. This sounded like a wonderful idea to Catherine.

"When do you think you will come?" Henry asked. "I have to be in Woodston on Monday, and I will probably stay there for two or three days."

"Not on Tuesday. I always play cards on Tuesdays, and I simply cannot stay away. It would not be fair to my opponents. Therefore, I suggest we go on Wednesday," the General decided. "Henry, you don't have to get anything special for us. We will be content with whatever you have to offer."

The time was set, and Catherine looked forward to it with great anticipation. She very much wanted to see how Henry lived in Woodston. On Saturday she was watching television with Eleanor when Henry came into the room, dressed to go out.

"There is a time for having fun, and a time for saying good bye. The time for saying good bye has just arrived. I hope I will see you on Wednesday, but I must go away directly."

Catherine looked disappointed. "Why must you go away?"

"Why?" Henry feigned surprise. "Because you will be visiting me on Wednesday, and I have to start making preparations of course."

"Oh! You are joking!" Catherine did not know if he was speaking in earnest.

"No, I'm not, I'd much rather stay here."

"But why? When your father said you didn't have to get anything special for us?" Henry only smiled, and Catherine continued, "you know that we would not mind. And your father told you he would not mind either, even if he did, it would not harm him to have a less elaborate dinner than usual, just for one day."

Henry smiled again. "I wish I could think the same. Good bye, see you on Wednesday."

The time until Wednesday seemed like an eternity to Catherine. She had seen all of Northanger Abbey that she had wanted to see, and all of its surroundings too. She wondered why she had ever thought an abbey would be the greatest place on earth to stay.

When Wednesday arrived, it was a beautiful day and Catherine felt like singing. They made it to Woodston in good time. She thought Woodston was the most charming place on earth, and she thought the same of Henry's house, though she did not want to seem to exuberant.

"I like it," she answered the General, who was a little disappointed by her lukewarm reaction, and could not hide it. Henry saved the situation by offering them something to drink, and he managed to change the subject at the same time.

He showed them the house, and when they came to an empty room Catherine had been restored to her normal self enough to exclaim, "Henry! Why is this room empty? It is such a lovely room, I have never seen anything as pretty as this."

The General was satisfied with her approval and he smiled. "It will be furnished soon, it only needs a lady's hand."

Catherine admired the fireplace, and the General upon perceiving this, immediately ordered Henry to change his mind and not to remove it. Catherine was a little embarrassed by the compliment of the General's placing value on her opinion, and she was not to be persuaded to give her opinion on anything in the house again.

Part 21

atherine was very surprised when the postman delivered a letter from Isabella. Frankly, she had given up hope of ever receiving anything from Isabella.

Dear Catherine,

I was very happy to receive your letters, and I am heartily sorry for not replying to them any sooner than this. Please accept my apologies! There has not been a day that I have not attempted to write you. But you know how it is in such a place as this, every time I picked up the pen, I was bothered by someone. Even yesterday, when I was writing from the bar, I was spoken to by two very disagreeable young men. What could I do but take my pen and paper and leave? Please write me back as soon as possible. Do write to my home address though, because we are leaving here tomorrow, hurray! It has been such a drag since you left. You were the only friend I had here!

I have not heard from your brother since he went back to Oxford, I hope he does not think something is wrong. I trust you will convince him that he is the only man I will ever love!

There were sales here and I bought very little though I shopped a lot; the fashion is absolutely horrible this season. But still I prefer looking horrible to looking outdated: I think I would simply die! So I only bought a few skirts and blouses, and one totally cute dress. I wish you were here to see it. I know you would agree that it becomes me very well.

I am happy to say that one young man that I particularly disliked has left Bath. You will know who I mean (Frederick Tilney!), he was always pestering me as you well remember.

Please tell me about your brother. I believe he was not feeling very well when I last saw him. He must have caught a cold. I have lost the piece of paper on which he wrote his address and telephone number though I had put it away so very carefully. Maybe he was upset by something I did. If he was, please excuse me to him.

You know, I have not been out or to the Entertainment Room for ages. Except for yesterday when I went to see a play with a few people who arrived last week. They had been begging me to come, and I finally gave in. If I had not, they would have said I was grieving over Frederick's departure. One girl tried to do her hair the way I wore it last week, but it did not suit her at all. Frederick said it suited me very well, but of course I could never depend on his word! I do my hair the way James likes it now.

