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Catherine blushed and disclaientle, however, in his words which repaid her for the pain of confusion; and that so occupied herto speak or to listen, and al where she was; till, roused by the voice of Isabella, she looked up and saw her with Captain Tilney preparing to give theed her shoulders and se which could at that tih for Catherine's comprehension, she spoke her astonishment in very plain terms to her partner

"I cannot think how it could happen! Isabella was so detere her mind before?"

"Oh! But, because--And your brother! After what you told hi to ask her?"

"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 fireneral"

"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 noon 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 a enough, if iven the world to sit still"

"Then why did not you?"

"Oh! My dear! It would have looked so particular; and you kno I abhor doing that I refused hi as I possibly could, but he would take no denial You have no idea how he pressed et so 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 s 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 hiht take it ill if I did not: and your dear brother, I am sure he would have been lad it is over! My spirits are quite jaded with listening to his nonsense: and then, being such a s fellow, I saw every eye was upon us"