northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第33章
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retire to rest； and get a few hours’ unquiet slumber。 But on the
second； or at farthest the third night after your arrival； you will
probably have a violent storm。 Peals of thunder so loud as to seem
to shake the edifice to its foundation will roll round the
neighbouring mountains—and during the frightful gusts of wind
which accompany it； you will probably think you discern （for your
lamp is not extinguished） one part of the hanging more violently
agitated than the rest。 Unable of course to repress your curiosity
in so favourable a moment for indulging it； you will instantly arise；
and throwing your dressing…gown around you； proceed to examine
this mystery。 After a very short search； you will discover a division
in the tapestry so artfully constructed as to defy the minutest
inspection； and on opening it； a door will immediately appear—
which door； being only secured by massy bars and a padlock； you
will； after a few efforts； succeed in opening—and； with your lamp
in your hand； will pass through it into a small vaulted room。”
“No； indeed； I should be too much frightened to do any such
thing。”
“What！ Not when Dorothy has given you to understand that
there is a secret subterraneous communication between your
apartment and the chapel of St。 Anthony； scarcely two miles off？—
Could you shrink from so simple an adventure？ No； no； you will
proceed into this small vaulted room； and through this into several
others； without perceiving anything very remarkable in either。 In
one perhaps there may be a dagger； in another a few drops of
blood； and in a third the remains of some instrument of torture；
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but there being nothing in all this out of the common way； and
your lamp being nearly exhausted； you will return towards your
own apartment。 In repassing through the small vaulted room；
however； your eyes will be attracted towards a large； old…fashioned
cabinet of ebony and gold； which； though narrowly examining the
furniture before； you had passed unnoticed。 Impelled by an
irresistible presentiment； you will eagerly advance to it； unlock its
folding doors； and search into every drawer—but for some time
without discovering anything of importance—perhaps nothing but
a considerable hoard of diamonds。 At last； however； by touching a
secret spring； an inner compartment will open—a roll of paper
appears：—you seize it—it contains many sheets of manuscript—
you hasten with the precious treasure into your own chamber； but
scarcely have you been able to decipher ‘Oh！ thou—whomsoever
thou mayst be； into whose hands these memoirs of the wretched
Matilda may fall’—when your lamp suddenly expires in the socket；
and leaves you in total darkness。”
“Oh！ no； no—do not say so。 Well； go on。”
But Henry was too much amused by the interest he had raised
to be able to carry it farther； he could no longer command
solemnity either of subject or voice； and was obliged to entreat her
to use her own fancy in the perusal of Matilda’s woes。 Catherine；
recollecting herself； grew ashamed of her eagerness； and began
earnestly to assure him that her attention had been fixed without
the smallest apprehension of really meeting with what he related。
“Miss Tilney； she was sure； would never put her into such a
chamber as he had described！ She was not at all afraid。”
As they drew near the end of their journey； her impatience for a
sight of the abbey—for some time suspended by his conversation
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on subjects very different—returned in full force； and every bend
in the road was expected with solemn awe to afford a glimpse of its
massy walls of grey stone； rising amidst a grove of ancient oaks；
with the last beams of the sun playing in beautiful splendour on its
high Gothic windows。 But so low did the building stand； that she
found herself passing through the great gates of the lodge into the
very grounds of Northanger； without having discerned even an
antique chimney。
She knew not that she had any right to be surprised； but there
was a something in this mode of approach which she certainly had
not expected。 To pass between lodges of a modern appearance； to
find herself with such ease in the very precincts of the abbey； and
driven so rapidly along a smooth； level road of fine gravel； without
obstacle； alarm； or solemnity of any kind； struck her as odd and
inconsistent。 She was not long at leisure； however； for such
considerations。 A sudden scud of rain； driving full in her face；
made it impossible for her to observe anything further； and fixed
all her thoughts on the welfare of her new straw bonnet；—and she
was actually under the abbey walls； was springing； with Henry’s
assistance； from the carriage； was beneath the shelter of the old
porch； and had even passed on to the hall； where her friend and
the General were waiting to welcome her； without feeling one
awful foreboding of future misery to herself； or one moment’s
suspicion of any past scenes of horror being acted within the
solemn edifice。 The breeze had not seemed to waft the sighs of the
murdered to her； it had wafted nothing worse than a thick
mizzling rain； and having given a good shake to her habit； she was
ready to be shown into the common drawing…room； and capable of
considering where she was。
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An abbey！—yes； it was delightful to be really in an abbey！—But
she doubted； as she looked round the room； whether anything
within her observation would have given her the consciousness。
The furniture was in all the profusion and elegance of modern
taste。 The fireplace； where she had expected the ample width and
ponderous carving of former times； was contracted to a Rumford；
with slabs of plain though handsome marble； and ornaments over
it of the prettiest English china。 The windows； to which she looked
with peculiar dependence； from having heard the general talk of
his preserving them in their Gothic form with reverential care；
were yet less what her fancy had portrayed。 To be sure； the
pointed arch was preserved—the form of them was Gothic—they
might be even casements—but every pane was so large； so clear；
so light！ To an imagination which had hoped for the smallest
divisions； and the heaviest stone…work； for painted glass； dirt； and
cobwebs； the difference was very distressing。
The General； perceiving how her eye was employed； began to
talk of the smallness of the room and simplicity of the furniture；
where every thing； being for daily use； pretended only to comfort；
&c。； flattering himself； however； that there were some apartments
in the Abbey not unworthy her notice—and was proceeding to
mention the costly gilding of one in particular； when； taking out
his watch； he stopped short to pronounce it with surprise within
twenty minutes of five！ This seemed the word of separation； and
Catherine found herself hurried away by Miss Tilney in such a
manner as convinced her that the strictest punctuality to the
family hours would be expected at Northanger。
Returning through the large and lofty hall； they ascended a
broad staircase of shining oak； which； after many flights and many
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landing…places； brought them upon a long； wide gallery。 On one
side it had a range of doors； and it was lighted on the other by
windows which Catherine had only time to discover looked into a
quadrangle； before Miss Tilney led the way into a chamber； and
scarcely staying to hope she would find it comfortable； left her
with an anxious entreaty that she would make as little alteration
as possible in her dress。
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CHAPTER VI
moment’s glance was enough to satisfy Catherine that her
Aapartment was very unlike the one which Henry had
endeavoured to alarm her by the description of。—It was
by no means unreasonably large； and contained neither tapestry
nor velvet。—The walls were papered； the floor was carpeted； the
windows were neither less perfect nor more dim than those of the
drawing…room below； the furniture； though not of the latest
fashion； was handsome and comfortable； and the air of the room
altogether far from uncheerful。 Her heart instantaneously at ease
on this point； she resolved to lose no time in particular
examination of any thing； as she greatly dreaded disobliging the
General by any delay。 Her habit therefore was thrown off with all
possible haste； and she was preparing to unpin the linen package；
which the chaise…seat had conveyed for her immediate
accommodation； when her eye suddenly fell on a large high chest；
s
