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which succeeded； a sound like receding footsteps and the
closing of a distant door struck on her affrighted ear。
Human nature could support no more。 A cold sweat stood
on her forehead； the manuscript fell from her hand；
and groping her way to the bed； she jumped hastily in；
and sought some suspension of agony by creeping far
underneath the clothes。 To close her eyes in sleep
that night； she felt must be entirely out of the question。
With a curiosity so justly awakened； and feelings in every
way so agitated； repose must be absolutely impossible。
The storm too abroad so dreadful！ She had not been used
to feel alarm from wind； but now every blast seemed fraught
with awful intelligence。 The manuscript so wonderfully found；
so wonderfully accomplishing the morning's prediction；
how was it to be accounted for？ What could it contain？ To
whom could it relate？ By what means could it have been
so long concealed？ And how singularly strange that it
should fall to her lot to discover it！ Till she had made
herself mistress of its contents； however； she could
have neither repose nor comfort； and with the sun's first
rays she was determined to peruse it。 But many were the
tedious hours which must yet intervene。 She shuddered；
tossed about in her bed； and envied every quiet sleeper。
The storm still raged； and various were the noises；
more terrific even than the wind； which struck at intervals
on her startled ear。 The very curtains of her bed seemed
at one moment in motion； and at another the lock of her door
was agitated； as if by the attempt of somebody to enter。
Hollow murmurs seemed to creep along the gallery； and more than
once her blood was chilled by the sound of distant moans。
Hour after hour passed away； and the wearied Catherine
had heard three proclaimed by all the clocks in the house
before the tempest subsided or she unknowingly fell
fast asleep。
CHAPTER 22
The housemaid's folding back her window…shutters
at eight o'clock the next day was the sound which
first roused Catherine； and she opened her eyes；
wondering that they could ever have been closed；
on objects of cheerfulness； her fire was already burning；
and a bright morning had succeeded the tempest of the night。
Instantaneously； with the consciousness of existence；
returned her recollection of the manuscript； and springing
from the bed in the very moment of the maid's going away；
she eagerly collected every scattered sheet which had
burst from the roll on its falling to the ground； and flew
back to enjoy the luxury of their perusal on her pillow。
She now plainly saw that she must not expect a manuscript
of equal length with the generality of what she had
shuddered over in books； for the roll； seeming to consist
entirely of small disjointed sheets； was altogether but
of trifling size； and much less than she had supposed
it to be at first。
Her greedy eye glanced rapidly over a page。
She started at its import。 Could it be possible； or did
not her senses play her false？ An inventory of linen；
in coarse and modern characters； seemed all that was before
her！ If the evidence of sight might be trusted； she held
a washing…bill in her hand。 She seized another sheet；
and saw the same articles with little variation；
a third； a fourth； and a fifth presented nothing new。
Shirts； stockings； cravats； and waistcoats faced
her in each。 Two others； penned by the same hand；
marked an expenditure scarcely more interesting；
in letters； hair…powder； shoe…string； and breeches…ball。
And the larger sheet； which had enclosed the rest；
seemed by its first cramp line； 〃To poultice chestnut
mare〃a farrier's bill！ Such was the collection of papers
（left perhaps； as she could then suppose； by the negligence
of a servant in the place whence she had taken them）
which had filled her with expectation and alarm； and robbed
her of half her night's rest！ She felt humbled to the dust。
Could not the adventure of the chest have taught her
wisdom？ A corner of it； catching her eye as she lay；
seemed to rise up in judgment against her。 Nothing could
now be clearer than the absurdity of her recent fancies。
To suppose that a manuscript of many generations back
could have remained undiscovered in a room such as that；
so modern； so habitable！Or that she should be the first
to possess the skill of unlocking a cabinet； the key
of which was open to all！
How could she have so imposed on herself？ Heaven
forbid that Henry Tilney should ever know her folly！ And
it was in a great measure his own doing； for had not the
cabinet appeared so exactly to agree with his description
of her adventures； she should never have felt the smallest
curiosity about it。 This was the only comfort that occurred。
Impatient to get rid of those hateful evidences of her folly；
those detestable papers then scattered over the bed；
she rose directly； and folding them up as nearly as possible
in the same shape as before； returned them to the same
spot within the cabinet； with a very hearty wish that no
untoward accident might ever bring them forward again；
to disgrace her even with herself。
Why the locks should have been so difficult
to open； however； was still something remarkable；
for she could now manage them with perfect ease。 In this
there was surely something mysterious； and she indulged
in the flattering suggestion for half a minute； till the
possibility of the door's having been at first unlocked；
and of being herself its fastener； darted into her head；
and cost her another blush。
She got away as soon as she could from a room in
which her conduct produced such unpleasant reflections；
and found her way with all speed to the breakfast…parlour；
as it had been pointed out to her by Miss Tilney the
evening before。 Henry was alone in it； and his immediate
hope of her having been undisturbed by the tempest；
with an arch reference to the character of the building
they inhabited； was rather distressing。 For the world
would she not have her weakness suspected； and yet；
unequal to an absolute falsehood； was constrained to
acknowledge that the wind had kept her awake a little。
〃But we have a charming morning after it；〃 she added；
desiring to get rid of the subject； 〃and storms
and sleeplessness are nothing when they are over。
What beautiful hyacinths！ I have just learnt to love
a hyacinth。〃
〃And how might you le