Chapter 12

           “Mrs.Allen,”saidCatherinethenextmorning,“willtherebeanyharminmycallingonMissTilneytoday?IshallnotbeeasytillIhaveexplainedeverything.”

           “Go,byallmeans,mydear;onlyputonawhitegown;MissTilneyalwayswearswhite.”

           Catherinecheerfullycomplied,andbeingproperlyequipped,wasmoreimpatientthanevertobeatthepump-room,thatshemightinformherselfofGeneralTilney’slodgings,forthoughshebelievedtheywereinMilsomStreet,shewasnotcertainofthehouse,andMrs.Allen’swaveringconvictionsonlymadeitmoredoubtful.ToMilsomStreetshewasdirected,andhavingmadeherselfperfectinthenumber,hastenedawaywitheagerstepsandabeatinghearttopayhervisit,explainherconduct,andbeforgiven;trippinglightlythroughthechurch-yard,andresolutelyturningawayhereyes,thatshemightnotbeobligedtoseeherbelovedIsabellaandherdearfamily,who,shehadreasontobelieve,wereinashophardby.Shereachedthehousewithoutanyimpediment,lookedatthenumber,knockedatthedoor,andinquiredforMissTilney.ThemanbelievedMissTilneytobeathome,butwasnotquitecertain.Wouldshebepleasedtosenduphername?Shegavehercard.Inafewminutestheservantreturned,andwithalookwhichdidnotquiteconfirmhiswords,saidhehadbeenmistaken,forthatMissTilneywaswalkedout.Catherine,withablushofmortification,leftthehouse.