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I have always lived there, and always been very happy.
But certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than
in a Bath life. One day in the country is exactly like another."

"But then you spend your time so much more rationally in the
country."

"Do I?"

"Do you not?"

"I do not believe there is much difference."

"Here you are in pursuit only of amusement all day long."

"And so I am at home -- only I do not find so much of it. I walk
about here, and so I do there; but here I see a variety of people
in every street, and there I can only go and call on Mrs. Allen."

Mr. Tilney was very much amused.

"Only go and call on Mrs. Allen!" he repeated. "What a picture
of intellectual poverty! However, when you sink into this abyss
again, you will have more to say. You will be able to talk of
Bath, and of all that you did here."

"Oh! Yes. I shall never be in want of something to talk of again
to Mrs. Allen, or anybody else. I really believe I shall always
be talking of Bath, when I am at home again -- I do like it so very
much. If I could but have Papa and Mamma, and the rest of them
here, I suppose I should be too happy! James's coming (my eldest
brother) is quite delightful -- and especially as it turns out that
the very family we are just got so intimate with are his intimate
friends already. Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?"

"Not those who bring such fresh feelings of every sort to it as
you do. But papas and mammas, and brothers, and intimate friends
are a good deal gone by, to most of the frequenters of Bath -- and
the honest relish of balls and plays, and everyday sights, is past
with them." Here their conversation closed, the demands of the
dance becoming now too importunate for a divided attention.

Soon after their reaching the bottom of the set, Catherine perceived
herself to be earnestly regarded by a gentleman who stood among the
lookers-on, immediately behind her partner. He was a very handsome
man, of a commanding aspect, past the bloom, but not past the
vigour of life; and with his eye still directed towards her, she saw
him presently address Mr. Tilney in a familiar whisper. Confused
by his notice, and blushing from the fear of its being excited by
something wrong in her appearance, she turned away her head. But
while she did so, the gentleman retreated, and her partner, coming
nearer, said, "I see that you guess what I have just been asked.
That gentleman knows your name, and you have a right to know his.
It is General Tilney, my father."

Catherine's answer was only "Oh!" -- but it was an "Oh!" expressing
everything needful: attention to his words, and perfect reliance
on their truth. With real interest and strong admiration did her
eye now follow the general, as he moved through the crowd, and "How
handsome a family they are!" was her secret remark.

In chatting with Miss Tilney before the evening concluded, a new
source of felicity arose to her.

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