northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第48节
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feeling。
“Yes； entirely。”
“And how long ago may it be that your mother died？”
“She has been dead these nine years。” And nine years；
Catherine knew； was a trifle of time； compared with what
generally elapsed after the death of an injured wife； before her
room was put to rights。
“You were with her； I suppose； to the last？”
“No；” said Miss Tilney； sighing； “I was unfortunately from
home。—Her illness was sudden and short； and； before I arrived it
was all over。”
Catherine’s blood ran cold with the horrid suggestions which
naturally sprang from these words。 Could it be possible？—Could
Henry’s father—？ And yet how many were the examples to justify
even the blackest suspicions！—And； when she saw him in the
evening； while she worked with her friend； slowly pacing the
drawing…room for an hour together in silent thoughtfulness； with
downcast eyes and contracted brow； she felt secure from all
possibility of wronging him。 It was the air and attitude of a
Montoni！—What could more plainly speak the gloomy workings of
a mind not wholly dead to every sense of humanity； in its fearful
review of past scenes of guilt？ Unhappy man！—And the
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anxiousness of her spirits directed her eyes towards his figure so
repeatedly； as to catch Miss Tilney’s notice。 “My father；” she
whispered； “often walks about the room in this way； it is nothing
unusual。”
“So much the worse！” thought Catherine； such ill…timed
exercise was of a piece with the strange unseasonableness of his
morning walks； and boded nothing good。
After an evening； the little variety and seeming length of which
made her peculiarly sensible of Henry’s importance among them；
she was heartily glad to be dismissed； though it was a look from
the General not designed for her observation which sent his
daughter to the bell。 When the butler would have lit his master’s
candle； however； he was forbidden。 The latter was not going to
retire。 “I have many pamphlets to finish；” said he to Catherine；
“before I can close my eyes； and perhaps may be poring over the
affairs of the nation for hours after you are asleep。 Can either of us
be more meetly employed？ My eyes will be blinding for the good of
others； and yours preparing by rest for future mischief。”
But neither the business alleged； nor the magnificent
compliment； could win Catherine from thinking that some very
different object must occasion so serious a delay of proper repose。
To be kept up for hours； after the family were in bed； by stupid
pamphlets was not very likely。 There must be some deeper cause：
something was to be done which could be done only while the
household slept； and the probability that Mrs。 Tilney yet lived；
shut up for causes unknown； and receiving from the pitiless hands
of her husband a nightly supply of coarse food； was the conclusion
which necessarily followed。 Shocking as was the idea； it was at
least better than a death unfairly hastened； as； in the natural
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course of things； she must ere long be released。 The suddenness of
her reputed illness； the absence of her daughter； and probably of
her other children； at the time—all favoured the supposition of her
imprisonment。 Its origin—jealousy perhaps； or wanton cruelty—
was yet to be unravelled。
In revolving these matters； while she undressed； it suddenly
struck her as not unlikely that she might that morning have
passed near the very spot of this unfortunate woman’s
confinement—might have been within a few paces of the cell in
which she languished out her days； for what part of the Abbey
could be more fitted for the purpose than that which yet bore the
traces of monastic division？ In the high…arched passage； paved
with stone； which already she had trodden with peculiar awe； she
well remembered the doors of which the General had given no
account。 To what might not those doors lead？ In support of the
plausibility of this conjecture； it further occurred to her that the
forbidden gallery； in which lay the apartments of the unfortunate
Mrs。 Tilney； must be； as certainly as her memory could guide her；
exactly over this suspected range of cells； and the staircase by the
side of those apartments of which she had caught a transient
glimpse； communicating by some secret means with those cells；
might well have favoured the barbarous proceedings of her
husband。 Down that staircase she had perhaps been conveyed in a
state of well…prepared insensibility！
Catherine sometimes started at the boldness of her own
surmises； and sometimes hoped or feared that she had gone too
far； but they were supported by such appearances as made their
dismissal impossible。
The side of the quadrangle； in which she supposed the guilty
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scene to be acting； being； according to her belief； just opposite her
own； it struck her that； if judiciously watched； some rays of light
from the General’s lamp might glimmer through the lower
windows； as he passed to the prison of his wife； and； twice before
she stepped into bed； she stole gently from her room to the
corresponding window in the gallery； to see if it appeared； but all
abroad was dark； and it must yet be too early。 The various
ascending noises convinced her that the servants must still be up。
Till midnight； she supposed it would be in vain to watch； but then；
when the clock had struck twelve； and all was quiet； she would； if
not quite appalled by darkness； steal out and look once more。 The
clock struck twelve—and Catherine had been half an hour asleep。
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CHAPTER IX
he next day afforded no opportunity for the proposed
examination of the mysterious apartments。 It was Sunday；
T
and the whole time between morning and afternoon
service was required by the General in exercise abroad or eating
cold meat at home； and great as was Catherine’s curiosity； her
courage was not equal to a wish of exploring them after dinner；
either by the fading light of the sky between six and seven o’clock；
or by the yet more partial though stronger illumination of a
treacherous lamp。 The day was unmarked therefore by anything
to interest her imagination 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。 No
