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and tapestry？〃
〃Oh！ yesI do not think I should be easily frightened；
because there would be so many people in the houseand
besides； it has never been uninhabited and left deserted
for years； and then the family come back to it unawares；
without giving any notice； as generally happens。〃
〃No； certainly。 We shall not have to explore our
way into a hall dimly lighted by the expiring embers
of a wood firenor be obliged to spread our beds on the
floor of a room without windows； doors； or furniture。
But you must be aware that when a young lady is （by
whatever means） introduced into a dwelling of this kind；
she is always lodged apart from the rest of the family。
While they snugly repair to their own end of the house；
she is formally conducted by Dorothy； the ancient housekeeper；
up a different staircase； and along many gloomy passages；
into an apartment never used since some cousin or kin
died in it about twenty years before。 Can you stand
such a ceremony as this？ Will not your mind misgive
you when you find yourself in this gloomy chambertoo
lofty and extensive for you； with only the feeble rays
of a single lamp to take in its sizeits walls hung
with tapestry exhibiting figures as large as life；
and the bed； of dark green stuff or purple velvet；
presenting even a funereal appearance？ Will not your heart
sink within you？〃
〃Oh！ But this will not happen to me； I am sure。〃
〃How fearfully will you examine the furniture of
your apartment！ And what will you discern？ Not tables；
toilettes； wardrobes； or drawers； but on one side perhaps
the remains of a broken lute； on the other a ponderous
chest which no efforts can open； and over the fireplace
the portrait of some handsome warrior； whose features
will so incomprehensibly strike you； that you will not be
able to withdraw your eyes from it。 Dorothy； meanwhile；
no less struck by your appearance； gazes on you in
great agitation； and drops a few unintelligible hints。
To raise your spirits； moreover； she gives you reason
to suppose that the part of the abbey you inhabit is
undoubtedly haunted； and informs you that you will not have
a single domestic within call。 With this parting cordial
she curtsies offyou listen to the sound of her receding
footsteps as long as the last echo can reach youand when；
with fainting spirits； you attempt to fasten your door；
you discover； with increased alarm； that it has no lock。〃
〃Oh！ Mr。 Tilney； how frightful！ This is just like
a book！ But it cannot really happen to me。 I am sure
your housekeeper is not really Dorothy。 Well； what then？〃
〃Nothing further to alarm perhaps may occur the
first night。 After surmounting your unconquerable horror
of the bed； you will retire to rest； and get a few hours'
unquiet slumber。 But on the second； or at farthest
the third night after your arrival； you will probably
have a violent storm。 Peals of thunder so loud as to seem
to shake the edifice to its foundation will roll round
the neighbouring mountainsand during the frightful
gusts of wind which accompany it； you will probably think
you discern （for your lamp is not extinguished） one part
of the hanging more violently agitated than the rest。
Unable of course to repress your curiosity in so favourable
a moment for indulging it； you will instantly arise；
and throwing your dressing…gown around you； proceed to
examine this mystery。 After a very short search；
you will discover a division in the tapestry so artfully
constructed as to defy the minutest inspection； and on
opening it； a door will immediately appearwhich door；
being only secured by massy bars and a padlock； you will；
after a few efforts； succeed in openingand； with your
lamp in your hand； will pass through it into a small
vaulted room。〃
〃No； indeed； I should be too much frightened to do
any such thing。〃
〃What！ Not when Dorothy has given you to understand
that there is a secret subterraneous communication between
your apartment and the chapel of St。 Anthony； scarcely two
miles off？ Could you shrink from so simple an adventure？
No； no； you will proceed into this small vaulted room；
and through this into several others； without perceiving
anything very remarkable in either。 In one perhaps
there may be a dagger； in another a few drops of blood；
and in a third the remains of some instrument of torture；
but there being nothing in all this out of the common way；
and your lamp being nearly exhausted； you will return
towards your own apartment。 In repassing through the small
vaulted room； however； your eyes will be attracted towards
a large； old…fashioned cabinet of ebony and gold； which；
though narrowly examining the furniture before； you had
passed unnoticed。 Impelled by an irresistible presentiment；
you will eagerly advance to it； unlock its folding doors；
and search into every drawerbut for some time without
discovering anything of importanceperhaps nothing
but a considerable hoard of diamonds。 At last； however；
by touching a secret spring； an inner compartment will
opena roll of paper appearsyou seize itit contains
many sheets of manuscriptyou hasten with the precious
treasure into your own chamber； but scarcely have you been
able to decipher 'Oh！ Thouwhomsoever thou mayst be；
into whose hands these memoirs of the wretched Matilda
may fall'when your lamp suddenly expires in the socket；
and leaves you in total darkness。〃
〃Oh！ No； nodo not say so。 Well； go on。〃
But Henry was too much amused by the interest he
had raised to be able to carry it farther； he could
no longer command solemnity either of subject or voice；
and was obliged to entreat her to use her own fancy in the
perusal of Matilda's woes。 Catherine； recollecting herself；
grew ashamed of her eagerness； and began earnestly to assure
him that her attention had been fixed without the smallest
apprehension of really meeting with what he related。
〃Miss Tilney； she was sure； would never put her into such
a chamber as he had described！ She was not at all afraid。〃
As they drew near the end of their journey； her impatience
for a sight of the abbeyfor some time suspended by his
conversation on subjects very differentreturned in full force；
and every bend in the road was expected with solemn awe
to afford a glimpse of its massy walls of grey stone；
rising amidst a grove of ancient oaks； with the last beams
of the