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Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 175
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
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Jane Austen： Northanger Abbey 176
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 surprize 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
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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
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