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not know anybody like you."
"Oh! dear, there are a great many people like me, I dare say, only
a great deal better. Good morning to you."
"But I say, Miss Morland, I shall come and pay my respects at
Fullerton before it is long, if not disagreeable."
"Pray do. My father and mother will be very glad to see you."
"And I hope -- I hope, Miss Morland, you will not be sorry to see
me."
"Oh! dear, not at all. There are very few people I am sorry to
see. Company is always cheerful."
"That is just my way of thinking. Give me but a little cheerful
company, let me only have the company of the people I love, let me
only be where I like and with whom I like, and the devil take the
rest, say I. And I am heartily glad to hear you say the same. But
I have a notion, Miss Morland, you and I think pretty much alike
upon most matters."
"Perhaps we may; but it is more than I ever thought of. And as to
most matters, to say the truth, there are not many that I know my
own mind about."
"By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother my brains with
what does not concern me. My notion of things is simple enough.
Let me only have the girl I like, say I, with a comfortable house
over my head, and what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing.
I am sure of a good income of my own; and if she had not a penny,
why, so much the better."
"Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good fortune
on one side, there can be no occasion for any on the other. No
matter which has it, so that there is enough. I hate the idea of
one great fortune looking out for another. And to marry for money
I think the wickedest thing in existence. Good day. We shall
be very glad to see you at Fullerton, whenever it is convenient."
And away she went. It was not in the power of all his gallantry
to detain her longer. With such news to communicate, and such
a visit to prepare for, her departure was not to be delayed by
anything in his nature to urge; and she hurried away, leaving him
to the undivided consciousness of his own happy address, and her
explicit encouragement.
The agitation which she had herself experienced on first learning
her brother's engagement made her expect to raise no inconsiderable
emotion in Mr. and Mrs. Allen, by the communication of the wonderful
event. How great was her disappointment! The important affair,
which many words of preparation ushered in, had been foreseen by
them both ever since her brother's arrival; and all that they felt
on the occasion was comprehended in a wish for the young people's
happiness, with a remark, on the gentleman's side, in favour of
Isabella's beauty, and on the lady's, of her great good luck. It
was to Catherine the most surprising insensibility. The disclosure,
however, of the great secret of James's going to Fullerton the day
before, did raise some emotion in Mrs. Allen. She could not listen
to that with perfect calmness, but repeatedly regretted the necessity
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