With a mind thus full of happiness, Catherine was hardly aware that two or three days had passed away, without her seeing Isabella for more than a few minutes together.

She began first to be sensible of this, and to sigh for her conversation, as she walked along the pump-room one morning, by Mrs.Allen's side, without anything to say or to hear; and scarcely had she felt a five minutes' longing of friendship, before the object of it appeared, and inviting her to a secret conference, led the way to a seat.

"This is my favourite place," said she as they sat down on a bench between the doors, which commanded a tolerable view of everybody entering at either; "it is so out of the way." Catherine, observing that Isabella's eyes were continually bent towards one door or the other, as in eager expectation, and remembering how often she had been falsely accused of being arch, thought the present a fine opportunity for being really so; and therefore gaily said, "Do not be uneasy, Isabella, James will soon be here." "Psha! My dear creature," she replied, "do not think me such a simpleton as to be always wanting to confine him to my elbow.

It would be hideous to be always together; we should be the jest of the place.

And so you are going to Northanger! I am amazingly glad of it.