Нортенгерское аббатство
Chapter 21
Theplaceinthemiddlealoneremainednowunexplored;andthoughshehad“neverfromthefirsthadthesmallestideaoffindinganythinginanypartofthecabinet,andwasnotintheleastdisappointedatherillsuccessthusfar,itwouldbefoolishnottoexamineitthoroughlywhileshewasaboutit.”Itwassometimehoweverbeforeshecouldunfastenthedoor,thesamedifficultyoccurringinthemanagementofthisinnerlockasoftheouter;butatlengthitdidopen;andnotvain,ashitherto,washersearch;herquickeyesdirectlyfellonarollofpaperpushedbackintothefurtherpartofthecavity,apparentlyforconcealment,andherfeelingsatthatmomentwereindescribable.Herheartfluttered,herkneestrembled,andhercheeksgrewpale.Sheseized,withanunsteadyhand,thepreciousmanuscript,forhalfaglancesufficedtoascertainwrittencharacters;andwhilesheacknowledgedwithawfulsensationsthisstrikingexemplificationofwhatHenryhadforetold,resolvedinstantlytoperuseeverylinebeforesheattemptedtorest.
Thedimnessofthelighthercandleemittedmadeherturntoitwithalarm;buttherewasnodangerofitssuddenextinction;ithadyetsomehourstoburn;andthatshemightnothaveanygreaterdifficultyindistinguishingthewritingthanwhatitsancientdatemightoccasion,shehastilysnuffedit.Alas!Itwassnuffedandextinguishedinone.Alampcouldnothaveexpiredwithmoreawfuleffect.Catherine,forafewmoments,wasmotionlesswithhorror.Itwasdonecompletely;notaremnantoflightinthewickcouldgivehopetotherekindlingbreath.
