HerhappinessingoingwithMissTilney,however,preventedtheirwishingitotherwise;and,astheyweretoremainonlyonemoreweekinBaththemselves,herquittingthemnowwouldnotlongbefelt.
Mr.AllenattendedhertoMilsomStreet,whereshewastobreakfast,andsawherseatedwiththekindestwelcomeamonghernewfriends;butsogreatwasheragitationinfindingherselfasoneofthefamily,andsofearfulwassheofnotdoingexactlywhatwasright,andofnotbeingabletopreservetheirgoodopinion,that,intheembarrassmentofthefirstfiveminutes,shecouldalmosthavewishedtoreturnwithhimtoPulteneyStreet.
MissTilney’smannersandHenry’ssmilesoondidawaysomeofherunpleasantfeelings;butstillshewasfarfrombeingatease;norcouldtheincessantattentionsofthegeneralhimselfentirelyreassureher.
Hisanxietyforhercomfort—hiscontinualsolicitationsthatshewouldeat,andhisoften–expressedfearsofherseeingnothingtohertaste—thoughneverinherlifebeforehadshebeheldhalfsuchvarietyonabreakfast–table—madeitimpossibleforhertoforgetforamomentthatshewasavisitor.
Hertranquillitywasnotimprovedbythegeneral’simpatiencefortheappearanceofhiseldestson,norbythedispleasureheexpressedathislazinesswhenCaptainTilneyatlastcamedown.
Shewasquitepainedbytheseverityofhisfather’sreproof,whichseemeddisproportionatetotheoffence;andmuchwasherconcernincreasedwhenshefoundherselftheprincipalcauseofthelecture,andthathistardinesswaschieflyresentedfrombeingdisrespectfultoher.
Thiswasplacingherinaveryuncomfortablesituation,andshefeltgreatcompassionforCaptainTilney,withoutbeingabletohopeforhisgoodwill.
Helistenedtohisfatherinsilence,andattemptednotanydefence,whichconfirmedherinfearingthattheinquietudeofhismind,onIsabella’saccount,might,bykeepinghimlongsleepless,havebeentherealcauseofhisrisinglate.
Itwasthefirsttimeofherbeingdecidedlyinhiscompany,andshehadhopedtobenowabletoformheropinionofhim;butshescarcelyheardhisvoicewhilehisfatherremainedintheroom;andevenafterwards,somuchwerehisspiritsaffected,shecoulddistinguishnothingbutthesewords,inawhispertoEleanor,“HowgladIshallbewhenyouarealloff.”
Thebustleofgoingwasnotpleasant.Theclockstrucktenwhilethetrunkswerecarryingdown,andthegeneralhadfixedtobeoutofMilsomStreetbythathour.
Hisgreatcoat,insteadofbeingbroughtforhimtoputondirectly,wasspreadoutinthecurricleinwhichhewastoaccompanyhisson.
Themiddleseatofthechaisewasnotdrawnout,thoughtherewerethreepeopletogoinit,andhisdaughter’smaidhadsocrowdeditwithparcelsthatMissMorlandwouldnothaveroomtosit;and,somuchwasheinfluencedbythisapprehensionwhenhehandedherin,thatshehadsomedifficultyinsavingherownnewwriting–deskfrombeingthrownoutintothestreet.
Atlast,however,thedoorwascloseduponthethreefemales,andtheysetoffatthesoberpaceinwhichthehandsome,highlyfedfourhorsesofagentlemanusuallyperformajourneyofthirtymiles:suchwasthedistanceofNorthangerfromBath,tobenowdividedintotwoequalstages.
Catherine’sspiritsrevivedastheydrovefromthedoor;forwithMissTilneyshefeltnorestraint;and,withtheinterestofaroadentirelynewtoher,ofanabbeybefore,andacurriclebehind,shecaughtthelastviewofBathwithoutanyregret,andmetwitheverymilestonebeforesheexpectedit.
Thetediousnessofatwohours’waitatPettyFrance,inwhichtherewasnothingtobedonebuttoeatwithoutbeinghungry,andloiteraboutwithoutanythingtosee,nextfollowed—andheradmirationofthestyleinwhichtheytravelled,ofthefashionablechaiseandfour—postilionshandsomelyliveried,risingsoregularlyintheirstirrups,andnumerousoutridersproperlymounted,sunkalittleunderthisconsequentinconvenience.