Catherine, now be a good girl and write to James, and to me, as soon as possible!!!

Lots of love and a big hug from your dearest friend,

Isabella.

Not even Catherine could be fooled by such an insincere letter. Even she noticed the contradictions and the false sentiments. She felt very ashamed. How could I ever think she was my friend? And I will most certainly not write to James. I will never mention Isabella to him again.

Later, she read parts of the letter to Henry and Eleanor. "Listen to this! Does she think I'm stupid?" Catherine exclaimed. "I see what she's like now. I don't think that she has ever cared for James or me at all. I wish I had never met her."

"You will forget all about her very quickly," Henry soothed.

"The only thing that I don't understand is why your brother first went after her, and then went away again after he had got her to break up with James."

"I believe he is a little like Isabella in some ways."

"Then he never cared about Isabella at all?"

"I am certain that he never did."

"And he was only having fun?"

Henry nodded, and Catherine considered Captain Tilney's behaviour and character. "I don't like him," she said. "He did not make Isabella fall in love with him because Isabella could not fall in love with anyone, but what if she would have?"

"But if Isabella would have been able to fall in love with anyone, she would have been a different person, and she would have been treated differently."

"You stand by your brother. That is a good thing."

"If you would stand by your brother, you would be happy that things have turned out like this, and you would not worry about Isabella so much, but you have such good principles on integrity in general that the thought of revenge or family partiality does not even enter your mind."

This succeeded in convincing Catherine to let the matter rest. She did not answer Isabella's letter and did not think about it anymore.

Part 22

hen the General went away for a few days, they enjoyed themselves tremendously. They could do as they pleased without the General holding them back all the time. Catherine was very happy. Eleanor had begged her to stay another while, and Henry had looked glad too. Henry had to leave too, and though the girls missed him, they had enough fun together to be able to survive his absence.

One night, they were surprised by the sound of a car approaching the abbey. Since they were not expecting anyone, they went to the window and looked out.

"It's Frederick," said Eleanor and she ran out to meet him.

Catherine waited in her room. She was not sure if she wanted to meet Captain Tilney, so she just sat there and waited for Eleanor to come back. She came back after only after a very long time. Catherine was shocked at the sight because Eleanor was pale, and obviously distressed. It took some time before she was able to speak, and Catherine was very worried.

"I have come to tell you something," Eleanor blurted out. Catherine looked surprised. She had no idea what was happening. "I don't know how to tell you this! How am I to say it?" Eleanor said with desperation.

Catherine's heart stopped beating. "Is something wrong with Henry?"

"No, not Henry, it's my father."

Catherine immediately thought he had come back, readily believing that his return could cause such distress. But it was worse.

"Please do not blame me for telling you this," Eleanor pleaded. "I do only as I'm told. I was hoping you could stay with us a little while longer, but..." she wiped away a tear, "we have to say good bye. My father is taking us to some of his friends on Monday. I wish I could give you an explanation, or at least an apology."

Catherine tried to hold back her disappointment. "I understand Eleanor, don't worry. I will come back some other time. Maybe when you come back, you can stay with me?"

"I'm sorry, Catherine, I can't," Eleanor said sadly.

Catherine said, "another time then," but her friend did not answer. "So you leave on Monday. Well, at least we will have until Monday, and you can drop me off somewhere."

Eleanor spoke in a toneless voice. "I - I don't know how to say this to you. Your departure has been arranged already. You are to leave tomorrow morning. My father has ordered a taxi for you. It will be here at seven in the morning to drive you to the station. He has even bought you a train ticket already."

This was too much to take in. Catherine didn't know what to say or think. Eleanor offered her apologies, but she didn't hear a word of it. She was absolutely amazed. Why? What have I done?

"Is it something I have done?"

"No, it can't be. He is very upset, to be sure, but not with you."

Catherine was only a little relieved, but she still did not understand what was going on. She tried to soothe Eleanor. "Don't worry, Eleanor. I understand that you have another engagement, I'm just sorry that I was not told sooner so that I could prepare myself."

She wanted to be alone, and Eleanor left her. Catherine burst into tears as soon as she was gone. She did not understand why the General wanted her out of the house so abruptly. And I thought he liked me! All she knew was that it hurt. Would she ever see Henry again? It was not very likely to happen in the near future. I must have done something. That is the only explanation.

