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Northanger Abbey JaneAusten 11230K 2023-09-01

Again, therefore, she applied herself to the key, and afterit in every possible way for some instants with the determined celerity of hope's last effort, the door suddenly yielded to her hand: her heart leaped with exultation at such a victory, and having thrown open each folding door, the second being secured only by bolts of less wonderful construction than the lock, though in that her eye could not discern anything unusual, a double range of ser drawers above and below them; and in the centre, a small door, closed also with a lock and key, secured in all probability a cavity of ie did not fail her

With a cheek flushed by hope, and an eye straining with curiosity, her fingers grasped the handle of a drawer and drew it forth It was entirely eerness she seized a second, a third, a fourth; each was equally e found Well read in the art of concealing a treasure, the possibility of false linings to the drawers did not escape her, and she felt round each with anxious acuteness in vain The place in the h she had "never fro in any part of the cabinet, and was not in the least disappointed at her ill success thus far, it would be foolish not to exahly while she was about it" It was some time however before she could unfasten the door, the saeth it did open; and not vain, as hitherto, was her search; her quick eyes directly fell on a roll of paper pushed back into the further part of the cavity, apparently for conceals at that moment were indescribable

Her heart fluttered, her knees trerew pale

She seized, with an unsteady hand, the precious lance sufficed to ascertain written characters; and while she acknowledged with awful sensations this striking exemplification of what Henry had foretold, resolved instantly to peruse every line before she atteht her candle eer of its sudden extinction; it had yet soreater difficulty in distinguishing the writing than what its ancient date ht occasion, she hastily snuffed it Alas! It was snuffed and extinguished in one A lamp could not have expired with more awful effect Catherine, for a few moments, was motionless with horror It was done coive hope to the rekindling breath Darkness iust of wind, rising with sudden fury, added fresh horror to the moment Catherine trembled from head to foot In the pause which succeeded, a sound like receding footsteps and the closing of a distant door struck on her affrighted ear Human nature could support no more A cold sweat stood on her forehead, theher way to the bed, she juony by creeping far underneath the clothes To close her eyes in sleep that night, she felt must be entirely out of the question With a curiosity so justly awakened, and feelings in every way so agitated, repose must be absolutely impossible