lesson, that to go previously engaged to a ball does not necessarily increase either the dignity or enjoyment of a young lady.  From such a moralizing strain as this, she was suddenly roused by a touch on the shoulder, and turning round, perceived Mrs. Hughes directly behind her, attended by Miss Tilney and a gentleman.  “I beg your pardon, Miss Morland,” said she, “for this liberty —­ but I cannot anyhow get to Miss Thorpe, and Mrs. Thorpe said she was sure you would not have the least objection to letting in this young lady by you.”  Mrs. Hughes could not have applied to any creature in the room more happy to oblige her than Catherine.  The young ladies were introduced to each other, Miss Tilney expressing a proper sense of such goodness, Miss Morland with the real delicacy of a generous mind making light of the obligation; and Mrs. Hughes, satisfied with having so respectably settled her young charge, returned to her party.

Miss Tilney had a good figure, a pretty face, and a very agreeable countenance; and her air, though it had not all the decided pretension, the resolute stylishness of Miss Thorpe’s, had more real elegance.  Her manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy nor affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young, attractive, and at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her, and without exaggerated feelings of ecstatic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence.  Catherine, interested at once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr. Tilney, was desirous of being acquainted with her, and readily talked therefore whenever she could think of anything to say, and had courage and leisure for saying it.  But the hindrance thrown in the way of a very speedy intimacy, by the frequent want of one or more of these requisites, prevented their doing more than going through the first rudiments of an acquaintance, by informing themselves how well the other liked Bath, how much she admired its buildings and surrounding country, whether she drew, or played, or sang, and whether she was fond of riding on horseback.

The two dances were scarcely concluded before Catherine found her arm gently seized by her faithful Isabella, who in great spirits exclaimed, “At last I have got you.  My dearest creature, I have been looking for you this hour.  What could induce you to come into this set, when you knew I was in the other?  I have been quite wretched without you.”

“My dear Isabella, how was it possible for me to get at you?  I could not even see where you were.”

“So I told your brother all the time —­ but he would not believe me.  Do go and see for her, Mr. Morland, said I —­ but all in vain —­ he would not stir an inch.  Was not it so, Mr. Morland?  But you men are all so immoderately lazy!  I have been scolding him to such a degree, my dear Catherine, you would be quite amazed.  You know I never stand upon ceremony with such people.”