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collection of books； on which an humble man might have looked
with pride。—Catherine heard； admired； and wondered with more
genuine feeling than before—gathered all that she could from this
storehouse of knowledge； by running over the titles of half a shelf；
and was ready to proceed。 But suites of apartments did not spring
up with her wishes。—Large as was the building； she had already
visited the greatest part； though； on being told that； with the
addition of the kitchen； the six or seven rooms she had now seen
surrounded three sides of the court； she could scarcely believe it；
or overcome the suspicion of there being many chambers secreted。
It was some relief； however； that they were to return to the rooms
in common use； by passing through a few of less importance；
looking into the court； which； with occasional passages； not wholly
unintricate； connected the different sides；—and she was further
soothed in her progress by being told that she was treading what
had once been a cloister； having traces of cells pointed out； and
observing several doors that were neither opened nor explained to
her；—by finding herself successively in a billiard…room； and in the
General’s private apartment； without comprehending their
connection； or being able to turn aright when she left them； and
lastly； by passing through a dark little room； owning Henry’s
authority； and strewed with his litter of books； guns； and great
coats。
From the dining…room； of which； though already seen； and
always to be seen at five o’clock； the General could not forgo the
pleasure of pacing out the length； for the more certain information
of Miss Morland； as to what she neither doubted nor cared for；
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they proceeded by quick communication to the kitchen—the
ancient kitchen of the convent； rich in the massy walls and smoke
of former days； and in the stoves and hot closets of the present。
The General’s improving hand had not loitered here： every
modern invention to facilitate the labour of the cooks had been
adopted within this； their spacious theatre； and； when the genius
of others had failed； his own had often produced the perfection
wanted。 His endowments of this spot alone might at any time have
placed him high among the benefactors of the convent。
With the walls of the kitchen ended all the antiquity of the
Abbey； the fourth side of the quadrangle having； on account of its
decaying state； been removed by the General’s father； and the
present erected in its place。 All that was venerable ceased here。
The new building was not only new； but declared itself to be so；
intended only for offices； and enclosed behind by stable…yards； no
uniformity of architecture had been thought necessary。 Catherine
could have raved at the hand which had swept away what must
have been beyond the value of all the rest； for the purposes of
mere domestic economy； and would willingly have been spared
the mortification of a walk through scenes so fallen； had the
General allowed it； but if he had a vanity； it was in the
arrangement of his offices； and as he was convinced that； to a
mind like Miss Morland’s； a view of the accommodations and
comforts； by which the labours of her inferiors were softened；
must always be gratifying； he should make no apology for leading
her on。 They took a slight survey of all； and Catherine was
impressed； beyond her expectation； by their multiplicity and their
convenience。 The purposes for which a few shapeless pantries and
a comfortless scullery were deemed sufficient at Fullerton； were
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here carried on in appropriate divisions； commodious and roomy。
The number of servants continually appearing did not strike her
less than the number of their offices。 Wherever they went； some
pattened girl stopped to curtsy； or some footman in dishabille
sneaked off。 Yet this was an Abbey！—How inexpressibly different
in these domestic arrangements from such as she had read
about—from abbeys and castles； in which； though certainly larger
than Northanger； all the dirty work of the house was to be done by
two pair of female hands at the utmost。 How they could get
through it all had often amazed Mrs。 Allen； and； when Catherine
saw what was necessary here； she began to be amazed herself。
They returned to the hall； that the chief stair…case might be
ascended； and the beauty of its wood； and ornaments of rich
carving might be pointed out： having gained the top； they turned
in an opposite direction from the gallery in which her room lay；
and shortly entered one on the same plan； but superior in length
and breadth。 She was here shown successively into three large
bed…chambers； with their dressing…rooms； most completely and
handsomely fitted up； every thing that money and taste could do；
to give comfort and elegance to apartments； had been bestowed on
these； and； being furnished within the last five years； they were
perfect in all that would be generally pleasing； and wanting in all
that could give pleasure to Catherine。 As they were surveying the
last； the General； after slightly naming a few of the distinguished
characters by whom they had at times been honoured； turned with
a smiling countenance to Catherine； and ventured to hope that
henceforward some of their earliest tenants might be “our friends
from Fullerton。” She felt the unexpected compliment； and deeply
regretted the impossibility of thinking well of a man so kindly
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