northanger abbey-第34章
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beyond the sight of a very elegant monument to the memory
of Mrs。 Tilney； which immediately fronted the family pew。
By that her eye was instantly caught and long retained；
and the perusal of the highly strained epitaph； in which every
virtue was ascribed to her by the inconsolable husband；
who must have been in some way or other her destroyer；
affected her even to tears。
That the general； having erected such a monument；
should be able to face it； was not perhaps very strange；
and yet that he could sit so boldly collected within its view；
maintain so elevated an air； look so fearlessly around；
nay； that he should even enter the church； seemed wonderful
to Catherine。 Not； however； that many instances of beings
equally hardened in guilt might not be produced。 She could
remember dozens who had persevered in every possible vice；
going on from crime to crime； murdering whomsoever
they chose； without any feeling of humanity or remorse；
till a violent death or a religious retirement closed
their black career。 The erection of the monument itself
could not in the smallest degree affect her doubts of
Mrs。 Tilney's actual decease。 Were she even to descend into
the family vault where her ashes were supposed to slumber；
were she to behold the coffin in which they were said
to be enclosedwhat could it avail in such a case？
Catherine had read too much not to be perfectly aware
of the ease with which a waxen figure might be introduced；
and a supposititious funeral carried on。
The succeeding morning promised something better。
The general's early walk； ill…timed as it was in every
other view； was favourable here； and when she knew
him to be out of the house； she directly proposed
to Miss Tilney the accomplishment of her promise。
Eleanor was ready to oblige her； and Catherine reminding
her as they went of another promise； their first visit
in consequence was to the portrait in her bed…chamber。 It
represented a very lovely woman； with a mild and pensive
countenance； justifying； so far； the expectations of its
new observer； but they were not in every respect answered；
for Catherine had depended upon meeting with features；
hair； complexion； that should be the very counterpart；
the very image； if not of Henry's； of Eleanor'sthe only
portraits of which she had been in the habit of thinking；
bearing always an equal resemblance of mother and child。
A face once taken was taken for generations。 But here she
was obliged to look and consider and study for a likeness。
She contemplated it； however； in spite of this drawback；
with much emotion； and； but for a yet stronger interest；
would have left it unwillingly。
Her agitation as they entered the great gallery was too
much for any endeavour at discourse； she could only look
at her companion。 Eleanor's countenance was dejected；
yet sedate； and its composure spoke her inured to all the
gloomy objects to which they were advancing。 Again she
passed through the folding doors； again her hand was upon
the important lock； and Catherine； hardly able to breathe；
was turning to close the former with fearful caution；
when the figure； the dreaded figure of the general himself
at the further end of the gallery； stood before her！ The
name of 〃Eleanor〃 at the same moment； in his loudest tone；
resounded through the building； giving to his daughter
the first intimation of his presence； and to Catherine
terror upon terror。 An attempt at concealment had been
her first instinctive movement on perceiving him；
yet she could scarcely hope to have escaped his eye；
and when her friend； who with an apologizing look darted
hastily by her； had joined and disappeared with him；
she ran for safety to her own room； and； locking herself in；
believed that she should never have courage to go
down again。 She remained there at least an hour；
in the greatest agitation； deeply commiserating the state
of her poor friend； and expecting a summons herself from
the angry general to attend him in his own apartment。
No summons； however； arrived； and at last； on seeing
a carriage drive up to the abbey； she was emboldened
to descend and meet him under the protection of visitors。
The breakfast…room was gay with company； and she was named
to them by the general as the friend of his daughter； in a
complimentary style； which so well concealed his resentful ire；
as to make her feel secure at least of life for the present。
And Eleanor； with a command of countenance which did
honour to her concern for his character； taking an early
occasion of saying to her； 〃My father only wanted me
to answer a note；〃 she began to hope that she had either
been unseen by the general； or that from some consideration
of policy she should be allowed to suppose herself so。
Upon this trust she dared still to remain in his presence；
after the company left them； and nothing occurred to
disturb it。
In the course of this morning's reflections；
she came to a resolution of making her next attempt on
