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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 sun playing in beautiful splendour on its high
Gothic windows。 But so low did the building stand；
that she found herself passing through the great gates
of the lodge into the very grounds of Northanger；
without having discerned even an antique chimney。
She knew not that she had any right to be surprised；
but there was a something in this mode of approach
which she certainly had not expected。 To pass between
lodges of a modern appearance； to find herself with such
ease in the very precincts of the abbey； and driven
so rapidly along a smooth； level road of fine gravel；
without obstacle； alarm； or solemnity of any kind；
struck her as odd and inconsistent。 She was not
long at leisure； however； for such considerations。
A sudden scud of rain； driving full in her face； made it
impossible for her to observe anything further； and fixed
all her thoughts on the welfare of her new straw bonnet；
and she was actually under the abbey walls； was springing；
with Henry's assistance； from the carriage； was beneath the
shelter of the old porch； and had even passed on to the hall；
where her friend and the general were waiting to welcome her；
without feeling one awful foreboding of future misery
to herself； or one moment's suspicion of any past scenes
of horror being acted within the solemn edifice。 The breeze
had not seemed to waft the sighs of the murdered to her；
it had wafted nothing worse than a thick mizzling rain；
and having given a good shake to her habit； she was ready
to be shown into the common drawing…room； and capable
of considering where she was。
An abbey！ Yes； it was delightful to be really
in an abbey！ But she doubted； as she looked round
the room； whether anything within her observation would
have given her the consciousness。 The furniture was
in all the profusion and elegance of modern taste。
The fireplace； where she had expected the ample width
and ponderous carving of former times； was contracted
to a Rumford； with slabs of plain though handsome marble；
and ornaments over it of the prettiest English china。
The windows； to which she looked with peculiar dependence；
from having heard the general talk of his preserving them
in their Gothic form with reverential care； were yet less
what her fancy had portrayed。 To be sure； the pointed
arch was preservedthe form of them was Gothicthey
might be even casementsbut every pane was so large；
so clear； so light！ To an imagination which had hoped
for the smallest divisions； and the heaviest stone…work；
for painted glass； dirt； and cobwebs； the difference was
very distressing。
The general； perceiving how her eye was employed；
began to talk of the smallness of the room and simplicity
of the furniture； where everything； being for daily use；
pretended only to comfort； etc。； flattering himself； however；
that there were some apartments in the Abbey not unworthy
her noticeand was proceeding to mention the costly
gilding of one in particular； when； taking out his watch；
he stopped short to pronounce it with surprise within
twenty minutes of five！ This seemed the word of separation；
and Catherine found herself hurried away by Miss Tilney
in such a manner as convinced her that the strictest
punctuality to the family hours would be expected at Northanger。
Returning through the large and lofty hall；
they ascended a broad staircase of shining oak； which；
after many flights and many landing…places； brought them
upon a long； wide gallery。 On one side it had a range
of doors； and it was lighted on the other by windows
which Catherine had only time to discover looked
into a quadrangle； before Miss Tilney led the way
into a chamber； and scarcely staying to hope she would
find it comfortable； left her with an anxious entreaty
that she would make as little alteration as possible
in her dress。
CHAPTER 21
A moment's glance was enough to satisfy Catherine
that her apartment was very unlike the one which Henry
had endeavoured to alarm her by the description of。
It was by no means unreasonably large； and contained neither
tapestry nor velvet。 The walls were papered； the floor
was carpeted； the windows were neither less perfect nor more
dim than those of the drawing…room below； the furniture；
though not of the latest fashion； was handsome and comfortable；
and the air of the room altogether far from uncheerful。
Her heart instantaneously at ease on this point； she resolved
to lose no time in particular examination of anything；
as she greatly dreaded