Chapter 31

           Mr.andMrs.Morland’ssurpriseonbeingappliedtobyMr.Tilneyfortheirconsenttohismarryingtheirdaughterwas,forafewminutes,considerable,ithavingneverenteredtheirheadstosuspectanattachmentoneitherside;butasnothing,afterall,couldbemorenaturalthanCatherine’sbeingbeloved,theysoonlearnttoconsideritwithonlythehappyagitationofgratifiedpride,and,asfarastheyalonewereconcerned,hadnotasingleobjectiontostart.Hispleasingmannersandgoodsensewereself-evidentrecommendations;andhavingneverheardevilofhim,itwasnottheirwaytosupposeanyevilcouldbetold.Goodwillsupplyingtheplaceofexperience,hischaracterneedednoattestation.“Catherinewouldmakeasad,heedlessyounghousekeepertobesure,”washermother’sforebodingremark;butquickwastheconsolationoftherebeingnothinglikepractice.

           Therewasbutoneobstacle,inshort,tobementioned;buttillthatonewasremoved,itmustbeimpossibleforthemtosanctiontheengagement.Theirtempersweremild,buttheirprinciplesweresteady,andwhilehisparentsoexpresslyforbadetheconnection,theycouldnotallowthemselvestoencourageit.Thatthegeneralshouldcomeforwardtosolicitthealliance,orthatheshouldevenveryheartilyapproveit,theywerenotrefinedenoughtomakeanyparadingstipulation;butthedecentappearanceofconsentmustbeyielded,andthatonceobtained—andtheirownheartsmadethemtrustthatitcouldnotbeverylongdenied—theirwillingapprobationwasinstantlytofollow.Hisconsentwasallthattheywishedfor.