Chapter 28

           Soonafterthis,thegeneralfoundhimselfobligedtogotoLondonforaweek;andheleftNorthangerearnestlyregrettingthatanynecessityshouldrobhimevenforanhourofMissMorland’scompany,andanxiouslyrecommendingthestudyofhercomfortandamusementtohischildrenastheirchiefobjectinhisabsence.HisdeparturegaveCatherinethefirstexperimentalconvictionthatalossmaybesometimesagain.Thehappinesswithwhichtheirtimenowpassed,everyemploymentvoluntary,everylaughindulged,everymealasceneofeaseandgoodhumour,walkingwheretheylikedandwhentheyliked,theirhours,pleasures,andfatiguesattheirowncommand,madeherthoroughlysensibleoftherestraintwhichthegeneral’spresencehadimposed,andmostthankfullyfeeltheirpresentreleasefromit.Sucheaseandsuchdelightsmadeherlovetheplaceandthepeoplemoreandmoreeveryday;andhaditnotbeenforadreadofitssoonbecomingexpedienttoleavetheone,andanapprehensionofnotbeingequallybelovedbytheother,shewouldateachmomentofeachdayhavebeenperfectlyhappy;butshewasnowinthefourthweekofhervisit;beforethegeneralcamehome,thefourthweekwouldbeturned,andperhapsitmightseemanintrusionifshestayedmuchlonger.Thiswasapainfulconsiderationwheneveritoccurred;andeagertogetridofsuchaweightonhermind,sheverysoonresolvedtospeaktoEleanoraboutitatonce,proposegoingaway,andbeguidedinherconductbythemannerinwhichherproposalmightbetaken.