Hadtheirpartybeenperfectlyagreeable,thedelaywouldhavebeennothing;butGeneralTilney,thoughsocharmingaman,seemedalwaysacheckuponhischildren’sspirits,andscarcelyanythingwassaidbutbyhimself;theobservationofwhich,withhisdiscontentatwhatevertheinnafforded,andhisangryimpatienceatthewaiters,madeCatherinegroweverymomentmoreinaweofhim,andappearedtolengthenthetwohoursintofour.
Atlast,however,theorderofreleasewasgiven;andmuchwasCatherinethensurprisedbythegeneral’sproposalofhertakinghisplaceinhisson’scurriclefortherestofthejourney:“thedaywasfine,andhewasanxiousforherseeingasmuchofthecountryaspossible.”
TheremembranceofMr.Allen’sopinion,respectingyoungmen’sopencarriages,madeherblushatthementionofsuchaplan,andherfirstthoughtwastodeclineit;buthersecondwasofgreaterdeferenceforGeneralTilney’sjudgment;hecouldnotproposeanythingimproperforher;and,inthecourseofafewminutes,shefoundherselfwithHenryinthecurricle,ashappyabeingaseverexisted.
Averyshorttrialconvincedherthatacurriclewastheprettiestequipageintheworld;thechaiseandfourwheeledoffwithsomegrandeur,tobesure,butitwasaheavyandtroublesomebusiness,andshecouldnoteasilyforgetitshavingstoppedtwohoursatPettyFrance.
Halfthetimewouldhavebeenenoughforthecurricle,andsonimblywerethelighthorsesdisposedtomove,that,hadnotthegeneralchosentohavehisowncarriageleadtheway,theycouldhavepasseditwitheaseinhalfaminute.
Butthemeritofthecurricledidnotallbelongtothehorses;Henrydrovesowell—soquietly—withoutmakinganydisturbance,withoutparadingtoher,orswearingatthem:sodifferentfromtheonlygentleman–coachmanwhomitwasinherpowertocomparehimwith!
Inadditiontoeveryotherdelight,shehadnowthatoflisteningtoherownpraise;ofbeingthankedatleast,onhissister’saccount,forherkindnessinthusbecominghervisitor;ofhearingitrankedasrealfriendship,anddescribedascreatingrealgratitude.
Hissister,hesaid,wasuncomfortablycircumstanced—shehadnofemalecompanion—and,inthefrequentabsenceofherfather,wassometimeswithoutanycompanionatall.
“Northangerisnotmorethanhalfmyhome;IhaveanestablishmentatmyownhouseinWoodston,whichisnearlytwentymilesfrommyfather’s,andsomeofmytimeisnecessarilyspentthere.”
“Yes;butbesidesyouraffectionforher,youmustbesofondoftheabbey!Afterbeingusedtosuchahomeastheabbey,anordinaryparsonage–housemustbeverydisagreeable.”
“Andareyoupreparedtoencounterallthehorrorsthatabuildingsuchas‘whatonereadsabout’mayproduce?Haveyouastoutheart?Nervesfitforslidingpanelsandtapestry?”
“Oh!yes—IdonotthinkIshouldbeeasilyfrightened,becausetherewouldbesomanypeopleinthehouse—andbesides,ithasneverbeenuninhabitedandleftdesertedforyears,andthenthefamilycomebacktoitunawares,withoutgivinganynotice,asgenerallyhappens.”
“No,certainly.Weshallnothavetoexploreourwayintoahalldimlylightedbytheexpiringembersofawoodfire—norbeobligedtospreadourbedsonthefloorofaroomwithoutwindows,doors,orfurniture.
Butyoumustbeawarethatwhenayoungladyis(bywhatevermeans)introducedintoadwellingofthiskind,sheisalwayslodgedapartfromtherestofthefamily.
