17 Northanger Abbey - Read By Stephanie Poppins

Northanger Abbey is the coming-of-age story of a young woman named Catherine Morland.

Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen follows Catherine Morland, a young woman with a passion for Gothic novels, as she navigates the social world of Bath and later Northanger Abbey. Her romantic imagination, fueled by her love for these novels, leads her to misinterpret the people and events around her, particularly at the Tilney family's estate.

In this episode, Isabella has good news.

Transcript

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now,

And nowhere you need to go.

Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.

This is your time and your space.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

There is nothing you need to be doing now,

And nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter 15 Early the next day,

A note from Isabella,

Speaking peace and tenderness in every line and entreating the immediate presence of her friend on a matter of the utmost importance,

Hastened Catherine in the happiest state of confidence and curiosity to Edgar's buildings.

The two youngest Miss Thilpes were by themselves in the parlour,

And on Anne's quitting it to call her sister,

Catherine took the opportunity of asking the other for some particulars of their yesterday's party.

Maria desired no greater pleasure than to speak of it,

And Catherine immediately learned it had been altogether the most delightful scheme in the world,

That nobody could imagine how charming it had been,

And that it had been more delightful than anybody could conceive.

Such was the information of the first five minutes.

The second unfolded thus much in detail,

That they had driven directly to the York Hotel,

Ate some soup,

And bespoke an early dinner,

Walked down to the pump room,

Tasted the water,

And laid out some shillings and purses and spars,

Then sojourned to eat ice at a pastry cook's,

And hurrying back to the hotel,

Swallowed their dinner in haste to prevent being in the dark,

And then had a delightful drive back,

Only the moon was not up and it rained a little,

And Mr.

Moran's horse was so tired he could hardly get it along.

Catherine listened with heartfelt satisfaction.

It appeared that Blaise Castle had never been thought of,

And as for all the rest,

There was nothing to regret for half an instant.

Marie's intelligence concluded with a tender effusion of pity for her sister Anne,

Whom she represented as insupportably cross from being excluded from the party.

She will never forgive me,

I'm sure,

But you know,

How could I help it?

John would have me go,

For he vowed he would not drive her because she had such thick ankles.

I dare say she will not be in good humour again this month,

But I'm determined I will not be cross.

It's not a little matter that puts me out of temper.

Isabella now entered the room with so eager a step,

And a look of such happy importance as engaged all her friends' notice.

Maria was without ceremony sent away,

And Isabella,

Embracing Catherine,

Thus began,

Yes,

My dear Catherine,

It is so indeed.

Your penetration has not deceived you.

Oh,

That arch eye of yours,

It sees through everything.

Catherine replied only by a look of wandering ignorance.

Nay,

My beloved sweetest friend,

Continued the other,

Compose yourself.

I'm amazingly agitated,

As you perceive.

Let us sit down and talk in comfort.

Well,

And so you guessed it the moment you had my note.

Sly creature.

Oh,

My dear Catherine,

You alone,

Who know my heart,

Can judge of my present happiness.

Your brother is the most charming of men.

I only wish I were more worthy of him.

But what will your excellent father and mother say?

Oh,

Heavens,

When I think of them,

I'm so agitated.

Catherine's understanding began to awake.

An idea of the truth suddenly darted into her mind,

And with a natural blush of so new an emotion,

She cried out,

Good heaven,

My dear Isabella,

What do you mean?

Can you,

Can you really be in love with James?

This bold surmise,

However,

She soon learned,

Comprehended but half the fact.

The anxious affection,

Which she was accused of having continually watched in Isabella's every look and action,

Had in the course of their yesterday's party,

Received the delightful confession of an equal love.

Her heart and faith were alike engaged to James.

Never had Catherine listened to anything so full of interest,

Wonder and joy.

Her brother and her friend were engaged.

New to such circumstances,

The importance of it appeared unspeakably great,

And she contemplated it as one of those grand events of which the ordinary course of life can hardly afford a return.

