Chapter 23

           Anhourpassedawaybeforethegeneralcamein,spent,onthepartofhisyoungguest,innoveryfavourableconsiderationofhischaracter.“Thislengthenedabsence,thesesolitaryrambles,didnotspeakamindatease,oraconsciencevoidofreproach.”Atlengthheappeared;and,whatevermighthavebeenthegloomofhismeditations,hecouldstillsmilewiththem.MissTilney,understandinginpartherfriend’scuriositytoseethehouse,soonrevivedthesubject;andherfatherbeing,contrarytoCatherine’sexpectations,unprovidedwithanypretenceforfurtherdelay,beyondthatofstoppingfiveminutestoorderrefreshmentstobeintheroombytheirreturn,wasatlastreadytoescortthem.

           Theysetforward;and,withagrandeurofair,adignifiedstep,whichcaughttheeye,butcouldnotshakethedoubtsofthewell-readCatherine,heledthewayacrossthehall,throughthecommondrawing-roomandoneuselessantechamber,intoaroommagnificentbothinsizeandfurniture—therealdrawing-room,usedonlywithcompanyofconsequence.Itwasverynoble—verygrand—verycharming!—wasallthatCatherinehadtosay,forherindiscriminatingeyescarcelydiscernedthecolourofthesatin;andallminutenessofpraise,allpraisethathadmuchmeaning,wassuppliedbythegeneral:thecostlinessoreleganceofanyroom’sfitting-upcouldbenothingtoher;shecaredfornofurnitureofamoremoderndatethanthefifteenthcentury.