Northanger Abbey: Volume 1, Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

Isabella and Catherine meet in the Pump-room and have a warm and affectionate conversation. Isabella says that she saw a beautiful hat in a shop window. She asks Catherine if she has continued to read the novel Udolpho, and Catherine tells her which part in the book she is reading. Catherine speculates enthusiastically about what will happen in the coming chapters, saying she is sure there will be a skeleton hidden behind the black veil. Isabella says that she has a list of other terrifying novels given to her by her friend Miss Andrews.

Isabella says that Miss Andrews is beautiful but men never appreciate her beauty, and adds that she sticks up for her friend by scolding them. Catherine is surprised that Isabella would scold men for not being attracted to someone. Isabella says that no one would ever slight Catherine, who is very attractive to men. Catherine is again surprised and blushes, but Isabella says that Catherine has the animation which Miss Andrews lacks. Isabella says that she saw a young man looking at Catherine as if he loved her the day before, but she knows that Catherine can only think of one man. Catherine says that Isabella should not encourage her to think about Mr. Tilney because he may never return. Isabella says she is sure Catherine would be miserable if she did not believe that Mr. Tilney would return, but Catherine responds that she cannot be miserable so long as she is reading Udolpho, and they resume talking about the book.

Isabella says she thinks it odd that Catherine has never read Udolpho before, but says that she assumes that Catherine's mother will not allow her to read novels. Catherine says that her mother likes novels, but that in the countryside, they rarely receive new books. Catherine mentions Sir Charles Grandison as a title her mother likes. Isabella says that she had heard that this was a terrible book.

Isabella asks Catherine what she will wear that evening, because she wants to dress exactly like Catherine, something which men sometimes notice. Catherine says she does not care if men will notice, and Isabella agrees that she never does anything to please men. Isabella asks what kind of complexion Catherine prefers in a man, then after Catherine responds Isabella notes that Catherine's description matches the description she gave of Mr. Tilney exactly. Isabella describes the complexion she prefers in a man, then says that Catherine must never comment on this if they meet someone with that complexion. Catherine promises that she never will. Isabella says she has said too much and they should drop the subject, which puzzles Catherine.

Isabella says that she sees two young men staring at them and that they ought to move. After they move, she asks if the men are still looking at them. She suggests that they go to look at her new hat, and Catherine says that they may run into the two young men if they leave right then. Isabella says that she never changes her behavior to suit young men, and they set off to follow Isabella’s plan to see the hat, while actually walking quickly in pursuit of the two men.