the forbidden door alone。 It would be much better in every
respect that Eleanor should know nothing of the matter。
To involve her in the danger of a second detection；
to court her into an apartment which must wring her heart；
could not be the office of a friend。 The general's
utmost anger could not be to herself what it might be to
a daughter； and； besides； she thought the examination itself
would be more satisfactory if made without any companion。
It would be impossible to explain to Eleanor the suspicions；
from which the other had； in all likelihood； been hitherto
happily exempt； nor could she therefore； in her presence；
search for those proofs of the general's cruelty；
which however they might yet have escaped discovery；
she felt confident of somewhere drawing forth； in the shape
of some fragmented journal； continued to the last gasp。
Of the way to the apartment she was now perfectly mistress；
and as she wished to get it over before Henry's return；
who was expected on the morrow； there was no time to be lost；
The day was bright； her courage high； at four o'clock；
the sun was now two hours above the horizon； and it
would be only her retiring to dress half an hour earlier
than usual。
It was done； and Catherine found herself alone
in the gallery before the clocks had ceased to strike。
It was no time for thought； she hurried on； slipped with
the least possible noise through the folding doors；
and without stopping to look or breathe； rushed forward
to the one in question。 The lock yielded to her hand；
and； luckily； with no sullen sound that could alarm
a human being。 On tiptoe she entered； the room was
before her； but it was some minutes before she could
advance another step。 She beheld what fixed her to
the spot and agitated every feature。 She saw a large；
well…proportioned apartment； an handsome dimity bed；
arranged as unoccupied with an housemaid's care； a bright
Bath stove； mahogany wardrobes； and neatly painted chairs；
on which the warm beams of a western sun gaily poured
through two sash windows！ Catherine had expected
to have her feelings worked； and worked they were。
Astonishment and doubt first seized them； and a shortly
succeeding ray of common sense added some bitter emotions
of shame。 She could not be mistaken as to the room；
but how grossly mistaken in everything else！in Miss
Tilney's meaning； in her own calculation！ This apartment；
to which she had given a date so ancient； a position so awful；
proved to be one end of what the general's father had built。
There were two other doors in the chamber； leading probably
into dressing…closets； but she had no inclination to
open either。 Would the veil in which Mrs。 Tilney had
last walked； or the volume in which she had last read；
remain to tell what nothing else was allowed to whisper？
No： whatever might have been the general's crimes； he had
certainly too much wit to let them sue for detection。
She was sick of exploring； and desired but to be safe in
her own room； with her own heart only privy to its folly；
and she was on the point of retreating as softly as she
had entered； when the sound of footsteps； she could hardly
tell where； made her pause and tremble。 To be found there；
even by a servant； would be unpleasant； but by the general
（and he seemed always at hand when least wanted）； much
worse！ She listenedthe sound had ceased； and resolving not
to lose a moment； she passed through and closed the door。
At that instant a door underneath was hastily opened；
someone seemed with swift steps to ascend the stairs；
by the head of which she had yet to pass before she
could gain the gallery。 She bad no power to move。
With a feeling of terror not very definable； she fixed
her eyes on the staircase； and in a few moments it gave
Henry to her view。 〃Mr。 Tilney！〃 she exclaimed in a voice
of more than common astonishment。 He looked astonished too。
〃Good God！〃 she continued； not attending to his address。
〃How came you here？ How came you up that staircase？〃
〃How came I up that staircase！〃 he replied；
greatly surprised。 〃Because it is my nearest way from the
stable…yard to my own chamber； and why should I not come up it？〃
Catherine recollected herself； blushed deeply； and could
say no more。 He seemed to be looking in her countenance
for that explanation which her lips did not afford。
She moved on towards the gallery。 〃And may I not； in my turn；〃
said he； as be pushed back the folding doors； 〃ask how you
came here？ This passage is at least as extraordinary
a road from the breakfast…parlour to your apartment；
as that staircase can be from the stables to mine。〃
〃I have been；〃 said Catherine； looking down；
〃to see your mother's room。〃
〃My mother's room！ Is there anything extraordinary
to be seen there？〃
〃No； nothing at all。 I thought you did not mean
to come back till tomorrow。〃
〃I did not expect to be able to return sooner；
when I went away； but three hours ago I had the pleasure
of finding nothing to detain me。 You look pale。 I am
afr