Whiletheysnuglyrepairtotheirownendofthehouse,sheisformallyconductedbyDorothy,theancienthousekeeper,upadifferentstaircase,andalongmanygloomypassages,intoanapartmentneverusedsincesomecousinorkindiedinitabouttwentyyearsbefore.Canyoustandsuchaceremonyasthis?
Willnotyourmindmisgiveyouwhenyoufindyourselfinthisgloomychamber—tooloftyandextensiveforyou,withonlythefeebleraysofasinglelamptotakeinitssize—itswallshungwithtapestryexhibitingfiguresaslargeaslife,andthebed,ofdarkgreenstufforpurplevelvet,presentingevenafunerealappearance?Willnotyourheartsinkwithinyou?”
Nottables,toilettes,wardrobes,ordrawers,butononesideperhapstheremainsofabrokenlute,ontheotheraponderouschestwhichnoeffortscanopen,andoverthefireplacetheportraitofsomehandsomewarrior,whosefeatureswillsoincomprehensiblystrikeyou,thatyouwillnotbeabletowithdrawyoureyesfromit.
Dorothy,meanwhile,nolessstruckbyyourappearance,gazesonyouingreatagitation,anddropsafewunintelligiblehints.
Toraiseyourspirits,moreover,shegivesyoureasontosupposethatthepartoftheabbeyyouinhabitisundoubtedlyhaunted,andinformsyouthatyouwillnothaveasingledomesticwithincall.
Withthispartingcordialshecurtsiesoff—youlistentothesoundofherrecedingfootstepsaslongasthelastechocanreachyou—andwhen,withfaintingspirits,youattempttofastenyourdoor,youdiscover,withincreasedalarm,thatithasnolock.”
“Oh!Mr.Tilney,howfrightful!Thisisjustlikeabook!Butitcannotreallyhappentome.IamsureyourhousekeeperisnotreallyDorothy.Well,whatthen?”
Pealsofthundersoloudastoseemtoshaketheedificetoitsfoundationwillrollroundtheneighbouringmountains—andduringthefrightfulgustsofwindwhichaccompanyit,youwillprobablythinkyoudiscern(foryourlampisnotextinguished)onepartofthehangingmoreviolentlyagitatedthantherest.
Unableofcoursetorepressyourcuriosityinsofavourableamomentforindulgingit,youwillinstantlyarise,andthrowingyourdressing–gownaroundyou,proceedtoexaminethismystery.
Afteraveryshortsearch,youwilldiscoveradivisioninthetapestrysoartfullyconstructedastodefytheminutestinspection,andonopeningit,adoorwillimmediatelyappear—whichdoor,beingonlysecuredbymassybarsandapadlock,youwill,afterafewefforts,succeedinopening—and,withyourlampinyourhand,willpassthroughitintoasmallvaultedroom.”
“What!NotwhenDorothyhasgivenyoutounderstandthatthereisasecretsubterraneouscommunicationbetweenyourapartmentandthechapelofSt.Anthony,scarcelytwomilesoff?
No,no,youwillproceedintothissmallvaultedroom,andthroughthisintoseveralothers,withoutperceivinganythingveryremarkableineither.
Inoneperhapstheremaybeadagger,inanotherafewdropsofblood,andinathirdtheremainsofsomeinstrumentoftorture;buttherebeingnothinginallthisoutofthecommonway,andyourlampbeingnearlyexhausted,youwillreturntowardsyourownapartment.
Inrepassingthroughthesmallvaultedroom,however,youreyeswillbeattractedtowardsalarge,old–fashionedcabinetofebonyandgold,which,thoughnarrowlyexaminingthefurniturebefore,youhadpassedunnoticed.
Impelledbyanirresistiblepresentiment,youwilleagerlyadvancetoit,unlockitsfoldingdoors,andsearchintoeverydrawer—butforsometimewithoutdiscoveringanythingofimportance—perhapsnothingbutaconsiderablehoardofdiamonds.
Atlast,however,bytouchingasecretspring,aninnercompartmentwillopen—arollofpaperappears—youseizeit—itcontainsmanysheetsofmanuscript—youhastenwiththeprecioustreasureintoyourownchamber,butscarcelyhaveyoubeenabletodecipher‘Oh!
