It was ages since she had had a moment's conversation with her dearest Catherine; and, though she had such thousands of things to say to her, it appeared as if they were never to be together again; so, with smiles of most exquisite misery, and the laughing eye of utter despondency, she bade her friend adieu and went on.
Catherine found Mrs.Allen just returned from all the busy idleness of the morning, and was immediately greeted with, "Well, my dear, here you are," a truth which she had no greater inclination than power to dispute; "and I hope you have had a pleasant airing ?" "Yes, ma'am, I thank you; we could not have had a nicer day." "So Mrs.Thorpe said; she was vastly pleased at your all going." "You have seen Mrs.Thorpe, then ?" "Yes, I went to the pump-room as soon as you were gone, and there I met her, and we had a great deal of talk together.

She says there was hardly any veal to be got at market this morning, it is so uncommonly scarce." "Did you see anybody else of our acquaintance ?" "Yes; we agreed to take a turn in the Crescent, and there we met Mrs.
Hughes, and Mr.and Miss Tilney walking with her." "Did you indeed?
And did they speak to you ?" "Yes, we walked along the Crescent together for half an hour.

They seem very agreeable people.

Miss Tilney was in a very pretty spotted muslin, and I fancy, by what I can learn, that she always dresses very handsomely.

Mrs.Hughes talked to me a great deal about the family." "And what did she tell you of them ?" "Oh! A vast deal indeed; she hardly talked of anything else." "Did she tell you what part of Gloucestershire they come from ?" "Yes, she did; but I cannot recollect now.