Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 21
“Howmuchbetteristhis,”saidshe,asshewalkedtothefender—“howmuchbettertofindafirereadylit,thantohavetowaitshiveringinthecoldtillallthefamilyareinbed,assomanypoorgirlshavebeenobligedtodo,andthentohaveafaithfuloldservantfrighteningonebycominginwithafaggot!HowgladIamthatNorthangeriswhatitis!Ifithadbeenlikesomeotherplaces,Idonotknowthat,insuchanightasthis,Icouldhaveansweredformycourage:butnow,tobesure,thereisnothingtoalarmone.”
Shelookedroundtheroom.Thewindowcurtainsseemedinmotion.Itcouldbenothingbuttheviolenceofthewindpenetratingthroughthedivisionsoftheshutters;andshesteppedboldlyforward,carelesslyhummingatune,toassureherselfofitsbeingso,peepedcourageouslybehindeachcurtain,sawnothingoneitherlowwindowseattoscareher,andonplacingahandagainsttheshutter,feltthestrongestconvictionofthewind’sforce.Aglanceattheoldchest,assheturnedawayfromthisexamination,wasnotwithoutitsuse;shescornedthecauselessfearsofanidlefancy,andbeganwithamosthappyindifferencetoprepareherselfforbed.“Sheshouldtakehertime;sheshouldnothurryherself;shedidnotcareifshewerethelastpersonupinthehouse.Butshewouldnotmakeupherfire;thatwouldseemcowardly,asifshewishedfortheprotectionoflightaftershewereinbed.
