Chapter 20

           Mr.andMrs.Allenweresorrytolosetheiryoungfriend,whosegoodhumourandcheerfulnesshadmadeheravaluablecompanion,andinthepromotionofwhoseenjoymenttheirownhadbeengentlyincreased.HerhappinessingoingwithMissTilney,however,preventedtheirwishingitotherwise;and,astheyweretoremainonlyonemoreweekinBaththemselves,herquittingthemnowwouldnotlongbefelt.Mr.AllenattendedhertoMilsomStreet,whereshewastobreakfast,andsawherseatedwiththekindestwelcomeamonghernewfriends;butsogreatwasheragitationinfindingherselfasoneofthefamily,andsofearfulwassheofnotdoingexactlywhatwasright,andofnotbeingabletopreservetheirgoodopinion,that,intheembarrassmentofthefirstfiveminutes,shecouldalmosthavewishedtoreturnwithhimtoPulteneyStreet.

           MissTilney’smannersandHenry’ssmilesoondidawaysomeofherunpleasantfeelings;butstillshewasfarfrombeingatease;norcouldtheincessantattentionsofthegeneralhimselfentirelyreassureher.Nay,perverseasitseemed,shedoubtedwhethershemightnothavefeltless,hadshebeenlessattendedto.Hisanxietyforhercomfort—hiscontinualsolicitationsthatshewouldeat,andhisoften-expressedfearsofherseeingnothingtohertaste—thoughneverinherlifebeforehadshebeheldhalfsuchvarietyonabreakfast-table—madeitimpossibleforhertoforgetforamomentthatshewasavisitor.Shefeltutterlyunworthyofsuchrespect,andknewnothowtoreplytoit.