English
Thehousemaid’sfoldingbackherwindow–shuttersateighto’clockthenextdaywasthesoundwhichfirstrousedCatherine;andsheopenedhereyes,wonderingthattheycouldeverhavebeenclosed,onobjectsofcheerfulness;herfirewasalreadyburning,andabrightmorninghadsucceededthetempestofthenight.
Instantaneously,withtheconsciousnessofexistence,returnedherrecollectionofthemanuscript;andspringingfromthebedintheverymomentofthemaid’sgoingaway,sheeagerlycollectedeveryscatteredsheetwhichhadburstfromtherollonitsfallingtotheground,andflewbacktoenjoytheluxuryoftheirperusalonherpillow.
Shenowplainlysawthatshemustnotexpectamanuscriptofequallengthwiththegeneralityofwhatshehadshudderedoverinbooks,fortheroll,seemingtoconsistentirelyofsmalldisjointedsheets,wasaltogetherbutoftriflingsize,andmuchlessthanshehadsupposedittobeatfirst.
Hergreedyeyeglancedrapidlyoverapage.Shestartedatitsimport.
Coulditbepossible,ordidnothersensesplayherfalse?
Aninventoryoflinen,incoarseandmoderncharacters,seemedallthatwasbeforeher!
Iftheevidenceofsightmightbetrusted,sheheldawashing–billinherhand.
Sheseizedanothersheet,andsawthesamearticleswithlittlevariation;athird,afourth,andafifthpresentednothingnew.
Shirts,stockings,cravats,andwaistcoatsfacedherineach.
Twoothers,pennedbythesamehand,markedanexpenditurescarcelymoreinteresting,inletters,hair–powder,shoe–string,andbreeches–ball.
Andthelargersheet,whichhadenclosedtherest,seemedbyitsfirstcrampline,“Topoulticechestnutmare”—afarrier’sbill!
Suchwasthecollectionofpapers(leftperhaps,asshecouldthensuppose,bythenegligenceofaservantintheplacewhenceshehadtakenthem)whichhadfilledherwithexpectationandalarm,androbbedherofhalfhernight’srest!Shefelthumbledtothedust.
Couldnottheadventureofthechesthavetaughtherwisdom?
Acornerofit,catchinghereyeasshelay,seemedtoriseupinjudgmentagainsther.
Nothingcouldnowbeclearerthantheabsurdityofherrecentfancies.
Tosupposethatamanuscriptofmanygenerationsbackcouldhaveremainedundiscoveredinaroomsuchasthat,somodern,sohabitable!
—Orthatsheshouldbethefirsttopossesstheskillofunlockingacabinet,thekeyofwhichwasopentoall!
Howcouldshehavesoimposedonherself?
HeavenforbidthatHenryTilneyshouldeverknowherfolly!
Anditwasinagreatmeasurehisowndoing,forhadnotthecabinetappearedsoexactlytoagreewithhisdescriptionofheradventures,sheshouldneverhavefeltthesmallestcuriosityaboutit.
Thiswastheonlycomfortthatoccurred.
Impatienttogetridofthosehatefulevidencesofherfolly,thosedetestablepapersthenscatteredoverthebed,sherosedirectly,andfoldingthemupasnearlyaspossibleinthesameshapeasbefore,returnedthemtothesamespotwithinthecabinet,withaveryheartywishthatnountowardaccidentmighteverbringthemforwardagain,todisgraceherevenwithherself.
Whythelocksshouldhavebeensodifficulttoopen,however,wasstillsomethingremarkable,forshecouldnowmanagethemwithperfectease.
Inthistherewassurelysomethingmysterious,andsheindulgedintheflatteringsuggestionforhalfaminute,tillthepossibilityofthedoor’shavingbeenatfirstunlocked,andofbeingherselfitsfastener,dartedintoherhead,andcostheranotherblush.
Shegotawayassoonasshecouldfromaroominwhichherconductproducedsuchunpleasantreflections,andfoundherwaywithallspeedtothebreakfast–parlour,asithadbeenpointedouttoherbyMissTilneytheeveningbefore.
