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of shame。 She could not be mistaken as to the room；
but how grossly mistaken in everything else！in Miss
Tilney's meaning； in her own calculation！ This apartment；
to which she had given a date so ancient； a position so awful；
proved to be one end of what the general's father had built。
There were two other doors in the chamber； leading probably
into dressing…closets； but she had no inclination to
open either。 Would the veil in which Mrs。 Tilney had
last walked； or the volume in which she had last read；
remain to tell what nothing else was allowed to whisper？
No： whatever might have been the general's crimes； he had
certainly too much wit to let them sue for detection。
She was sick of exploring； and desired but to be safe in
her own room； with her own heart only privy to its folly；
and she was on the point of retreating as softly as she
had entered； when the sound of footsteps； she could hardly
tell where； made her pause and tremble。 To be found there；
even by a servant； would be unpleasant； but by the general
（and he seemed always at hand when least wanted）； much
worse！ She listenedthe sound had ceased； and resolving not
to lose a moment； she passed through and closed the door。
At that instant a door underneath was hastily opened；
someone seemed with swift steps to ascend the stairs；
by the head of which she had yet to pass before she
could gain the gallery。 She bad no power to move。
With a feeling of terror not very definable； she fixed
her eyes on the staircase； and in a few moments it gave
Henry to her view。 〃Mr。 Tilney！〃 she exclaimed in a voice
of more than common astonishment。 He looked astonished too。
〃Good God！〃 she continued； not attending to his address。
〃How came you here？ How came you up that staircase？〃
〃How came I up that staircase！〃 he replied；
greatly surprised。 〃Because it is my nearest way from the
stable…yard to my own chamber； and why should I not come up it？〃
Catherine recollected herself； blushed deeply； and could
say no more。 He seemed to be looking in her countenance
for that explanation which her lips did not afford。
She moved on towards the gallery。 〃And may I not； in my turn；〃
said he； as be pushed back the folding doors； 〃ask how you
came here？ This passage is at least as extraordinary
a road from the breakfast…parlour to your apartment；
as that staircase can be from the stables to mine。〃
〃I have been；〃 said Catherine； looking down；
〃to see your mother's room。〃
〃My mother's room！ Is there anything extraordinary
to be seen there？〃
〃No； nothing at all。 I thought you did not mean
to come back till tomorrow。〃
〃I did not expect to be able to return sooner；
when I went away； but three hours ago I had the pleasure
of finding nothing to detain me。 You look pale。 I am
afraid I alarmed you by running so fast up those stairs。
Perhaps you did not knowyou were not aware of their leading
from the offices in common use？〃
〃No； I was not。 You have had a very fine day
for your ride。〃
〃Very； and does Eleanor leave you to find your way
into an the rooms in the house by yourself？〃
〃Oh！ No； she showed me over the greatest part on
Saturdayand we were coming here to these roomsbut
only〃dropping her voice〃your father was with us。〃
〃And that prevented you；〃 said Henry； earnestly
regarding her。 〃Have you looked into all the rooms in
that passage？〃
〃No； I only wanted to see Is not it very late？ I
must go and dress。〃
〃It is only a quarter past four〃 showing his
watch〃and you are not now in Bath。 No theatre； no rooms
to prepare for。 Half an hour at Northanger must be enough。〃
She could not contradict it； and therefore suffered
herself to be detained； though her dread of further questions
made her； for the first time in their acquaintance；
wish to leave him。 They walked slowly up the gallery。
〃Have you had any letter from Bath since I saw you？〃
〃No； and I am very much surprised。 Isabella promised
so faithfully to write directly。〃
〃Promised so faithfully！ A faithful promise！ That
puzzles me。 I have heard of a faithful performance。
But a faithful promisethe fidelity of promising！ It
is a power little worth knowing； however； since it can
deceive and pain you。 My mother's room is very commodious；
is it not？ Large and cheerful…looking； and the
dressing…closets so well disposed！ It always strikes me
as the most comfortable apartment in the house； and I
rather wonder that Eleanor should not take it for her own。
She sent you to look at it； I suppose？〃
〃No。〃
〃It has been your own doing entirely？〃 Catherine said
nothing。 After a short silence； during which he had closely
observed her； he added； 〃As there is nothing in the room
in itself to raise curiosity； this must have proceeded
from a sentiment of respect for my mother's character；
as described by Eleanor； which does honour to her memory。
The world； I believe； never saw a better woman。
But it is not often that virtue can boast an interest such
as this。 The domestic； unpretending merits of a person
never known do not often create that kind of fervent；
venerating tenderness which would prompt a visit
like yours。 Eleanor； I suppose； has talked of her a great deal？〃
〃Yes； a great deal。 That isno； not much；
but what she did say was very interesting。 Her dying
so suddenly〃 （slowly； and with hesitation it was spoken）；
〃and younone of you being at homeand your father；
I thoughtperhaps had not been very fond of her。〃
〃And from these circumstances；〃 he replied （his quick
eye fixed on hers）； 〃you infer perhaps the probability
of some negligencesome〃（involuntarily she shook her
head）〃or it may beof something still less pardonable。〃
She raised her eyes towards him more fully than she had
ever done before。 〃My mother's illness；〃 he continued；
〃the seizure which ended in her death； was sudden。
The malady itself； one from which she had often suffered；
a bilious feverits cause therefore constitutional。
On the third day； in short； as soon as she could be
prevailed on； a physician attended her； a very respectable man；
and one in whom she had always placed great confidence。
Upon his opinion of her danger； two others were called
in the next day； and remained in almost constant attendance
for four and twenty hours。