northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第35章
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in with a faggot！ How glad I am that Northanger is what it is！ If it
had been like some other places； I do not know that； in such a
night as this； I could have answered for my courage：—but now； to
be sure； there is nothing to alarm one。”
She looked round the room。 The window curtains seemed in
motion。 It could be nothing but the violence of the wind
penetrating through the divisions of the shutters； and she stepped
boldly forward； carelessly humming a tune； to assure herself of its
being so； peeped courageously behind each curtain； saw nothing
on either low window seat to scare her； and on placing a hand
against the shutter； felt the strongest conviction of the wind’s
force。 A glance at the old chest； as she turned away from this
examination； was not without its use； she scorned the causeless
fears of an idle fancy； and began with a most happy indifference to
prepare herself for bed。 “She should take her time； she should not
hurry herself； she did not care if she were the last person up in the
house。 But she would not make up her fire； that would seem
cowardly； as if she wished for the protection of light after she were
in bed。” The fire therefore died away； and Catherine； having spent
the best part of an hour in her arrangements； was beginning to
think of stepping into bed； when； on giving a parting glance round
the room； she was struck by the appearance of a high； old…
fashioned black cabinet； which； though in a situation conspicuous
enough； had never caught her notice before。 Henry’s words； his
description of the ebony cabinet which was to escape her
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observation at first； immediately rushed across her； and though
there could be nothing really in it； there was something whimsical；
it was certainly a very remarkable coincidence！ She took her
candle and looked closely at the cabinet。 It was not absolutely
ebony and gold； but it was Japan； black and yellow Japan of the
handsomest kind； and as she held her candle； the yellow had very
much the effect of gold。 The key was in the door； and she had a
strange fancy to look into it； not； however； with the smallest
expectation of finding anything； but it was so very odd； after what
Henry had said。 In short； she could not sleep till she had examined
it。 So； placing the candle with great caution on a chair； she seized
the key with a very tremulous hand and tried to turn it； but it
resisted her utmost strength。 Alarmed； but not discouraged； she
tried it another way； a bolt flew； and she believed herself
successful； but how strangely mysterious！—The door was still
immovable。 She paused a moment in breathless wonder。 The wind
roared down the chimney； the rain beat in torrents against the
windows； and every thing seemed to speak the awfulness of her
situation。 To retire to bed； however； unsatisfied on such a point；
would be vain； since sleep must be impossible with the
consciousness of a cabinet so mysteriously closed in her
immediate vicinity。 Again； therefore； she applied herself to the
key； and after moving it in every possible way for some instants
with the determined celerity of hope’s last effort； the door
suddenly yielded to her hand： her heart leaped with exultation at
such a victory； and having thrown open each folding door； the
second being secured only by bolts of less wonderful construction
than the lock； though in that her eye could not discern anything
unusual； a double range of small drawers appeared in view； with
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some larger drawers above and below them； and in the centre； a
small door； closed also with a lock and key； secured in all
probability a cavity of importance。
Catherine’s heart beat quick； but her courage did not fail her。
With a cheek flushed by hope； and an eye straining with curiosity；
her fingers grasped the handle of a drawer and drew it forth。 It
was entirely empty。 With less alarm and greater eagerness she
seized a second； a third； a fourth； each was equally empty。 Not one
was left unsearched； and in not one was anything found。 Well read
in the art of concealing a treasure； the possibility of false linings to
the drawers did not escape her； and she felt round each with
anxious acuteness in vain。 The place in the middle alone remained
now unexplored； and though she had “never from the first had the
smallest idea of finding anything in any part of the cabinet； and
was not in the least disappointed at her ill success thus far； it
would be foolish not to examine it thoroughly while she was about
it。” It was some time however before she could unfasten the door；
the same difficulty occurring in the management of this inner lock
as of the outer； but at length it did open； and not vain； as hitherto；
was her search； her quick eyes directly fell on a roll of paper
pushed back into the further part of the cavity； apparently for
concealment； and her feelings at that moment were indescribable。
Her heart fluttered； her knees trembled； and her cheeks grew pale。
She seized； with an unsteady hand； the precious manuscript； for
half a glance sufficed to ascertain written characters； and while
she acknowledged with awful sensations this striking
exemplification of what Henry had foretold； resolved instantly to
peruse every line before she attempted to rest。
The dimness of the light her candle emitted made her turn to it
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with alarm； but there was no danger of its sudden extinction； it
had yet some hours to burn； and that she might not have any
greater difficulty in distinguishing the writing than what its
ancient date might occasion； she hastily snuffed it。 Alas！ It was
snuffed and extinguished in one。 A lamp could not have expired
with more awful effect。 Catherine； for a few moments； was
motionless with horror。 It was done completely； not a remnant of
light in the wick could give hope to the rekindling breath。
Darkness impenetrable and immovable filled the room。 A violent
gust of wind； rising with sudden fury； added fresh horror to the
moment。 Catherine trembled from head to foot。 In the pause
which succeeded； a sound like receding footsteps and the closing
of a distant door struck on her affrighted ear。 Human nature could
support no more。 A cold sweat stood on her forehead； the
manuscript fell from her hand； and groping her way to the bed；
she jumped hastily in； and sought some suspension of agony by
creeping far underneath the clothes。 To close her eyes in sleep
that night； she felt must be entirely out of the question。 With a
curiosity so justly awakened； and feelings in every way so agitated；
repose must be absolutely impossible。 The storm too abroad so
dreadful！—She had not been used to feel alarm from wind； but
now every blast seemed fraught with awful intelligence。 The
manuscript so wonderfully found； so wonderfully accomplishing
the morning’s prediction； how was it to be accounted for？—What
could it contain？—to whom could it relate？—by what means could
it have been so long concealed？—and how singularly strange that
it should fall to her lot to discover it！ Till she had made herself
mistress of its contents； however； she could have neither repose
nor comfort； and with the sun’s first rays she was determined to
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peruse it。 But many were the tedious hours which must yet
intervene。 She shuddered； tossed about in her bed； and envied
every quiet sleeper。 The storm still raged； and various were the
noises； more terrific even than the wind； which struck at intervals
on her startled ear。 The very curtains of her bed seemed at one
moment in motion； and at another the lock of her door was
agitated； as if by the attempt of somebody to enter。 Hollow
murmurs seemed to creep along the gallery； and more than once
her blood was chilled by the sound of distant moans。 Hour after
hour passed away； and the wearied Catherine had heard three
proclaimed by all the clocks in the house before the tempest
subsided or she unknowingly fell fast asleep。
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CHAPTER VII
he housemaid’s folding back her window…shutters at eight
o’clock the next day was the sound
