Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 21
Atlength,however,havingslippedonearmintohergown,hertoiletteseemedsonearlyfinishedthattheimpatienceofhercuriositymightsafelybeindulged.Onemomentsurelymightbespared;and,sodesperateshouldbetheexertionofherstrength,that,unlesssecuredbysupernaturalmeans,thelidinonemomentshouldbethrownback.Withthisspiritshesprangforward,andherconfidencedidnotdeceiveher.Herresoluteeffortthrewbackthelid,andgavetoherastonishedeyestheviewofawhitecottoncounterpane,properlyfolded,reposingatoneendofthechestinundisputedpossession!
ShewasgazingonitwiththefirstblushofsurprisewhenMissTilney,anxiousforherfriend’sbeingready,enteredtheroom,andtotherisingshameofhavingharbouredforsomeminutesanabsurdexpectation,wasthenaddedtheshameofbeingcaughtinsoidleasearch.“Thatisacuriousoldchest,isnotit?”saidMissTilney,asCatherinehastilycloseditandturnedawaytotheglass.“Itisimpossibletosayhowmanygenerationsithasbeenhere.HowitcametobefirstputinthisroomIknownot,butIhavenothaditmoved,becauseIthoughtitmightsometimesbeofuseinholdinghatsandbonnets.Theworstofitisthatitsweightmakesitdifficulttoopen.Inthatcorner,however,itisatleastoutoftheway.”
Catherinehadnoleisureforspeech,beingatonceblushing,tyinghergown,andformingwiseresolutionswiththemostviolentdispatch.
