13 Cont. Northanger Abbey - Read By Stephanie Poppins

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now,

And nowhere you need to go.

Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.

This is your time and your space.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

There is nothing you need to be doing now,

And nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter 12 Continued While talking to each other,

Catherine observed with some surprise that John Thorpe,

Who was never in the same part of the house for ten minutes together,

Was engaged in conversation with General Tilney.

She felt something more than surprised when she thought she could perceive herself the object of their attention and discourse.

What could they have to say of her?

She feared General Tilney did not like her appearance.

She found it was implied in his preventing her admittance to his daughter rather than postpone his own walk in a few minutes.

How came Mr Thorpe to know your father?

Was her anxious inquiry as she pointed them out to his son.

He knew nothing about it,

He said,

But his father,

Like every military man,

Had a very large acquaintance.

When the entertainment was over,

Thorpe came to assist them in getting out.

Catherine was the immediate object of his gallantry,

And while they waited in the lobby for a chair,

He prevented the inquiry,

Which had travelled from her heart almost to the tip of her tongue,

By asking in a consequential manner whether she had seen him talking with General Tilney.

He's a fine old fellow upon my soul,

Stout,

Active,

Looks as young as his son,

I have a great regard for him,

He said,

A gentleman-like sort of a fellow as ever lived.

But how came you to know him?

Inquired Catherine.

Know him?

There are a few people much about town I do not know,

Said John Thorpe.

I'd met him forever at the Bedford,

I knew his face again today the moment he came into the billiard room,

One of the best players we have,

By the by,

And we had a little touch together,

Though I was almost afraid of him at first.

The odds were five to four against me,

And if I had not made one of the cleanest strokes that perhaps ever was made in this world,

I took his ball exactly,

But I cannot make you understand it without a table,

However I did beat him.

A very fine fellow,

As rich as a Jew,

I should like to dine with him,

I dare say,

He gives famous dinners.

What do you think we've been talking of?

You,

Catherine,

Yes,

By heavens,

And the General thinks you're the finest girl in Bath.

Oh,

Nonsense,

Said Catherine,

How can you say so?

And what do you think I say?

Mr Thorpe then lowered his voice.

Well done,

General,

Said I,

And I'm quite of your mind.

Here Catherine,

Who was much less gratified by his admiration than by General Tilney's,

Was not sorry to be called away by Mr Allan.

Thorpe,

However,

Would see her to her chair,

And,

Till she entered it,

Continued the same kind of delicate flattery,

In spite of her entreating him to have done.

That General Tilney,

Instead of disliking,

Should admire her,

Was very delightful to Catherine,

And she joyfully thought there was not one of the family whom she need now fear to meet.

This evening,

In fact,

Had done more,

Much more for her than could have been expected.

Chapter Thirteen Monday,

Tuesday,

Wednesday,

Thursday,

Friday and Saturday have now passed in review before the reader.

The events of each day,

Its hopes and fears,

Mortifications and pleasures,

Have been separately stated,

And the pangs of Sunday now only remain to be described to close the week.

The Clifton scheme had been deferred,

Not relinquished,

And on the afternoon's crescent of this day it was brought forward again.

In a private consultation between Isabella and James,

The former of whom had particularly set her heart upon going,

And the latter no less anxiously placed his upon pleasing her,

It was agreed that,

Provided the weather were fair,

The party should take place on the following morning,

And they were to set off very early in order to be at home in good time.

The affair thus determined,

And Thorpe's approbation secured,

Catherine only remained to be apprised of it.

She had left them for a few minutes to speak to Miss Tilney.

In that interval the plan was completed,

And as soon as she came again,

Her agreement was demanded,

But instead of the gay acquiescence expected by Isabella,

Catherine looked grave,

Was very sorry,

But could not go.

The engagement which ought to have kept her from joining in the former attempt would make it impossible for her to accompany them now.

She had that moment settled with Miss Tilney to take their promised walk tomorrow,

It was quite determined,

And she would not upon any account retract.

But that she must and should retract was instantly the eager cry of both the Thorpes.

They must go to Clifton tomorrow,

They would not go without her,

It would be nothing to put off a mere walk for one day longer,

And they would not hear of her refusal.

