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to lose no time in particular examination of anything；
as she greatly dreaded disobliging the general by any delay。
Her habit therefore was thrown off with all possible haste；
and she was preparing to unpin the linen package； which the
chaise…seat had conveyed for her immediate accommodation；
when her eye suddenly fell on a large high chest；
standing back in a deep recess on one side of the fireplace。
The sight of it made her start； and； forgetting everything
else； she stood gazing on it in motionless wonder；
while these thoughts crossed her：
〃This is strange indeed！ I did not expect such a sight
as this！ An immense heavy chest！ What can it hold？ Why
should it be placed here？ Pushed back too； as if meant to
be out of sight！ I will look into itcost me what it may；
I will look into itand directly tooby daylight。
If I stay till evening my candle may go out。〃
She advanced and examined it closely： it was of cedar；
curiously inlaid with some darker wood； and raised；
about a foot from the ground； on a carved stand of the same。
The lock was silver； though tarnished from age； at each
end were the imperfect remains of handles also of silver；
broken perhaps prematurely by some strange violence；
and； on the centre of the lid； was a mysterious cipher；
in the same metal。 Catherine bent over it intently；
but without being able to distinguish anything with certainty。
She could not； in whatever direction she took it；
believe the last letter to be a T； and yet that it should
be anything else in that house was a circumstance to raise
no common degree of astonishment。 If not originally theirs；
by what strange events could it have fallen into the Tilney
family？
Her fearful curiosity was every moment growing greater；
and seizing； with trembling hands； the hasp of the lock；
she resolved at all hazards to satisfy herself at least
as to its contents。 With difficulty； for something seemed
to resist her efforts； she raised the lid a few inches；
but at that moment a sudden knocking at the door of the
room made her； starting； quit her hold； and the lid
closed with alarming violence。 This ill…timed intruder
was Miss Tilney's maid； sent by her mistress to be of
use to Miss Morland； and though Catherine immediately
dismissed her； it recalled her to the sense of what she
ought to be doing； and forced her； in spite of her anxious
desire to penetrate this mystery； to proceed in her dressing
without further delay。 Her progress was not quick；
for her thoughts and her eyes were still bent on the object
so well calculated to interest and alarm； and though
she dared not waste a moment upon a second attempt；
she could not remain many paces from the chest。
At length； however； having slipped one arm into her gown；
her toilette seemed so nearly finished that the impatience
of her curiosity might safely be indulged。 One moment
surely might be spared； and； so desperate should be
the exertion of her strength； that； unless secured
by supernatural means； the lid in one moment should
be thrown back。 With this spirit she sprang forward；
and her confidence did not deceive her。 Her resolute
effort threw back the lid； and gave to her astonished eyes
the view of a white cotton counterpane； properly folded；
reposing at one end of the chest in undisputed possession！
She was gazing on it with the first blush of surprise
when Miss Tilney； anxious for her friend's being ready；
entered the room； and to the rising shame of having
harboured for some minutes an absurd expectation； was then
added the shame of being caught in so idle a search。
〃That is a curious old chest； is not it？〃 said Miss Tilney；
as Catherine hastily closed it and turned away to the glass。
〃It is impossible to say how many generations it has
been here。 How it came to be first put in this room I
know not； but I have not had it moved； because I thought
it might sometimes be of use in holding hats and bonnets。
The worst of it is that its weight makes it difficult
to open。 In that corner； however； it is at least out of
the way。〃
Catherine had no leisure for speech； being at
once blushing； tying her gown； and forming wise resolutions
with the most violent dispatch。 Miss Tilney gently hinted
her fear of being late； and in half a minute they ran
downstairs together； in an alarm not wholly unfounded；
for General Tilney was pacing the drawing…room； his watch
in his hand； and having； on the very instant of their entering；
pulled the bell with violence； ordered 〃Dinner to be
on table directly！〃
Catherine trembled at the emphasis with which he spoke；
and sat pale and breathless； in a most humble mood；
concerned for his children； and detesting old chests；
and the general； recovering his politeness as he looked
at her； spent the rest of his time in scolding his daughter
for so foolishly hurrying her fair friend； who was absolutely
out of breath from haste； when there was not the least
occasion for hurry in the world： but Catherine could not
at all get over the double distress of having involved
her friend in a lecture and been a great simpleton herself；
till they were happily seated at the dinner…table； when
the general's complacent smiles； and a good appetite
of her own； restored her to peace。 The dining…parlour
was a noble room； suitable in its dimensions to a much
larger drawing…room than the one in common use； and fitted
up in a style of luxury and expense which was almost lost
on the unpractised eye of Catherine； who saw little more
than its spaciousness and the number of their attendants。
Of the former； she spoke aloud her admiration；
and the general； with a very gracious countenance；
acknowledged that it was by no means an ill…sized room；
and further confessed that； though as careless on such
subjects as most people； he did look upon a tolerably
large eating…room as one of the necessaries of life；
he supposed； however； 〃that she must have been used
to much better…sized apartments at Mr。 Allen's？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 was Catherine's honest assurance；
〃Mr。 Allen's dining…parlour was not more than half as large；〃
and she had never seen so large a room as this in her life。
The general's good humour increased。 Why； as he had
such rooms； he thought it would be simple not to make
use of them； but； upon his honour； he believed there
might be more comfort in rooms of only half their size。
Mr。 Allen's house； he was sure； must be exactly of the true
size for rational happiness。
The evening passed without any further disturbance；
and； in the occasional absence of General Tilney； with much
positive cheerfulness。 It was only in his presence that
Catherine felt the smallest fatigue from her journey；
and even then； even in moments of languor or restraint；
a sense of general happiness preponderated； and she could
think of her friends in Bath without one wish of being
with them。
The night was stormy； the wind had been rising at
intervals the whole afternoon； and by the time the party
broke up； it blew and rained violently。 Catherine； as she
crossed the hall； listened to the tempest with sensations
of awe； and； when she heard it rage round a corner of the
ancient building and close with sudden fury a distant door；
felt for the first time that she was really in an abbey。
Yes； these were characteristic sounds； they brought to her
recollection a countless variety of dreadful situations
and horrid scenes； which such buildings had witnessed；
and such storms ushered in； and most heartily did
she rejoice in the happier circumstances attending
her entrance within walls so solemn！ She had nothing
to dread from midnight assassins or drunken gallants。
Henry had certainly been only in jest in what he had told
her that morning。 In a house so furnished； and so guarded；
she could have nothing to explore or to suffer； and might
go to her bedroom as securely as if it had been her own
chamber at Fullerton。 Thus wisely fortifying her mind；
as she proceeded upstairs； she was enabled； especially on
perceiving that Miss Tilney slept only two doors from her；
to enter her room with a tolerably stout heart； and her
spirits were immediately assisted by the cheerful blaze
of a wood fire。 〃How much better is this；〃 said she；