Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 20
Tobesure,thepointedarchwaspreserved—theformofthemwasGothic—theymightbeevencasements—buteverypanewassolarge,soclear,solight!Toanimaginationwhichhadhopedforthesmallestdivisions,andtheheavieststone-work,forpaintedglass,dirt,andcobwebs,thedifferencewasverydistressing.
Thegeneral,perceivinghowhereyewasemployed,begantotalkofthesmallnessoftheroomandsimplicityofthefurniture,whereeverything,beingfordailyuse,pretendedonlytocomfort,etc.;flatteringhimself,however,thatthereweresomeapartmentsintheAbbeynotunworthyhernotice—andwasproceedingtomentionthecostlygildingofoneinparticular,when,takingouthiswatch,hestoppedshorttopronounceitwithsurprisewithintwentyminutesoffive!Thisseemedthewordofseparation,andCatherinefoundherselfhurriedawaybyMissTilneyinsuchamannerasconvincedherthatthestrictestpunctualitytothefamilyhourswouldbeexpectedatNorthanger.
Returningthroughthelargeandloftyhall,theyascendedabroadstaircaseofshiningoak,which,aftermanyflightsandmanylanding-places,broughtthemuponalong,widegallery.Ononesideithadarangeofdoors,anditwaslightedontheotherbywindowswhichCatherinehadonlytimetodiscoverlookedintoaquadrangle,beforeMissTilneyledthewayintoachamber,andscarcelystayingtohopeshewouldfinditcomfortable,leftherwithananxiousentreatythatshewouldmakeaslittlealterationaspossibleinherdress.
