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course of things； she must ere long be released。 The suddenness of
her reputed illness； the absence of her daughter； and probably of
her other children； at the time—all favoured the supposition of her
imprisonment。 Its origin—jealousy perhaps； or wanton cruelty—
was yet to be unravelled。
In revolving these matters； while she undressed； it suddenly
struck her as not unlikely that she might that morning have
passed near the very spot of this unfortunate woman’s
confinement—might 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
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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 twelve—and Catherine had been half an hour asleep。
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CHAPTER IX
he next day afforded no opportunity for the proposed
examination of the mysterious apartments。 It was Sunday；
T
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
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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 enclosed—what 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