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unfortunate woman's confinementmight have been within a few
paces of the cell in which she languished out her days；
for what part of the abbey could be more fitted for the
purpose than that which yet bore the traces of monastic
division？ In the high…arched passage； paved with stone；
which already she had trodden with peculiar awe；
she well remembered the doors of which the general
had given no account。 To what might not those doors
lead？ In support of the plausibility of this conjecture；
it further occurred to her that the forbidden gallery；
in which lay the apartments of the unfortunate Mrs。 Tilney；
must be； as certainly as her memory could guide her；
exactly over this suspected range of cells； and the staircase
by the side of those apartments of which she had caught
a transient glimpse； communicating by some secret means
with those cells； might well have favoured the barbarous
proceedings of her husband。 Down that staircase she
had perhaps been conveyed in a state of well…prepared
insensibility！
Catherine sometimes started at the boldness of her
own surmises； and sometimes hoped or feared that she had
gone too far； but they were supported by such appearances
as made their dismissal impossible。
The side of the quadrangle； in which she supposed
the guilty scene to be acting； being； according to
her belief； just opposite her own； it struck her that；
if judiciously watched； some rays of light from the
general's lamp might glimmer through the lower windows；
as he passed to the prison of his wife； and； twice before
she stepped into bed； she stole gently from her room to the
corresponding window in the gallery； to see if it appeared；
but all abroad was dark； and it must yet be too early。
The various ascending noises convinced her that the
servants must still be up。 Till midnight； she supposed
it would be in vain to watch； but then； when the clock
had struck twelve； and all was quiet； she would； if not
quite appalled by darkness； steal out and look once more。
The clock struck twelveand Catherine had been half
an hour asleep。
CHAPTER 24
The next day afforded no opportunity for the proposed
examination of the mysterious apartments。 It was Sunday；
and the whole time between morning and afternoon service
was required by the general in exercise abroad or eating
cold meat at home； and great as was Catherine's curiosity；
her courage was not equal to a wish of exploring them
after dinner； either by the fading light of the sky between
six and seven o'clock； or by the yet more partial though
stronger illumination of a treacherous lamp。 The day was
unmarked therefore by anything to interest her imagination
beyond the sight of a very elegant monument to the memory
of Mrs。 Tilney； which immediately fronted the family pew。
By that her eye was instantly caught and long retained；
and the perusal of the highly strained epitaph； in which every
virtue was ascribed to her by the inconsolable husband；
who must have been in some way or other her destroyer；
affected her even to tears。
That the general； having erected such a monument；
should be able to face it； was not perhaps very strange；
and yet that he could sit so boldly collected within its view；
maintain so elevated an air； look so fearlessly around；
nay； that he should even enter the church； seemed wonderful
to Catherine。 Not； however； that many instances of beings
equally hardened in guilt might not be produced。 She could
remember dozens who had persevered in every possible vice；
going on from crime to crime； murdering whomsoever
they chose； without any feeling of humanity or remorse；
till a violent death or a religious retirement closed
their black career。 The erection of the monument itself
could not in the smallest degree affect her doubts of
Mrs。 Tilney's actual decease。 Were she even to descend into
the family vault where her ashes were supposed to slumber；
were she to behold the coffin in which they were said
to be enclosedwhat could it avail in such a case？
Catherine had read too much not to be perfectly aware
of the ease with which a waxen figure might be introduced；
and a supposititious funeral carried on。
The succeeding morning promised something better。
The general's early walk； ill…timed as it was in every
other view； was favourable here； and when she knew
him to be out of the house； she directly proposed
to Miss Tilney the accomplishment of her promise。
Eleanor was ready to oblige her； and Catherine reminding
her as they went of another promise； their first visit
in consequence was to the portrait in her bed…chamber。 It
represented a very lovely woman； with a mild and pensive
countenance； justifying； so far； the expectations of its
new observer； but they were not in every respect answered；
for Catherine had depended upon meeting with features；
hair； complexion； that should be the very counterpart；
the very image； if not of Henry's； of Eleanor'sthe only
portraits of which she had been in the habit of thinking；
bearing always an equal resemblance of mother and child。
A face once taken was taken for generations。 But here she
was obliged to look and consider and study for a likeness。
She contemplated it； however； in spite of this drawback；
with much emotion； and； but for a yet stronger interest；
would have left it unwillingly。
Her agitation as they entered the great gallery was too
much for any endeavour at discourse； she could only look
at her companion。 Eleanor's countenance was dejected；
yet sedate； and its composure spoke her inured to all the
gloomy objects to which they were advancing。 Again she
passed through the folding doors； again her hand was upon
the important lock； and Catherine； hardly able to breathe；
was turning to close the former with fearful caution；
when the figure； the dreaded figure of the general himself
at the further end of the gallery； stood before her！ The
name of 〃Eleanor〃 at the same moment； in his loudest tone；
resounded through the building； giving to his daughter
the first intimation of his presence； and to Catherine
terror upon terror。 An attempt at concealment had been
her first instinctive movement on perceiving him；
yet she could scarcely hope to have escaped his eye；
and when her friend； who with an apologizing look darted
hastily by her； had joined and disappeared with him；
she ran for safety to her own room； and； locking herself in；
believed that she should never have courage to go
down again。 She remained there at least an hour；
in the greatest agitation； deeply commiserating the state
of her poor friend； and expecting a summons herself from
the angry general to attend him in his own apartment。
No summons； however； arrived； and at last； on seeing
a carriage drive up to the abbey； she was emboldened
to descend and meet him under the protection of visitors。
The breakfast…room was gay with company； and she was named
to them by the general as the friend of his daughter； in a
complimentary style； which so well concealed his resentful ire；
as to make her feel secure at least of life for the present。
And Eleanor； with a command of countenance which did
honour to her concern for his character； taking an early
occasion of saying to her； 〃My father only wanted me
to answer a note；〃 she began to hope that she had either
been unseen by the general； or that from some consideration
of policy she should be allowed to suppose herself so。
Upon this trust she dared still to remain in his presence；
after the company left them； and nothing occurred to
disturb it。
In the course of this morning's reflections；
she came to a resolution of making her next attempt on
the forbidden door alone。 It would be much better in every
respect that Eleanor should know nothing of the matter。
To involve her in the danger of a second detection；
to court her into an apartment which must wring her heart；
could not be the office of a friend。 The general's
utmost anger could not be to herself what it might be to
a daughter； and； besides； she thought the examination itself
would be more satisfactory if made without any companion。
It would be impossible to explain to Eleanor the suspicions；
from which the other had； in all