Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 21
”Thefirethereforediedaway,andCatherine,havingspentthebestpartofanhourinherarrangements,wasbeginningtothinkofsteppingintobed,when,ongivingapartingglanceroundtheroom,shewasstruckbytheappearanceofahigh,old-fashionedblackcabinet,which,thoughinasituationconspicuousenough,hadnevercaughthernoticebefore.Henry’swords,hisdescriptionoftheebonycabinetwhichwastoescapeherobservationatfirst,immediatelyrushedacrossher;andthoughtherecouldbenothingreallyinit,therewassomethingwhimsical,itwascertainlyaveryremarkablecoincidence!Shetookhercandleandlookedcloselyatthecabinet.Itwasnotabsolutelyebonyandgold;butitwasjapan,blackandyellowjapanofthehandsomestkind;andassheheldhercandle,theyellowhadverymuchtheeffectofgold.Thekeywasinthedoor,andshehadastrangefancytolookintoit;not,however,withthesmallestexpectationoffindinganything,butitwassoveryodd,afterwhatHenryhadsaid.Inshort,shecouldnotsleeptillshehadexaminedit.So,placingthecandlewithgreatcautiononachair,sheseizedthekeywithaverytremuloushandandtriedtoturnit;butitresistedherutmoststrength.Alarmed,butnotdiscouraged,shetrieditanotherway;aboltflew,andshebelievedherselfsuccessful;buthowstrangelymysterious!Thedoorwasstillimmovable.Shepausedamomentinbreathlesswonder.Thewindroareddownthechimney,therainbeatintorrentsagainstthewindows,andeverythingseemedtospeaktheawfulnessofhersituation.
