Chapter 19

           Afewdayspassedaway,andCatherine,thoughnotallowingherselftosuspectherfriend,couldnothelpwatchingherclosely.Theresultofherobservationswasnotagreeable.Isabellaseemedanalteredcreature.Whenshesawher,indeed,surroundedonlybytheirimmediatefriendsinEdgar’sBuildingsorPulteneyStreet,herchangeofmannerswassotriflingthat,haditgonenofarther,itmighthavepassedunnoticed.Asomethingoflanguidindifference,orofthatboastedabsenceofmindwhichCatherinehadneverheardofbefore,wouldoccasionallycomeacrossher;buthadnothingworseappeared,thatmightonlyhavespreadanewgraceandinspiredawarmerinterest.ButwhenCatherinesawherinpublic,admittingCaptainTilney’sattentionsasreadilyastheywereoffered,andallowinghimalmostanequalsharewithJamesinhernoticeandsmiles,thealterationbecametoopositivetobepassedover.Whatcouldbemeantbysuchunsteadyconduct,whatherfriendcouldbeat,wasbeyondhercomprehension.Isabellacouldnotbeawareofthepainshewasinflicting;butitwasadegreeofwilfulthoughtlessnesswhichCatherinecouldnotbutresent.Jameswasthesufferer.Shesawhimgraveanduneasy;andhowevercarelessofhispresentcomfortthewomanmightbewhohadgivenhimherheart,toheritwasalwaysanobject.ForpoorCaptainTilneytooshewasgreatlyconcerned.