Chapter 27

           ThenextmorningbroughtthefollowingveryunexpectedletterfromIsabella:

           Bath,April

           MydearestCatherine,Ireceivedyourtwokindletterswiththegreatestdelight,andhaveathousandapologiestomakefornotansweringthemsooner.Ireallyamquiteashamedofmyidleness;butinthishorridplaceonecanfindtimefornothing.IhavehadmypeninmyhandtobeginalettertoyoualmosteverydaysinceyouleftBath,buthavealwaysbeenpreventedbysomesillytriflerorother.Praywritetomesoon,anddirecttomyownhome.ThankGod,weleavethisvileplacetomorrow.Sinceyouwentaway,Ihavehadnopleasureinit—thedustisbeyondanything;andeverybodyonecaresforisgone.IbelieveifIcouldseeyouIshouldnotmindtherest,foryouaredearertomethananybodycanconceive.Iamquiteuneasyaboutyourdearbrother,nothavingheardfromhimsincehewenttoOxford;andamfearfulofsomemisunderstanding.Yourkindofficeswillsetallright:heistheonlymanIeverdidorcouldlove,andItrustyouwillconvincehimofit.Thespringfashionsarepartlydown;andthehatsthemostfrightfulyoucanimagine.Ihopeyouspendyourtimepleasantly,butamafraidyouneverthinkofme.IwillnotsayallthatIcouldofthefamilyyouarewith,becauseIwouldnotbeungenerous,orsetyouagainstthoseyouesteem;butitisverydifficulttoknowwhomtotrust,andyoungmenneverknowtheirmindstwodaystogether.Irejoicetosaythattheyoungmanwhom,ofallothers,Iparticularlyabhor,hasleftBath.