northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第49节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 206…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 206
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 enclosed—what 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’s—the 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
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 207…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 207
any endeavour at discourse； she could only look at her companion。
Eleanor’s countenance was dejected； yet sedate； and its
composure spoke her enured 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
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 208…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 208
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
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 209…
Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 209
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
tip…toe 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 every thing 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。 Th