The next morning, Catherine and Eleanor did not speak much. Each was too lost in thoughts, and at a loss for words. When the taxi arrived, Eleanor begged her to write or call, and Catherine promised to do so. She lingered on the doorstep, not able to leave without mentioning Henry.

She bit her lip. "Give my regards to your brother," and she quickly got into the taxi before the tears started streaming down her cheeks.

Part 23

atherine held back her tears as long as she was in the taxi, but once she had found a nearly empty carriage on the train, she cried freely. The train passed Woodston, but this was too much too bear. When she had been there, the General had been hinting at so many things. He had given her the impression that he really liked her, and that he expected her to be living there sometime. No matter how hard she thought, she could not find any cause for his sudden change of heart. And what would Henry say if he found out she was gone?

These thoughts kept her busy for the entire journey, but as she came closer to her home, something else occupied her mind. What was she going to say to her parents and brothers and sisters? What if they would be angry with Henry and Eleanor as well?

Her family greeted her with joy. They had not been counting on her return yet, and to them it was an unexpected pleasure. Their happy greetings were a great comfort to Catherine. Once they were all seated, Catherine could not avoid their questions. She told them rather incoherently what had happened, but her parents were just as clueless as to the General's behaviour she was. Though they did observe that Catherine looked very pale and depressed, never once did they suspect that she might also be suffering from a broken heart.

The next morning she was determined to write a letter to Eleanor, because she felt she had been rather cold and ungrateful when saying good bye to her friend. This was the hardest thing she had ever set out to do. How could she say everything in one letter, without giving any opportunity for misunderstandings? After an hour of biting her pen and crossing out numerous opening lines, Catherine decided that it would be impossible to write a long letter. She kept it brief.

Dear Eleanor,

I am deeply sorry we had to part, but I wanted to thank you for being such a good friend to me. I am enclosing the money for the train. Wishing you all the happiness in the world,

Your friend Catherine

Her mother tried to console her. "My dear, these things happen. We must all learn from them, and I hope your next friends will be really good friends."

"Eleanor is a really good friend."

"Well, if she is, then do not worry, because good friends will always meet again, maybe in a few years."

Catherine thought of meeting Henry in a few years, and what might happen in these few years. She knew she would not forget him, but what if he forgot about her, and she would meet him and he would be married! That would be altogether too dreadful to think about.

Mrs. Morland saw that she had not succeeded in putting Catherine's mind at ease. "Catherine, shall we go and visit Mr. and Mrs. Allen?" Catherine agreed, and they went.

"Catherine came back very unexpectedly yesterday," her mother explained to the Allens, "the General sent her away without reason. He must be a very strange, unfriendly man. Though I am very happy that she is back, and I think it's very good of her that she mad that train journey all by herself."

"I am very sorry to hear that," Mr. Allen said sympathetically. "Without any reason at all? But I do not understand how this came about. Did you do anything to upset him? No, I wouldn't have thought you had. It's all very strange, I'm sure he's a very strange man."

"I really have not patience with the General, without any reason at all?" Mrs. Allen echoed. "How did this come about? You did not do anything to upset him, I thought. It's all very strange indeed. He's a very strange man, and I really have not patience with him." She poured them another cup of tea. "I really have not patience with the General."

Part 24

he next two days were rather uneventful. The younger children were nicely out of the way playing outdoors all day, and the others were either away with friends or helping their mother. All except Catherine. Catherine was exceptionally restless. She had never been able to sit still or concentrate on something for a long period of time, but Mrs. Morland noticed that it was much worse than usual. At first she attributed it to Catherine's vacation. She had observed in the group of children she taught that children were not very attentive right after they had had a vacation. They would still be in the holiday spirit and they would not be interested in doing anything. She allowed Catherine two days to recover fully. Seeing that she was still restless and no help at all though Mrs. Morland had asked her to do some ironing to help her out a little, she decided to interfere. She saw Catherine absentmindedly ironing a shirt and she spoke to her.

"Catherine, if you do not keep your mind on your work, you're going to burn a nasty hole through Richard's shirt, and he won't like that because he has a party tonight and he insists on wearing that shirt. Your vacation is over. You must try to get used to real life again, and not spend so much time thinking about Bath."

