Нортенгерське абатство
Chapter 24
ItwouldbeimpossibletoexplaintoEleanorthesuspicions,fromwhichtheotherhad,inalllikelihood,beenhithertohappilyexempt;norcouldshetherefore,inherpresence,searchforthoseproofsofthegeneral’scruelty,whichhowevertheymightyethaveescapeddiscovery,shefeltconfidentofsomewheredrawingforth,intheshapeofsomefragmentedjournal,continuedtothelastgasp.Ofthewaytotheapartmentshewasnowperfectlymistress;andasshewishedtogetitoverbeforeHenry’sreturn,whowasexpectedonthemorrow,therewasnotimetobelost.Thedaywasbright,hercouragehigh;atfouro’clock,thesunwasnowtwohoursabovethehorizon,anditwouldbeonlyherretiringtodresshalfanhourearlierthanusual.
Itwasdone;andCatherinefoundherselfaloneinthegallerybeforetheclockshadceasedtostrike.Itwasnotimeforthought;shehurriedon,slippedwiththeleastpossiblenoisethroughthefoldingdoors,andwithoutstoppingtolookorbreathe,rushedforwardtotheoneinquestion.Thelockyieldedtoherhand,and,luckily,withnosullensoundthatcouldalarmahumanbeing.Ontiptoesheentered;theroomwasbeforeher;butitwassomeminutesbeforeshecouldadvanceanotherstep.Shebeheldwhatfixedhertothespotandagitatedeveryfeature.
