northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第43节
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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 which first roused
T
Catherine； and she opened her eyes； wondering that they
could ever have been closed； on objects of cheerfulness； her fire
was already burning； and a bright morning had succeeded the
tempest of the night。 Instantaneously； with the consciousness of
existence； returned her recollection of the manuscript； and
springing from the bed in the very moment of the maid’s going
away； she eagerly collected every scattered sheet which had burst
from the roll on its falling to the ground； and flew back to enjoy the
luxury of their perusal on her pillow。 She now plainly saw that she
must not expect a manuscript of equal length with the generality
of what she had shuddered over in books； for the roll； seeming to
consist entirely of small disjointed sheets； was altogether but of
trifling size； and much less than she had supposed it to be at first。
Her greedy eye glanced rapidly over a page。 She started at its
import。 Could it be possible； or did not her senses play her false？—
An inventory of linen； in coarse and modern characters； seemed
all that was before her！ If the evidence of sight might be trusted；
she held a washing…bill in her hand。 She seized another sheet； and
saw the same articles with little variation； a third； a fourth； and a
fifth presented nothing new。 Shirts； stockings； cravats； and
waistcoats faced her in each。 Two others； penned by the same
hand； marked an expenditure scarcely more interesting； in letters；
hair…powder； shoe…string； and breeches…ball。 And the larger sheet；
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whi