Henrywasaloneinit;andhisimmediatehopeofherhavingbeenundisturbedbythetempest,withanarchreferencetothecharacterofthebuildingtheyinhabited,wasratherdistressing.
Fortheworldwouldshenothaveherweaknesssuspected,andyet,unequaltoanabsolutefalsehood,wasconstrainedtoacknowledgethatthewindhadkeptherawakealittle.
“Butwehaveacharmingmorningafterit,”sheadded,desiringtogetridofthesubject;“andstormsandsleeplessnessarenothingwhentheyareover.Whatbeautifulhyacinths!Ihavejustlearnttoloveahyacinth.”
“Andhowmightyoulearn?Byaccidentorargument?”
“Yoursistertaughtme;Icannottellhow.
Mrs.Allenusedtotakepains,yearafteryear,tomakemelikethem;butInevercould,tillIsawthemtheotherdayinMilsomStreet;Iamnaturallyindifferentaboutflowers.”
“Butnowyouloveahyacinth.Somuchthebetter.
Youhavegainedanewsourceofenjoyment,anditiswelltohaveasmanyholdsuponhappinessaspossible.
Besides,atasteforflowersisalwaysdesirableinyoursex,asameansofgettingyououtofdoors,andtemptingyoutomorefrequentexercisethanyouwouldotherwisetake.
Andthoughtheloveofahyacinthmayberatherdomestic,whocantell,thesentimentonceraised,butyoumayintimecometolovearose?”
“ButIdonotwantanysuchpursuittogetmeoutofdoors.
Thepleasureofwalkingandbreathingfreshairisenoughforme,andinfineweatherIamoutmorethanhalfmytime.MammasaysIamneverwithin.”
“Atanyrate,however,Iampleasedthatyouhavelearnttoloveahyacinth.
Themerehabitoflearningtoloveisthething;andateachablenessofdispositioninayoungladyisagreatblessing.
Hasmysisterapleasantmodeofinstruction?”
Catherinewassavedtheembarrassmentofattemptingananswerbytheentranceofthegeneral,whosesmilingcomplimentsannouncedahappystateofmind,butwhosegentlehintofsympatheticearlyrisingdidnotadvancehercomposure.
TheeleganceofthebreakfastsetforceditselfonCatherine’snoticewhentheywereseatedattable;and,lucidly,ithadbeenthegeneral’schoice.
Hewasenchantedbyherapprobationofhistaste,confessedittobeneatandsimple,thoughtitrighttoencouragethemanufactureofhiscountry;andforhispart,tohisuncriticalpalate,theteawasaswellflavouredfromtheclayofStaffordshire,asfromthatofDresdenorSave.
Butthiswasquiteanoldset,purchasedtwoyearsago.
Themanufacturewasmuchimprovedsincethattime;hehadseensomebeautifulspecimenswhenlastintown,andhadhenotbeenperfectlywithoutvanityofthatkind,mighthavebeentemptedtoorderanewset.
Hetrusted,however,thatanopportunitymighterelongoccurofselectingone—thoughnotforhimself.
Catherinewasprobablytheonlyoneofthepartywhodidnotunderstandhim.
ShortlyafterbreakfastHenryleftthemforWoodston,wherebusinessrequiredandwouldkeephimtwoorthreedays.
Theyallattendedinthehalltoseehimmounthishorse,andimmediatelyonre–enteringthebreakfast–room,Catherinewalkedtoawindowinthehopeofcatchinganotherglimpseofhisfigure.
“Thisisasomewhatheavycalluponyourbrother’sfortitude,”observedthegeneraltoEleanor.
“Woodstonwillmakebutasombreappearancetoday.”
“Isitaprettyplace?”askedCatherine.
“Whatsayyou,Eleanor?Speakyouropinion,forladiescanbesttellthetasteofladiesinregardtoplacesaswellasmen.
Ithinkitwouldbeacknowledgedbythemostimpartialeyetohavemanyrecommendations.
Thehousestandsamongfinemeadowsfacingthesouth–east,withanexcellentkitchen–gardeninthesameaspect;thewallssurroundingwhichIbuiltandstockedmyselfabouttenyearsago,forthebenefitofmyson.