Catherine was distressed,

But not subdued.

Do not urge me,

Isabella,

I am engaged to Miss Tilney,

I cannot go.

This availed nothing.

The same arguments assailed her again,

She must go,

She should go,

And they would not hear of her refusal.

It would be so easy to tell Miss Tilney you'd just been reminded of a prior engagement,

And must only beg to put off the walk till Tuesday.

No,

It would not be easy,

Catherine persisted,

I could not do it,

There's been no prior engagement.

But Isabella became only more and more urgent,

Calling on her in the most affectionate manner,

Addressing her by the most endearing names.

She was sure her dearest,

Sweetest Catherine would not seriously refuse such a trifling request to a friend who loved her so dearly.

She knew her beloved Catherine to have so feeling a heart,

So sweet a temper,

Be so easily persuaded by those she loved.

But all in vain,

Catherine felt herself to be in the right,

And though pained by such tender,

Such flattering supplication,

Could not allow it to influence her.

Isabella then tried another method.

She reproached her with having more affection for Miss Tilney,

Though she had known her so little a while,

Than for her best and oldest friends,

With being grown cold and indifferent,

In short,

Towards herself.

I cannot help being jealous,

Catherine,

When I see myself slighted for strangers,

I who love you so excessively.

When once my affections are placed,

It's not in the power of anything to change them,

But I believe my feelings are stronger than anybody's.

I'm sure they're too strong for my own peace,

And to see myself supplanted in your friendship by strangers does cut me to the quick,

I own.

These Tilneys seem to swallow up everything else.

Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind.

Was it the part of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others?

Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish,

Regardless of everything but her own gratification.

These painful ideas crossed her mind,

Though she said nothing.

Isabella,

In the meanwhile,

Had applied her handkerchief to her eyes,

And Morland,

Miserable at such a sight,

Could not help saying,

Nay,

Catherine,

I think you cannot stand out any longer now.

The sacrifice is not much,

And to oblige such a friend.

I shall think you're quite unkind if you will refuse.

This was the first time of her brothers openly siding against her,

And anxious to avoid his displeasure,

Catherine proposed a compromise.

If they would only put off their scheme till Tuesday,

Which they might easily do,

As it depended only on themselves,

She could go with them,

And everybody might then be satisfied.

But,

No,

No,

No,

Was the immediate answer.

That could not be.

Thorpe did not know he might not go to town on Tuesday.

Catherine was sorry,

But could do no more,

And a short silence ensued,

Which was broken by Isabella,

Who,

In a voice of cold resentment,

Said,

Very well,

Then.

There is an end of the party.

If Catherine doesn't go,

I cannot.

I cannot be the only woman.

I would not,

Upon any account in the world,

Do so improper a thing.

Catherine,

You must go,

Said James.

But why cannot Mr Thorpe drive one of his other sisters?

I dare say either of them would like to go.

Thank ye,

Cried Thorpe,

But I did not come to Bath to drive my sisters about and look like a fool.

No,

If you do not go— For me,

If I do,

I only go for the sake of driving you.

That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure,

Said Catherine,

But her words were lost on Thorpe,

Who had turned abruptly away.

The three others then continued together,

Walking in a most uncomfortable manner to poor Catherine.

Sometimes not a word was said,

Sometimes she was again attacked with supplications or reproaches,

And her arm was still linked within Isabella's,

And sometimes she was though their hearts were at war.

At one moment she was softened,

And another irritated,

Always distressed,

But always steady.

I did not think you'd be so obstinate,

Catherine,

Said James.

You're not used to be so hard to persuade.

You once were the kindest,

Best-tempered of my sisters.

I hope I'm not less so now,

She replied very feelingly.

But indeed I cannot go.

If I'm wrong,

I'm doing what I believe to be right.

I suspect,

Said Isabella in a low voice,

There is no great struggle.

At this Catherine's heart swelled and she drew away her arm.

Isabella made no opposition.

Thus passed a long ten minutes,

Till they were again joined by Thorpe,

Who,

Coming to see them with a gayer look,

Said,

Well,

I've settled the matter,

And now we may all go tomorrow with a safe conscience.

I've been to see Miss Tilney,

And I've made your excuses.