Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 20
Isnotitafineoldplace,justlikewhatonereadsabout?”
“Andareyoupreparedtoencounterallthehorrorsthatabuildingsuchas’whatonereadsabout’mayproduce?Haveyouastoutheart?Nervesfitforslidingpanelsandtapestry?”
“Oh!yes—IdonotthinkIshouldbeeasilyfrightened,becausetherewouldbesomanypeopleinthehouse—andbesides,ithasneverbeenuninhabitedandleftdesertedforyears,andthenthefamilycomebacktoitunawares,withoutgivinganynotice,asgenerallyhappens.”
“No,certainly.Weshallnothavetoexploreourwayintoahalldimlylightedbytheexpiringembersofawoodfire—norbeobligedtospreadourbedsonthefloorofaroomwithoutwindows,doors,orfurniture.Butyoumustbeawarethatwhenayoungladyis(bywhatevermeans)introducedintoadwellingofthiskind,sheisalwayslodgedapartfromtherestofthefamily.Whiletheysnuglyrepairtotheirownendofthehouse,sheisformallyconductedbyDorothy,theancienthousekeeper,upadifferentstaircase,andalongmanygloomypassages,intoanapartmentneverusedsincesomecousinorkindiedinitabouttwentyyearsbefore.Canyoustandsuchaceremonyasthis?Willnotyourmindmisgiveyouwhenyoufindyourselfinthisgloomychamber—tooloftyandextensiveforyou,withonlythefeebleraysofasinglelamptotakeinitssize—itswallshungwithtapestryexhibitingfiguresaslargeaslife,andthebed,ofdarkgreenstufforpurplevelvet,presentingevenafunerealappearance?Willnotyourheartsinkwithinyou?”
“Oh!Butthiswillnothappentome,Iamsure.