Itisafamilyliving,MissMorland;andthepropertyintheplacebeingchieflymyown,youmaybelieveItakecarethatitshallnotbeabadone.
DidHenry’sincomedependsolelyonthisliving,hewouldnotbeill–providedfor.
Perhapsitmayseemodd,thatwithonlytwoyoungerchildren,Ishouldthinkanyprofessionnecessaryforhim;andcertainlytherearemomentswhenwecouldallwishhimdisengagedfromeverytieofbusiness.
ButthoughImaynotexactlymakeconvertsofyouyoungladies,Iamsureyourfather,MissMorland,wouldagreewithmeinthinkingitexpedienttogiveeveryyoungmansomeemployment.
Themoneyisnothing,itisnotanobject,butemploymentisthething.
EvenFrederick,myeldestson,yousee,whowillperhapsinheritasconsiderablealandedpropertyasanyprivatemaninthecounty,hashisprofession.”
Theimposingeffectofthislastargumentwasequaltohiswishes.Thesilenceoftheladyprovedittobeunanswerable.
Somethinghadbeensaidtheeveningbeforeofherbeingshownoverthehouse,andhenowofferedhimselfasherconductor;andthoughCatherinehadhopedtoexploreitaccompaniedonlybyhisdaughter,itwasaproposaloftoomuchhappinessinitself,underanycircumstances,nottobegladlyaccepted;forshehadbeenalreadyeighteenhoursintheabbey,andhadseenonlyafewofitsrooms.
Thenetting–box,justleisurelydrawnforth,wasclosedwithjoyfulhaste,andshewasreadytoattendhiminamoment.
“Andwhentheyhadgoneoverthehouse,hepromisedhimselfmoreoverthepleasureofaccompanyingherintotheshrubberiesandgarden.”Shecurtsiedheracquiescence.
“Butperhapsitmightbemoreagreeabletohertomakethoseherfirstobject.
Theweatherwasatpresentfavourable,andatthistimeofyeartheuncertaintywasverygreatofitscontinuingso.Whichwouldsheprefer?Hewasequallyatherservice.
Whichdidhisdaughterthinkwouldmostaccordwithherfairfriend’swishes?Buthethoughthecoulddiscern.
Yes,hecertainlyreadinMissMorland’seyesajudiciousdesireofmakinguseofthepresentsmilingweather.Butwhendidshejudgeamiss?Theabbeywouldbealwayssafeanddry.
Heyieldedimplicitly,andwouldfetchhishatandattendtheminamoment.”
Helefttheroom,andCatherine,withadisappointed,anxiousface,begantospeakofherunwillingnessthatheshouldbetakingthemoutofdoorsagainsthisowninclination,underamistakenideaofpleasingher;butshewasstoppedbyMissTilney’ssaying,withalittleconfusion,“Ibelieveitwillbewisesttotakethemorningwhileitissofine;anddonotbeuneasyonmyfather’saccount;healwayswalksoutatthistimeofday.”
Catherinedidnotexactlyknowhowthiswastobeunderstood.WhywasMissTilneyembarrassed?
Couldtherebeanyunwillingnessonthegeneral’ssidetoshowherovertheabbey?Theproposalwashisown.
Andwasnotitoddthatheshouldalwaystakehiswalksoearly?
NeitherherfathernorMr.Allendidso.Itwascertainlyveryprovoking.
Shewasallimpatiencetoseethehouse,andhadscarcelyanycuriosityaboutthegrounds.IfHenryhadbeenwiththemindeed!
Butnowsheshouldnotknowwhatwaspicturesquewhenshesawit.
Suchwereherthoughts,butshekeptthemtoherself,andputonherbonnetinpatientdiscontent.
Shewasstruck,however,beyondherexpectation,bythegrandeuroftheabbey,asshesawitforthefirsttimefromthelawn.
Thewholebuildingenclosedalargecourt;andtwosidesofthequadrangle,richinGothicornaments,stoodforwardforadmiration.
Theremainderwasshutoffbyknollsofoldtrees,orluxuriantplantations,andthesteepwoodyhillsrisingbehind,togiveitshelter,werebeautifulevenintheleaflessmonthofMarch.
