northanger abbey(诺桑觉奇)-第50节
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had given a date so ancient； a position so awful； proved to be one
end of what the General’s father had built。 There were two other
doors in the chamber； leading probably into dressing…closets； but
she had no inclination to open either。 Would the veil in which Mrs。
Tilney had last walked； or the volume in which she had last read；
remain to tell what nothing else was allowed to whisper？ No：
whatever might have been the General’s crimes； he had certainly
too much wit to let them sue for detection。 She was sick of
exploring； and desired but to be safe in her own room； with her
own heart only privy to its folly； and she was on the point of
retreating as softly as she had entered； when the sound of
footsteps； she could hardly tell where； made her pause and
tremble。 To be found there； even by a servant； would be
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unpleasant； but by the General （and he seemed always at hand
when least wanted）； much worse！—She listened—the sound had
ceased； and resolving not to lose a moment； she passed through
and closed the door。 At that instant a door underneath was hastily
opened； someone seemed with swift steps to ascend the stairs； by
the head of which she had yet to pass before she could gain the
gallery。 She had no power to move。 With a feeling of terror not
very definable； she fixed her eyes on the staircase； and in a few
moments it gave Henry to her view。 “Mr。 Tilney！” she exclaimed in
a voice of more than common astonishment。 He looked astonished
too。 “Good God！” she continued； not attending to his address。
“How came you here？—how came you up that staircase？”
“How came I up that staircase！” he replied； greatly surprized。
“Because it is my nearest way from the stable…yard to my own
chamber； and why should I not come up it？”
Catherine recollected herself； blushed deeply； and could say no
more。 He seemed to be looking in her countenance for that
explanation which her lips did not afford。 She moved on towards
the gallery。 “And may I not； in my turn；” said he； as he pushed
back the folding doors； “ask how you came here？ This passage is
at least as extraordinary a road from the breakfast…parlour to your
apartment； as that staircase can be from the stables to mine。”
“I have been；” said Catherine； looking down； “to see your
mother’s room。”
“My mother’s room！—Is there anything extraordinary to be
seen there？”
“No； nothing at all。—I thought you did not mean to come back
till to…morrow。”
“I did not expect to be able to return sooner； when I went away；
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but three hours ago I had the pleasure of finding nothing to detain
me。—You look pale。—I am afraid I alarmed you by running so fast
up those stairs。 Perhaps you did not know—you were not aware of
their leading from the offices in common use？”
“No； I was not。 You have had a very fine day for your ride。”
“Very；—and does Eleanor leave you to find your way into all
the rooms in the house by yourself？”
“Oh！ No； she shewed me over the greatest part on Saturday—
and we were coming here to these rooms—but only—（dropping
her voice）—your father was with us。”
“And that prevented you；” said Henry； earnestly regarding
her。—“Have you looked into all the rooms in that passage？”
“No； I only wanted to see—Is not it very late？ I must go and
dress。”
“It is only a quarter past four； （showing his watch） and you are
not now in Bath。 No theatre； no rooms to prepare for。 Half an hour
at Northanger must be enough。”
She could not contradict it； and therefore suffered herself to be
detained； though her dread of further questions made her； for the
first time in their acquaintance； wish to leave him。 They walked
slowly up the gallery。 “Have you had any letter from Bath since I
saw you？”
“No； and I am very much surprized。 Isabella promised so
faithfully to write directly。”
“Promised so faithfully！—A faithful promise！—That puzzles
me。—I have heard of a faithful performance。 But a faithful
promise—the fidelity of promising！ It is a power little worth
knowing； however； since it can deceive and pain you。 My mother’s
room is very commodious； is it not？ Large and cheerful…looking；
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and the dressing…closets so well disposed！ It always strikes me as
the most comfortable apartment in the house； and I rather wonder
that Eleanor should not take it for her own。 She sent you to look at
it； I suppose？”
“No。”
“It has been your own doing entirely？”—Catherine said
nothing。—After a short silence； during which he had closely
observed her； he added； “As there is nothing in the room in itself
to raise curiosity； this must have proceeded from a sentiment of
respect for my mother’s character； as described by Eleanor； which
does honour to her memory。 The world； I believe； never saw a
better woman。 But it is not often that virtue can boast an interest
such as this。 The domestic； unpretending merits of a person never
known do not often create that kind of fervent； venerating
tenderness which would prompt a visit like yours。 Eleanor； I
suppose； has talked of her a great deal？”
“Yes； a great deal。 That is—no； not much； but what she did say
was very interesting。 Her dying so suddenly” （slowly； and with
hesitation it was spoken）； “and you—none of you being at home—
and your father； I thought—perhaps had not been very fond of
her。”
“And from these circumstances；” he replied （his quick eye fixed
on her’s）； “you infer perhaps the probability of some negligence—
some—（involuntarily she shook her head）—or it may be—of
something still less pardonable。” She raised her eyes towards him
more fully than she had ever done before。 “My mother’s illness；”
he continued； “the seizure which ended in her death； was sudden。
The malady itself； one from which she had often suffered； a bilious
fever—its cause therefore constitutional。 On the third day； in
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short； as soon as she could be prevailed on； a physician attended
her； a very respectable man； and one in whom she had always
placed great confidence。 Upon his opinion of her danger； two
others were called in the next day； and remained in almost
constant attendance for four and twenty hours。 On the fifth day
she died。 During the progress of her disorder； Frederick and I （we
were both at home） saw her repeatedly； and from our own
observation can bear witness to her having received every possible
attention which could spring from the affection of those about her；
or which her situation in life could command。 Poor Eleanor was
absent； and at such a distance as to return only to see her mother
in her coffin。”
“But your father；” said Catherine； “was he afflicted？”
“For a time； greatly so。 You have erred in supposing him not
attached to her。 He loved her； I am persuaded； as well as it was
possible for him to—we have not all； you know； the same
tenderness of disposition—and I will not pretend to say that while
sh
