Chapter 1

           NoonewhohadeverseenCatherineMorlandinherinfancywouldhavesupposedherborntobeanheroine.Hersituationinlife,thecharacterofherfatherandmother,herownpersonanddisposition,wereallequallyagainsther.Herfatherwasaclergyman,withoutbeingneglected,orpoor,andaveryrespectableman,thoughhisnamewasRichard—andhehadneverbeenhandsome.Hehadaconsiderableindependencebesidestwogoodlivings—andhewasnotintheleastaddictedtolockinguphisdaughters.Hermotherwasawomanofusefulplainsense,withagoodtemper,and,whatismoreremarkable,withagoodconstitution.ShehadthreesonsbeforeCatherinewasborn;andinsteadofdyinginbringingthelatterintotheworld,asanybodymightexpect,shestilllivedon—livedtohavesixchildrenmore—toseethemgrowinguparoundher,andtoenjoyexcellenthealthherself.Afamilyoftenchildrenwillbealwayscalledafinefamily,wherethereareheadsandarmsandlegsenoughforthenumber;buttheMorlandshadlittleotherrighttotheword,fortheywereingeneralveryplain,andCatherine,formanyyearsofherlife,asplainasany.Shehadathinawkwardfigure,asallowskinwithoutcolour,darklankhair,andstrongfeatures—somuchforherperson;andnotlessunpropitiousforheroismseemedhermind.Shewasfondofallboy’splays,andgreatlypreferredcricketnotmerelytodolls,buttothemoreheroicenjoymentsofinfancy,nursingadormouse,feedingacanary-bird,orwateringarose-bush.