Catherinehadseennothingtocomparewithit;andherfeelingsofdelightweresostrong,thatwithoutwaitingforanybetterauthority,sheboldlyburstforthinwonderandpraise.
Thegenerallistenedwithassentinggratitude;anditseemedasifhisownestimationofNorthangerhadwaitedunfixedtillthathour.
Thekitchen–gardenwastobenextadmired,andheledthewaytoitacrossasmallportionofthepark.
ThenumberofacrescontainedinthisgardenwassuchasCatherinecouldnotlistentowithoutdismay,beingmorethandoubletheextentofallMr.Allen’s,aswellherfather’s,includingchurch–yardandorchard.
Thewallsseemedcountlessinnumber,endlessinlength;avillageofhot–housesseemedtoariseamongthem,andawholeparishtobeatworkwithintheenclosure.
Thegeneralwasflatteredbyherlooksofsurprise,whichtoldhimalmostasplainly,ashesoonforcedhertotellhiminwords,thatshehadneverseenanygardensatallequaltothembefore;andhethenmodestlyownedthat,“withoutanyambitionofthatsorthimself—withoutanysolicitudeaboutit—hedidbelievethemtobeunrivalledinthekingdom.Ifhehadahobby–horse,itwasthat.Helovedagarden.
Thoughcarelessenoughinmostmattersofeating,helovedgoodfruit—orifhedidnot,hisfriendsandchildrendid.
Thereweregreatvexations,however,attendingsuchagardenashis.
Theutmostcarecouldnotalwayssecurethemostvaluablefruits.
Thepineryhadyieldedonlyonehundredinthelastyear.
Mr.Allen,hesupposed,mustfeeltheseinconveniencesaswellashimself.”
“No,notatall.Mr.Allendidnotcareaboutthegarden,andneverwentintoit.”
Withatriumphantsmileofself–satisfaction,thegeneralwishedhecoulddothesame,forheneverenteredhis,withoutbeingvexedinsomewayorother,byitsfallingshortofhisplan.
“HowwereMr.Allen’ssuccession–housesworked?”describingthenatureofhisownastheyenteredthem.
“Mr.Allenhadonlyonesmallhot–house,whichMrs.Allenhadtheuseofforherplantsinwinter,andtherewasafireinitnowandthen.”
“Heisahappyman!”saidthegeneral,withalookofveryhappycontempt.
Havingtakenherintoeverydivision,andledherundereverywall,tillshewasheartilywearyofseeingandwondering,hesufferedthegirlsatlasttoseizetheadvantageofanouterdoor,andthenexpressinghiswishtoexaminetheeffectofsomerecentalterationsaboutthetea–house,proposeditasnounpleasantextensionoftheirwalk,ifMissMorlandwerenottired.“Butwhereareyougoing,Eleanor?
Whydoyouchoosethatcold,damppathtoit?MissMorlandwillgetwet.Ourbestwayisacrossthepark.”
“Thisissofavouriteawalkofmine,”saidMissTilney,“thatIalwaysthinkitthebestandnearestway.Butperhapsitmaybedamp.”
ItwasanarrowwindingpaththroughathickgroveofoldScotchfirs;andCatherine,struckbyitsgloomyaspect,andeagertoenterit,couldnot,evenbythegeneral’sdisapprobation,bekeptfromsteppingforward.
Heperceivedherinclination,andhavingagainurgedthepleaofhealthinvain,wastoopolitetomakefurtheropposition.
Heexcusedhimself,however,fromattendingthem:“Theraysofthesunwerenottoocheerfulforhim,andhewouldmeetthembyanothercourse.”
Heturnedaway;andCatherinewasshockedtofindhowmuchherspiritswererelievedbytheseparation.
Theshock,however,beinglessrealthantherelief,offereditnoinjury;andshebegantotalkwitheasygaietyofthedelightfulmelancholywhichsuchagroveinspired.
“Iamparticularlyfondofthisspot,”saidhercompanion,withasigh.“Itwasmymother’sfavouritewalk.”