"I don't spend that much time thinking about Bath," said Catherine, and she started ironing a little more carefully.

Her mother could see that she was a little sad because of something though, and wanted to put her daughter's mind at ease. "If it's General Tilney you're thinking of, then you shouldn't worry. You will probably never see him again." This received no reply, and Mrs. Morland was getting a little vexed that she could not reach Catherine. "Catherine, I hope you are not looking down on your own home and family because they are not as grand and elegant as what you have encountered on your holiday. This is where you live, and you should be happy here. And is our breakfast not good enough for you anymore? You were talking about the breakfast you had at Northanger Abbey all the time."

Catherine shrugged. "I don't care about breakfast. It doesn't matter what I eat."

Mrs. Morland looked at her for a while, not knowing what to do to get Catherine out of her melancholy mood. "I have a book, somewhere, you should read it. It's about young girls who have such great acquaintances that they feel themselves quite above their family and home. I will look it up for you."

Catherine said nothing, and for perhaps ten minutes at the very most, she worked very carefully, finishing the shirt. Instead of taking a new shirt to iron, she stared out of the window, and became just as absentminded as before. Her mother watched her silently, and thinking that she had guessed correctly what Catherine's real problem was, left the room in search of the moralizing book.

Part 25

hen Henry returned to Northanger, he knew immediately that something had happened. His sister was clearly upset, his father looked angry, and Catherine was nowhere to be seen. Before he could voice his concerns, his father cut him off.

"Miss Morland has left Northanger and it is best if you should not think of her anymore," the General said in a tone that communicated his disinclination to say any more on the subject. He lifted his newspaper again.

Henry was shocked and full of questions. "What?" he said unbelievingly.

"Henry! The subject is closed, I shall say no more," the General thundered, and Eleanor started crying silently. "Eleanor, stop whining!" he ordered.

Eleanor could not, and she got up and ran up to her room. Henry followed her out, knowing he would not get anything out of his father at this moment. Eleanor tried to explain what had happened, but she could not speak very coherently.

"Oh Henry!" Eleanor sobbed.

"What?" said Henry anxiously, putting his arm around her.

"Catherine...Catherine has gone home. She..."

"Home! Why?"

"Father ordered..."

"Father ordered her to go home?" Henry asked incredulously. How could he order anyone like Catherine to go home? Eleanor nodded dumbly.

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing. I don't know," Eleanor said miserably. "He told me to tell her."

The fact that his father had ordered his own daughter to tell her friend to leave angered Henry immensely. "Did he not say why?"

Eleanor shrugged. "No, he said we had a previous engagement, but I know now that we did not."

"But why? Did anything happen?" Henry tried to find a reasonable explanation.

"Nothing happened. We were having a good time, then he came back and -" her voice broke and she started crying again.

"I need to know why," Henry was determined.

"Oh Henry, I'm so sorry, I know you are very fond of Catherine, and so am I," Eleanor apologized with tears in her eyes, "but I really could not do anything against it."

"I know, Eleanor, I know. I will go down and demand an explanation right now."

He returned downstairs, and spoke without delay. "Why did you send Catherine away?"

General Tilney looked annoyed. "I thought I had made it absolutely clear that I do not want to waste any more words on Miss Morland."

"But I do," Henry said determinedly.

The General glared at him. "I will not speak another word on this matter."

"And I will not leave this matter alone until you tell me everything and give me an explanation." There was something in his voice that convinced the General that he was speaking the truth, and that he would indeed not leave the matter alone.

"Very well," said the General, "as you wish. I have found out that I have been deceived with regard to Miss Morland's wealth."

"You - have - got - to - be - joking," said Henry.

"When I first saw you talking to her, I inquired after her name and I was told that she came from a rich family, and not only that, but that she was to inherit the Allen's business as well. Naturally, I thought she would be a perfect wife for you, and tried to do everything to promote that," the General said as if this was a very ordinary thing to do.

"Really!" Henry was astonished, and disgusted at the General's mercenary motives.

"Last week I encountered the same young man who had informed me about Miss Morland's circumstances, and he told me he had not been speaking the truth, but that -"

"That in fact Catherine is no wealthy heiress?" Henry said angrily, "and so you thought it the most natural thing in the world to turn her out of the house immediately!" The General gave no answer, and returned his attention to his newspaper, pretending to be deaf. I will go to Catherine's house this instant! Henry started to leave the room, and turned back to the General, "you may have turned her out of the house, but you have not turned her out of my heart!"

