Northanger Abbey

The narrator remarks that while many gothic heroines return from their adventures in style, there is not much to comment on about Catherine’s journey home. Catherine spends the entire drive quite upset, thinking about how the General seemed supportive of her and Henry getting engaged only a few days ago. She wonders what she could have possibly done wrong in such a short time. Her greatest concern, though, is how Henry will react when he hears of her expulsion.

Catherine is comforted by how happy her family is to see her when she reaches Fullerton. Catherine explains to them why she is home so suddenly, worrying that her family will feel insulted by the Tilneys. The Morlands, however, are not so easily discouraged; They do think the General’s behavior was rude, but they do not trouble themselves to understand. Mrs. Morland hopes Catherine learned a lot from having to get home unaccompanied.

The next morning, Catherine struggles with what to write in a letter to Eleanor. She finally decides to write a short, simple note thanking Eleanor for her friendship and also repays the money Eleanor lent her. Later, Mrs. Morland and Catherine talk about her time in Bath and at the Abbey. Mrs. Morland remarks that Catherine was definitely mistaken about Isabella’s character, but she further suggests that Catherine misjudged the Tilneys, too, if they had such a quick intimate bond with her that ended so abruptly. Catherine defends Eleanor and Henry, to which Mrs. Morland replies that if they really were such good friends, then she is sure they will meet again in the future. Catherine finds little comfort in these words, since she thinks Henry will probably forget about her.

Mrs. Morland and Catherine visit with the Allens, who are shocked by how the General treated Catherine. Mr. Allen is angry with the General, and Mrs. Allen repeats her husband almost exactly before changing the subject to her favorite topic: clothes. Catherine remains silent when Mrs. Allen mentions how “agreeable” Henry was. As they return home, Mrs. Morland says that losing the Tilneys’ friendship does not matter since the Allens still quite like her. Her words fail to cheer Catherine, as she can only think about how happy she was with the Tilneys, and how Henry surely must have heard by now what happened.

Mrs. Morland notes that Catherine is much more fidgety than she was before her trip, and that she is much sadder, too. Catherine tries hard to focus on her embroidery, but her efforts fail. Mrs. Morland leaves the room and when she returns, she finds Henry Tilney with her daughter. He explains he came to check that Catherine made it home unharmed. Mrs. Morland welcomes him and makes casual conversation until they lapse into silence. Henry asks Catherine if the Allens are home and if she would show him how to get to their house. Her little sister confusedly states that they can see the Allens’ house from their own front window, but Mrs. Morland recognizes that Henry might wish to speak privately with Catherine about what happened at the Abbey. She grants her permission to accompany Henry.

As they walk, Henry eagerly explains his feelings for Catherine. He says he has great affection for her and wants to know if she will marry him. Catherine agrees to his proposal. The narrator remarks that Catherine’s “partiality” for him was what attracted Henry to her, even though a young woman typically never states her feelings as boldly as Catherine did. On their walk back to the Morlands’ house Henry finally explains his father’s actions. The General told Henry to forget about Catherine and denied him permission to marry her, but he ignored his father’s wishes. Henry says the General thought Catherine was very wealthy because John Thorpe exaggerated her social standing, claiming that not only were the Morlands rich, but also that Catherine was set to inherit everything the Allens had. The General trusted John’s judgment, and when he realized Henry liked Catherine, he encouraged their attachment.

Later, the General encountered John in London. By that time, John was angry that Catherine had rejected him, and even angrier that James and Isabella had broken up, so he now told the General that Catherine was poor, her father was a social-climber, the Allens chose a different heir, and that nobody in Fullerton even respects the Morlands at all. The General trusted John again, expelling Catherine from the Abbey immediately. Henry shocked his father by disobeying his direction to forget Catherine, since he feels he won her heart and would not abandon her.

The Morlands are stunned when Henry asks for permission to marry Catherine. Even though they never considered the possibility that Catherine loves Henry, they like him very much and say they will give their permission as soon as the General gives his own. Henry and Catherine hope that the General will change his mind and let them marry, though they are afraid he will not. Henry goes back to Woodston and Catherine remains at Fullerton. They exchange letters regularly.

The narrator reveals that while Henry was in Fullerton, Eleanor married her longtime love, and her new husband’s fortune changed the General’s mind. The man Eleanor married waited to propose until after he inherited the title of Viscount and all the wealth and property of his new rank. The narrator reveals that it was this man’s laundry bill that Catherine discovered in the mysterious cabinet in her room at the Abbey. Eleanor and the Viscount convince the General to give Henry permission to marry Catherine, and as part of their argument they reveal that Catherine is not actually as poor as John accused her of being. Catherine and Henry marry the following year, when they are eighteen and twenty-six, respectively.