CatherinehadneverheardMrs.Tilneymentionedinthefamilybefore,andtheinterestexcitedbythistenderremembranceshoweditselfdirectlyinheralteredcountenance,andintheattentivepausewithwhichshewaitedforsomethingmore.
“Iusedtowalkheresooftenwithher!”addedEleanor;“thoughIneverloveditthen,asIhaveloveditsince.AtthattimeindeedIusedtowonderatherchoice.Buthermemoryendearsitnow.”
“Andoughtitnot,”reflectedCatherine,“toendearittoherhusband?Yetthegeneralwouldnotenterit.”
MissTilneycontinuingsilent,sheventuredtosay,“Herdeathmusthavebeenagreataffliction!”
“Agreatandincreasingone,”repliedtheother,inalowvoice.
“Iwasonlythirteenwhenithappened;andthoughIfeltmylossperhapsasstronglyasonesoyoungcouldfeelit,Ididnot,Icouldnot,thenknowwhatalossitwas.”
Shestoppedforamoment,andthenadded,withgreatfirmness,“Ihavenosister,youknow—andthoughHenry—thoughmybrothersareveryaffectionate,andHenryisagreatdealhere,whichIammostthankfulfor,itisimpossibleformenottobeoftensolitary.”
“Tobesureyoumustmisshimverymuch.”
“Amotherwouldhavebeenalwayspresent.Amotherwouldhavebeenaconstantfriend;herinfluencewouldhavebeenbeyondallother.”
“Wassheaverycharmingwoman?Wasshehandsome?
Wasthereanypictureofherintheabbey?
Andwhyhadshebeensopartialtothatgrove?Wasitfromdejectionofspirits?”
—werequestionsnoweagerlypouredforth;thefirstthreereceivedareadyaffirmative,thetwootherswerepassedby;andCatherine’sinterestinthedeceasedMrs.Tilneyaugmentedwitheveryquestion,whetheransweredornot.
Ofherunhappinessinmarriage,shefeltpersuaded.
Thegeneralcertainlyhadbeenanunkindhusband.
Hedidnotloveherwalk:couldhethereforehavelovedher?
Andbesides,handsomeashewas,therewasasomethingintheturnofhisfeatureswhichspokehisnothavingbehavedwelltoher.
“Herpicture,Isuppose,”blushingattheconsummateartofherownquestion,“hangsinyourfather’sroom?”
“No;itwasintendedforthedrawing–room;butmyfatherwasdissatisfiedwiththepainting,andforsometimeithadnoplace.
SoonafterherdeathIobtaineditformyown,andhungitinmybed–chamber—whereIshallbehappytoshowityou;itisverylike.”Herewasanotherproof.
Aportrait—verylike—ofadepartedwife,notvaluedbythehusband!
Hemusthavebeendreadfullycrueltoher!
Catherineattemptednolongertohidefromherselfthenatureofthefeelingswhich,inspiteofallhisattentions,hehadpreviouslyexcited;andwhathadbeenterroranddislikebefore,wasnowabsoluteaversion.Yes,aversion!
Hiscrueltytosuchacharmingwomanmadehimodioustoher.
Shehadoftenreadofsuchcharacters,characterswhichMr.Allenhadbeenusedtocallunnaturalandoverdrawn;butherewasproofpositiveofthecontrary.
Shehadjustsettledthispointwhentheendofthepathbroughtthemdirectlyuponthegeneral;andinspiteofallhervirtuousindignation,shefoundherselfagainobligedtowalkwithhim,listentohim,andeventosmilewhenhesmiled.
Beingnolongerable,however,toreceivepleasurefromthesurroundingobjects,shesoonbegantowalkwithlassitude;thegeneralperceivedit,andwithaconcernforherhealth,whichseemedtoreproachherforheropinionofhim,wasmosturgentforreturningwithhisdaughtertothehouse.
Hewouldfollowtheminaquarterofanhour.
Againtheyparted—butEleanorwascalledbackinhalfaminutetoreceiveastrictchargeagainsttakingherfriendroundtheabbeytillhisreturn.
ThissecondinstanceofhisanxietytodelaywhatshesomuchwishedforstruckCatherineasveryremarkable.
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