Chapter 17

           TheAllenshadnowenteredonthesixthweekoftheirstayinBath;andwhetheritshouldbethelastwasforsometimeaquestion,towhichCatherinelistenedwithabeatingheart.TohaveheracquaintancewiththeTilneysendsosoonwasanevilwhichnothingcouldcounterbalance.Herwholehappinessseemedatstake,whiletheaffairwasinsuspense,andeverythingsecuredwhenitwasdeterminedthatthelodgingsshouldbetakenforanotherfortnight.WhatthisadditionalfortnightwastoproducetoherbeyondthepleasureofsometimesseeingHenryTilneymadebutasmallpartofCatherine’sspeculation.Onceortwiceindeed,sinceJames’sengagementhadtaughtherwhatcouldbedone,shehadgotsofarastoindulgeinasecret“perhaps,”butingeneralthefelicityofbeingwithhimforthepresentboundedherviews:thepresentwasnowcomprisedinanotherthreeweeks,andherhappinessbeingcertainforthatperiod,therestofherlifewasatsuchadistanceastoexcitebutlittleinterest.Inthecourseofthemorningwhichsawthisbusinessarranged,shevisitedMissTilney,andpouredforthherjoyfulfeelings.Itwasdoomedtobeadayoftrial.NosoonerhadsheexpressedherdelightinMr.Allen’slengthenedstaythanMissTilneytoldherofherfather’shavingjustdetermineduponquittingBathbytheendofanotherweek.Herewasablow!Thepastsuspenseofthemorninghadbeeneaseandquiettothepresentdisappointment.