Austen Said:

“Your brother will not mind it, I know,”

“because I heard him say before that he hated dancing; but it was very good-natured in him to think of it. I suppose he saw Isabella sitting down, and fancied she might wish for a partner; but he is quite mistaken, for she would not dance upon any account in the world.”

“Why? What do you mean?”

“I do not understand you.”

“Me? Yes; I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible.”

“But pray tell me what you mean.”

“No, no; it shall not do either; I am not afraid.”

“I cannot think how it could happen! Isabella was so determined not to dance.”

“Oh! But, because — And your brother! After what you told him from me, how could he think of going to ask her?”

“You are laughing; but, I assure you, Isabella is very firm in general.”

“Then why did not you?”

“He is very handsome indeed.”

“I am very sure,”

“that my father has promised to do as much as he can afford.”

“By the end of another week!”

“I am very sorry for it,”

“if I had known this before — ”

“I will write home directly,”

“and if they do not object, as I dare say they will not — ”

“This is my favourite place,”

“it is so out of the way.”

“Do not be uneasy, Isabella, James will soon be here.”

“You shall certainly have the best in my power to give. But who are you looking for? Are your sisters coming?”

“But I thought, Isabella, you had something in particular to tell me?”

“No, indeed, I cannot.”

“With me, dear Isabella!”

“As to any attentions on his side, I do declare, upon my honour, I never was sensible of them for a moment — except just his asking me to dance the first day of his coming. And as to making me an offer, or anything like it, there must be some unaccountable mistake. I could not have misunderstood a thing of that kind, you know! And, as I ever wish to be believed, I solemnly protest that no syllable of such a nature ever passed between us. The last half hour before he went away! It must be all and completely a mistake — for I did not see him once that whole morning.”

“Are you? Well, if you say it, it was so, I dare say — but for the life of me, I cannot recollect it. I do remember now being with you, and seeing him as well as the rest — but that we were ever alone for five minutes — However, it is not worth arguing about, for whatever might pass on his side, you must be convinced, by my having no recollection of it, that I never thought, nor expected, nor wished for anything of the kind from him. I am excessively concerned that he should have any regard for me — but indeed it has been quite unintentional on my side; I never had the smallest idea of it. Pray undeceive him as soon as you can, and tell him I beg his pardon — that is — I do not know what I ought to say — but make him understand what I mean, in the properest way. I would not speak disrespectfully of a brother of yours, Isabella, I am sure; but you know very well that if I could think of one man more than another — he is not the person.”

“My dear friend, you must not be angry with me. I cannot suppose your brother cares so very much about me. And, you know, we shall still be sisters.”

“I certainly cannot return his affection, and as certainly never meant to encourage it.”

“You do acquit me, then, of anything wrong? — You are convinced that I never meant to deceive your brother, never suspected him of liking me till this moment?”

“But my opinion of your brother never did alter; it was always the same. You are describing what never happened.”

“Does he? Then why does he stay here?”

“Why do not you persuade him to go away? The longer he stays, the worse it will be for him at last. Pray advise him for his own sake, and for everybody’s sake, to leave Bath directly. Absence will in time make him comfortable again; but he can have no hope here, and it is only staying to be miserable.”

“Then you will persuade him to go away?”

“No, he does not know what he is about,”

“he does not know the pain he is giving my brother. Not that James has ever told me so, but I am sure he is very uncomfortable.”

“Yes, very sure.”

“Is not it the same thing?”

“Isabella is wrong. But I am sure she cannot mean to torment, for she is very much attached to my brother. She has been in love with him ever since they first met, and while my father’s consent was uncertain, she fretted herself almost into a fever. You know she must be attached to him.”

“Oh! no, not flirts. A woman in love with one man cannot flirt with another.”

“Then you do not believe Isabella so very much attached to my brother?”

“But what can your brother mean? If he knows her engagement, what can he mean by his behaviour?”

“Am I? I only ask what I want to be told.”

“Yes, I think so; for you must know your brother’s heart.”

Well?”

“Well,”

“you may be able to guess at your brother’s intentions from all this; but I am sure I cannot. But is not your father uncomfortable about it? Does not he want Captain Tilney to go away? Sure, if your father were to speak to him, he would go.”

“But how can that be?”

“Are not you with her?”