The strength of her feelings she could not express.

The nature of them,

However,

Contented her friend.

The happiness of having such a sister was their first effusion,

And the fair ladies mingled in embraces and tears of joy.

Delighting,

However,

As Catherine sincerely did,

In the prospect of the connection,

It must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations.

You will be so infinitely dearer to me,

My Catherine,

Than either Anne or Maria.

I feel I shall be so much more attached to my dear Morland's family than to my own.

This was a pitch of friendship beyond Catherine.

You are so like your dear brother,

Continued Isabella.

I quite doted on you the first moment I saw you.

But so it always is with me.

The first moment settles everything.

The very first day that Morland came to us last Christmas,

The very first moment I beheld him,

My heart was irrevocably gone.

I remember I wore my yellow gown,

With my hair done up in braids.

And when I came into the drawing room and John introduced him,

I thought I never saw anybody so handsome before.

Here Catherine secretly acknowledged the power of love.

For though exceedingly fond of her brother,

And partial to all his endowments,

She had never in her life thought him handsome.

I remember too Miss Andrews drank tea with us that evening and wore her puce-coloured sarsenette.

She looked so heavenly I thought your brother must certainly fall in love with her.

I cannot sleep a wink all night for thinking about it.

Oh Catherine,

The many sleepless nights I have had on your brother's account.

I would not have you suffer half what I have done.

I am grown wretchedly thin,

I know.

But I will not pain you by describing my anxiety.

You have seen enough of it.

I feel I have betrayed myself perpetually,

So unguarded in speaking of my partiality for the church.

But my secret,

I was always sure would be safe with you.

Catherine felt that nothing could have been safer.

But ashamed of an ignorance little expected,

She dared no longer contest the point,

Nor refused to have been as full of arch penetration and affectionate sympathy.

As Isabella chose to consider her.

Her brother she found was preparing to set off with all speed to Fullerton to make known his situation and ask consent.

And here was a source of some real agitation to the mind of Isabella.

Catherine endeavoured to persuade her as she was herself persuaded that her father and mother would never oppose their son's wishes.

It is impossible,

Said she,

For parents to be more kind or more desirous of their children's happiness.

I have no doubt of them consenting immediately.

Moreland says exactly the same,

Replied Isabella,

And yet I dared not expect it.

My fortune will be so small they can never consent to it.

Your brother who might marry anybody.

Here Catherine again discerned the force of love.

Indeed,

Isabella,

You are too humble.

The difference of fortune could be nothing to signify.

Oh,

My sweet Catherine,

In your generous heart,

I know it would signify nothing.

But we must not expect such disinterestedness in many.

As for myself,

I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed.

Had I the command of millions,

Were I the mistress of the whole world,

Your brother would be my only chance.

This charming sentiment,

Recommended as much by sense as novelty,

Gave Catherine a most pleasing remembrance of all the heroines of her acquaintance.

And she thought her friend never looked more lovely than in uttering the grand idea.

I'm sure they will consent,

Was her frequent declaration.

I'm sure they will be delighted with you.

For my own part,

Said Isabella,

My wishes are so moderate that the smallest income in nature would be enough for me.

Where people are really attached,

Poverty itself is wealth.

Grandeur,

I detest.

I would not settle in London for the universe.

A cottage in some retired village would be ecstasy.

There are some charming little villages about Richmond.

Richmond?

Cried Catherine.

You must settle near Fullerton.

You must be near us.

I am sure I shall be miserable if we do not.

If I can but be near you,

I shall be satisfied.

But this is idle talking.

I will not allow myself to think of such things till we have your father's answer.

Mornon says by sending it tonight to Salisbury,

We may have it tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

I know I shall never have courage to open the letter.

I know it will be the death of me.

Reviews

Interesting…so glad the old courtship dance is so very different now 😅 thank you!✨🙏🏼✨