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Was there any picture of her in the abbey？ And why had
she been so partial to that grove？ Was it from dejection
of spirits？〃were questions now eagerly poured forth；
the first three received a ready affirmative； the two
others were passed by； and Catherine's interest in the
deceased Mrs。 Tilney augmented with every question；
whether answered or not。 Of her unhappiness in marriage；
she felt persuaded。 The general certainly had been
an unkind husband。 He did not love her walk： could he
therefore have loved her？ And besides； handsome as he was；
there was a something in the turn of his features which
spoke his not having behaved well to her。
〃Her picture； I suppose；〃 blushing at the consummate
art of her own question； 〃hangs in your father's room？〃
〃No； it was intended for the drawing…room； but my father
was dissatisfied with the painting； and for some time it
had no place。 Soon after her death I obtained it for my own；
and hung it in my bed…chamberwhere I shall be happy
to show it you； it is very like。〃 Here was another proof。
A portraitvery likeof a departed wife； not valued
by the husband！ He must have been dreadfully cruel to her！
Catherine attempted no longer to hide from herself the
nature of the feelings which； in spite of all his attentions；
he had previously excited； and what had been terror and
dislike before； was now absolute aversion。 Yes； aversion！ His
cruelty to such a charming woman made him odious to her。
She had often read of such characters； characters which
Mr。 Allen had been used to call unnatural and overdrawn；
but here was proof positive of the contrary。
She had just settled this point when the end
of the path brought them directly upon the general；
and in spite of all her virtuous indignation； she found
herself again obliged to walk with him； listen to him；
and even to smile when he smiled。 Being no longer able；
however； to receive pleasure from the surrounding objects；
she soon began to walk with lassitude； the general perceived it；
and with a concern for her health； which seemed to reproach
her for her opinion of him； was most urgent for returning
with his daughter to the house。 He would follow them
in a quarter of an hour。 Again they partedbut Eleanor
was called back in half a minute to receive a strict charge
against taking her friend round the abbey till his return。
This second instance of his anxiety to delay what she
so much wished for struck Catherine as very remarkable。
CHAPTER 23
An hour passed away before the general
came in； spent； on the part of his young guest；
in no very favourable consideration of his character。
〃This lengthened absence； these solitary rambles； did not
speak a mind at ease； or a conscience void of reproach。〃
At length he appeared； and； whatever might have been the
gloom of his meditations； he could still smile with them。
Miss Tilney； understanding in part her friend's
curiosity to see the house； soon revived the subject；
and her father being； contrary to Catherine's expectations；
unprovided with any pretence for further delay；
beyond that of stopping five minutes to order refreshments
to be in the room by their return； was at last ready
to escort them。
They set forward； and； with a grandeur of air；
a dignified step； which caught the eye； but could not
shake the doubts of the well…read Catherine； he led
the way across the hall； through the common drawing…room
and one useless antechamber； into a room magnificent
both in size and furniturethe real drawing…room； used
only with company of consequence。 It was very noblevery
grandvery charming！was all that Catherine had to say；
for her indiscriminating eye scarcely discerned the colour
of the satin； and all minuteness of praise； all praise
that had much meaning； was supplied by the general：
the costliness or elegance of any room's fitting…up
could be nothing to her； she cared for no furniture
of a more modern date than the fifteenth century。
When the general had satisfied his own curiosity；
in a close examination of every well…known ornament；
they proceeded into the library； an apartment； in its way；
of equal magnificence； exhibiting a collection of books；
on which an humble man might have looked with pride。
Catherine heard； admired； and wondered with more genuine
feeling than beforegathered all that she could from
this storehouse of knowledge； by running over the titles
of half a shelf； and was ready to proceed。 But suites
of apartments did not spring up with her wishes。
Large as was the building； she had already visited
the greatest part； though； on being told that；
with the addition of the kitchen； the six or seven rooms
she had now seen surrounded three sides of the court；
she could scarcely believe it； or overcome the suspicion
of there being many chambers secreted。 It was some relief；
however； that they were to return to the rooms in
common use； by passing through a few of less importance；
looking into the court； which； with occasional passages；
not wholly unintricate； connected the different sides；
and she was further soothed in her progress by being told
that she was treading what had once been a cloister；
having traces of cells pointed out； and observing several
doors that were neither opened nor explained to herby
finding herself successively in a billiard…room； and in
the general's private apartment； without comprehending
their connection； or being able to turn aright when she
left them； and lastly； by passing through a dark little room；
owning Henry's authority； and strewed with his litter
of books； guns； and greatcoats。
From the dining…room； of which； though already seen；
and always to be seen at five o'clock； the general
could not forgo the pleasure of pacing out the length；
for the more certain information of Miss Morland；
as to what she neither doubted nor cared for；
they proceeded by quick communication to the kitchen
the ancient kitchen of the convent； rich in the massy walls
and smoke of former days； and in the stoves and hot
closets of the present。 The general's improving hand had
not loitered here： every modern invention to facilitate
the labour of the cooks had been adopted within this；
their spacious theatre； and； when the genius of others
had failed； his own had often produced the perfection wanted。
His endowments of this spot alone might at any time
have pla