? ? ? ? "And that prevented you," said Henry, earnestly regarding her. "Have you looked into all the rooms in that passage?"
? ? ? ? "No, I only wanted to see-- Is not it very late? I must go and dress."
? ? ? ? "It is only a quarter past four" showing his watch--"and you are not now in Bath. No theatre, no rooms to prepare for. Half an hour at Northanger must be enough."
? ? ? ? She could not contradict it, and therefore suffered herself to be detained, though her dread of further questions made her, for the first time in their acquaintance, wish to leave him. They walked slowly up the gallery. "Have you had any letter from Bath since I saw you?"
? ? ? ? "No, and I am very much surprised. Isabella promised so faithfully to write directly."
? ? ? ? "Promised so faithfully! A faithful promise! That puzzles me. I have heard of a faithful performance. But a faithful promise--the fidelity of promising! It is a power little worth knowing, however, since it can deceive and pain you. My mother's room is very commodious, is it not? Large and cheerful-looking, and the dressing-closets so well disposed! It always strikes me as the most comfortable apartment in the house, and I rather wonder that Eleanor should not take it for her own. She sent you to look at it, I suppose?"
? ? ? ? "No.
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