Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

VOLUME ONE

Chapter 1

"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would

have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the

character of her father and mother; her own person and disposition,

were all equally against her. Her father was a clergyman, without

being neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his

name was Richard - and he had never been handsome. He had a

considerable independence, besides two good livings - and he was

not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother

was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what

is more remarkable, with a good constitution."