Henry,in having such things to relate of his father,was almost as pitiable as in their first avowal to himself.He blushed for the narrow minded counsel which he was obliged to expose.The conversation between them at Northanger had been of the most unfriendly kind.Henry's indignation on hearing how Catherine had been treated,on comprehending his father's views,and being ordered to acquiesce in them,had been open and bold.The General,accustomed on every ordinary occasion to give the law in his family,prepared for no reluctance but of feeling,no opposing desire that should dare to clothe itself in words,could ill brook the opposition of his son,steady as the sanction of reason and the dictate of conscience could make it.But,in such a cause,his anger,though it must shock,could not intimidate Henry,who was sustained in his purpose by a conviction of its justice.He felt himself bound as much in honour as in affection to Miss Morland,and believing that heart to be his own which he had been directed to gain,no unworthy retraction of a tacit consent,no reversing decree of unjustifiable anger,could shake his fidelity,or influence the resolutions it prompted.
He steadily refused to accompany his father into Herefordshire,an engagement formed almost at the moment,to promote the dismissal of Catherine,and as steadily declared his intention of offering her his hand.The General was furious in his anger,and they parted in dreadful disagreement.Henry,in an agitation of mind which many solitary hours were required to compose,had returned almost instantly to Woodston;and,on the afternoon of the following day,had begun his journey to Fullerton.
Chapter 31
Mr and Mrs Morland's surprise on being applied to by Mr Tilney,for their consent to his marrying their daughter,was,for a few minutes,considerable;it having never entered their heads to suspect an attachment on either side;but as nothing,after all,could be more natural than Catherine's being beloved,they soon learnt to consider it with only the happy agitation of gratified pride,and,as far as they alone were concerned,had not a single objection to start.His pleasing manners and good sense were self evident recommendations;and having never heard evil of him,it was not their way to suppose any evil could be told.Good will supplying the place of experience,his character needed no attestation.‘Catherine would make a sad heedless young house keeper to be sure,’was her mother's foreboding remark;but quick was the consolation of there being nothing like practice.
There was but one obstacle,in short,to be mentioned;but till that one was removed,it must be impossible for them to sanction the engagement.Their tempers were mild,but their principles were steady,and while his parent so expressly forbad the connection,they could not allow themselves to encourage it.That the General should come forward to solicit the alliance,or that he should even very heartily approve it,they were not refined enough to make any parading stipulation;but the decent appearance of consent must be yielded,and that once obtained and their own hearts made them trust that it could not be very long denied their willing approbation was instantly to follow.His consent was all that they wished for.They were no more inclined than entitled to demand his money.Of a very considerable fortune,his son was,by marriage settlements,eventually secure;his present income was an income of independence and comfort,and under every pecuniary view,it was a match beyond the claims of their daughter.
