sister； breaking the promise I had made of reading it aloud； and
keeping her in suspense at a most interesting part； by running
away with the volume； which； you are to observe； was her own；
particularly her own。 I am proud when I reflect on it； and I think it
must establish me in your good opinion。”
“I am very glad to hear it indeed； and now I shall never be
ashamed of liking Udolpho myself。 But I really thought before；
young men despised novels amazingly。”
“It is amazingly； it may well suggest amazement if they do—for
they read nearly as many as women。 I myself have read hundreds
and hundreds。 Do not imagine that you can cope with me in a
knowledge of Julias and Louisas。 If we proceed to particulars； and
engage in the never…ceasing inquiry of ‘Have you read this？’ and
‘Have you read that？’ I shall soon leave you as far behind me as—
what shall I say？—I want an appropriate simile；—as far as your
friend Emily herself left poor Valancourt when she went with her
aunt into Italy。 Consider how many years I have had the start of
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you。 I had entered on my studies at Oxford； while you were a good
little girl working your sampler at home！”
“Not very good； I am afraid。 But now really； do not you think
Udolpho the nicest book in the world？”
“The nicest；—by which I suppose you mean the neatest。 That
must depend upon the binding。”
“Henry；” said Miss Tilney； “you are very impertinent。 Miss
Morland； he is treating you exactly as he does his sister。 He is
forever finding fault with me； for some incorrectness of language；
and now he is taking the same liberty with you。 The word ‘nicest；’
as you used it； did not suit him； and you had better change it as
soon as you can； or we shall be overpowered with Johnson and
Blair all the rest of the way。”
“I am sure；” cried Catherine； “I did not mean to say anything
wrong； but it is a nice book； and why should not I call it so？”
“Very true；” said Henry； “and this is a very nice day； and we are
taking a very nice walk； and you are two very nice young ladies。
Oh！ It is a very nice word indeed！ It does for every thing。
Originally perhaps it was applied only to express neatness；
propriety； delicacy； or refinement—people were nice in their
dress； in their sentiments； or their choice。 But now every
commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word。”
“While； in fact；” cried his sister； “it ought only to be applied to
you； without any commendation at all。 You are more nice than
wise。 Come； Miss Morland； let us leave him to meditate over our
faults in the utmost propriety of diction； while we praise Udolpho
in whatever terms we like best。 It is a most interesting work。 You
are fond of that kind of reading？”
“To say the truth； I do not much like any other。”
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“Indeed！”
“That is； I can read poetry and plays； and things of that sort；
and do not dislike travels。 But history； real solemn history； I
cannot be interested in。 Can you？”
“Yes； I am fond of history。”
“I wish I were too。 I read it a little as a duty； but it tells me
nothing that does not either vex or weary me。 The quarrels of
popes and kings； with wars or pestilences； in every page； the men
all so good for nothing； and hardly any women at all—it is very
tiresome： and yet I often think it odd that it should be so dull； for a
great deal of it must be invention。 The speeches that are put into
the heroes’ mouths； their thoughts and designs—the chief of all
this must be invention； and invention is what delights me in other
books。”
“Historians； you think；” said Miss Tilney； “are not happy in
their flights of fancy。 They display imagination without raising
interest。 I am fond of history—and am very well contented to take
the false with the true。 In the principal facts they have sources of
intelligence in former histories and records； which may be as
much depended on； I conclude； as anything that does not actually
pass under one’s own observation； and as for the little
embellishments you speak of； they are embellishments； and I like
them as such。 If a speech be well drawn up； I read it with pleasure；
by whomsoever it may be made—and probably with much greater；
if the production of Mr。 Hume or Mr。 Robertson； than if the
genuine words of Caractacus； Agricola； or Alfred the Great。”
“You are fond of history！—and so are Mr。 Allen and my father；
and I have two brothers who do not dislike it。 So many instances
within my small circle of friends is remarkable！ At this rate； I shall
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not pity the writers of history any longer。 If people like to read
their books； it is all very well； but to be at so much trouble in filling
great volumes； which； as I used to think； nobody would willingly
ever look into； to be labouring only for the torment of little boys
and girls； always struck me as a hard fate； and though I know it is
all very right and necessary； I have often wondered at the person’s
courage that could sit down on purpose to do it。”
“That little boys and girls should be tormented；” said Henry； “is
what no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized
state can deny； but in behalf of our most distinguished historians； I
must observe that they might well be offended at being supposed
to have no higher aim； and that by their method and style； they are
perfectly well qualified to torment readers of the most advanced
reason and mature time of life。 I use the verb ‘to torment；’ as I
observed to be your own method； instead of ‘to instruct；’
supposing them to be now admitted as synonymous。”
“You think me foolish to call instruction a torment； but if you
had been as much used as myself to hear poor little children first
learning their letters and then learning to spell； if you had ever
seen how stupid they can be for a whole morning together； and
how tired my poor mother is at the end of it； as I am in the habit of
seeing almost every day of my life at home； you would allow that to
torment and to instruct might sometimes be used as synonymous
words。”
“Very probably。 But historians are not accountable for the
difficulty of learning to read； and even you yourself； who do not
altogether seem particularly friendly to very severe； very intense
application； may perhaps be brought to acknowledge that it is very
well worth while to be tormented for two or three years of one’s
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life； for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it。 Consider—if
reading had not been taught； Mrs。 Radcliffe would have written in
vain—or perhaps might not have written at all。”
Catherine assented—and a very warm panegyric from her on
that lady’s merits closed the subject。—The Tilneys were soon
engaged in another on which she had nothing to say。 They were
viewing the country with the eyes of persons accustomed to
drawing； and decided on its capability of being formed into
pictures； with all the eagerness of rea
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