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  10 they had so laboriously gained. Everybody was shortly in motion
for tea, and they must squeeze out like the rest. Catherine began
to feel something of disappointment -- she was tired of being
continually pressed against by people, the generality of whose
faces possessed nothing to interest, and with all of whom she was
so wholly unacquainted that she could not relieve the irksomeness
of imprisonment by the exchange of a syllable with any of her fellow
captives; and when at last arrived in the tea-room, she felt yet
more the awkwardness of having no party to join, no acquaintance
to claim, no gentleman to assist them. They saw nothing of Mr.
Allen; and after looking about them in vain for a more eligible
situation, were obliged to sit down at the end of a table, at which
a large party were already placed, without having anything to do
there, or anybody to speak to, except each other.
Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on
having preserved her gown from injury. "It would have been very
shocking to have it torn," said she, "would not it? It is such a
delicate muslin. For my part I have not seen anything I like so
well in the whole room, I assure you."
"How uncomfortable it is," whispered Catherine, "not to have a
single acquaintance here!"
"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with perfect serenity, "it is
very uncomfortable indeed."
"What shall we do? The gentlemen and ladies at this table look
as if they wondered why we came here -- we seem forcing ourselves
into their party."
"Aye, so we do. That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large
acquaintance here."
"I wish we had any -- it would be somebody to go to."
"Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them
directly. The Skinners were here last year -- I wish they were
here now."
"Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no tea-things for
us, you see."
"No more there are, indeed. How very provoking! But I think we
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