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！
spirits were immediately assisted by the cheerful blaze
of a wood fire。 〃How much better is this；〃 said she；
as she walked to the fender〃how much better to find a fire
ready lit； than to have to wait shivering in the cold
till all the family are in bed； as so many poor girls
have been obliged to do； and then to have a faithful old
servant frightening one by coming in with a faggot！ How
glad I am that Northanger is what it is！ If it had been
like some other places； I do not know that； in such a night
as this； I could have answered for my courage： but now；
to be sure； there is nothing to alarm one。〃
She looked round the room。 The window curtains seemed
in motion。 It could be nothing but the violence of the
wind penetrating through the divisions of the shutters；
and she stepped boldly forward； carelessly humming a tune；
to assure herself of its being so； peeped courageously
behind each curtain； saw nothing on either low window seat
to scare her； and on placing a hand against the shutter；
felt the strongest conviction of the wind's force。
A glance at the old chest； as she turned away from
this examination； was not without its use； she scorned
the causeless fears of an idle fancy； and began with a
most happy indifference to prepare herself for bed。
〃She should take her time； she should not hurry herself；
she did not care if she were the last person up in the house。
But she would not make up her fire； that would seem cowardly；
as if she wished for the protection of light after she
were in bed。〃 The fire therefore died away； and Catherine；
having spent the best part of an hour in her arrangements；
was beginning to think of stepping into bed； when； on giving
a parting glance round the room； she was struck by the
appearance of a high； old…fashioned black cabinet； which；
though in a situation conspicuous enough； had never caught
her notice before。 Henry's words； his description of the
ebony cabinet which was to escape her observation at first；
immediately rushed across her； and though there could
be nothing really in it； there was something whimsical；
it was certainly a very remarkable coincidence！ She
took her candle and looked closely at the cabinet。
It was not absolutely ebony and gold； but it was japan；
black and yellow japan of the handsomest kind； and as she
held her candle； the yellow had very much the effect
of gold。 The key was in the door； and she had a strange
fancy to look into it； not； however； with the smallest
expectation of finding anything； but it was so very odd；
after what Henry had said。 In short； she could not
sleep till she had examined it。 So； placing the candle
with great caution on a chair； she seized the key with a
very tremulous hand and tried to turn it； but it resisted
her utmost strength。 Alarmed； but not discouraged；
she tried it another way； a bolt flew； and she believed
herself successful； but how strangely mysterious！
The door was still immovable。 She paused a moment
in breathless wonder。 The wind roared down the chimney；
the rain beat in torrents against the windows； and everything
seemed to speak the awfulness of her situation。
To retire to bed； however； unsatisfied on such a point；
would be vain； since sleep must be impossible with the
consciousness of a cabinet so mysteriously closed in her
immediate vicinity。 Again； therefore； she applied herself
to the key； and after moving it in every possible way
for some instants with the determined celerity of hope's
last effort； the door suddenly yielded to her hand： her
heart leaped with exultation at such a victory； and having
thrown open each folding door； the second being secured
only by bolts of less wonderful construction than the lock；
though in that her eye could not discern anything unusual；
a double range of small drawers appeared in view；
with some larger drawers above and below them； and in
the centre； a small door； closed also with a lock and key；
secured in all probability a cavity of importance。
Catherine's heart beat quick； but her courage did
not fail her。 With a cheek flushed by hope； and an eye
straining with curiosity； her fingers grasped the handle
of a drawer and drew it forth。 It was entirely empty。
With less alarm and greater eagerness she seized a second；
a third； a fourth； each was equally empty。 Not one was
left unsearched； and in not one was anything found。
Well read in the art of concealing a treasure； the possibility
of false linings to the drawers did not escape her；
and she felt round each with anxious acuteness in vain。
The place in the middle alone remained now unexplored；
and though she had 〃never from the first had the smallest
idea of finding anything in any part of the cabinet；
and was not in the least disappointed at her ill success
thus far； it would be foolish not to examine it thoroughly
while she was about it。〃 It was some time however before
she could unfasten the door； the same difficulty occurring
in the management of this inner lock as of the outer；
but at length it did open； and not vain； as hitherto；
was her search； her quick eyes directly fell on a roll
of paper pushed back into the further part of the cavity；
apparently for concealment； and her feelings at that
moment were indescribable。 Her heart fluttered；
her knees trembled； and her cheeks grew pale。 She seized；
with an unsteady hand； the precious manuscript； for half
a glance sufficed to ascertain written characters；
and while she acknowledged with awful sensations this
striking exemplification of what Henry had foretold；
resolved instantly to peruse every line before she attempted
to rest。
The dimness of the light her candle emitted made
her turn to it with alarm； but there was no danger
of its sudden extinction； it had yet some hours to burn；
and that she might not have any greater difficulty
in distinguishing the writing than what its ancient date
might occasion； she hastily snuffed it。 Alas！ It was snuffed
and extinguished in one。 A lamp could not have expired
with more awful effect。 Catherine； for a few moments；
was motionless with horror。 It was done completely；
not a remnant of light in the wick could give hope
to the rekindling breath。 Darkness impenetrable and
immovable filled the room。 A violent gust of wind；
rising with sudden fury； added fresh horror to the moment。
Catherine trembled from head to foot。 In the pause
which succeeded； a sound like receding footsteps and the
cl