Thou—whomsoeverthoumaystbe,intowhosehandsthesememoirsofthewretchedMatildamayfall’—whenyourlampsuddenlyexpiresinthesocket,andleavesyouintotaldarkness.”
ButHenrywastoomuchamusedbytheinteresthehadraisedtobeabletocarryitfarther;hecouldnolongercommandsolemnityeitherofsubjectorvoice,andwasobligedtoentreathertouseherownfancyintheperusalofMatilda’swoes.
Catherine,recollectingherself,grewashamedofhereagerness,andbeganearnestlytoassurehimthatherattentionhadbeenfixedwithoutthesmallestapprehensionofreallymeetingwithwhatherelated.
Astheydrewneartheendoftheirjourney,herimpatienceforasightoftheabbey—forsometimesuspendedbyhisconversationonsubjectsverydifferent—returnedinfullforce,andeverybendintheroadwasexpectedwithsolemnawetoaffordaglimpseofitsmassywallsofgreystone,risingamidstagroveofancientoaks,withthelastbeamsofthesunplayinginbeautifulsplendouronitshighGothicwindows.
Butsolowdidthebuildingstand,thatshefoundherselfpassingthroughthegreatgatesofthelodgeintotheverygroundsofNorthanger,withouthavingdiscernedevenanantiquechimney.
Sheknewnotthatshehadanyrighttobesurprised,buttherewasasomethinginthismodeofapproachwhichshecertainlyhadnotexpected.
Topassbetweenlodgesofamodernappearance,tofindherselfwithsucheaseintheveryprecinctsoftheabbey,anddrivensorapidlyalongasmooth,levelroadoffinegravel,withoutobstacle,alarm,orsolemnityofanykind,struckherasoddandinconsistent.
Asuddenscudofrain,drivingfullinherface,madeitimpossibleforhertoobserveanythingfurther,andfixedallherthoughtsonthewelfareofhernewstrawbonnet;andshewasactuallyundertheabbeywalls,wasspringing,withHenry’sassistance,fromthecarriage,wasbeneaththeshelteroftheoldporch,andhadevenpassedontothehall,whereherfriendandthegeneralwerewaitingtowelcomeher,withoutfeelingoneawfulforebodingoffuturemiserytoherself,oronemoment’ssuspicionofanypastscenesofhorrorbeingactedwithinthesolemnedifice.
Thebreezehadnotseemedtowaftthesighsofthemurderedtoher;ithadwaftednothingworsethanathickmizzlingrain;andhavinggivenagoodshaketoherhabit,shewasreadytobeshownintothecommondrawing–room,andcapableofconsideringwhereshewas.
Butshedoubted,asshelookedroundtheroom,whetheranythingwithinherobservationwouldhavegivenhertheconsciousness.
Thefireplace,whereshehadexpectedtheamplewidthandponderouscarvingofformertimes,wascontractedtoaRumford,withslabsofplainthoughhandsomemarble,andornamentsoveritoftheprettiestEnglishchina.
Thewindows,towhichshelookedwithpeculiardependence,fromhavingheardthegeneraltalkofhispreservingthemintheirGothicformwithreverentialcare,wereyetlesswhatherfancyhadportrayed.
Tobesure,thepointedarchwaspreserved—theformofthemwasGothic—theymightbeevencasements—buteverypanewassolarge,soclear,solight!
Toanimaginationwhichhadhopedforthesmallestdivisions,andtheheavieststone–work,forpaintedglass,dirt,andcobwebs,thedifferencewasverydistressing.
Thegeneral,perceivinghowhereyewasemployed,begantotalkofthesmallnessoftheroomandsimplicityofthefurniture,whereeverything,beingfordailyuse,pretendedonlytocomfort,etc.;flatteringhimself,however,thatthereweresomeapartmentsintheAbbeynotunworthyhernotice—andwasproceedingtomentionthecostlygildingofoneinparticular,when,takingouthiswatch,hestoppedshorttopronounceitwithsurprisewithintwentyminutesoffive!
Thisseemedthewordofseparation,andCatherinefoundherselfhurriedawaybyMissTilneyinsuchamannerasconvincedherthatthestrictestpunctualitytothefamilyhourswouldbeexpectedatNorthanger.
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