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Part 10: Discretion

Sat, 03/05/2022 - 6:00am
"Embroidery for Fire Screen" (early 1800s, Cleveland Museum of Art)

Trifles Light as Air

A collection of one-shots based on Northanger Abbey: drabbles, flash fiction, missing scenes, and more. Title from Shakespeare's Othello, as quoted by Jane Austen in Chapter One. Now available as an eBook via Draft2Digital.

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Mr. Allen paused in his letter to the Morlands, considering how to describe the Tilney family's sons.

"... General Tilney is considered a fine gentlemen. I can state from personal observation that he possess a noble bearing, and moreover complimented your daughter handsomely when tendering his invitation. The young people have become very friendly; Miss Tilney seems an excellent companion for any lady, with both good manners and understanding to recommend her."

Mr. Allen paused in his letter, considering how best to describe the family's sons. The officer was surely too worldly to trouble over a younger sister's friend, and was moreover apt to be called away at any time. The clergyman was a puzzle, though, as were his attentions and intentions. The forms of flirtation were one thing to indulge on the dance floor; how Mr. Tilney might behave in the more secluded and familiar territory of a country estate was quite another.

Mr. Allen did not suspect the fellow of any potential impropriety. But the Morlands were rather unworldly, and a girl unused to society might be led to believe a great many things glossed by a silver tongue. At last he decided to state the truth to the best of his abilities:

"... Mr. Henry Tilney is in possession of a family living, no small inheritance, as well as a lively air I believe charming to most of the fairer sex. Mrs. Allen is very complimentary, and I must bow to her opinion from having been in his company longer, since he does not frequent the card table. Our association is not of such familiarity that I would hazard a guess at his character.; I will therefore conclude by saying his reputation is unobjectionable, and his tastes good if not altogether fixed or sober."

The rest was up to her parents—who were after all very sensible people for all their lack of experience—and Providence.

Title from Chapter 17 of Northanger Abbey: "Mr. and Mrs. Morland, relying on the discretion of the friends to whom they had already entrusted their daughter, felt no doubt of the propriety of an acquaintance which had been formed under their eye...."