Northanger Abbey: Volume 2, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

As she dresses for dinner that night, Catherine feels completely disillusioned. She knows that she has embarrassed herself in front of Henry. She thinks he must despise her for her absurd curiosity and the terrible crime she suspected his father of committing. She thought he had liked her before, but now he must not. But when Henry comes down to dinner, he is kinder to her than ever before, recognizing that she needs consolation in her embarrassment. She is glad to see that he may forgive her.

Catherine realizes that she had been looking for something dramatic when she came to Northanger. She sees that, although the novels she reads are very entertaining, they do not always reflect human nature, at least not the human nature of those of her class in the central part of England. She thinks terrible plots may happen in Italy and France, but that in England people are neither villains nor angels. Even Henry and Eleanor, she reflects, may have imperfections, and certainly the General, even if he is not a murderer, is not perfect. She resolves to forgive herself for her folly, which she is helped to do by Henry, who never mentions what happened. Catherine is again perfectly happy whenever Henry is around, although she still looks at the chest in her room with a bit of unease.

Catherine soon begins to be anxious to hear from Isabella about Bath. She finds Isabella’s silence extremely strange because Isabella had promised to write, and she always keeps her promises. On the tenth morning, however, she receives a letter from James. James writes that his engagement with Isabella is over, and that she should leave Northanger before Captain Tilney arrives and announces his engagement to Isabella, as this would put Catherine in an uncomfortable position. James writes that whenever he tried to talk to Isabella, she denied that her feelings towards him had changed. He still does not understand why she toyed with him, because he feels sure that she did not need to lead him on in order to get a proposal from Tilney. James still feels he will never meet another woman like Isabella.

Catherine gasps in astonishment while reading, and both Henry and Eleanor are concerned about what kind of news she has received. She cries over breakfast, then runs off. After half an hour, Catherine feels that she can talk to Henry and Eleanor, but she does not plan to tell them what has happened.

Catherine joins Henry and Eleanor, then sits in silence, unsure what to say. Eleanor asks if her family at Fullerton is all well, and she says that they are, but that she will never wish for a letter again. Her brother James is so unhappy, she says, to which Henry replies that it must be a comfort to him to have such a loving sister. After a pause, Catherine says that she must ask that they let her know if their brother is coming to Northanger, because she must avoid meeting him. Eleanor is very surprised. Henry guesses that this has something to do with Isabella. Catherine pours out the entire truth: Isabella has abandoned her brother and will marry theirs. She cannot believe such fickleness is possible. Henry says he is terribly sorry for her brother, but he is still convinced that his brother is unlikely to marry Isabella.

Catherine lets both brother and sister read James’s letter. Henry is very surprised, but says that, if it is true, he will not envy Frederick’s situation “either as a lover or a son.” Eleanor asks Catherine about Isabella’s background and fortune. Catherine says that Isabella has no fortune, but that this will not matter to General Tilney, who has told her he cares for money only to promote his children’s happiness. Eleanor finds it inconceivable that Frederick would marry a girl who had broken an engagement voluntarily taken with another man, but Henry thinks Isabella is too smart to have let James go before she had a proposal from Frederick.

Henry sarcastically says that Eleanor should prepare for a sister-in-law who is “open, candid, artless, guileless, with affections strong but simple, forming no pretensions, and knowing no disguise.” Eleanor smiles and says she would welcome such a sister-in-law, but Catherine does not notice this hint.

Catherine says that perhaps Isabella will be loyal to Frederick. Henry says she will certainly be loyal unless she meets a baronet. Catherine concedes that Isabella gave signs of being a social climber. She remembers when Isabella seemed disappointed about how much money Mr. Morland would give her and James.

Catherine says she has never been so deceived by anyone in her life. She worries about how James will recover from this loss. Henry asks her if she herself feels that she has lost a very dear friend and the only person she can trust. Catherine replies that she does not feel this way. In fact, Catherine’s spirits lift after talking to Henry and Eleanor, even though she had never meant to tell them what James’s letter contained.