Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons by Jane Austen, Vera Nazarian Read Free Book Online Page B

children since had been normal, amiable and human.
    But the eldest, John and Isabella, were wicked fire and ice. And they had been instructed from below with a dark purpose.
    Mrs. Thorpe’s eldest daughter Isabella had great personal physical beauty, and—by virtue of her unnatural tainted bloodline—a great beguiling attraction, to all in general and to the members of the opposite sex in particular. The younger daughters, by pretending to be as handsome as their sister, imitating her air, and dressing in the same style, did very well.
    This brief but accurate account of the family is intended to supersede the necessity of a long and minute detail from Mrs. Thorpe herself, of her past adventures and sufferings, which might otherwise occupy three or four tedious chapters while completely failing to mention the supernatural aspects.
    Instead, the estimable Reader is forewarned to pay particular heed to the two unnatural children and their dark intentions—with Catherine Morland as their intended prize!
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    C atherine was not so engaged at the theatre that evening, in returning the nods and smiles of Miss Thorpe (though they certainly claimed much of her leisure, as did the immediate distracting angelic sighs and whispers in both her ears), as to forget to look inquiringly for Mr. Tilney in every box which her eye could reach.
    But she looked in vain. Apparently Mr. Tilney was no fonder of the play than the pump-room.
    She hoped to be more fortunate the next day. And when her wishes for fine weather were answered by seeing a beautiful morning, Catherine hardly felt a doubt of it—a fine Sunday in Bath empties every house of its inhabitants, and all the world appears to tell their acquaintance what a charming day it is.
    As soon as divine service was over (the delightful angelic chorus following her out of the church for quite some time longer than necessary, so that Catherine had to engage in meaningful eye-widening grimaces and facial ticks which were thankfully and mostly unobserved by those in her vicinity), the Thorpes and Allens eagerly joined each other. In vain did Lawrence or Clarence attempt to lecture Catherine when Isabella drew near. Indeed, an angel’s dulcet voice only grew thin and distant, while still saying: “Did you not wonder, dear child, why Miss Thorpe sat at the farthest pew in the back, nearest the exit, and farthest from the sacred altar?”
    But, with her ears still ringing from the volume of angelic hymn and therefore somewhat less amenable to their advice in general, Catherine chose to ignore the familiar heavenly admonition and the growing chill in the air. She instead returned her new friend’s exceedingly charming and vibrant smile.
    The families stayed long enough in the pump-room to discover that the crowd was insupportable, with not a genteel face to be seen. And so they hastened away to the Crescent, to breathe the fresh air of better company.
    Here Catherine and Isabella, arm in arm (Catherine’s going numb from the cold, and yet unheeded), again tasted the sweets of friendship in an unreserved conversation. They talked with much enjoyment; but again was Catherine disappointed in her hope of catching sight of her gentleman partner.
    He was nowhere to be met with; neither in morning lounges nor evening assemblies. Neither was he at the Upper nor Lower Rooms, at dressed or undressed balls; nor among the walkers, horsemen, or curricle-drivers. His name was not in the pump-room book, and curiosity could do no more. He must be gone from Bath.
    Yet he had not mentioned that his stay would be so short! This sort of mysteriousness, always so becoming in a hero, threw a fresh grace in Catherine’s imagination around his person, and increased her anxiety to know more of him.
    From the Thorpes she could learn nothing, for they had been only two days in Bath before they met with Mrs. Allen.
    It was a subject, however, in which Catherine often indulged with her fair friend,