Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/175

 nobody you know in all this multitude of people? I think you must know somebody.'

"'I don't, upon my word. I wish I did. I wish I had a large acquaintance here, with all my heart, and then I should get you a partner. I should be so glad to have you dance.'"

Catherine's début is intentionally made unsuccessful to contrast with the outbursts of admiration that greeted Evelina and Cecilia and Harriet Byron when they first appeared in public; but she soon meets her fate in the person of Henry Tilney, to whom she is introduced at a ball, and who is just the sort of brilliant, clever, cultivated young man to attract a girl of her age. As is natural under the circumstances, she is much struck with him, and very ready to improve the acquaintance, but she sees nothing more of Henry for some time. Meanwhile the Thorpes appear upon the scene. Mrs. Thorpe and Mrs. Allen were former school-friends, and Mrs. Thorpe's eldest daughter, Isabella, professes a violent affection at first sight for Catherine, chiefly in hopes of renewing an old flirtation with Catherine's brother James, who may come to Bath. Catherine, quite unsuspicious of any double motive, is much flattered by Isabella's warmth, and, being dazzled by her showy beauty, does not perceive her shallowness, vulgarity, and insincerity. A hot school-girl friendship is set up between them, in which Catherine's simplicity and straightforwardness contrast much to her advantage with Isabella's insufferably bad taste.

"'My dearest Catherine, have you settled what to wear on your head to-night? I am determined, at all events to be dressed exactly like you. The men take notice of that, sometimes, you know.'