Part 26

hile Mrs. Morland was in the attic looking for the book she wanted Catherine to read, something had happened downstairs. She was very surprised to find a young man in the sitting room when she returned.

"This is Henry Tilney," said Catherine a little awkwardly.

Henry greeted Mrs. Morland, and immediately apologized for his father's behaviour. He was not sure how Mrs. Morland would react to him, but he was reassured when he understood that she did not hold him responsible. It was up to Mrs. Morland to engage Henry in some conversation, but she did not like to do it alone.

"Go get your father," she said to one of the younger children before she addressed Henry. "I hope you had a good trip."

"Yes, very."

"How did you travel?"

"I came by car."

"It must have been busy on the roads," said Mrs. Morland who had seen the news.

"Yes, it was."

After a few more questions, Mrs. Morland did not know what else she could possibly talk about. Mr. Morland was nowhere to be found, so there was nowhere to take over the role of host. Catherine was just sitting there, smiling with flushed cheeks, and she had not said a single word. At least this visit seems to have brought her out of her state of apathy, Mrs. Morland thought to herself.

"Are the Allens at home?" Henry asked Catherine. "It would be nice to say hello."

Catherine was so startled that Henry suddenly spoke to her, that she could not say anything coherent. "Oh! The Allens, I believe, uhh...I think, yes, I think so."

"Good. Will you show me where they live?"

One of Catherine's younger sisters jumped up in an attempt to be helpful. She pointed out the window. "Look there. You can just see their house behind those trees."

Henry looked out of the window politely. "Yes, thank you." He was not really interested in the Allens' house.

"Ssst," said Mrs. Morland to the helpful daughter. She assumed that Henry had something to explain to Catherine in private. Perhaps he would tell her why she had been sent away so cruelly, it would be best not to interfere and let them go out alone.

Part 27

enry and Catherine started to walk towards the Allens' house. Henry wanted to give an explanation for his father's behaviour of course, but he wanted to make something else clear first. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her. He was pretty sure of her feelings for him, they were fairly obvious, so he was not in the least afraid of her reaction. He told her he loved her, and she did not speak but her happy smile said it all.

"Do you think you love me a little, Catherine?" Henry could not resist to tease her gently.

Of course, Catherine bit. "More than a little, I assure you," she cried, blushing fervently. "I was so miserable without you these past days. I kept thinking that maybe I would never see you again."

"I could not bear to just let you disappear out of my life like that," Henry said earnestly. His words gave Catherine a warm feeling, and she felt that nothing in the whole world could make her happier than she was now. Henry loves me! Henry loves me! Henry loves me! Catherine was not capable of thinking anything else.

They rang the Allens' doorbell, and Mrs. Allen was delighted to see them. "How very nice to see you, Henry! How are you?" She ushered them inside. "It's so good to see you, you must see my new dresses." She disappeared and returned with what looked like the contents of a complete wardrobe. Every dress was shown to Henry, who knew not what he commented, but apparently it was to Mrs. Allens' satisfaction. Catherine was in a happy daze, and had nothing sensible to say either. When Mrs. Allen had exhausted her topics, or rather topic, of conversation, Catherine and Henry left.

Henry still had to explain why Catherine was so rudely turned out of the abbey. "I came back from Woodston, and I immediately knew something had happened. Eleanor was crying -"

"Why?" Catherine interrupted, concerned for her friend.

"You are too good, Catherine. She was crying because of you."

"Oh," said Catherine, thankful that her friend cared about her enough to cry.

"Eleanor was crying," Henry continued. "And my father was looking quite angry. I did not see you, and naturally I was worried," he blushed a little, "that something had happened to you. Before I could say anything, my father told me you had left. He would not say anything further, but Eleanor told me what had happened. I then went back to my father and I demanded to know why he had sent you away."

"You did?" Catherine cried with admiration. The General was such a frightening person that she couldn't imagine anyone standing up to him.

"Yes, I did. He told me that he thought you were a wealthy heiress, and when he found out that you were not..."

"Who gave him that idea?"

"I don't know. He didn't say, but it was someone in Bath. So, he thought that a wealthy heiress would make the perfect daughter-in-law."

