Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 22
Andthelargersheet,whichhadenclosedtherest,seemedbyitsfirstcrampline,“Topoulticechestnutmare”—afarrier’sbill!Suchwasthecollectionofpapers(leftperhaps,asshecouldthensuppose,bythenegligenceofaservantintheplacewhenceshehadtakenthem)whichhadfilledherwithexpectationandalarm,androbbedherofhalfhernight’srest!Shefelthumbledtothedust.Couldnottheadventureofthechesthavetaughtherwisdom?Acornerofit,catchinghereyeasshelay,seemedtoriseupinjudgmentagainsther.Nothingcouldnowbeclearerthantheabsurdityofherrecentfancies.Tosupposethatamanuscriptofmanygenerationsbackcouldhaveremainedundiscoveredinaroomsuchasthat,somodern,sohabitable!—Orthatsheshouldbethefirsttopossesstheskillofunlockingacabinet,thekeyofwhichwasopentoall!
Howcouldshehavesoimposedonherself?HeavenforbidthatHenryTilneyshouldeverknowherfolly!Anditwasinagreatmeasurehisowndoing,forhadnotthecabinetappearedsoexactlytoagreewithhisdescriptionofheradventures,sheshouldneverhavefeltthesmallestcuriosityaboutit.Thiswastheonlycomfortthatoccurred.Impatienttogetridofthosehatefulevidencesofherfolly,thosedetestablepapersthenscatteredoverthebed,sherosedirectly,andfoldingthemupasnearlyaspossibleinthesameshapeasbefore,returnedthemtothesamespotwithinthecabinet,withaveryheartywishthatnountowardaccidentmighteverbringthemforwardagain,todisgraceherevenwithherself.
