a straightforward piece of reportage about the way of the world, when as a matter of fact there is a tremendous gap between gothic reality and the reality of everyday life. This explains the statement that Catherine placed herself "in training for a heroine" (369). It also explains Austen's suggestion that adolescent and postadolescent mental processes have colored Catherine's reading of better quality literature and taken it out of context so as to position herself in the center of a lyric adventure. She is preparing herself to experience the grander emotions in a brave and
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