"Oh," Catherine said. She remembered the General's hints, or at least some of the more obvious ones. "And then when he found out I wasn't rich, he kicked me out?"

It embarrassed Henry to admit that. "I told him that even though he turned you out of the house, he did not turn you out of my heart, and I came over straight away. I do not think he approves, but I don't care."

Part 28

hey walked back towards the Morlands' house, talking about everything and nothing, but mainly about the scene where Henry had stood up to his father. Catherine could not get enough of that. Just before they were to enter the house, Henry stopped Catherine. "I want to ask you something."

"Oh?" Catherine sounded surprised. She had no clue as to what he wanted to ask her.

"I was wondering...if you would like to marry me, someday," he said earnestly.

This took her a bit by surprise, but Catherine smiled quite delightedly, and after a while she said, "so we are engaged now?"

Henry suppressed a laugh. "I take it that was a 'yes'?"

"Well, yes, of course," Catherine said with an innocent smile.

Sometime later, when they came into the sitting room, they were approached by Catherine's youngest sister Harriet. She was six years old, and she was extremely curious. "Did you forget where the doorbell was, Catherine?" she asked innocently.

"Why? What do you mean?"

"We-ell...it took so long before you came in," Harriet replied. "And who are you?" she asked Henry, whom she had not seen yet, looking him up and down with interest.

"That's Henry!" cried eight-year-old George, who had not seen Henry yet either, but who had been informed by his mother of their visitor and who was eager to show off his knowledge. "And they were kissing on the -"

"George!" his mother cut him off.

"Kissing?" Harriet repeated with a disgusted look on her face. "Ugh."

"Well, was I right?" George asked, jumping up and down. Several other Morlands were eagerly awaiting their answer as well, though they were a little more polite than George, and tried not to let it show.

"We are engaged," said Catherine, who felt it was only natural to share this good news with her family.

They were all stunned at first. No one had expected this in the least. Their Catherine, engaged! Mrs. Morland was the first to speak. "Wonderful, dear," and she congratulated them both. She had not seen much of Henry, but she liked what she had seen so far, and it was not like her to imagine that he could be any different from what she saw. There was no need for Henry to fear the reactions of Catherine's relatives, because they were all very good-natured, and whatever made Catherine happy, made them happy too. The only one who cross-examined him was little Harriet, but all she wanted to know was if Henry enjoyed playing with Barbies. George, who was nearest to her in age, refused to play with Barbies, and a playmate was sadly missed.

Part 29

eneral Tilney would be furious if he ever heard of Henry's engagement to Catherine. Henry was not afraid of his reaction towards himself, he was prepared to face that. It was Eleanor who worried him. Henry was sure that Eleanor would suffer while she was the only child still living at home. Eleanor already was not allowed to see him or Catherine anymore. So, after discussing the matter with Catherine, they decided to keep it a secret from his father until he would consider Catherine and himself in a more favourable way. They did tell Eleanor, and she was very happy to hear the good news.

Eleanor called her whenever General Tilney was away. Catherine dared not call Eleanor, because she was too afraid to get her friend into trouble if the General happened to answer the phone.

Henry visited the Morlands whenever he could, and he was little Harriet's favourite visitor. He could do nothing wrong after he had taken her to a toy store to buy a Barbie dress. Mrs. Morland had some reservations about that, fearing that Harriet might be spoilt, but the little girl was so happy with it that she gave in.

One day, Eleanor called Catherine. She had told her friend before that there was one young man she particularly liked. He liked her too, and so much that they were also engaged.

Catherine congratulated her friend most warmly. "But what will your father say? Have you told him yet?"

"No..." was Eleanor's hesitant reply. "But I don't really fear his reaction. He has been promoting this match ever since he first heard me mention him."

"Why? Is he rich?" Catherine laughed.

Eleanor laughed too. "Yes, I think so. They have a big house and a title, though that doesn't always mean anything," she said doubtfully.

It turned out that her newly acquired fiancé was rich, and that the General was overjoyed to have him for a son-in-law. So overjoyed in fact, that he forgave Henry, and told him it was his own business if he wanted to be a fool and marry Catherine.

So, after two years or so, everything ended well and Henry and Eleanor were both married. Now that the General had a distinguished son-in-law he lived on in peace, and he was very nice to Catherine again. In spite of his manners, she was still a little afraid of him.